Follow My Sunshine – Series Review & Ending Explained

Story

Best friends

Follow My Sunshine has an appealing relationship dynamic. I enjoy the fantasy of the two leads going to the same school, living together, and caring for each other. None of these concepts are groundbreaking, so we've seen them done in other BL dramas before. Nonetheless, there's nothing wrong with reusing a classic formula when you ace the execution. In this case, Follow My Sunshine does a respectable job at replicating sincerity and sentimentality with its love story.

With that said, the story could afford more ambition. The characters have well-established personalities, but we only get glimpses of their hobbies and personal backstories. Van and Nhat feel solely defined by their love lives. Occasionally, the story addresses their academic grades or career prospects. Yet, it's evident Follow My Sunshine doesn't put much emphasis on these minor details. The leads lack a bit of characterization, which prevents me from feeling fully immersed in their experiences.

Romance

Van and Nhat

Van and Nhat share a comfortable rapport. My favourite scenes in Follow My Sunshine are whenever the two of them interact one-on-one. I like the idea of this couple secluded in their quaint little boarding house, enjoying each other's company. The series feels riveting at the start because it highlights their alone time more frequently. Once the girlfriend or the other characters enter the picture, they distract from the chemistry between the leads. 

However, I would've liked more variety in their exchanges. I notice their intimate moments typically occur whenever Van & Nhat take care of each other after an illness or injury. The scenes are compelling, but I wanted to see them interact in different contexts. These two characters have years of childhood friendship and intertwined backstories to draw inspiration. Follow My Sunshine could've tapped into that rich pool of material for new storytelling ideas.

Nhat and An

Nhat's girlfriend An fuels the primary conflict in Follow My Sunshine. Nhat dotes on his girlfriend at the start of the series, while Van pines for his best friend forlornly. Unfortunately, An's character hardly expands outside of getting in the way of the BL couple. She makes accusations, throws jealous fits, and threatens to break up with her boyfriend. This girl's existence seems entirely shaped by this relationship and nothing else. I'm not fond of these one-dimensional love interests.

Despite her lack of development, An occupies a prominent part of the narrative. She separates from Nhat, then gets back together with him, only to break up again. Her relationship drama feels a little tired. Later in the series, I wait impatiently for An's scenes to pass until her character gets a clue. Girl, the exit sign is that way! Please leave at your earliest convenience!

Van and Tuong

Tuong's character feels redundant. We already have Nhat's girlfriend hogging up time with her love triangle drama. Now, we have to deal with another classmate who shows random interest in Van. Tuong receives even less characterization and development than An. What is his purpose? Is his existence necessary? Van was better off with an imaginary girlfriend (lol) than a useless love interest who doesn't add much to the plot.

Tuong gets into a catfight with Nhat, which makes both characters look unflattering. The physical violence is an unnecessary escalation of their feud. Neither character has done anything that antagonistic other than a few provocative remarks. There's no need to throw fists just because some guy acts smug around you. I don't care about Tuong, but this rivalry makes Nhat look worse as the main character. He doesn't rise above the pettiness. The jealousy, aggression, and possessiveness aren't good looks on him.

Acting

Van

I like the sensitivity Van's actor (Thai Thanh Nhan) brings to his performance. His demeanour exudes quiet dignity, but there's the slightest hint of fragility and uncertainty beneath the poised demeanour. He comes across as someone trying to appear strong to hide his vulnerability. The performer has delicate eyes and melancholic expressions that create an air of mystery. You can't always read him clearly. You can only guess how Van thinks or feels after a particular exchange with Nhat.

The gold-rimmed glasses are also an excellent styling choice. Not everyone can pull off this eyewear, but Van does. The spectacles add to his distinguished and intelligent appearance. It also draws attention to his eyes. When you look at his character, you may notice a shred of sadness in his gaze. His performance is intriguing, and I think this actor does an excellent job with his portrayal.

Style

Pretty backdrops

Follow My Sunshine chooses some pretty locations as the backdrops, including the lake, the boarding house, and the scenery by the school campus. I like whenever Van sits or stands near the window arch of the school building. The scene composition is artistic, and there's a lot of beauty for our eyes to absorb.

Similarly, the series creates a sense of coziness and intimacy in the indoor scenes. I love the interior design of the boarding house and Van's bedroom. There's a rustic charm to the decorations, enriching the atmosphere. Overall, the production values in Follow My Sunshine elevate the story, adding a boost of elegance and ambiance.

Ending

Happy ending

Follow My Sunshine has a happy ending where Van and Nhat officially become a couple. Previously, Nhat chose to continue dating his girlfriend. When they kiss during an intimate moment, he realizes his feelings for her have dissipated. An is left devastated as he breaks up with her. Afterwards, Nhat visits Van's home to confess his feelings. Although Van is surprised, the two leads share a slightly awkward kiss in the bedroom.

Suddenly, the series shifts to a scene where we discover Van has been in an accident! Nhat and Van's mom grieve together before the end credits roll. Yet, it's not meant to be the real ending. After the credits, there's an epilogue that reveals the accident is just Nhat's nightmare. Van returns to the boarding house in one piece. He also came out to his mom, who overheard their earlier conversation. She is supportive of her son's relationship. The final scene highlights another kiss between Van and Nhat outside their house.

Fakeout!

OMG. I can't believe Follow My Sunshine decides to troll the viewers with a fake sad ending. The fakeout got me. I dropped my jaw when the series announced Van's accident all of a sudden. We hardly get any foreshadowing or explanation before the end credits roll. I was like WTF!? Why would they give us a happy ending and then kill the character in the last scene?

Fortunately, I stayed for the epilogue, which revealed Van was still alive. The scene after the credits is typically an Easter egg, but that isn't the case here. The viewers only get the real ending if they stay behind for the final moment, which I consider the canon storyline. Once I got over the initial shock, I appreciated this stunt that genuinely surprised me. I can laugh about it now, but I was pissed at the time. If Follow My Sunshine actually ended with Van's abrupt death, I might've given this series a failing review score. Don't play with my heart like that! 😅