What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSecretary
Steven Shainberg · Film · 2002
If you loved Secretary, start with The Boss (Mariano Cohn, 2022) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Secretary across media.
If Secretary captivated you, it is because you are drawn to the complex, boundary-blurring power dynamics that emerge within professional settings.
Books on the same thread
Fifty Shades Darker
E L James · Book · 2012
Shares a thread with Secretary: Power dynamics.
Like Secretary, this story explores the intense emotional and psychological pull of a dominant partner, focusing on the dark secrets and power imbalances that define an unconventional romantic connection.
Misery
Stephen King · Book · 1987
Shares a thread with Secretary: Power Dynamics.
While much darker, this narrative mirrors the claustrophobic power dynamics found in Secretary, showing how forced proximity and obsession can fundamentally alter the relationship between two singular, isolated individuals.
Fifty Shades of Grey
E. L. James · Book · 2011
Shares a thread with Secretary: Power Dynamics.
This book captures the same initial spark of a complicated office dynamic seen in Secretary, where an intimidating employer pulls an unassuming protagonist into a world of intense desire.
Fifty Shades Trilogy (Fifty Shades of Grey / Fifty Shades Darker / Fifty Shades Freed)
E L James · Book · 2012
Shares a thread with Secretary: Power Dynamics.
For those fascinated by the submission and dominance themes in Secretary, this trilogy offers a deep dive into the evolving emotional and power-based architecture of a high-stakes, unconventional relationship.
Series on the same thread
Severance
Dan Erickson · Series · 2022
Explores: Identity Crisis, Existentialism, Memory Manipulation.
This series examines the extreme control exerted over office employees, reflecting the way Secretary highlights how professional environments can become spaces where personal identity and autonomy are profoundly tested.
It's Okay to Not Be Okay
Park Shin-woo · Series · 2020
Explores: healing through love, emotional baggage, found family.
Much like Secretary, this show centers on the healing potential of an unconventional bond, focusing on characters navigating deep emotional baggage through a unique and challenging interpersonal connection.
The Boss
Mariano Cohn · Series · 2022
Shares 2 threads with Secretary: Power Dynamics, Dark Comedy.
This show echoes the manipulative power plays in Secretary, focusing on a protagonist who exerts control and manages the lives of others from within their professional surroundings.
The Office
Greg Daniels · Series · 2005
Explores: Office life, Everyday life, Eccentric characters.
While lighter in tone, this series shares the office-based setting of Secretary, exploring how eccentric personalities and shifting hierarchies create a distinct, inescapable atmosphere for those working together.
Podcasts on the same thread
everybody has a secret
Podcast
Explores: secrets, anonymity, listener stories.
If the confessional and secretive nature of the relationship in Secretary intrigued you, this podcast provides an intimate look at the hidden truths people keep behind closed doors.
Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel
Podcast
Explores: relationships, marriage, family dynamics.
This podcast mirrors the psychological focus of Secretary, offering a raw, real-world window into the complex power dynamics and intimate struggles that define the most challenging human relationships.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Secretary based on a true story?
The metadata provided for Secretary does not specify if the 2002 film is based on a true story. It describes the movie as a narrative about a young woman released from a mental hospital who enters a sadomasochistic relationship with her employer.
What is the premise of the movie Secretary?
Secretary follows a young woman recently released from a mental hospital who secures a job with a demanding lawyer. Their professional relationship evolves into a sexual, sadomasochistic dynamic as the plot progresses.
Who directed the 2002 movie Secretary?
The 2002 film Secretary was directed by Steven Shainberg. The story focuses on the evolving relationship between a young woman and her lawyer employer after she is released from a mental hospital.
Does the movie Secretary feature a workplace romance?
Yes, Secretary depicts a workplace relationship that develops between a young woman and her employer, a demanding lawyer. The film explores how their professional connection transitions into a sexual, sadomasochistic dynamic.