All the ones that keep getting recommended have a UI like a cockpit of a Boeing 747 (kdenlive, shotcut, openshot, DaVinci resolve) which is so overwhelming, all I want is just make some cuts, blur a face, or something on the screen, and maybe add some subtitles.

I just want something simple, I am not gonna make the next Avatar movie.

I have a feeling there is nothing like this on linux but hey maybe one of you actually knows of one.

For the whole workflow you described—cuts, face blur, and subtitles—I would still use Kdenlive or Shotcut. A subtitle-only tool will not replace tracking a blur or arranging clips. If subtitles are the part making the editor feel heavy, you can split that step out: generate and proofread an SRT first, then bring it into the editor for the final render.

OpenSubs has Linux desktop builds for that subtitle step: it can generate and edit subtitles, export SRT/VTT/ASS, or burn them into an MP4. The builds are unsigned, and burn-in requires an ffmpeg build with the ass filter. (Disclosure: I’m one of the developers.)