Secret Relationships – Series Review & Episode Guide

Daon works as an Assistant Manager at Albi Construction. He holds a well-respected position at this successful company, and his career prospects appear promising. Most colleagues only have lovely things to say about his personality and work habits. They also assume he comes from a wealthy family because he likes luxury brands. Although Daon never confirms anything about his personal life, he allows the rumours to sit.

Behind his polished image, Daon has a complicated past. His father is a gambling addict with heavy debt, and Daon grew up with financial hardship in his youth. As an adult, he cut ties after his father tried to ask him for money. He ignores the calls and keeps his new address private. His long-time friend Jaemin encouraged this decision. With Jaemin's support, Daon has freed himself from his family and feels happier as a result.

Jaemin used to tutor Daon in high school. When Daon couldn't afford lessons, Jaemin continued to teach him for free. Daon appreciates his generosity, especially since it helped him gain admission to a top school. Subsequently, he secured a job that has provided him with financial independence. Years later, Jaemin now works as a university professor and remains close to Daon. Secretly, Daon has feelings for Jaemin that go beyond friendship and plans to confess his love.

On the morning of the confession, Daon nearly gets into an accident. A stranger named Seonghyeon pulls him out of danger. However, Daon is annoyed because his expensive watch, a special gift from Jaemin, breaks during the incident. He blames Seonghyeon and even expects compensation for the damages. Later, Daon learns that Seonghyeon is the new employee at his company. Their earlier encounter leaves a negative impression, and their professional dynamic continues to deteriorate.

While Daon prepares to confess to Jaemin, an unexpected situation unfolds. Their university friend, Suhyeon, has suddenly returned to South Korea after several years in the United States. Suhyeon used to date Jaemin and had a violent temper. Daon witnessed his physical abuse and cut him out of his life. When Suhyeon tries to reconnect, Daon refuses all contact while asking Jaemin to keep his distance. Daon feels unsettled when he notices Jaemin and Suhyeon meeting in private.

I enjoy Secret Relationships in the same way I like psychological thrillers. Think Gillian Flynn, Stephen King, or any author known for dark stories with twists and turns. This BL drama follows a similar style. Each episode makes you gasp at the shocking events! Or clutch your pearls over the scandalous plots! Some characters behave like evil bastards who manipulate and intimidate others to get what they want. While Secret Relationships isn't pleasant, the series can be fascinating because the villains stir up lots of conflict.

Unfortunately, the writing feels too basic. Psychological thrillers work best when they present complex plots with moral ambiguity and memorable villains with many layers. Yet, Secret Relationships never reaches that level of depth. The characters stay one-dimensional and don't grow beyond simple traits. The protagonist is The Victim, his love interest is The Hero, and the antagonists are The Psychos. I wish their backstories or personalities had more nuance. Yes, we get a few random flashbacks of Daon's university days… But no, these scenes are too vague and don't reveal much information.

Our protagonist, Daon, is in high demand with three love interests. I find it hard to understand why they're all in love with him. Is it only because of his looks? Daon simply exists with a bland personality and a vacant stare, but that's enough to attract everyone. Jaemin and Suhyeon grow so obsessed that they'd ruin their lives for him. Seonghyeon also becomes mindlessly infatuated with Daon, even though they hated each other at the start. Some of their scenes are cute, but the enemy-to-lovers arc feels forced. I suspect they're only in love because the plot says so.

Thanks to the excellent cinematography, the cast always looks their best in every scene. I'd like to highlight Jaemin's actor (Kim Ho Young), who gives a strong performance. Even when the plot becomes over-the-top near the end, his emotions remain persuasive. Seonghyeon is played by a capable actor (Cha Sun Hyung), whose natural likability makes the character feel down-to-earth. The telegenic Daon (Kim Jun Seo) looks as pretty as a doll, but his performance isn't always great. Suhyeon (Cha Jung Woo) also exaggerates too much with his expressions.

Secret Relationships pushes boundaries with sensitive topics. Domestic abuse! Attempted rape! Self-harm! If the story wants to shock the viewers, it succeeds. Consider me startled, stunned, and psychologically scarred. Yet, the series goes overboard with excessive trauma. Instead of developing the romance, it's fixated on the evil characters and their toxic drama. Eventually, the whole story revolves around how the villains harm the protagonists, which isn't my idea of entertainment. I stopped enjoying the episodes because the constant melodrama is exhausting.

Overall, Secret Relationships isn't one of my favourites, and I have no desire to rewatch it. However, I actually liked the over-the-top finale! The villain becomes so deranged that his antics are captivating. The last episode also has some lovey-dovey moments. While I'm iffy on the romance, the couple wins a few extra points with me. Despite all its faults, this memorable drama leaves a strong impression. Most of all, I appreciate the story for being unique. There aren't many BL psychological thrillers, so it's good that Secret Relationships brings more variety to the genre.