Glass Heart Review
Director: Kohtaro Goto and Kensaku Kakimoto
Date Created: 2025-07-31 21:22
3.5
Glass Heart Review: Directed by Kohtaro Goto and Kensaku Kakimoto and written by Okada Mari and others, the series is based on the novel by Wakagi Mio. 玻璃之心 / Gurasu Haato features Satoh Takeru as enigmatic Naoki Fujitani, Miyazaki Yu as temperamental drummer Akane Saijo, Machida Keita as laid-back guitarist Sho Takaoka, and Shison Jun as pianist Kazushi Sakamoto. The show runs for 10 episodes with a playing time of approximately 35 minutes per episode. The show is about a band named TENBLANK, their rise to success from being no-name performers, and how music brings together their shattered pasts and uncertain futures.
Glass Heart Review
The Netflix series Glass Heart is about second chances, healing, and the power of performing together. It started with Akane, who is kicked out of her former band just as she is about to go out onto the stage. She is devastated but not destroyed, and she sings a cappella in the rain. This is overheard by Naoki, a talented but troubled musician, who invites her to join his new band. With guitarist Sho and pianist Kazushi, they become TENBLANK. From here on out, the journey with them takes them through their peaks and valleys on stage and off, attempting to work out their individual pain, popularity, and friendship.
While watching this series, I spent a lot of time pondering the power of music to bring people together. Though you may not be able to understand the words, you can feel it. The Japanese drama Glass Heart capitalises on this feeling to capture the viewer. The characters are not whole: some broken, some lost, but when they are creating music, they are whole. That is the beauty of this drama.
The best thing about Glass Heart is definitely its music. Their performance numbers are energetic and full of life. It gives you the feel that when TENBLANK plays, you’re with them. The actors really learned to play their instruments, and it shows. The songs written by seasoned Japanese musicians such as Yojiro Noda and Taka of ONE OK ROCK are catchy and moving. I rewound some of the performances because they worked so well.
Japanese musical drama Glass Heart is particularly good at demonstrating how music is a healing force. Each of the band members has his own pain—Naoki has secrets, Akane is lost, Sho is introverted but intense, and Kazushi is quietly depressed. But when they take the stage, all of that is forgotten. It’s an escape—not just for them, but for us, the audience, as well.
But after the music stops, the drama itself isn’t that interesting. Sometimes it feels too slow or dragged out. There were simply too many episodes where I was anticipating the next episode instead of really caring about what would happen between episodes. The romantic sub-plot was particularly disappointing. The entire thing seemed to be inserted because every drama “needs” one, not because it mattered to the characters.
My only gripe is the character of Akane. Miyazaki Yu tries her best, and she is beautiful on the drums. In every other aspect of life, however, Akane hardly has room to breathe. She merely responds to circumstances and not to actions. I wish there were more dramatic scenes or plot twists for her. It is difficult when the leading lady is the weakest.
Also Read: Unspeakable Sins Review: The Mexican Erotic Thriller Is More Exhausting Than Exciting
Conversely, Satoh Takeru’s Naoki is melodramatic and mysterious, just right for the show. He overacts at times, but in line with the unstable rockstar image. I loved Sho befriending him. Machida Keita, the actor who portrays Sho, has subtle charm and inner emotion. Their scenes were realistic, and there was more chemistry than in any of the show’s love triangles. Kazushi, portrayed by Shison Jun, also has a soft emotional presence, and I wish his story had more attention too.
Japanese series Glass Heart also features some decent supporting cast in the shape of Toya, a confident singer, and Miyako, TENBLANK’s relaxed manager. They bring some diversity to the drama, although again, some of their histories are sketched out instead of being fleshed out. But they do bring some depth with their acting, especially in the musical numbers.
Netflix’s Glass Heart is a visually pleasing film. The concert footage is nicely shot, with elegant lighting and smooth-as-silk camera work that captures the excitement of a rock concert. The fashion, especially Naoki’s flashy jackets, rounds out the rock band look. It is not difficult to see the care taken to make the show look and sound terrific.
Summing Up
Glass Heart is not perfect. The plot gets all muddled up here and there, and the romance is poor. The characters are wasted, and others, like Akane, were poorly written. But for all of that, I still enjoyed watching it, mostly due to the music. It reminds us how music can express things we can’t say. It brings people together, heals them, and makes them go on. That was a message that really resonated with me.
Also Read: An Honest Life Review: Rebellion, Romance, and Regret in a Misguided Thriller
