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Drama that cleverly subverts some tropes...but never goes deep enough
Is The Secret Life of My Secretary for you?
If you are in need of something lighthearted with attractive cast and a truly iconic second female lead, sure, go for it! Just don't expect anything too deep or memorable. Also, the FL lies to the ML (he becomes faceblind and she pretends she is someone she is not while also maintaining her "secretary" persona) and the lies become tedious and take way too long to resolve. Consider this a fair warning if you are sensitive about that.
THE GOOD: SUBVERSION OF SOME TROPES & VERONICA PARK
– The first two episodes make very clear (at least for me) that the seeds of romance between the two leads have already been there for some time. Especially from the ML's side. They are both just too dumb to realize it. The FL's elaborate (and stupid) lie just allowed them to explore the off-work side of their relationship and get closer.
– The drama is not at all about an arrogant, abusive boss who spends his days bullying his poor secretary as you might think from a synopsis. No, it STARTS with your average perfectionist boss and his overworked, pushover secretary AND THEN the field is somewhat evened when he fires her, then begs her to come back and they team up to help him overcome his disease and get him the chairman's post. It's made very clear that he only made things harder for her because he intended to fire her after one year (it's still wrong) and didn't want them to form an attachment (they still did). And during the course of the series they mostly support and help each other, which is refreshing in this genre.
- The heroine's "frumpy" self is not called "ugly" by the other characters and they have no trouble recognizing her when she's "dolled up".
- The ML's abusive adoptive mother never interferes significantly with the plot, which I am profoundly grateful for. His family doesn't even try to ruin his relationship with the FL....simply because they never learn about it during the course of the show :P.
- The second female lead, the one and only Veronica Park, easily became a scene-stealer and one of the greatest, most memorable characters in the whole dramaland. On the outside, she presents herself as a loud, dramatic and self-confident person, but occasionally she also shows her vulnerable and mature side. She actually surprised me by her serious approach to the FL's dilemma – she didn't excuse the FL's questionable behaviour or made it easy for her (FL pretended to be Veronica in front of her face-blind boss) but she nevertheless supported the FL and spoke up for her when the truth was revealed. Veronica's romance with the ML's friend is sweet and believable and their storyline is one of the highlights of the show (personally, I liked them better than the main couple, which rarely happens).
THE BAD: THEY SHOULD HAVE DIG A LITTLE DEEPER
- The show fortunately never gets too boring, but there ARE slower parts. The big lie shenanigans drag for way too long. And the "crime subplot" surrounding the ML's accident, a mysterious USB and a secretary team is rather stupid.
- However, my main problem is that the first two thirds of the show (until the big lie reveal in EP 24) hyped us a lot about the main couple's relationship. They had sizzling chemistry, sparks flew everytime they were on screen together and their kiss was super hot.
- But once they started to date in the last episodes, they somehow became more awkward around each other? Seriously, they were like two inexperienced teenagers, instead of two adults around 30! I didn't really feel the intimacy between them, and I don't just mean the physical kind. They seemed unsure of each other and never talked deeply about anything. She never even told him she loved him. I was waiting for it, but it never happened. And they still called each other "Director" and "Secretary Jeong" respectively, never even discussed calling each other by first names!
- I also find deeply troubling that they stayed in their employer-employee relationship. There MIGHT be couples that could make it work, but I am not certain if these two dummies can always separate professional and private lives. (Not to mention that her financial situation is dependent on him and that her professional life revolves around his...)
If The Secret Life of My Secretary went deeper in the final episodes, I might consider rating it 8 or more. As it is, I will probably rewatch some parts with Veronica Park but likely not the entire drama.
If you are in need of something lighthearted with attractive cast and a truly iconic second female lead, sure, go for it! Just don't expect anything too deep or memorable. Also, the FL lies to the ML (he becomes faceblind and she pretends she is someone she is not while also maintaining her "secretary" persona) and the lies become tedious and take way too long to resolve. Consider this a fair warning if you are sensitive about that.
THE GOOD: SUBVERSION OF SOME TROPES & VERONICA PARK
– The first two episodes make very clear (at least for me) that the seeds of romance between the two leads have already been there for some time. Especially from the ML's side. They are both just too dumb to realize it. The FL's elaborate (and stupid) lie just allowed them to explore the off-work side of their relationship and get closer.
– The drama is not at all about an arrogant, abusive boss who spends his days bullying his poor secretary as you might think from a synopsis. No, it STARTS with your average perfectionist boss and his overworked, pushover secretary AND THEN the field is somewhat evened when he fires her, then begs her to come back and they team up to help him overcome his disease and get him the chairman's post. It's made very clear that he only made things harder for her because he intended to fire her after one year (it's still wrong) and didn't want them to form an attachment (they still did). And during the course of the series they mostly support and help each other, which is refreshing in this genre.
- The heroine's "frumpy" self is not called "ugly" by the other characters and they have no trouble recognizing her when she's "dolled up".
- The ML's abusive adoptive mother never interferes significantly with the plot, which I am profoundly grateful for. His family doesn't even try to ruin his relationship with the FL....simply because they never learn about it during the course of the show :P.
- The second female lead, the one and only Veronica Park, easily became a scene-stealer and one of the greatest, most memorable characters in the whole dramaland. On the outside, she presents herself as a loud, dramatic and self-confident person, but occasionally she also shows her vulnerable and mature side. She actually surprised me by her serious approach to the FL's dilemma – she didn't excuse the FL's questionable behaviour or made it easy for her (FL pretended to be Veronica in front of her face-blind boss) but she nevertheless supported the FL and spoke up for her when the truth was revealed. Veronica's romance with the ML's friend is sweet and believable and their storyline is one of the highlights of the show (personally, I liked them better than the main couple, which rarely happens).
THE BAD: THEY SHOULD HAVE DIG A LITTLE DEEPER
- The show fortunately never gets too boring, but there ARE slower parts. The big lie shenanigans drag for way too long. And the "crime subplot" surrounding the ML's accident, a mysterious USB and a secretary team is rather stupid.
- However, my main problem is that the first two thirds of the show (until the big lie reveal in EP 24) hyped us a lot about the main couple's relationship. They had sizzling chemistry, sparks flew everytime they were on screen together and their kiss was super hot.
- But once they started to date in the last episodes, they somehow became more awkward around each other? Seriously, they were like two inexperienced teenagers, instead of two adults around 30! I didn't really feel the intimacy between them, and I don't just mean the physical kind. They seemed unsure of each other and never talked deeply about anything. She never even told him she loved him. I was waiting for it, but it never happened. And they still called each other "Director" and "Secretary Jeong" respectively, never even discussed calling each other by first names!
- I also find deeply troubling that they stayed in their employer-employee relationship. There MIGHT be couples that could make it work, but I am not certain if these two dummies can always separate professional and private lives. (Not to mention that her financial situation is dependent on him and that her professional life revolves around his...)
If The Secret Life of My Secretary went deeper in the final episodes, I might consider rating it 8 or more. As it is, I will probably rewatch some parts with Veronica Park but likely not the entire drama.
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