Secret (2013)

EDITED REVIEW:

Previously, I had written a very lukewarm review for this drama. Originally, I did not think this drama was anything special. However, upon rewatching a few scenes I found myself enjoying it more than I did the first time. That doesn't make it the best drama in my book, but I found that once I overlooked a LOT of annoying sub plots I liked the drama much better. In fact, I now think that it is one of most unique Kdramas ever.

According to my observation, most Korean dramas start out great and then go downhill towards the end. This drama started fine, had some unbearable moments in between but by the time it picked up, it became very addictive.

For me, majority of it till episode 8 or so was unbearably bad. I personally hate tragedies which take place without contributing anything to the plot. This drama was supposed to be about her boyfriend's betrayal but what we got was a whole lot of useless crying scenes.

There is way too much crying, too many sacrifices and too much loss in the drama without making much sense half the time. Till the time this dramas sets out to redeem itself, it seems like it is too late. I, however enjoyed the romantic conflict which takes place in the second half of the drama. It doesn't make sense too but the characters and actors pull you in and I found myself rooting for them.

In my original review I had said that the bad outweighed the good in the drama. Now, after a certain time passed I can't remember the bad stuff but definitely remember the good parts fondly. This drama was very and still is very conflicting for me. On one hand- I absolutely hated it and on the other hand, I couldn't get enough of it.

I always feel that a drama that manages to get the right reactions out of you is a job done well indeed. Too bad that I couldn't digest the 'sad' part of it otherwise I wouldn't have had any issues with the story at all!

The strongest part of the drama lies in its acting department and the romance. All actors did an amazing job especially the two main leads. The OST is simply wonderful and Ailee's ballad is one of my favorites ever.

I'll be on the lookout for a better or similar drama now. :)

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It's true to it's genre and captivating till the end

I am a bit shocked they managed to put all that drama in 16 episodes but at the same time they could perfectly execute how hate turned into love at a rational manner without any inconsistencies. Most importantly it was very interesting to wonder "who is the victim here? who is the one who is suffering more?". They both did, but not because of each other. He manages to give her everything she deserved and didn't have from her previous relationship, for which he gave up her whole life and she gives him trust. She believes in him, till the very end. That was what made their relationship strong. He also trusted her back and for such a "obsessive" (as would appear to many) man he sure was not jealous or possessive at all. He trusted her words too and even wanted to give the minimum respect to the man who once was worthy of the love of the woman he loves, even if he took away someone so important to him.
Overall I found the FL to be strong, consistent and capable. She portrays the emotions very well. But all leads deserve a lot of praise for their acting, the roles of the villains too.
The last episode was well made, it gives appropriate closure to every single character.
I rewatched it after many years and thought of leaving a review until I remember all that happened.
I will probably rewatch it when I forget about it all, because of the chemistry and great acting

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There are some dramas, where you watch them, but you forget what happened. This one, on the other hand, you will remember the name and the plot. This drama had a very interesting start and very interesting ending; however, it turned out to have many melodramas elements, which I'm not a fan of: too much tears, and pain, plus I did not like the abusive behavior of grabbing someone's arm ( It bothered me). However, this drama had presented real life elements, which if you do watch it you will recognize them. It also presented some tips such as not trust your boyfriend that easily....

Anyways, this drama turned out to be very interesting plot-wise because it contained many twists and turns, which reminded me of a crime drama (see how the crime is unraveled). The actors had played their role, and I was not aware of what will happen next.

As for re-watch: I might rewatch or i might not. For the most part I found out what happened, so I probably won't watch it again. But I might come back and watch parts of it....

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This drama is waaaaay over-rated in my opinion, the first five episodes were a real hell to go trough, it was just too boring. I wanted to give it up every minute of it, luckily it got better afterwards, however this drama was still not my cup of tea, it couldn't make me cry nor did it make me laugh, i was simply not moved by it. there was at least one person crying in every episode making it overdone, it had some good songs but the placement of moment was so bad, at emotional moments they would play a qwerky tune and it would totally throw me off, the reason why i still continued was because i was really interested in one character gwang soo, he seemed like the only light point in this depressing mess, but i can't say this drama was total crap, it had good acting and well i liked the last minute plot twist it pulled of, it is good enough to keep you interested and hanging, they just dragged the story to much, i'm glad this was only 16 episodes.

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SO FAR SO GOOD. So intense and compelling. Honestly, I started watching because of Ji Sung (I mean, come on haha). But the storyline kept me so engaged that I stayed up all night marathoning the whole first 8 eps... and have been painstakingly waiting for new eps. It's gripping and honestly, for those who are making Nice Guy comparisons - I personally think it's not like Nice Guy at all and this is coming from someone who JUST watched Nice Guy right before Secret (though I loved Nice Guy as well).

I have never really been keen on Hwang Jung Eum's acting but she's really good here and makes you really feel for her. I know people say she looks plastic-y but honestly, I find the second female lead more plastic-y for some reason - probably because HJE can emote really well and her facial expressions feel more natural where Lee Da Hee feels a lot more stiff.

Also, Bae Soo Bin is always amazing. I mean, it's hard to believe that I had second-lead syndrome for him during Shining Inheritance and here, I just hate his guts - though sometimes he overdoes it (I mean, that crazy, over the top screaming and face-scrunching every time he sees Yoo Jeong lol)

I'm really starting to ship the leads and can't wait for all the intricacies to unfold so they can both move on, and heal each other's wounds. And SAN

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Do you like your drama to keep you sobbing? Episode after episode? Even when you swear to yourself there's just NO WAY you're going to shed any tears this time; you can make it through that hour. Do you like your drama to have as many twists and turns as a couple dancing the tango? How about heart-aching romance? Ahh, dear reader, then you're in luck.

If all of the above sounds like the recipe for a drama befitting to your tastes, then go ahead, click "add" and set it to "currently watching". I will claim no responsibility in the time it will rob from the next 3-4 days of your life. However, you will thank me.

This melodrama, no no, melo- makes it sound too laid back. This MEGAdrama will hold you. Yea, sure, it has the typical Chaebol-poor girl theme. And I must admit, I found Lee Duk Hwa playing the Chaebol dad quite hilarious when I first accepted that was his role in this show. However, as much as it is typical, it is different. There's so much that is unexpected in the story that you can't help but be a prisoner to it; NEEDING to know what will happen next at the end of every episode. Knowing you have all the episodes right in front of you and trying to show restraint. Say goodbye to those 3-4 days. Apologize to your employer and friends ahead of time.

The story is non-stop drama. Even when it's moving slow, it's moving slow dramatically. In the beginning, you'll be angry. You'll want to drop it at least 5 times. You'll hope and be let down repeatedly. But at some point, all your angst will be rewarded. Trust me, it will. Remember this... it will. The elation you will feel when that point comes will be unmatched. Hang in there.

Bae Su Bin was good in his role, while Lee Da Hee fell flat, in my opinion. The two that make this story riveting are Ji Sung, and especially Hwang Jung Eum. They made it feel real and overwhelming, as if it was truly happening to someone somewhere. Very well matched actors for the main roles, indeed.

I believe this has been the first drama that I ended feeling satisfied. I certainly wouldn't have ever thought that could happen when I started it, but it surprised me along the ride in a way that sets it apart from other dramas. Get your tissues ready, clear out your schedule, and remember... your angst WILL be rewarded.

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Tragic. Poignant. Touching. Memorable

I seldom watch tragic melodramas cause I have a very low threshold when it comes to hearttwrenching tragedies and unspeakable loss of loved ones coupled by horrid antagonist that from the start you pray for their death. So I have to be truthful that for my sanity I skip parts that I couldn't stomach. usually I would have dropped the drama but the plot was too compelling. Ji sung and Jung Eum are so perfect for their role I can't imagine this drama will ever work or reach their emotional pinnacle without them.

Ji Sung really cements his ability as a fantastic actor with his role of President Jo Min Hyuk. His pain, frustration, anger, loss and even hatred was so palpable. You almost reach towards the screen either to comfort him or shake him. His expression and the way his eyes speaks when he looks at Yoo Jung was so multi facet. He really channels that looks of love and longing. Of wanting to be closer to her to keep her by his side and yet still tear himself away from her. Episode 12 to 14 has really memprable scenes of them

I never thought too much about Hwang Jung Eum. She really blew me away with her role as the pitiful but strong Yoo Jung. Yoo Jung really turns out to be a character I have to admire .. To survive those loss, abuse in the prison, self guilt and looks of disgust from others. Also I think she cried truckloads in this drama and made me reach for the tissues too.

If I have to be critical. I would say the ending scene of them was too short for my liking. For all the tribulations we witness them, I would have liked to be rewarded for more. Which is why after this drama I'm moving on to Kill me, Heal me, another drama of them together.

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WORST EVER

this opinion may shock a lot really
And yes it's harsh

But this is the worst drama ever
First of all the story wasn't new at all for me because
The main story between the FL and the prosecutor was literally taken from an Egyptian movie called
Tomorrow, I will take revenge 1983
And they changed the stories around just to fill the drama, except the movie wasn't that shit
Because Koreans know how to turn it into pure misery and tragedy


I've never been exhausted like this after watching a drama
There were lots and lots of envy and evil under the name of love I've never seen before

My blood was boiling almost all the drama

*The plot was sucks
*The story wasn't connected
*The events were weak and disarranged
*The time were lost, you don't know how much time has passed (days, weeks or months Or even years)
*The romance was cold and hidden behind lots of misrey , till the limit I didn't know when the FL falls In love with the ML

*Lots of annoying villains specially the ML's fiancee.

*For the first time I knew there were a Male Bi*** instead of the female one LOL

(2nd ML) Annoying as hell
I want to get him out of the screen and slapping him as much as I can, then stabbing him LOL

*The character development was under zero for the FL
her character was extremely annoying , weak , stupid and enjoying humiliating herself and saying sorry to every one

She was raising a slogan
SACRIFICES FOR EVERYONE AND EVERYWHERE,
WHO WANTS ONE

She went till the limit she sacrificed her child for another woman
Inspite She had all the power against her ex she did nothing
And why she and the ML
Gave me the feeling that he was controling them
As if he was the owner of K group

And the end was total shit for her Ex.
Someone who was full of greedy, envy and didn't love her at all and prefer his own benefit all the time and threaten her till the very end and denied what he has done and killed her father when he felt dangerous,
Suddenly his sleeping conscious awakes and go to confess and enter to jail (BIG LOL)

I didn't find what happened at the end to all the villains specially the ex's mom in this drama was satisfying at all

Totally hated
Wish I didn't watch really
Total waste of time in my opinion

TOTAL SHIT .... TOO OVERRATED

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After taking a break from K-Drama, I wanted to watch something that would be completely addictive. Based on reviews and ratings, I thought this drama would be exactly what I was looking for, but boy was I mistaken. Secret Love was everything I've already seen in K-Dramas, recycled in the most ineffective way.

First, I disagree with all comparisons to Innocent Man, which I enjoyed. The only similarity is that both main characters go to jail for a crime they didn't commit, sacrificing their aspirations so that the person they love can follow their dreams. Other than that, the stories and characters are completely different. Secret Love lacks all the excitement of most revenge after betrayal stories by waiting way too long to get to that part of the story. The majority of the episodes are about horrible things happening to the painfully passive main character Kang Yoo Jung, and watching her cry too much, and then smile like everything is ok. Kudos to Hwang Jung Eum for being able to switch emotions so well, but it didn't make me care at all about her poorly written character. She was way too much of a doormat for me to root for her.

I was also let down by the romance. To me, it just didn't make any sense. Why did these two fall in love? Pity? And where was the chemistry? Ok, maybe they had one or two cute moments, but that's it. I really wanted to like Ji Sung as Jo Min Hyuk, but his character's transformation felt really forced to me, and so did the romance. In fact, it felt so forced that they had the 'rapey'-est first kiss I ever saw in any K-Drama. Even though he was my favorite in the cast, It didn't change the creepy factor of his overall stalking, and aggressive behavior. I'm surprised this couple got so much praise, because I just don't get it.

Now on to the rest of the cast.. The bad guys Ahn Do Hoon, and Shin Se Yeon, were very boring. Both had a few good character moments, but most of their scenes were skippable. And the idea that Ahn Do Hoon & Kang Yoo Jung were ever really in love, never came across. They had zero chemistry, so it was hard to care about their relationship falling apart. The rest of the supporting cast were pretty good. I liked Kang Yoo Jung's prison buddies, and Ahn Do Hoon's parents. There were times when they were more interesting than the main characters. That's probably because the main characters did so much crying and feeling sorry for themselves, that it became annoying to watch after a while.

Overall I had a really hard time getting through the first episodes, and didn't start to have any interest until about episode 6. The director got some good artsy shots in, and the music wasn't bad, just a tad too melodramatic at times. Still, nothing could save the story that dragged, and the "secrets" that were pretty predictable. I had to force myself to finish this drama, just because I was curious to see if I would like it more by the end. The answer? No.

I know this drama has a lot of fans, and usually I'm a fan of this genre of drama, but maybe this much melodrama is just not my cup of tea. My advice? If you start watching, and you aren't loving it, move on to the next drama.

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Secret seems like another run-of0the-mill melodrama but that is not the case.
The drama suffers from a inconsistent plot but what it lacks in that department it makes up in the other department-romance and addiction.

This drama is not to be looked over for the fact that this is one of the most addictive dramas i have watched in my life. I finished it in flat 1.5 days with few lunch breaks. The plot can be stupid and without any purpose whatsoever but i am a sucker for the kind of romance that this drama takes forward.
I have looked at Ji Sung only in Protect the Boss and he wasnt memorable there but here this man shines. He is the perfect guy to play the stalker-turned-friend-turned-lover. He is the type of guy you would abhor in real life because he is literally a hardcore stalker. ^_^ :D

Hwang Jung Eum shined in Can you hear My Heart and i have to give it to her that she has a very natural way of crying. She may not be the prettiest girl in town but she nails her role as the heroine.

The romance is the type where it hurts staying together and hurts more if staying apart. Its the classic Love-hate relationship and the ambiguous feelings of the heroine kept the relationship interesting.
It was deeply addictive because every second you wanted to know are they gonna start falling in love, now or when or if ever?

Lee Da Hee as Shin Se Yeon is your usual second lead girl but she is a little fresh in that she is always calm. Rarely if ever her calm breaks. However Shin Se Yeon could have been acted better.
I kinda hated Bae Soo Bin in 49 days and my hate solidified into disgust. The guy can't act for sure and his characters are the repetitive types.

It made use of the boring old cliches and tried recycling them. It doesnt bring anything fresh to my screen in terms of writing or plot developments. Many things were way over the top to be taken seriously and the melo does become very ridiculous in the starting episodes.
The best part of the series is that it starts very slowly and then builds on to a crescendo and it only falters in the last 2 episodes.

The one thing that made this an 8 in my book is how crazy one can be when it comes to love/hate/secrets. The protagonists are literally downright crazy. It was awesome seeing Min Hyuk being a crazy wacko guy. I love tragic/crazy/flawed leads a lot.

The music is pretty engaging and lends a nice touch to the whole "secret" that everyone is trying to hide.

Watch it for its addictive pace and the romance which slowly but nicely builds to a nice climax. Enjoy!!!

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