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Why would the government ban the time travel plot for this drama when they allow it in others, many others I might add? No, I think they took it out because Zhao Lu Si would not have played the part if they had kept it in. Zhao Lu Si is known for playing strong female characters who depend upon their own wits to survive or characters who grow into this type of girl. Her characters always question or fight against some societal belief. In Hidden Love her character goes against the societal belief that if the father commits an act of treason or does something else then the whole family must be guilty and take responsibility for it as well. This is the reason for the very loud discussion in the restaurant between ZLS's character and DJX's "girlfriend". Scenes in dramas should have a reason for being there. They should create meaning to the story. It's why I place a great deal of importance on the three scenes I mentioned in my last post.

You're right the world doesn't revolve around me and my opinion of this drama, but I am not the only one saying it. Many people found it enjoyable. The opening sequence caught my attention, but lost its momentum afterwards with the introduction of the goblin bride. As the person below this wrote, the main leads relationship felt forced. It was because there was no reason for the goblin bride to be there except to create a romance for the main character. Why did he need romance? He knew how to love someone. He didn't die because he didn't know how to love. I am sorry if I offended you in some way. I am glad that you enjoyed this along with many other people. I just couldn't because of all the questions I needed to ask about the plot.

Thank you for the discussion. Hope you're having or had a good day.

I have watched both Love Like a Galaxy and The Romance of Tiger and Rose. In the novel Love Like a Galaxy the main female character comes from the future and invents all kinds of things. The screenwriters took the liberty and didn't put it in. This aspect of the novel detracted from the message that the writers wanted to convey that women are just as creative and inventive as men. They don't need to rely on a "future" brain. Also, that trope is so overused. The Romance of Tiger and Rose is an illustration of that and for me becomes a very forgettable drama. I am sure there was imagery in it, but I don't remember it. Hidden Love had a few creative scenes with lots of meaning and visual imagery: the light bulb scene, the milk bottle scene, and the flower scene. If there is no meaning to them, why put them in the drama?

I can explain more if you would like, and thank you for the discussion.

MikaM, can love for another person be hidden even from that person and not realized until later on? This concept is found in Jewel in the Crown and the Joseon Flower Crew. The story as written appears to her that he does not like her in a romantic way. Romance doesn't have to be about hugging, kissing, or even sex. Romance can be just wanting to be near someone, doing things for them and with them, etc. The most telling scene when she is 17 is when they go to the museum. The brother disappears as he obviously trusts DJX to be alone with his sister. When they make the promise to help each other achieve their goals, the flower starts small and when they complete the promise pact the flower is in full bloom. For me, this symbolizes that they are in love even though one doesn't know he is in love. Their love is growing slowly and will not be complete until the promise has been completed. Hence her words at the end. This drama is aptly named. Even the brother has a hidden love.

The forbidden love only comes in his mind, from the beginning he feels he is too old for her. He keeps expressing her age. Once he realizes he loves her he keeps expressing her age because she is not old enough to get married. She is old enough to have a relationship, but not to be married. Age does play a huge deal in this drama.

Screenwriters when adapting a book to the screen weigh what will "sell" the audience, but they also put their own twist in it. I read somewhere that in Love Like a Galaxy the female lead character is from the future. I am glad they didn't put that in the drama itself as it would have detracted from the message that the writers wanted to get across. If they had I don't think ZLS would have taken the part.

Thank you for the information about the author and background of the drama. I have not read the novel or anything about it in the media. My interpretation of the drama is what I saw the characters do, say, and express.

With that being said, it is very clear that she has a crush on him when she is 14. The most telling is the scene where she takes the light bulb that he brought over and draws a picture of him patting her head on it. For me, the most telling scene is him not telling the brother (nor the parents for that matter) that he went to her conference. The brother advised him against it, but he went anyway. What is in it for him? He has just met her and knows nothing about her except what the brother has told him. Seriously, can a 14 year old blackmail a 19 year old, especially when they are not related?

As for the gifts, dates, and flirting, there are many examples of this when she turned 17. The most telling are the essay he wrote, the milk bottle scene, and the promise at the museum with the sensory box . In the essay he wrote that he was happy that he could see her again. You may call it teasing, but the milk bottle scene resembles too much of a kiss on the cheek when people are starting to date. Since he has never experienced a first love himself, how does he know what that looks like and feels like. There is much more going on in this story during this time.

In the book, the boy may not reciprocate the girl's love, but in this story he does in a way that is acceptable to the family and society. His real love is hidden, while her's is out in the open.

Again, thank you for the background information, but it does not change my interpretation of the drama.

I don't go by what people write as they judge based on how they feel about the drama. In school, I was taught to analyze a story by what the characters say, their actions, the story structure, the themes, symbolism, etc. When questions like the ones I asked are asked by many, then there is something wrong with the storytelling. Yes, a lot of people like the drama, it made them feel good, but that was all it did. Feelings do not make a masterpiece.

BTW, I do get the obvious symbolism in the story, especially her name. It is the more subtle things.

People do not have to hate a drama to call it overrated. People call it overrated because something in the story is flawed to make it unbelievable. For me, it was the two main leads and their relationship. Please explain to me why he needed a bride to pull the sword out? Why did the bride have to be a 19-year-old girl? Please explain to me why he was the wandering spirit? Why was the king a grim reaper? (They explained that, but it does not make sense, since he is the one who caused all the trouble in the first place). These are just three of the many questions that I had to make the story work and believable. Also, I felt there was more chemistry between the two males and two females than the couples themselves. Was this intentional? But the biggest question I have about this story is what is the message the writers are trying to get across? If viewers can't figure that out, then the story is overrated. I am glad that you enjoyed it, and it seems that it was a huge hit when it came out. I have watched many older c and k dramas and enjoyed them. It doesn't matter how old a story is. What matters is how the story is told.

If you want a more lengthy explanation, read my spoiler post above.

My suggestion is not to read all of the comments on that drama. Watch it and form your own opinion. It is very well done.

I disagree with you. This show illustrates the different stages of love and the many ways love can be hidden. The main characters do not go through these stages at the same time at least on the surface. She develops a crush at age 14. If he had kissed her at this age, her parents and brother would have kicked him to the curb and possibly filed charges. Had our male lead been 14, everybody would have said, "Ah how cute, puppy love." Remember she does have a boy who likes her at this age, but she doesn't like him. The age difference at this stage in their relationship is huge in terms of societal beliefs. They go their separate ways, but he becomes her brother because this is an acceptable way for him to act.

Upon meeting again when she is 17 the romance begins. Under the guise of being her tutor and brother, he gives her gifts, flirts with her, and goes on "dates" with her. Her feelings for him changes into deeper feelings of love. She wants to see him, be near him, etc. But again, because of the age difference and his relationship with the family, he cannot openly express his feelings for her. Also, because of her age there are many misunderstandings on her part, thus leading her to hide out from him, yet he still sends her gifts. Her biological brother doesn't understand why she ignores DJ. DJ doesn't understand either, but accepts it.

Once they meet again when she is 19, coincidentally, the program that she wants to go into at college just happens to be in his hometown where he presently lives. Now she is old enough to date him openly. The age difference doesn't matter. Notice it doesn't take them too long to go from living in separate quarters to "playing house". They already act like a married couple because they have already gone through the puppy love stage and the dating stage. Misunderstandings have been cleared up, etc. The only reason they can't fully be together at this point is because she is still underage to get married. When they split up again, it is so they can both develop their own careers, but now they are openly a couple.

The age difference is definitely a big issue in this story based on societal beliefs. If this had taken place a 100 years ago, they would have already been married, had children, and lived in a house during the time span of this drama. As far as the different ways this love was hidden that is a different post and explanation.

A Class of Her Own, Miss Truth, Love Like a Galaxy, Under the Power, A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College are all romance mixed with mystery.

I think it was to show the juxtaposition of the characters ages at the time their romance started and when she could legally get married. He proposes to her the minute she graduates from college and she is now of legal age.

I think they are referring to when she is 14 and he is 19 and then again when she is 17 and he is 22. When she is 19 and he is 24 there really isn't that big of a deal and that's when they get serious about their relationship. I think it was to show that they couldn't get married until she was of legal age at 21.

It depends on what you are looking for. If you give me what you like and dislike, I could be of more help. This is a political drama. It plays out like a chess game. It has a very graphic war scene as an opening scene. Light-hearted ones A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College, A Class of Her Own. More serious ones: Fights Break Sphere, Martial Universe, Love Like a Galaxy, and Who Rules the World ( I started with this one. However, many have said that it is too politically dense).

I have to agree with you on some points. Episode 55 was really pushing it, but they had to get the two back together some how. Episode 56 had to be there to wrap up the Gao City story arc. Also, there needed to be something that would show how HBY and SS worked together for the good of the country (reflection of how SS's parents went to war together). Plus, grandma finally realizing that she did not do right by SS. NN and HBY finally feeling like they belong to a family. Their tribute to HBY's family and the empress (who are looking down on them from heavens). Finally, they had a beautiful wedding. General Huo decked out in black cape and NaioNaio in her red cape. The outfits they were wearing when they met at the lantern festival. They were in a military camp out under the stars (to reflect the title of the story). Their vows start at about 33:00. It is just them with their family. The way it should be. The audience got to see them in traditional wedding garb in season 1. What more of a wedding do you need? If they would have had a traditional bowing wedding, then it would have been meaningless as this is not a traditional couple.

No, actually they were trying to tie everything together and give the audience a wedding as well. People have missed the wedding part because it was not a traditional wedding sequence. There is nothing traditional about this couple why ruin their relationship with a meaningless traditional wedding.

What are you talking about? They had a wedding. A traditional wedding of bowing to everybody would have been pointless. Nothing about this couple is traditional and to make them go through a traditional wedding ceremony would have ruined what the writers fought so hard to accomplish to take all the tropes and turn them upside down.

I understand.

Yes, as crown prince he is very ineffective and needs to be given a role that is right for him. But to follow palace protocol at the time, he is crown prince.