Gentle, Sweet, but Missing Spark
This is only my second C-Drama, and I couldn’t help comparing it to my first, Speed and Love (2025), which had quick pacing, intense emotions, and explicit romantic tension. So when I started Hidden Love, the contrast was immediate.
In the beginning (up to around EP 7), I found many scenes quite cringe, partly because I was already visualizing Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu as a couple, and seeing her as a child and him as a teenager felt strange at first. Even though I think the actress playing Sang Zhi feels less immature than some other young leads, the early interactions were overly timid and didn’t draw me in.
As the story progresses, it slowly finds its rhythm. The plot covers different stages of their lives, from Duan Jiaxu as a young adult and Sang Zhi as a teenager to both as adults, which helps ease the initial age gap discomfort. That said, when both characters finally reach adulthood, I still felt the romance lacked the emotional intensity and impactful moments I was hoping for, especially after the slow build‑up.
One highlight for me was Sang Yan, Sang Zhi’s older brother. His playful dynamic with his sister, teasing her but genuinely protective, brought real warmth and humor to the story. His interactions with Duan Jiaxu also add depth and charisma to the overall narrative, and I wish he had appeared more often.
I also really enjoyed the portrayal of the parents, Sang Rong and Li Ping. Their relationship felt healthy and mature, something I don’t often see in dramas. They communicate openly and calmly, showing concern without yelling or drama, which was refreshing and comforting.
Another interesting aspect is how the drama handles Duan Jiaxu’s feelings. He doesn’t suddenly fall for Sang Zhi as a child; instead, the shift in his perception happens later, when they’re both adults, marked by a significant moment around the first snowfall they experience together, which is when he starts acknowledging his deeper emotions for her. That moment helped clarify his emotional transition and made their connection feel more believable.
However, something that bothered me throughout the series was how often the show reiterates that Sang Zhi has “grown up”. It felt repetitive, the audience already sees them as adults by the time the story reaches that point, so the constant reminders became unnecessary.
The ending, with a marriage proposal, felt a bit cliché and slightly rushed. On paper, it makes sense, both are adults, and culturally marriage is a natural step, but narratively it jumped too quickly for me after years of slow, gentle development. I was left thinking that spending more time on their emotional connection as adults before jumping to a proposal would have been more satisfying.
Overall, Hidden Love is a well‑made, wholesome drama with strong chemistry between the leads and meaningful family dynamics. I don’t have major issues with the acting, the performances are solid, but the story wasn’t as captivating for me as the hype suggested. It feels calm and comforting, but sometimes too quiet and contained for viewers looking for deeper emotional engagement.
Final rating: 7.5/10
In the beginning (up to around EP 7), I found many scenes quite cringe, partly because I was already visualizing Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu as a couple, and seeing her as a child and him as a teenager felt strange at first. Even though I think the actress playing Sang Zhi feels less immature than some other young leads, the early interactions were overly timid and didn’t draw me in.
As the story progresses, it slowly finds its rhythm. The plot covers different stages of their lives, from Duan Jiaxu as a young adult and Sang Zhi as a teenager to both as adults, which helps ease the initial age gap discomfort. That said, when both characters finally reach adulthood, I still felt the romance lacked the emotional intensity and impactful moments I was hoping for, especially after the slow build‑up.
One highlight for me was Sang Yan, Sang Zhi’s older brother. His playful dynamic with his sister, teasing her but genuinely protective, brought real warmth and humor to the story. His interactions with Duan Jiaxu also add depth and charisma to the overall narrative, and I wish he had appeared more often.
I also really enjoyed the portrayal of the parents, Sang Rong and Li Ping. Their relationship felt healthy and mature, something I don’t often see in dramas. They communicate openly and calmly, showing concern without yelling or drama, which was refreshing and comforting.
Another interesting aspect is how the drama handles Duan Jiaxu’s feelings. He doesn’t suddenly fall for Sang Zhi as a child; instead, the shift in his perception happens later, when they’re both adults, marked by a significant moment around the first snowfall they experience together, which is when he starts acknowledging his deeper emotions for her. That moment helped clarify his emotional transition and made their connection feel more believable.
However, something that bothered me throughout the series was how often the show reiterates that Sang Zhi has “grown up”. It felt repetitive, the audience already sees them as adults by the time the story reaches that point, so the constant reminders became unnecessary.
The ending, with a marriage proposal, felt a bit cliché and slightly rushed. On paper, it makes sense, both are adults, and culturally marriage is a natural step, but narratively it jumped too quickly for me after years of slow, gentle development. I was left thinking that spending more time on their emotional connection as adults before jumping to a proposal would have been more satisfying.
Overall, Hidden Love is a well‑made, wholesome drama with strong chemistry between the leads and meaningful family dynamics. I don’t have major issues with the acting, the performances are solid, but the story wasn’t as captivating for me as the hype suggested. It feels calm and comforting, but sometimes too quiet and contained for viewers looking for deeper emotional engagement.
Final rating: 7.5/10
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