Secret Admirer (2022)

Cute, Cliche and Cringy

I am going to be honest. This show was a super cliche BL of enemies to lover's trope but overall, it was a cute show to just watch when bored. The acting and the chemistry were not amazing, but the show was still watchable. Kim and Mek didn't have the greatest chemistry but neither did Bear and Bomb. The couple that looked the most comfortable with each other was Lee and Park.

The story line between the main couple was funny and very cliche but they had their moments. Bear's and Bombs story was just weird to me. I get Bomb being a fan of Bear's, but I felt like their relation was forced by the writers. I don't really have anything to say about Lee and Park since they had been together for 7 years already. I just wished we could have seen a bit more of their high school years.

I didn't think I was going to like this Bl since It never hit my fyp on TikTok while it was airing which is where I see and get a lot bl recommendations that get a lot of hype. Either was I am glad I watched it because it was cute watch.

I am recommending watch the show if you are bored and don't want to get to invested in a show or deal with a show that has lots of drama between the characters or plot twists.

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LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT

oh em gee! The acting is amazing and i love how each of the characters and relationships develop along the series!! All of the actors are HANDSOME as well! 10/10 would recommend for sure! Also can we PLEASE talk about that unexpected ending because honestly i thought this was it! I have been getting into BL's a lot recently and let me tell you this series did not disappoint. Thankfully there were no deaths this time lol! I love how mek finally started to accept his feelings and kim as well, AND LETS NOT forget about that TENT scene please and THANK YOU! anyways enough of my rambling! moral of the story...DO WATCH!

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An understated landmark in queer Asian cinema and here's why

Now let me start off by answering some questions you may be asking yourself: Is this the greatest story ever told? No.
Is there anything particularly standout or special about any of the plot points, or characters, cinematography, literally anything at all? No.
But what makes it so incredibly enjoyable (and honestly objectively good in my opinion) is the way the show chooses to engage with its own genre. The whole things starts, as we know, with a fairly ridiculous plot by the university head to blackmail two of her students into producing shippy BL content and promote the university. This could have easily been stupid and downright problematic (kind of, more on this later), but the show holds absolutely nothing back in showcasing exactly why and how the entire thing is awful and problematic. Literally both goofy-ass, idiot main characters listen to the university head inform them of her plan and immediately go “Mam this is unethical as all hell”, with one main point they raise being that these sort of publicity schemes do nothing to actually help queer people or further queer liberation and both of them take issue with that big time.
This theme of calling bullshit on the fetishization of queer lives continues throughout pretty much the entire show, with a highlight being a montage of the two main characters working their way through a list of cheesy cliches to make content out of except every sappy and ridiculous moment devolves into all-out war (read – a slapstick level of physical violence) every time the camera turns off, funny and an incredibly clever and direct interrogation of almost every stupid, contrived trope this genre has ever seen.
The show also emphasizes the importance and beauty of authentic queer relationships by very deliberately juxtaposing them with the over the top, manufactured ship nonsense the characters have to crank out and they keep those themes going solidly even after the whole “we must make this BL content” storyline ends, which is fairly quickly (which I personally also found quite refreshing, I generally felt the pacing of the show was very well done)
Now why was I so blown away by this? Haven’t other shows done this exact thing except better, more in-depth, and more central to the plot? Why yes, they have, but the reason why this show sticks out is because a thoughtful analysis and deconstruction of a serious issue isn’t central to the plot or the themes whatsoever. What these showrunners have done is put all their energy into making a classic uni setting comedy-drama and then just casually tossed in some incredibly succinct and nuanced commentary on the realities of queer love in a time where such love is frequently and almost gleefully exploited for financial gain.
Combine that with some of the best and healthiest depictions of (queer) friendship I’ve seen in a long time (seriously, all six main characters support the hell out of each other and actually teach each other how to communicate, how to set boundaries, how to figure out who and what you want to be. They feel like real people with real thoughts and opinions who have things to say, want to learn and be better, and also happen to care about each other deeply. I may or may not have teared up a few times) and what you’ve got is a whole new standard for queer dramas going forward.

A quick list of negatives:
- As much as the show calls out the actions of the university head as being problematic, she still faces essentially no consequences in the end, and after she lets the boys off the hook and doesn't force them to produce more content for her, everyone just sort of has a collegial chuckle, going "Oh you, what a little scamp you are, uni head" and that's that. Compared to how well the aforementioned themes are handled during the rest of the show this just falls really flat for me.
- The show's one grand pitfall: the dreaded separation. Why do we still choose to do these, they are godawful, they make no sense, can you tell I'm just personally salty about it

In conclusion: An entertaining and sweet standard university drama that packs a little extra punch. If this is an indicator of what the average queer romance drama will look like from now on, then the future of the genre looks bright indeed.

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It gets better!

This series was surprisingly good. From so-so first episode and kinda silly premise, it improves every episode. This is only series so far which has managed to give unique storyline and time to 4 couples! Even though it is set in usual college setting, it deals will interesting relationship issues like one person in relationship is feeling insecure due to their lovers academic/professional success, character development of getting serious about life, long term relationships, secret relationship etc. Series managed to give us 12 full hour episodes without some usual psycho third party drama, silly misunderstandings which can be solved by one sentence talk but instead take multiple episodes to resolve. Delightful series which dealt with many real world relationship issues in realistic manner. Breath of fresh air in BL world.

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I wanted to see more of the side couple (TimMai!!)

My Secret Love, while a decently produced production, is unfortunately not going to be anywhere near the best BLs out there.

Some gripes I have:

The acting is not great (their crying is exaggerated and facial expressions sometimes out of control), the storyline is not fantastic (seriously? 2 college boys being literally blackmailed into producing BL content is problematic ngl), and some bits are kinda lame (college kids going around pranking people for content is so juvenile, and also, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE people land in a kiss after falling down?).

Do I recommend that you still watch it anyway? Yes, with some caveats:

1) You’re looking for a show that you can just sit and consume mindlessly without thinking too much into or pondering about the deeper questions in life. 2) You’re in between shows and you need a ‘filler’– doesn’t need to be 8/10 level (or even a 7.5), but please, no utter trash either – to tide you over until your next episode. 3)You enjoy slightly meta BL shows about BL.

Okay the third is pushing it slightly. But us BL fans have been spoiled by all the high-quality productions out there (and with more to come!), so run-of-the-mill BLs are no longer going to cut it. So this is, in a way, a happy problem. A very, very happy problem.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/08/26/my-secret-love-2022-review/

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Slow astart but turned into great BL

I'll agree that this show is underrated. MDL has it as a 7.6. I will rate this as an easy 9.0. I'll admit the series was a bit shacky in the early episodes but it for sure got better. The most obvious is the chemistry between the main couple. Seemed like Kim was just not as believable in portraying his feeling for Mek. Whereas Mek did a great job showing how his feelings for Kim developed evolved and where convincing believable and passionate. Congratulations to Fluk for his portrayal of Mek whom I despised at first and then learned to love him as he developed feelings for Kim. Also, Fluk really can change his appearance. He is really hot looking when his hair is not pulled back. I don't think Kim character did a bad job maybe it was directing him to be more restrained in his presentation. Kim did have his good moments for sure. I absolutely loved the secondary couples. For sure Bear and bomb are my favorites. Great BL series.

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Averagely Cute or Cutely Average

Here we are with another University BL. No engineering this time, but still university. The lead cp are forced into a BL series by their college professor and fall in love after initially disliking each other. Their chemistry is good, but not consistent, there are scenes that really did not look sincere to me. Besides the main cp, there are 3 others, 2 consisting of the club members of the main cp (oh, coincedence...) and another of a former suitor with his best friend. All these 3 cp are cute and lovable. There is nothing exceptionally good or bad, just cute. ParkLee and MaiTim had the best chemistry. Mai's performance is great, he stands out regarding acting skills.

The series is riddled with clichés and tropes, but most are not annoying as in some others and quite well worked out:

- university
- accidental kiss
- Enemies to Lovers
- Best friend to Lovers
- Jealousy/suspicion of cheating
- secret love (of course)
- femme fatale
- breaking up for the other's sake
- Bad boss
- proposal gone wrong
- wedding
- drunken confessions
- overhearing key conversation
- denying relationship / feelings

The series is saved by the chemistry, the acting (above average), the multiple cute couples and last but not least, great kisses!

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MEIO BOM E MEIO RUIM

Vamos por partes.
Do começo até a metade essa série é simplesmente perfeita, juro, não tenho nenhuma reclamação. É engraçada, fofa, os casais coadjuvantes são interessantes e o ritmo é bem fluido.
O problema vem quando vai chegando no final.
Da metade pra frente a história decai muito com o casal principal, são problemas o tempo todo e emenda em uma separação de anos (sempre vou enfatizar o quanto eu odeio passagem de tempo, eu acho a coisa mais terrível do mundo e perde o encanto pra mim), e o pior, a separação foi causada porque um queria "salvar o dia" e fez isso de propósito deixando o outro pensar que ele não o amava.
Fiquei triste em ver toda uma construção leve e bonita ser jogada no lixo e ser restaurada apenas no finalzinho. Os casais secundários salvaram a experiência desse final sofrido.

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First BL with almost believable homosexual male characters

My Secret Love (2022) is a Thai BL like any other. The plot, the setting, the theme, the characters all are familiar to the audience who is used to watching this genre. But some of the behaviors of these characters are very different from the those from other BL series.
In most BLs, the characters are pretty similar. Since these series are made for females as the target audience, the male characters in BLs are mostly very feminine in their sexual behaviors, which makes them very different from real gay men.
BL boys are mostly cute and innocent looking. They usually don't have any sexual experience even when they are in college. BL writers downplay the characters' sexual feelings and activities in order to make them likable for the women who watch the series. In a BL, when two boys are attracted to each other they always take a long time going on romantic dates together, they show cute little gestures of affection for each other to develop trust between them. The character development for these stories follows a cliché pattern. The boy who is supposed to be the Top, starts touching the other one. But he is almost always rejected over and over. Rejection never stops him though, and he eventually kisses his lover which is guaranteed to earn him a surprised reaction from the other party. For two boys in a typical BL, it takes very long between the time they realize they have mutual feelings, and the time they actually have sex.
All these behaviors, though, are totally unrealistic. Because most of the time women are the ones who hesitate so long before they have sex with their lover. The way men react to sexual desire is different from women. When men realize their crush likes them back, sex is on top of the list of the things they want to do with him/her. This fact determines the dynamics of all relationships between men and women. For straight men, they usually have to wait before their girlfriend is ready to go all the way with them. but that is not the case for gay men. When two gay men find out their attraction is mutual, they don't wait for another month before they have sex. Of course this is not the case for all men and women, but it is the typical behavior for most of them. Men don't need to trust someone before they have sex with them, the way women do. The reason behind it is our evolutional background of course which I won't go further into detail to explain.
In BL stories, the writers who are most of the time female themselves, write boys with extremely feminine behavior and mindset to the point that it feels like these are girls with only a boy's name on them. The audience who are mostly female as well enjoy this fantasy world where boys behave like girls so much, but we shouldn't forget that these stories are far removed from the reality of LGBTQ+ life.
Now, My Secret Love has adjusted this cliché, which is a welcome change of pace for me. In this series, while the main couple go through the same enemy to lovers trope, once they realize there is a mutual attraction between them, they don't act like unexperienced teenage girls who cry after their first kiss. Kimham, who is supposedly the more submissive one between the two, actually makes the first move, and Mek doesn't look appalled by the idea of kissing him. Them having sex right after is a fresh change from the usual BL plot. And having sex doesn't mean that they are official either. This is much closer to the dynamics of real gay relationships than the typical BL, and it was nice to see it. I hope as the BL industry expands, more writers dare to write more believable gay characters who are not ashamed of living their truth.

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So easy to watch

I think that I never wrote so many notes while watching a drama as I did in this one ahahhaha
I wasn't expecting to like it this much, honestly I just started to watch it because it was Earth comeback drama and I missed him but I ended up falling in love with all the cast.
Gonna leave my notes here because it really reflexes my deepest feelings ahahha.
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Notes:
First of all the smut scene was something weird and nice at the same time.
Secondly wtf is wrong with Tim, he surelly doesn't use 100% of his brain capacity. Poor Mai likes u so much and u never wanted to be more than friends because u were afraid of losing all of him, as boyfriend and/or friend, but after all of that u come with all your bullshits, he also has a life for God sake. Another thing about them is that they have a big fat couch and are literally on each others lap. (The eight difference though is really cute hahaha. WTFFFF THAT KISS WAS SO FINEEEEEE EP. 6 IS NAILING IT WTFFF... wasn't Tim with a crush on Kim? Mai u deserve so much better.
It's really funny how Mek becomes 2 totally different person with and without the ponytail.
This ep.6 is full of kiss scenes, the make out scene between Kim and Mek was very good.
Bear and Bomb are so cute I can't stand them kkk<3
Mai is such an amazing person but he lacks of self love, he's constantly putting himself in the same old position with Tim, that isn't healthy love<3
Funny how it was necessary Tim being dumped by Mai for him to realize the man that is right in front of his eyes... Tim is acting like he owns Mai, he's starting to get on my nerves you need to stop. Mai is being a nasty bitch using that guy Pete to make Tim jealous but I'm LOVING IT
AHHH FUCK Mek's sad face is hurting my fucking soul
Ok but Lee is so freaking cuteeee and Park suits him so well their chemistry is amazing

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Pleasantly Surprised

I surprisingly really enjoyed this show, I didn't think I would. It was such a comfort series that I didn't take too seriously but still enjoyed. The acting was over the top but it wasn't too much that put you off from watching, it actually found it funny. I liked that it didn't just focus on just two ML it had 4 couples that all had their stories told. I can't say that anything really put me off. The story was told well, it had a beginning middle and end. The angst was reasonable, no real misunderstandings.

I really liked the last episode because it didn't follow the typical BL trend and left everything to be explained in the last episode which normally leaves a story being rushed. It was just a fun, loveable, fluffy ending that closed everything out really well.

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Park & Lee should be the main couple

Inconsistent yet good enough to consume in your spare time. It’s a good decision for the production company to change the set-up they provide from the trailer to improving it on the show itself. It became better but still has loopholes and dull moments that were honestly unsatisfactory. The plot started from the typical enemy-to-lovers sequel with the annoying campus heartthrob setting, along with the unlikeable abuse of power by the school teacher/shipper. The transition from school to entering adulthood in a professional field was too sudden yet it somehow provided something new and made a huge adjustment from the never-ending cliche from the college-based scenes.

Gratefully, the characters managed to offer an impact and entertainment. Kim and Mek are just so-so. They can be cute sometimes but from time to time, their story is bland. After they stopped making BL contents, the vibes turned to be more natural and holistic. In the Bomb and Bear case, it feels extra-delightful before both of them enter into a romantic relationship. Bomb has the fluffiest scenes with his one-sided crush and Bear’s comedic charm was loveable. The screen time of Tim and Mai is skippable since it was dry and uninteresting. The sister and brother bonding is deserving of two thumbs-up. A healthy sibling relationship. Both families are composed of open-minded parents who are proud that they’re sons choose to hold onto their happiness.

Park and Lee are worthy to be the main couple. The title itself fits their 7 years of a relationship without their friends knowing about it, the real 'secret love. 'They are the cutest in the show! That particular comfort room scene where they exchange uniforms lights up my attention and the beginning of centralizing my focus on them. Their first meeting was flawlessly adorable. They stole my heart more than any pair from the show. They were immersing, charming, and heart-fluttering. A boyfriend that executes great chemistry and abundant rays of sunshine. I am so happy that they got married in the end.

The 12 episodes have a mixture of good and bad elements that resulted in neutrality or average overall rating from the show. It isn’t particularly hateable but isn’t also specifically memorable.

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