A lot of love
What a great romance Cdrama. I had never been the one who would watch on going Chinese drama until this one,Their love and relationship is completely diff from others with no complexity. It's simple but amazing, It's beautiful series. Just love all characters, Zhizhi's family, sang Yan ge, jiaxu ge, all their supportive friends. Just love this series so much more than yesterday and less than tomorrow. Love all episode. Both of them so great chemistry zhao lusi and chen zhe yuan. Hopefully hy another drama of two of them. Cannot move on from this drama.Was this review helpful to you?
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MUST WATCH
My honest view on this drama is you must stop reading this right now and go watch it. When this drama was filming I saw many post about Zhao Lusi and Chen ZheYuan however I felt like it was not on my priority list to watch as it sounded like any other romance high school/ college drama. I watched it at first as a distraction from my other airing drama at the time as I waited for new episodes I planned to watch this one. It soon became the other way around because of how awesome this drama is. The casting, acting, soundtrack everything was done perfectly. I felt like Sang Zhi is the representation of many girls who experienced similar one sided love for many years and just kind of expected it to fail because of the age gap etc.. Honestly I felt like I at least was represented in this story. Of course it’s a drama so the ending MUST be a happy one and for that I am grateful. I found myself smiling, laughing, and sometimes even crying in this drama. I honestly feel like it’s extremely rare for a drama to enthrall me so much that I must review. IF YOU’RE STILL READING DIDN’T I SAY SINCE THE BEGINNING TO STOP AND GO WATCH HIDDEN LOVE RIGHT NOW! Go enjoy yourself some Dian Jiaxu action alongside with Sang Yan and Sang Zhi. I feel like I must reiterate how much I loved this cast.Was this review helpful to you?
Young sweet love diary
Main Leads plays a great part to make this romcom a success story and cdrama., their chemistry is extraordinaire.... CZY and ZLS intimate interaction esp. their kissing scenes are so natural, they seems comfortable with each other , makes you think they're in a relationship for real. Off and on screen bts is evident of that, it shows how these two works together to bring this romcom drama to the next level, they make this story alive with their brilliant acting.OST , background music plays well in the background in each scenes and the song is soo good that it stays in my mind for awhile that I even have to play it from spotify after watching this drama. Such a perfect choice of music in every episode.
Production & Settings - it's an urban romcom drama where the settings is simply from home , schools and office and the entire Casts great acting also plays an important role to make this drama wholesome while keeping the focus on the main leads towards the development of their relationships.
Great Director plus a great scriptwriter / novel writer makes up this Hidden Love a brilliant show, the entire drama is definitely a breath of fresh air from having to watch costume drama , heavy plot action drama or even a mediocre romcom drama that always ends in a wedding... Hidden Love ending is quite different tho' it still makes you feel happy,, Zhi's wishes were all written in a stars, and it ends with fulfilling them all, all was revealed at the end to Jiaxu , which was quite heartwarming and touching.... and Jiaxu proposals and vows to Zhi was quite emotional , it got me crying, tears of happiness..
Overall if you like Feel Good modern urban romcom drama, this is your show :) One of the best cdrama in 2023 for sure. You'll be smiling in each episodes while your heart flutters from the sweet interaction of our main leads - Zhi & Jianxu. This story is truly a realistic drama, it brings back those good ol' days with your secret crush or secret admirer from high school or University days :)
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This drama is like eating Liquorice and chocolate all freaking day and night
Hidden Love is a diary drama about an introvert girl that secretly falls for her brother's friend, and their journey to falling in love and healing each other. This drama is like eating Liquorice and chocolate all freaking day and night. If each scene was a candy I would have probably become diabetic by the end. There are tons of romantic scenes, a sweet dating era, both ML and FL protecting and taking care of each other. Usually you see the male chasing the female and doing most of the work but here it is a subtle love, both equally loving and taking care of each other.No break ups, no love triangles, no angst, no annoying second male or female leads that are obsessed with the main leads and want to break them apart. It's purely focused on the main couple with no unnecessary side couples and filler plot lines. Most of the episodes are heartwarming with a few sad scenes that don't last long and the conflicts are quickly resolved.
The drama is definitely one to watch when you need something sweet and loving, when you are depressed and want to smile, when you are going through hard times and need a free loving therapy session, when you are laying on your bed in the evening with a warm cup of tea watching this. Basically if you want something that pulls on your heartstrings and reminds you of your childhood/teenage/college years, this drama is for you.
Note: An important thing to address is that there is an unnecessary controversial topic about how ML meets FL when she is 14 (and the actress looks 10). He is only 5 years older than her and the drama clearly states and portrays that he starts to fall for her romantically as they meet again when she is already an adult.
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No frills, no fuss, only pure and sincere love!!!!
If you’re like me and need a drama to wind down on after a long day at work, this is the one. It’s exciting enough to keep you engaged, yet not too emotionally draining for you to not get out of bed the next morning.There are so many sweet scenes in this one, but just as many serious and important ones without which Sang Zhi and Jiaxu’s love would not be as strong. Sang Zhi shares joint MVP with Jiaxu for me in this one because they’re BOTH green flags. The greenest of green. This is what a healthy relationship with great communication, understanding, and trust looks like. The two have amazing chemistry!
Zhao Lusi never disappoints I fear. I’ve only seen Our Secrets from Chen Zheyuan and he is no slouch either. Together, they created something wonderful, safe, beautiful, and warm for all of us to enjoy on our saddest and happiest days.
The music is honestly pretty great too!
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Realistic & Relatable
This drama brings you back to the time when you think your crush can do no wrong, read meaning into everything he does, and find ways to just to get a glimpse of him. To those who have experienced this, the drama rekindles those feelings and you begin to realize you are smiling the whole time while watching. Although some people wrote it off as concerning because of the age gap (5 years), the FL had a crush when she was 17 and the ML reciprocated that love when she was 19, then they became a couple. The main premise missed by those who have not watched the drama is how a relationship helps us grow and become a better version of ourselves. The issues tackled in the drama were handled well, in a realistic manner and again, relatable. The acting was subtle and effective. Amazing performance from both leads, actually from the entire cast. They were able to evoke the actual feeling for any particular situation. If you love romcoms and the feeling of being in love, this drama is for you.Was this review helpful to you?
I LOVE
When I first started watching this show, I didn't really expect much, but let me tell u I got MAJOR butterflies from it. Most people are pretty annoyed of the FL (Sang Zhi) when she was younger in the beginning, before the time skip to the main story. Which makes sense, bcs she is basically supposed to be a bit spoiled and immature kid, kind of how Jiaxu first saw her as nothing more than something like a little sister. You just have to keep on going for a few episodes if this annoyed you, trust me it's worth it. Once you get to the main story you will be jumping and squealing, at least I did, I know some people look for different things. I really loved seeing Sang Zhi grow and become more mature, as well as seeing Jiaxu's feelings start to change when he realizes Sang Zhi is no longer the little sister he remembered. AHHH it's so cute. I do feel like the plot wasn't as strong, since there really wasn't much other than the romance between the leads. I wish the delved into their dreams or goals more, since it didn't really seem like Sang Zhi had much. She said she did, but that was more of a result of her wanting to be around Jiaxu. I wanted to understand her more as Sang Zhi, not just a girl who liked Jiaxu since she was 14. I know she liked to draw, but I don't fully understand her dreams. I guess Jiaxu kind of did, but not so much Sang Zhi. Another thing I do wish, but it's not too important. I wish there was saucy scenes, but its rated G so we can't have, but that's okay. Nothing too saucy, but kind of like that scene from business proposal hehe jkjk. It is their first relationship so both of them aren't as experienced, so its cute. I guess it is more of a cute innocent feel-good TV show, definitely good to watch when you're feeling down. It is my favorite drama I've seen in a long time since it was totally swoon worthy.Was this review helpful to you?
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its simplicity delivered a superb, binge-worthy drama that will leave you smiling and feeling good!
What I like about this series is that it really is a very simple plot line. A young girl's admiration developing into a crush then to a puppy love then the love growing as she matures and eventually getting her happily ever after. I like how the interaction between the characters shows the difference as they grow/mature. The initial stages, the interactions of DJX and SZ are like an older, doting brother taking care and indulging a younger sister. Just like a different version of Sang Yan - SZ's real brother who happens to be his best friend in school. Whereas SY often teases and makes fun of SZ when they are together and is portrayed as being brash and a bit cocky, DJX is the caring, gentle and warmer brother. Though he is indulging her, he makes sure to still teach her and correct her behavior when needed - like when he told SZ to (1) pay attention in class when he helped her by pretending to be her older brother so her parent wouldn't know that her teacher requested another meeting, (2) how she should act when she gets confessed to - study first as she is too young, but to thank the other person for having an interest in her and to either accept or not to hurt him but to politely reject the other person's interest if she does not reciprocate the feeling. Not that SY does not indulge her, SY just has a different love language shown to his sister. When they met again when SZ was in college, you can see how DJX starts seeing SZ as a woman, not just a younger sister. You see him starting to fall in love with the adult SZ. You then get to join their journey from their courtship to how they lay the foundation of their relationship and how it (their relationship) and they (SZ and DJX) grow as individual and together as a couple. In today's society of instant gratification, I especially love how they brought back the art of anticipation during the courtship period. Qian Fei had a point when he asked Jiaxu why he is still decided to pursue his girl when he knows she likes him and they could have gotten together then. I like that they build up the anticipation of them becoming together. The kilig moments in this series is just *chef's kiss*. (KILIG is not misspelled, its a Filipino term that I think best describes the situation in the drama. It refers to the feeling of excitement or elation one gets in various romantic situations like making eye contact with your crush, holds for the first time, your first kiss with someone you are romantically interested in and other situation like that. I may have mucked up the explanation, Google it if you must.) They did great in making their experience in their courtship period very relatable, makes the series more endearing because it somehow reminds you of your own experience - remember the scene when SZ was telling her girls about her and DJX status and ending up giggling with each other and laughing and being silly about it? I was smiling along with them, like its a secret between us sisters!I am not the biggest Chen Zhe Yuan fan out there but I must say HIS ACTING WAS SUPERB in this series. I've seen his other works and they were good, don't get me wrong. Boy can act, but he would not be the first actor I would have in mind had the character of Duan Jiaxu been explained to me before seeing this drama. As CZY mentioned in their special, this is the first time he is acting as an older brother/senior. I think he really pulled it off. He has shown DJX being playful, teasing SZ and even his friends, being cold to Jiang Ying, being indulgent to young SZ, being cutesy and loving to adult SZ. I love how even his eyes are delivering in this series. If you watch how he looks as SZ from start to finish, you can see how even they way he looks at SZ had changed as their story progressed, especially how his eyes looked when he kisses SZ at the later episodes. I especially like the scene in the airport when SZ confessed she liked him since she was a kid. You can see in his whole facial reaction that DJX was having a whole flashback of (1) what had transpired in that very airport when SZ went there in HS - what SZ said, what he said, how SZ reacted and cried and (2) when he picked up a drunk SZ from a bar and she shared her secret about liking someone. You can see minute changes in his face as realization dawns on him.
Whereas I am not a big fan of CZY, I love, love, love, love, love Zhao Lusi. Other than those that have not been aired yet, I have not see (clips in YT included) only 4 of her works. She is one of my go-to actresses when I want to rewatch a drama. I love how she portrayed SZ in this series. She had shown a different SZ in each stage of the series. From being a young, bratty, spoiled princess to growing up and being a mature young adult. I love how for the most part, she looks timid but she knows how to stand up for herself. I like how they showed in the drama that even when she is in love with DJX she has not lost herself and her priorities.
This is the first time I have come across Victor Ma and I must say, I love his voice. He played Sang Yan so well, I could not imagine another actor playing SY. He and Lusi has such great sibling chemistry. I love that despite being brash and a bit cocky and always teasing and making fun of his sister, he is his number one protector - remember the scene with the bully when SZ injured his leg? and when he picked her up at the airport when SZ went to Yihe in HS? and when he visited Yihe and SZ was getting bullied at the office where she was interning? I absolutely adore that the show still reflected his love language for his sister.
I could go on and on about what I like in this drama and it will make this review waaaay too long. So overall, I love how even though the plot line pretty simple, all of its cast and crew delivered a phenomenal job. I can go on an elaborate episode per episode what I liked about it. Suffice to say, after this drama aired its last episode, it has been a constant repeat whenever I want something on to pass time. I think I've watched this 6-7 times now since it last aired. That's how much I love this.
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Heart flutteing love story, Rewatch is inevitable
I'm a frequent watcher for many c dramas but i would say this drama really awestruck me for a while after watching it. Both actors have given their best on screen performances..Zhao lusi is very well dwelled into sang zhi's role and ChenZY is well suited for Duan Jaixu Role..i would really appreciate the writer of the plot which made the chemistry of the two characters emerged so nicely on screen..very well edited, directed and acted..MUST Watch..No a Rewatch i would say..Well written, superb acting, chemistry between the leads is awesome and sang zhi character was well potrayed from child hood to young age.
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Best romantic C-drama to watch
I never write reviews, but this drama deserves one. From the start to the end this C-drama got me hooked up even tho I'm more into K-drama.The chemistry between the lead and the simple yet so touchy story line made me feel so many emotion, from laughing to crying, I felt every line the characters were saying. I really don't know how to describe it but the acting is so great that every emotions could be felt behind the screen.
Honestly, I gave up so many dramas and especially C-drama because of the low acting or basic story line but this one is a must watch, from the start to the end. I feel like Hidden Love will never be replaced in my heart.
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Secret Crush of a little girl
To me, this drama is very very very much good. Everyday I waited to see the uploaded new episodes and now finally it has finished so I am feeling that somewhere in my heart a bit of sadness giving me pain. Zhao Lusi is my most favourite actress. She is the reason that I became interested in cdramas. I have seen all her dramas. All the dramas may not be perfect like this drama but her acting is always good 👍🏻. Of course she made a great improvement in acting. In this drama she portrayed Sang Zhi character veey nicely. Her LLTG drama was also a famous and fabulous drama. Now if we talk about Chen Zhe Yaun, I think he is also a good actor, good-looking. I saw his first drama Our Secret, it was also a amazing and fantastic drama. He also made some improvement. As Duan Jiaxu, he acted perfectly. Zhao Lusi and Chen Zhe Yuan were looking perfect together in drama. In my eyes, Zhao Lusi is the only one who fits Sang Zhi character the most perfectly.And finally this drama "HIDDEN LOVE" is really a masterpiece. I wish that this drama ratings can go upto 9.5 . Future readers please increase the ratings.
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MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE POP ROCKS, STRAWBERRY, BUBBLE GUM *easily best c-drama of this year* must watch!!
I don't know how to explain my feelings about this but literally everything about this drama was amazing.Maybe you can see this as a general youth drama but but their acting and the subjects they deal with have made the series warm to your heart.
Their acting was so good like.. it was so natural. The way zhe yuan expressed his feelings, the way lu si showed sang zhi's love for jia xu so clearly in his eyes, the chemistry of the two was truly incredible. Even their bickering and being jealous about each other was so cute.
At first I was worried that sang zhi was not yet a minor, but I was very relieved that nothing was as we feared. I think this was one of the most ambitious series of the summer - in fact, many of the summers. Their chemistry was so good that I hope we can see the two of them as partners on a project again.
Also, I think sang yan (victor ma) really shines in the drama. They played so well that they really were like siblings with lu si. And i don't even know why i thought like that but am i the only one that expect sang zhi's friend yu xin would end up with sang yan lmao 😂😂 i think i really want him to be happy with someone and show off about this to sang zhi😂
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