Hidden Love (2023)

THE BEAUTY OF A CRUSH

I've seen many series potraying crushes but not many have managed to capture a crush as sacred, heart warming and beautiful like HIDDEN LOVE did..
There many things I loved about this drama and I'll break then down into five in my heartfelt review of the drama

Firstly,The plot..one the first look it might seem like something you have seen before but infact it's more than anything you've seen,The story was heartwarming and beautiful and consistent, it centred around the leads and didn't add anything unnessesary,it was light hearted simple and yet realistic.

The Characters,Sang Zhi( Female lead) was everything to me, I admired how she potrayed different characters so effortlessly,I love how they gave her character the spotlight plus room to develop, I love how they enlighted us on her pov and made her character grow onto us in a way that you couldn't help root her every step of the way in the entire series, I love how she was calm, and delicate but brave too🤍
Duan jiaxu is with no doubt making it to the list of my favourite male leads this year, he was mature calm considerate and a green flag for that matter...
My other fav character in the series was Sang Yan..he was everything you would want in a brother he's Interactions with the female lead were precious.

The chemistry between the leads was amazing..their interactions felt so natural and they were really comfortable around each other..they made me giggle smile kick my feet, cry and I absolutely loved them.

The osts Lord iam a sucker for beautiful osts and this drama had all the amazing osts..which not only were beautiful but reflected the story so perfectly.

The cinematography was to die for..each shot was pretty.

I highly recommend this drama for anyone who wants something cute beautiful and thrilling at the same time...iam going to miss it quite alot.

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A BEAUTIFUL HEART WARMING STORY❤️

I never thought that a crush would be potrayed in a beautiful sacred yet thrilling way like this drama did... sincerely speaking it felt like I was passing my eyes through some one's diary...all the emotions and feelings were so real and natural..this drama had that ability to grow onto you even without you realising it...There many reasons why iam rating this drama with a solid 10 but I'll break them down into five.

The plot might seem like something you have seen before but trust me you haven't, it has a unique touch to it, from the story execution to the dialogue to the consistency to the way it's heartwarming and beautiful and emotional...yet light and simple.

Zhao lusi as Sang Zhi has to be the best decision they made, she fits the role so well and is acting is so effortlessly from the time she acted as a 17 year old to the current episodes where she's grown up, her character is really attaching and lovely and worth rooting for, I loved her character development and the way her character was made sensible cute delicate but at the same time brave...this has to be my best character of Zhao lusi so far ❤️
Chen Zhe yuan as Duan jiaxu is everything, he was written as mature yet caring and understanding to sum it all up he was that green flag and I admired how he acts with his eyes..all his emotions are potrayed from his eyes and that's what made his character unique🤍
Victor Ma as Sang Yan was another unforgettable character..he won me over with the way he's character was written..he's relationship with the female lead was so precious and I absolutely loved their bickering and dynamics as siblings..❤️

The chemistry between the leads was beyond doubt amazing .I loved their natural and unforced Interactions, I love the comfort I got from their relationship I love how their relationship was far from toxic but health and admirable 🤍

The osts were beautiful and reflected the story and the Cinematography was to die for.

Overall this was a nice ride..I roller coaster of many emotions and I must say I'll miss this drama so much.

I do recommend this...if you want something light and fluffy ❤️

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A real gem - watch it!

I find many Chinese dramas either too melodramatic with overcomplicated plots and very 2-dimensional characters or the acting just plain awful. I don’t even bother to finish many of them - but this one (Hidden Love) is a real gem. Everything is just spot on - the casting, the acting, OST, the plot - it is faultless. An absolute pleasure to watch from start to finish!Characters have depth; the story flows naturally and it’s very well acted. Plus romance rush in practically every scene. It had me in fits of laughter (e.g. sibling rivalry), throes of despair (especially the first airport scene) and every feeling in between. So, so refreshing to find a C-drama that ticks all the boxes and left me feeling my time wasn’t wasted (which is how I feel about majority of c-dramas). In fact, I finished watching it and immediately watched it all over again. It’s that good.

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A girl's manifestation came to life

July 30, 2023

Hidden Love is definitely one of the best released rom-com Chinese drama of the year. The story of Sang Zhi and Jia Xu is so fluffy and cute.

As a a rom-com Chinese drama, I was expecting petty and stupid arguments when the leads get together. But they are so mature to the point where all the little misunderstandings are resolved right away. They have such a healthy communication with each other. I am in awe with how much I am jealous of what they have.

Sang Zhi and Jia Xu's chemistry is just off the chart. It is amazing to think how much the actors can deliver into their character role. I understand the hype that Hidden Love received. They truly deserve it.

All the other side characters are just chef's kiss as well. They brought things to the plot and I didn't see anyone being a waste of time. I never skipped scenes either which is quite rare nowadays. As there are so many dramas putting up filler scenes and sub plots which sole purpose is for them to fill their timeslot and drag the show longer.

As someone who have watched Cdramas for a quite a long time now. I will put Hidden Love with the other "S"-tier fluffy rom-com Cdramas imo like "Put your head on my shoulders". "Perfect. & Casual", "Falling into your smile", and "When we were young".

If you are a sucker for rom-com who hates misunderstanding please give this show the love that it deserves!

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ISSO MERECE O OSCAR E TODOS OS PREMIOS DA CHINA

First of all:
Zhao Lu Si (Sang Zhi) and Chen Zhe Yuan (Duan Jia Xu) = SPECTACULAR you were perfect.

Victor Ma (Sang Yan) = CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE TOO FUNNY.

Screenwriter Shen Fei Xian thank you 7 years after you deliver this masterpiece and I wish you make 1000000 more of these. Rational! And you are very beautiful.
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What is this show?
What is this C-Drama?
Is this real Chinese? Is it really C-Drama?

How to watch another Drama after this one?

Everything was RATIONAL, what I always complained about.

DELIVER THE OSCAR TODAY.

9.2 IS A JOKE. The grade is 10 - 100 - 1000

This is perfect.

Even the Familia's objection is rational.

It's 2023 and this is what should happen.

The Airport episode was really nice.

NO NEED TO BE MEDIEVAL, ANGRY, IDIOT AND ABSURD TO BE GOOD. THIS DRAMA DESERVES ALL CHINA AWARDS.

He also teaches people about balance. You are you, the other is the other, even if it is your Father.

Thanks.

Watch today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Different from others “typical cdrama”

The story is different from any typical chinese drama. This is one of the best production for me. I love the plot and their acting is no joke, the chemistry makes me failed to moving on from them until now. They really did a great job for casting the actors! Loved the cinematography too. The characters all good, theres no freakin evil one. Idk i can say the story is quite healthy and good for healing. Well, for me, theres still has the cdramas vibes but this one is more makes sense ykwim. I just love this sm. Go watch it you will never regret it😭🤧💚 AND OMG THIS IS THE FIRST SERIES THAT HAS THE ALL PERFECT OSTS i wanna cry fr

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Very interesting

The best CDrama ever

No. 1 in MDL for top C-Dramas and overall (even beating out K-dramas)! Hidden Love is getting all the love it deserves! 💗

For those who are still wondering or hesitating to watch this drama, just give it a try! It has a good storyline (nothing very stressful), lots of heartwarming scenes, nice visuals (Zhao Lu Si's clothes here are pretty and looks good on her!), beautiful soundtrack (Forever Star is especially written for this drama), superb acting (even the micro-expressions of the leads are spot-on), perfect chemistry between the main leads and even the supporting cast (sibling chemistry between Zhao Lu Si and Victor Ma, which we often don't get from dramas), and I don't know what else to say to convince you, the rankings don't lie! I will definitely miss waiting for new episodes to come. Congratulations to the cast and crew of Hidden Love! ❤️

The chemistry between the leads was beyond doubt amazing .I loved their natural and unforced Interactions, I love the comfort I got from their relationship I love how their relationship was far from toxic but health and admirable 🤍

The osts were beautiful and reflected the story and the Cinematography was to die for.

Overall this was a nice ride..I roller coaster of many emotions and I must say I'll miss this drama so much.

I do recommend this...if you want something light and fluffy

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You never be over it

Warning - You will be in pain.. cause you can never rewatch it the first time..no matter how many times you watch it..it will never be enough.
The heart melting eye contact between the two leads, the nods and ‘hmm’ from Duan Jiaxu is something you will never get over. Everything that they do for each other - every single box of language of love is checked. Ugh
You will realize men like that don’t exist in real world..but can’t help but wanting one!

Ps. This is my first Chinese drama and I am so glad I entered into my cdrama era with this one. It’s like first love that will always remain special. 😊

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Highly overrated

I have to preface this by saying one thing - I like both Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan and I’ve watched several of their shows. This is the show I couldn’t like either of them in.

I didn’t intend to watch this show at all- the premise and trailer didn’t interest me, but I thought I would give it a shot anyway. Even though there was an uncomfortable age difference between the characters (not generally, but just because she’s a minor at the beginning), I thought the first 9 episodes were handled pretty well. There were some sweet moments and the episodic nature of the show made it look a bit like a story about growing up.

Till about ep 14, the show was still kind of sweet and funny. It’s after ep 15 that I found this absolutely juvenile and boring. I know most of the comments here will praise the “love story” and so on and how great these characters are, but I actually couldn’t root for the couple at all. From ep 15 to the end I was hoping it would get better but it never did. It was like the writer put some effort into assuaging fears of the story seeming creepy in the beginning when Sang Zhi was young, but once she was “older” all of those efforts went out the window.

My main issues:

When did Jiaxu fall in love? For someone who had been through a bunch of trauma and had a difficult family situation, he has no hesitation or thought about getting into a relationship with Sang Zhi. I didn’t like how CZY played Jiaxu as a cocky, overconfident guy (I’m guessing that’s what the script required him to do). It seemed like such a bizarre decision. We are told that he somehow blames himself for what his family got into (the accident and all that)- at least that’s what we hear Sang Zhi saying- but we never see it from Jiaxu. He has no trauma that we can grasp - his father gets shown only twice in the drama. Once when he’s about to pass away. This is where we learn that Jiaxu doesn’t drink because of the accident his dad caused. None of these traumatic events are even touched upon until the story demands them to be there. Without them it would make no difference. Instead this trauma should have been a big reason for Jiaxu to hesitate or to believe that he’s worthy of being loved.

The other issue- Zhao Lusi playing a 19 year old like she’s 13. Initially when ZLS was playing a 17 year old like a kid, I accepted it. I thought it was cute and endearing in a way. But when she’s a supposed adult, she continues talking in a baby voice. I don’t see the difference between this version and the younger one. It became rather annoying after a while.

I also don’t understand why they cast a 10 year old kid to play 14 year old SZ. With all the comments about grooming and all that going on, you think the makers of this drama would’ve been extra careful. Instead, this didn’t help the case.

The love story did absolutely nothing for me. We are somehow supposed to believe that these two have an amazing love shared between them. They never have deep conversations about things like a real couple would. Instead there are just lots of kissing scenes inserted randomly. Where are the long and deep conversations? Where is the friendship and banter in a relationship? For two supposedly smart people, they surely don’t have any smart, intelligent conversations.

I think all of these are easy fixes. Firstly, SZ and DJX could’ve met once again probably 8 years after she gives up her crush on him. At this time having both of them as working adults, having meaningful lives outside each other would have been interesting. From a slow friendship it could’ve eventually grown into love. This would’ve been much better as currently there’s no friendship stage on this show. They go from “you’re my brother/sister” to “I want to woo you” within one episode.

The supporting characters could’ve been interesting and could’ve had their own stories but their lives mostly revolve around the leads. I liked SZ’s brother the most but even he doesn’t get as much to do outside the leads.

This show is just so disappointing. It’s not a horrible show by any means- the beginning was rather nice- but it is so superficial and lacks any depth. I’m rather shocked at the immensely high ratings for a show that has nothing to say or contribute.

I’m really stumped that the rating on MDL is this high, beating out masterpieces such as Nirvana in Fire, the Untamed, etc. Actually even ZLS’s other dramas like Love Like the Galaxy and Who Rules the World are so much better. To put it into perspective, a show with a simple story - such as Reply 1988 - is so brilliant that it could do so much with the time it had. It built multiple storylines with multiple characters and everyone had their own story to tell. HL missed so many of the important elements that makes for good storytelling, so yeah, I am indeed shocked by the ratings.

EDIT:
I forgot to mention how unrealistic it is that by 24, Jiaxu has paid his father's debts and medical bills, etc, owns a really fancy car, gets a house soon after, quits his job to move to SZ's city, all in just 2 years of working. Is he a millionaire or what? Another example of the writer not having had any experience of adult life.

I also completely dislike how this drama pushes the idea of a perfect romance to very young people. SZ is only 19 when she gets into a relationship and I guess she gets married 3 years later? That’s a really terrible idea when an individual’s brain doesn’t fully develop until they’re 25. I wouldn’t have had any problems if these two were actually above 27 (ideally late 20s), but this feels like it’s telling youngsters to find “the one”’ immediately after they become legal adults.

All that said, I’m happy that Chinese dramas are getting some popularity through this show, even though in my opinion this is an average Chinese show and far from the best. However, I guess it has made some people happy and I can appreciate that.

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this c-drama is probably one of the best watches ever! definitely worth it!

to be honest, i don't really watch a lot of c-dramas because i find the acting and the overrall story kind of cringey (and im not saying this drama wasn't cringey - it definitely had its moments!) but 'hidden love' somehow kept me hooked from start to finish. i just loved watching their love blossom throughout the series.

also, the zhao lusi and chen zheyuan had AMAZING chemistry - they definitely need to work together again! their acting made the story of sang zhi and duan jua xu so real!!

omg and the ost~~ i love the songs so much (i think zhao lusi actually sang two of the songs too?)
i'm still listening to them.

i miss the couple so much :((
might rewatch soon ~

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