The way I see it, with the use of lighting etc etc, Shine has positioned TrinThanwa and KrailertNaran as symbolic for progress and stasis, respectively.
As it's been noted in @how-to-be-a-tree 's post , the lighting and colour contrast between Trin and Thanwa's scenes and Naran and Krailert's is pretty stark, with Trin's romance bathed in sunlight, open skies and flowers, while Krailert's is confined to dimly lit rooms and hidden messages.
I think this indicates Trin and Krailert's positions in their respective institutions and how their attitudes and circumstances affect their understanding of sexuality. Trin is new, and believes in the possibility of change and renewal within the NESDC as he discovers new things about himself and as we go on, his surroundings and their limits. He's afraid of radical change and disruption to established order, but ultimately curious and open to it.
Krailert, on the other hand, is weathered by the years he has spent violently repressing his true feelings for survival, and judging by the way he conducts himself (playing the piano in the dark at the hotel instead of at home, writing anonymous music reviews, meeting Naran exclusively behind closed doors), he cannot see a way out or forward, choosing to settle for the meager moments of self-actualisation he can achieve within his circumstances. He is so tied to the military by the sacrifices he has had to make, to cling to the privilege it affords him, that imagining life apart from it has become impossible. He would lose everything. His social standing, his income, any semblance of community he might have gathered, should he stop playing the part assigned to him.
Now, how is this going progress in the narrative?
I am inclined to believe that Trin and Thanwa will ultimately be okay. They both have a chance to grow as individuals and as a unit; Trin learning to challenge preconceived notions of correctness and propriety, Thanwa finding purpose and worth in fighting for something bigger than himself. Their scenes so far have rooted them in the world, literally among people and the elements, and they will overcome the challenges before them by staying there together, choosing to move forward through hardship instead of succumbing to its weight. (I do not want to be wrong about this 🥺)
Krailert and Naran could go a few different ways, but I'm sure that Krailert is going to be faced with a reckoning. He will have to choose a side: Naran and the exposure of corruption within the military and his involvement in it, or submitting to the status quo. I feel that Naran will find out just how sordid the dealings within the military government are, including Krailert staying and choosing to advance within the ranks despite knowing that they disappeared (let's be real, murdered) his lover. He will be disgusted by Krailert, but hesitant to throw him to the wolves, because he has fallen in love with him.
Krailert will very likely reach a breaking point, which will make him act. I think that he will end up sacrificing himself for Naran's safety, resigning and losing everything, or even dying. He will most certainly change, but whether he gets to progress like Trin will, is another question. Naran will stick with his principles, leading to their separation. Their arc will serve as a symbolic device to communicate the damage wrought by enforced normativity and the human cost of upholding an oppressive system. (Not sure I want to be right about this)
Regardless, I'm so happy to be blown away by the thematic richness of Shine being realised in such a well-rounded way!
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In the Shine Trailer (which is currently consuming my thoughts, haha), we see a quick clip of Tanwa (Mile) getting punched, and at first I thought it was Trin (Apo) punching him, but the more I watch it the less sure of that I am...
My second guess is this guy, who may be another love interest for Tanwa (current boyfriend? friend with benefits? unreciprocated crush?):
So, I put it to you - who do you think is punching Tanwa in the scene above?
Something I do find interesting and refreshing about Tanwa and Trin's relationship and its development is Tanwa's sincerity about his love for Trin, despite his fear of vulnerability. A lesser show could characterise him solely as a sleazy lothario, charming Trin to get into his pants, because his stunted emotional life makes genuine emotional connection outside the buffer zone of sex too painful and daunting.
But no! They're relationship is defined by tenderness and them genuinely enjoying each other's company. Compared to Krailert and Naran, they're chaste! Yes, there's an undeniable current of sexual attraction between them that comes out in their indulgent kisses and lingering looks, but ultimately they just really like one another.
There is no chance of a misunderstanding about why Tanwa keeps seeking Trin out, because he isn't pressuring him into sex, or even pursuing him for that specifically. I think Trin knows that Tanwa is equally as fond of him as he is of Tanwa, but he can't quite crack why he is so reluctant to commit to their relationship, and it frustrates him.
I do think that the show will dip into sex bringing insecurity into their relationship, but I have liked that it has not been central to it. Like, Trin and Tanwa are going to have sex and it's going to be lovely and romantic and momentous for Trin in its vulnerability, but Tanwa will fall back into his fear after it, which will be a final straw of sorts for Trin, leading to the punch seen in the trailer.
What if Tanwa has to reconcile with his father to save Trin? Tanwa hasn't been publicly involved in anti-establishment activities, and he's an influential business tycoon's son, so he's relatively safe for the time-being, but Trin...
They've laid it out since the first episode, guys. His research is going to cross the wrong desk, and after Krailert does whatever the hell he's planning, Trin is the next logical target for the authoritarian crackdown on dissent. Krailert's assets will likely be frozen and Trin's privilege connected to the Suwannaphat name will evaporate, once Krailert is got for his radical turn, however that manifests.
Padoem, however, is best friends with the military government, and he's obscenely wealthy. If need be, his money and influence could get Trin out of the country and into France before the secret police gets to him. Tanwa is terrifyingly awakened from his dissociative apathy, when he realises how acutely in danger Trin is, and pleads with his father to help.
These last two episodes have got me sweating oh no
Just popped into my head, but based on the tiny little clip from Jjay's interview in which it looks like Victor is confronting Tanwa in the garden at Echoes of Euphoria, I think that this is going to be the final two episodes' arc for Trin and Tanwa:
Victor is going to be a silly child, and motivated by jealousy, will tell Tanwa something that is either untrue, or half true about Trin, to purposefully trigger his insecurities. Something like Trin leaving Thailand or something else that Tanwa doesn't know about etc. Tanwa is going lose it (guitar smashing in the trailer), and being insecure, will not ask Trin about it directly, but will rather fall back on his old coping mechanisms and do something like go fuck someone else to deal with his emotional spiral. This will, of course find its way back to Trin, and he will confront Tanwa about it (punch shown in the trailer). Either way, I think that Trin and Tanwa will go through either a tragic misunderstanding or a clashing of world views that will end up in them separating either permanently, or temporarily, to reunite at the end of episode 8. Do I want to be right about this? At this point... I just want there to be a glimmer of hope somewhere.
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Mmmm Trin and Tanwa are definitely going to be separate, even if they don't separate, because Trin is definitely going back to Paris. We have the images to prove it. How this is going to come about, and what it ultimately means for the relationship, I cannot say...
I'm starting to imagine a type of exile situation for Trin, very likely to result from Krailert's actions 🤔 Stressed!
I do fear that unfortunately Tanwa is probably not going to be getting a significant political awakening arc here, and his focus will remain on personal growth regarding vulnerability and commitment, which is a bit of a bummer, considering the massive potential there. However, I do still enjoy him as a character immensely and am invested in these developments!
