Absolutely amazing
Hidden Love isn’t just a drama—it’s an experience that tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you longing for more. Starring Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan, this story beautifully captures the magic of first love, the ache of unspoken feelings, and the warmth of finding someone who truly understands you.From Sang Zhi’s shy admiration to Duan Jiaxu’s quiet devotion, every moment between them is filled with tenderness and longing. Their chemistry is pure, electric, and deeply emotional, making you smile, cry, and fall in love alongside them. The breathtaking cinematography and soul-stirring OST only amplify the heart-fluttering moments, making this drama feel like a cherished memory come to life.
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A must watch drama
I just finished watching hidden love and I am sooo in love with it. I don't know where to start to describe it but this drama portrayed love in the most perfect way possible. Both characters' endless love for each other blew me, especially Sang Zhi's love, affection, persistent desire to protect and defend him made me so emotional. You just can't help but want to fall in love after watching this drama. Both Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu are so lovely, they have so much aura and great energy, both are so easy to love. Sang Zhi is a cute character but not in a cringy way, instead that cuteness was delivered in a great way, Zhao Lusi, Chen Zheyuan, Victor Ma and the rest of the cast did a great job at portraying their characters, you could feel pain, happiness, excitement and all other feelings in the deepest way possible. FL and ML have so much chemistry, and romantic scenes were delivered really well. There is no unnecessary drama in the show but instead it reflects real life issues. I just can go on and on and on but gotta stop lol. I don't know if I can move on from this drama but to those who haven't watched it yet, just go for it!Was this review helpful to you?
A light-hearted, beautiful, sweet drama to comfort your life!
This drama tell us the love story between Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu troughout the years, from a brotherhood to a romantic relationship.This love story is extremely beautifully told, in all aspects. First: the development is slow paced (but not too much as to cause frustration) and respects each phase of their relationship. Second: the couple is mature and we aren't tortured with an imature relation filled with miscommunication. Love triangles, bad communication, breakups with dumb reasons... not in this drama! Even when the plot suggests some trouble coming into their relation, they were capable of communicate, protect each other, don't bend to other people expectation and put their love above all. Third: the love, respect and caring between the couple is evident from beginning to end, not only in words but in actions and even in how they look to each other. The scenes where they take care of each other in face of the various struggles of life are among the most beautiful and touching ones I had seen in recent dramas. Of course all this beautiful story would not be well portrayed if the actors hadn't done a wonderful job! Their acting were superb, their chemistry was incredible and their looks were a delightful for our eyes. To make everything even more appealing, a beautiful soundtrack completes the combo with the unforgetable Forever Star as a main theme. For you to not say that I don't have any criticism to the drama, I would love to see a better development to Sang Zhi's brother and Sang Zhi's friends. However I understand the focus were the main couple and these "flaws" don't affect the story, they would be just a savory plus.
A common criticism to this drama is about the age difference and the fact they know each other when Sang Zhi is underage. However the age difference is only 5 years and the drama never shows any romantic felling from Duan Jiaxu towards Sang Zhi while she is underage! The relation is 100% platonic and it causes a great suffering to Sang Zhi who firmily believes Duan Jiaxu will never be able to see her as more than his friend's little sister. So, if you were planing to watch but unsure due to this criticism, I say to you: do it! This drama is one of that gems: it brings you peace and confort and you know that, in the future, you can rewatch again and again and again when you are feelind depressed ou even when you simply miss them so much...
Enjoy this perfect drama as I enjoyed it (and as I keep enjoying as I rewatch from time to time :D)!
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THE BEST C-DRAMA I EVER WATCHED
I hadn't watched Chinese Dramas for so long (binge-watched S. Korean ones) but when I came across this drama (and its ratings), I decided to make a comeback to C-Dramas. I must say that that's the best decision I ever made till now because "Hidden Love" totally changed my perspective of C-Dramas (previously, I thought they were good but cringe). This drama genuinely captivated me from start to finish. However, as much as I adored it, there were a couple of elements because of which I gave it a 9.5 and not a perfect 10. But I'll write about that in the end of my review. Let me first tell you what actually made this drama so so so good!So, what truly made this drama shine was the exceptional acting. The main lead actors Chen Zheyuan & Zhao Lusi took their characters to a whole new level of depth and authenticity. It was as if they breathed life into the screen, making each moment truly memorable. The ML's (Duan Jiaxu's) eye expressions were to die for! The FL's acting was phenomenal too. The supporting characters also did a great job & that's why I gave the acting part of this drama a 10/10.
One of the aspects that made this drama stand out was its ability to create an immersive and heartwarming atmosphere. It felt like a warm embrace to me. This is where the drama truly excelled, portraying the delicate intricacies of relationships, friendships & emotions. I loved the bond between FL (Sang Zhi) & her brother Sang Yan.
Now, let's come to the couple of areas where the drama fell just shy of perfection (in my opinion). Firstly, the supporting characters (Sang Yan, Wang Ruolan & Jiang Ming) didn't receive as much screen time as I would have liked. While the main leads shone brightly, I wanted to delve deeper into the lives, thoughts, and emotions of the supporting cast. Providing them some more screentime could have added an extra layer of richness to the drama.
The second point that I found kind of strange was the sudden change of the ML's feelings for the FL. The ML admitted his feelings for the FL out of nowhere & it felt so abrupt that I couldn't help but notice it. While the chemistry between them was incredible & undeniable, I wished to witness the different stages of his emotional transformation more vividly – from initial denial and hesitation to eventual acceptance and determination. A more gradual progression would have made his character's growth of feelings even more compelling.
*Edit : Another thing which I was concerned about while watching this drama was that they chose such a young girl for playing the role of 14 years old Sang Zhi. Since there is a 5 years age gap between ML & FL, they should've chosen a girl who actually looked 14 instead of 8 so that viewers won't feel disturbed. Just remembered this point & wanted to add it but otherwise it's alright. Kindly continue reading the rest of my review below.
In conclusion, despite these minor setbacks, this drama remains a beautiful and emotionally resonant experience & it's far by the best C-Drama I watched. It enveloped me in a world of genuine warmth and heartfelt moments. The exceptional acting and the portrayal of intricate human relationships make it a must-watch. While it might not have been a flawless 10/10 for me, it certainly left a lasting impression on me ❤️.
(P.S. : I'm IN LOVE with the ost "Forever Star"!! ✨)
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So cute I wanna cry!
This show is a MUST MUST WATCH!!!!Everything about this show was perfection and adorable. It gave me so many butterflies. I watched the whole show without skipping any scenes or cringing at any point(which is a rare standard to keep for a Chinese show).
I loved the whole cast. Not only are the leads brilliant but the supporting cast was amazing too. The FL and ML are such good actors whether it be funny, romantic or emotional scenes.
The love story between ML and FL is so organic and nuanced. The FLs family dynamic is so well done and her relationship with her brother is a show stealer.
The OST is so good and complements the story. I already have a couple of songs added to my playlist.
It was such a feel-good romcom and it is definitely going on my re-watch list. I can't recommend this show enough.
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One of the best C-drama I have ever watched
This is one of the best dramas I have ever laid my eyes on. Like literally. It is in my top four being LLTG, Mr Sunshine, 25-21 are the other 3.The storytelling and acting is top-notch. This is one of the best portrayals of real-life sweet siblings. More than the main couple I loved siblings' relationship more. I don't know how many times I have re-watched Sang Yan and Sang Zhi fights. Each time I wanna rewatch the whole series again.
Another unique thing about the drama was the story, the main female lead was innocent, scheming, soft-hearted, loyal, dedicated, and clever at the same time, like how the writer managed to write such a character. It blew my mind. Usually, such crybaby characters annoy me but even the spoiled brattish phase of Shan Zhi I found it somehow adorable. I fell in love with Sang Zhi. Character developments were out of this world, I witnessed how mature Sanag Zhi became with each year passing, and I felt like a proud momma.
I loooove Zhao Lusi, Usually, she picks great scenarios. So far her other jobs such as LLTG(which is my favorite), Who Rule the world, Long Ballad have been great too. The Last Immortal didn't meet my anticipation but I could say she has great taste
And the Couple. I could confidently say they had one of the best chemistry(but usually Zhao Lusi always have great chem with her male leads). They had very healthy relationship, trusting non-toxic, each problem is resolved like magic, and each one wanted the best for each other, was steadfast, and self-sacrificing/devoted.
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(In my best Yoda voice) “Feel the Love!”
Once in awhile a show comes along that just tells a simple story really well. No fuss, no unproductive theatrics, just the basics.This show is all about the love story between a handsome dude and a beautiful girl 5 years his junior. Their association started when the girl was in junior high and she developed a crush on him when he was introduced as his older brother’s roommate in college. The ML played the "brotherly" role for years until the FL comes of age and he started to have romantic feelings for her. That’s how the show portrayed his side of the story and we shall leave it at that.
The Show took its time to recount their early meetings and how the girl crushed hard on him and going through all the highs and lows of an unrequited love. The Show really hits its stride when they meet again by chance after the FL finished high school and went to a college in the city where the ML is working. Their chemistry is a sight to behold.
As I mentioned in other reviews, in a romance drama, you want to ship the OTP and watch them overcome adversities and fight foes arm in arm. More often than not, dramas will have them fighting each other due to some weak plot twist and go through a breakup or two just to "spice things up". I am thankful that the writer heard my prayers and there is none of that in this show.
Instead, there are lots of playful teasing and plenty of heart fluttering moments and bonus skinship. Their deep love for each other should be distilled and bottled for sale. There are challenges but they are handled with aplomb by our OTP. The writer seems to have gone out of her way to collect all manners of relationship challenges and then set about resolving them in the most positive ways. Each obstacle serves to reaffirm their love and make their relationship stronger. There is little fuss and definitely nothing can come between these two lovebirds. There are no real antagonists and a circle of good friends cheer them on. This type of honest yet heartfelt love story is rare in today’s dramaland. I, for one, give thanks.
The leads are perfect for their roles. ZLS was born to play the lead. I believe this is her first high school drama and she did it with ease. She looks cute and vulnerable in her high school scenes. She then blossomed into a beautiful and radiant young woman in her college years. This goes double after she is in a committed relationship. CZY is handsome and showed a lot more maturity in his role. He played the big brother role well but his take on a devoted boyfriend is next level. He is loving but respectful and always caring. He will make any girl swoon. Their scenes are always worth watching and their chemistry is off the chart. You can really feel their love and commitment especially in later scenes when their resolve is tested.
However, it is not a perfect show. the FL uses a breathless, higher pitched voice when she was playing her younger self and it can be unpleasant to the ears at times. Most of the support casts are from central casting. Their subplots are largely superfluous.
Hidden Love is a sweet, fluffy romance with little angst and few stress points. It is not going to win any awards but this is a show that you can rewatch with guilty pleasure. If you have Romantics Anonymous on speed dial, then you will be doing a happy dance. However, If you want to watch a show with complex plots and matching level of angst and intrigue, then you should have stopped watching 24 episodes ago.
For me, this show has a permanent spot on my rewatch list.
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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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This review may contain spoilers
its simplicity delivered a superb, binge-worthy drama that will leave you smiling and feeling good!
What I like about this series is that it really is a very simple plot line. A young girl's admiration developing into a crush then to a puppy love then the love growing as she matures and eventually getting her happily ever after. I like how the interaction between the characters shows the difference as they grow/mature. The initial stages, the interactions of DJX and SZ are like an older, doting brother taking care and indulging a younger sister. Just like a different version of Sang Yan - SZ's real brother who happens to be his best friend in school. Whereas SY often teases and makes fun of SZ when they are together and is portrayed as being brash and a bit cocky, DJX is the caring, gentle and warmer brother. Though he is indulging her, he makes sure to still teach her and correct her behavior when needed - like when he told SZ to (1) pay attention in class when he helped her by pretending to be her older brother so her parent wouldn't know that her teacher requested another meeting, (2) how she should act when she gets confessed to - study first as she is too young, but to thank the other person for having an interest in her and to either accept or not to hurt him but to politely reject the other person's interest if she does not reciprocate the feeling. Not that SY does not indulge her, SY just has a different love language shown to his sister. When they met again when SZ was in college, you can see how DJX starts seeing SZ as a woman, not just a younger sister. You see him starting to fall in love with the adult SZ. You then get to join their journey from their courtship to how they lay the foundation of their relationship and how it (their relationship) and they (SZ and DJX) grow as individual and together as a couple. In today's society of instant gratification, I especially love how they brought back the art of anticipation during the courtship period. Qian Fei had a point when he asked Jiaxu why he is still decided to pursue his girl when he knows she likes him and they could have gotten together then. I like that they build up the anticipation of them becoming together. The kilig moments in this series is just *chef's kiss*. (KILIG is not misspelled, its a Filipino term that I think best describes the situation in the drama. It refers to the feeling of excitement or elation one gets in various romantic situations like making eye contact with your crush, holds for the first time, your first kiss with someone you are romantically interested in and other situation like that. I may have mucked up the explanation, Google it if you must.) They did great in making their experience in their courtship period very relatable, makes the series more endearing because it somehow reminds you of your own experience - remember the scene when SZ was telling her girls about her and DJX status and ending up giggling with each other and laughing and being silly about it? I was smiling along with them, like its a secret between us sisters!I am not the biggest Chen Zhe Yuan fan out there but I must say HIS ACTING WAS SUPERB in this series. I've seen his other works and they were good, don't get me wrong. Boy can act, but he would not be the first actor I would have in mind had the character of Duan Jiaxu been explained to me before seeing this drama. As CZY mentioned in their special, this is the first time he is acting as an older brother/senior. I think he really pulled it off. He has shown DJX being playful, teasing SZ and even his friends, being cold to Jiang Ying, being indulgent to young SZ, being cutesy and loving to adult SZ. I love how even his eyes are delivering in this series. If you watch how he looks as SZ from start to finish, you can see how even they way he looks at SZ had changed as their story progressed, especially how his eyes looked when he kisses SZ at the later episodes. I especially like the scene in the airport when SZ confessed she liked him since she was a kid. You can see in his whole facial reaction that DJX was having a whole flashback of (1) what had transpired in that very airport when SZ went there in HS - what SZ said, what he said, how SZ reacted and cried and (2) when he picked up a drunk SZ from a bar and she shared her secret about liking someone. You can see minute changes in his face as realization dawns on him.
Whereas I am not a big fan of CZY, I love, love, love, love, love Zhao Lusi. Other than those that have not been aired yet, I have not see (clips in YT included) only 4 of her works. She is one of my go-to actresses when I want to rewatch a drama. I love how she portrayed SZ in this series. She had shown a different SZ in each stage of the series. From being a young, bratty, spoiled princess to growing up and being a mature young adult. I love how for the most part, she looks timid but she knows how to stand up for herself. I like how they showed in the drama that even when she is in love with DJX she has not lost herself and her priorities.
This is the first time I have come across Victor Ma and I must say, I love his voice. He played Sang Yan so well, I could not imagine another actor playing SY. He and Lusi has such great sibling chemistry. I love that despite being brash and a bit cocky and always teasing and making fun of his sister, he is his number one protector - remember the scene with the bully when SZ injured his leg? and when he picked her up at the airport when SZ went to Yihe in HS? and when he visited Yihe and SZ was getting bullied at the office where she was interning? I absolutely adore that the show still reflected his love language for his sister.
I could go on and on about what I like in this drama and it will make this review waaaay too long. So overall, I love how even though the plot line pretty simple, all of its cast and crew delivered a phenomenal job. I can go on an elaborate episode per episode what I liked about it. Suffice to say, after this drama aired its last episode, it has been a constant repeat whenever I want something on to pass time. I think I've watched this 6-7 times now since it last aired. That's how much I love this.
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I understood the hype
I truly understood the hype. I had huge expectations, and it didn't disappoint.The first thing that I like about this drama is that they made the sister-brother relationship of San Zhi and Jia Xu more acceptable. It's not weird to see since Jia Xu sincerely saw her as his sister when she was still a minor. He didn't have any romantic feelings or show any signs of them. You could feel that it was really genuine.
The second thing I like is the acting of the leads, especially Lu Si. I saw her in two dramas, but this one made me fall in love with her due to her natural acting and cuteness. Now, I also understood the hype around her. She's indeed a good actress. I just couldn't stop smiling when she was smiling. She's so cute!
When San Zhi said something like, "I don't care about the reason, but if you mistreated him, then I'll do the same with you," That's when I fell in love with her character. Again, I said it in my review of When I Fly Towards You: Both of the female characters know how to stand up and fight against those annoying people. They're not just cute, but brave too. It's so refreshing to see that in cdrama because they always present some cute characters that are too kind to stand up for themselves and for others.
And about the chemistry, do I really need to say it too? It's so great! They complement each other from their visuals up to their personalities.
When I Fly Towards You is for those who like youth romance and wholesome friendship. Watch Hidden Love if you like a drama that only focuses on the main lead. Personally, I enjoyed Hidden Love more.
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A SOLID 10 OUT OF 10 FOR 2023 C-DRAMA
OMG, this drama seriously so good. This is solid 10 to me.I ended up watching it because it is currently ranked 5 on Netflix in my country, and I was curious as to why so many people talk about it.
It was my biggest mistake to listen to the haters. There is no such thing as a crime or sinful scenes.
I saw one influential youtuber discuss this drama, and for the record, those are baseless accusations and claims made by her and her supporters. I know they're all giving this drama one star while giving another drama ten. Thank goodness, this drama is currently No. 1 in MDL, and I'm sure those haters are hoping every second that this drama will flop. Anyway, who cares about the haters when this drama has become so popular both domestically and internationally. They can't change that fact.
I'm not sure if I watched HL after The Glory, but this drama feels like holy water washes away our sins and hatred after watching The Glory.
This drama has a fluffy and cute couple, positive characters from both leads, a lovely sibling, understanding parents, a supportive friend, and a protective couple. In a nutshell, the best drama of this genre.
I have a lot of favourite characters in this series, but my favourite is undoubtedly our female lead, Sang Zhi. She was raised and spoiled by a wonderful family.
Despite being spoiled by her parents and brother, she knows how to be polite, stand on her own two feet and fight, take responsibility for her future, and recognise her own worth.
Now, let's talk about acting. Without Zhao Lusi and Chen Zhe Yuan's performances, I don't think we'd be able to capture this couple's chemistry. This drama is primarily focused on the two leads.
As I previously stated, this is a simple drama, but when there is a sad scene, they deliver it exceptionally well. I cried a lot during the airport scenes and when DJX is crying and bawling after hugging SZ.
As for the soundtrack, I think it's fantastic, with no bad songs. Forever Star, Star Thief, and Be Your Light are some of my favourites.
Anyway, please send HL a lot of love. I give it a ten out of ten.
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Absolute Perfection 10++ stars
I could have sworn I'd left a review already. Anyway, this is the sweetest, most romantic C drama I've ever watched and it's one that I'll rewatch often.XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
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