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
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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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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Mmm... Cute.
I don't usually watch cdramas but this one caught my attention and I really liked it. The story is cute, touching and the characters are adorable, I have a special place in my heart for Sang Yan -the brother- I always loved it when he appears on screen and the dynamic between him and Sang Zhi is so real, a real sibling behavior. Another thing I liked about this cdrama was how it portrayed friendship, between the female characters and the male characters, it made me want to have friends like them. Maybe I have a lot to say about this cdrama but some people find it a bit controversial because of the age difference (I highly understand), but from my point of view the story is well constructed, they met when she was little but he never saw her as a potential lover until they met again when she was older, having an older crush when you are little is very common, he never interacted with her with other intentions when they first met, she sees his actions in that romantic way simply because she is in love with him. I don't know what else you think but for me, this story was super cute, the ost was also super cute, I loved the songs, and again Victor Ma and his character was my favorite.Maybe what I didn't like so much is how the female lead continues to be so innocent and pure even as an adult, as they emphasize so much.
But if you're looking for something cute, sweet and very cheesy, you should watch it.
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Brother and sister
Brother and sisterAsk me to like Lusi's acting better, i liked the love of brother and sister very much.
Nowadays you do not get to see brother's sister's love understanding between the two.
I liked the love that you told in it, I should get everything, but it is not available in real life.
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Exceptional!
If you watch only ONE romantic series in your life, this should be it! The story, the actors, the chemistry of the couple, everything was just right. I have read some things, but I hope we will get to see the actors in another series again. This show has everything a romantic heart wants and desires. I was not fond of cdramas before I watched it.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Take a shot everytime FL says she's a grown up
First, this drama suffered with too many episodes. If you're going to make a drama with no side stories, second and third leads to create conflict so the main couple can grow stronger, etc. Then you have to cut the episodes. It becomes extremely boring to watch half of a drama of nothing but mindless fluff. This would have been better with 14-16 episodes like most K-dramas. 25 was too much. You Are My Glory also suffered from this. Too much fluff and not real story telling.Anyway, this drama is about a 14 year old crushing on her older brother's roommate. Nothing original really. We've all been there. The thing I didn't like about this whole drama was that it was FL personality trait at some point.
If you also hate the naive childish female to mature woman trope, you'll really hate it here because she never got to the mature part. Everyone said as soon as she got to university, she would mature, but it never happened. ZLS really put the baby uwu talking on thick in this drama. If you are around real life teenagers, you know they do not act like this.
Then there is the repeated phrase "I'm not a kid anymore." or "I'm an adult now." I don't know if she was trying to convince ML or herself. But for a supposed adult, she didn't understand simple stuff like him having a real grown up job and that having to come first instead of a date.
At one point, something breaks in the game. Not just any game. It's the most popular game in China in this drama. Anyway, something goes wrong and he has to stay at the office and work on it because you know, that's his job. Instead of understanding this like an adult, she pouts and gets all sad and questions if he likes her. Not only that, her roommates also jump on that train instead of saying "You know, he's a grown man with a job and actual responsibilities. Calm down and have a snack."
I also didn't like miss "I'm an adult" playing games after he confessed. Young women of the world, do not try this in real life. It backfires every single time. You don't need to test men of their love like a soap opera.
The most realistic thing in the drama was the parent's concern and brother's reaction to finding out they were together. Even that was solved quickly.
All in all, it's just another teen love story with a male lead written by a woman for women. Turn off your mind to watch this if you're older than 20.
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