Secret (2013)

Secret was okay as a melodrama. It was definitely better than Mask (2015), but it wasn't mind blowing like a lot of the reviews claim. The first 5 or so episodes were pretty rough to get through - watching the FMC go through her tragedy was pretty awful and it didn't get easier to watch until after she got out of prison.

The romance between MCs was decent, but it wasn't epic or steamy or particularly romantic. It was a pretty realistic build up, I just wanted more depth and tension. The actors were decent, but I didn't find that the MCs had a lot of chemistry (and they did NOT look great kissing - I disagree with that common opinion).

The plot itself was a bit slow and drawn out, which wasn't too bad, but not great either. Just kind of had me "meh."


***MILD SPOILERS BELOW***

What I really liked about this drama was the ending. The way the FMC's ex realizes how his greed caused him to lose his future of happiness as a father and husband was so well portrayed. The entire scene when he fell apart gave me goosebumps!
I also really liked how the FMC was consistent with her character by the end - she was such a good mother to her son up until the end by not insisting on ripping him away from his adoptive mother even though she was devastated and desperate to get him back. Yes, it was sad that the FMC didn't get to be with her son again as mother-son, but it was a good resolution that fit the story and characters.

***MILD SPOILERS ABOVE***


The soundtrack was decent - while none of the songs bothered me, none of them particularly stood out. *shrugs*

Overall, this drama was alright. I don't think I'd recommend it or dissuade anyone from watching it. It wasn't awful but it wasn't intense or remarkable either. I don't understand all of the hype in the reviews for this drama, but I can respect it.

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No fast forward

One of the best KDramas I have ever watched ....... Best actors.....all....love them....the driver/bodyguard/runner....even the rich father and the step mom, well written characters....believable! no boring over-d-top villains that do evil things that makes no sense.
Great ending, highly entertaining.
I don’t usually watch melodrama but this is recommended , I was pleasantly surprised , thanks to the writer and director....please do more of this caliber. I’ll keep track of their other works.
I didn’t expect the ending , I mostly don’t watch the last episodes simply I get bored and already expecting what’s the usual ending which is.....that the main characters end up living happily ever after....most kdramas have boring dead-like kisses to finalized the story....this one is really juicy, and there’s closure , there’s justice and done really well. Good writing , good cinematography....both leading actresses two thumbs.

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One of the best Kdramas all time

This is one of the best K dramas I ever watched. It flows with a great storyline and the cast has done an amazing job. There were many occasions that made me cry. This is one of the emotional K dramas I watched after a long time.
I fell in love with the series and finished the series within 2 days. Usually, I dropped watching a drama when the first 2 episodes fail to get my attention. But Secret grabs my attention since the start and I couldn't resist stopping watching the drama continuously. Main lead couple has done a great job and supporting cast also contribute to the story at their best. Also, the series has such nice OSTs which created much attachment to the scenes emotionally while watching the drama

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the best melodrama i have watched to-date, hands down

finished, yasss!

honestly this drama was brilliant in every sense of the word. particularly for the lead couple, they are the perfect cast for this drama. can't praise them enough!

i am however slightly dissatisfied with the business aspects of the story. Attorney Ahn kept repeating that he worked very hard to climb to the top, but it seemed like things got easy for him because of So Yeon, LOL. also the last plan of them when him and So Yeon teamed up to make sure Min Hyeok agrees to the marriage if he doesn't want to destroy both him and So Yeon together. they literally glossed things over and didn't elaborate properly about what exactly they threatened him with, and how those dealings came to be. they have also never bothered to show Se Yeon's politician father not even once, LMAO. would have been so nice if that part was included properly into the story. mostly we got Min Hyeok who was seen always busily chasing around Yoo Jeong for his revenge LOL, but it's a missed opportunity that they didn't show exactly what type of a businessman he is.

i feel like ep. 15 of this drama could have been ep. 19 instead, with those bits filled in that would make the story a lot more complete. i came away feeling mainly dissatisfied with how weak Attorney Ahn tried to topple him, and how rushed everything felt at the end LOL. the story would have gotten more dynamic and stronger if they made him a smarter, more ruthless/wicked villain who is willing to do just anything and more evil things to avoid the fall.

i kept comparing this drama in my head with The Innocent Man, which the latter could be said more complete (3 main characters, able to be stretched out to 20 episodes). they fleshed out the power struggle story really well there, whilst here it's the main love story and the melodramatic life of the FL that they did extremely well.

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UNDERRATED GEM

Sometimes it pays to scroll through the list of Kdramas, where I’m sure are many gems. Attracting and mesmerizing me was “Secret Love.” A side note: You have to be careful here, there are several “Secret Love” shows, so it becomes confusing. Therefore, it’s important to know the main leads. For this review, it’s a Korean version, 2013, starring Ji Sung, whose wife is Lee Bo Young-love everything she does-marvelous actress, Hwang Jung Eum, Bae Soo Bin, and Lee Da Hee. Like a lot of shows, it’s about class, power, and business marriages. Each actor displayed believable characters and developed them in each episode. Outstanding though, was Ji Sung’s role as Jo Min Hyuk. I’ve seen a lot of K-dramas and other movies. By far, watching Jo Min evidence the transition from lauding his power to having fallen for Yoo-Jung, is the greatest I’ve ever seen. His body language and facial expressions gave recognition that their relationship had changed. Culminating with him kneeling, as if to say, I see you, we are equals-realizing that his focus on her was twofold. It is definitely one for rewatching!

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I wasn't going to watch this...but I'm so glad I did

I've heard about this drama for years now, and I thought that I had no interest in it at all. I don't always love melodramas, even though I've seen quite a lot of them, and I don't always like revenge dramas...and this one was both. So I had this drama under "Not Interested" for a long time and I thought that was that. But I recently read an article about hate-to-love dramas and there were so many comments recommending this, that I reluctantly said that I would try it. And MAN. I am so glad the drama fairies made this happen. WOW. I knew that all of the actors involved were top-notch but I had no idea that this drama would bring as many feels as this one has. This was a roller coaster ride and one that I'm thrilled to have finally decided to jump on.

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Vista con el tiempo, sigue atrapando igual

Vista en 2023 y ha tenido que ser en modo maratón. Totalmente vigente y actual.
Increíbles las actuaciones de los 3 personajes principales, la pareja y el fiscal.
Ella, sobre todo, me ha hecho empatizar como nunca, llorar con ella y a la vez sentirme algo reconfortada por su fortaleza.
De él destaco el suave paso del odio a la comprensión y amor. Casi ni te das cuenta, pero ves natural su obsesión por protegerla.
Quizá yo de ella habría 'despertado' antes para dejar de pedir disculpas por todo, pero ya es opinión personal.
Digna de recomendar, disfrutar y recomendar.

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top 5 all time... bestest!

not many dramas i've watched more than once, but i lost count how many times i came back to re-watch this (at least some episodes). Ji Sung is genius for sure, and FL also exceptional in her character. is it realistic? sure not on the whole, but some scenes are sooo believable. it does rely on clichés, and we expect them to be there, but they are on a new level, burning with fire.
a lot of tension, a lot of chemistry, but not in a superficial way. support cast does the job to perfection! a lot of handsome faces, but again - there's more than just good looks to each and every one.................................................................................................
dont let the word melodrama put you off ! it's not just melodrama to this, it's really an all-rounder. cathartic!..................................
i watch this and i dont want to even blink for fear i might miss something. ☜♡☞

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Great handling of the plot, the way it unraveled is rarely seen in series, it had very smart decisions by the writer and no uneccessary flashbacks and excessive explaining that make the writers seem like they think the audience is dumb. Great cinematography. The acting was superb, even the many crying scenes which usually annoy me, here felt necessary. Even though it had the trope of the rich chaebol it was handled so perfectly that it didn't matter. Every episode kept me entertained. Every side character was shown in ways that let the viewer know their every thought and motive, I cared about them and understood their points of view. Great "villain" because his actions were realistic and not just for the sake of being evil, the scariest villain is the one that we can imagine being around us in real life.

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This is one of my favourite dramas and would recommend it to many

The story was well written and the actors were compelling in their roles plus the main characters chemistry is outstanding.

I found the story to be an amazing portrayal of what people do for love. To see the entanglement of the characters story and watch as they slowly "untangle" it was thrilling. It really made me feel for the characters and got me invested in their story. Seeing what they go through and seeing them get their revenge ( and they do get it ) made it all the more amazing.

Hwang Jang Eum and Ji Sung have amazing chemistry. No matter what drama they act in with or without one another, they still give an amazing performance. ( I suggest watching Kill me, Heal me to get more of the two actors )

%100 would re-watch! Always think of going back after watching some MV on youtube for this drama!

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WOW!!!! What a phenomenal show!!! Hwang Jung Eum (Kang Yoo Jung) and Ji Sung (Jo Min Hyuk) were absolutely amazing in this!! If you want a show that grabs hold of you from the get go then this is it! It's jammed with turmoil, love, and tears. Twists and turns throughout. This is the second drama I have scene with the two main actors, Kill me Heal Me was the first so I thought to myself to try this out, the pairing couldn't be better!! So many tears!!! OMG I think I cried a river!!!
If you want something slightly different from a regular drama, take this for a spin you won't regret it!

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