Reviews

Pretty Good

I’ll start off saying that if it wasn’t for the leads, this drama wouldn’t have received as high a score as I gave it. Initially I wanted to say the only thing that saved it was the music, but changed my mind after watching it all the way through.

The casting and acting for every role other than the leads felt like I was watching a middle school production. Editing was bad in several places and the supporting cast was super weak.

I could tell from the first appearance of the ML’s brother that he was the villain. His smile was too fake, his praise and friendliness was artificial. He had no concept of how to look genuine but be a slime ball. His wife was a little better, but not much. She was too obvious.

The FL’s ex, who happened to be the ML’s cousin was just a terrible actor. You could tell he was nervous by his aggressively over-acted “passion”. His kisses were forced and awkward. Every kiss scene with him looked like he probably gave the women a swollen lip because he crashed into them repeatedly.

Even the ML and FL’s grandfathers were extremely awkward.

I preface this by saying that I apologize if something had happened to this actor to cause speech issues. I am saying this S someone who has no knowledge of his oersonal life experiences but you could hardly understand him as his words were so slurred and blended together (kudos to those who managed to extract anything intelligible from his speaking).

The ML’s grandfather was supposed to be a domineering retired CEO but he was more like a bullied student who relied on a practiced false bravado enforced by his clicking cane shoe tapping.

There was bad editing as well as sound effects. For example, the scene where the ML steps out from behind a tree that the FL is looking at straight on and his shoes are making noise on dirt and grass. And just before he steps out from behind the tree, the camera had shown noone behind the tree as they showed her looking at it. Tgen the scene where the FL was in the “forbidden” bedroom and had picked up a framed photo to look at. initially it was facing the wall opposite the headboard. But when she put it down it was facing the bed. When they showed the FL leaving the room the photo was back to its original position even though she hadn’t touched it again.

Like I said, the leads carried this drama. The script seemed to be pretty well done for a short episode drama, but there was a lot of time spent on reminiscing the past in the last few episodes. So the production fell a little short also.

The leads were very cute together and seemed to have good chemistry. Their acting didn’t feel forced or awkward. Their physical contact wasn’t uncomfortable to watch, but seemed like they truly had affection for each other. Their facial and eye expressions were also on point.

If half of the cast had been left out, they still would have carried the rest on their performances.

Even though this review seems negative, I actually enjoyed it even though I am not a fan of short dramas. If you take anything away from this review, take this:

Watch the drama. Toss aside logical thought for a while and enjoy the leads. It’s really not that bad.

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Moonlit Reunion was one of my most awaited dramas of the year.. But guess what, it didn’t live up to my expectations.. Maybe it’s just me.. Maybe I was in the wrong mood, or maybe my expectations were set too high.. I wanted more.. In the end, I could just barely bring myself to give it 8 stars.. The story felt a bit too stop and start for my liking.. Almost every time it seemed to be building momentum, it slowed down again.. With the kind of material they had, the drama really should have kept ramping things up consistently until the end, but it doesn’t..

The visuals were top notch and I really loved the cinematography.. The VFX though, were a mixed bag.. When they were good, they were really good.. But when they were bad, they were just plain bad.. Some scenes felt outright poorly done.. And the action scenes looked well coordinated.. It’s always fun to watch action mixed with magic, spells and demons and they did a good job with that..

I stopped counting the number of guys in her life halfway through the drama.. They really could have eased up on it after the incident with her cousin.. But no they had to bring in yet another guy in the very next episode.. The ML and FL already know they love each other, so what more do they need to prove?? Honestly they could have used that time to explore more important story arcs.. Twenty episodes in and we have only caught glimpses of how good the drama could have been.. If they had just cut out this unnecessary nonsense, the drama wouldn’t have felt so dragged out and would have been far more interesting.. Instead halfway through, we still don’t have an established story to follow, we are just stuck watching him get jealous over the nth guy..

They both have their secrets.. So how is this relationship supposed to work?? I can understand her reason for keeping it hidden, obviously.. But him?? He could have told her about himself, at least before marriage.. I guess his silence comes down to that promise he made to never speak of it again and the fear of losing the person he loves most if he broke it.. Still I think he could have handled it better.. Anyway, their breakup was inevitable.. When it finally happened, it was long, hard and painful.. But it had to be done for them to start over I guess..

Xu Kai was impressive.. He had very limited action scenes.. His fights, even though short and scarce it created expectations.. If he had a full blown fight, it would have been awesome.. That whole speech to the Miasma Demon after, ‘ Do you know what kind of person she is?? ’ was damn good.. And then the use of his sword with the line, ‘ Since it’s a secret, you should take it to the grave along with your life.. ’ Absolute 10/10 scene.. His face off with the FL was also really good.. Tian Xi Wei was equally impressive.. Their romance and chemistry were good.. Their romance was another thing we just didn’t get enough of..

I definitely need to talk about Wu Zi Shu, the FL’s sidekick.. Honestly, his track record is as evil as it gets.. He killed countless demons to harvest their cores to make her a full demon, without her knowledge obviously.. He kidnapped her while she was with the ML and unleashed the demonic fire, which could have killed countless innocents and the ML as well if he was an ordinary person.. He killed her evil cousin and his girls, revived her archnemesis Elder Hui and even released the dream demon to wreak havoc during her wedding.. He also had a hand in the demonic fire incident 18 years ago, manipulated Hu Zhu into a reckless chase that got her hurt and used that rat Elder Hui again to hurt Liu Tai Zhen and ended up killing Xuan Hui.. He said some nasty things to the ML that made the FL sound like an adulteress with immoral relationships.. On top of all this, he was the mastermind behind the demon uprising which he staged to lure the Changxi Palace to Chang’an and spark a war between humans and demons.. So, someone who did all of this and how did he pay for his sins?? With an easy death.. His last moments were the best he could get considering everything he did, that was kindness overflowing from the writers.. The more I think of it, the more it annoys me..

The last arc had its moments but again, it was underwhelming.. The amnesia storyline dragged on for too long.. The villains were defeated too easily and we still didn’t get a full blown action sequence..

I would say the script was good.. It’s just my personal feeling that’s swaying me toward so many negative remarks.. I am tired of good scripts being butchered for the writers kink for angst and jealousy.. This drama is a prime example of what could have been.. Such a powerful script with talented actors, not just the main leads but the supporting cast too.. If only they had refined the story and fine tuned it, it could have been so much better.. The ending comes a little too fast for my liking.. The last task felt very short and rushed.. And why did it have to be a rushed ending?? I mean you had 38 episodes to play with, yet we get another rushed conclusion.. Even though there is a post credits scene, it doesn’t feel like enough..

P.S. It seems the CDrama industry is blessing Cheng Lei with all its satisfactorily ending dramas…

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Two sides to every story

This drama really does show the true meaning of "two sides to every story" ...
I think it's really impressive in the first several episodes how we see the story from Kazuya's side and then it's followed up by seeing the same situation from Misao's side. It's done in a brilliant way to make us understand what each character is going through. You sort of change your opinion as you see it from both sides, sometimes for the good, sometimes not so good.
Both these characters definitely need each other and change each other for the better by the end. Taiki Sato does a great job at making you dislike him in the beginning. He's self centered, uses women and doesn't feel any regret in his actions, but somewhere along the way, he's changed by Misao, played extremely well by Ai Mikami. Great chemistry between these two actors makes it an extremely believable relationship.
As usual, there's always several antagonists to get in the way of true happiness for this couple. If you can tolerate the annoying interference from other people, and believe me, it does become annoying ... but if you can put up with that, this turns out to be a really good story.
The supporting cast fits well, too. There are several other side stories happening, and seemingly they all play into each other as you get to the conclusion in the final episode.
Also ... a very unique opening credit scene at the start of each episode. The splattering of colored paint landing on the actors, just fantastic!
Overall, a very enjoyable series!!!

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I started watching this movie, "Journey to the Shore" at the beginning, I was smiling seeing Sang-Beom and Min-ha hang out together, and I was blushing after seeing them kiss! I was a bit shocked to see that Min-ha got injured on the beach, and I'm glad that Sang-Beom helped him., I was a bit mad that in school, four girls were making fun of Min-ha with someone else, but it was a bit weird and embarrassing after seeing Min-ha touch the part of the girl. Sang-Beom and Min-ha walked together. I feel like Min-ha has struggled with his mental health, and I feel the same way as him. But at the end, in the middle, including before, I was very happy seeing them having fun, then change, and I felt upset that Min-ha broke up with Sang-beo, and I was a bit upset, and Sang-beom was upset as well. At the end, I feel like Min-ha might have committed Suicide or gone somewhere for a better life. I enjoyed it and love them so much!

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Sights, Sounds, Lights: The Takeru Satoh Show

I was really looking forward to this one. As a music lover (and someone actually involved in music), I’m always hunting for idol dramas that don’t just fake it, but actually let the cast play and compose. This one went straight to the top of my list, and since it’s my first J-idol drama, I had to be all over it. The very first scene hit me like a bass drop, my musical heart was doing jumping jacks. Pro tip: watch it with good headphones. Who needs overpriced concert tickets anyway?

I already knew Takeru would eat this role alive, but wow… he didn’t just serve, he overserved. Later I found out he was also producing, which explains why the whole drama had his fingerprints smudged all over it. Honestly, it was The Takeru Show with a supporting cast. He’s always had range, but after being quiet in romance land for a while, he’s back with fresh energy, first in Marry My Husband (2025) and now here.I don't know about you but I will surely say with assurance that this is probably his best work so far. Although this isn’t Takeru’s first music drama rodeo—he already rocked the stage in the 2010 music film BECK, Glass Heart takes things a step further. Not only does he shine as the lead character, but behind the scenes (as seen in the making-of documentary) he also embodies the role of a perfectionist producer who refuses to settle for anything less than flawless.

Now, J-drama female leads are a very… particular species. Most come from manga adaptations, which means they sometimes feel robotic or cartoonish. But Saijo Akane (played by Miyazaki Yu) gave me something different. She brought energy and grit. Even when the story threw her down the romance lane only to reveal the road was under construction, she didn’t just sit in the ditch and sulk. Nope. She picked up those drums, banged them like her life depended on it, and forced her emotions to spill out. Being the only woman in an all-male band is never easy, but she didn’t pull the gender card, she earned her spot on pure talent, even when the pushback was real.

And then there’s Takaoka Sho, the guitarist (Machida Keita). Stunning. Every time he appeared, it felt like the screen paused just to admire him. Whoever styled him deserves a bouquet of roses and maybe even a standing ovation. You can always tell when an actor’s a pro, they step in, say two lines (or none at all), and still manage to own the scene. Takaoka didn’t talk much, but he didn’t need to. His lead guitar did the speaking, and honestly, it said plenty. When his backstory unfolded, it became clear why he carried such a quiet, unassuming demeanor. Among the group he was the only one who understood Naoki the "god". When Naoki collapsed for the tenth time, He said as he pushed him on a loading cart "I survived long enough to qualify as the one to take care of him" and no one dared to stop him.

Now for the one that got away: Sakamoto Kazushi, the keyboardist (Shison Jun). Wasted potential. He could’ve shined as the composer, but instead they shoved him into the unnecessary love rival role. Zero chance from the start. Wrong drama, wrong lane. He was like the middleman stuck between warring warlords, only to find himself on the wrong side of the fence every time. Half the time I thought he was about to quit. But he learned quickly that mixing business with pleasure on a Yamaha keyboard is a road to nowhere. No recovery, no redemption, just a geek who didn’t belong in a class of masters. Honestly, he deserves a refund.

And let’s not forget Shinzaki Toya. My dramaland friend Jojo said, “Shinzaki Toya isn't the one to be ignored” and I couldn’t agree more. Played by the man who gave us 'Don’t Call It Mystery" Suda Masaki was given a character that sneaks into a script like an extra seasoning, and suddenly you wonder how you ever ate the dish without it. Toya was exactly that, the pot stirrer. At first, I didn’t know what his role even was, but soon I realized: he was the caffeine shot keeping me awake, and the rival keeping Naoki the god on his toes. When their relationship finally got revealed, the whole puzzle clicked into place. And let’s be honest, Toya was the spice that kept everything from going bland.

The first half? Pure music magic. I was hooked from scene one. But the second half… oh boy. They sprinkled in romance and angst, and suddenly I was fighting sleep. The chemistry just wasn’t there. It felt less like love and more like the FL had a crush on her band mentor. Even when the ML confessed, it sounded less like passion and more like him testing out new lyrics. In the end, It didn't really matter because I had came for the music, and for about 60% of the runtime, I got it. And credit where it’s due: Japanese cinematography is always next-level. Every frame, every sound felt intentional, like they were tuning your emotions the way you’d tune a guitar.

Final verdict: if you love music, breathtaking cinematography (think ASMR with visuals), and Takeru Satoh (yes, he’s everywhere), this one’s for you. For a very long time I have been looking for a music drama that us real,raw and gripping, I think my search ends here with Glass Heart.


As it is our tradition with Idol dramas, we can't end this yap without an OST which I have on repeat mode,TENBLANK the band in the drama has an Album title "Glass Heart" of cause.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6L1YyT69ix0i35s0056fbz?si=HGMaEOu0TNGkCiRiHYS6vg

"The Making of Glass Heart" is another rollercoaster on its own,it shows how much work,dedication,blood sweat and tears went into the making this drama..

https://youtu.be/dUgbRwfyjXg?si=3HG4ko03tg5MHAtz

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too amateurish

The series is too amateurish, the story is shallow, it's a shame. The girls are nice, but unfortunately nothing good can be done in a poor quality series. A completely useless series, which shows that it was filmed only to be turned into another GL series. Here it only relies on the fandom of girls to applaud, but anyone who watches it disinterestedly must be disappointed (personally I think that even the girls are not enthusiastic about it, after all, they would like to show their talent and not just their appearance). It's a shame, it ruins the girls' acting careers, in my opinion.

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The leads have great chemistry and loved Lee Je Hoon in this!

When I started this drama, I was so surprised and it was such a pleasant surprise to see Lee Je Hoon portray a character so different from the one in Where Stars Land, because that was his only other drama I had seen so far.

From the near robotic yet solemn guy to this charismatic jovial guy, he has done such a good job in bringing both characters to life. It was fun watching him.

The story could have been better. I have gotten used to some family dramas so I expected things to be a bit over the top when she finds out the reason why he married her. But I like the way things turned out.

It might be worth a rewatch just to see these two cuties work that chemistry.

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will rewatch anytime

Captivating the King gave us a complex, emotionally layered portrayal of power, love, and identity, and Jo Jung-suk and Shin Se-kyung brought such intensity to their roles. The chemistry, the tension, the longing—it’s the kind of drama that leaves you wanting more. “Captivating the King” left me emotionally wrecked—in the best way. Jo Jung-suk’s portrayal of King Lee In was magnetic, and Shin Se-kyung’s duality as Hee-soo/Mong-woo added layers of intrigue and heartbreak. I’m still thinking about that final baduk scene under the tree. I’d love to see a Season 2 that explores their journey now that the masks are off and the throne is secure. There’s so much more story to tell, and I’m not ready to say goodbye.” Captivating the King wrecked me—in the most beautiful way. Jo Jung-suk and Shin Se-kyung gave us a love story wrapped in secrets, strategy, and soul. That final baduk scene? I’m still not over it.

We need Season 2. Not just for closure, but to see how King Lee In and Hee-soo navigate love and power now that the masks are off. Their story isn’t finished—it’s just beginning.

📣 To the writers, producers, and tvN: the fans are ready. Let’s continue this masterpiece. #CaptivatingTheKing #Season2Please #JoJungSuk #ShinSeKyung #KdramaLove

I’ve found a few stunning visuals that would work beautifully with your post. These include:

Jo Jung-suk in regal attire, radiating quiet strength

Shin Se-kyung in disguise, eyes full of secrets

Their emotional reunion under the tree in the final episode

Teaser posters with dramatic lighting and palace intrigue vibes
Captivating the King” was more than a drama—it was a poetic storm of love, betrayal, and redemption. Jo Jung-suk and Shin Se-kyung gave us a story that deserves more chapters.

We need Season 2. Let’s see King Lee In and Hee-soo face the future together, not just the past.

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