Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Taiwanese series ‘Secret Lover’ is for fans of ‘friends to lovers’ trope, where the leads comically rely on ‘rock, paper, scissors’ to make most of their decisions. But well, it’s based on a manga series by Komeoka Shigu, so exaggerations are to be expected.
Directed by Chiang Ping Chen (‘See Your Love’, ‘Plus & Minus’), the ten-episode series follows childhood friends Lu Jun Xi (Wang Jyun Hao) and Han Tuo (Chance) as they navigate the challenges of steering their platonic bond into the trickier waters of romance.
Forget slow-burn, ‘Secret Lover’ dives straight in with episode 1’s surprise kiss between Jun Xi and Han Tuo at the movies. Jun Xi is left questioning how things escalated, especially since he’d only been taking Han Tuo’s “flirting tips” to impress his crush Lin Xiao Yang (Lin Yen Tzu). But Han Tuo’s real agenda quickly becomes clear: he wants Jun Xi for himself, and Yang doesn’t stand a chance. Although he also faces some competition from gamer-girl He You Mei (Julie Yuan), who likes Jun Xi.
Set against the final year of University life, by episode two, ‘Secret Lover’ already rushes the leads into a secret romance, something most series would drag out over 10 chapters. From there, the story turns on Han Tuo’s problematic mix of jealousy and insecurity, and Jun Xi’s awkward attempts to survive a relationship that’s moving faster than he can handle. At times, it feels like Han Tuo is steamrolling Jun Xi into the relationship, but Han Tuo gets lucky: Jun Xi’s feelings are genuine.
The central conflict in the story revolves around Jun Xi’s insistence on keeping their relationship a secret. This “secret lover” situation often frustrates Han Tuo, who longs to go public with their romance. Adding to the tension, new friend You Mei stirs the pot in a few mildly comical scenes, warning that nothing good ever comes from couples hiding their love. The couple’s struggles deepen when separate, grueling internships leave them with little time together.
Honestly, I stuck with ‘Secret Lover’ until the end because Wang Jyun Hao is ridiculously cute as Jun Xi. His sunny, cheery personality makes him feel like an affectionate little Shih Tzu: playful, warm, and hard not to love. Chance, meanwhile, is a mixed bag as the more reserved Han Tuo. The character is flat and one-dimensional, leaving you unsure if the problem is the writing or Chance’s limited range. Even so, the second half proves he can rise to the occasion, with a handful of emotional scenes where his performance lands.
Lin Yen Tzu is endearing as Xiao Yang, the lead couple’s childhood friend in ‘Secret Lover’. Rather than being reduced to a clichéd third wheel or a vampy antagonist, she is a reliable, supportive presence, who cheers them on quietly. The show also weaves in childhood flashbacks of the trio, showing how Jun Xi always stood by Han Tuo during the painful aftermath of his mother abandoning him after his parents get a divorce. This also serves as an interesting contrast between their families, while Jun Xi has loving parents, Han Tuo has a fraught relationship with his workaholic father.
Overall, ‘Secret Lover’ is a standard friends-to-lovers romance that could’ve been far more entertaining with a lighter, more comedic tone. Instead, the series leans into drama and angst. A few tweaks, sharper writing for laughs and a more upbeat soundtrack, might have transformed it. Think ‘My Love Mix-Up’ or ‘Cherry Magic’, especially since this too is adapted from a Japanese manga.
‘Secret Lover’ is available on YouTube, iQIYI and WeTV.
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