Good but not great
Cute fluffy drama. Good chemistry between the leads and cute sibling relationship between Sang zhi and her brother. The very realistic portrayal of siblings was my favorite part of this drama! Main complaint is ZLS portrayal was too exaggerated. She spoke in such a slow baby voice it felt like she was developmentally delayed. Especially weird because the child that played her younger self was so smart and quick-witted and then suddenly when she grew up, its like she lost some IQ. ZlS portrayal was very cringy at times. The director did an amazing job giving us shots of CZY that felt alot like your dreamy first crush and he certainly acted and looked the part.Overall the story is cute with good chemistry but the female lead acting too juvenile can be annoying to watch.
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An all time favorite
I was hesitant in picking up modern c-dramas as i was purely a historical/wuxia/xianxia/xuanhuan purebreed however this drama just blew me away. I admit i dropped it initially during the first 5 episodes due to some comments i have seen but after watching some snippets on Tiktok edits, some moments actually made my heart skip a beat. I decided to pick it back up and voila the rest was history. It's currently on my to be rewatch list however i keep stalling as i still wanted to savor the feeling i felt watching the show. One day for sure i will revisit this (when i eventually run out of c-dramas to watch). To those of you who have hear good and bad things altogether leaving you on the fence whether to pick this up or not. JUST DO IT, DROP EVERYTHING AND BINGE THIS.Was this review helpful to you?
I will not say it's overrated, because it's always nice to see a mellow, sweet drama with minimal conflict to be rated high. After all, the ratings are always subjective, that is the point, and I am sure that each one of us can name plenty of dramas that we consider either overrated or underrated; it all boils down to personal preference. And feel-good shows need their spot in the sun too!
"Hidden Love" is a heartwarming series and I understand how people relate to this and find solace in this simple yet touching story. Not to mention the leads are great here!
Personally, I didn't mind the slower pace or the lack of confict. I only felt that it became a bit repetitive towards the end and that the main couple at some point stopped really talking to each other. I mean, they did interact, but it felt superficial to me. It almost reminded me of "Intense Love" in that respect: pretty people being cute but somehow never talking about their likes and dislikes, hobbies, work, friends or even their future in detail....I just like my OTPs talking about stuff and going through things together, you know? :D
I am not sure if I will rewatch this in the future, but if I'll ever want a sugar sweet balm to calm my poor nerves, I know where to look :).
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Hidden Love: A Bittersweet Delight - Love, Atmosphere, and Talent
Lets be real, the story is at most a 7/10, BUT everything else in this novel adaptation is top-notch. From the atmosphere, music, progression and setting, to the cast and production. Especially, the performances of both the female and male leads carry 70% to 80% of this drama's rating, elevating it to a 9 - 9.5 .First Chen Zhe Yuan, his character is the perfect mix of the most bitter and darkest chocolate and the sweetness of cotton candy. An example of a humble, disciplined and determined human to almost transcendent extent .
And Zhe Yuan portrays those qualities on a remarkable level on screen. Personally this is my first time watching him, but after this I will make sure to watch some other dramas with him in the main role. (..also funny thing for me is, Zhe Yuan expressions resemble a lot Ahn Nae Sang acting (like a younger version) *haha*, and I remember Nae Sang for a lot of villain roles, so I had a more negative impression of the character Duan Jia Xu at the start "xD") .
Zhao Lu Si, daaaaaaaamn. In this role her character is a total airhead, gentle and insecure but also a little shrewd and astute (except when it comes to romance...).
Idk, how should I describe it? It felt like Lusi entered a different kind of level in this role, a higher plane in comparison to her other roles. To be fair it is a modern setting in comparison to most of her other roles, but still... the expressions felt carefree and captivating, and a lot of times like it was off-script.
To wrap thing up: A great cast, pleasing to the eye environment, a good story pace, gentle romance and no rage inducing plot-armor plot. In the end we are left with a few unresolved questions, but nothing that breaks my impression of the show, and if I truly wanted to know the answers I probably would read the novel.
This drama was undeniably worth my time, and if you're a fan of the cast, I wholeheartedly recommend giving "Hidden Love" a try.
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Diabetes
I hate basically everything about this drama. It's so stupid, I'm at a loss for words. What's cool about a child falling in love? Apart from that, it's completely unrealistic and kind of the virginal dream of girls of boy band age. Help! Why does this drama have such good reviews?!?There are a lot of wonderful Disney Tales, if you wanna die because of Diabetes.
..........................
I hate basically everything about this drama. It's so stupid, I'm at a loss for words. What's cool about a child falling in love? Apart from that, it's completely unrealistic and kind of the virginal dream of girls of boy band age. Help! Why does this drama have such good reviews?!?
There are a lot of wonderful Disney Tales, if you wanna die because of Diabetes.
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Not for people who dislike age gaps and straightforward romance
Everything has already been written. I think it's purely a question of personal taste. Here are the two things that didn't work for me :- Age - gap : I was very worried about that aspect. To be fair, it was handled rather professionally and there was no reciprocity until the FL was an adult. But it still is a bit on the edge for me. 19-24 is not huge in theory and a 5 years gap is pretty common later on in life. But people change A LOT during those specific years. I am 24 and would personally never consider looking at a 19 yo coming out of highschool as anything else but a young adult who has a lot to learn, no matter how "mature" they present. It would just feel wrong to me.
The ML has treated the FL like a little sister for 10 years and even though they weren't always together, they still were close enough to have each other's phone number and occasionally text. The shift in the relationship almost as soon as she becomes an adult is a bit abrupt for me.
- the ML approach : once the ML quite suddenly decides that he's gonna go for a 19 yo, he gets very blunt with his approach. And it makes sense, he's honest and clear about his intentions and it's probably the best way to straighflowardly break the existing walls between them. I personally don't like this style at all, it's a matter of personal preference but he came off as too pushy and rushed for me.
Other than those two major contention points in the story, it's a very well made, peaceful love
story. So if you don't mind the age gap and the straightforwardness, it's worth a watch.
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Lovey dovey story line
Very cute acting and good storyline. Even though the trailer shows some lovey scenes but it makes you look forward in watching the full episodes.Both actress and actor has cute expressions at the right time, Not boring storyline and makes me look forward to very episode. Would like more sweet scenes with both leads. Lovely dresses for the female actress and her hair is always on point amazing! Makes me want to do my hair up when I watch her. Love suspense is getting real and hot. Can't wait for all the episodes!
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A Rom-Com That Can Make Anyone's Heart Skip
Hello everyone!! I know I am VERY late to this show and all it's glory, hence why likely not many people will end up reading this review, but I must write it anyway---even though I'm not 100% done this show myself (which is something I seldom ever do for my reviews). I will preface this review by saying I don't usually watch C Dramas, the only other Chinese show I have seen is The Untamed, which is of course a very different genre from this one. Nonetheless, I stumbled across this show on Netflix and can't wait to give you my review!!Story: 10/10
Now, I will preface this by saying I have not yet read the English translation of the original novel, but I am aware there are certain differences. Such as in the novel, Duan Jiaxu is 7 years Shang Zhi's elder, but in the show, he is only 5 years older than her. I usually steer away from age gaps in shows and books personally, ESPECIALLY when the ML and FL meet when one is a minor. However, this show does an incredible job of showing both characters, their personalities, and how their dynamic changes over time. The ML, Duan Jiaxu, treats the FL (Shang Zhi) as nothing more than a younger sister for the first several years of their relationship and then slowly he begins to see her as a woman when they meet again.
Although the age gap could slow down any other rom-com show, we never lose any of the chemistry from start to end. The writers do an incredible job of selling the story to us through the FL's innocent, fluttering heart. Even as an adult watching this show, I feel teleported back into my own middle school and high school days as we watch them interact in a heartfelt way. The writers also do an excellent job of showing the FL's innocence without making her unintelligent or unaware of others' feelings, and as you watch, you start to root for her and the ML. Both the ML and FL are kind and honest, and are willing to communicate their concerns to one another. It's very refreshing to watch--no unnecessary miscommunications!
In the second half of the show, when both are now adults, that fluttering feeling only gets stronger for the audience. Only now, this fluttering is accompanied by more adult-like issues. The show shifts to a slightly more "grown up" vibe effortlessly, and we start to see some problems in the ML and FL's lives, how they cope like adults, and how they support one another. It's incredible how almost all of the scenes in this show have just the ML and the FL, but we never get bored as the story is always pushing forward and we can see slow changes in both leads' personalities for the better.
The story itself is a simple brother's best friend situation, but the emotionally mature characters and sweet romance make you feel like you're teleported into their world--it makes you feel like a love like that is waiting for you around the corner! So heartwarming.
Acting/Cast: 10/10
I absolutely love all of the actors in this show despite it being my first time seeing them. Each actor knows their role very well, and conveys emotions in a way that makes you feel like you're truly watching a character be brought to life. One thing I have noticed is almost the entire cast is incredible at micro-expressions, whether it's a smile fading slowly or showing worry with a shift in their gaze. This is especially true for the ML and FL, who are both so good at showing their characters' love and concern for one another. I'd also like to point out the actor who plays the FL's older brother. He makes me laugh every time he comes on screen, and you feel like you're watching a brother bicker with his sister every time, but he does a great job in serious scenes as well. Seeing this quality of acting makes me wonder what I've been doing not watching C Dramas!
Music: 9/10
I'm not really a big OST person, but I truly enjoyed this show's OST. I particularly like the one song which goes "moonlight shines in your eyes", it makes my head beat fast whenever it plays during a romantic moment between the leads. How lovely!!
Rewatch Value: 10/10
This show is incredibly healing. You get lots of comedy and romance, and although there is a reasonable amount of sadness and problems, you don't feel weighed down by it. The writers have done an excellent but incredibly difficult job: making a show that is romantic and fluffy without making it feel plotless or like you can't enjoy the romance because of the heaviness of the problems. I am not all the way done this show yet, but I already know I will be rewatching it in years to come. We all need some rest and peace sometimes, and this show does that for me.
Overall: 10/10!
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Anothe hit from Rosie!
I'm a fan of Zhao Lusi and this is one of my fave roles of hers, perhaps only second behind Dating in the Kitchen (with Galaxy and Rule the World close contenders, aswell). I really have no notes, this was close to perfection. It was perfectly cast, perfectly acted, perfectly produced. The romantic chemistry between the lead couple was perfectly sweet and the platonic chemistry between all the other characters was perfectly compatible. Overall, PERFECT! No need to hestitate, you won't regret the time spen watching this drama!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Both the FL and ML are green flags
Its impossible not to love these two seemingly adorable characters. There is no finding fault. The writes did such a beautiful job and this is one gem worth rewatching. It is like a salve for your heart, especially if you have been traumatized by crappy endings.The cast was also a treat to watch, all the actors were so visually stunning. The FL's entire family was full of green flags, her brother and her parents. They were so understanding of her and also cherished their daughter so much. A treat for people who understand how precious gentle parenting can be.
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The greenest green flag goes to
I will admit, at first I was a bit scared - first of all, I mostly watch BL seriep since romances between girl & guy always seem a bit awkward and forced, second I thought it's gonna be weird after the fist ep where Zie looked like an 8 year old kidd BUT there was nothing inappropriate about this and main leads had so much natural chemistry!!! They both are the ultimate green flags together and for each other. Even if this story is a bit basic the main copule made me give up my fist 10/10. LOVE IT AND HIGHLY, HIGLY RECOMMENT!!!Was this review helpful to you?
