Episode 1 of Still Shining starts in July 2014 with Yeon Tae-seo leaving a study centre in Seoul. His aunt drops his younger brother, Hui-seo, at the train station, and the two boys travel to their grandparents' hometown outside the city.
Because Hui-seo has a fractured leg, Tae-seo carries him around during the trip. After arriving, Hui-seo asks their grandfather, Chang-sik, to drop Tae-seo off at the local school.
At school, Tae-seo explains to the teacher that he and Hui-seo had transferred to a school in Seoul after moving in with their aunt. However, because Hui-seo was bullied there, they will stay with their grandparents until graduation. Impressed by Tae-seo's academic record, the teacher encourages him to prepare for the PSATs during the summer break.
He asks Tae-seo to collect uniforms from the donation box near the library and mentions another student, Mo Eun-a, who has been studying there independently before the exams.
Inside the library, Tae-seo notices Eun-a but does not approach her. After collecting the uniforms, he returns home, where Chang-sik tells him that his study table delivery has been delayed. The following day, Tae-seo decides to study at the library to avoid distractions at home.
There he encounters Eun-a again, whose loud and chatty nature quickly irritates him, though he keeps his thoughts to himself. During lunch break, Eun-a invites him to eat ramen in the break room. She talks constantly while Tae-seo remains mostly silent.
Later that evening, Eun-a locks the library before leaving. Tae-seo tells her he plans to study at home from then on. As Eun-a cycles back and Tae-seo walks toward the bus station, he notices her catching fireflies and remembers visiting the village years earlier with his parents. During that visit, Hui-seo had joined Eun-a to catch fireflies while Tae-seo walked home with their parents.
The next morning, Tae-seo waits outside the library for Eun-a to unlock the door. Whilst chatting, he suggests hiding the key somewhere so he can enter if she arrives late, but Eun-a refuses, saying she feels responsible for the library. Despite the intense summer heat, they continue studying there together.
As they leave that evening, Tae-seo mentions that he brought a bicycle so they could ride home together, but Eun-a reveals she had taken the bus that day. Soon after, they end up racing their bicycles.
Tae-seo initially wins but slows down when he sees Eun-a's disappointment, letting her finish first. Over the next few weeks, the two spend more time together and gradually develop feelings for one another.
One evening, Eun-a returns home to find her father, Mo Seon-gyu, hosting international guests with his partner, Park So-hyeon. Later that night, Seon-gyu cooks dinner for her. Eun-a scolds him for drinking too much and asks about his girlfriend, but he claims So-hyeon is busy entertaining the guests. Eun-a accepts the explanation and finishes her meal.
The following morning, heavy rain awakens Eun-a. After giving her father a hangover drink, she suddenly realises Tae-seo must be waiting at the library. She cycles to the bus stop to hand him the key, leaving one slipper behind in her rush. Tae-seo notices this but accepts the key and promises to wait for her later.
At the library, he places drinks in the fridge for them to share. When Eun-a finally arrives, she admits she had been worried about her father earlier that morning and says she feels calmer whenever she looks at Tae-seo. To reassure her, he sits across from her while they study.
Later, Eun-a texts So-hyeon but becomes upset when she learns that So-hyeon will not be visiting her father. Concerned, she rushes home, leaving Tae-seo alone at the library.
Unable to concentrate, Tae-seo decides to visit her house. On the way, his grandmother Hwa-soon spots him and invites him to lunch with her friend. That night, Tae-seo wonders whether Eun-a will return to the library the next day. When he unlocks the door the following morning, he hears her footsteps and visibly relaxes.
While studying, Eun-a finds several nametags from girls in Tae-seo's former class in Seoul. Embarrassed, Tae-seo insists he did not know they had slipped them into his bag as farewell gifts, but Eun-a teasingly refuses to believe him.
During lunch, Tae-seo asks why she left so suddenly the day before. Eun-a reveals that her father suffers from anxiety and depression and once attempted to end his life. Because of that, she worries whenever he is left alone. She adds that he had been doing better since he started seeing someone.
Later, they talk about their future. Tae-seo says he hopes to attend college far from home so he can support his grandparents and brother without feeling overwhelmed by being nearby. Eun-a realises she would rather stay close to her father than move to Seoul for university, since she wants to help him if something happens.
Reflecting on the month they spent studying together, Tae-seo explains that he must work hard to become the family's breadwinner after their parents' death. Eun-a mentions her interest in drawing, and Tae-seo reassures her that she has a promising future. In a moment of nervous honesty, Eun-a accidentally admits that she likes him, leaving both of them awkward.
That night, they cycle home and prepare for the first day of school. The next morning, the teacher asks Tae-seo to continue studying in the library for an elective the school doesn't offer. As the months pass, both Tae-seo and Eun-a focus on their studies.
One day, Tae-seo takes Hui-seo to the hospital to have his cast removed. Hui-seo worries that he may never walk properly again, but keeps his fears from their grandfather. Around the same time, Tae-seo begins experiencing occasional hearing problems but does not pay much attention to them.
A month later, Eun-a unexpectedly runs into Tae-seo while they are both travelling to Seoul. Excited to see him, she suggests they spend time together, but he refuses, claiming he has urgent business in the city. Tae-seo instead attends an admission seminar at Hanguk University.
Meanwhile, Eun-a visits So-hyeon at her apartment and is shocked to find her with another man. Assuming she is cheating on her father, Eun-a confronts her. So-hyeon explains that she is not officially dating Seon-gyu and that it is Eun-a's father who refuses to define their relationship. Upset and with nothing left to do in the city, Eun-a returns to the train station.
While in Seoul, Tae-seo meets a friend who offers him a tutoring job at his father's study centre starting the following February, before university begins. Later, Tae-seo visits a doctor about his hearing issues and is told they are likely stress-induced and occur only occasionally.
Tae-seo talks to the doctor about his parents' car accident when they were out shopping with Hui-seo. He anxiously confesses to experiencing trouble with his hearing since the accident, which also led to Hui-seo's leg injury.
Feeling lonely, Tae-seo calls Eun-a. She is upset with him for being distant and rude to her as she breaks into tears. Realising his mistake, Tae-seo rushes to the train station where she is waiting. He finds her standing by the Han River, and the two take the train home together.
During the ride, they finally talk openly about their feelings and how being together helps them feel calm. Eun-a says they should stay together forever, and Tae-seo agrees. The episode ends with Tae-seo holding Eun-a's hand as they officially begin dating.
The Episode Review
This is such a feel-good drama, and I am sure we can anticipate trauma in the upcoming episodes. For now, this story starts off with young love as two high school students catch feelings for each other and grow closer after spending a month in very close proximity.
Tae-seo and Eun-a give "calm boyfriend-chaotic girlfriend" energy, and it is interesting to note that despite being so different from each other, the two end up falling in love. The fear of separation still looms with Tae-seo wanting to study in Seoul due to his family history and trauma, while Eun-a has her own reasons to stick around her dad.
Despite that, it will be interesting to see Tae-seo and Eun-a's romantic journey as they have just started dating. We also know that Tae-seo's parents are no more, so it makes him feel responsible for his brother. Similarly, Eun-a also feels responsible for her father's safety, considering his mental health issues.
It will be interesting to see if the two can overcome their personal struggles while maintaining their relationship, or if their love will suffer due to the responsibilities they have.
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