‘Shining Girls’ Recap: ‘Bright’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Shining Girls’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There are a great many mysteries that continue to plague mankind in this age of information. Some are quite metaphysical in nature, such as what happens to us after we die? While others are more practical in nature. Such as why we cannot treat one another with kindness and respect and view one another as the equals that we are. But of the many, many questions we still ask about our world and our society… there is one that has plagued us from the very beginning. In that, what is it that motivates everyday men to become outright evil and commit disgusting acts against the people they share the Earth with? Because… such acts just don’t make sense since they require an incredible commitment to darkness. 

Which is why, there are a great deal of stories out there that try to tackle this subject, so we can finally understand and prevent evil in the world and forge a future where humanity no longer has to worry about such matters and well… bit by bit, these stories are indeed starting to help us see that men turn to evil for a bevy of reasons. Some come out of fundamental flaws to our society that have yet to be addressed, while others come as a result of years of abuse; emotional and physical and/or both. But sometimes, what drives men to be on the wrong side of history and society, is quite simple in nature and it is those simple matters that are top of mind today, since they took the center stage in the next episode of Shining Girls on Apple TV+.

For ‘Bright’ is a story that took the time to step mostly away from Kirby and Dan and their search for answers regarding Harper… to give the audience answers regarding Harper. Specifically what simple things have motivated him to become the monster he is today. Which as it turns out… is related to marginalization and loneliness. For Harper has in fact, always been a nobody. Just a guy that struggled to fight in the First World War and struggled to find his way after the war. Because no one paid him any mind and the only thing he thought he had to hold onto in this life, was Klara. An old friend that he grew up with and loved dearly, despite the fact she didn’t feel the same. But she was in his life and for a time, he tolerated that… until everything changed.

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Because a desperate attempt to find some money, led him and Leo (who also fought in the war with Harper), to an old house. The one we’ve seen Harper make use of, often… with good reason. For this place is a nexus of sorts, where time means nothing and a wish can bring Harper wherever he wants and that power, made him believe that Klara could finally love him and admire him. Because that was everything he wanted. To be seen, to know the love of a woman and feel radiance and meaning and for a time… it seemed as though Harper would finally have his wish. For Klara was keen on his discovery and he was eager to invite her in so they could experience wonders and different parts of history both past and future together.
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But eventually… she rejected Harper when he made a hard push to become an item, mainly because she wasn’t interested in him, in that manner. Just the wonder of time travel, and that… was the last straw for him. Because he bet all his hedges on this, and believed his value and worth was only associated with her and that he would only have meaning through her, and not having that… sent Harper into that dark place, where he did dark things… and that in turn, brought forth the monster. A being that now travels time to search for women that catch his eye… so he can see if they will pay him mind and pay him respect and make him feel valued and pay the price when the don't. When in fact… a little soul searching, and self-care would accomplish that.

But what matters more, is that Harper’s journey into darkness… really did hammer home how fragile and lost men like Harper are… and how easily they will commit to ugly when they cannot have their way or their easy fix to their problems. An analysis that rightfully exposes Harper to be nothing more than a coward that uses violence to compensate for his unresolved disdain for himself and the void in his heart and what’s impressive, is that going this route storytelling wise… offers no catharsis or sorrow or pity. Just fury. Fury that we can’t figure out how to reach pathetic men like this and that the world lets their ilk persist. But perhaps stories like this will help us to fight back against them, since this gives us insight into what makes them tick and in the here and the now, hopefully our understanding of Harper and what Dan and Kirby are learning about him… will put an end to his reign of terror soon… so he can finally atone for the horrible things he’s done in the name of ego. Until next time.   

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