interesting plot, sweet chemistry, but inconsistent
I understand the hype around this drama just from watching the first few episodes. It definitely has a unique essence in its plot of including age gap in the story. I initially found the series cute, although, for me, it didn't maintain its consistency. Some parts felt a bit boring and slow. There were also scenes that were overly sweet, to the point where they felt forced. That said, I have to commend the production for casting Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan as Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu because their chemistry is excellent. Overall, Hidden Love is a great drama.Was this review helpful to you?
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A sweet, nostalgic slow-burn that makes your heart flutter ?
If you're looking for a wholesome, heartwarming romance that beautifully captures the innocence of first love and the gentle evolution into adulthood, then Hidden Love is for you. What starts as a schoolgirl’s secret admiration slowly grows into a mature, mutual love as they reconnect years later.✅ Sang Zhi & Duan Jiaxu’s Chemistry: Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan absolutely nailed their roles. Their chemistry is natural, soft, and utterly swoon-worthy. Whether it’s stolen glances, playful teasing, or emotional confessions—every scene between them feels authentic and intimate.
✅ Slow-Burn Romance Done Right: The pacing might be slow for some, but I loved how the drama took its time to show Sang Zhi growing up (honestly, appreciated this the most in the entire show), from an impulsive teen to a young woman who knows what she wants. Watching Duan Jiaxu slowly open his heart to her felt incredibly rewarding.
✅ Cinematography & OST: Visually, the drama is warm and cozy, using soft lighting and pastel tones that perfectly reflect its coming-of-age theme. The soundtrack (with the exception of one song lyric ~ you know one that goes "I can taste you while i am breathing...eck!"), including Zhao Lusi’s own track, adds to the emotional weight of key scenes and enhances the overall vibe.
I would've loved more development for the supporting cast, especially Sang Yan (the brother) whose relationship with Sang Zhi had so much potential for meaningful sibling bonding but i was still very pleased with what they gave us in the end.
Overall Thoughts 🌸
Hidden Love isn’t a rollercoaster of plot twists or heavy melodrama—it's a warm blanket of nostalgia and quiet emotion. It celebrates the small moments of love: waiting at the school gate, a late-night text, a hand held a little too long. It’s those gentle beats that make this drama unforgettable.
If you’re a fan of slice-of-life romance, with amazing lead chemistry and a satisfying emotional payoff, Hidden Love is one to put at the top of your watchlist.
🌸🌸Rewatch Value: High - I HAVE SEEN IT COUNTLESS TIMES...NO JOKE!🌸🌸
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This show is an 11/10
The best show and by far the best Chinese drama I have ever seen. I love the story, the cast, the music the side characters. EVERYTHING. I’ve re-watched it three times in the space of 18 months.Key moments for me:
1. Looking after him while he was getting his appendix removed because he had no family was very moving, tender and touching.
2. Defending him in the restaurant when the stalker girl confronted him was exquisite.
3. In a flashback scene with him bowing to her parents for looking after him after his mother‘s death had me in floods of tears.
4. The scene at the airport when she thought her parents had scared him away and she chased back after him was absolutely everything. The sincerity of her confession, the way the realisation of her hidden love came across his face was giving so much and more.
I even like the villains, especially the stalker girl whose dad was killed by his dad was just the right side of demented.
The brother was a top boy and both sets of friends had depth and character.
I must watch for anyone who likes sweet love with not too much angst.
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# A Thoughtful Defense: Understanding Controversy and Excellence
Every hit drama inevitably attracts its share of critics and detractors—many of whom either haven't actually watched it or are simply determined to dislike it regardless of its merits. However, with an MDL rating of 9.0/10 and an IMDb score of 8.6/10, it's clear that the vast majority of viewers embraced this story. Beyond its commercial success, it stands as one of the most beloved dramas in recent memory.
This particular drama faces an additional hurdle that makes prejudice easier to develop, and I genuinely understand why. The portrayal of younger Sangzhi creates an immediate barrier for some viewers. While their earlier meetings were crucial to the narrative structure, I completely understand the discomfort. For those who find this aspect troubling, I'd suggest simply avoiding the drama—it's perfectly valid if it's not your cup of tea. However, I hope viewers won't form harsh judgments or join hate campaigns without understanding the full context.
## The Root of the Controversy
The main issue stems from viewers' reaction to younger Sangzhi's appearance, which made many people uncomfortable. Her petite stature created widespread misconceptions about the entire storyline. However, this was simply a realistic portrayal of adolescent development—Sangzhi was a late bloomer. People can transform dramatically within just 2-3 years during puberty. Anyone who has observed students in the same classroom, particularly in Asian countries, knows that some experience rapid growth spurts while others remain shorter for extended periods. Sangzhi's transformation was completely natural—definitely not common, but entirely believable. Despite her petite stature, she was mentally mature for her age.
Many viewers wished the story had begun when she was 17, but here's the crucial detail—**it actually did**. The drama explicitly states multiple times that Sangzhi developed romantic feelings for Jiaxu when she was 17. Before that point, it was mere admiration, nothing more. Their earlier encounters were essential to the narrative structure, providing vital context for the hesitation, struggles, and internal conflicts that defined their relationship.
## Understanding the Real Conflict
Just like many viewers, the characters in the drama itself struggled with this issue. The problem was never truly about their age gap, but rather the fact that he had known her since she was 14. Although they only encountered each other twice during that period and then reconnected after a 3-year gap with absolutely nothing romantic occurring between them, this history became the foundation of the entire drama's emotional tension. It created Jiaxu's profound internal turmoil—from his friends' disbelief and criticism to Sang Yan's physical retaliation, and most importantly, his own conflicted feelings about the situation.
**They didn't begin dating until she was 19.** Their age gap fell within a completely normal range—relationships with partners 0-5 years older are incredibly common throughout Asia. In fact, in many Asian cultures, women prefer partners who are a few years their senior rather than the same age.
When they started dating the drama handled this beautifully by treating them simply as two young people in love, rather than emphasizing an "age-gap relationship." While there were occasional lighthearted jokes about him being older, it was never portrayed as a genuine obstacle to their happiness.
##Character Dynamics: A Relationship of Equals( In the Drama but not in the novel)
Drama:
When their romantic relationship began, Sangzhi was portrayed as mature and self-assured. Although it took time initially for them to adjust—understandably, since this was both of their first relationship and they were inexperienced—they quickly found their rhythm. From that point forward, the couple appeared as complete equals with no power imbalance and no noticeable age difference in their day-to-day interactions. Their communication and body language were perfectly synchronized, creating a believable partnership.Sangzhi was active while Jiaxu remained gentle yet playfully flirtatious throughout their relationship. From initiating kisses to pursuing intimacy, most romantic advances came from her, making their dynamic feel refreshingly mutual and healthy.
They displayed far more confidence than their novel counterparts. Not only did they share kisses openly in front of her brother , but they were even caught by her mother while kissing and showed no embarrassment about public displays of affection. This boldness was especially evident in the final scene where they're in her room at her parents' house—when they started kissing, the door was wide open (again, she initiated it). While my first thought was, "Girl, have some privacy! Close the door! I know you two are engaged, but have some modesty," this choice actually delivered a powerful symbolic message. Since their relationship had been built on hidden feelings and secrecy, by keeping the door wide open, they conveyed that there were no more secrets—everything was now open, honest, and passionate.
Novel:
In contrast, the novel's Sangzhi felt uncomfortable merely holding Jiaxu's hand in her brother's presence and remained much more reserved about PDA, always being extra cautious about public intimacy. In the novel, when it came to romance, Jiaxu was always the initiator, and after a bit of hesitation, she would play along.
Their age difference was even greater in the novel compared to the drama.The novel's Jiaxu exhibited controlling, less caring, and less understanding behavior with slightly aggressive tendencies (not abusive, but notably more dominant), often leaving Sangzhi feeling overwhelmed. She frequently voiced complaints about his behavior. The novel's Sangzhi was also less affectionate, less understanding, and somewhat more arrogant as well. While their drama versions seemed to have fallen head over heels for each other, their novel counterparts weren't nearly as lovey-dovey or passionate.The larger age difference in the novel created genuine social barriers—Sangzhi struggled to connect with Jiaxu's friend group and often felt the generational gap acutely, finding little common ground with his social circle. She often thought that this seven-year gap between them felt like something she could never quite bridge.
## How the Drama Elevated the Source Material
While the fundamental story remained similar, the characters underwent significant development across all roles—from Sangzhi and Jiaxu to Sangyan and even Sangzhi's friend circle. The drama version of Sang Yan was almost a completely different character from the original, being far more understanding and supportive.The drama's supporting characters were considerably more nuanced and endearing than their novel versions.
Most crucially, many of the romantic moments and iconic scenes from the drama were completely original and not canon to the source material. Even when their conversations were similar, the setting, emotional delivery, body language, and intimacy were completely different. The novel rarely delivered those heart-fluttering scenes that made the drama so emotionally compelling and memorable.
It's worth noting a fact that in both the drama and novel, despite Duan Jiaxu being older, his voice and physical appearance remained remarkably youthful(similar to teenager) and charismatic. He was often described as possessing god-tier handsomeness with such a youthful look that when he visited Sangzhi's university and interacted with her classmates, none of her friends could tell he was significantly older than them.
## Final Verdict
**Drama version: A devoted young couple in perfect harmony**
**Novel version: A more conventional age-gap relationship with inherent social challenges**
I couldn't connect with the novel because everything that captivated me about the drama was absent in the original material. What makes it even more problematic is that in the novel, Sangzhi falls for Jiaxu at 13 and appeared very small and childlike. In the drama, what happened at 17 occurred at 13-15 in the novel, meaning Jiaxu's memories were primarily of that young, petite Sangzhi—essentially watching her grow up from childhood. Even with young Sangzhi, they took a graduation photo together, which later became an uncomfortable reminder when they started dating, creating awkward situations for both of them.In contrast, the drama featured a physically mature 17-year-old Sangzhi. Rather than being a source of discomfort, their photo became a treasured keepsake—something precious they could proudly show others without any awkwardness or shame.This fundamental change demonstrates why I have such appreciation for the creative team. Special recognition goes to the scriptwriter, director, and entire cast who elevated this story into something truly extraordinary and successful. Their thoughtful adaptations and original contributions transformed a decent novel into an exceptional drama that resonates with audiences worldwide.
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What I liked about the story was that you really see each character go through different phases of their life, and the trials and joys of each period, be it losing friendships, finding a new job, graduating - from high school or university. Like changing seasons, we see our main characters getting their hearts broken, overcoming grief, and finding comfort and happiness.
Both the narrative and the cinematography (close-ups, focus on actors' minor expressions) reveal a story that is deeply personal. We mostly get Sang Zhi's perspective, and we spend a lot of time with her - she narrates her thoughts, we see her journals and sketches. It's cute, if you like that kind of storytelling, but there were moments when I wish they had used the screen time more wisely.
I will not say that this story is not meaningful or does not have depth, because it does. I will say that the world we see is very contained, and sometimes seeing the same faces gets old. This is exasperated by the fact that it's a low-conflict drama, which can be good or bad, depending on your preference. I thought the romance was sweet to the point of boredom. At times, I wished there was more conflict just so the pairing would feel like a more rewarding watch. However, if you want a sweet, comforting drama, this is a good pick.
The highlight of this show has to be the family bonds. I loved watching Sang Zhi interact with her brother. Their relationship was very relatable, from the bickering and petty fights, to the protectiveness. I loved how they could have little spats, but were a united front when it came to their parents. I also found the culture relatable - my parents would also ask me to focus on my education before my love life.
The romance itself was wholesome, if a little dry. Chen Zhe Yuan plays a charming Duan Jiaxu. Sang Zhi is meant to be cute and shy, and while that worked well when she played a teenager, it got a little drab as the story progressed. It was nice to watch them as a couple, but there isn't a lot to keep you excited once they get together. Or, at least, that's how it felt in my book.
It was an enjoyable watch but I'm clearly not the target audience of this show. At any rate, if it sounds like your cup of tea, you should give it a go. It's not my favorite, but it wasn't a bad watch by any means. I smiled a lot :)
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Hidden Love: A Drama of Contradictions
The Chinese drama Hidden Love attempts to weave a narrative of romance and self-discovery but often gets tangled in its own contradictions. At its core, it tells the story of Sang Zhi and her evolving relationship with Duan Jia Xu, her brother’s friend. While the show has its moments of brilliance, it is overshadowed by its uneven character dynamics and questionable romantic framing.One of the highlights of Hidden Love lies in its portrayal of Sang Zhi when she’s allowed to exist outside of her romantic entanglement. Scenes featuring her at work or interacting with her university friends showcase a capable and well-rounded young woman. These moments provide a glimpse into her potential as a character—confident, relatable, and grounded. Zhao Lu Si’s acting amplifies these moments with remarkable versatility. She has a unique ability to seamlessly navigate between emotions, shifting from joy to despair within a single scene. Her performance in emotional moments, particularly those involving her heartbreak, stands out as some of the drama’s most impactful.
Victor Ma’s portrayal of Sang Zhi’s brother, Sang Yan, is another strong point. The sibling relationship feels authentic, capturing the blend of rivalry and deep care that defines many sibling bonds. Sang Yan’s role as both a protector and someone Sang Zhi can be vulnerable with adds depth to their dynamic. The airport scene, where Sang Zhi breaks down in his arms after a painful heartbreak, is a testament to the emotional strength of their bond and remains one of the drama’s most memorable moments. It’s rare to see a sibling relationship portrayed with such nuance, and Victor Ma’s performance anchors these moments with sincerity. The drama’s soundtrack also deserves praise, with its catchy and well-placed OSTs enhancing many key scenes.
However, the strengths of Hidden Love are often undermined by its central romantic storyline. Chen Zheyuan’s portrayal of Duan Jia Xu as the male lead is underwhelming, lacking the charisma or depth needed to carry his character. Jia Xu himself is difficult to relate to—overly controlling, possessive, and prone to jealousy. These traits make him less of a romantic ideal and more of a cautionary figure. His dynamic with Sang Zhi is particularly troubling, as he continues to treat her like a younger sister even after they begin dating. This lingering brother-sister dynamic casts an uncomfortable shadow over their romance, making it hard to invest in their relationship.
The five-year age gap between the leads is not inherently problematic, but Jia Xu’s behavior exacerbates the discomfort. Having known Sang Zhi since her childhood, his inability to shift his perception of her from a child to a partner feels unsettling. It’s as if the drama is trying to force a romance without addressing the fundamental mismatch in their dynamic. This issue is compounded by Sang Zhi’s characterization around Jia Xu. While she’s shown to be articulate and mature in other settings, her behavior around Jia Xu regresses into exaggerated cutesiness and awkward stuttering. It’s a disservice to Zhao Lu Si’s talent, reducing her character to a caricature when she’s capable of so much more.
The romantic scenes between the leads suffer as a result. Instead of chemistry, there’s a persistent sense of dissonance, as if the characters are trapped in roles they can’t escape. Sang Zhi’s infantilized behavior and Jia Xu’s condescending attitude make it hard to root for them as a couple. The narrative’s failure to transition their dynamic from a brother-sister relationship to an equitable partnership leaves the romance feeling forced and unconvincing.
Ultimately, Hidden Love struggles to find its footing. Its strengths in sibling dynamics, emotional performances, and music are overshadowed by a central romance that fails to resonate. For viewers who can overlook the uncomfortable framing of the leads’ relationship, there’s a baseline romance story here. However, for those who can’t get past the persistent brother-sister dynamic and lack of authentic chemistry in the main couple, the drama’s flaws become impossible to ignore.
Hidden Love leaves much to be desired, despite its occasional moments of brilliance. The inability to convincingly shift the leads’ dynamic and the wasted potential of its talented cast weigh heavily on the drama.
A 5.5/10 feels apt for a show that sparks moments of promise but ultimately fails to deliver on its central premise.
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Feeling conflicted
It was very much a wholesome slice of life/coming of age show driven by characters and not plot. It was a bit slow and dragging at times. The way they handled the age gap thing made me uncomfortable for 90% of it. I thought her being in high school went on for way too long and they got too close for my liking. I would have been much more comfortable with their relationship had he simply been her tutor, not paying much attention to her outside of that and her having a very simple one sided crush on him instead of this brother sister relationship they developed. And also if the timeskip was longer than just 2 years and they had pretty much forgotten about each other until they meet again by coincidence and then fall in love. There‘s just not enough of a difference in maturity between 16 and 18. Everything was the same as it was before and adding to that, she was not a very mature 16-18 year old either.I also don’t like how quickly DJ accepted not only that he is in love with her but also made the choice to pursue her. I was hoping he‘d be more conflicted and ponder it for longer. I was totally with the brother and thought his initial reaction was very much warranted, but was then disappointed to see him pretty much accept it right away after punching DJ a few times.
It‘s unfortunate bc I liked both actors and characters individually, their chemistry was actually very good too and they had some really sweet moments towards the end. But I was on the fence about them throughout the whole drama.
Overall, it was enjoyable but too many major issues to rate it too highly.
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Boring and Overhyped
I came into this drama with pretty high expectations , seeing the way people were glazing it like it was a masterpiece, it seemed like the perfect occasion to break out of my full avoidance of romantic tropes ,since i've been loving very different genres of dramas.The first few episodes seemed interesting and it made me want to continue the drama until the story became extremely flat.
It felt like i was watching the same episode on repeat and in full honesty, nothing interesting happened , like ever. The chemistry between the two main leads also died down as the ''story'' (if i can call it that ) went on. The Age Gap isn't big but the way it is presented at the start made it uncomfortable to look at, feels like the only reason people like this drama is because of the popular actors in it. The discussion on the age gap isn't about the age gap itself , 5 years aren't many, but the way it is positioned in the story, they meet when she's 14 and he is 19, basically two worlds apart, and yes he doesn't really like her until she's 19 but he still spent a lot of time with her when she was a kid, and he basically switches up from ''she's my little sister'' to ''she's the girl i like'' like it was nothing, which again, odd, even though the authors like to underline how it isn't weird at all. There were some cute moments between the two but nothing extraordinary.
I physically could not bring myself to care about any of the characters.
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Diabetes
I hate basically everything about this drama. It's so stupid, I'm at a loss for words. What's cool about a child falling in love? Apart from that, it's completely unrealistic and kind of the virginal dream of girls of boy band age. Help! Why does this drama have such good reviews?!?There are a lot of wonderful Disney Tales, if you wanna die because of Diabetes.
..........................
I hate basically everything about this drama. It's so stupid, I'm at a loss for words. What's cool about a child falling in love? Apart from that, it's completely unrealistic and kind of the virginal dream of girls of boy band age. Help! Why does this drama have such good reviews?!?
There are a lot of wonderful Disney Tales, if you wanna die because of Diabetes.
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Not for people who dislike age gaps and straightforward romance
Everything has already been written. I think it's purely a question of personal taste. Here are the two things that didn't work for me :- Age - gap : I was very worried about that aspect. To be fair, it was handled rather professionally and there was no reciprocity until the FL was an adult. But it still is a bit on the edge for me. 19-24 is not huge in theory and a 5 years gap is pretty common later on in life. But people change A LOT during those specific years. I am 24 and would personally never consider looking at a 19 yo coming out of highschool as anything else but a young adult who has a lot to learn, no matter how "mature" they present. It would just feel wrong to me.
The ML has treated the FL like a little sister for 10 years and even though they weren't always together, they still were close enough to have each other's phone number and occasionally text. The shift in the relationship almost as soon as she becomes an adult is a bit abrupt for me.
- the ML approach : once the ML quite suddenly decides that he's gonna go for a 19 yo, he gets very blunt with his approach. And it makes sense, he's honest and clear about his intentions and it's probably the best way to straighflowardly break the existing walls between them. I personally don't like this style at all, it's a matter of personal preference but he came off as too pushy and rushed for me.
Other than those two major contention points in the story, it's a very well made, peaceful love
story. So if you don't mind the age gap and the straightforwardness, it's worth a watch.
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Terrible Script, 19 & 24 is a Terrible Age Gap for Romance!
Sit back because it's a lot; coming from a fan who looked forward to Hidden Love since the start of this yr.People accuse Hidden Love of the Big P word, here I'll be accusing it of terrible, ignorant writing, and plain illogical plot progression. It's terribly written and lacks self-awareness. A 5 year age gap is nothing between consenting adults—the problem is that Hidden Love develops this relationship when SZ, (a rich, immature, sheltered brat) is 19 years old (MAYBE SHE'S 20—same thing) and the ML is 24, but acts older.
I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone, because how can I be the only person to find it strange how there's really only 1 episode of DJX having conflicting emotions over his change in love for his meimei...and then the next ep is him confirming it, then the next ep we move immediately to him flirting and beginning to pursue her. Pursue a 19 year old....
❌ Here's what they should have done differently:
1. ❌ DJX accepts his feelings too quickly—alarmingly quick. Yikes.
~2/3 episodes. First, him thinking about her more, then acknowledging his feelings, then WHAM! he's pursuing her now???
I would have hoped for there to be longer hesitation and for there to be a point where he pulls away—It's weird because he has known her since she was 14 and he was 19. It doesn't help that the actress casted for 14 year old SZ literally looks like an 8 year child, not a pre-teen. (actress is 12, which doesn't help either).
Shouldn't he find that so conflicting and feel some amount of disgust or have a knee jerk reaction to reject these feelings? Shouldn't he at least sit down with a trusted friend and share his conflicted feelings? Withdraw from SZ? Analyze his memories with SZ and wonder where he went wrong, maybe where these feelings started changing? Analyze if what he feels is really romantic love, or just appreication for a close friend/family member that have been amplified because he's lonely?
2. 🌻Sang Zhi has not grown. She is NOT a grown up.
I thought the time skip would take us to a Sang Zhi that was more mature and wordly in her mid 20s. Maybe take us to a Sang Zhi in her final year of school (age 22), the same age DJX would have been when she was in high school. No. Instead, SZ is 19, and only 2 years have passed since she entered her senior year of high school. It's a black box of 2 years until we see SZ again, and although she tries to pull away she has very weak resolve towards distancing herself from him. Why? BECAUSE SHE'S ONLY 19!
She keeps constantly repeating that she's grown up now, but none of her 'grown up' life is shown, such as actually focusing on her career, working a part time job, interacting with her professors, taking up positions of responsibility at school. She majors in Digital Media? I have not heard this word since it was first mentioned in the time skip episode. SZ is a sheltered, pampered kid who functionally has not changed since she was 17. Her character simply revolves around her meetings with DJX.
3. 😬There should have been a longer gap in between when they got together.
(why does it have to be her freshman yr of uni? Why not the same year when she was graduating uni, as it would have been for DJX when SZ was in highschool) I've said this many times but 19, even 20 is still TOO YOUNG. She has not dated anyone else. She's still a sheltered rich kid. What does she know?
4. ☀️ DJX should have had more wealth of characters around him.
A healthy adult, not suffering from trauma and not having many close friends who they open up to, would not form such an emotional reliance on their 19 year old meimei. Compared to SZ, DJX is much less developed, except for his backstory with his father. Does he have no friends in Yihe? He doesn't really get deep and personal with anyone besides SZ, not even Sang Yan, his jie at work, or his friend who's getting married. Let's not forget the psychotic Jiang Xing or whatever her name is, to act as a foil and make SZ look better. He should consult someone about his changing feelings the same way SZ spoke to her roommates.
5. 🙄 DJX is that DENSE!? How could he not realize SZ's feelings?
You're telling me this highly intelligent, (both EQ and IQ) guy, at age 19, 22, and then 24, did not realize or have an inkling that SZ might like him? The story deliberately never lets him find out when she is in HS or as a child, because then the right thing to do would be for him to flat out draw a boundary, reject her, and distance himself.
Instead, DJX is always 'teasing' in an I'd like to believe innocent way, but isn't taken that way because the audience knows SZ likes him, and that he 'doesn't know'. Such terrible writing, in the year 2023? Do you want to show a proper depiction of a healthy relationship, or do you want to just romanticize these....weird grooming-esque interactions, because the person in power (DJX) NEVER gets the opprtunity to draw a boundary and tell SZ to stop being delusional and obsessive.
5. 🧐❓DJX is only 24. He doesn't FEEL 24.
I get that originally he would have been 27, which would have made more sense with what he does day-to-day, but I find it hard to believe that every 24 year old is this mature and flirty and with a job and a car and a chief engineer at a top gaming company. I can suspend my disbelief that he's really smart, and was forced to grow up early. But some script changes should have been made for us to believe that DJX really is younger in the drama version VS. novel, because what it then really starts to look like is that they just changed his age to be younger so netizens would get off their back about their 7yr age gap.
Honestly? I had high hopes going in! I've been waiting for this drama all year. I loved Chen Zhe Yuan in Secrets in the Lattice, and also can always count on Zhao Lu Si do deliver a great performance.
But the progression from their relationship from brother-sister, to lovers, is concerning.
There were some netizens condemning this show and comparing it to pedophillia, and I can see why. I don't think this show **is** that, but they've done a piss poor job at having 0% evidence of that. When you're making a story with this kind of premise, you need to handle it very carefully and make very deliberate decisions, and Hidden Love didn't do it carefullly enough, and made POOR deliberate decisions.
The novel material may very well have had grooming and pedophilia, I haven't read it and don't plan to. But why wasn't this fixed for an adaptation, with such a good cast? Better yet, fixed for an adaptation that will be aired internationally, that many young children will see? I'll reiterate, a 5 year age gap is nothing. It's PROBLEMATIC and hORRIBLE, however, when it's between a 19 year old, immature and childish girl, and a traumatized, emotionally vulnerable 24 year old man. I'm SZ's age group. I would never date a 24, much less 27 year old. And SZ is 19, and acts 12. Aiyaaa.
ANYWAYS, TL;DR, could have been a great story, with especially great actors after this drought from Cdrama land the past few months, but even my desperation will not allow me to keep watching this (at least not right now). A story with potential, with GREAT ACTORS and OST and PRODUCTION, that had a very poorly thought out,ignorant, misleading, and harmful script.
Could have all been solved by keeping things innocent until SZ is older and mature.
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I'm pretty surprised and a little bit disappointed
I'm honestly pretty surprised at how well this drama was received. C-dramas have finally gotten so much recognition and popularity from this drama alone, for which I am grateful. I enjoy both K-dramas and C-dramas and I was always a bit upset that C-dramas came nowhere close to the love and popularity that K-dramas get. So of course, I had to watch this drama myself to see what the whole hype was about. But unfortunately for me, I was disappointed and I really don't see what the hype is about. I feel like so many other C-dramas have a better story line that should've been the spearhead of this spike in C-drama popularity, but alas, this is what we get. The whole sister-brother thing made me uncomfortable at the beginning, and I feel like they chose a child actor that looked WAY TOO YOUNG for the age that she was supposed to be playing at. So because of that, it made it uncomfortable when our ML finally fell for our FL. Even after trying to ignore this point, I don't think their relationship was anything to die for. I didn't find myself smiling ear-to-ear, squealing my little tush off from their relationship. Everything just felt like it was lacking . Anyways I'm pretty tired so I'm just going to end this review but maybe I'll come back to fix it up. Bye for now!Was this review helpful to you?
