THE SHORT VERDICT:
A warm little show that brings a good, solid amount of feels, with the right lens adjustments.
From the title itself, you can guess that our story’s main focus is the theme of self-discovery and self-love.
On this front, Show does a lovely little job, with many of our key characters charting growth journeys, and mending relationships, not just with the people around them, but with themselves as well.
A little cheesy, but ultimately very warm and cozy.
THE SHORT VERDICT:
Show is a lot of things, and attempts a lot of things (some with more success than others), but one thing I can say for certain, is that Show is bold, and dares to try new things.
When the things that Show try don’t go so well, Show can come across as rather uneven, but when Show is at its best, it is a wild, absurd and completely absorbing ride of the best kind.
Our story world and our characters lean dark, yet this is all served up with strong lashings of screwball comedy. It sounds weird, but when Show makes it work, it’s glorious.
Our cast is very solid, but hands down, the one who shines the brightest, is Song Joong Ki, as our titular antihero. So much matter-of-fact, cool badassery, served up with a side of comedy; I just couldn’t look away.
Sometimes Show got uncomfortably dark for my taste, but Show gets brownie points, for unabashedly daring to be its own thing, for better or for worse.
THE SHORT VERDICT:
With its slow-burn approach to storytelling and its muted, understated sort of vibe, this show is definitely not for everyone.
When Show is at its best, it’s thought-provoking and introspective as it explores people and relationships. When Show is not as its best, it can feel frustrating, and its characters, unlikable and unsympathetic.
And because Show is mostly a slow burn, Show is at its best mostly in its later episodes, rather than its earlier ones. Our main characters did grow on me by the end of my watch, but I have to admit that it was our secondary characters that actually grabbed me more, and earlier too.
A little tedious at times, but not without its bright spots.
Have you ever had someone take you by the hand, and seem completely confident of leading you to your destination?
You feel safe and assured in following said person’s lead, and all your curious questions seem to be met with solid answers, to boot. Everything feels like it’s going Really Great.
…And then you know the feeling, when that all starts to unravel?
Like, the answers you get for your questions slowly but surely start showing cracks, and then you realize that maybe said person doesn’t know the way so well after all, especially once you notice that you’ve sorta walked in a circle, several times?
Sigh. That pretty much sums up my experience with Mirror of the Witch, you guys.
THE SHORT VERDICT:
A drama that is a lot more measured and contemplative than its title – or its poster – might suggest.
To my knowledge, a good number of viewers hesitate over this show for one or several of these reasons: it’s about adultery; it probably condones adultery; it’s probably salacious, titillating audiences with an affair between a much older woman and a much younger man.
Secret Love Affair is not at all the cheap watch that some might assume it to be.
Thoughtfully written, expertly directed & executed and excellently acted, Secret Love Affair is an absorbing, immersive watch that is at once the story of a man, the journey of a woman, and an uncompromising study of human nature and what it means to really live.
Substantial, poetic and thought-provoking, and well worth your time.