Highly addictive
This is indeed a story about hidden love as it offers several spaces where the love seems to be hidden. How well it is hidden is however kind of questionable and made me wonder how oblivious the people in this story are.The story itself offers very little new, girl meets her older brothers roommate, gets a crush on him and tries to hide it. things happen, people grow up... Girl is smart, mature, straight forward with pretty much everything (except for the hidden love thing). There are a few episodes in the middle where she goes immature and takes a turn out of character but other than that I she is definitely one of the most fun to watch female leads in all of C-dramaland.
Boy has had a life full of difficulties but somehow becomes superman, good at school, good athlete, great work ethics.. and even though girls keep whispering "what a handsome guy he is" he is not really the type to flirt around as he only cares about his work and found family... The guy is extremely kind... and playful oh so playful. He even seems to have basic communication skills that go beyond wrist grabs.He is said to have a good moral compass (he says that over and over until the audience is sure to believe it. He is overly protective of his best friends little sister and though he is the sweetest guy ever he does have a bunch of flags here and there, and while some would think it is because of the age gap, I say the age gap is not the issue bere. the guy is pretty jealous, and seems to forget to lack the ability to include others in his process of making decisions.
These two grow in a beautiful way and make tasteful, playful fireworks... With great dialog. lots of cheese.. and I mean a lot of cheese... so much cheese it may make you cringe.
When it comes to the side characters:
The girls brother is 80% sweet and the audience voice 20% annoying, but I am now intrigues by this guy and would love to see more of him.
The friends and found family in this are lovely (except for one but she is there to forward the plot) and the supporting characters do their job well. the fat friend is unnecessarily portrayed as a guy who eats like pig... and yes that bothers me quite a bit. Some twists are a bit meeh, others good the flow of the story is decent and highly addictive so even with all these flaws I could not give it less than a 9.
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What Is Not To Like?
I believe everything in the rave of this drama has been accurately expressed in most, if not all that’s said already. I mean it’s about nearly perfectly executed. A girls love in every step from when she felt it to its maturation, is so relatable to us, no matter what age. For older ones (me), it’s a reminder of that time when our stomachs felt butterflies in our crushes. Younger generation? Yeah, this is a great portrayal of union done right. The leads, Zhao Lusi and Chen Zhe Yuan, absolutely nailed their parts and carried this drama to a nestling masterpiece.I particularly loved the way she cared for him. She’s much younger than him ((story) but her defense of him, from giving him money, to throwing water, to comforting him like she’s his mother was so touching. I don’t want to get mushy on everyone so really. Find out for yourself why this drama scored so high among viewers. It has a great storyline and wonderfully acted by its main and supporting cast. Of course, bravo to screen writer and producer and their team.
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The sweetest drama of 2023
I have been waiting for this drama since last year when i found out lusi was filming this drama after she finished filming gen z.. i love this pairing , because previously I've also watched dramas from Chen Zhe Yuan. so I was happy when I found out that they were paired up in the drama. I know that Lusi is the queen of chemistry, she has charm and chemistry with all of her co-stars,but lusi with chen zhe yuan is very different, their chemistry is very good both in the drama and outside the drama.
Even though the plot is rather simple, this drama has quite complex characters and backgrounds. especially when ML fell in love with FL and tried to pursue FL. this moment was so sweet that it made all the viewers always smile to themselves when watching this drama. The chemistry between FL and her brother was also very good, they were two funny siblings.
Well IMO this drama is the best romance comedy of the year 2023
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LIKE RIDING A CAROUSEL; DELIGHTFUL, CALMING, AND PURE *DJX* RIZZ OF THE YEAR AWARD
**Don't watch if you're into a rollercoaster, complicated romance/drama. This would seem like a boring series because it's like looking into a couple's intimate life. But I forgive all the flaws it has because of how it made me feel. This couple had me grinning, crying, blushing, kicking my feet giggling. I keep dropping the dramas I watched after this. I think I have seen this 9 times already (and counting) **The best drama I have seen this year (or ever). It's not perfect, but with all the drama out there, this is the closest to what a relationship should be with family, friends, colleagues, and partners. They had ups and downs but they think rationally and always communicate. The plot is so simple but had a lot of people cringing because of the age gap (5 years in the drama and 7 years in the novel. I read a bit of the novel because waiting for the next episode was killing me but I didn't finish it because the translation was meh). When I watched it, it wasn't like Jiaxu was grooming Sang Zhi. It was wholesome; as a middle school she admired him as a sort of big brother, as high school she started having a crush on him and it developed naturally. He saw her as a younger sibling and protected her as her brother Sang Yan did up until the time he was the one that needed to be protected and taken care of, he started seeing Sang Zhi in a different light. Watching Sang Zhi portray the different stages of her life and Jiaxu's flirting were the best parts. This has one of the best confessions I have ever seen. I don't believe I have ever seen a drama unfold this way with zero dragging and just two people falling in love together (he is a central AC, alright). The way he teases, flirts and the little touches are done so well that you can not help but have a silly grin on your face. I don’t think I’ve ever watched a drama as sweet and romantic as this one before. Thank you for playing the greenest girlfriend and boyfriend Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan! Lusi especially, she had a lot of input and influence in this drama. I savoured every single episode and will watch it over and over again. This drama has my heart. It wasn't a roller coaster ride, this is like riding a carousel, delightful, calming, and pure. I am so obsessed with this drama, it's not even funny.
PS. To all the future viewers who are reading this, trust me, you guys are so lucky you got to binge-watch it all together because I know how much I had to suffer every day waiting for each episode to air. BTS and the nuggets at the end of each episode, RIP replay button.
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Cool water on a hot day
Let me just start by saying that this drama is not for everyone. This is a typical coming-of-age drama and if that's not your thing, you may find the plot not to your liking.I think the crew did a great job in delivering this drama. It's very lighthearted, very warm, and most of all, very relatable. This is the appeal of coming-of-age and this drama exploited it beautifully to deliver a very charming series that I quickly fell in love with. Walking with Sang Zhi in her simple little world was such a pleasant and heartwarming experience.
The only reason I didn't give this a ten is because the plot felt just a little bit weak, but it was barely noticeable so this does deserve a 10.
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Heartwarming and fluttering
I absolutely adore this drama.The drama adaptation of a novel by the same name develops a friendship turned romance.
We follow the FL, Sang Zhi, growing up and developing a crush turned first love towards her brothers best friend Duan Jiaxu. During her childhood, he is a supporting friend who sees her as a little sister. During this time, their relationship is truly that of friendship or siblings, with him helping her out with school and her harboring this secret crush.
Heartbroken and young, Sang Zhi looses contact with him on purpose to get over her love for him. When they reunite, her being in university in the same city as him, they restart their friendship and support each other. Slowly a budding romance starts to bloom that had me smiling and giggling all the time. By the time they are romantically interested in each other and developing a romance, they are both consenting adults with a 5 years age gap. This is something they both take into account and thus the romance and chemistry is immensly there whilst going at a slower pace to respect both of the characters consent and pace.
FL's older brother Sang Yan adds an comedic and warming place in the story. Him being the overprotective older brother that likes to joke a little much with Sang Zhi, further reminds us of the playful ways Sang Zhi used to behave towards her brother when she was younger.
Both Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu have their troubles along the way but their relationship is for the most part, very impressive with great communication and trust between each other.
I binged this drama in two weeks and didn't really feel the urge to skip forward in most of the scenes. Both main characters are exceptionally acted by their actors Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan, and Victor Ma as the brother, who each really gave wonderful light to the story with brilliant portrayal. The music complimented the story so much with its love-themed ballads and song. This is one of the few dramas that I would consider 10/10 for me.
Its the perfect youth-drama if you are looking for an fluttering romance where the actors have ALOT of chemistry and lovely dovey scenes. The first part of the drama focuses on family and one-sided first love. Moving on to the second part where FL has grown, focuses on friendship, a slowgrowing romance (between adults!) and family.
I really do recommend this to everyone that likes a drama where romance can be portrayed in various ways and where the young protagonist San Zhi grows with time and experience new things when reaching adult age.
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Exceptionally Executed and Performed
Hidden Love is an exceptionally executed and performed contemporary romance. Emotional, humorous, heartwarming, romantic - honestly, it evoked a ton of positive feelings and featured some incredibly swoony moments. Zhao Lusi continues to impress me with her ability to sink into her characters, making her mesmerizing onscreen. Sang Zhi's evolution from shy teenager with a crush to feisty adult willing (and able) to protect the man she loved was done to perfection. Not to be outdone was Chen Zheyuan, who convinced me 100% the amusement Duan Jiaxu felt for his friend's kid sister could transform into the love of his life. The character's progression from friends to lovers felt so genuine, authentic, and earned. I could watch it over again and again (and I intend to soon).The romance worked so well because the two characters were dynamic individuals. They had their own careers and connections outside of the romance, but those elements never overshadowed the romance. The biggest connection between the two is Sang Yan, the best friend of Duan Jiaxu and brother to Sang Zhi. He brought a wonderful dynamic in his relationship with both of them individually and as a couple. In particular, I loved the sibling rivalry and love between him and Sang Zhi. Their interactions felt so natural that I felt like I was watching two real life siblings on-screen, not actors.
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deeply hidden secret of a young heart...
I rarely write reviews about movies and dramas but with this one I just had to!! For the past 6 years I've seen hundreds of different dramas but there was no drama that I wanted to rewatch right after finishing it. This one is the first one!!There is just something unique about this drama, even though the short synopsis is not really that outstanding, but watching the trailer really encouraged me to start this drama. And I'm so happy I did that!!
The chemistry between the main leads got me so hooked that at some scenes I was literally screaming, laughing and punching the air (imagine that lmao). I really want to see Lusi and Zheyuan together again in a different drama, the chemistry was off the charts not only in the drama but also behind the scenes. The actress that plays little SZ is firstly soo cute but also matches the energy and character of Zhao Lusi so perfectly as if she was the real small version of her. And Sangyan!! - I've never watched any drama with this actor but from the very first episode I fell in love with him, he really played the role of a big brother so well that it made me believe he was really Lusi's real brother. The siblings duo was my favourite after the main leads of course. Also, the friendships with SZ roommates felt so real and they were always supportive of her. And the way SZ understood everything about DJX family situation and dealt with JY - this shows how mature she actually was. And the most important point is that there were actually no big problems between the main leads, they shared every single thing with each other, they relied on each other, they trusted each other, and because of this their relationship was very healthy!! ( which is rare to see in dramas)
It might seem like this is only a comfort and easy drama to watch but it is not, because it shows the reality of the relationships between people (not only love-wise but also friend-wise) we always meet struggles everywhere we go.
And for those who dropped the drama because of their age gap (in the novel the age gap was 7 years, so 5 years is not that much) + I want to remind you all that DJX fell in love with SZ when she was already an adult, so there is no problem with that and no pedophilia???
And for those who dropped the drama just after few minutes or few episodes: the worst decision you made in your life!! Never judge the book by its cover or by a few pages... I recommend you to actually watch more than just two episodes.
And finally the soundtrack!! - the music was so beautiful and so well fitted for this drama, I literally searched for every single song the instant I heard them.
Hidden Love perfectly showcases the beautiful stages of a journey of young people. Adding the amazing performance not only from the main leads but also from other actors - this story can make you sincerely laugh, cry, love, and smile!! I hope everyone who want to find comfort and genuinely feel some emotions will watch this drama <3 And I hope you will love it the same way as I did!! I'm actually so sad to say goodbye to Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu :(( Well done <3
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Unfolding a Delicate Love Story!❤️
"Hidden Love" is a delightful and heartwarming youth romance drama that portrays the naive and sweet feelings of a young girl experiencing her first crush. The drama provides a refreshing and realistic portrayal of the protagonist, Sang Zhi, capturing the essence of youthful love and the little things one does for someone they admire."Hidden Love" brings a fresh and natural perspective to the gradual development of feelings between a girl and a brother figure. While there have been other plots exploring similar dynamics, this drama manages to stand out and feel distinctively different. It deviates from the typical college senior or classmate love stories, offering a unique twist that captures the viewers' attention.
What sets "Hidden Love" apart is the natural progression of the relationship between Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu. The story carefully navigates their connection, allowing their bond to grow organically over time. It avoids clichés and contrived plotlines, ensuring that the romance feels genuine and authentic.
The acting is truly outstanding and feels incredibly authentic. Zhao Lusi delivers a remarkable performance, especially in her portrayal of a school girl. Her convincing acting makes it easy to believe that she is actually that innocent and young. Chen Zhe Yuan, as the male lead, shines in his role, successfully bringing the character of Duan Jiaxu to life. His portrayal captures the essence of an older brother figure, showcasing a genuine and caring relationship with Sang Zhi. The chemistry between the two leads is palpable, adding depth and believability to their on-screen connection.
The supporting characters play a crucial role in advancing the story and leaving a lasting impact on viewers. Although the drama primarily focuses on the main characters, it skillfully incorporates the supporting cast to provide glimpses into their lives and personalities. This allows for a deeper understanding of each character without extending the length of the series.
One standout supporting character is Sang Yan, Sang Zhi's brother. The connection between Sang Zhi and Sang Yan is beautifully portrayed, showcasing a realistic and loving sibling relationship. These moments of bickering not only add humor and entertainment value but also make the audience feel a sense of familiarity and connection.
The presence of these supporting characters not only adds dimension to the drama but also enhances the overall storytelling. Their interactions with the main characters provide valuable insights and moments of growth. Despite not being the central focus, their impact on the narrative is significant and leaves a deep impression.
"Hidden Love" effectively balances the exploration of the main characters' journeys while giving enough attention to the supporting cast. This approach allows viewers to connect with and appreciate the various characters, making the drama a well-rounded and satisfying watch.
The songs featured, such as "Be Your Light" and "Forever Star," enhance the drama by perfectly aligning with the scenes and evoking the intended emotions. "Be Your Light" serves as the backdrop for the romantic and adorable moments between the leads, capturing the sweetness and innocent blushes that accompany their interactions. The lyrics and melody complement these scenes, adding an extra layer of charm to their budding romance. On the other hand, "Forever Star" comes into play when the storyline calls for more depth and intensity in their relationship. This song creates a sense of emotional gravity, emphasizing the significant moments and hurdles that the characters face. The lyrics and composition of "Forever Star" resonate with the audience, capturing heartfelt emotions and adding a layer of poignancy to their evolving romance.
While the plot may not be groundbreaking, the drama excels in the way it tells the story. The pacing is remarkable, allowing the narrative to unfold at a satisfying rhythm. As Zhao Lusi's first school drama, she showcased her talent and convincingly embodied the character. It was evident that her acting skills allowed her to effectively capture the essence of an innocent girl experiencing her first love. Duan Jiaxu's character has sparked discussions among viewers, questioning how he could show such care and protectiveness towards his friend's sister. However, understanding his background sheds light on his actions. Coming from a family lacking love and support, when he finally found a sister figure in Sang Zhi, who genuinely admires and cares for him, it's only natural for him to feel a strong sense of protectiveness and care in return. As a witness to Sang Zhi's childhood, this only strengthens his bond with her. When his romantic feelings develop for her as an adult, it is not intentional but rather a genuine spark that he takes the time to verify before confidently expressing his affection. Regarding comments about the actress appearing too childish, it's important to note that Sang Zhi's character does have a certain level of innocence and childishness. However, her growth throughout the drama is not one-sided. She displays strength and resilience when needed, standing up for herself and her loved ones. Likewise, Duan Jiaxu's character is portrayed as strong and not overly protective or possessive, allowing Sang Zhi to have her own experiences and interactions with other admirers.
Overall, "Hidden Love" is a light youth modern romance drama that will take us on the path of a sweet and pure love. From start to finish, the drama engages viewers with its well-executed aspects, captivating storytelling, and all those heart-fluttering moments. The drama comes highly recommended for its well-executed aspects and its ability to keep viewers hooked from start to finish.
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SWEETNESS OVERLOADED
From a young grade school she knew she has crush to this boy, best friend of her brother, as he treated her nice like a little sister. Her persistent holding on childish infatuation like treasuring his presents and memories. Age 15 in high school she met again with this (now) university boy - a room mate of his brother at the uni, her brother trusted him to watch over her to her delight. He became her physic tutor, a better tutor than her own brother, became a mentor to her young tender heart. He treated her with kindness and protective nature that she obligated to listen to his advise. When she got caught for admiration of the boy in a drawing book, she said that was an On-line Boyfriend so now everybody were worried about her mysterious on-line relationship. On line boyfriend became her scapegoat, diverting her real feeling to her brother's friend. Even he concerned and objected the fake on-line relationship which she happily obliged to indulge him....it's all smokescreen.Ep 7 she's about to finish high school and plan to go to Uni where the boy lived, overheard her brother saying that his friend has a girlfriend that shattered her heart. She flew to Yihu just to find out if he really had a girlfriend, family were panicked and called him to meet her at the airport, in the airport she saw a young woman came with him and presumed she's the girlfriend. When he asked why she's here? She said she'd promised to meet her on-line boyfriend here, same lie she kept to avoid revealing the real reason. Pretty sad indeed she finally flew back home heart broken, she decided to bury all things about him and moved on with her life. Pre-commitment in relationship, Shang Zhi had experience many heartache because of Jia Xu treatment as a little sister, he always called her 小朋友 xiǎo péng yǒu. She regret she's being so young, age was a big issue. Not without afford she tried to move on with her young life, but things always bring them back in contact, he treated her as a family while she's hoping for more.
My favorite was ep 20, when Sang Yan found out about their romance, 3 actors did amazing with their characters - we can relate to each of them, the fight was redefining friendship to be accepted as a brother-in law. funny part was Sang Yan went back to Jia Xu's apartment that he just punched. Zhao LuSi was awesome, rendered speechless as to why her brother hit hard on her boyfriend aka his own bestfriend - with emotion bursting with tears she wanted to cut ties with him although it's resolved for the best, Another favorite was ep 23 were Sang Zhi revealed her deepest secret, overwhelm with surprise and gratitude Jia Xu weep happy and realized how much love she had, the romantic part was the kitchen scene - kind of seductive.
Overloaded sweetness like we eat too much of candies, our tooth hurts. I am just glad there's nothing cross the line their relationship when she's so young....because that would be loathsome. Zhao LuSi (Sang Zhi) was the sweetest innocent girl in love, the relationship with Sang Yan (Victor Ma) were likely brother and sister - the brother that loved a little sister but didn't want to be bothered by her whim - he let his best friend to take care of her. Duan Jia Xu (Chen Zhe Yuan) 5 years older (7 years older in the book) a gentle, responsible, attentive, kind that protect and always nice to Sang Zhi - a better version of 2nd brother to Zhi Zhi. Jia Xu acted really matured and responsible, with all passionate dialog, Jia Xu showed he really into Shang Zhi, wooing done right. If I thought first that this drama was for 13 yo fans base, boy..... was I surprisingly wrong! This drama has more kisses than some c-drama I have ever watched, Zhe Yuan's spark of yearning and longing was pretty alluring. Sang Zhi was fallen in love in their first meting, however Duan Jia Xu has fallen harder in love with her on wards. What I think LuSi was perfect for Sang Zhi character, but she seems to hold/restrain her character more than Chen Zhe Yuan - he's more open in embracing and kissing scenes than LuSi.
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"Cant tell you, so that you wont think im weird" Thats why its HIDDEN LOVE.
This must be the best cdrama of 2023 yet for me. I always love ZLS and she deliver it and left no crumbs on the other hand, CZY is a great actor, he's too sexy and foxy as DJX. I cant tell everything because I want you to watch the series right now!! For someone like a cdrama and a drama critic like me, this is really really good. Trust me! Some of you may not like their first meeting but its getting really interesting. Their relationship is the best of all the best. So realistic. Hope you find DJX in your life and a SZ in your lifetime. ❤️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?
