Recap: Secret Relationships, Episode 4

WTF! Okay. Well then! When I came into this series, I’m not sure I knew what to expect. But I definitely did not expect all this! Wowowow!

So I went full-on recap for Episode 3. But let me try to dial it back a little here. But I’ll probably be detailing every moment anyway. Lol

First off, my jaw was on the floor twice this episode. The first time was of course learning the truth (?) about what happened “that night”. And then immediately following it up with that scene of a drunk Daon mistaking Seonghyeon for his Jaemin hyung? Whew! It wasn’t even because of them kissing. But Daon being the one to kiss Seonghyeon and thinking he was Jaemin. Crazy final moments of this episode, yeah?

So let’s go step by step here. This episode was definitely all about unfolding the layers of Jaemin and Soohyun’s characters.

I’ll be honest, I did unwittingly stumble upon someone’s Facebook post talking about how, after reading the manhwa, they feel the most sorry for Soohyun and how Jaemin was evil or whatever. Something like that. Now, I obviously wish I never saw that post. But even with that warning, I don’t think I was quite prepared for what was revealed in this episode!

After episode 3, as I mentioned in my recap, I did get some sketchy vibes from Jaemin while I could understand Soohyun’s situation, even if I would be hard-pressed to condone his aggressive nature. (Can someone help bro get anger management classes please? Lol)

But to learn that Jaemin was not only a manipulative asshole, but also pretty much a predator? Yikes! And an unrepentant one at that. That’s absolutely insane! And add to that the fact that Daon is oblivious to it or just has his blinders on because of his feelings for his hyung.

Okay, I guess I’ll be recapping the episode after all… lol…

The episode started out with a flashback to that church confrontation between Soohyun and Jaemin. And from that scene alone, we see Jaemin is not this nice hyung that Daon sees him as. He was trying to be in control of the situation from the very beginning. If Soohyun came across as possessive of Daon, then Jaemin is, I don’t even know a word more extreme than possessive.

After his confrontation with Jaemin on the stairwell, Soohyun is summoned by his father who points his damn rifle at him, basically reminding him to behave and be the good heir that he is supposed to be. I will assume that includes taking care of the family business. But most especially, probably, don’t be so gay. Literally.

Soohyun has no choice but to go along with whatever his father wants just so he can continue to be close to Daon.

Meanwhile, Daon thinks of Seonghyeon’s confession to him and compares it to his own confession to Jaemin. All while Jaemin has one of their mutual college friends try to lure Daon to a night out with them. We later learn Jaemin convinces their friend to do this for him by dangling investment information too.

That scene of Jaemin playing chess after stealthily bribing that college friend was so spine-tingling. The lengths this man will go, apparently, to basically control the situation with Daon like some kind of puppetmaster? Scary! And little did I know it would only get worse!

Elsewhere, Daon meets with his little sister who first questions why Jaemin would continue helping their deadbeat father. But then drops the bomb to her older brother that she’s not going to college and instead will work and earn money so she can leave their toxic home too.

Daon tries to convince her to go to school. But she asks him to let her make this decision on her own.

In other sweet moments, Grandma again gives Seonghyeon some great advice regarding what she is now sure is his own relationship troubles. She encourages him and cheers him up.

Next day, Seonghyeon gifts Daon some cookies from his grandma’s shop. Daon offers to buy him some coffee. Seonghyeon admits things are a bit awkward after yesterday’s confession, but Daon says he’s fine.

Soohyun sees the two sharing a coffee break and stomps on over. He points out how close they look. Daon says it’s because they’re on the same team. And even if Soohyun is on their team, it is not the same. Daon tugs on Seonghyeon’s coat and they return to the office.

Soohyun calls everyone into the boardroom for a meeting. After first needling their manager about the revenues, he targets Daon and Seonghyeon with questions about their finances before then directly asking what their relationship is. Both Daon and Seonghyeon assure their director that they just have a great working relationship which involves helping each other out when they need it. Soohyun is only more annoyed.

That evening, their manager takes their whole department out for pork and drinks. And knowing Seonghyeon is not much of a drinker, Daon takes on the role of his white knight and he drinks all his shots for him.

On the other side of town, Soohyun is at the dinner representing the family and company as he meets with the company his father asked him to. However, Soohyun can’t believe it when he sees the young team leader from the other company is Park Jeonghun.

The flashback reveals Jeonghun is the guy Soohyun attacked that night. And it seems to be because Jeonghun had been taking photos of a drunk Daon while taking off his clothes in bed.

Now in the hallway, Jeonghun begs Soohyun to spare him and decides to admit that he was just following orders. It was Jaemin who told him to make Daon drunk, take off his clothes and then call him. Jaemin would pretend like nothing had happened.

Soohyun hurries over to confront Jaemin.

Jaemin says Daon was very vulnerable back then. No matter who it was, as long as you treat Daon nicely, he would give you his everything. And so Jaemin was set to take good care of him.

Jaemin then threatened Soohyun to go abroad since he knew that, after beating up Jeonghun, Soohyun would never admit to his father that it was all because of Daon. Implying Soohyun’s father would find out he was attracted to a guy.

Jaemin challenges Soohyun to tell Daon the truth. But he doubts Daon would even believe Soohyun. Even if he does, Jaemin is confident Daon would not get mad at him.

Soohyun punches Jaemin and says their deal is over. He is determined to protect Daon from now on.

Soohyun leaves and Jaemin throws his nameplate at the mirror.

After their office drinks, Seonghyeon asks Daon why he drank for him. Daon says he sees himself in Seonghyeon.

Seonghyeon takes Daon home and lays him in bed. Daon immediately kisses Seonghyeon and they start making out. But Daon, still very drunk, calls Seonghyeon “Jaemin” instead.

The epilogue shows us “That Night” as Jeonghun worked to get Daon drunk. He tries coming on to Daon who stops him and excuses himself. He gets up to try and call Jaemin to come pick him up. But he instead ended up calling Soohyun.

Episode Thoughts

So again, this episode was crazy! I really did not expect things to be this heavy and emotional. It’s quite crazy, but it’s one of the most engaging Korean BL series I’ve watched so far.

The reveal of just how depraved Jaemin must be was done so well. There were hints of his true nature, but to have it all laid out like the way it was in this episode was so good and impactful.

Hand in hand with that is showing Soohyun actually really is sincere with his feelings for Daon. But he too has his own struggles with his family, including with regards to his sexuality.

That contrast between Soohyun and Jaemin was so stark in this episode. And for Jaemin to not only be a manipulator, but a predator as well. It’s hard to see how he can be redeemed after all of this. So pause on the Jaemin-Soohyun endgame for now lol

There’s a lot of subtlety in many of the plot points of the series. But it has worked very well for all four main characters.

I fully expected that moment of Daon thinking Seonghyeon was Jaemin. I think I was immediately surprised when they started making out, but then remembering that this is only Episode 4, I knew that of course the seemingly happy moment of Seonghyeon and Daon in bed together was not going to mean an immediate happy ending.

I mentioned in the last episode recap that I really love Seonghyeon’s sincerity as a character. And how he can help show Daon that he has the freedom to be happy too, away from any toxicity. But I also love how Daon isn’t necessarily an easy push over. He will fight back, no matter how much effort it takes and how much of a toll it takes on him emotionally afterward.
Moving on to the second half of the series, I think there will be even more emotional revelations from all the characters, especially Jaemin and Soohyun. And one moment to look forward to (or dread, because it will be so emotional) is Daon finally learning Jaemin’s true colors.

Overall, another amazingly dramatic episode. I hope the second half will deliver even more. It’s been a great ride so far! And our four lead actors have been very good.