this c-drama is probably one of the best watches ever! definitely worth it!
to be honest, i don't really watch a lot of c-dramas because i find the acting and the overrall story kind of cringey (and im not saying this drama wasn't cringey - it definitely had its moments!) but 'hidden love' somehow kept me hooked from start to finish. i just loved watching their love blossom throughout the series.also, the zhao lusi and chen zheyuan had AMAZING chemistry - they definitely need to work together again! their acting made the story of sang zhi and duan jua xu so real!!
omg and the ost~~ i love the songs so much (i think zhao lusi actually sang two of the songs too?)
i'm still listening to them.
i miss the couple so much :((
might rewatch soon ~
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A lot of love
What a great romance Cdrama. I had never been the one who would watch on going Chinese drama until this one,Their love and relationship is completely diff from others with no complexity. It's simple but amazing, It's beautiful series. Just love all characters, Zhizhi's family, sang Yan ge, jiaxu ge, all their supportive friends. Just love this series so much more than yesterday and less than tomorrow. Love all episode. Both of them so great chemistry zhao lusi and chen zhe yuan. Hopefully hy another drama of two of them. Cannot move on from this drama.Was this review helpful to you?
This drama is like eating Liquorice and chocolate all freaking day and night
Hidden Love is a diary drama about an introvert girl that secretly falls for her brother's friend, and their journey to falling in love and healing each other. This drama is like eating Liquorice and chocolate all freaking day and night. If each scene was a candy I would have probably become diabetic by the end. There are tons of romantic scenes, a sweet dating era, both ML and FL protecting and taking care of each other. Usually you see the male chasing the female and doing most of the work but here it is a subtle love, both equally loving and taking care of each other.No break ups, no love triangles, no angst, no annoying second male or female leads that are obsessed with the main leads and want to break them apart. It's purely focused on the main couple with no unnecessary side couples and filler plot lines. Most of the episodes are heartwarming with a few sad scenes that don't last long and the conflicts are quickly resolved.
The drama is definitely one to watch when you need something sweet and loving, when you are depressed and want to smile, when you are going through hard times and need a free loving therapy session, when you are laying on your bed in the evening with a warm cup of tea watching this. Basically if you want something that pulls on your heartstrings and reminds you of your childhood/teenage/college years, this drama is for you.
Note: An important thing to address is that there is an unnecessary controversial topic about how ML meets FL when she is 14 (and the actress looks 10). He is only 5 years older than her and the drama clearly states and portrays that he starts to fall for her romantically as they meet again when she is already an adult.
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No frills, no fuss, only pure and sincere love!!!!
If you’re like me and need a drama to wind down on after a long day at work, this is the one. It’s exciting enough to keep you engaged, yet not too emotionally draining for you to not get out of bed the next morning.There are so many sweet scenes in this one, but just as many serious and important ones without which Sang Zhi and Jiaxu’s love would not be as strong. Sang Zhi shares joint MVP with Jiaxu for me in this one because they’re BOTH green flags. The greenest of green. This is what a healthy relationship with great communication, understanding, and trust looks like. The two have amazing chemistry!
Zhao Lusi never disappoints I fear. I’ve only seen Our Secrets from Chen Zheyuan and he is no slouch either. Together, they created something wonderful, safe, beautiful, and warm for all of us to enjoy on our saddest and happiest days.
The music is honestly pretty great too!
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This review may contain spoilers
Very sweet and highly recommended
From the first episode to the last, it was simply captivating and yet sweet at the same time. I’m sure most have had the all too familiar storyline of having a crush on your older brother’s friend at 13/14yo. I know I did;) and that crush became my first bf at 18yo! Sadly though it didn’t last haha.Sang zhi had a crush, which turned into a very real liking , going to great lengths to be with him, and it eventually worked out for her. I absolutely loved the young actress at 14yo- she had a natural talent. Sang zhi at 14 was very outspoken and confident, so I’m not sure why at 17, she became rather quiet and reserved. That didn’t really make sense to me. Maybe the writers wanted to portray how she grew as a person in university. But still, her character development didn’t seem to jive.
ML Duan Jiaxu was extremely well acted by Chen Zheyuan. Minimalistic change of facial expressions, his eye connections and how he moves his mouth- all very convincing and engaging. Oh his tears!! [Spoiler- the scene where he spoke to his comatose state father, and after that when SZ hugged him.. OMG it was SO TOUCHING!!! Cried and cried) Well done CZY… a very promising career awaits you!
Storyline was beautifully written. Initially I was a bit concerned on how she would let him know about her feelings, then how he would turn from seeing her as a little sister to looking at her as a woman. The writers did a good job with that transition. Many many good principles and morals to learn from the storyline too; and how SZ handled the “other woman” and her friend aka her supervisor was admirable and so matured.
As for the romance development- also very very good pace, good chemistry, LOTS AND LOTS of PDA :):):) although the kissing was a bitttt forced I felt. ZLS has kissed many many of her male costars ;) so maybe .. idk haha. I’m expecting too much? Lol. But YES!! From the accidental kiss, to the first light touch kiss, to holding hands to the roller-skating kiss etc etc.. plenty to look forward to;)
Definitely highly recommended for a youth drama! Simply enjoy this one:)
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ISSO MERECE O OSCAR E TODOS OS PREMIOS DA CHINA
First of all:Zhao Lu Si (Sang Zhi) and Chen Zhe Yuan (Duan Jia Xu) = SPECTACULAR you were perfect.
Victor Ma (Sang Yan) = CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE TOO FUNNY.
Screenwriter Shen Fei Xian thank you 7 years after you deliver this masterpiece and I wish you make 1000000 more of these. Rational! And you are very beautiful.
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What is this show?
What is this C-Drama?
Is this real Chinese? Is it really C-Drama?
How to watch another Drama after this one?
Everything was RATIONAL, what I always complained about.
DELIVER THE OSCAR TODAY.
9.2 IS A JOKE. The grade is 10 - 100 - 1000
This is perfect.
Even the Familia's objection is rational.
It's 2023 and this is what should happen.
The Airport episode was really nice.
NO NEED TO BE MEDIEVAL, ANGRY, IDIOT AND ABSURD TO BE GOOD. THIS DRAMA DESERVES ALL CHINA AWARDS.
He also teaches people about balance. You are you, the other is the other, even if it is your Father.
Thanks.
Watch today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Different from others “typical cdrama”
The story is different from any typical chinese drama. This is one of the best production for me. I love the plot and their acting is no joke, the chemistry makes me failed to moving on from them until now. They really did a great job for casting the actors! Loved the cinematography too. The characters all good, theres no freakin evil one. Idk i can say the story is quite healthy and good for healing. Well, for me, theres still has the cdramas vibes but this one is more makes sense ykwim. I just love this sm. Go watch it you will never regret it??? AND OMG THIS IS THE FIRST SERIES THAT HAS THE ALL PERFECT OSTS i wanna cry frWas this review helpful to you?
I can't stop smiling
I really really enjoyed this Drama.If Dramas that are all about romance are not your cup of tea than this Drama is a pass but if you want to get the giddy feeling of the early stages of love and dating than this one delivers.
The story is based on a novel/ manhua and is very faithful to it right down to the dialogue in a lot of places.
Both actors do a great job. ZLS delivers on the cuteness and charm with a killer smile while CZY is sensual, vulerable and a tease. They perfectly embody the characters and are well cast. Their interactions were very natural and their feelings felt very relatable.
The Main Leads are very loveable and I liked the way they protected and stood up for each other and that even though the FL was younger she always had the MLs back and supported him.
The chemistry between them is on fire. There are so many scenes where I couldn't keep looking because of all the butterflys and giddyness. I almost felt as if I was reliving first love. The kiss scenes are plenty and hot no statue kissing with wide eyes.
The rest of the cast is ok though forgetable exept for the FLs brother who is funny and caring and feels like a real brother other than the ML who is too nice to be a real brother.
The story is slice of live and follows the FLs hidden crush that develops into a romance later on. Storywise there is not much else.
The criticism of romantizising pedophilia is totally unwaranted as the ML never crosses a line towards the FL when she is underage and only falls for her once she is an adult. Their relationship develops slowely and he is very considered and careful with her. The FLs crush on the ML is something almost every woman can understand as older boys have always been particulalry instresting to teenage girls in real life. I found the FLs insecuritys towards the ML very relatable. Also the age gap isn't that big anyways. 5 Years age difference at a certain point is nothing.
Rewatch value: medium since the story is nice but not very meaty. Watch for the romance and Leads chemistry.
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Very interesting
The best CDrama everNo. 1 in MDL for top C-Dramas and overall (even beating out K-dramas)! Hidden Love is getting all the love it deserves! ?
For those who are still wondering or hesitating to watch this drama, just give it a try! It has a good storyline (nothing very stressful), lots of heartwarming scenes, nice visuals (Zhao Lu Si's clothes here are pretty and looks good on her!), beautiful soundtrack (Forever Star is especially written for this drama), superb acting (even the micro-expressions of the leads are spot-on), perfect chemistry between the main leads and even the supporting cast (sibling chemistry between Zhao Lu Si and Victor Ma, which we often don't get from dramas), and I don't know what else to say to convince you, the rankings don't lie! I will definitely miss waiting for new episodes to come. Congratulations to the cast and crew of Hidden Love! ❤️
The chemistry between the leads was beyond doubt amazing .I loved their natural and unforced Interactions, I love the comfort I got from their relationship I love how their relationship was far from toxic but health and admirable ?
The osts were beautiful and reflected the story and the Cinematography was to die for.
Overall this was a nice ride..I roller coaster of many emotions and I must say I'll miss this drama so much.
I do recommend this...if you want something light and fluffy
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You never be over it
Warning - You will be in pain.. cause you can never rewatch it the first time..no matter how many times you watch it..it will never be enough.The heart melting eye contact between the two leads, the nods and ‘hmm’ from Duan Jiaxu is something you will never get over. Everything that they do for each other - every single box of language of love is checked. Ugh
You will realize men like that don’t exist in real world..but can’t help but wanting one!
Ps. This is my first Chinese drama and I am so glad I entered into my cdrama era with this one. It’s like first love that will always remain special. ?
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Watching this drama is like living in a fairyland
Get ready to fall in love( Even if you're not in real life) with a cute couple and their ups and downs as they navigate through life and being a couple.The story is simple. An unrequited childhood crush. Well, the FL is so young when she starts having feelings for the handsome Gege who is 5 years older than her. Yet, she has to forget him for the time being. But guess what? Destiny has other plans for her!
This is one of those dramas that will make you go crazy to wait. Everything about it is perfect. The story, acting, visuals, OST, everything! it's like a fairyland made into reality. It's sweet. It gives you butterflies. The long gazes and touches are swoon-worthy. However, living in a fairyland is not without problems!
Plot Summary:
The drama starts off with a 14 yo student and her brother's chronicles with his friends. The FL starts having a one-sided crush on his bro's friend, however, she decides to erase him completely from her life. a few years later and the FL is now a sweet and caring university student in the city her old crush lives. Romance sparkles, despite the difference and the ML's past history. Yet again, the love is so deep and the leads are so mature that they turn these obstacles into possibilities and make their own fairytale. and not to mention the many beautiful kiss scenes and the awesome chemistry we get to see!
First impression:
Since episode 1, we get to see a very beautiful family and friends. The vibe is pure bliss and there mild mishaps every once in a while. This drama is overall a feel-good drama filled with lots of emotions, so it was expected to give off positive feelings( albeit it gets a little overwhelming as the story goes)
Acting:
I was familiar with ZLS since watching some of her dramas back then. she is a sweet actress and puts so much emotions into her acting, as if she is playing her real self. Kudos to her for delivering a beautiful character. CZY, on the other hand, it was my first time seeing him in a drama and I dare say he is decently talented. He is a heartthrob and managed the role beautifully. All the other cast members showed a great portrayal, especially Victor Ma who plays Sang Yan. I hope he takes acting seriously and we will see him in more roles.( It was fun watching him bicker his sister by calling her Little devil LOL)
Writing:
I'm unfamiliar with the authors involved, but the story is not without fault. However, the story's pacing and the production made it very entertaining to watch. I just wish they wouldn't cut the kiss scenes and use so much edits. Yet, we can always watch the BTS videos and enjoy the kisses LOL
Production and Cinematography:
I dare say this drama has a good quality compared to many Cdramas i have watched before. The lighting and edits are so improved. Even the dubbing is much better and we get to hear the lead's real voices. The places used for this drama were all according to the story and matched the mood accordingly.
Music:
This drama has the cutest selection of songs. we even get to hear to the lead's singing voice too! i loved the background pieces of music too, however, i couldn't find it anywhere. hope they release it soon.
Last but not least, if you're a romantic and die for romantic dramas with the least complications and cringe, and at the same time crave romantic scenes and beautiful chemistry, be sure to check this drama. It's a solid 10/10. highly recommended.
All in all, don't miss this drama!
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Mellow but underwhelming
I know this one is getting glowing reviews but it really felt underwhelming to me. Objectively I think everything is well-written, but I just didn't really feel the spark in it.To start with the good things, it's definitely a mellow, down-to-earth drama. No conflicts feel overblown, there aren't any purely evil villain characters, and misunderstandings are understandable and realistic. I also think the age gap was handled really respectfully; they talk about it explicitly and emphasize that it began one-sided (that it would be weird otherwise). By the time feelings are revealed, the characters are older and wiser, and the romance is mature and communicative.
Ironically, I think this is one of the few dramas that would've benefitted from having a little more drama so that I would feel more stakes. I don't know if the story with the ML's backstory got as much closure as I would've wanted, considering it was the most interesting part since aside from the romance, SZ unfortunately doesn't feel that well-rounded.
Another thing is that the side characters feel lacking. The best one was Sang Zhi's older brother; the sibling relationship was perfectly depicted and hilarious, but I do wish we knew more about him outside of it. Similarly, we get hints of the friends, roommates, and coworkers of our two leads, but they're not really fleshed beyond the cookie-cutter roles of side characters in dramas (the boy-crazy one, the smart one, the tomboy, etc.), and they definitely felt sidelined in favor of the leads. It's understandable — after all, they are leads — but it made scenes where the leads weren't together feel bland.
I really do think this would be enjoyable to viewers who like romance dramas that are low-stress, mellow, and mature, like You Are My Glory. For me, I think there's an element of liveliness that I really missed, whether it was between the leads or the other people around them.
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