GREAT CAST!!!
soooooo good, tbh never expected this from a cdrama (dont come at me). butttt this drama changed my pov about cdramas. I mean it has all that i need for a rom-com drama to be perfect.First of all, the leads are soooo apt for their role, like I legit believe the roles they are playing. Neither is the gap too obvious nor too lenient.
Next, the supporting roles are building blocks of a great drama and when I say this is a good one I mean it. I've seen it all- american, indian. kdramas, thai, spanish- so I kind of have the good feeling.
all in all great drama highly recommended, if you are a crazy rom-com lover like me and dont want too much drama on your plate.
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Embrace each other
Sweet, charming, unhurriedly told (in a relaxed and calm way) story about growing up and finding what love means. The history has a second layer about come to terms with the past and accepting that sometimes we don't need to carry the guilt about something that has nothing to do with us directly to be exact.FL is someone much more than only a lover for our ML - she is his friend, companion, save haven and salvation - mayby now we can't see it but with the progress of the story we will see - I'm sure of it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Overhyped C drama
As an avid c-drama fan of many years, I was so happy to see both hidden love and WIFTY trending on tiktok. While i absolutely loved WIFTY, Hidden love was honestly a hard watch for me. It's not new to see these types of "crush on sibling's friends" plot, the age gap in this drama was shocking and a tad too much for me to enjoy any sort of romance in this show. Whenever the FL shows aegyo towards the ML, the image of her as a child comes to mind and I just can't look past it TT However, I will say that the storyplot was great (with the exception of certain misunderstandings which dragged on for years and could've been easily resolved if they just communicated), so that's its only redeeming factor. I will give Zhao Lu Si props for her involvement in this drama's production from wardrobe, casting and even singing some of the songs in this show to save money when the original director ran off and delayed the filming. She has many other great drama such as The Long Ballad (2021) and Who Rules The World (2022) which I'll recommend everyone to watchWas this review helpful to you?
BEST CDRAMA THIS 2023!!!
I rarely write a review but this romantic series sets the bar so high this 2023. I am sooo much attached with their characters and love the way this gives you only good vibes and no hard drama. Truly a feel good series or drama. They also portray the slice of life that is very realistic. A girl has a crush on a guy for a very long time. True that she fell first but he fell harder. The role of Duan Jia Xu, very kind, smart and hardworking. Hopefully this kind of person exists in real life. Also the role of Sang Zhi somewhat a spoiled daughter but is very willing to support and defend her boyfriend that makes her more matured and learn the true meaning of love. And ofcourse I am hoping that Chen Zhe Yuan and Zhao Lu Si will be a couple in real life. I so love this and rate it as 11/10!!!Was this review helpful to you?
"Its that kinda of love, that falls from heaven"
The way this drama has become my safe haven and source of comfort is truly remarkable.I find myself drawn to it once or twice every month. The presentation of love in this drama is a beacon of hope, reminding us not to give up on love and encouraging us to be filled with optimism. The story is crafted in a way that instills a sense of warmth and reassurance, making it like a therapy session for me lol.
The portrayal of love in this drama goes beyond mere romanticism, it´s not just sweat, it´s also being strong and staying positive for your own partner. The characters exemplify a love that is not only endearing but also mature, offering a refreshing perspective. It's heartening to witness their journey, filled with both challenges and tender moments, which creates a profound connection with the audience. The main characters have this magical connection that brings butterflies to your stomach. Their sweet and mature approach to love makes the story even more interesting.
What sets this drama apart is its ability to infuse optimism into the story. The unfolding of events, coupled with the characters' development, creates a storyline that is not just entertaining but also filled with life lessons. .It's like a rollercoaster of emotions that leaves you feeling hopeful and believing that love can overcome anything.
In a world often plagued by uncertainties, this drama stands as a beacon of hope, reminding us that love, in all its forms, has the potential to triumph over adversities. It's more than just a show; it's a journey that takes you through the intricacies of human emotions, leaving you with a heart full of hope and a smile on your face.
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Finally a CDrama that competes with KDrama
So many CDrama's are small stories dragged out into 30 or 40 episodes with music scoring that make you cringe. Not so with "Hidden Love". From the start to the finish the script builds on each main character. Location shots and production values were more like a high-end KDrama with attention given to detail without shoving too many product placement adds. The star of the show is absolutely Zhao Lu Si, but my favorite is the young girl Zhang Xi Wei who plays the young Zhao Lu Si. She plays a 14 year old middle school student who develop a crush on the ML and constantly fights with her older brother. But there is real love between them and the bonds of their family are strong and healthy. A real plus in my mind when so many dramas focus on dysfunctional families.Highly recommend this to any KDrama watcher who has given up on CDramas!
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It will change everything!!
Hidden love OMG! I’m still over this show it is is one of the best Cdramas I’ve ever watched.I have never really watched C-dramas before and I didn’t think i would but that all changed. I was scrolling through tick tock and on my FYP there were so many videos about this show Hidden Love and even still I wasn’t interested until one day I had nothing to watch and I saw it pop up again on my FYP and I was like okay I’ll watch it. That’s when everything changed!
As I was watching this show in the beginning the few first episodes I was like oh no i hope he doesn’t have any interest in her cause she was still a change and she was clearly in love with him. So I had a few reservations in the beginning thinking that he will like her back and it would just be a no no cause she is clearly very young. As I continued the show I saw that he only saw her as a baby sister and that eased me a little that nothing was going to happen and she would find someone her age.
Then she grows up and goes to the university but at rage same town that he moved to and I was like ok let’s see what happens. When they first met again (after those years of them not being in contact ) at the club I could feel the chemistry oozy from the both of them and it got me hooked I was like yes that connection. Conversation that was had with those eyes was fire.
We see that Duan Jia Xu has had a hard past very very rough and when we see those flashbacks and all that he went through your heart can’t help but break for him. When I say I was crying buckets because of that he had basically no one. He had to rely on himself and payoff the debt that his father owed. He didn’t have a proper childhood and to make it worse even after he paid his debt Jiang Ying still kept harassing him and making his life miserable. Just because his father did something so wrong and hurtful doesn’t mean Jiang Ying had to pay for the debt the rest of his life.
We can clearly see that Sang Zhi is still in love with Duan Jia Xu and it was so fun and cute watching their love grow going through the uncomfortable, awkward and misunderstanding moments. I was rooting for them all the way. Duan Jia Xu’S jealous to him buying her strawberries cause he knows how much she loves them. They are good together they have helped each other deal. I love how Sang Zhi is ready to fight for Duan Jia Xu no matter what she doesn’t care the reason but she is always on his side. Duan Jia Xu needed her for she showed his true love and she cared about him and reassured his. This is one if the greenest flags in a relationship on both the male lead and female lead.
Not forgetting how broken Duan Jia Xu was when both his parents died and he said “I’m really old now that both my parents have died “ that broke me I cried for him that was so sad cause he was alone now but Sang Zhi was there for him and they both went to his mothers grave and she promised that he will never be alone and that she will love him and give him a family.
I really could go on and on about how much this show was just realistic and health. From the lead actors to the supporting actors everything was chefs kiss. This has been one of the best dramas for the year it was truly incredible and I hope there are more shows like this.
I would highly recommend this show over and over again to anyone cause it will definitely change everything for you and how you see life. Here’s to me hoping I find my own Duan Jia Xu!!!!
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Cutest thing ever!!!
OMG did it have to end?? I don't usually watch Cdramas since they seem kind of foolish but this is the best one I've ever seen, even better than When I Fly Towards You.Everything was just beautiful, my heart felt like it was jumping out of my chest!
I don't know how I can go on with my life now that I finished it ;-;
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Hidden Love Uncovered My Heart!
If "Hidden Love" were a dessert, it would be a triple-layered chocolate cake with a surprise caramel center—utterly delightful and irresistibly sweet!From the moment the opening theme song started, I knew I was in for a treat. This drama serves up romance with a side of humor and a sprinkle of heartwarming moments. The chemistry between the leads is so palpable, you'd think they invented chemistry just for them!
Zhao Lusi's interpretation of Sang Zi is on point. She's the perfect mix of adorable and fierce, like a kitten with a really good punchline. Superb acting talent that invariably draws the viewers emotions. Chen Zhe Yuan's portrayal of Duan Jia Xu is dynamic. With his smoldering looks and secret soft side, had me swooning by episode two.
The plot is like designed by Cupid himself. Just when you think you have it all figured out, bam! Another revelation that makes you fall in love with the characters even more.
The supporting cast is equally fantastic. Every friend, family member, and even the occasional frenemy adds layers to this already rich story. Special shoutout to Victor Ma as Sang Yan, the hilarious brother/best friend— where can I find one of those in real life?
But what really sealed the deal for me was the ending. No spoilers, but let's just say I hugged my pillow and happy-cried like it was the finale of my favorite reality show.
"Hidden Love" is the perfect binge-watch. It’s got laughs, it’s got tears, it’s got romance that’ll make you believe in fairy tales again. It reminded me of my first crush, first love, and the special journey of being in love. So grab your popcorn, tissues, and maybe a pillow to hug—you’re going to need it!
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best cdrama i've seen
MUST WATCH. HAPPY ENDING!!!!I'd give it ♾️¹⁰ stars out of 5 if it were available.
Duan Jiaxu, is thus far, the best character ever created. He surpasses Adam Carlsen and Jonathan Smith Turner. And that is something coming from me. Chen Zheyuan played his character beautifully. I can't imagine anybody doing it better than him. His chemistry with Zhao Lusi is so perfect. They are the best couple ever. No fictional character has made my heart beat so fast, so often. The screenplay, the direction, the attention to the little detail, everything is done so perfectly, with so much finesse. Whenever I watch any drama, or movie or read a book, there are always some scenes or narratives, or some character developments, or some things that I have wanted to change and do it my way, but damn, there was not one scene, not one single thing that I wanted to change in this whole drama. I loved it so much. It was better than even Doctors kdrama, even the love hypothesis is not quite as good as this. Wow! Just wow!
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Let's Just Say I Had a Change of Heart
As you can tell by the title, this was a drama that I initially dropped early on in my CDrama experience. This was one of the first few dramas I attempted to watch after falling in love with Falling Into You (2022). Obviously, there are some similarities with the age gap/age difference but that's about where the similarities start and stop. Anyway, I dropped this drama a LONG time ago and completely forgot about it. Fast forward to a few weeks ago where I watched the ML in another drama that I absolutely fell in love with, so I decided to come back to this drama and realized that it was the same actor. Everyone say, "Thank You, The Princess & The Werewolf!" If it weren't for that drama, I never would have circled back to watch this one. Chen Zhe Yuan is outstanding! I enjoyed him in that show and that's why I decided to go back and give this drama another chance.I'm typically not the type of person to watch highly rated and widely popular dramas because the expectations NEVER live up to the hype. I never fall in love with the same dramas that most of the people on this site falls in love with, so the hype surrounding this drama was NOT enough to make me give it another try. The dramas always fall on this side of overrated and over-hyped, unfortunately. At least, that's been MY experience. Now, let's hop into this review, shall we?
I'm quite outspoken regarding my dislike and hesitance regarding age gaps. Age gaps always tend to be a miss for me. It never ticks off all of the necessary checkboxes for me to thoroughly enjoy them. In this case, I'm not going to pretend like the age gap doesn't bother me because it absolutely does. It doesn't take away from my enjoyment of the show but it's certainly not something I can relate to or understand honestly. There's a 5-6 year age difference between the lead characters, right? I can't imagine being 25 and dating anyone under 21. I cannot fathom dating anyone that young because most people in that age range typically acts their age. Plus, Duan Jia Xu watched Sang Zhi grow up. This isn't a matter of grooming by any means, but the age gap could turn some people off and I'm not going to paint it in a positive light just because I enjoyed this show. If you had an issue with the age gap, then you have every right to feel that way because it does come off as kind of icky in the grand scheme of things. But I digress.
Also, the episodes where we watched Sang Zhi grow up dragged out for FAR too long! I think that's what initially made me drop this show the first time. It's one thing for there to be a trope I'm already uncertain about. It's another thing to force me to watch a show overly emphasize said trope by giving us 5 or 6 episodes of the FL being an underage minor and the ML being an adult. That part of the drama dragged out so long and it would easily take someone out of the story if they were already unsure about watching this show to begin with. We didn't need to see that much of her being a kid in relation to Duan Jia Xu. We didn't need to be constantly reminded of the age gap/age difference in that way, honestly. It went on too long!
So, moving on. I think there were some things about this show I would have changed to elevate this drama that much more. I feel like the stakes should have been higher in terms of the obstacles they faced as a couple. The stakes never felt high and there didn't appear to be any true threats to their relationship, which can make the drama feel a LOT longer than it actually is. It makes the drama feel more draggy instead of eventful. Duan Jia Xu's issues weren't threatening enough to make me believe it was enough to be an issue for them. My one pet peeve is that I feel like Sang Zhi should have had more of a presence and backbone. Sometimes, it felt like she was TOO passive for someone who'd happily accepted her love for an older guy. Someone who had wholeheartedly convinced herself of her love in that way should have been a LOT more defensive and protective of said love. While she did stand up when necessary, I feel like she didn't fight enough, if that makes sense. Knowing that you were going to have to deal with a ton of naysayers rightfully being hesitant, uncertain, and wary of your relationship should have made her more assertive when it came to fighting for her relationship with Duan Jia Xu. I think in these moments her age was fairly obvious. Her personality and her choices regarding certain things would remind me that she's still fairly young because an older woman wouldn't have been as passive as she was. Due to that, I extended some level of grace to her.
Also, I feel like Duan Jia Xu should have had a little more of an edge to him. Don't get me wrong, I'm a STRONG proponent of nice male leads. I love them dearly! However, I feel like he should have had more of an edge to him. I feel like he was TOO perfect. I kid you not - this man was flawless in every way. He had no real flaws and it can easily take you out of the story in some aspects. Also, I did see some people say they wished he was more uncertain about jumping into a relationship with Sang Zhi. While I understand the sentiment and reasoning, I feel as if that would have only worked if Sang Zhi were more determined about snagging him in the first place. I know some people hate that trope but I actually love the "female chases male lead first" trope because it's subversive and it's different. You don't see that much in CDramas, so I would have gladly been all over that. But again, that's the only way it would have worked. Otherwise, this drama would fall apart with a ML who's uncertain about acting on his feelings for the FL and a FL who is easily swayed by the opinions of her family and others; it would not have made for an interesting drama.
Anyway, I think I yapped enough for one night. Was this a great show? It was okay. Would I recommend it? Initially, I would have said yes. But after some time has passed, no. Also, I realized that I didn't actually like this show. Would I rewatch it? Probably not. Don't get me wrong. I did enjoy it somewhat but I don't think I can rewatch it. I skipped through the first few episodes of this show for a reason and I doubt I would want to go through that again.
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