Secretary's one of my favourite ever films. There aren't many films which make me cry every time I see them.

Quote Originally Posted by leo9 View Post
I don't see her actions as manipulative, more that she is actually the stronger partner but uses all her new-found strength in serving him. She knows he needs excuses to punish her the way he enjoys, so she obediently provides them. When he panics and can't face his need to keep her she forces the issue the only way a good sub can, by obeying him beyond reason, through pain and humiliation, till he has to see what a treasure he has if he dares to take it.

The final scene with the bug in the bed is a model for service-oriented subs. If she were playing games for her own benefit, she'd just leave the bed in a mess and get punished for that. But she makes the bed neatly, and then completes her perfect service by providing an excuse for what one hopes will be a memorable thrashing.
I was going to say something like this but I don't think I could've put it nearly so well.

I think it's also important to help demonstrate to vanilla viewers that she wants to be punished.