Secret Relationships

abusive relationships (watch suggestions)

Overall: I have conflicting thoughts on this that I'll try to describe below. Based on a webtoon that I haven't read and will review the series based on its own merits. 8 episodes about 30 minutes each, 2 episodes per week. Aired on GagaOOLala (not available in U.S., Canada, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, U.K., Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5149/secret-relationships-2025 and iQIYI (assuming for countries not covered by Gaga) https://www.iq.com/play/1f4631z99hw?lang=en_us&sh_pltf=4

Content Warnings: implied rape (coercing someone is not consent freely given), sexual assault, non con kissing, self harm, blood, stalking, manhandling, punch, past non con touching, past violence/blood, harassment, manipulation, coercion, cyber bullying, kidnapping, near muder-suicide

Watch Suggestions (to take the abuse out and turn it into a love story of two people)
- episode 1 watch 7-11 and 21:20-29:20
- episode 2 watch 4-5:30, 19-22 and 30-33:50
- episode 3 watch 6:10-7:35, 9:30-10, 13:30-16:25 and 18:10-22.25
- episode 4 watch 11:30-14:40 and 29:20-30:20
- episode 5 watch 11-12:05, 13:15-17:40 and 25-26:45
- episode 6 watch 20:30-22:45
- episode 7 watch 21-22:15 and 26-27
- episode 8 watch 23-35:45 or all the way to the end for a flashback from 12 years ago


What I Liked
- visuals
- the tie tying/sweet moments
- a character recognized his feelings fairly quickly and expressed them
- twists as the viewer learned more about what happened in the past
- showed how emotional abuse is also horrible, interesting as a viewer to see a character more outwardly abusive cast as the villain but then another character is also terrible and does his abuse more covertly
- the grandma
- in episode 8 that a character was able to do his original plan/what he wanted and his love interest didn't hold him back
- production value* (I especially liked in episode 8 how the light changed around 27 minutes)

Room For Improvement
- voice over start
- multiple flashbacks, I appreciate that they were clear and in the beginning it lent to the twistiness of the plot but later it felt like the flashbacks dragged the plot in the present, also the sweet flashbacks at the end were extremely jarring
- nonsense stuff: even though the initial "plan" was stupid and likely not one that anyone has ever made/for that long, a character not telling another character the truth about what happened in the past until the end of episode 6 was infuriating/unrealistic, no one covering a wound in episode 8 in the ambulance, how a character was not immediately in police custody
- not enjoyable to watch 2 abusers fight over Daon, I don't blame Daon, he's been abused and not sure he even recognizes the extent of it, I think the writers made Daon a bit too doe-eyed/naive and was unbelievable like his actions at the end of episode 7
- a character who is supposedly a green flag: kissed Daon back when Daon was extremely drunk/unable to consent, repeatedly ignored Daon's boundaries, borderline lovebombed him and felt obsessive in a unhealthy way, in episode 7 he refused to let Daon explain, he did have some redemption in episode 8 but it wasn't enough for me to fully support/feel confident that they would have a long lasting/healthy relationship
- too much time is spent with the dad and two characters instead of focusing on the main romance/relationship development, a 5 minute montage in episode 8 didn't make this a romance series
- cliche time gap in the final episode (but at least it wasn't too long)
- a 5 minute conversation and 1 action as the redemption arc for a character
- no consequences are mentioned in the finale for a character
- flashback with a cliche at the very end of episode 8
- *some scenes were too dark and needed more light on the actors' faces/bodies

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Light On Me - version Noir

The similarities between those two ends at the four leads, there is quite literally no comparison between the two in terms of themes, or cinematography or story, but both are, in their own rights, some of the best K Dramas I've seen.

This stuff is DARK. Messed up and will mess up your head with a hundred thoughts. The plot is all over the place but so intricately and most importantly, flawlessly connected, that even though it takes around six episodes for all the dots to connect, you can step back and take a look at the bigger picture in the last two and just sigh in awe. The story will keep you on edge, it never got boring even for a second and I truly envy everyone who gets to binge all eight episodes because this is not something you can wait patiently for.

The characters: simply brilliant. The way they were written, of course, but some of them were brilliant as is. The four leads are four very distinct characters, they might share some similar traits but at the end of the day, they're very different. Writing them in such a way not only made for a great plot, but also made for some very interesting internal struggles for the viewers. Trust me, everyone I watched with had a minute deciphering the actions and motivations of the characters.

The acting, the cinematography, the music: all brilliant. They used so much symbolism to foreshadow major plot points, which once again alludes to the moments when you look at the big picture in the last two episodes and just go.. wow..
There were so many plot twists and surprise reveals, one after the other and just wrapping your head around everything that's going on can easily take an hour after each episode, but it is so worth it.

There is one other similarity between Light On Me and Secret Relationships though, now that I think about it, one of the characters is an absolute cinnamon roll and I love him.
Irregardless (he is genuinely amazing), watching this gave my brain some great exercise, I already feel a gaping hole and it hasn't even been an hour since I watched the finale. This is truly one of the best dramas I've watched in a while, scratch that, one of the best dramas I've ever watched.

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IS KOREA STEPPING THEIR GAME UP IN BLS????? ?

swear I always liked a Korean Bl, now I’m liking them even more cus (😩) YES, honestly where do I start? (lol), this had my attention like an obsession ARGHH and I’m lowkey mad this bout to end, and for the people that voted for uhh the abusive one and daon to be together, keep one eye open tonight.. I swear. (cause what the heck are you on?)
feel like you should be locked up in the ward with the abusive one and the maniac one.. they’re both kinda out their minds.. I’m rooting for more Bls like this.. like I’m begging you. if you want my attention span this is all you gotta do is write some ISH like this.. I’m tellin ya, now BL writers take some notes, PLEASE FOR MY SANITY, thank you. ;) gonna keep this ongoing cause I’m gonna rewatch it like my life depend on it.

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This drama is worth watching because everything was perfect. Starting from the filming locations and the general atmosphere to the small details. I liked that there was no long intro. The episode was over 30 minutes long, so without an intro you felt like you were watching those 30 minutes for real. Which is quite rare in Kbl series lately. The way we were shown the flashbacks was very interestingly shown and appropriate. The music was great! It annoys me when the same song plays in every situation on the series . It's often some whiny song that doesn't convey the feeling the characters are having right now. But here everything was different - producers were not afraid to spice things up with good music.
Speaking of the actors and their performances, I am delighted. None of them annoyed me in the sense of making me cringe or feel embarrassed . I want to praise four of them, they did a amazing job. I wished each of them a happy ending and felt sympathy for the characters.

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love this series

best kbl since Semantic Error. the rewatch value is 10/10. The actors are doing so amazing with this piece of art. I am so invested in everyones background story. i want more/dont want it to end so soon. i will definetly read the source material. My favorite character is the mc colleague, imnad with names, sorry lol i really want to see more works from the four mains, they are excellent. i can not express emough how much this drama has rekindled my love for romance and drama. I hope it is will all be wrapped up and resolved well in the end.


I have a weak spot for harem dramas, i have to say lol and this series is doing it as close to how i like it, thats a sweet deal for me lol

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Unraveling the Riddles of an “Imperfect Love Square”

The term “love triangle” refers to a romantic situation involving more than two people. But what if there are more than three sides? What if there is a fourth person involved?
Although much less explored than the "love triangle", the "love square" has always been a recurring theme in the world of film and television series. 'Light on Me', the South Korean BL directed by Lee Yoo Yeon, is a good example of a teen fiction that depicts a romantic relationship involving four people.
You might think that audiences are tired of love squares, but there is a reason why writers keep using them: they work. The key is to make sure that the story is not overwhelmed by the love square.
In the style of mature young people and an office environment, but more elegant and sensitive than the aforementioned 2021 series, 'Secret Relations', the South Korean drama directed by Yang Kyung Hee, describes the complicated relationship between Jung Da On and the three men around him.
This is not the first time that the South Korean director has explored a love relationship that goes beyond the traditional one between two people. In 'The Tasty Florida' (2021), 'Love Tractor' (2023) and 'Kissable Lips' (2022), the "Queen Midas" of BL from that Asian nation narrates affective and emotional bonds between three people.
In the strongest scenes of the series, Ju Seong Hyeon (Cha Sun Hyung), Sin Jae Min (Kim Ho Young) and Kim Su Hyeon (Cha Jung Woo), three young rising stars of South Korean audiovisuals, break the barrier hitherto explored by Yang Kyung Hee to portray a trio of young, nervous, recently graduated university students, slightly crazy and who do not care about keeping secrets, who rush headlong in unison to win the love of Jung Da On (Kim Jun Seo in his acting debut). It is a story not without manipulation and unknowns.
One of the great successes of 'Secret Relations' is, without a doubt, its four main characters. Absolutely credible, charismatic and with a "feeling" that goes beyond the screen. The quartet of actors eat up their co-stars, they fill the screen and you identify with them from the first moment. Kim Jun Seo, a newcomer, stands out above all, and this series establishes him as a promising actor.
Their performances are so spontaneous and explosive that you immediately identify with these reckless lovers, who embody antagonism and certain controlling and narcissistic traits that BL series rarely show. However, you will arm yourself with your best judgment to encourage two of the boys to form a couple capable of aspiring to happiness. Because do not doubt it, dear reader: The public has immediately chosen sides, the fandom has created "teams" to be on... and this only means that they are involved in the story and connected to the characters.
The adaptation of the eponymous Kakao webtoon, produced by McQueen Studio, delves deeper into the narrative with extended dialogues, monologues and additional episodes that were not fully explored in the original work.
With a solid fan base and high artistic value, the weetoon saw the light in drama formats on February 27, 2025, and web novel, on the 14th of the same month, in an unusual reverse adaptation movement.
Yang Kyung Hee opted to create a series that likes to tell its story in retrospect, in which three protagonists will remember how they met and became friends seven years ago, when Da On began her university studies.
To describe the story written by Lee Yoo Jin about the complicated relationship between Jung Da On and her three lovers, the director of 'The Time of Fever' (2024) and 'The Director Who Buys Me Dinner' also joined Jung Soo Yoon ('Boys' Flight' and 'Your Taste'), an experienced screenwriter who has accompanied her throughout the course of the series. Together they form a duo that has been able to cleverly weave together each adventure from the written and the visual.

Why does the love square work?

What would happen if one of the three lovers confessed their feelings to Jung Da On? What would happen to the two remaining jealous people in the love square?: Only the imbalance of the love square can happen: The series is rich in creating the instability of the love square, because in turn it creates great material for conflict, feeding the plot of this series. In this way, it also creates opportunities for dramatic situations and provides a basic story arc to follow, since there is a romantic choice to be made.
Knowing that love squares cannot be the only support of the story… that is, seeking the effectiveness and functioning of the love square, Yang Kyung Hee introduces something deeper, such as the personal confusion and identity crisis of the protagonist.
Like a great magician, Yang Kyung Hee will conceal important elements of the story, as well as important personality traits and desires of those involved in the love square, and will pull out the essentials little by little, like rabbits from a magic hat, only when it is necessary to reveal them to the viewer. In this way, we can discover the main characters and personalities gradually while there is still some mystery. Likewise, the series is skilled at giving a good and a bad side to Da On's suitors.

But, who are the members of this love square:

Jung Da On: A young man who has a difficult family and financial situation. He works hard to overcome his poverty-stricken past and create a brighter future for himself. This has shaped his life and occasionally causes misunderstandings with other people who see his wit as a negative. Sometimes his past experiences lead to misunderstandings with others. A very witty, positive, and tender guy, although a bit absent-minded, especially when he is around his crush.
Joo Sung Hyun: Da On's coworker. They have a tense relationship at first, but Sung Hyun soon develops feelings for Da On and is always shown to be open and honest about his feelings, while Da On is too preoccupied with his one-sided love for Sin Jae Min. He is the kind, caring, and empathetic man who continues to protect Da On from the office; he also adopts modest and respectful attitudes towards others.
The relationship the two establish is from enemies to friends... Will it become from friends to lovers?
Kim Soo Hyun: A man who grows while experiencing hurt and pain. He lacks the courage to confess his love to Da On. Having been in love with him since his college years, he then realized that Dao On secretly loved Jae Min, so he decides to play along with his rival, and they both pretend to have a romance. Objective?: To ensure that they can both stay close to Da On forever. He is an explosive, enigmatic and very interesting character.
Shin Jae Min is Da On's cynical, hypocritical and manipulative tutor in high school. He has helped Da On through difficult times, and Da On trusts and depends on him. Da On harbors lingering feelings for Jae Min. He proposed to Kim Soo Hyun that they should pretend to be in a loving relationship in exchange for neither of them confessing their love to Da On. Jae Min is aware that it will not be easy for him to express his feelings for Da On since Soo Hyun will interfere because he is equally in love with Da On.
Four-way speaking, Da On struggles with his feelings for his co-worker and his former tutor, while being unaware of being pursued by Soo Hyun. He is grateful to Jae Min for his previous support and still has feelings for him. However, he is unaware that Jae Min does not want anyone to show loving feelings for him, so he has decided to manipulate both Soo Hyun and Da On himself. At the same time, Da On is attracted to Sung Hyun's genuine and caring personality.
Both Jae Min and Soo Hyun respected their mutual agreement, until suddenly Soo Hyun returns to South Korea from the United States, ready to admit that his relationship with Jae Min is fake and confess his love to Da On. He even intervenes from a position of power: he has been elected CEO of the company where Da On works. This will force Jae Min to act quickly.
Jae Min and Soo Hyun's problem is that neither of them can stand the other receiving more affection and love from Da On. And this is the basis of deception and manipulation, making Da On believe that there is a romance between them. What these two characters couldn't foresee is that the arrival of a noble knight in shining armor will turn the complicated love triangle into a thorny square.
What each of these men symbolizes for Da On and how the three of them try to win him over is what makes the love square of 'Secret Relations' so attractive.
The series shows audiences which of these three men would be the best choice for Da On, and his final decision ultimately comes down to much more than love: it's about which version of himself he truly wants to be.
But we can't forget that just as the story must have something more, the main character must have something more. Da On, our protagonist trapped in a love square, cannot be defined by his romantic choice. It's time for the obvious question: Who will Da On choose?
With great visuals and cinematography, the series is rich in incorporating personal desires and needs of the protagonist, as well as those of his suitors to motivate him, as well as something really at stake in the romantic choice to be made (not just one boy, or the other boy, or the third boy).
The series carefully ensures that the love square works. Why? From script to staging, everyone involved kept in mind that although the square is, in reality, a perfectly stable shape, in storytelling, a love square is inherently unstable.
With the love square, they successfully create conflict and tension that can feed into the plot and the narrative makes sure there is something deeper and more meaningful at the heart of the story for the audience to really care: each suitor must represent something of the main character's desires and needs, from which he must choose.
However, the series masterfully violates the principle that each suitor must be of equal dignity. If all three of Da On's love interests were noble and empathetic, it would be much harder for him to choose. Right?
Seen another way: If out of the three lovers of the protagonist there are one or two villains, wouldn't it be easier for his heart to decide? But... Would we as audiences be attracted to a story with such a "simple" solution? Of course not. So, how do you get the audience to stick to their seats and wait week after week for the next episode? And this is one of the great mysteries to be solved in the course of the episodes.
Because there is a great reality: if one or two of the suitors is not a good option and the choice between the three is painfully obvious, the love triangle does not work and the audience will notice it immediately. With the cards on the table, with the viewer taking into account the characteristics and actions of the three men, how will the script and the staging be convincing and be aware of expectations in order to take advantage of them or subvert them, if that is the case?
The brief but original introduction and farewell, and the musical themes "True Love" by BTOB's Lee Chang-sub and "Careless I Love You" by Paul Blanco, invite you to follow in the footsteps of these four young people as they explore love as a four-way band.

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Twisted and Obsessed kinda Harem Story

Was this the best BL that I have watched so far from 2015, literally Yes.

I really can't stand Red Flag Men, but this drama made me fall for literally the biggest red flag on the planet.

First we will talk about Daon (Junseo). Being the MC of such a problematic show should have made him extremely stressful but he really acted and portrayed the character's emotions so well that I'm his fan from now onwards. Coming to Daon - well the boy has super duper kind heart and all he wanted was care and love which he didn't get from his parents 😔. So he tend to lean towards the men who moved mountains for him. There is nothing wrong in this. He needed protection and our MLs were ready to do anything for him.

3 MLs -

A) Sunghyeon - Greenest and best man whom one can ask for. I would sell my soul for him too. The actor literally behaved like a puppy which managed to pull literally everyone towards him. I would give 1000/10 only for him.

B) Jaemin - Psychopath and my husband. Lol 🤣. I love him the most out of all three MLs because all he wanted was Daon's love. Ideally his ways were wrong but his destination was never wrong. He did everything just to keep Daon under his control. Please I can volunteer myself to be his puppet. The actor literally did 10009% justice to the character. I can't y'all I love him.

C) Su Hyeon - Dude with Anger issues but literally a biggest idiot. There were certain scenes which made me feel sad for him but tbh he deserves it. The actor though, his face was chef's kiss.


The story was really modified and adopted very well in drama when compared to manhwa. So I am greatful for the script writers for that. It kept everyone on toes throught the entire show.

The kisses scenes were literally toooo hot and amazingly good that I was feeling hurt for being single.

It is literally worth it to be witnessing such astonishingly crafted drama. They over took Our Dating Sim to be best Kbl for me.

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