Secret (2013)

Drammone vecchio stampo, ma ce ne fossero!

Quando si tratta di drama interpretati da Ji Sung, si va spesso a ricadere nel mio solito discorso: a mio modesto e personalissimo parere, Ji Sung è un dio. Più invecchia e più migliora, sia come viso che come recitazione. Può fare – e ha fatto – qualsiasi cosa, e alla grandissima. La sua capacità di calarsi nei personaggi, di farci percepire le emozioni più sottili o, al contrario, le più devastanti, è qualcosa di magico. Riesce a reggere e a rendere plausibili le situazioni più drammaticamente improbabili. Purtroppo, però, lo ritroviamo spesso a recitare in opere in cui la sceneggiatura è, per certi versi, un po’ “troppo”. Questo show non fa eccezione.

Secret (love) è un drama sudcoreano del 2013, per la regia di Baek Sang Hoon (Descendants of the Sun, Love in the Moonlight, The King: Eternal Monarch) e Lee Eung Bok (Descendants of the Sun, Goblin, Mr. Sunshine) e la sceneggiatura di Choi Ho Chul e Yoo Bo Ra, in 16 episodi da circa un’ora ciascuno.

Si narra la storia di un quadrilatero pseudo amoroso. Min Hyuk (Ji Sung) è un ricco rampollo di buona famiglia, futuro erede di una società, collerico e a tratti meschino, riluttante a sposare l’amica Shin Se Yeon (Lee Da Hee), figlia di un politico e impostagli dal padre dispotico, perché ama una ragazza povera. Do Hoon (un ottimo Bae Soo Bin) è un onesto pubblico ministero fresco di nomina, fidanzato con Yoo Jung (una splendida Hwang Jung Eum), una panettiera che l’ha finanziariamente aiutato negli studi. Una notte di pioggia, mentre tornano a casa in auto, Do Hoon segretamente investe e lascia morire la fidanzata di Min Hyuk e alla fine Yoo Jung, fidandosene, per evitare di stroncargli la carriera, propone di dichiarare di essere stata lei alla guida, e finisce per beccarsi 5 anni, anche a causa della persecuzione contro di lei che Min Yuk porterà avanti per molti anni. Uscita di prigione, Yoo Jung scoprirà che le cose sono cambiate e, mentre Min Yuk continuerà ossessivamente a perseguitarla fino ad amarla, dovrà difendersi anche dal vecchio fidanzato e dalla sua famiglia, dalla gelosa Se Yeon e, insomma, un po’ da tutti.

La quantità di disgrazie e mortificazioni assortite che, a mezzo di fatalità o dell’intervento di diverse persone, precipitano sulla povera Yoo Jung, è indescrivibile. Si va – e l’elenco non è esaustivo - dalla carcerazione, alle ferite, alla perdita del figlio, dalla malattia mentale del padre alle umiliazioni assortite e alla continua tensione in cui la tiene Min Yuk, senza dimenticare le pressioni di ogni tipo che le fa l’ex fidanzato, terrorizzato all’idea che vengano scoperte le sue malefatte. La ragazza passa molto tempo a piangere, e Hwang Jung Eum lo fa benissimo, ma non solo: tutta la sua performance è convincente e misurata. Se qualcosa si può rimproverare al personaggio, è il suo continuo bisogno di inchinarsi e di scusarsi con chiunque. Eppure, per moltissimo tempo, nonostante le continue minacce di Do Hoon, rifiuterà di rivelare la verità a Min Yuk. Pare che sacrificio sia la sua parola d’ordine e a volte ci si scopre a sperare che la cambi.

Per contro Min Yuk, che vediamo in principio come un uomo egocentrico e facile alla collera, prono a pericolosi scoppi d’ira e francamente molto infantile, col tempo impara ad apprezzare Yoo Jung e, mentre continua la sua persecuzione con modi spesso da stalker psicopatico, cambia pian piano i suoi interventi, passando dalla punizione alla protezione, man mano che si rende conto che la ragazza è diversa da come se la immaginava e che forse in quella fatidica notte le cose sono andate diversamente dalla verità ufficiale.

Nel frattempo, l’ex onesto pubblico ministero Do Hoon, sentendosi minacciato da Yoo Jung e da Min Yuk, riesce a farsi assumere come avvocato dal padre di lui e ad assumere nella società una posizione di preminenza. Il comportamento sempre più minaccioso e traditore del legale, che si allea con Se Yeon contro Min Yuk e Yoo Jung e sembra disposto a distruggere tutto pur di mantenere nascoste le sue sempre più terribili malefatte, è magnificamente recitato da Bae Soo Bin, veramente superbo in questa parte così repellente. Ha recitato così bene che, sulla piattaforma di Rakuten Viki, una buona parte dei commenti degli utenti erano insulti al suo personaggio. In verità, anche Min Yuk si è preso la sua buona dose di (meritati) insulti, e perfino Yoo Jung, giudicata troppo arrendevole e votata all’inutile sacrificio.

Insomma, ci troviamo di fronte ad un drammone, un vero e proprio melodramma vecchio stampo, prono all’esagerazione, che occorre guardare dimenticando, almeno a tratti, l’esistenza delle parole ‘logica’ e ‘plausibilità’. A parte la massa delle miserie che capitano alla povera Yoo Jung, che manco a Candy Candy, si potrebbe legittimamente chiedersi come, in una grossa società, ad un avvocato appena arrivato vengano affidate posizioni di potere. Le scelte di Se Yeon sono abbastanza estreme e spesso incomprensibilmente autolesionistiche. Il rapporto della coppia principale (Min Yuk e Yoo Jung) è tossico e si sviluppa in maniera morbosa: lui la perseguita ossessivamente ed è almeno concausa di parte delle tragedie che la colpiscono ma, in seguito, pare vittima di una specie di sindrome di Stoccolma al contrario per cui la sua ossessione dall’odio passa all’amore. E questo, nel suo personaggio, potrebbe anche essere comprensibile: la bella ha domato la bestia. Ma la bella, dopo aver subito infinite angherie, tra l’altro completamente immeritate, come può così velocemente innamorarsi della bestia? Diciamo che fa parte del suo carattere.

Tutto ciò, però, potrebbe essere superabile. Se riesce l’operazione mentale ‘segui la storia senza farti troppe domande’, Secret è un drama emotivamente intenso, dove la tensione rimane alta, senza troppi cedimenti, per tutta la durata dell’opera. Forse il finale è stato un po’ affrettato, ma comunque le vicende terminano in modo soddisfacente, alcuni cattivi vengono puniti, altri la fanno franca, ma il mondo sappiamo che non è perfetto.

Ci sono però almeno due punti che potrebbero essere controversi. Il primo riguarda ( SPOILER ) un’adozione irregolare. Lascio il giudizio allo spettatore.

Il secondo, veramente fastidioso, è il vizio che hanno sia Min Yuk che Do Hoon di strattonare e trascinare Yoo Jung qua e là per un braccio. Chiaro che è una scelta registica, d’accordo che siamo in Corea, nel 2013, però è veramente irritante vedere un uomo trattare in questo modo una ragazza, come se fosse una cosa normale. Qualcuno potrebbe dire che a farlo sono i due personaggi figli di buona gatta, e che questa caratteristica aggiunge al loro essere negativi (e infatti verso la fine Min Yuk non lo fa più), ma è sgradevole ugualmente. Tra l’altro, ogni tanto volano anche schiaffi, senza badare troppo al genere di chi li tira e di chi li piglia, tanti che non ne vedevo così dai tempi dei fotoromanzi.

Per rifarci la bocca, possiamo affidarci alla buona colonna sonora: Incurable Disease, Tears Stole the Heart di Ailee, Heights of Wind Storm di Ji Sung hanno certamente costituito un valore aggiunto alla serie, così come la splendida cinematografia, ricca di scene visivamente appaganti e inquadrature particolari.

Insomma, forse bisognerebbe smettere di fare le pulci ai drama, come se fosse divertente dissezionarli scena per scena per trovarvi difetti. E’ vero, Secret è un drama forse antiquato, vagamente imperfetto, con alcuni punti deboli e trama non sempre logica. Ma la carica emotiva trasmessa dal trio principale, nel bene e nel male, è un potente collante che costringe lo spettatore a saltare compulsivamente dalla sigla di coda di un episodio a quella d’inizio del successivo fino a quando, arrivati all’ending del sedicesimo, non ci si rende conto quasi con sgomento che non ci sarà un’altra puntata da vedere. Per la sottoscritta, questo è l’inizio di una potente crisi di astinenza, che cercherà di placare andando a cercare un’altra serie interpretata da Ji Sung. Prima o poi le finirò, e già la cosa mi rattrista.

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One of the best melodrama I've ever seen and also one of the best dramas period. To be honest when I first started watching it, I dropped it at the first episode because it bored me, but then I tried it again after reading the reviews and right then and there I was hooked. I pretty much finished in 2 days and didnt even skip a second of it. Everything about this drama is perfect, from the cast to the acting, to the story, the romance and the chemistry between the leads were incredible Hwang jung eum's acting was on a different level. I actually cried every time she cried. (lots of crying in this one) That was how convincing she was. Ji sung was amazing too but I feel like his talent is showing more on KMHM. In the end of it all, this drama broke me into little tiny pieces but I will never regret watching it and re-watching it over and over again.

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Oh my this ONE abused the sht out of my heart!

The acting was amazing. There was so much crying, but each one never lost its value.

It was a btch to get through since most the story was so sad, but I suggest you don't watch it in such a narrow minded view. Put yourself in each characters point of view and try to understand each one because for me that's what made it bearable.

I finished the series in 2 days because I felt so bad for KYJ and I was just eagerly just waiting for her to do her quirky adorable laugh. I really hate sad dramas, but I got a much greater "feel good moment" effect from the little bits and pieces of happiness in this drama then a drama dedicated completely for "feel good moments".

I fell in love with the main couple. Look at my list I usually drop as soon as the main couple gets together but on this one I kept going because I actually wanted them to get closer and closer. To me their love was believable and on episode 15 their was a moment I even cried out of jealously because it is the kind of pure love I truly want.( you will understand when you get there)

What I also liked about this was the deaths weren't just some random conveniently timed events. Each one had a purpose and were connected. We didn't the moments where a character finds something out, and right then they die that usually happens from a out of the blue car accident.. Like that sht makes me go CRAZY!

Re watch value of me was low because I don't think my heart can handle it lol.

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An inverse function... Consider the journey the reward. Truly captivating.

Two core components of KDrama characterize the recipe of "Secret": Firstly, the rich and powerful can obviously get away with anything. Secondly, a secret not only changes those who know about it, but eventually comes to light. Yet the brilliant mixture of this pastry makes the difference: the fatal initial constellation of the relationship dynamics is so cleverly shifted, twisted and tricky in several emotional loopings that the emotional world is completely turned upside down - an inverse function...

For quite some time I avoided this KDrama, because (from the description) I thought I already knew how the story was going to go. ...Quite familiar, already seen many times... However, at some point I just wanted to have a glimpse (probably because of Ji Sung). What a surprise: it was truly captivating...

Moments of foreboding and predictability, yes, there are. But believe me, that doesn't stop you from wanting to see HOW things in their complicated entanglement can still turn out for the best. On the contrary, you CAN´T WAIT to experience that! The destination may be known, however, consider the journey the reward.

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Your time is precious? Roger. Then let this drama fullfil it's value.

1- If you're the skipper type who skips scenes. Then believe me, in this drama you won't dare to.

2- If you're the 'I-dont-miss-any-second-of-drama' type then this one will make you replay each scene twice.

One word describtion for it, Brilliant.

Story: '10' wow! It blow's off the mind and it teaches you a lot about the real world.

Acting skills: '10' they make every scene so real.

Music: '10' each song suits the scene it's on for and the music with the amazing lyrics deepen's the feeling you have.

Romance: '10' think you know what's prefect chemistry is? You thought wrong. Because unless you watch this one. Then you know nothing about chemistry.

Speed: '10' nothing was rushed, and nothing was slow. Every piece of lego was placed in the right place.

Overall: '10+' why? Because the hidden secret behind the title is "This Is Perfection". Made up for all the dramas I spent watching forecfully in 2013.

a one ending sentence: A-Must-Watch!!!!!

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You know this feeling you get when a drama you loved to pieces ends and you're left overwhelmed with happiness because it had everything you ever wanted, yet a part of you feels empty because it seems as if no other drama could ever compare? Well, that's the way I feel right now after finishing Secret Love.

STORY: There's no point denying it, I'm more of a romantic comedy kind of girl. Mainly because melodramas are often black and white and revolve about people crying about everything and anything instead of actually doing something about it and the end isn't always worth all this pain. That's why I think Secret Love is so perfect: you can either see it as a sad -okay tragic- romantic comedy or a hilarious melodrama. You just get the best of both genres. The writing plays obviously a big role in it. The characters are layered and feel authentic so you can't help but being drawn to them, drawn to the story itself.
Bonus point, it definitely makes you want to read Wuthering Heights and anyone that promotes -good- literature has my approval.

ACTING/CAST: The cornerstone of a drama is its two main leads. They need to be good actors since they carry the show and to have chemistry together. The one behind Secret Love's casting couldn't have done a better job. I don't see anyobdy who could have played MinHyuk better than JiSung did, showing both his tenderly sulky side and his ruthless side. It's his acting that makes MH's character so lovable. HwangJungEum -oh HJE- it's the first drama I see her in and I hope it's not the last. I don't know how to put it into words, her character would usually be one that annoys me to no end but from the start I just really cared about her. When she cried -and man does she cry- it doesn't annoy you, it just breaks your heart and when she smiles, it's just like "yes, yes do get some happiness for once girl, you deserve it!". Don't even get me started on the chemistry between these two. Just their first scene together screamed OTP. Let's not forget BaeSuBin who did an amazing job as AhnDoHoon. He is just as perfect at playing nice guys as he is at playing scheming ones. I love the actor but man did I want to punch ADH in the face more than just once. I think I could rant on every single actor that starred in this drama so I'm gonna stop with the main three. I'm just going to add that with IHYV and now Secret Love LeeDaHee keeps growing more and more on me and I hope to see her play in more dramas.

MUSIC: The soundtrack of the drama may be its weakest point. Don't get me wrong I love it but the track Secret Love (why autotune WHY) doesn't really match the mood and the lyrics of Ailee's song (well the English verse really) sounds a bit cheap. I have both these songs and the rest of the soundtrack on my phone but yeah you have to call a spade a spade. Also since JiSung sang for the soundtrack -which I defintely won't complain about- I would have liked to also have a track sang by HJE -I mean she was a SINGER before turning actress- or even better both of them doing a duet. Oh well maybe I'm just being too greedy.

REWATCH VALUE: Like I said earlier the characters are layered and the writing isn't just one hot mess. The acting is great and the soundtrack just fits. Also I utterly loved the ending. So yeah I could definitely watch it over and over.

OVERALL: A well-written story, so well-written that I'm actually keeping an eye on ChoiHoChul (I mean if his first screenplay was THAT good, can you imagine the ones that will follow!?). It doesn't matter if you are more drawn to melodramas or romantic comedies. The bottom line is there's a high chance for you to love it.

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I love this drama so much!

Story: It's similar to another drama, but I won't tell what the name of that drama is because you either know already & seen it or not seen it or have heard of it but want to watch that drama too. But I can tell you it's a little more darker & the writers make the plot their own later down the line. The plot was entertaining from beginning to end!

Acting/Cast: Ji Sung was awesome in this drama! Hwang Jung Eum was amazing as well. I didn't watch a lot of their dramas, but I was so surprised by their acting here. They have amazing chemistry! Bae Soo Bin was amazing in his role as the villian! I hated his character more here than in 49 Days(I won't spoil his character for you if you want to watch that drama yourself). I love the side characters(the main guy's secretary(guy) & the main girl's friends) so much!

Music: It was very beautiful especially "Tears Stole my Heart" by Alee & "Incurable Disease" by Navi ft. Kabee.

Rewatch value: I won't watch this often becuase I cried so much in this drama. But I would we watch this for the side characters & the character development from each character

Overall I give this a ten because this was a lovely drama.

It's for people who love melodrama, romance, comedy(believe me, there are some there) & love character development(there is a lot). It also for people who are fans of the main actors/actress(Ji Sung, Hwang Jung Eum, Bae Soo Bin & Lee Da Hee or other actors/actress).

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I hate melodramas, and at first I only watched this for Ji Sung. I eventually became addicted. Bad things happen in this show, yes, but they work for the plot. I never got bored, although sometimes I was frustrated by the characters.

I was really confused by the reviewer who said the two leads didn't have chemistry. The scenes between them were hot! My love for Ji Sung has only gotten stronger. I know he's married, but let's be realistic, we were probably never going to hook up even if he was single. Okay, I've gotten off topic...



The music was great and the story was solid. One thing I loved was the little touched of comedy. I probably won't rewatch the jail episodes, but I'll revisit this series at some point. I found the first few episodes a little slow and Min Hyuk a little hard to deal with at first, which is why this doesn't get a perfect score.

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I just finished writing another review where I wrote that there aren't many kdramas with strong female characters. Now I seem like a liar because this drama is yet another example of a kdrama with a strong female character. The character in this drama goes through so much yet she is never weak or defeated. The thing I love the most is she isn't dumb. She catches on to things and even though the things she finds out are heartbreaking and I am sure they are things she wishes didn't happen yet she doesn't let her emotions cloud her judgment. She stands up for herself and she doesn't let herself be a victim instead she owns up to her mistakes and she takes responsibility for them. She doesn't want people to see her as helpless yet she isn't afraid to ask for help even from someone she hates. Why? Because she has a goal and will do whatever it takes to reach that goal. I could continue my lovefest for this character but I will move on. Don't get me wrong though she isn't perfect and I didn't want to watch a drama with a sacrificing woman but the way the story develops and the characters grow make it worth it.The character development for all of these characters was great. No one ever changes so much that you are left wondering what happened. Everything is a process and a well done process at that. The actors were great and every week I was left waiting for the next week to come. Before the last episodes the writer of this drama said that the ending would be something totally unexpected and trust me it really was. I was always on here commenting after every episode and not one of us predicted that ending. Best kdrama of the year, sorry Master's Sun.

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Omg. This Drama was so DAEBAK!! I don't even know where to begin!

ACTING/CAST: I felt as though I could relate with each and every actor/actress. No matter what role these people had, they were able to convince me that they were in fact, that character. This drama will make you emotional. There will be times where you WANT to flip tables, cry, d'awh, etc.

STORY: I made the mistake of starting this drama while it was airing. The cliff hanges after every episode made me want to rip my hair out, literally. I wanted to know what was next!! GAH! I basically marathoned like the first 8 episodes in one day. OTL Anyway, the storyline will most definitely keep you interested. If you enjoyed Innocent Man with Song Joongki x Moon Chaewon, get ready to fall in love with Ji Sung and Hwang Jung Eum.

MUSIC: The music was beautiful. I felt like crying at some parts. Sorry, I'm such a softie. Derp. /) ~ (\

REWATCH VALUE: If you need a buddy to cry, punch walls, flip tables with, etc while watching this drama, I'm your girl. Hit me up. It's THAT good. ;D

OVERALL: WATCH IT NOW WOMAN/MAN/WHOEVER YOU ARE. I promise you will NOT regret it. If you hate it, I'll take full responsibility. (okay, maybe not FULL, but srsly go watch it now. :DD)

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