A Preview of ‘Shining Girls’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

It is definitely safe to say, that we are living in the midst of a revolutionary time period when it comes to television. For the days of a handful of networks being in command of our programming has gone the way of the Dodo Bird, replaced instead by streaming services that are eager to draw people to their content and in order to do so… they’re taking risks like never before. Such as making bold and progressive casting decisions, alongside offering up big budget productions that at times rival that of movie studios. But above all else, what is truly impressive about this revolution, is what it is doing for storytelling.
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Because for the first time ever, the incredible demand for fresh stories that will captivate an audience, is motivating producers and executives to take chances with shows and greenlight stories that normally would either be rewritten or denied production because they tackle topics that are uncomfortable and taboo in nature. And one such network/streamer that is leading in the way in producing content that shatters norms and forces audiences to ponder and converse more often about taboo topics in our world is Apple TV+, as evidenced by their latest offering, Shining Girls. Which is a show that is based upon the novel, The Shining Girls, by Lauren Beukes… and much like the novel, it tackles some incredible topics. 

Such as… the nature of trauma and how it stays with us for far longer than we would like, and it accomplishes that feat by taking us back to 1992, wherein we meet a woman named Kirby who survived a vicious attempt on her life years ago, and she is still struggling with that moment and rightfully so. For it was visceral and terrifying and life changing and well, her journey leads to some powerful moments for certain. The kind that put trauma on display in a manner it’s never been portrayed on television before and of course, it also examines at length, the nature of this kind of crime and the horrible motivations that go into it and that is… a necessary evil to bring about a story that challenges the viewer like never before.

Because it tasks us to open our eyes to the realities of the world and of the pain we carry, and to truly ponder upon our world view of such matters and how perhaps we should not be so quick to dismiss the power of trauma and the impact it has upon people and that alone, makes this a stunning show. One that pushes the envelope and truly offers up a raw and fierce story unlike any other on television right now, courtesy of its poignant and powerful story. But what’s amazing, is that it has so much more to offer than tough moments and stunning commentary. It also features a powerful journey for Kirby, one that immediately has you in her corner and rooting for her to come back from her pain. 

Thanks in large part as well, to the fact that Elisabeth Moss, who plays Kirby, turns in a powerhouse performance here. One that sells every moment and every emotion that Kirby experiences, and she’s wonderfully counterbalanced here by Jamie Bell and Wagner Moura, who bring their own special gravity to the story in ways we won’t discuss today. Which yes, is vague, in fact… most of what we’ve discussed here is generalized and vague and with good reason. Because it would be a crime to spoil the wonder and the majesty of this poignant and powerful series. One that you need to see and experience firsthand, and the good news is… you won’t have to wait much longer to. For Shining Girls makes its debut on Apple TV+ this Friday, April 29, 2022, with a three-episode premiere, and we certainly hope you check it out and swing back here, not only for our recaps of the series premiere and every episode that follows, but for the other pre-release coverage we have waiting for you. Until next time.

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