Tanky Toon

Yes the FL too is at fault. I didn't say she's blameless. In my original review I didn't specify any gender as being the culprit.

I'm not going to watch the rest of the drama if the setup is already problematic, even if it gets better later. Any character redemption will be contrived and I'm not going to justify any romance coming out of such toxic relationship.

You are entitled to form your opinion as am I and my review still stands. People are free to form their own judgement.

Not sure if this is legit but a few reports surfaced saying the same thing:

https://www.news18.com/movies/hollywood/chinese-actor-yu-menglongs-final-text-before-death-goes-viral-they-may-kill-me-anytime-9607078.html

If you don't see anything wrong when a ML basically stalks the FL, even though she clearly doesn't want to be found to the extent of hiding her identity, and then proceeds to lock her up to prevent her from escaping and wrings her neck when she doesn't want to obey, then sorry, I can't help you.

Yeah there are a lot of gatekeepers, as if we are sheeples that have the same tastes and are not allowed to have different options. SMH

Probably the writers thought that Haruka will be jealous if her boyfriend rocks girl clothes/makeup better than she does! Hahah, but I agree with you, somehow they have more chemistry with Hikaru dressed up as a girl. Maybe it's because he's more confident that way. Also I got so used to Hikaru's visuals as a girl, one of the most convincing portrayals IMO, that I almost forget what he looks like as a man.

Don't get me started on how the word "masterpiece" is being bandied around so much that it lost all essence of its original meaning. God forbid Leonardo Da Vinci will ever hear his masterpiece is in the same league as all these "masterpieces." I'm pretty sure he will roll in his grave.

No, you have to pay to watch. And the app is not in English.

Akane’s journey to discover her voice — and the band’s eventual fusion of clashing styles — was the emotional core. The creative friction, the push-and-pull of personalities, resonated far more than the late-stage romantic subplot, which felt like an afterthought. If there had to be romance, I’d have preferred the adaptation stick to the novel’s original ending with Kazushi. Naoki, written as emotionally detached (possibly neurodivergent or asexual), didn’t need a love arc. His most compelling dynamic wasn’t with Akane at all, but with Sho — the hot-headed guitarist whose chemistry with Naoki sparked more than any scripted romance. And yes, I only realized halfway through that Sho was the same actor from Cherry Magic. Oops.

While it never reached the fluffy warmth of I Will Be Your Bloom, Glass Heart had far more, well, heart. Takeru Satoh’s portrayal of Naoki was quietly devastating — especially during that haunting English solo, which nearly made me swoon for someone supposedly incapable of inspiring swoons. The production was sleek, but the pacing veered into rollercoaster territory, leaving little room for nuanced character development. Naoki’s sudden emotional pivot toward Akane felt especially forced, undermining the careful restraint that had defined him.

Despite the uneven emotional payoff, Akane’s arc held firm. For a moment, I feared she’d be overshadowed by Yukino (played with quiet magnetism by Takaishi Akarii), but Akane remained the beating heart of the story. Glass Heart may stumble in its execution, but it delivers a resonant message: finding your rhythm isn’t about being the loudest — it’s about being heard.

This drama had me from the premise alone: a small-statured, big-dreaming drummer joining a band of musical prodigies. Akane’s underdog energy was irresistible — the kind of aspirational grit that makes you root for her even before she picks up the sticks. I expected romance to creep in, as it often does, but then came Naoki: reclusive, obsessive, and seemingly married to music. From that moment, I knew this wasn’t going to be a love story — at least not the kind with roses and longing glances. This was about artistry, ambition, and the messy business of finding your own sound.

Full review in the Spoiler below:

The beginning is slow, yes, but it earns its pace by laying out Eun Gyeol’s family dynamic with care. Ryeo Un, whom I hadn’t seen before, delivers a quietly compelling performance — a son caught between sound and silence, duty and dream. He doesn’t overplay it, and that restraint makes his emotional beats land harder. Seol In Ah, usually relegated to supporting roles, gets to stretch here. Playing two distinct characters, she’s versatile and surprisingly grounded.

On the other hand, I was less convinced by Choi Hyun Wook. I couldn’t decide if he was overacting or if the writing forced his hand, but the disconnect between his youthful portrayal of I-chan and the subdued adult version (played by Choi Won Young) was jarring. It stood out even more when compared to that with Yun Cheong A — a character, played by two actresses and yet they somehow kept the character’s essence intact across timelines. That consistency made her arc more emotionally resonant.

Now about the time travel mechanics? Just suspend your disbelief. The drama isn’t about that. It’s about perspective — how seeing someone’s past can reshape your understanding of them. Eun Gyeol learns to see his parents not as obstacles, but as people with their own silent battles. The theme of communication runs deep, especially in a story where three characters are deaf/mute. Their condition forces effort, while others (like Cheong A’s stepmother) weaponize silence. The older I Chan’s outburst — “How will I know if you don’t tell me your dreams?” — hits like a gut punch, because it tells you that communication IS important.

Then there’s warmth too: I Chan’s grandmother feeding a band of teenagers despite her humble means, grounding the show in small acts of love. I wasn’t here for the romance, and honestly, I wanted more closure on Eun Gyeol’s parents — how I Chan and Cheong A found each other again after the timeline shift. And the ending? I wish it leaned into earned understanding rather than rewriting their lives into glossy success. A return to their humble beginnings, with Eun Gyeol choosing to communicate and pursue music anyway, would’ve been more honest. The “magic eraser” ending felt too clean.

Still, if you overlook the shortcuts, Twinkling Watermelon is a warm, thoughtful drama. Not a masterpiece — let’s retire that word for a while — but a story that understands the power of perspective, and the quiet revolution of being truly heard.

I almost didn’t pick this up. The title, the poster, the vibes — everything screamed slice-of-life, and that genre and I have a long-standing cold war. But the internet wouldn’t shut up about it. “Best thing since sliced bread,” they said. I caved. And while I won’t echo that sentiment (and don’t get me started on the word "masterpiece" — it’s been diluted to the point where it’s lost all meaning --- even my 10/10 favorites don’t get that crown), I’ll concede: Twinkling Watermelon is quite good.

Full Review in the spoiler below:

Wholeheartedly agree, I don't trust inflated ratings on iQiyi or Even Viki. I trust MDL ratings more. God forbid Thai BL shows are on Douban ..they are one of the most critical raters among all platforms that make IMDB look like they are being kind by giving a 6.

For an extensive look:

https://www.youtube.com/live/6cgyw_oHLvY?si=902czgDqzNyWhtHi

It's because the government is doing its best to cover this story up. How can they catch the criminals when they are the ones who are complicit in this?

https://www.youtube.com/live/6cgyw_oHLvY?si=902czgDqzNyWhtHi

Exactly!!! Some people who have not lived in a communist regime will not know how the "law" works there. There's no such thing as a "fair" law in China! The law in China only serves one Party, and often the will of one man! For those people who live in "democratic" societies, and thinking that Egad!!! how can there be state-sponsored Crimes??? It's just as naive as thinking that politicians tell no lies.

Before his death, YML sent out distress signals during has last live streams at the end of August. There are also other videos of him with bruises (from abuse) and that he mentioned that he was being watched. In the same live stream, he said that if one day he disappears, it would not be an accident, and his team suddenly cut this live stream short.

The details of his death are quickly covered up and does not add up. If it was truly an accident , why nobody among the 17 people tried to find him. Nobody thought to call the police until a bystander found his body. Neighbors reported that a group of people were moving boxes in the middle of the night out of the apartments around the time of his death. Sound suspicious if you ask me.

Being Chinese and my family having lived in China, I am not surprised at all by this. It's pretty much like their MO, to cover up, but this time probably for whatever reason, it gathered steam because of the CCTV videos floating around of moments he was being treated before his death.

Money laundering through the guise of investing in entertainment is nothing new. It is a tactic that the triads used in Hong Kong, and well-substantiated by first hand testimony of famous actors who spoke out after years of pressure. There are several high profile cases of forced participation, with some going as far as Kidnapping and blackmail for any type of refusal. There is only 1 or 2 reported deaths related to this activity, but there could be more, mostly covered up and nobody can be any wiser.

So if the rumors are true, that YML indeed had solid evidence that he was trying to bargain for his freedom, then there's only one way out of this ---which is death. For him to think that he had leverage was probably naive of him, or perhaps really, he just wants to live the quiet life that he did when he spent years in that province becoming a teacher. It was just unfortunate for him that his kindness was seen as a weakness, and the people he trusted ended up betraying him.

Okay I'm not annoyed at him now because he's making sure that the ship is sailing.

Just going to rant here that the shadow demon is so damn annoying. End rant. EP 7 for reference.

Hahaha. I binge watch to avoid situations like this where I spend time going lost in rabbit holes while waiting for next episode. 9 times out of 10, after I watch a drama I move on. Because I find myself spending too much time on the net doing "useless" things when I could have spent that same time to watch another drama or another anime. I'm quite ambitious, with my drama, anime, manga or book list. I keep adding titles and they never seem to go down. So I don't want to be a "hoarder" of titles and put a cap on each list. Like no more adding dramas if I don't reduce my Plan To Watch under 70 titles. Previous goal post was no more than 50 but it's hard to maintain. The only lists I've managed to keep under 50 is my manga and anime list. I don't want to even talk about my book list which has over 200 titles. Hahahhaa

Same here. I didn't watch the show until Episode 8 or 9 was released. I make it a habit NOT to watch a show while it's airing because I prefer to binge watch. Mostly it's because I have no patience to wait a week for the next episode and more importantly, I prefer for the rating to "settle down" before watching.

But I got bored with my "Main" watch. (Usually one of the longer dramas that I alternate with shorter ones. I make it a point to be from a different genre from a different country) anyway so I said what the heck and made a plan to only watch 2 episodes per week of this series. Which I did for the first couple weeks until I got the flu last week and stayed in bed and watched all the way up to 13 and now I'm stuck in a position where I hate the most so I'm lurking in the comment section.

I already broke my first promise of NOT going to watch this series because I dislike Omegaverse/MPREGs in mangas/anime/manhuas/donghua/etc. I refused to watch PitBabe for the same reason, and for the fear of giving it a bad rating because of my bias. But you know, curiousity killed the cat.