Kolorful Palette: An affair with music [Secret Love Affair]

by Fanderay

Another new week, another new drama! I can’t say that Secret Love Affair is going to be my preferred cup of tea, but I did genuinely enjoy the first two episodes, and they reminded me why I like Yoo Ah-in so much as an actor.

For those who don’t know, Secret Love Affair is about the romance between art director Oh Hye-won (Kim Hee-ae) and pianist Lee Sun-jae (Yoo Ah-in). The kicker is that there’s a 20-year age gap between them (oh and by the way, it’s on a cable network, so it’s probably not going to be super PG). I normally love a good noona romance, but two decades may be beyond the limit of what I can relate to or empathize with. I don’t think think it’s inherently wrong, but I can’t really wrap my head around it either.

My other issue is that as it stands, Hye-Won is married, and Sun-jae has a girlfriend. Based on the title of the drama that comes as no surprise, but regardless of circumstance I always hate affairs, so it’s unlikely that I’ll watch the whole series (I’m not going to let that keep me from enjoying these early episodes though!).

All that negative stuff aside, the first two episodes were romance-less, and a pleasure to watch. They weren’t exciting or fast-paced per say, but the characters were engaging, and I’m always a bit of a sucker for a musical drama. I did roll my eyes when I discovered that Sun-jae is a genius pianist because I think we’ve all seen that archetype enough. I expected the typical: a savant from a poor family with perfect pitch and so much god-given talent that he instantly instills other pianists with jealous rage. Thankfully, we didn’t quite get the typical. Sun-jae is poor and naturally talented, but it doesn’t just come easily. He has worked his butt off to an inspiring extent. Listening to a recording hundreds of times to learn a new song and putting up egg-cartons to insulate the sound in a rat-infested apartment is certainly further than I would ever go (I’m more the practice five minutes before my lesson type). I also found it incredibly refreshing that Sun-jae just started playing piano out of boredom. It was such an unusually normal back-story for a drama that I was genuinely surprised. At this point I’m pretty much just programmed to think that all back-stories involve long-lost childhood loves or the death of family-members.

I really just find Sun-jae’s character refreshing all around. Instead of being suave and charming, he’s rather meek and awkward, and even a little bit child-like. Watching his excitement after he played for for Oh Hye-won was like watching a kid open presents at Christmas. It would be pretty hard not to smile along with him and feel his joy. His passion for music is pretty infectious too, although he’s passionate in a very subtle and simple way that comes across as very pure. He’s not concerned about being artsy or interpreting the music in an analytical way. He just does what he likes and feels what he feels (when it comes to piano anyways). I think that’s why I liked this scene and chose to draw it. It really did feel like he was having an affair with music, and couldn’t help but be drawn to it, despite knowing better. That’s the kind of affair I like!

I’ve spent this whole time talking about Sun-jae, but Hye-won’s character has also been likable and not too cliched. Usually drama characters in her situation–surrounded by corruption–are practically angelic, and selfless to a fault. I like that she’s got more integrity than those around her, but isn’t idealistic or naive either. Both her husband and Sun-jae’s girlfriend don’t seem like bad people though, so I probably won’t like both leads for long! I really like their mentor-student relationship, and I can’t help but wish it would just stay that way.

Oh and once again, click the image for full size!

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