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A bl portraying insides of a gay relationship along with fluff.
I really liked this. Probably the best one with happy ending after we best love. In most friends to lovers troupe the one getting the confession just goes along with it without having feelings and in most bls they just brush it off but in here they actually talked about it. Happy that they talked about complexity of coming out especially to family members you love. The fluff and bits of taking care of a child just melted my heart.Actors did a great job especially with intimate scenes. Loved all of their relationship dynamic especially with their friend. And the final scene of MC sticking up for himself and ML making up his relationship with his father was perfect. A good bl with realistic harder ships that couples have to go through alongside with stepping out to the society.
Taiwan did a great job with this and so happy to see Asian bls making such a good series! Let's go bl industry ~
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Button Cute
One word - cute. From Han Tuo to Jun Xi. Xiao Yang was really cute as a button. Wardrobe cute. Locations, cute. Jun Xi looking up at Han Tuo, cute. Everything was just ..... you get the picture.Predictable plot was executed with just enought humor and cuteness to keep the interest going. Could have been shortened a bit, too many flaskbacks, but the younger versions of themselves were so cute, it's forgiven. Jump starting a change in a relationship with a hand in your crush's pants while whispering in his ear, "You can't resist.", may not be the right way to go about it, but hey, it worked for them. My true pleasure in watching this was Jun Xi's responses. Even though Han Tuo determination came forcefully, he was the one to set the pace of their relationship. In his own timing. He took time to adapt and recognize what he truely felt. Another great addition that kept the balance was Xiao Yang. Her friendship was never biased and became the protector and advisor of both. Her future girlfriend was annoying but yes, also cute.
It's a light hearted comedy romance that hit the mark for me. From the first episode it set the tone and never faltered. Han Tuo grew wiser and softened his approach Jun Xi. Jun Xi grew from being afraid of other's opinions and boldly owned his. They're good together. Yes, a rewatch is in order. Pleasantly cute.
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Perfection!
This series completely flew under the radar. I am so disappointed in myself for not reviewing it when it came out, for this happens to be one of the better BLs to come out of Taiwan in a very long time. I loved this series. It completely captured me. Its screenplay, the story itself, and the acting are all top-notch. Ironically, this story is as old as the hills. Full of cliché and tropes, it was all put together in a compendium that was smooth, polished, and so entertaining. Its story flowed, made sense, and was performed with complete conviction and integrity. Not just with the protagonists but also with the astonishingly brilliant child actors who played the younger protagonists with such charm and foundational integrity. We literally get to ‘see’ how the younger protagonists got to become their older selves. The supporting characters are also very sublime. A few even have quirky personas that gave this series an extra kick of spiciness. The ebbing and flowing of the development of their relationship are all based on circumstances that make complete sense and are so relatable to what happens in our own life. This is one of the most joyful, captivating, emotionally rich and gratifying BLs to come along in a very long time. Not in a Pollyanna fashion but in a frank and appurtenant fashion making it feel that a gay relationship can be ‘normal’.Was this review helpful to you?
1Amazing chemistry
I loved this cute story, it was a fast paced one, and that is nice for a change.The visuals are beautifulland so is the music.
I loved the two girl friends, best supporting friends ever!
All the actors did a great job and the mains were amazing. Their chemistry is amazing!
Really a must see! You'll fall in love with them.
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The Perfect Love Story!
SECRET LOVER - REVIEWSooo, with a bit delay, since my attention jumps all over I finally binged the second half today. Phew.
It was a strange start, I have to admit. It wasn't a series that caught me from the get go, I assume that is why I went away without deciding it so. Probably also because some big famous shows drew my attention away, and then I forgot about it. So this wasn't a love a first sight for me. Not for any negatives, but where other shows were loud and shiny, this seemed a bit too calm and flowing silently beside me.
Now having gone back, I must say the show really grew on me a lot, so much that I would even say, it is an almost perfect Love Story! There is not too much other stuff weighing in down like Revenged Love with its many layers and sub-stories, SECRET LOVER was a pure love story. I really appreciated that they did not take the all too samey looking MC actors. Both stood out memorable, when many Thai and Korean BL series tend a bit to same-cast these days.
I really liked that it did not play into any seme-uke or big guy - small guy stereotypes, but each MC was a well rounded character in himself. The childhood flashbacks were a bit too much for my taste, but bearable. I really liked how they developed along with the other characters, all how had a good presence and chemistry in the cast. Especially the last three episodes made it skyrocket in my view thinking like, yes this feels like the Perfect Love Story to me. Drama, misunderstandings, love - but neither overplayed nor with any silly instant solutions, all went very organically together to a very happy ending.
Also the scenes between the MC were believable, touching and convincing and more realistic than many other BL stories. It is a show I am sure to remember and rewatch. As such, with all things good to me, I give it a
10/10
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äWhat I thought of the series: Yes, yes and more Yes. They have managed to get me hooked on a series. Love can develop from an early age, at least if you don't know that these feelings are love.You can find more of my reviews on Instagram. :D See my homepage about my Instagram account. Some of my reviews are under five hundred words so I can't post them here. (*^▽^)/★*☆♪(*^-゜)vThanks!
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Best friends to Lovers Done Right
Secret Lover has a pretty simple premise: it’s about two boys and a girl who grew up together as best friends. But don’t worry—the girl isn’t there to stir up drama. In fact, she’s more like the peacemaker, the one they both turn to for advice whenever they fight.Han Tuo is the classic heartthrob, the type girls fall for easily. But there’s a twist to his character that I didn't see it coming and I'm here for it. On the other hand, Lujunxi is the complete opposite. He’s never dated before, but he’s open to the idea, and Han Tuo steps in to “coach” him.
The chemistry between the leads is so good, and I’m absolutely here for their sweet little moments. They really brought their characters to life. I especially loved how natural and believable Lujunxi’s reaction was when Han Tuo started making subtle moves—it felt real. Like, that awkwardness totally makes sense when your best friend suddenly starts looking at you differently.
Also, can we talk about the NC scenes? They're surprisingly well-done—passionate without being cringey or over-the-top. The kisses felt natural too, especially since one of them has zero experience. It was actually kind of endearing.
The series also dips into themes like trauma, abandonment, insecurity, and the fear of coming out. But honestly, it’s not as heavy as it sounds. At its core, it’s still a light and sweet story about two best friends slowly realizing they’ve probably been in love for a long time.
That said, I highly recommend watching a few episodes before reading the comments or reviews. A lot of people seem to bash this series unfairly. As someone who’s watched over 200 BLs, I’ve learned not to let online reviews decide for me.
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frustrating done right!
looking back on this show, I'm actually shocked that I never feel frustrated or annoyed., as someone who typically goes for drama with pretty flawless, 'unrealistic' characters.The nature of the plot makes plot tropes like miscommunication, secrecy, and jealousy expected, and I was entertained by how this drama played it all out. additionally, the drama is short, so no drama felt extremely drawn out, or rushed. if it was a full length show, then this review would probably o a 180, where I'm ranting about the lack of communication and such lol.
something i loved was how both of the male leads where clearly flawed. with one being the jealous, intense and slightly pushy. And the other being avoidant, too non-confrontational and slightly dismissive. These are all qualities that the average human has some of without even realising it. Just like in real life, its presented in some moments and is not really that obvious and not really an issue until it causes a misunderstanding.
aka, they're dynamic felt way too realistic to be bothered by. it was not over the top, like watching reality tv, and was also not so chill that there isn't a point of the show.
in terms of chemistry, this pair went so well with each other from episode 1, they have the perfect dynamic.
the main criticism i would give this drama is that due to being short, there was a lack of proper development in terms of their relationship, as well as their interactions with others. at times it felt like back to back scenes with milestones and no actual blending together.
I gave it a 9/10, not because it was perfect, but simpl because i really did enjoy it, although its definitely not the best out there.
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the trailer is a bait but also says everything about the show
this is friends to lovers and if u come looking for pining and slow burn, don't come to this one.It's sudden, is "shit ive been in love with u for years, stole girls from u and suddenly i cant control myself anymore" vs "shit i dont want to lose my bff, guess i love him lol" -> peak communication skills.
The romance begins very possessive and toxic, but turns cute later.
it's entertaining, it has its moments, but it was lacking depth. I blame the small episodes length and amount for that, the show does tries to give a past + trauma to han tuo and try to show the emotional journey lu junxi goes through, but it's all so quick it lacks impact.
I loved the girls in this show.
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fixer upper
This is worth a try. It js lacking in few areas but it's like an unpolished diamond. It doesn't just tell a story about romance but about family too, or lack of one. Budget plays a role in this short dramas but this isn't so bad and I have seen a descent budgeted production that is bad. The BGM is really nice. Lin Pei Yu always picks the best BGM for her projects.The artists do need to work on their craft, but I also think the director could have helped in this area.
The story was told in a very concise manner that you'll feel there's something missing. Overall, I was satisfied and finished the series. I can recommend you give it a try.
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Secret Lover: Blink and They’re Already Making Out
I was so excited waiting for this one to finish airing. A best friends-to-lovers trope from a Taiwan BL? That’s supposed to be my Roman Empire. I was ready for slow burn, tension, yearning — the kind of emotional suffering we live for. But instead of a slow burn, I got a speed run. The series jumped straight into Freakytown before I even had time to finish my popcorn. Episode 1? They’re making out. By episode 4? They’re already in bed. Like… can we breathe first? Can you yearn a little before we start undressing? BLs without a build-up feel so off, especially when these two were supposed to be best friends with zero preexisting feelings. Realistically, if your best friend suddenly confesses, you’d at least need a few days or even longer to emotionally spiral before kissing them. But nope — these two skipped the spiral and went straight to “we’re in love now.” Jun Xi said Han Tuo was moving too fast, and honestly for the audience that was even faster. The audience needed a seatbelt. The pacing was just insane — there was no room for character or relationship development, which sucks because the plot idea was actually good. It could’ve been a gem, but they rushed it like there was a prize for moving like the speed of light. Now, I’ll give credit where it’s due: the chemistry was good! Like, they looked great together. But chemistry can’t fix a broken plot. And I swear, the side characters were eating them up. I was way more invested in the two girls than the main couple because they actually felt real. The parents? Adorable. The brother? Supportive king. The funny moments? Lifesavers. Those are honestly the only reasons the rating isn’t lower. Also, Han Tuo being jealous of a literal child was wild behavior. Sir, be serious. You can tell that man wasn't ready for a relationship and honestly, probably neither was Jun Xi. I think if anything Han Tao needed therapy. Anyway, safe to say I’m disappointed once again. Taiwan BL used to have that magic — what’s going on lately? Someone bring back the yearning, please.Rating: 7.5/10 (for the acting, the side characters, and the comedy that unintentionally saved the show).
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It’s only secret because they’re stupid about it (for the most part)
This was a good series. As my first Taiwanese drama, it made a solid first impression.Many might think it’s a cheap version of the childhood friends-to-lovers trope due to its pacing and somewhat clunky start. However, that’s what I liked about it – some friendships are just unique!
A Tuo has been in love with his best friend since, like, the first grade, so it’s understandable that he would be so intense about it. I appreciated the fast-paced nature of the series, even amidst the chaos, because sometimes life is just like that. Were A Tuo’s actions a bit questionable? 100%! But we can forgive him, especially since Jun Xi does.
The storyline involving Lu Yu Shu and the rest of the Lu family was a strong point in the plot. Family dynamics can be complicated, and I enjoyed the opportunity to explore the challenges they faced.
Lin Xiao Yang and He You Mei were the absolute highlights! I loved their romance (ish) and their general personalities.
Overall, it’s a good series and definitely worth watching; even if just for the romance, as there isn’t much in terms of complex plotlines.
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