Secret Lover – Series Review & Episode Guide

Jun Xi and Tuo met when they were kids. Tuo was this shy little kid who'd sit alone on the playground while everyone else played. His home situation was a mess. His mom had mental health problems, while his dad never showed any affection. Their marriage was crumbling, so Tuo grew up feeling alone. One day, Jun Xi invited him to play. He introduced him to his other friend, Xiao Yang. Now, there were three of them. They'd hang out and play games. Tuto was still the quiet one, but Jun Xi and Xiao Yang pulled him out of his shell.

Fast forward to university. Jun Xi and Tuo are still best friends, practically joined at the hip. Tuo grew up to be tall and gorgeous, so the girls flock to him. For years, Jun Xi thought his friend was a total player. From what he could see, Tuo always had a girlfriend. Different girl, same story. Yet, none of these relationships ever lasted. Meanwhile, Jun Xi has no romantic experience. He's way more interested in grinding through video game levels than going on actual dates. He envies Tuo's ability to get all this attention from girls.

Jun Xi and Xiao Yang are both studying programming together. Jun Xi realizes he might want to try dating her. So, he asks Tuo for dating advice. Tuo agrees to be his dating coach and offers to take Jun Xi on a practice date. They go to the movies, where Tuo shows off his moves. He reaches over and hand-feeds Jun Xi popcorn. His hand lingers on Jun Xi's thigh. For something that's supposed to be practice, it feels real. Jun Xi gets flustered. Like, embarrassingly flustered. He becomes aroused and has to escape to the washroom. With a smirk, Tuo follows him.

Things escalate fast when Tuo pulls Jun Xi into a washroom stall. Tuo says he can help Jun Xi calm down. Jun Xi stands there in shock as Tuo starts undoing his pants. Oh, that's what this "help" means! Jun Xi tries to stop him, but then someone else walks into the washroom. Great timing. They both freeze, bodies pressed close, trying not to make a sound. Tuo uses this as an excuse to let his hands roam. Jun Xi is a mess. He's flustered, overwhelmed, his brain short-circuiting. Eventually, he just gives up trying to resist and lets himself surrender to the moment.

After the washroom incident, Jun Xi feels awkward around Tuo. He's avoiding his friend. Tuo notices the cold shoulder immediately, and it upsets him. During an overnight trip, Xiao Yang picks up on the weird vibes between them. Both guys insist they aren't fighting. Later, Xiao Yang encourages Jun Xi to make up with Tuo. She brings up their childhood, reminds him how the three of them used to be inseparable. That night, Jun Xi and Tuo have to share a bedroom. They're lying side by side, and the tension is overwhelming for Jun Xi.

Secret Lover is about two childhood besties. Already, you have my attention. Friends to lovers? One of my all-time favourite tropes. I'm a sucker for those flashback scenes where little Jun Xi invites lonely Tuo to play. Aww! They share years of history, making it easy to picture them together. The series wins me over any time it focuses on their bond. I like how they take care of each other. Jun Xi always treats Tuo like an important person in his life, which seems very sweet. And vice versa. Tuo matches the definition of ride or die.

Secret Lover is full of drama. Many storylines irritate me because of how unlikable the characters are when things don't go their way. In the first few episodes, Tuo and Jun Xi act like hot messes. Instead of enjoying their scenes, this couple makes my blood boil. Tuo's predatory behaviour is a gigantic red flag. He has zero respect for boundaries and keeps kissing or touching Jun Xi without consent, even when his partner seems uncomfortable. Jun Xi is so indecisive and avoids honest conversations. "Oh, it feels weird… But I dunno…" Make up your mind! If you aren't ready for this romance, you need to tell Tuo to back off.

My least favourite part of the series is Tuo. More specifically, I hate his possessive behaviour. Congratulations! You're like that walking toxic trope found in every stereotypical BL drama. Either he gets jealous over nothing or feels insecure about everything. Someone looked at Jun Xi? Panic mode. Jun Xi talked to another human? Time to sulk. The story ties it to his family trauma. Tuo has mommy-and-daddy abandonment issues, which explains why he clings to Jun Xi. Look, I feel bad for him, but it doesn't make his character less annoying. His personality still sucks!

Secret Lover is based on an 18+ manga, so it has many steamy scenes. Not full-on softcore porn, but spicier than your average cotton-candy BL. These guys are all over each other. Kissing everywhere, hands wandering down there… It delivers enough heat to make us sweat. To be fair, it's not all thirst. There are sweet moments tucked between the horniness. In Episode 7, the couple shares a goodbye kiss. Then, Tuo turns around to kiss Jun Xi once more because he can't help himself. That made me smile! When Tuo behaves appropriately, this romance can be kinda cute.

Secret Lover is easy on the eyes. With soft lighting and pretty colours, these gorgeous visuals make the romance so much dreamier. Both leads are styled perfectly to look like heartthrobs. Whenever they share a romantic moment, the camera finds the best angle for intimate close-ups. And of course, they always make out in perfectly lit rooms with gentle music swelling in the background. Yeah, the series knows how to set the mood! As for the performances? The two leads are fine. Not amazing… Just fine. Tuo's actor (Chance Ying) seems kinda wooden in some scenes.

The first half of Secret Lover is relationship drama hell. Jun Xi and Tuo's scenes together get on my last nerve! The second half focuses more on work and family issues. While some moments still frustrate me, the last few episodes are easier to watch. The finale ties everything up nicely. All the storylines get wrapped up with a bow on top. It's satisfying enough that I scrapped my scathing review and wrote a gentler critique. Secret Lover still isn't my favourite BL drama. Not by a long shot. The couple annoyed me so much that I could never truly love this series.