Overseasidol.com — Although Shine The Series has ended, the impact of the show continues to spark discussion in Thai society.
On September 25, Chulalongkorn University hosted a special seminar under the theme “From Boys’ Love to Gay Series: Politics, History, and Masculinity through the Script of Shine The Series”.
The event brought together directors, writers, translators, scholars, and actor Peter Deerie, who plays Victor, one of the most beloved characters in the series.
Peter revealed the challenges of portraying Victor, a politically active student in the 1960s.
He admitted that at first the character felt distant from him, since Victor grew up with a supportive family and knew from a young age that he was gay.
To prepare, Peter consulted closely with director Panpassa Thoopthien and studied the political climate of Thailand in 1969, a period of coups and repression.
He said the role required courage because in that era, openly expressing such views could be dangerous.
The actor also shared that he had to overcome language barriers, as he was required to improve his Thai every day.
Despite the difficulties, Peter said he came to love Victor deeply, describing him as everything he himself was missing in life.
On set, crew members even called him “Victor” instead of his real name. His performance, paired with the show’s bold political and social commentary, has left a lasting mark on both fans and critics.
