A Secretly Love – Series Review & Episode Guide

Prod is an engineering student with a secret crush on Pluem. He has liked Pluem since high school, ever since their first encounter seven years ago. When they met, Pluem accidentally kicked a ball into Prod's head. He apologized and checked on him, tending to his injury. His caring nature made Prod's heart flutter. Prod's friends, Pi and Tam, encourage him to confess. During Pluem's graduation, Prod expresses his feelings through an anonymous gift. When Prod receives no response, he's left feeling disappointed.

Seven years later, Prod is still pining after Pluem as they attend the same university. Both are in the engineering department. Pluem has a reputation for dating many girls, but his relationships always end in dramatic breakups. Recently, he's left heartbroken after Soi dumps him. Pluem refuses to move on and pleads for Soi to take him back. Soi's best friend and roommate, Froi, comes up with a plan. She suggests faking a relationship with Soi to make Pluem give up. Soi agrees and pretends to be with Froi, but Pluem remains determined to win her back. Also, Soi doesn't realize that Froi is secretly in love with her.

Prod lives with his single mother, who suffers from an incurable illness. As her medical expenses pile up, money becomes a constant struggle. Prod feels responsible for looking after her, but the financial pressure weighs heavily on him. He works a part-time job at a bar, though the income is barely enough to make ends meet. His mother, Prapa, is close friends with their neighbour, Waen, who often visits to chat and lend a helping hand. Waen's daughter is Soi. Since they live nearby, Prod and Soi have a friendly relationship. When Pluem notices their bond, he assumes Prod can help him win back his ex-girlfriend.

Pluem reaches out to Prod, asking him to play matchmaker to win back his ex-girlfriend. Prod feels conflicted. On the one hand, he's happy to spend more time with Pluem. On the other hand, he's stuck helping his crush pursue someone else. Meanwhile, Pluem's friend Jess is also an engineering student. He takes an interest in Prod and tries to get closer to him. Unlike Pluem, who treats Prod coldly, Jess is always supportive. As Prod starts to appreciate Jess's warmth, Pluem's growing jealousy hints that he may not be as indifferent toward Prod as he seems.

A Secretly Love is your typical university BL drama, but the quality seems worse than usual. Most campus romances have a brisk, easygoing pace, whereas this series is painfully slow and uneventful. After setting up the main character's unrequited love in the first episode, the plot drags on. The relationship dynamics stay stagnant until the end, leading to many tedious scenes where nothing meaningful happens. Watching A Secretly Love feels like falling into an eight-hour coma. What a snoozefest!

In every episode, the series repeats the same few plots. Prod secretly likes Pluem, but he never confesses. Pluem tries to win back his ex, yet he always fails. Froi has unspoken feelings for Soi, while Jess pines after Prod. The whole story is a convoluted web of love triangles, except that nothing ever progresses. Each character is stuck in a never-ending cycle of unrequited love. Besides the boring relationship drama, the series also pads the episodes with pointless fluff. The supporting cast is meant to be comic relief, although I never pay attention to their irrelevant conversations.

Pluem is an unlikable character. He treats Prod rudely, pesters Soi after she dumps him, and always appears in a foul mood. While everyone else jokes around, he remains brooding and humourless. I don't understand why the story gives the protagonist so many negative traits, making it hard for viewers to support him. He continues to be a grumpy bastard without much growth. By comparison, Jess is portrayed positively. From his kind personality to his gentleness toward Prod, he seems like a better love interest. I want to root for Jess instead of Pluem.

Prod tests my patience because he's so passive without taking any initiative. I wish he would move on from his unattainable love. After waiting a long, long, longggg time, his romance with Pluem finally makes a little progress. However, there are no real sparks between them. Based on their timid interactions, I don't sense the couple's chemistry or connection. The series thinks having them sleep in the same bed is enough for affection, but I need more material than this. Where's the flirtation? Where's the desire? Why does their relationship journey feel empty?

Prod's actor (Kut) fails to make a strong impression. While his performance isn't terrible, he does little to elevate the one-dimensional protagonist. I'd like to see more personality from him. His co-star (Kimmon) is used to playing livelier characters in past dramas, so Pluem feels like a departure from his regular projects. I admire his willingness to explore beyond his preferred archetype, but this role isn't well-suited for him. From his wooden expressions to his stiff mannerisms, he seems devoid of charisma. Kimmon is more comfortable when he can showcase his cheeky charm.

The cast goes on a trip in the final episodes, and the outdoor scenery is a refreshing change from the stale campus setting. At the last moment, Prod and Pluem acknowledge their feelings. I assumed the finale would be filled with cute, lovey-dovey scenes to compensate for lost time. Instead, the story finishes abruptly without developing their relationship further. My expectations were already low, but now I know better than to hope for any excitement at all. A Secretly Love starts dull and stays dull. From beginning to end, it remains a mind-numbingly boring BL drama.