Shelfleigh

Love in the Moonlight was great when it focused on the political intrigue and the Crown Prince's friendships, but faltered when it came to the romance. Initially I enjoyed the romance between the two, especially as the Crown Prince struggled to understand his growing love for a person of (who he thought) the same sex. It was an emotional, interesting, and layered performance that kept me invested through the first half of the series. As the story moved into the latter half, it became abundantly clear the female lead didn't have much of a personality or anything to do when she was not involved with the Crown Prince and his story. I think the actress was fine (and goodness knows she could stare in the distance and almost cry beautifully), but the writing lacked for her character.

My interest was at its peak when watching the Crown Prince maneuver between his corrupt government officials and his uneasy relationships with his childhood friends. Park Bo Gum did an excellent job moving between all of these aspects of the story, and I am beyond excited to see more of his shows. However, the breakout star for me was Kwak Dong Yeon. Everything I see him in, even when he is a minor character (looking at you Fight For My Way), I love him. Goodness knows, he pulled off the messy ponytail, badass swordmen, and moody man well.