Unfolding a Delicate Love Story!❤️
"Hidden Love" is a delightful and heartwarming youth romance drama that portrays the naive and sweet feelings of a young girl experiencing her first crush. The drama provides a refreshing and realistic portrayal of the protagonist, Sang Zhi, capturing the essence of youthful love and the little things one does for someone they admire."Hidden Love" brings a fresh and natural perspective to the gradual development of feelings between a girl and a brother figure. While there have been other plots exploring similar dynamics, this drama manages to stand out and feel distinctively different. It deviates from the typical college senior or classmate love stories, offering a unique twist that captures the viewers' attention.
What sets "Hidden Love" apart is the natural progression of the relationship between Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu. The story carefully navigates their connection, allowing their bond to grow organically over time. It avoids clichés and contrived plotlines, ensuring that the romance feels genuine and authentic.
The acting is truly outstanding and feels incredibly authentic. Zhao Lusi delivers a remarkable performance, especially in her portrayal of a school girl. Her convincing acting makes it easy to believe that she is actually that innocent and young. Chen Zhe Yuan, as the male lead, shines in his role, successfully bringing the character of Duan Jiaxu to life. His portrayal captures the essence of an older brother figure, showcasing a genuine and caring relationship with Sang Zhi. The chemistry between the two leads is palpable, adding depth and believability to their on-screen connection.
The supporting characters play a crucial role in advancing the story and leaving a lasting impact on viewers. Although the drama primarily focuses on the main characters, it skillfully incorporates the supporting cast to provide glimpses into their lives and personalities. This allows for a deeper understanding of each character without extending the length of the series.
One standout supporting character is Sang Yan, Sang Zhi's brother. The connection between Sang Zhi and Sang Yan is beautifully portrayed, showcasing a realistic and loving sibling relationship. These moments of bickering not only add humor and entertainment value but also make the audience feel a sense of familiarity and connection.
The presence of these supporting characters not only adds dimension to the drama but also enhances the overall storytelling. Their interactions with the main characters provide valuable insights and moments of growth. Despite not being the central focus, their impact on the narrative is significant and leaves a deep impression.
"Hidden Love" effectively balances the exploration of the main characters' journeys while giving enough attention to the supporting cast. This approach allows viewers to connect with and appreciate the various characters, making the drama a well-rounded and satisfying watch.
The songs featured, such as "Be Your Light" and "Forever Star," enhance the drama by perfectly aligning with the scenes and evoking the intended emotions. "Be Your Light" serves as the backdrop for the romantic and adorable moments between the leads, capturing the sweetness and innocent blushes that accompany their interactions. The lyrics and melody complement these scenes, adding an extra layer of charm to their budding romance. On the other hand, "Forever Star" comes into play when the storyline calls for more depth and intensity in their relationship. This song creates a sense of emotional gravity, emphasizing the significant moments and hurdles that the characters face. The lyrics and composition of "Forever Star" resonate with the audience, capturing heartfelt emotions and adding a layer of poignancy to their evolving romance.
While the plot may not be groundbreaking, the drama excels in the way it tells the story. The pacing is remarkable, allowing the narrative to unfold at a satisfying rhythm. As Zhao Lusi's first school drama, she showcased her talent and convincingly embodied the character. It was evident that her acting skills allowed her to effectively capture the essence of an innocent girl experiencing her first love. Duan Jiaxu's character has sparked discussions among viewers, questioning how he could show such care and protectiveness towards his friend's sister. However, understanding his background sheds light on his actions. Coming from a family lacking love and support, when he finally found a sister figure in Sang Zhi, who genuinely admires and cares for him, it's only natural for him to feel a strong sense of protectiveness and care in return. As a witness to Sang Zhi's childhood, this only strengthens his bond with her. When his romantic feelings develop for her as an adult, it is not intentional but rather a genuine spark that he takes the time to verify before confidently expressing his affection. Regarding comments about the actress appearing too childish, it's important to note that Sang Zhi's character does have a certain level of innocence and childishness. However, her growth throughout the drama is not one-sided. She displays strength and resilience when needed, standing up for herself and her loved ones. Likewise, Duan Jiaxu's character is portrayed as strong and not overly protective or possessive, allowing Sang Zhi to have her own experiences and interactions with other admirers.
Overall, "Hidden Love" is a light youth modern romance drama that will take us on the path of a sweet and pure love. From start to finish, the drama engages viewers with its well-executed aspects, captivating storytelling, and all those heart-fluttering moments. The drama comes highly recommended for its well-executed aspects and its ability to keep viewers hooked from start to finish.
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My heart....
I don't know if any show has affected me the way Hidden Love has. I watch with a smile on my face and I even cry through the sweetest scenes. First of all, the age gap is not an issue at all. He is only 5 years older and there is nothing inappropriate in any of the 25 episodes. Please do not be put off by any of the negative comments because you will miss out on a beautiful experience. I rewatched all the episodes while I waited for more episodes to be released. Now that I have watched all 25 episodes, I am so sad because I will miss Jia Xu and Sang Zhi! I also loved Sang Zhi's brother Sang Yan. I read that there will be a sequel with Sang Yan's story called First Frost. I am hoping to see the same actors play Sang Jhi and Jiaxu in First Frost.Sang Zhi grew up in a loving family. Her parents are kind and generous. Her brother loves her and is protective of her even as he bickers with her. It is still so touching to see how much the brother and sister love each other. I enjoyed watching the beautiful dynamics of Sang Jhi's family. If you enjoy watching sibling relationships, it is another plus for Hidden Love.
Duan Jia Xu had a sad family life, and he worked hard to pay off his father's debts. What made his relationship with Sang Jhi so beautiful is that even though he didn't have money to spare, he always took care of Sang Zhi and refused to take money from her or allow her to pay for anything when he was around. And even more beautiful was the way Sang Zhi cared for Jia Xu by protecting and taking care of him. He never had anyone to rely on and instead took on the burden of taking care of his mother and father. It was so beautiful to see the emotions as he felt Sang Zhi's love for him.
Both Zhao Lu Si and Chen Zhe Yuan are the magic key to Hidden Love. Zhe Yuan expressive eyes...sigh. Just watching him play Jiaxu is enough to convince me that a 17-year-old girl would have a crush and fall in love with him. Lu Si was perfect for Sang Zhi. You just need to watch to see. The BTS clips provide information on the scenes and be sure to watch the extra scenes at the end of each episode. The strawberry scene at the end of episode 13 was one I had to rewatch immediately. I absolutely love this show!!! There is nothing quite like it.
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This is what a producer should do to create a perfect contemporary romance drama.
I think the casting was excellent, from the main lead to the supporting casts. They did perfectly well.
I've heard there are a lot of problems before they start shooting because the original directors withdraw from these projects, so the other investors and some other actors follow along. Later, a new director takes over, and a few of ZLS's friends join to continue the project. The good news is that this director did a fantastic job directing this drama.
All the ost are in my playlist and my favourite are Star Thief, Forever star and Be your light. These 3 are so good that I keep playing everyday.
Overall. I give 10/10.
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GEM !!!!
This Drama just increased my standard Romcom. 3 days ago just finished this drama and now I don't know why i can't watch any romcom drama.The way this drama took me about 2 days to complete explains how much I loved it.
And trust me this drama had me laughing, smiling and blushing every minute.
They both were each other's first and last love and I loved the how sang zhi back then was not utterly obsessed (trust me I've read books and watched shows like these).
She just always admired him from afar and loved him regardless of his past + duan jiaxu being the greenest flag ever has raises my standards omg....
Not only Chemistry between Sang Zhi & Duan Jia Xu that i loved. I also love Chemistry between Sang Zhi and her family/friends.
"17 years Sang Zhi soo Cute :)"
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they're so beautiful, i'm gonna cry.
you'll meet the best man; the best boy; the best guy in this whole universe : Duan Jiaxu.at this point there's no one could change my mind.
the greenest flag character that i've ever met in my whole life. i had learned a lot from him; how to face the cruelest world when in reality you are at the lowest point of your life. thanks to him? thanks to the writer! bravo!
also — thanks to chen zheyuan for succesfully portrayed the duan jiaxu so well! i couldn't imagine any other actors except him tho.
shout out to the kindest & the most adorable girl ever : Sang Zhi! girl, i envy you sooo much i can not help it 😭 i wish it was me whose get the chance to accompanied djx for his whole life haha.
i don't know what's to write anymore? Hidden Love is such a gem! got a lot warmest things in this drama. give it a try! (*^▽^)/★*☆♪
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The plot is very simple. It is about a teenager crush that evolves into a beautiful relationship once reciprocated. While it is simple, I think the show did a good job overall in portraying the different stages of the relationship. There is no unnecessary angst and the tone remains light and fluffy throughout.
The only thing that makes me rate the story lower is the lack of scenes showcasing ML thoughts. The drama could have used an extra episode to flesh out ML character more. His background story is way too short and he changed from brotherly affection to full on loving the FL so quickly that I find it a bit abrupt. It would be better if there are more scenes showcasing his hesitation and motivation. The novel did a much better job fleshing out his character imo.
The casts are definitely the highlight for me. Everyone fits their role so well and the acting feels quite natural. I love all the 3 leads, though I am most impressed with Chen Zheyuan. His eyes deliver so much emotion! The chemistry between the 3 leads are amazing. I definitely will be checking out their future projects.
I also really like the OST because they fit and added so much to the scenes.
Overall I really like this drama. It is well produced and I could tell a lot of thought and effort went into it. It was good from beginning to the end. Although I feel like they could use 1 or 2 more episodes, but overall I'm very satisfied with the series.
I would recommend this drama for anyone that likes romance, slice of life, and something simple in general. This drama has been my happy pill after a long tiring day at work for the past 2 weeks, so I would definitely missed it.
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Best Cdrama ever
This is the first time I am writing review for any drama. This drama holds a very special place in my heart, even though it doesn't have any of the usual tropes that I normally like. The actors did a great job and the whole drama is the biggest green flag. Loved every single second of it.Zhao Lusi portrayed her role so cutely. I loved Sang Zhi's family especially her relationship with her brother is so funny, adorable and downright real. Her mom was so pretty and totally matched the mother-daughter duo. She had great friends/roomates in university. Chen Zhe Yuan as Duan Jia Xu stole my heart. Despite the hardships he faced, he grew up to be the most loveable, considerate and kind gentleman. Men like him don't exist in real life. He's the best thing about the show and the biggest green flag male lead ever. I fell in love with him right along with Sang Zhi through every little acts of his kindness.
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A cute love story that we all dream of
This was one of the most perfect c-dramas I have ever watched. Watching this felt like a smooth glide on the ice rink with a lot giggles, laughs and cries. It is just a really enjoyable drama and fully fulfilled my desire for a cute love story.The story is wonderful. The conflicts were resolved well and everything felt pretty logical and not out of the blue. I was really curious on how the main couple's relationship would develop and it was done really well. I liked how even with the age lead of the main couple, they showed a great deal of balance in their relationship, which is something I was a bit worried about before starting the show.
All of the actors did a fantastic job, especially the main leads. I feel like Zhao Lusi really encapsulated Sang Zhi both when she was in high school and in college. I honestly don't think I could have thought of anyone who would have done a better job than her. Chen Zheyuan was also amazing. My favorite part of his acting was definitely his eyes. His eyes are really expressive and he did so well expressing all sorts of emotions.
The music used in the drama fit very well. They are have a sort of fresh and youthful vibe to them, which is exactly what this drama's overall vibe is.
I would definitely rewatch this drama anytime I'm craving a cute love story!
Overall, this drama is just really enjoyable and very fun!
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This review may contain spoilers
Great watch. A drama that'll make your heart flutter.
First things first, If you are someone who enjoys romcom, then this is THE drama for you.A little Background here:
Starting off 2023 with dramas like The Glory, The good Bad Mother (and having watched Youth of May, recently), I was just browsing MDL for a good Romcom, and I stumbled upon this drama & fell head over heels in love with it. If you read the drama synopsis on MDL, it doesn't sound very appealing, as the theme feels somewhat cliché, something very commonly seen in Cdramas, but what really caught my attention was the rating ... ahem... it was 9.1 (while it was AIRING. Yes, you read it right).
....and that's how this drama entered the 'currently watching' tab in my watchlist.
Coming to my thoughts about the drama:
Acting: I've never seen any dramas of these actors, but after watching it, my final thoughts are that they've done a freaking good job. CZY, Luci, Victor, they were just fantastic . I was touched by seeing the acting of CZY and Luci in the segment where she flew down to Yihe , to tell Jia Xu about her crushing over him since high school ; it was an emotional scene beautifully executed by them. It made me go' aww....' . Another scene when Jia Xu's dad passed away & the cemetery scene, they did such a good job (my eyes welled up every time Jia Xu cried , amazing performance by CZY).
Plot: Like I mentioned earlier, the theme isn't something out of the blue, but the way the story was tied up, just brilliant. Its a novel adaptation (which I haven't read YET), so cant compare the two, but looking at he end result, feels like they did a pretty good job. I absolutely loved the character development of Sang Zi, Jia Xu and Sang Yan. It was amazing witnessing their character growth and the process of maturing to adults, capable of taking important life decisions & also, I really enjoyed Sang Yan and Sang Zi's shenanigans throughout the drama.
I think this line is very apt for describing the drama: (Sang Zi's lines from the last episode)
"It is the story of 22 year old Jia Xu to 22 year old Sang Zi"
So, the bottom line is: If you love Rom-coms, and are looking for some heart fluttering moments & a drama that gives you butterflies 🦋 and a good chunk of laughter, this is IT.
& even if that doesn't convince you, how about CZY & his chiseled jawline ?
A solid 10 /10.
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This review may contain spoilers
Zhao Lusi Never Disappoints!!! Her best drama yet!!
Honestly, idk where to begin cause im so overwhelmed at how much I love this drama. This drama definitely made top of my list. I would my Top 3. When I saw a teaser for this drama a couple of months ago, I researched it a bit cause it had Zhao Lusi and I love her dramas. I started reading the novel and fell in love with it. It was just such an innocent and cute love story and I knew Zhao Lusi would be amazing in it. But amazing didn’t even begin to describe how it actually turned out. I thought nothing could top how I felt about Love like The Galaxy because it had everything, good supporting cast, good chemistry and a good plot. And Zhao Lusi and Leo Wu had like amazing chemistry. Like I shipped them in real life. But like her and Chen Zhe Yuan is also amazing too. I ship them so hard as Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu. Theyre just so cute together. Honestly makes me believe that Zhao Lusi fell in love with Duan Jia Xu as Sang Zhi for real. I have seen some stuff here and there from Chen Zhe Yuan and I thought he did pretty good in Our Secrets. He was acting a lot with his eyes in that drama and the chemistry was pretty good and cute. But man, he went all x1000 for this drama. His style, his gaze, his looks, just all the small little actions and detailed he added. Made Duan Jia Xu really come to life for me. His acting has definitely improved. I was a bit iffy when I saw that he was casted as Duan Jia Xu cause I felt no one can match Leo Wu’s chemistry with Zhao Lusi. But man was I proven wrong. I cant imagine anyone else as Duan Jia Xia now. He fits the role perfectly. And it makes it even mor amazing when I watch the BTS. Cause Chen Zhe Yuan is not really like Duan Jia Xu in real life. He is more of a reserved person. And the fact that he was able to make Duan Jia Xu come off so well, means his acting is top notch. Both of their acting was so too notch. It was honestly just a simple love story but because of the attention to small details, it made it so good. Like the little detailing of their expression, smiles, awkwardness, shyness, perfect. Nailed it.I was gushing at all their flirty moments before dating and even after they got together, it was still really cute. Cause most of the time, in dramas, after they leads get together, its not as good anymore. But man, for them, it was not the case, it was a whole another level of cute. I love how healthy their relationship was. Duan Jia Xu is such a green flag. Got to be the greenest of all of them.
Another important thing to me in a drama is the supporting cast. And man I loved Sang Yan so much! And their whole family dynamic. Tbh, in the book, I didn’t think much of Sang Yan. Just the typically bully older brother, and sometimes I felt that he didn’t care that much about his sister cause he always asked Duan Jia Xu to do it. I loved the bickering in the drams and how Sang Yan actually always pampers Sang Zhi. I really felt like they were brothers and sisters that care for each other. Sang Zhi and Sang Yan scenes were always my favorites. Especially the ones where it had Sang Zhi, Sang Yan and Duan Jia Xu. It was so funny. They always bitter like kids. Like the scene with field day, physics tutoring and when he found out about Duan Jia Xu and Sang Zhi dating. Her whole family was so sweet and warm and healthy. They all loved each other. And I loved how her mom was her mom from Love Like the Galaxy. They are close in real life and on the show, you can see how close and cute they are.
I watched the press conference/fan meet they had for the drama and honestly, made me love it even more. I heard there were problems with the wardrobe so Zhao Lusi had to reach out to different sponsors and get clothes for the drama. And she styled all the fits too. And man, I loved them! Everyone looked so good. She definitely has really good taste. I know ppl will go and try to buy all the outfits she wears and man she deserves it! There was some casting problem too so she went to ask her bf to play the HS crush. And her mom from Love Like The Galaxy, Zhao Lusi asked her to play the role too. And the college roommate that gives her all the dating advice is from The Romance of Tiger and Rose. I loved that they are her friends and are so loyal! Zhao Lusi even asked Silence Wang to sing one of the OST with her and personally sang one herself too. And they are so good! Also a lot of the props in the drama are her personally items. I love how much she invested and did for the drama. She really is a great person! She deserves all the praise and likes.
For me, OST is really important because it adds so much more meaning to the scene and honestly sometimes makes or breaks them. I think an OST is good when I can listen to the song and remember a particular moment in the drama that they played it. That’s how I know its amazing and powerful. Im not going to lie to you, when I first heard the songs, I thought they were okay. But when they were slowly introduced into the drama one by one. I fell in love. It is on repeat right now for me on Spotify. All of them give me the feels cause theyre used to play at different emotions.
But if i had to pick, I have two favorite ones. It would be I Have Someone I Like by Zhao Lusi, and Forever Star by Zhang Yi Hou. I Have Someone I Like by Zhao Lusi is played at all the cute/ heart fluttering moments. Forever Star by Zhang Yi Hou is played a lot when there are sad scenes. It gives so much feels! It's especially memorable to me when Duan Jia Xu is at the airport opening the red envelope given to him by Sang Zhi. The OST just made the scene so good with Duan Jia Xu's smiling tears. And honorable mention: Be Your Light by Ma Boqian. Cause come on, its sung by our Sang Yan Ge Ge. And it was so cute when they played it in the Strawberry scene. Made it ingrained in my head. They’re all so good.
I'm really happy that this drama is going globally and that Netflix bought the rights to play it in like 190 countries because the exposure will make it so much more popular! Even tiktok is making it super popular too! I hope more ppl will find out about this drama and watch it cause its amazing. I will definitely rewatch this multiple times and it will be added to my list of comfort dramas I will always rewatch from time to time.
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This review may contain spoilers
Realistic Cuteness Overload; A Breath of Fresh Air
Never expected this drama to be so realistic and light. I watched primarily for CZY because I wanted to see him develop into a mature male actor. I've seen several actors previously so I knew it would be a good cast. It really was cuteness overload but probably one of the least toxic c-dramas I've ever seen. It was a real breath of fresh air.Pros: Favorite character was ML and I'm very proud of how he's grown from playing younger roles to a mature male who let me tell you, when he turned on those eyes of his, he'd melt women of all ages into a puddle. Other than that, he was also probably one of the most caring individuals on earth. Life dealt him a very cruel hand with what his father did and that stalker chick, but instead of curling into a ball and giving up, he just strove to be a better person worthy of the love of everyone around him especially the only one who truly loved every piece of him, our FL SZ.
Most of the story was very well developed. And honestly, other than the stalker chick, there wasn't a single character I didn't like. She was the main antagonist I guess you could say. FL, her parents, bro and all of their friends were just wonderful. I do have to say that I don't know about China but in the US, if you live as a resident in a quad in college, it's beyond rare that everyone gets along so well. I was never a resident but a commuter but my resident friends told me all sorts of stories back in the day. The fact that SZ lived with and got along so well with her roommates just adds to the loveliness of this story.
This story had you mostly laughing at the antics of our leads and everyone else. But it was also very inspirational and sometimes it even made you tear up. SZ was more mature in some aspects then people gave her credit for. Though I do wish many of her inner monologues came out of her mouth instead, she was endearing, kind, respectful, caring, loving, and fiercely protective of those she loved the most.
Everything had its rightful progression to a point. I have nothing to complain about the settings, OSTs, etc. Their moments together once they start coming together were the best and of course the comedy. But there is a con section though it won't be that long.
Cons: While I understand the misunderstandings as people have that makes them imagine or overthink when they're young; but it shouldn't happen when they're adults in a relationship or even by 12th grade in high school. Miscommunication is a known relationship killer. SZ never asks DJX what he's thinking but goes full steam ahead on her own assumptions which are usually worse case scenarios and completely false. DJX also doesn't open up to her and then they end up finding out through other means and how foolish it looks. But instead of learning and not doing it again, they keep repeating it. Even by episode 24, she still thought he was considering breaking up with her.
Then DJX's not dealing with the stalker as soon as he paid off the debt. Why? Her harassing him just complicated things for him both literally and psychologically. If he didn't find out she went after SZ, would he ever have dealt with her? What if she flew to Nanwu to find him?
The thing I wish there was less of were the flashbacks of SZ's childhood. Like once she became an adult, end those. We know what's going on. It wasn't until episode 3 that this drama picked up for me. But I'm very glad I stuck around.
Would I recommend it? Definitely. From all the ones I'm watching it was the only one that made me laugh and love little moments that I would rewind just to get a little bit more. I'm very glad I watched this drama and you should give it a chance too.
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Perfect love and healing story
Even in my most favorite dramas I always had something I didn't like, there always were some flaws... but this story just PERFECTThis drama amazing in everything, its fully focused on main leads, but same time all other characters have their own charm (SZ parents, roommates, DZX friends, his boss and co worker), even if they had only a bit screen time, they wasnt just decoration or waste of time! And of course Sang Yan, I loved him as much as main leads ❤️❤️❤️ this drama has right amount of angst, to make this story more real and touching, but still be the most light, heartwarming, hilarious, comfort story ❤️
Chen Zhe Yuan and Lusi did so amazing job to bring this characters to life, their personality and relationship were so real, they always remind me my youth experience, how it feels be in love first time, first heartbreak, anxiety, excitement, comfort you can find in other person, acting was very realistic with many details and nuances, their chemistry made me feel butterflies and also made me cry.
Its also not just love story, one of the main theme is healing, forgetting and accepting❤️
I really not ready ay goodbye for this story((( there no drama like this, will miss them very much 😭
I recommend it everyone, just give it a try !
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