K-Drama 
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STOP NORMALIZING TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS
I loved this KBL I don’t watch a lot of them but this one did NOT disappoint, but what did was the fandom and I know this review should be about the show but I just have to add this in here; STOP NORMALIZING TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS. like literally daon got sexually assaulted by jaemin AND suhyeon if you want to argue about that then please be my guest; they both did something to him. I really do not understand the people who think daon should’ve been with jaemin or suhyeon because; Jaemin: literally a psycho asshole and a manipulative piece of shit. Suhyeon: just yelled at daon the WHOLE FUCKING SERIES, like guys, news flash; ITS NOT HOT. I’m so glad Seonghyeon got with Daon because if it was either of them two assholes this show wouldn’t be as good as it is. ANYWAYS live laugh love Seonghyeon, greenest flag in history.Was this review helpful to you?
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The psychological warfare in this show was insane!
The toxicity in this drama came in so many waves, I don’t think I’ll recover lol.We all thought it was just some regular psycho fighting over a toy, but then BAM! Plot twist! Kim Su Hyeon wasn't the crazy one after all. (like he, was… but he wasn’t….) and he is the character I latched onto, and I liked him ( for the most part) I kept hoping he’d have a redeeming moment. I was rooting for this raving sociopath – but he was just too angry and violent for him to ever be the leading man who won Da On. But oh, the actor rocked this role!
After all 8 episodes, I'm still stumped about why those two super-smart but totally nuts psychos were into Da On. What made these two men latch onto him from their school days and make him into a disciple puppy, because, as cute as Da On is, sweet and unproblematic, and his doe-eyes were adorable, he had the personality of uncooked bread and butter pudding!
And you want me to believe two lunatics, plus a green flag all chased him like rabid dogs?!
Because I love dark romances, I definitely would have chosen Kim Su Hyeon. I think having all of Da On’s love would have calmed him right down – says my delululu side. LOL.
A fun show I’d recommend, if you want to be wide-eyed every episode from their psycho antics.
Also, what a little shit Jae was. I’m glad I never liked him from the start.
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Prepare to shout at your TV!
"Secret Relationship" 2025 KDrama Review:**Rating: 8.5/10*
**Story:* 9 - Engaging plot with unexpected twists and turns!
**Chemistry:* 9.8 - Leads Kim Jun-seo and Cha Sun-hyung's subtle sparks IGNITE!
**Acting:* 9.5 - Nuanced performances, especially Kim Ho-young's portrayal of Jaemin's complexity!
This psychological romance drama follows Da-on, a smart salaryman, entangled in a complex web of relationships with his colleagues Seong-hyeon, Jae-min, and company heir Su-hyeon.
*Positives:*
• Thoughtful examination of trauma and love's therapeutic power
• Brilliant writing and execution
• Four male leads took BL/Kdramas to new heights with their performances
• Excellent cinematography and beautiful soundtracks
*Negatives:*
• Messy storyline with toxicity and red flags
• Some viewers may dislike love triangles and complicated plotlines
The finale episode was intense, with a dramatic climax featuring kidnapping, rescue, and a heartfelt conclusion.
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Holy shitttt
So much fun!! Absolutely terrifying but also very cute! Fantastic twists, foreshadowed perfectly to the point where you can figure out that something is wrong but not quite what. My only issue is the way that certain plots were resolved felt rushed and unrealistic. Gagged and gooped. Tw abuse, self harmWas this review helpful to you?
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I’ll keep it short (I love Soo Hyun)
I’m unsure how to rate this show. The romance itself was too basic and boring for my taste but the plot was intriguing and I liked the twists and turns (though debatable if they even made sense, still, it kept me watching).Daon was boring. He was the typical audience self-insert, blank paper, passive, spineless character that 3 guys fell madly in love with for no reason. His main LI was a puppy-dog-eyed stereotype that chased him with a smile regardless of anything.
If that was all there was to the show I wouldn’t have given it more that 5 starts but the other two characters really kept me on a leash! Psycho-Jaemin definitely added some much needed spice to the bland romance. Was he a stereotypical psycho? Maybe…but the twists did make him interesting even though I think that they could’ve dived into his psychology a little more.
Now on to my favorite boy, the star of the show - Soo Hyun! He was the main reason I was glued to the screen. He was the only character that felt real bc he was flawed, uncomfortable, dumb and very, very human. He had issues, serious ones but also the most potential for character development. He was confused and desperate and unfortunately made every mistake he could‘ve possibly made but at the end of the show he did come to the right conclusion. He didn’t get the guy but he did grow by realising that the things he had been doing weren’t good and apologized for everything.
It makes me wonder what could‘ve been if Soo Hyun was the main LI instead of Seon Hyeon. How his character development would‘ve been handled and how he and Daon would‘ve tried to mend their wounds. I’m clearly biased though. I love complicated character relationships and I love pining, redemptions acts and second chance romances. I also find Soo Hyun the most interesting character in the show.
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BORING ASF
I almost fell asleep watching this. The storyline is really boring and basic and in my opinion only the last episode was actually interesting unlike the other ones. It isn't really psychological for me, I hoped that we would get more of the actual toxic vibes. About the characters, they aren't bad, but they're poorly written. The thing that I disliked the most about Suhyeon was how he treated Daon. He cared about Daon, but he treated him like shit. He would get mad because he didn't answer his call in 0.00001 seconds and he would get mad at him for whatever reason. I hate this type of characters that get mad at their love interest when they decide to breathe the same air as them, just because they can't have them — in my opinion, a dynamic like that is poor; I don't like that type of toxic. I was dissapointed, cuz he actually had a potential to be a good character.The character Seonghyeon was just too kind and gullible, it actually pissed me off. The way he was talking all the time, that hes gonna wait for Daon annoyed me (also how he fell in love with Daon that fast it's just so unrealistic). In some way, he tried to guilt trip him?? Saying like: "Oh I was waiting for you and you're just gonna leave me alone?" (Daon wasn't even inlove with him back then mind you). I also wish that we would had more enemies to lovers between them, because they had an actual potential with that. They're pretty cute together, but Seonghyeons character is just not it.
I think the character Jaemin was the character that pissed me off the least. I didn't really understand his character. He was mid, but I loved the toxic dynamic between him and Daon and I thought the show was gonna revolve more around it, but unfortunately, it didn't.
The acting was really nice. Especially the actors portraying Suhyeon and Jaemin.
I wouldn't recommend. I also don't understand how people give it a high rating. You people really have low expectations for a show lol. It's overrated.
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CORE concept is nonsense, but still very watchable
The visuals and camera work are great, the music is not remarkable, the narrative is tight with nothing watered down.A better title for this drama should say “MANIAC relationships” because the main lad is a sort of masochist with the Stockholm syndrome, but it does happen in real life.
Also, yes, the SK society is classist, and the rich so think of the poor as subhuman, even though it is never said outloud.
It is not believable that the main lad would not know in whose company he is working at.
MORE details are in the spoilers tagged comment below.
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WORST SHOW EVER
This show was the worst. I cannot believe this is even hyped up at all. It hut every cliche in the book. What is more insane is how they managed to make every character so utterly unlikeable.The Jaemin guy made a deal despite having basically nothing to lose, and after he "got rid" of the competition he still had plenty of time to make a move. AND when the mc made a move he rejected him... so what was the point?
The other "CEO" guy. He's a maniac who left the guy he cares ab despite having a chance. Instead if confessing like a normal person, he comes back, acts abusive and then acts surprised when the ml doesn't want him... like duh?
The dumb ml. How many times does someone have to reject you before you give up? Like he called you someone elses name, left you, left yoh again, left you again when you begged, left you again when you begged... and then shows up in front of you with a hickey. Bye.
MC is the most spineless character ive ever seen. So instead of just explaining to the ml, you choose to go with the crazy guy. AND JUST EXPLAIN THE HICKEY! I mean... the guy was responsible for your sister being in the hospital and yet you're all "omg woe is me. I am so sorry things turned out this way." Stand up. He needs to go to therapy before he can get with anyone. Everyone therapy today. And yall need better taste in shows... yikes this was a forest fire if ive ever seen one.
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An emotional ride
This series is a true emotional rollercoaster — intense, addictive, and brilliantly acted.The toxic relationships and twisted dynamics kept me hooked from the very first episode to the last.
Each scene is charged with tension, showing how fragile and dangerous human connections can become.
The actors deliver powerful, authentic performances that make even the most uncomfortable moments fascinating to watch.
Most of the time I was left speechless in the best way.
A bold, gritty, and unforgettable experience that lingers long after the final episode.
Make sure to watch this masterpiece.
You won't regret it.
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Trust No One In his BL Drama
There are so many plot twists with characters changing from bad to good & back again, you just need to watch it completely out before you know who you're rooting for in this excellent BL Drama.Jun Seo is amazing in his role, along side of Sun Hyung. Both are a great fix together.
All the actors in this are great throughout.
I found that once I started watching it, it was really difficult not to binge episode after episode. Each one ended, where you just wanted more. Your heart aches Jung Da On with so much torment in his life. This is really way beyond a normal BL series, but rather a mix of a strong drama along with a few thriller moments as well.
Very enjoyable with lots of excitement.
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The Stars Have Spoken, Falling All Around Us
This drama was such a rush!! And so brilliant! The actors really made this a work of art! There’s your average run-of-the-mill dramas, then there’s THIS, and I was not disappointed! This drama had cohesion and consistency in this well-composed story of love, betrayal, and manipulation.This drama focuses on Da-On, who works for the Strategy Dept of a large company in Korea. For the past 11 years, he’s held long-time romantic feelings for Jaemin, who’s been his friend and colleague since their days in University. He’s made multiple attempts to profess his feelings to Jaemin, much to no avail for the fear of rejection outweighs the urge to come clean with his desire to be with him.
Seong Hyeon is a new colleague that just joined Da On’s dept. Hyeon has just arrived the scene, and he is already very curious about who Da On really is. Even though he’s in the dark at the start, he starts developing a special interest in Da On, wondering what makes him tick, and doing his own homework on his new favorite subject…
Su Hyeon has known Da On for 7 years, and has been weaving himself in and out of Da On’s life over the years with his volatile and demanding attitude. But behind all that anger, he’s been hiding a secret that no one else knows about…
Throughout the series, it tells a vivid narrative of how the most unsuspecting individuals have the most to hide, and how easy one can be moved like a pawn with just the right twisted strategies. Friends are not always who they pretend to be, but you’re in so deep with them already, they’re like a snake ready to devour you.🐍
This drama was so immersive in the way these characters interact and flow with each other. The chemistry amongst these characters is so palpable its static that’s felt though the screen. The acting was so strong, it was inspiring and made this series that much more elevated. Also, i love the music in this series, greatly contributed to the drama.🎵
This would be the 2nd time I’ve watched a drama and it felt like an exclusive event that only a select few get to experience(the first time was Tempted). Watching characters be possessive with each other has never been so enticing nor as delicious as this…💜
A quote from the series:-
Love isn’t about levels, it’s about heart. As long as we have unwavering trust, and offering sincerity to each other, that’s all that matters for love.
P.S. the ending reminds me of the premise for the manga Boys Abyss iykyk🥲
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Finally a breather after a haul of mediocre KBL in 2024
I thought KBL already loose the grip of the genre long ago but fortunately, they got back up. Secret Relationships might not be your best choice for KBL but a decent runner-up on the higher tier. Solid acting, diverse character and not your typical romantic genre. Lead actors got me hooked & hopeful since the start.Was this review helpful to you?
