too much plot
jack & joker is not even close to being a decent show so far cos—them meeting/their past, joke's jailtime, their reunion enemyship and cohabitation were all sped through and barely had buildup. not bringing jack's lack of character development so far cos it's through joke pov rn. there's too many side plotlines cluttering the main heist of which there are two now? which ig are sorta connected and can be excused but seriously though the ring plot is holding on by a thread not to mention the bs sewercide backstory w jack's parents and joke's helicopter dad. their relationship itself has nothing going on LIKE he hates him why? he got scammed and then he let him live in his house (??) and now they're partners? they're faught what once? thrice? so far and have like 3 scenes worth of interaction between, in the same frame and then side couple? useless. no one cares. naive guy, friends with protag vs guy who works for a crook, hates protag/coworker could be interesting if it wasn't at the cost of main relationship. im actually so pissed jack and joker's relationship seems to be going nowhere can you tell? i get that this is action heavy unlike love mechanics which honed into relationships and interactions but i feel this could've been much better if the writers/directors had tapped into yinwar's incredible microexpressive acting along with all the boom pow over the top scenes. the unnecessary zoom-ins, long lines that literally add nothing new, scene and tone switching, shitty loud ass background music.... all in all this is nawt giving elaborate action-heist comedy it's giving medicorely made slapstick gag.(update) yinwar acting down on the latest j&j episode but what even is the point with this slap things on and see what sticks type of plot :/ not only is too much going on but it's getting repetitive preseries joke betrayal misunderstanding jack forgiving him and now the same shit all over like the theiving plot was fun in of itself and then there's the grandma sickness and jack fake marriage and now the lil girl is in the hospital too? i get that joke's father's a surgeon but sab ko thoosne ke chakar me kuch aur nahi ho raha bas ye character ka struggle phir us character ka struggle with 10+ characters the only screentime of the main couple is when their fighting or fucking which is fun and all but we don't know shit about any of these characters except when vocalised by the other characters which is a WASTE of yinwar's acting talent
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Everything is turnt up to 11
Crash Landing on You is absolutely absurd. It has one of the highest cable drama ratings and should be on everyone’s 2020 kdrama watchlist. The drama has you going back and forth from laugh-crying to cry-crying. The cast is flawless. The director comes from Romance is a Bonus Book with the screenwriter of The Legend of the Blue Sea. Hyun Bin and Son Ye-Jin also come from 2018 dramas - Memories of the Alhambra and Something in the Rain, respectively. Loads of quality romcom experience, and it shows.The drawbacks. In an effort to fill major plot holes, conflict escalation and resolution are left vague when convenient, especially for the non-main characters and arc. CLOY also pushes the envelope with its near 90 minute runtime per episode. All-in-all, the drama shoots for the moon but crashes in the stars.
Story:
The premise and story supports the success of Crash Landing on You by spinning a serious current event into an absurd adventure. The North Korea-South Korea conflict immediately adds to the gravitas of the drama, and subverting this expectation results in unforgettable comedy. The over-the-top approach is handled beautifully, and viewer immersion is rarely ruined. Production was even sued for its relatable portrayal of North Korea (It was actually “sued” for glamorizing NK conditions, but I digress).
The drama intertwines the story of four main leads and a large supporting cast, so big that it even has a recap episode. It is entirely understandable why the drama does not fully explain or explore every single plotline. On the other hand, Crash Landing on You has a total runtime equivalent to a 20 episode drama, and it even contains what could be seen as filler scenes. Again, this is being nitpicky with an incredibly entertaining watch.
Acting:
Crash Landing on You actually reunites the two main leads from 2018 movie, The Negotiation, where they are adversaries. In CLOY, their comradery and chemistry is unquestionable. Hyun Bin has received his fair share of criticism in the past, but this character is well suited for his strengths, being good looking and stoic. He earnestly acts each scene with that ridiculous “North Korean” accent, even adding emotions when required (but bloopers, please!). Anyone can appreciate his effort in CLOY, even if it is not winning any acting awards. Son Ye-Jin, on the other hand, I have been a fan of from Something in the Rain. I am most impressed by her expanded comedic role in Crash Landing on You. She is funny in SitR but hilarious in CLOY. Some lines land a little too extra but most hit their timing.
The second leads’ acting also impresses as their roles expand by the end of the drama. Plus, there is too much to say about the large and talented supporting cast. Kim Sun-Young continues to earn her reputation as a talented cast member. The mini-Something in the Rain reunion with Jang So-Yeon is welcome. I give the underrated award to Hwang Woo-Seul-Hye as the lovable/hateable doofus sister-in-law (also, how is she 40 years old!). Even the guest roles amaze, like when my jaws hit the floor seeing Kim Soo-Hyun’s character. Everyone’s buy-in to the premise of CLOY is what creates that special level of immersion that we love about all great kdramas.
Music:
Like many watchers, I am also a fan of kpop, and the musical ensemble for Crash Landing on You delivers on all fronts. IU, one of the hottest kpop stars, sings the final OST, capping off the musical journey of CLOY. Another rising star, Song Ga-In, sings one of the best tracks on the OST. I have also been following Davichi since debut and hearing them in CLOY is a joy. The only knockback is that the music does not push its boundary quite like the story and acting of CLOY.
Rewatch Value:
I plan to rewatch Crash Landing on You as soon as I have the chance. On top of everything said thus far, there are references to other dramas, pop culture, and current events, and I am sure that I have missed many of them. There is so much to enjoy about CLOY for first-time kdrama watchers AND veteran viewers. After my rewatch, I may even revise my final score to a 9 because CLOY sets the bar very high for 2020.
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Legend of the Blue Sea was the much-awaited show of 2016 as it marked the return of Korean heartthrob, Lee Min Ho to television dramas after almost three years. Moreover, the show had Min Ho paired with Jun Ji Hyun who is one of the most popular and highest paid Korean actresses which meant a big deal. The hype around the show led to high expectations, which the show couldn’t live up to. Legend of the Blue Sea had a lot of things that worked against it including a dull storyline. Its paper-thin plot made the drama suffer and despite Min Ho and Ji Hyun doing their best nothing could help lift the drama beyond a point of stagnancy.Let’s weigh Legend of the Blue Sea on our show beam balance and see what was good about it and what wasn’t.
Good Weights
Funny Moments: With actors like Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun the one department you can’t go wrong with is, comedy. The two actors have good comic timing, which is evident in the drama. Scenes where Joon Jae is jealous or where he tries to act smart in front of Cheong are too funny. Similarly, when Shim Cheong is new to the city and innocently believes whatever people tell her or when she over thinks about Joon Jae’s actions are too adorable.
Bad Weights
Chemistry: Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun were good individually but as a couple, they just didn’t click for me. They did not look convincingly in love let alone be soul mates for past several births. It was only towards the end that I got to see some chemistry between them but by then I had lost interest in the show. Lead pair chemistry is pivotal for a romantic drama and when the main ingredient is missing the dish becomes too bland to taste.
Predictable: I wasn’t sold to the whole reincarnation scenario or even the history repeating itself angle. I felt the writers desperately tried to make the story interesting by constantly shifting the role of an antagonist from one person to another. I found the story twists too feeble to feel surprised by it. I could even see through some of the supposed twists that were there only to divert the viewer’s attention when in reality it had no greater purpose in the story. [[Spoiler]] For instance, Nam Doo suddenly seemed to turn evil be siding with the step-brother, Chi Hyun. It was so evident that the angle was added only to take the viewers by surprise. Nam Doo was a positive character all through the show, making him negative in the last few episodes for the sake of a twist would have been too lame.[[Spoiler]]
This drama has a lot of funny moments but sadly it doesn’t touch the highest point of entertainment. Even when it has a lot of things working for it, it still seems like there is nothing alluring about it. The drama wasn’t boring by any means. It just wasn’t enticing or engaging enough for me to want to catch up with every episode. Legend Of The Blue Sea could have reached greater heights with the kind of cast and budget it had. Sadly, the story failed the two actors who did everything they could to save the drama.
Legend Of The Blue Sea is a decent drama with several enjoyable moments. Watch this show only if you are a Lee Min Ho or a Jun Ji Hyun fan because these two are the only reasons to watch the drama.
Originally posted on www.alphagirl.in
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A Wasted Journey Down The Rabbit Hole...
Filmed by director Baek Soo Chan ( A Girl Who Sees Smells, Reunited Worlds ), written with a fairly, fresh unique storyline by Kim Kyu-Won and having brilliant casting choices of Joo Won ( Bridal Mask, Good Doctor), Kim Hee Seon (Room No.9, Angry Mom) and Choi Won Young ( Sky Castle, I Remember You and Mystic Pop- Up Bar) , Alice truly had all the given possibilities of being an avant- garde masterpiece.So, what went wrong with such a good show? Well, it would seem that there were a couple contributing factors for the show’s own demise, not least; characterisation, inconsistent plot and lacking dramatic tension.
To give the show some credit, the beginning did build- up a lot of intriguing plot for viewers; a nearly apathetic detective ( Joo Won) who after witnessing the death of his mother nearly ten years ago, is confronted with the past and the future with the mysterious meeting of his mother’s doppelgänger , a physicist interested in time travel, and apparent time travellers from the future who may have played a part in the death of his mother . Yet, one thing which did grow slightly apparent about this show from episode one, was the lack of creativity with cinematography, something which for a show about time travel ( apart from the old “freeze in time” scenes), there was little added to express this.
Additionally, a lot of drama watchers that I’ve talked to about this show, have seemed to sugarcoat a lot of the inconsistencies which began arising the beginning of this drama ( not least the exact extent of the laws of time travel and the strength of Gyeom’s powers), however, it can perhaps be overlooked slightly in the beginning with the abilities of our acting cast ( well, to an extent). As per usual, Joo Won was brilliant within his portrayal as an intelligent detective yearning for the truth behind his mother’s death. In fact, there is little to really fault about Joo Won in his portrayal, but, rather how the scriptwriters decided to continue onwards with Joo Won’s character, Park Jin Gyeom. There were a lot of moments which the scriptwriters didn’t even try to explain to us as viewers; Gyeom’s random emotional outbursts as someone apparently apathetic( yet his lacking emotional relationships even with the possibilities that could have been explored with his own father ), his lacking intelligence within moments in the show ( such as his inability to draw the conclusions of a simple DNA test with his mother’s doppelgänger)and of course the exact extent of his powers; something not explained even by the confusing ending of the drama and Gyeom’s character twist ( equally making little sense in regards to Gyeom as a character or the exact reasons behind his actions).
En par with Joo Won as an equal , undeniably was Kim Hee Seon. Whilst I’ll be honest in saying that I had to watch a couple of clips from older dramas/ movies to know her past works, Hee Seon was certainly was well-cast within her dual role in the drama. Whilst Joo Won also had to conflict between playing a younger and older- self of his character in the series, Hee Seon had to go one step further in the more complicated matter of playing two carbon copy characters with ( though not specified)presumably different ages and personalities. This is a hard feat for any actor, and it’s fair to say that it was believable upon Hee Seon being two different people here; a mother/time traveller and, of course a young and intelligent scientist . Sadly in a similar manner to Jin Gyeom as a character, there were too many plot holes associated with both Yoon Tae-Yis. Whilst the show offered some explanation towards how these two characters are identical copies of the other, there was little rational or plot build- up for viewers to this moment, in a similar manner to the emotional context of whether Doctor Yoon played a part in the discovery of the agency as a consequence of her works, her questioning intelligence and the revelation of her emotional trauma seemed to not truly flesh her out as a character at all in the drama . (This also adds on a side note, what exactly happened to the Book that the characters stressed as important by episode 16, seemingly disappearing from the storyline until last minute.) Then of course there’s the additional “ platonic, yet mutual feelings angle” the drama took between the relationships of Jin Gyeom and Doctor Yoon. Whilst to an extent it was easy to understand where Yoon’s misunderstandings came from before learning more about Gyeom , Jin Gyeom’s own misleading assertions towards Yoon being somehow linked to his mother, took the show on a slightly disturbing ( though thankfully only suggested) factor when considering that Doctor Yoon is still identical to his mother.
Thankfully, the show didn’t extend too much into this near-incest relationship, but, it is noticeable in later episodes how the driving action of the plot drives to a near halt in order to focus on their “ affectionate” relationship rather than actual plot development like earlier episodes . However, in order to appeal for viewers, the writers did attempt to present a love interest for Gin Yeom through the introduction of Lee Da-In as Kim- Do Yeon. Whilst Da-In certainly wasn’t awful within her portrayal, her character was simply unnecessary to the plot; She had no character development and most importantly, no actual contribution to the plot as well.
On a more positive note , Kwak Si-Yang’s performance as Yoo Min- Hyuk , a time- traveller and agent for Alice , was brilliantly angst-ridden, adding to some complex and emotionally- driven scenes between his character’s horror and realisation with his actions after he finds out a shocking truth. Although undeniably Min- Hyuk probably had some of the best ( and possibly only ) decent characterisation in the show on his road to redemption with Gin Yeom, the scriptwriters didn’t give Min- Hyuk any justice as a character. This is something which felt quite detached both emotionally for viewers and the scriptwriter, with the decision for the relationship between Min Hyuk and Gin Yeom to be carried out with little build-up or development, apart from the cycle of Gyeom being weary of Min Hyuk, beating him up and repeat. ( For viewers who know this secret, I am sure that you can agree with me that the ending which could have been emotionally touching, completely killed this relationship with little sense considering Gyeom’s reaction.). Additionally, of course, Kim Sang Ho and Choi Won Young’s roles on the sideline added some emotional angst and sincere questions throughout the drama through their performances .
Overall, Alice had a lot of intriguing premises and ideas, and a fairly good cast yet, lacking characterisation, inconsistent plot and a rushed ending with little sensical plot ( especially regarding the laws of time ) and emotional deliverance, added to the wasted potential for a good show by becoming dire .
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I don’t get why it’s getting too much hate. Maybe not for all.
If you’re looking for an overhyped drama where newbie fans end up disappointed because it doesn’t contain your usual cliches (fighting over females, cinderella leads, etc), this one isn’t for you.I tried to analyze why it’s getting a lot of hate, and I can only come up with 2 probable reasons - the pace and the ending. If you’re into fast paced dramas with happy predictable endings, skip this.
However, if you enjoy slice of life dramas while watching real character growth, characters who are actually relatable and mature romance, I highly recommend you watch this.
Things I love:
- I totally related to this story. Being a 27 yr old who still feels lost with my chosen career path, seeing the characters in this drama go through the same thing totally gave me a great comfort. The pressures Bogum’s character got from his parents for his career choice, wow, I’m sure a lot of us relate to this at some point. I totally felt for his character every time he argued with his dad, and every single time he started to doubt his own choices. I guess I wasn’t alone.
- The romance was very sweet and raw. I love how they were both mature enough in handling some of their problems as a couple, and I love how everything was realistic (no parents throwing money to undesired partners, no chaebol - cinderella, etc). These were two people who were struggling in life and found solace in each other’s presence. I loved how ordinary everything was about them. The only thing I didn’t understand was the break up. The slow fall out due to the ML’s stardom was understandable, but the female’s reasons for her decision felt too sudden and unexplained. Other than that, i liked how raw this couple was.
- The “second lead” who never stole the girl and destroyed his friendship with the ML. I appreciated how this character also showed depth, and I enjoyed watching his struggles with overbearing tiger parents.
- A glimpse of life behind the spotlight. This drama taught me a lot of things about the lifestyle of famous people in korean’s entertainment industry (like not to instantly believe articles about our favorite artists because a lot of them may be fake news). It was truly a treat to someone who’s such a fan of the entertainment industry.
There’s still a lot of things I love - acting, OST, the writing and the metaphors used, cinematography, the use of social media to as a record of one’s youth... too many. This drama really deserves more love from people who believe in stories that are more real.
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What were they thinking ??!!
Ok, let me start by saying that i watch a lot of fluffy shows so i know what to expect but this show i found soooooooooo annoying i cant tell you how much .The plot line is a girl pretending to be a boy so she could play hockey her roommate knows all a long she's a girl and doesn't say anything to her and just enjoying to tease her most of the time all the while she thinks no one knows about her big secret.
And of course they start to fell in love .
So can someone please tell me how is it possible to drag this out until episode 20 while all long she is wearing makeup i know it is not real life but that is just stupid and during this time they kissed 4 times so what does she think is going on , maybe his gay mmmm
No it cant be it is Chinese show after all.
So I'm thinking why oh why they had to write such a stupid plot line.
I know i am in the minority here and a lot of people really liked this show but for me it was a total west of my time i didn't find it sweet and fluffy i just found it really annoying .
So no i wouldn't recommend this show to anyone god knows there is plenty of new shows to watch now which are much better then this one and still sweet .
Sorry for the rant but this one was just it for me i couldn't keep quite because it felt the writers were thinking we are all a bunch of silly girls with no common sense what so ever.
So please do me a favor and skip this one .
I promise you will thank me for that.
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A Disappointing Drag - Too Many Episodes for Too Little Plot
I had high hopes for this K-drama, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a huge letdown. From the very beginning, it was clear that the show was plagued by clichés. The storyline was so predictable that I could guess what was going to happen long before it did. The "surprise twists" were anything but surprising, and the characters felt like they were lifted straight out of a tired, overused formula.But what really made this drama unbearable was the pacing. It was excruciatingly slow. Scenes dragged on with little to no progress, and the endless filler content made it feel like the story was just spinning its wheels. I found myself checking the time constantly, waiting for something, anything, interesting to happen. Sadly, that moment never came.
Honestly, this entire series could have been condensed into three episodes. There simply wasn’t enough substance to justify the length of the drama. Instead of a tight, engaging narrative, we got a drawn-out, tedious watch that felt like a chore to finish.
If you're looking for something fresh and exciting, skip this one. There are plenty of other K-dramas out there that offer much more in terms of storytelling and entertainment.
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My Page in the 90s – A Delightful, Retro Rom-Com Escape
My Page in the 90s is one of those C-dramas that sneaks up on you and suddenly becomes your comfort watch.
The story follows a modern-day live streamer who gets transported into the world of a novel she constantly criticized. But this isn’t just a random isekai situation she’s trapped in a game-like system where she’s given quests, earns rewards, and is told her ultimate mission: win over the male lead if she wants to leave. It sounds chaotic… and it is in the best way possible.
What truly makes this drama shine is its comedy. I haven’t laughed this much at a C-drama in a long time. Every character has impeccable comic timing, and the humor actually landsinstead of feeling forced or cringe. It’s witty, self-aware, and genuinely fun.
Then there’s the 90s setting, which I absolutely adore. The pagers. The landline phones. The maps instead of GPS. Dating rumors in magazines. Vintage CEO suits and ties. Bold polka dots and loud colors. The hairstyles. The entire aesthetic is nostalgic, cozy, and ridiculously charming. I’m completely absorbed in this world.
Lin huan er, the female lead, is a standout. She’s smart, witty, chaotic, and genuinely funny but not a pushover. I love how she uses her modern-day mindset to navigate this old-school world. What really impressed me is how her approach to “winning over the male lead” evolves: she goes from impulsive and reckless to strategic and thoughtful. That growth makes her feel mature and layered rather than exhausting or one-note.
Gao Haiming, the male lead, is everything I didn’t know I needed from a CEO character. Yes, he’s dashing. Yes, the vintage suits, ties, and hairstyles are doing things for me. But more importantly, he’s calculating, intelligent, driven, and emotionally guarded with actual depth and baggage. And for once… he really *works*. Like, he actually goes to his office and does his job. Chen Xingxu is genuinely bringing back the charm of CEO leads.
And their chemistry? Perfect.
They have this “you use me, I use you, and we both know it” dynamic that’s so refreshing. There’s mutual awareness, tension, and unspoken rules. They don’t cross emotional lines too early, and that slow, strategic dance between them is exactly my kind of romance...their interactions made me giddy and thats how I know iam sold on chemistry...loved every minute of these two.
My Page in the 90s has been a delightful watch simple to follow, genuinely funny, retro, cute, and full of charm. It doesn’t try too hard to be deep or dramatic, and that’s exactly why it works. It knows what it is and fully commits to being an entertaining, feel-good rom-com with a clever twist.
If you’re looking for something light, nostalgic, and ridiculously fun with great chemistry and lovable leads… this one is 100% worth your time.
Conclusively;
"Sometimes, a drama doesn't need to be grand; it just needs to be simple yet entertaining, and this show is proof of that. My rewatch value for this is incredibly high, and I know I'll definitely watch it again. The chemistry between the leads was a major highlight, making me giddy throughout. And the comic timing of the various characters? Chef's kiss! The 90s setting added a wonderful layer of nostalgia. Give this show a chance; it will sneak up on you when you least expect it.
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Disappointment
It started out well - the concept of two boxers being bodyguards to a "good loan shark" is an interesting premise.Sadly, characters who are normally / introduced as extremely smart, experienced, lethal etc. end up dumb or useless/powerless whenever the plot needs them to be.
An expert assassin not only doesn't do his job well (guy survives) but also gets jumped and overpowered by 2 guys.
An feared hitman gets sh*tfaced drunk, leaves his ID, wives photo and info in his office after he just dealt a heavy blow to an evil organization who he KNOWS know him. So bad guys do what? You can guess.
The heroes decide to get drunk and relax because... they took out two important guys from a wide net of evil villains? Villains who know their full names, specialities, addresses...? And they don't all hide in a safe house, no, they all just go on to work, private homes, drive out.
I could go on, especially with just how much this drama demands you suspend all logic and critical thinking for you to enjoy it.
The bromance between Gun Woo & Woo Jin was definitely a highlight.
The comraderie between the 'knifers' I loved as well but since there isn't any of it past a certain episode, most of the crumbs of joy i had from watching this show just went up in flames.
The overall acting and music was good, but the plot is weak and it has no rewatch value imo. A shame, because I was hyped for the show and excited to watch it.
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When you try to be too many things and end up being nothing.
Queen of Tears is a show that is trying to do it all. It wants to be a complex story about a dying marriage. It wants to investigate the fragility of mortality. it wants to look into twisted messy familial relationships. It wants to explore the tragedy of losing your children. It wants to be a thrilling chabeol game of thrones. It wants to be documentary about toxic unrequited love from an obsessive villainous male lead. The end product is a sopping misshapen mess that manages to be none of the above .It claims to be a journey of a married couple at odds finding their way back to each other (but the male lead spent half the show trying to divorce the female lead or hoping she dies) it attempts to be a meaningful essay on death and sickness (but haein's illness seems to be an afterthought half the time, merely a plot device to remind the people around her that she exists and that shes human and that she deserves to be loved) it takes multiple sloppy shots at trying to play the inheritance games (but the chabeols you're supposed to root for are so stupid and pathetic you feel no sympathy for them when they get taken for all they're worth) The messy familial dynamics fall flat as we watch a mom very unreasonably neglect and villainize her 10-year-old kid over the apparent murder of her other child. It tries to skim over the terrible topic of miscarrying your child into a mere oddly placed 10 minutes.
The show is its own worst enemy. it stages an effective angsty scene between the leads about the difficult choices u need to make when ur ill and then undercuts it in the editing room by immediately following it up with an oddly placed flirtatious and humorous scene. It tries to impress upon us the terror of yoon eunsong's controlling, manipulative ways and immediately follows it up with Haein freely stalking her apparently abusive lying cheating ex-husband with a smile on her face. some shows are capable of maintaining a light tone while speaking about heavy topics and still pay them the respect and significance they are owed [refer: oh no here comes trouble] but queen of tears is not one of them. Rather than a show that uses comedy cleverly as a way of bringing to light its complex subject matter, it comes across as a jarring whiplash of moments thrown together by two different editing teams who were given two very different instructions.
This is a show that tries to tell more than show. They want to tell you that these people love each other but when you think upon it for more than two seconds you start wondering why they fell in love, why they fell out of it, why the miscarriage that got 8 minutes of screentime tore them apart so viciously that the husband began to wish his wife would die and her terminal illness would make her more likely to leave him with some soft cash to fall back on. On the surface level, it's all there, Hyun Woo's self-centeredness, and Haein's inability to communicate her emotions but it's too little too late for the depth of the melodrama they plunge us into.
Despite Kim Jiwon's and Kim Soohyun's stellar performances, you exit the couple's showdowns thinking "damn is it really that deep?" and that's where a romance drama fails for me, it fails if I think the romance is too soppy coz that means that the foundation or crust of the writing is too weak to hold the decadence and the intensity of the acting job.
Queen of Tears ends it's run tonight as a show that tried to do too many things and ended up doing none of it satisfactorily. Rather than introduce terminal illness, scheming villains trying to usurp wealth, and obsessive friends from college they should have delivered on the one thing they promised, a married couple at odds finding their way back to each other. If only they had stripped down the additional dressing and focused on the messy terrible marriage of Hyun Woo and Haein and their respective and combined issues and how they overcame it without the unnecessary roadblocks like amnesia and evil second male leads, maybe it could have been worthy of the acting performances of the leads.
if you want to watch a messy married couple falling back in love its better to watch hits like flower of evil or go back couple coz this one was just disappointing.
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Lazy writer
I watched episode 15 last night and thought, "Wow, I haven't seen a Korean drama adopt an Indian soap opera style before." I had been watching patiently week by week, hoping the writing would improve, but it didn't. It mixed up everything: divorce, a mean mother-in-law, cancer, memory loss, etc.—you name it. I thought the writer was being creative in offering something new because people said the writer was a big deal. However, it turns out the writing is just like a story created by a middle-schooler on Wattapp.I know for sure this drama will be successful in terms of viewership since the writer went back to basics by having good-looking casts and glamorous styles. This recipe guarantees ratings. But, it makes the work look cheap. No wonder the Baeksang tossed this drama out of the window by only giving it one nomination (even though the committee might regret this later and wish they had given zero nominations to this series).
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Okay I’m going against the majority here & saying this is an idiotic series, for the following reasons:1)there is no Chemistry / no relatinship between the leads
The male lead just tells her off all the time. All she does is whinge & talk about herself (even when he’s sick/ injured!). Their relatinship pretty much goes nowhere for 17 episodes.
2) the female lead is annoying
She has great qualities- caring, tenacious & not pretentious- but the development of those qualities are sacrificed to emphasise her as an idiotic damsel in distress- so the male lead has a reason to interact with her. Therefore she’s reduced to being needy & dumb.
3) the male lead is only interesting when he is not with the female lead. The best conversations the male lead has are when he is not talking to the female lead! Seriously - what does he see in the female lead?! The series had me perplexed.
As you can see I got annoyed & stopped watching at 18 episodes.
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1Love, Lies & Manipulation – Welcome to Secret Relationship
Wow. I don’t even know where to start with this one. Being my first-ever Korean BL, I was not prepared for the emotional rollercoaster this drama threw me on. But I do know one thing— it set the bar ridiculously high.For a drama with only 8 episodes, each around 30 minutes, it never once felt rushed or incomplete. The pacing was so well done. Every single episode left me wanting more, and somehow, they managed to pack in all the tension, angst, and emotional wreckage without making anything feel forced. It’s rare for a short-format drama to feel this full, but Secret Relationship nailed it.
The Plot – A Toxic, Twisted Love Web
Jung Daon is caught in a very complicated situation—stuck between a controlling toxic oppa, a sweet sunshine who deserves the world, and an absolute devil who enjoys playing with people's emotions like it’s a sport. It's messy, so messy, and that’s what makes it so damn addictive.
Characters – A Messy, Flawed, and Completely Addictive Bunch
One of the biggest strengths of this drama is its characters. They are not simple, one-dimensional tropes. They are deeply flawed, frustrating at times, and painfully real.
Jung Daon – Walking Emotional Damage
– If "walking heartbreak" was a person, it would be him. The poor guy has been stuck in this cycle of self-doubt and emotional torment for so long that he genuinely believes he’s not worthy of happiness. Watching him struggle, make questionable choices, and slowly fight to break free was one of the most compelling parts of this drama.
Seong Hyeon – The Ball of Sunshine
–This man? Too pure for this drama. The absolute sweetheart of the show, My precious, soft-hearted, warm-as-the-sun baby.. He’s the kind of person who puts everyone else first, even at his own expense. He’s pure, kind, and incredibly loyal, which makes it even more painful to watch him get dragged into this emotional battlefield. He deserved all the happiness in the world, and honestly, I just wanted to protect him.
Kim Su Hyeon – TOXIC Hot Oppa™
– Where do I even start? Sir, you need therapy. Immediately. This guy is toxic, obsessive, abusive and emotionally unstable and unavailable in the most frustrating way possible.
You are toxic and I hate you. And you are HOT
Jaemin – The Devil in Disguise
–If there’s a character that deserves an award for mind games, it’s Jaemin. A psychopath. A master manipulator. This man plays chess while everyone else is struggling with tic-tac-toe. Every action, every word, every little gesture—it’s all calculated. He smiles like an angel but manipulates like a devil, twisting people’s emotions and pulling the strings behind the scenes; he’s always one step ahead. And the worst part? Jaemin, you are a menace. He was just that terrifyingly good.
Brilliant performances – These actors delivered— They nailed it.
Music & Atmosphere - The background music? Perfectly placed. won’t say it was the most memorable OST ever, but it did its job so well that I can’t complain.
Final Thoughts –
If you want a soft, healing romance, this is NOT it. But if you’re looking for a dark, twisted, emotionally charged love story that keeps you hooked from start to finish. It’s messy, it’s intense, and it will ruin your peace of mind—but you’ll love every second of it.
For my first Korean BL, I don’t think I could’ve picked a wilder, more gripping watch. It was toxic, dramatic, intense, and utterly unforgettable. If you’re looking for a romance with real emotional depth and a chaotic love square that’ll have you screaming at the screen, this is it.
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