Still Shining Episode 1 Review: Beautiful and Serene Start

Still Shining‘s premiere episode introduces us to the main characters in their Youth as they struggle with familial and personal issues. What starts as a serene story slowly dives into the troubles of the protagonists along with their love story that’s about to spread its wings.

Still Shining Episode 1 has a runtime of 60 minutes.

The series has 10 episodes, with two episodes dropping every Friday at 8.20 PM IST.

Still Shining Episode 1 Recap

Still Shining episode 1 is probably one of the most beautiful premieres I’ve seen in K-dramas in a long time. The episode begins with Tae-seo assisting his brother, Hee-seo, to walk as he’s using crutches and has a huge injury in his leg. We see the brothers return to their hometown from Seoul and are permanently shifting there. From the looks of them two meeting their grandparents, we as viewers can sense that something awful has happened to their parents.

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Tae-seo goes to the school in the town to join and start his education after summer break. The teacher is shocked to see his stellar marks and cheers him to aim for med school. Tae-seo then sees Eun-a at the library, who is also studying at the school during summer break. Tae-seo then leaves home, and Eun-a watches him almost lose control of himself and slip. We see Tae-seo having a ringing noise in his ear, indicating PTSD or some other sickness.

Tae-seo goes to school the next day and studies at the library with Eun-a. Only they are both at school during the summer break as they’re aiming to move to Seoul. Eun-a is a free-spirited girl who keeps talking and bickering, but Tae-seo doesn’t take her actions negatively. As she leaves home on the bicycle, Tae-seo walks around the neighbourhood and has glimpses of his parents. He also realises that he does know Eun-a as she was along with his brother Hee-seo last summer.

The following day, Tae-seo asks whether she knows him, and she tells him she does remember and has always seen him during winter and summer breaks. Tae-seo and Eun-a study together and get close. Each day they learn about each other and have a great time. We’re then introduced to Eun-a’s father, Sun-gyu, who runs a small restaurant in the town. She seems to panic about him, and we soon learn that he is struggling with depression after he lost his job and his wife.

Now and then, Eun-a checks up on him, and they move to the town to start afresh. She also mentions her father is dating a woman and is happy these days. This is when Eun-a also mentions that she finds solace in Tae-seo, but he doesn’t know how to explain. More days pass, and the summer break ends. As the two discuss their future, Eun-a blurts out that she likes Tae-seo, and things become awkward.

From the next day on, he avoids her, and school eventually ends. When he goes to Seoul for a seminar, Eun-a follows him, and he acts a bit rudely. She goes to visit the woman her father is dating and realises she has another man. She explains to Eun-a that it is her father who’s not dating her due to his condition, and this upsets Eun-a. Meanwhile, Tae-seo goes to the therapist/doctor to explain his ear ringing issue, and we learn that it occurred after he lost his parents in a car accident, which also eventually injured his younger brother, Hee-seo, as he accompanied the parents.

Tae-seo then calls Eun-a and asks where she is as he realises he made a mistake. As the two take the train back to their hometown, they talk about their future, and Tae-seo holds her hand, stating they’re going to be in it forever.

Still Shining Episode 1 Review

The premiere episode felt warm and cosy. Seeing the troubles young kids face and how they move through it is relatable and essential as of now. Jin Young and Min-ju’s chemistry is oozing right through the screen. With just a simple touch of hands, the episode delivered a beautiful setup for a beautiful love story.

Still Shining is streaming on Netflix.

Also read: Still Shining Season 1 Review