Pretty decent show and probably my fav this year But not the best.
Imo This drama played in two parts: the first 7 episodes and the remaining 18 starting from episode 8.The first part for me were just sooo boring I almost dropped it ngl. Plus I just kept wondering WHY?? Like WTF? Why would they choose a young actress that looked like she was 8 to play the part of someone who's 14. Whatever kind of messed up choice is that? So not to mention how uninteresting the first few episodes were, I was also pretty uncomfortable watching young Sang Zhi looking like she's 6 interact and be smitten with an already adult Duan.
Then came the second part at episode 8 and it couldn't come fast enough. From there the pace picked up pretty nicely. Even if it was slow burn it became enjoyable and entertaining. Because the chemistry between the leads were so great. And to my surprise considering a few other reviews I read, I thought SZ were really mature throughout the whole show even in the beginning. And I loved how naturally the relationship of SZ and DJX evolved. I mean it wasn't just an out of the blue moment that lead to the two of them getting together. It was very well built up and brought up. I loved SY as a character too and the whole cast just did amazing.
Overall I enjoyed watching this drama. But I have to say it's unlikely I'll watch it again and if I ever do I'll definitely start from episode 8. If not for the first part I would've gladly given this show a 9 or a 10 but I guess a decent 8 will just have to do.
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Heroine falling in love with her older brother's best friend: such a wholesome and romantic story
This drama depicts the story of Sang Zhi secretly in love with her brother's best friend Duan Jia Xu, who is five years older than her and how their relationship build and develop itself overtime. I really liked the premise of the series as well the pacing of the scenario. There are three acts to the romance and I was particularly seduced by the first one with the introduction and contextualization of the relationship: it kinda broke my heart a little bit but in a wholesome way.It is a really cute age gap romance and the screenwriter managed to make it sweet, believable and not creepy-like. The several part of the story are well done and allow a slow burn that I felt was quite earnest. It was super rewarding to see the male lead figuring out his feelings and the one-sided crush of the female lead evolving as well.
The two main leads were really great with a beautiful chemistry together. The romantic scenes were lovely and convincing and the character were also interesting outside of the romance, with growth storylines as individuals. The main actress make me care about her character, I liked a lot the heroine with her princess attitude, her relationship with her brother and her cuteness. It was never annoying to me and it could honestly have been too much but the actress really found the right balance even in her voice tone and all the little quirks. The male lead was just super swoon-worthy, it is impossible to not get why she fell in love with him and he is kind of clueless, just there at first as a protector which I found really lovable.
The production was quite beautiful...Some scenes were just dreamy and I enjoyed a lot the little drawings and animations over the course of the series. The OST was participating well to the surreal, dream-like atmosphere of the drama, with some appeasing and sweet ballads.
I would recommend this to people looking for sweet romance with an age-gap trope done really well and convincingly without any cringe factor, just wholesome. At its core, the story is super classic. There is also not a lot to be found in terms of secondary characters and layering of storylines. It is super simple and direct, and sometimes, that is just what you need. A wholesome romance, not too long and sweet to the eyes.
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Cute Cute Cute
This was such a beautiful and cute story! The first few episodes felt a bit weird, mainly because of her age and appearance—I mean, she didn’t exactly look 16... But for me, the *real* story starts around episode 7. Everything before that felt more like a prologue. I absolutely loved her reaction, it was both funny and heartbreaking. ( She literally made up an online boyfriend just so she could go see him, except... there was no online boyfriend. She just wanted to see Jiaxu and confirm that he had a girlfriend. )This is exactly the kind of thing a typical teenager would do, and that’s why I enjoyed this show so much. But let’s talk about Jiaxu, because they did him so wrong. He’s not even that old, yet in the last 10 episodes, they almost made him seem like an *old uncle*. Maybe it hit me harder because I’m close to his age, but come on, he has an amazing career for someone who *just* graduated... a little too unrealistic, but I get it, the target audience probably wasn’t people over 20.
That being said, I *loved* the cast. The male lead is ridiculously cute, and as for Zhao Lusi... well, no need to say more—everyone already knows she’s the best
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Not So Hidden Anymore: A Love That Finds Its Way
The central plot of Hidden Love revolves around Sang Zhi, a young woman who has secretly admired Duan Jia Xu, her older brother’s friend, for many years. As Sang Zhi matures, her feelings for Duan Jia Xu grow deeper, and she finds herself unable to hide her affections any longer. On the other hand, Duan Jia Xu is initially unaware of her romantic feelings. However, as they spend more time together, their bond begins to shift from friendship to something more intimate.Despite the connection between them, their love must remain hidden due to the social and familial pressures around them. Their relationship cannot be openly acknowledged, and both characters struggle with the consequences of keeping their feelings secret. The tension in the show comes from their ongoing battle to navigate these constraints while dealing with the emotional weight of their hidden love.
While the premise offers a lot of potential for emotional depth and intrigue, the pacing of the story falters at times. Some episodes feel drawn out, particularly when the characters spend significant time apart or misunderstand each other. These pacing issues sometimes hinder the story's emotional impact, as the buildup to key moments can feel slow or repetitive.
Sang Zhi (played by Zhao Lusi) is the female lead, and she is depicted as sweet, shy, and deeply emotional. Zhao Lusi does a wonderful job of portraying Sang Zhi's internal conflict as she tries to balance her growing feelings for Duan Jia Xu with her fear of rejection and the pressure of societal norms. Her character is easy to empathize with, as she struggles to make her love known while grappling with the knowledge that it cannot be fully reciprocated in public. Although Sang Zhi does experience some growth, her character arc is sometimes held back by the story's reliance on common romantic tropes.
Duan Jia Xu (played by Chen Zheyuan) is the male lead, a charming yet somewhat reserved character who finds himself slowly falling for Sang Zhi, even though he initially seems unaware of her feelings. Chen Zheyuan plays Duan Jia Xu with a mix of aloofness and sincerity, but his character development sometimes feels secondary to that of Sang Zhi. Duan Jia Xu’s emotional growth is less pronounced, and his reactions to certain plot developments can seem more passive compared to Sang Zhi’s active role in the story. His emotional journey feels slightly underdeveloped, which makes it harder for viewers to deeply connect with him.
While both leads have chemistry, their romance can feel one-dimensional at times. The lack of substantial growth in Duan Jia Xu’s character arc limits the emotional payoff of their relationship. Their love story, though heartfelt, is often bogged down by misunderstandings and a reliance on overly familiar romantic tropes, which makes it feel less fresh.
Supporting characters in Hidden Love also play important roles in moving the plot forward, especially Sang Zhi’s family and friends, but these secondary characters are given limited screen time and character development. They serve mostly to support the leads, without adding much depth to the story itself.
The cinematography in Hidden Love is one of its strongest points. The show features beautiful, soft lighting and scenic locations that evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgia. The visuals enhance the tender tone of the series and help to underline the emotional undercurrents of the romance. The gentle color palette, combined with intimate close-ups, draws the audience into the personal world of Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu.
However, while the visuals are aesthetically pleasing, they sometimes feel more like a distraction from the deeper emotional struggles the characters face. The beauty of the show occasionally overshadows the emotional complexity that could make the romance more impactful. As a result, the emphasis on style can feel superficial, especially when the characters’ inner journeys are not fully explored.
At its heart, Hidden Love is a story about love that must be concealed due to external pressures. It explores the emotional cost of keeping a relationship hidden, the sacrifice of not being able to express love openly, and the toll that secrecy takes on the characters involved. Both Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu must learn how to navigate their feelings within the constraints of their environment, which adds an emotional layer to the story.
Despite the potential for a deeper exploration of these themes, the show does not fully capitalize on the complexity of secrecy and the consequences it has on the characters’ emotional growth. The tension around their hidden relationship is not always explored in ways that make it truly transformative. Although the themes of love, loyalty, and longing are central to the narrative, they are not delved into with the depth that would make the characters’ journey feel more poignant.
Hidden Love is an enjoyable watch for fans of light romantic dramas, offering a tender portrayal of forbidden love. The performances of Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan are solid, and the chemistry between the two leads is evident. However, the series falls into some common tropes and pacing issues, which prevent it from reaching its full potential. While the romance is sweet, it often lacks the emotional depth needed to make the relationship feel truly transformative.
For those who enjoy sweet, visually pleasing romantic dramas, Hidden Love will be a satisfying experience. However, viewers seeking more complex, emotionally resonant storytelling may find the series lacking in substance.
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Overrated May - December Romance
I know the main actors are great in acting but they really annoyed me because rather did not convince me that true lovers vibe. Disappointing how SZ's baby talk, the supposedly 20-year-old role portrayal was not smart, and the plot lines were lacking. Their conversations were a bit immature like listening to teenagers sounding superficial. What I like about SZ is that she was ready to defend him at all costs when he was being bullied by the villainess. What I didn't like about DJX was that he allowed himself to be harassed by the villainess in the early episodes. He could have had a restraining order issued against her. There are no such laws about sins (debts) of a father must be paid by son, in my opinion. I was disappointed that her brother did not have enough character development on the screen. I was really curious about his girlfriend. Real age of DJX is confusing. Their kissing scenes were not swoon worthy at all. Not a good match? chemistry, perhaps casting was a mistake? Not a horrible dram a by any means. Have seen Zhao Lu Si in other romantic dramas but this one didn't give me the vibe. The sibling sister-brother relationship was spot on, glad I admire the brother's acting, Victor Ma did a good job on this. I give the writers credit for that! Dislike flashbacks, story is too slow. I can only give 6.5 rating.Was this review helpful to you?
'Hidden Love' will give you Goosebumps- Get ready to get addicted
Let me tell you this is my first time watching any Chinese Drama, and I am glad that I started with this series of Hidden Love. Hats off to the writer, director and the screenplay, it has been so beautifully arranged that you wont feel as if you are watching any drama. You will gradually become the part of the story. Each scene, each act will take you to the next level of excitement, and if you are a bit older ( in your late 20's or in your 30's) u will feel like going back to the same era when we used to be very young.The story is not new, but the execution is very beautiful. I mean its normal for a 13-14 yrs girl to have infatuation over the boys older than us and especially to have crush on our brother's friend is very common. But the way the story was weaved and shown. the gradual improvement and growing up of the little girl into a young beautiful women is phenominal.
The screenplay will bind you, and of course the actors have done a great job, because even for a moment i never felt i was watching a series, I almost imagined myself reacting the same, had I been in that position.
May be i am too mesmerized with the drama because its my first time watching C-Drama. Do watch it, not for the story but for the chemistry. both actors looked 'Made for each other' kind of couple.
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I REALLY RECOMMEND ?? (Hidden love ?)
HIDDEN LOVEahahaha 🥰😅 I finally watch this modern drama
I am just going to say that this drama is 9,8 . The story is kinda funny to me 😅 sang Zhi is a young girl that fell in love for her brother best friend (Djx) when she was 14 and this dude is 7 year old than her and even older than her brother🥰 but he is so cute and fine so I would even fall in love if I were here😅 so the story(plot ) begins for that moment she first saw him. But the siblings fight in this drama is everything 😅 and very funny the most relatable siblings duo ever and I also like the way they love and support each other and the faces sang Zhi makes too cute but I hope that the brother (sang yan)of the 14 years old girl(sang zhi)
Get a girlfriend in the end lol 😅 love love the cast Zhao Lusi my fav actress , Chen zheyuan, Victor ma and other casts.
Sending love from Austria(Europe)
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Chemistry is ON FIRE ON SCREEN AND OFF SCREEN
The romance is my favorite because it's very well executed that viewers could feel there's true feelings between ZLS and CZY. Hoping for more future collaborations as main leads for them! Also, I can't stop thinking about their compatibility astrologically and realistically.This drama is still airing but I can't deny that it's more than excellent.
Furthermore, according to the astrological love compatibility report I did, both of them have a harmonious relationship but because of their distance in work (especially the location of their dramas filming), they're a bit distant and not yet thinking about getting into a tight romantic relationship. No hates tho, there's still destiny in the future and hardwork to be executed for them to work more than good friends.
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my comfort drama
My favorite drama. Since I was a child I liked romance but I never found a romance that fit my perfect and well-constructed romance from start to finish, but when I watched hidden love I had the feeling of finally having discovered the romance I always wanted to see, it became my comfort, now I lost count of how many times I watched it and my heart always warms when I watch it, everything in hidden love was what I always wanted in romances, Duan Jiaxu and Sang Zhi became my favorite couple. (just talking about it made me want to see it again)Was this review helpful to you?
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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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