Ongoing 15/25
shilpi29
23 people found this review helpful
Jun 29, 2023
15 of 25 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

'Hidden Love' will give you Goosebumps- Get ready to get addicted

Let me tell you this is my first time watching any Chinese Drama, and I am glad that I started with this series of Hidden Love. Hats off to the writer, director and the screenplay, it has been so beautifully arranged that you wont feel as if you are watching any drama. You will gradually become the part of the story. Each scene, each act will take you to the next level of excitement, and if you are a bit older ( in your late 20's or in your 30's) u will feel like going back to the same era when we used to be very young.

The story is not new, but the execution is very beautiful. I mean its normal for a 13-14 yrs girl to have infatuation over the boys older than us and especially to have crush on our brother's friend is very common. But the way the story was weaved and shown. the gradual improvement and growing up of the little girl into a young beautiful women is phenominal.

The screenplay will bind you, and of course the actors have done a great job, because even for a moment i never felt i was watching a series, I almost imagined myself reacting the same, had I been in that position.

May be i am too mesmerized with the drama because its my first time watching C-Drama. Do watch it, not for the story but for the chemistry. both actors looked 'Made for each other' kind of couple.

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Completed
Savnrose7
9 people found this review helpful
Aug 25, 2023
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 1.0

The FL is boring

I dropped this drama after finishing the 18th episode. I had surprisingly no problems with the plot and thought they executed the age gap at the beginning pretty well. It didn't feel weird when the FL and the ML got together because you could tell she matured. The thing that drew me away from this drama though was the FL. She's portrayed as super innocent and her personality is just meh. I found myself really bored with her character. She always had this look on her face when he did anything that made it seem like she didn't even like him. The plot was more cozy than exciting so it was pretty much the character's job to carry the show but the FL just missed the mark for me. If the FL had more personality I could've seen myself really enjoying this drama.

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Ongoing 15/25
tiffeishi
27 people found this review helpful
Jun 29, 2023
15 of 25 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Chemistry is ON FIRE ON SCREEN AND OFF SCREEN

The romance is my favorite because it's very well executed that viewers could feel there's true feelings between ZLS and CZY. Hoping for more future collaborations as main leads for them! Also, I can't stop thinking about their compatibility astrologically and realistically.
This drama is still airing but I can't deny that it's more than excellent.

Furthermore, according to the astrological love compatibility report I did, both of them have a harmonious relationship but because of their distance in work (especially the location of their dramas filming), they're a bit distant and not yet thinking about getting into a tight romantic relationship. No hates tho, there's still destiny in the future and hardwork to be executed for them to work more than good friends.

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Dropped 16/25
Nini7
25 people found this review helpful
Jun 29, 2023
16 of 25 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
100% worth your time. You will never regret it. With their chemistry, acting between ML and FL, you will feel butterflies in your stomach every single episode you watch. The way ML looked at FL arrrrrrrrr can't stand it anymore. Hope they air all the episodes at once. I normally read the novel first and every time they made it into live-action I feel disappointed because they only emphasized looks and when they acted so cheesy and like a robot. But not in this drama, their acting is on point. Even the supporting roles are good. I repeated three times for every single episode so far while waiting for a new episode. Waiting time is killing me :)

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Completed
Aditi Pal
4 people found this review helpful
Apr 4, 2024
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

LOVE IS IN AIR...

This drama is very refreshing and light weight. it tells the story of a girl who has a crush on his brother's friend. How his crush devlops into love. Here u can see đź‘€how everyone one is moving forward in their life plus how it is very important to trust someone. Here the ML have some tragic past but FL fully trusts her and protect him. This drama also shows who always looks caring and good also have some inner sadness. ML is just not perfectđź’Ż. He started to become perfect because of his past to never be like his father.

In acting literally both the main actors have done the great 👍job. For me chen zheyuan was not new but I'm a big fan of our secret🤫. I loved his eye expression they are just superb. This was the first time i watch zhao lusi I liked her acting very, she really look liked a teenager and ahe was cute. All cast has done quite good job. I like the victor Ma's character the most.

The most beautiful osts for me was
1. I'm falling in love with u
2.i just want to secretly hide u.
3.Be ur light

I can't believe zhao lusi have such a soothing voice I loveed the intro and ending song


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Completed
PhatPanda27
6 people found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2023
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

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!

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Ongoing 15/25
AvishiTyagi
24 people found this review helpful
Jun 28, 2023
15 of 25 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

GREAT CAST!!!

soooooo good, tbh never expected this from a cdrama (dont come at me). butttt this drama changed my pov about cdramas. I mean it has all that i need for a rom-com drama to be perfect.
First of all, the leads are soooo apt for their role, like I legit believe the roles they are playing. Neither is the gap too obvious nor too lenient.
Next, the supporting roles are building blocks of a great drama and when I say this is a good one I mean it. I've seen it all- american, indian. kdramas, thai, spanish- so I kind of have the good feeling.
all in all great drama highly recommended, if you are a crazy rom-com lover like me and dont want too much drama on your plate.

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Ongoing 15/25
Jane Domine
23 people found this review helpful
Jun 28, 2023
15 of 25 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Embrace each other

Sweet, charming, unhurriedly told (in a relaxed and calm way) story about growing up and finding what love means. The history has a second layer about come to terms with the past and accepting that sometimes we don't need to carry the guilt about something that has nothing to do with us directly to be exact.
FL is someone much more than only a lover for our ML - she is his friend, companion, save haven and salvation - mayby now we can't see it but with the progress of the story we will see - I'm sure of it.
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Ongoing 15/25
rebeccanaing
27 people found this review helpful
Jun 29, 2023
15 of 25 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
100% worth your time. You will never regret it. With their chemistry, acting between ML and FL, you will feel butterflies in your stomach every single episode you watch. The way ML looked at FL arrrrrrrrr can't stand it anymore. Hope they air all the episodes at once. I normally read the novel first and every time they made it into live-action I feel disappointed because they only emphasized looks and when they acted so cheesy and like a robot. But not in this drama, their acting is on point. Even the supporting roles are good. I repeated three times for every single episode so far while waiting for a new episode. Waiting time is killing me :)

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Completed
Sakura
2 people found this review helpful
Jan 12, 2024
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

"Its that kinda of love, that falls from heaven"

The way this drama has become my safe haven and source of comfort is truly remarkable.

I find myself drawn to it once or twice every month. The presentation of love in this drama is a beacon of hope, reminding us not to give up on love and encouraging us to be filled with optimism. The story is crafted in a way that instills a sense of warmth and reassurance, making it like a therapy session for me lol.

The portrayal of love in this drama goes beyond mere romanticism, it´s not just sweat, it´s also being strong and staying positive for your own partner. The characters exemplify a love that is not only endearing but also mature, offering a refreshing perspective. It's heartening to witness their journey, filled with both challenges and tender moments, which creates a profound connection with the audience. The main characters have this magical connection that brings butterflies to your stomach. Their sweet and mature approach to love makes the story even more interesting.

What sets this drama apart is its ability to infuse optimism into the story. The unfolding of events, coupled with the characters' development, creates a storyline that is not just entertaining but also filled with life lessons. .It's like a rollercoaster of emotions that leaves you feeling hopeful and believing that love can overcome anything.

In a world often plagued by uncertainties, this drama stands as a beacon of hope, reminding us that love, in all its forms, has the potential to triumph over adversities. It's more than just a show; it's a journey that takes you through the intricacies of human emotions, leaving you with a heart full of hope and a smile on your face.







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Completed
kobeno1
3 people found this review helpful
Jan 8, 2024
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

How To Be There For Someone And Let Them Be There For You!

There is one thing more powerful, captivating, and endearing than one person being there for someone else. It’s when two people are able to be there for each other. This is the hallmark—the foundation—of any true relationship. Relationships are not about what you get out of them, but what you put into them. And any true companion will never ask you to be anything other than who you are. In fact, they won’t encourage you to be anything else.

I doubt there is a person alive who cannot remember their first love. The series does a masterful job of demonstrating the awkwardness as well as the intrigue of first love. It’s new. It’s scary. And it’s also so encompassing that a person can scarcely believe that it’s happening. At the start of the series, Sang Zhi is a young middle school student who quickly finds herself enamored by her brother’s friend, Duan Jia Xu. Despite the fact that he’s five years her senior, it doesn’t matter. As we well know, love defies logic and rationale. Most would quickly define Sang Zhi’s feelings as a crush and nothing more. However, over time, a single seed can grow and blossom, and it soon becomes obvious that this is not a crush.

Sang Zhi isn’t merely captivated by Duan Jia Xu’s looks. She marvels at how well and respectfully he treats her, always being thoughtful, attentive, and willing to help, no matter the situation. Initially Duan Jia Xu sees Sang Zhi as a sister and nothing more. After all, with such an age gap, it’s hard to imagine him seeing her in any other way. But, as people grow older, that gap narrows. It just takes some time; time enough for him to begin seeing her in a new light. Or as Sang Zhi wisely states, “I had to catch up to him.”

Duan Jia Xu is a gentle, hardworking young man who suddenly finds a massive responsibility thrust upon his young shoulders. His father, in a drunken state, is involved in a hit-and-run fatality. Rather than face the consequences of his actions, his father hurls himself off the balcony of their home. However, he doesn’t die, but is in a vegetative state. Bills pile up. Duan Jia Xu’s mother’s body is wracked with cancer. And works multiple jobs to try and pay off the debt that he owes to the family who was affected by the tragedy. In short, he’s forced to grow up very quickly. Despite having Sang Yan’s friendship (Sang Zhi’s hilarious older brother!), Duan Jia Xu feels very much alone. One can’t help but figure that, even at a young age, Sang Zhi gave him a reason to not feel this way. And by the final episode, we are proven right. She is the bright star in his life and always has been.

Sang Zhi is a young, spoiled, and often immature young girl. Her defense mechanism of “playing mind games” with Duan Jia Xu leads her into needless and silly predicaments, such as making up the idea that she has an online boyfriend, hoping to make him jealous. Of course, it backfires, and she often reacts terribly, leading her to jump to conclusions. However, make no mistake. Sang Zhi is a very strong woman who proves to Duan Jia Xu that she is more than capable and fit to be by his side during the most trying of times. In short, she’s exactly the kind of partner any sane man would want. Someone who’s there for you during the lightest and darkest of times. She never hesitates or wavers in her convictions. She is steadfast and acts very much like an anchor. Even when her parents initially disapprove of their dating, it doesn’t sway her. Nothing does.

For the most part, the relationship between Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu is done very well, even when she is given very poor advice from her roommates—most of whom have no clue how to be in a relationship. Sang Zhi often contradicts herself; wanting to be pursued and then reacts immaturely when Duan Jia Xu doesn’t do something or pursues her in a way that she doesn’t understand. She is fortunate enough that Duan Jia Xu’s own love for her is as strong as hers is for him, and he won’t be turned away so easily either. However, there are a few awkward and even puzzling moments after they start their relationship, how often Sang Zhi recoils as attempts of kisses or hugs or even holding hands. This was done a bit too frequently, in my opinion. It reminded me of Sang Zhi’s funny attempt at the high jump in high school when she kept awkwardly stepping forward, then back, and then ran toward the bar only to crash into it. Once she finally gets over her girlish reactions and aversions, things finally begin to settle into a space of normalcy.

This is my first foray into Chinese dramas, and I wasn’t disappointed. Through the first 21 episodes or so, I had this series at an “8” or so. The last few vaulted it to a “10.” Lu Si Zhao got to me when she reacted to her brother after he’d hit Duan Jia Xu. Her tearful reaction of feeling betrayed by someone who was supposed to be on her side, hits full force. The series only got better from there. The airport scene when she follows him back and finally reveals her “secrets” to Duan Jia Xu and letting him know that she will never leave him is incredibly powerful as was their scene together at his mother’s grave. However, the “proposal scene” was done so effectively, that I’ll wager that not many saw that coming. I’m not a fan of having a crowd for a marriage proposal, but seeing all of their loved ones standing around the heart of flowers, and Duan Jia Xu’s heartfelt proposal culminated everything that the series was about.

The chemistry between Lu Si Zhao and Chen Zhe Yuan is undeniable and unmistakable as they make sure that the viewer takes in every single raw feeling and emotion that occurs between them. "Our Beloved Summer" is my all-time favorite romance between young couples. This one is right up there with that one.

So many romantic dramas and movies often leave the viewer actually wondering if a “happy ending” is feasible or if reality will simply prove to be too much and the “happy couple” will eventually dissolve into an ambivalent one. Not this couple! I have no doubt that Duan Jia Xu and Sang Zhi will have a happy and largely fulfilling life together. Why? Because they’ve both realized at a tender young age, the most important thing to do for someone you love is to be there for them and to also let them be who they are. If you’ve lost faith in romance, this series just might help you find it again.

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Completed
WithEaj
3 people found this review helpful
Oct 28, 2023
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10

ONE OF MY COMFORT DRAMA!

The story in this dama is very simple, but the script is very interesting and flows naturally. It's slow but steady, and it's very heart-pounding to watch.

The story is easy to understand and predictable, but also full of little unexpected details. These details make me really appreciate the production team and cast for making this drama!

I didn't know that I could cry over Sangzhi's heartbreak at his first love for Jiaxu, Zhao Lusi's acting here really surprised me. Especially when I saw the changes between Sangzhi as a teenager and as an adult, it was so different.
Even the way they smile is different! I was left gaping again at Zhao Lusi's level of acting.

Chen Zhe Yuan's acting is also good!
This is the first time I've seen the drama. His eyes really speak and this is another small detail that makes the drama more interesting.

Don't forget the ostinato! They're all very imprinted on my ears and I still play them today!

I'm still rewatching this drama and would love any videos about Hidden Love that pop up in my tiktok.

One thing I really miss in this drama is the consistency of Zhao Lusi's hair styling. It seems like it wasn't given enough attention by the stylist because sometimes it's still curly, then it becomes straight again.

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Hidden Love (2023) poster

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  • Score: 9.0 (scored by 46,720 users)
  • Ranked: #54
  • Popularity: #97
  • Watchers: 82,769

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