A beautiful series!
A beautiful series, one of the best I have lately seen. The two lead actors, in spite of being rookies, are outstanding, with a special mention for Title, who is able to express the most subtle feelings just with the eyes. The filmography is beautiful and interesting, with a vintage patina when showing the earlier life of the two leads; the many flashbacks are functional to the general storytelling, but perhaps they could have been cut by at least 25%, especially in the final episodes, which largely consist of flashbacks, although this is done in an intelligent way, showing the same scenes from a different camera angle, or with new micro-scenes, to better depict the feelings of the other partner. The general pace is slow, but never boring. On the whole, the mood is quite sad, but not excessively so: the prevailing feeling is that of calm and nostalgy. I also liked the parsimonious use of makeup (the actors do not look like clowns, as it often happens). A plus are the comments of the actors at the end of each episode. The positive ending (for the two leads) is a nice counterweight to the generally sad mood of the other episodes. The abrupt ending for the secondary couple looks strange, perhaps it hints at a continuation. It seems that they are planning to release the series as a movie: this could be the occasion for fixing some evident problems, such as the excessive use of flashbacks.Was this review helpful to you?
TO NOTE
-the budget is very low. Low budget =barely any sponsorships, not enough money for longer episodes, not enough for location changes. Many people came into this drama upset that it wasn’t long enough, which is pretty understandable but it is also understandable as to why it’s not. There simply isn’t enough funding for the drama to be longer than what it is, which sucks :(. Thai bls are known for their product placement, which is the major reason why the dramas are so high quality. Thai bls also usually release a teaser a year before the drama releases to attract potential sponsors. Hopefully more potential sponsors see how in demand KBLs actually are! Korean BLs can be really profitable so hopefully in the future we can see hour long episodes!
-I’ve also seen people compare this drama to LOM, which was a really good drama. This drama was in production around the same time as LOM, it wasn’t made after. It was in production before A.C.E’s (Junhee’s group) Higher comeback. I would understand the criticism of the length of each episode if this drama was made after LOM, but considering the time of production it was common for KBLS to be around that length. I just wish instead of releasing this as an 8 episode drama, it would have been much better for it to be a movie instead. All episodes combined is movie length, and would have made everything go more smoothly and probably more in depth. I understand why they made it into eight episodes as it’s more profitable, BUT I won’t be surprised if they release a movie version like with other bls.
ANYWAY MY REVIEW!
*Knowing this was low budget, I took it into consideration with the factors, “was this good enough with what they had to work with”*
This drama wasn’t anything EXTRAORDINARY, but it wasn’t anything bad either. It was simple and good. Compared to the dark and complex stuff that I usually watch this was a breath of fresh air to just watch something light and cute. In a way it was like taking a break from all that darkness. The gist of all this is
IF YOU WANT FLUFF HERE IT IS^ ^
The acting was pretty good as well, however it was pretty obvious that the actors who played the crown prince and bodyguard were new to this by episode 2. However I did notice their acting get much better as we went on with each episodes. Junhee’s acting stood out the most (he is the most experienced) he understands well that small movements and expressions COUNT as well as big. Many actors forget that when acting it’s not all about big emotive expressions to get you by. You are playing a human, not everything goes by the same 5 emotive expressions to show you are feeling something. When you aren’t the focus of the scene you are still in character. As someone who loves film and wishes to study it that was something I took notice on!
The story…. No it wasn’t awful or bad, but I wish the writers did more. At some moments I felt bad for the actors because they had just had to work with it. And boy did they work it. There were some scenes that I thought were a missed opportunity, like they could have done more with the scene were Eunho slaps that dudes butt, or when they are all sleeping in the same room could have been way funnier. For all I know maybe they did, and just cut it out but maybe they didn’t. If the show could have been longer I would have loved to hear more about the prince and bodyguard’s life. Hell, even Eunho’a friend somehow.
The romance! What I loved about the show is that the romance didn’t happen abruptly. It all felt so natural. By maybe episode 2-3 you could tell that Eunho was starting to like the crown prince from the glances he would take. They both felt drawn to one another and it felt right. An observation I made is that there wasn’t any moment of Eunho or the crown prince questioning their sexuality, which leads me to believe that Eunho was already out or just fully accepting of himself which is sweet to see :)
Production… I quickly understood how low budgeted
the drama was after hearing the outside noise ;-; there is a lot of outside noise… take that as you will
Overall the drama is pretty good! If you want something fluffy to watch and you got time to spare definitely give it a watch!
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One of the most amazing short series I watched
OMAIIIGGGOOOTTT! I watched this as 'Rules Were Never Her Thing' in DramaBox. This short series is so good! I can't explain how much you guys that haven't watched this should watch it cus honestly I watched most short series and most of them weren't really good but this one is just wow! From the acting and most of the short series doesn't bother with the details and stuff but this one does.The actors did a perfect job on showing/expressing the roles and like even when they cried it was so real. Not to be comparing but these days most actors would just put tear drop to make it seem like they're crying and stuff but not this one. From the gazed of Yu Yin seeing the painting of Dawn to Ke Chun looking at Yu Yin with his eyes showing so much emotions especially in ep. 62 when they tried to shake off the cars that followed them. It was too good! I'm also in love with the background music they really did a great job at making it climax by putting the perfect OST in each and every scenes.
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What I love most about this drama is their comedic antics especially between goblin and the grim reaper. Their chemistry is on point, even much better than the chemistry between goblin and his bride. Sadly, for me, GY and Kim Go Eun didn't have that much chemistry. But don't get me wrong, their acting is good. It's just that they don't have that vibrant chemistry. Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na's chemistry is even better than them! So love their love story.<3
Some say, the series went downhill after ep 14 and the ending was forced and I somewhat, quite agree. But I also don't know how to end it any other way that would satisfy the viewers, so I have accepted the ending as good enough.
Rewatch Value - If I will watch this again, I will only watch this because of goblin and grim reaper. And Sung Jae, too! lol
P.S. This drama has one of the best soundtracks ever! I Will Go to You Like the First Snow lyrics is so heartbreaking.
I also love how the writer added a poetic touch to the script.:)
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1BL Theme
I like the story of college students exploring their different aspects of career through interning. My 5 star rating is that this should not have been promoted as a BL story line but more of with BL character and the behind the scence of advertisements production. I like looking at great ads and Iam aware those 2 minutes ads takes a lot of work. Now showing something like how the actors in their various intership roles having to take part in the creation of an ad from start to end in funny way would have been entertaining. This was boringWas this review helpful to you?
Delightful and entertaining.
This is becoming my favourite series to watch in the evenings. I normally only watch a series after all episodes have been aired, but i don't want to wait.I really like the ML and FL i think they have good chemistry together. There is intrigue, investigation, enough danger to make things interesting.
The story so far is good, but i have only watched 21 episodes so far.
since episode 16 they have switched the translation i think to a machine, and it really doesn't work. the first 16 made sense when reading the subtitles but on occasions now it is difficult to piece together the conversations, so i hope they go back to the same team who translated in the beginning.
i will update when i have finished watching all the series.
Ok i have finished watching and it was worth the wait. It did not disappoint. It was delightfully entertaining. I could pick some holes in the story that is why i rated it for me a 9 however it was overall worth watching. The music seemed to fit quite well, cinematography was good. the fight scenes were well crafted. what's not to enjoy. many thanks to the crew and cast for such an excellent series.
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watch it, you won’t regret it !!!
This has to be one of the best dramas I’ve ever watched. The actors did such a great job portraying their roles. I’m one of those people who don’t mind clichés, but sometimes I just need something “new” and different, you know ? Well, Hidden Love didn’t disappoint. The plot is unique, so bonus points for that. Just a heads-up for those who don’t like the age-gap trope : the ML was 19 when he first met the FL, who was 14 at the time, but it’s important to note that they DID NOT have any sexual/romantic interactions until much later in the show. The FL was of legal age when the ML started developing feelings for her. Personally, it didn’t bother me much, but I get why some people might find it icky.Now I’d like to talk about the main characters a bit.
Sang Zhi (FL) : She’s childish at the beginning of the show, but I promise it’ll get better (they skip 2 years foward to when she’s 19 in 8 ep, so dw). She’s quite shy and introverted, which isn’t much of a problem, not every fl has to be badass or wtv, but even after she gets with the ml, she has issues with intimacy and i’m not even talking about sex, just simple things like kissing. I found that a little annoying, because Imagine getting the man of your dreams, who’s not only hot af, but also respectful and considerate and not wanting to kiss him. Even when she did it, it felt kinda forced, like girl, kiss him like you mean it 😭 Aside from that, I liked her character and the way she stood up for others and herself.
Jia Xu (ML) : He’s the most considerate ML I’ve ever seen in a drama, he literally pays attention to her every little move. He’s too good of a man to be realistic tbh. Their relationship is healthy, no unnecessary fights or arguments, just pure love. He’s like a fatherly figure to Sang Zhi, but not like in a weird way, it’s just the way he cares for her so much and always puts her first.
Overall, I loved this drama and I’ll never stop recommending it :)
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Such a Masterpiece!!
I haven’t watched such a good historical drama for a long time after Nirvana in Fire. I feel like I would have regretted if I didn’t watch it. Here are the reasons why I like Story of Ming Lan1. Strong Chemistry
Though I know that Feng Xiao Feng and Zhao Liying are husband and wife in real life , I never thought that they would have such strong Chemistry. I love to see Gu Tingye teasing Ming Lan everytime.This strong chemistry between the two main leads is what took me from the beginning to the end.
2.Casts
As a C-drama addict, I saw so many familiar faces in this drama. Like Zhu Yilong from Guardians, Xiao Tao (Wang Zi Wei) from A Love so Beautiful, Gu Si Ye from Battle of Changsha and Surgeons, the new emperor from Nirvana in Fire and even Gu Tingye’s step-mom is from Surgeons. All of these supporting casts portray their characters very beautifully.
3.Cinematography
If u love the best cinematography, this is the right drama for you.The costumes and manors are very beautiful, Action scenes are done very carefully, and even the polo scenes are done with less CGI. Among the series I have watched ,Story of Ming lan is said to be the one of the few dramas with such great cinematography.
4.Strong Female Lead
I have always been a fan of Strong Female Lead and Ming Lan is one of them. Ming Lan is intelligent but had to hide her talents in order to survive. She is normally calm and pleasant but she will attack fiercely when one of her friend faces injustice. Zhao Liying portrays the character of Shen Ming Lan amazingly and as a fan of Zhao Liying, I would say that this is probably her best work since her debut.
5.Director
I was impressed with Zhang Kai Zhou in Battle of Changsha, Ode to Joy 2 and Love Me if You Dare, he did even a better work in Story of Ming Lan.
6.Strong Plot
A strong, tight- woven plot is everything that matters in a drama. This drama not only has a strong but also realistic plot. Unlike other typical dramas, the two leads didn’t fall in love at first sight. I love that their affections for each other grow with time, Ming Lan firstly calls Gu Tingye as second uncle, then Husband and Er Lang. There are also many funny scenes, like Tingye doing the make up on Ming Lan’s face.
7.Moral lessons
We want to gain something after watching a drama,right? I liked a quote that Ming Lan said “Being Moral is in itself a privilege”. She also taught us to be strong, brave and love your family.
8.Music and Rewatch value
I notice only one song by Yisa Yu and Hu Xia but it is not bad.I’d definitely rewatch after some time and enjoy it again.
Most importantly, you need to have patience while watching Story of Ming Lan. This is not a usual drama that will reach climax after 6 or 7 episodes and the character build-up indeed takes some time, but never drop this drama halfway, or you would definitely regret.
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From the not predictable story which is really rare to do with k-dramas because you generally always know how it's going to end; to the superb acting done by everyone, especially Kim Myung Min (he will for me be one of the best male performance in drama this year with Lee Sun Kyun and Ji Jin Hee). Not to forget the OST that mixed really well with all the scenes!
I don't give it a 10 because this drama had a little problem, like some people said in the comments, there was a little disappointment with one of the character story turn, he was quite important in the beginning because we saw him quite often but after we didn't saw him at all, so I was like why did they introduce this guy to us if at the end they don't even matter?? (people who watched it will know about who I'm talking).
I don't think everyone can like that kind of drama because a lot of people prefer to watch basic rom-com with young actors most of the time (and ofc I like it too), but I wish people would watch it, not many did thought it was really really good! If you like family, romance, fantasy and funny-tragedy (I don't know if this exist) you will really like it.
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Lighthearted drama with sizzling scenes
First of all, it is a bit disheartening to see other reviews on this drama. I rarely write any review but i need to give justice to this drama. I know there's some things this drama lacks (choppy editing) but it it suits for people who wants something lighthearted storyline, sizzling chemistry of the actors & great soundtrack.Yuan Bing Yan is cute in this but sometimes loss. This is the first time i see Zheng Ye Cheng drama so i cant compare. But he is sure a good actor!
Give it a go till the last episode and then judge.
Have fun watching.
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Cinematic, beautiful, and a realistic story
I'm surprised that the rating for this isn't as high as it should be. The story was really shot beautifully and the cast was amazing. There was something really special about this drama that kept me going. The storytelling is really realistic and deep dives into the relationship of two best friends that evolves as they meet new people in their life. It's not your typical romance, more so its a coming of age that highlights the society's issues around LGBT relationships, families, and so on. This one was really beautiful and special to me and I'm really glad I watched it.Was this review helpful to you?
The beginning and end of this show feel disconnected. The first half of this show was almost entirely focused on Lin Qian as the main character, but the at some point it felt like her story line became second to all the other story lines they tried to introduce with many of the secondary, and even tertiary, characters. The second half og the drama felt like a handful of smaller story lines with no common direction. Story wise I think that it started strongly. Part of the initial story kind of surrounded Lin Qian trying to figure out who saved her. I actually think that this issue, among other initial incidents, was resolved too soon, causing the rest of the episodes to kind of branch off into less interesting stories. I also feel the issue of Li Zhi Cheng’s brother was glossed over a little bit. Like, it could have been a little bit more prominent and deeper than it was.
I did enjoy the fact that this drama avoided a few overused tropes. -There were no extenuating love triangles. -No extremely overbearing parents (mostly, Li Zhi Cheng’s father could be a little much sometimes but in more reasonable ways.) - I really loved Lin Qian’s relationship with her brother. He is super protective of her. Despite having his own opinions of what would be best for Lin Qian’s life, he is generally accepting and respective of her own decisions. They argue and butt heads but just about always make up.
The best part of this show: there are a lot of of fluffy romantic scenes between main and secondary characters respectively. Many of the characters have really great chemistry.
There are two characters towards the end of the show that show up a lot that are not Chinese. I am pretty sure that, like most Chinese shows, this show was dubbed over. But I really have to give it to the two actors and who ever did their voice dubs because I hardly found times were the voices and the movements on their faces did not match. They did a really good job. The voices also fit the characters nicely.
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Not your cliche fairytale dramas
The drama from the start has been chaotic and funny but at the same time does well with the emotional moments too. The chemistry between the leads isn't fiery and passionate but kept subtle and fluffy. There are many funny moments and twists in every episode but it never overpowers the core of the story. The drama isn't your fairytale ones but a mature approach to such topics.The dynamics between the family be it that of husband - wife or father- daughter are complicated because of their painful past and struggles. Every character be it the family members or other characters have their own inner struggles that slowly comes out and is healed with the help of their loved ones.
Ji Jin Hee nailed it with his role as Mu Jin. Till now I have only seen him in serious roles but he knows how to pull off both emotional and funny moments well. Kim Jee Soo as a mother and wife showed her conflicting emotions really well. Na Eun and Min Ho too have done good with their part, they are not great but not bad too.
It is one good drama if you are looking for something more than the average cute fluffy dramas that are going on right now.
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This review may contain spoilers
Revenge First, Love Later (Actually… Revenge Always)
Oki, where to start with this.First of all: Yu Xuan Chen as the ML? Never in doubt. The man showed up, delivered, and suffered beautifully.
This is my third project with this FL and I’m officially sold—she did great. Together they’re painfully good-looking, very stand in dramatic lighting while secrets loom energy.
Now the dynamic, because it’s deliciously unbalanced. I love a yearning ML, and this man is down bad. Meanwhile, the FL has exactly one brain cell and it is labeled REVENGE, so she keeps throwing him under the bus like it’s an Olympic sport. He never catches a break. And yet—he loves her unconditionally. Through lies, schemes, and emotional hit-and-runs. Tragic. Beautiful. I sighed loudly.
The chemistry is there, but the spice is low—and that fits. This was never about flirty fireworks. It’s about pain, loyalty, and emotional suffering with good lighting. Even the kisses reflect that: not awkward, just… not exactly scorching either.
Pacing-wise, ep.1–20 work well, especially since the ML figures out her real identity early. Immediate tension upgrade, no clueless era. Love that.
But around ep.21/22 the story starts dragging. Once the big reveals are out, the conflict stops escalating and just… loops. This did not need to be 30 episodes. Airing viewers suffered. Bingers might survive.
One thing that really doesn’t help the pacing is the excessive use of flashbacks. For a drama with already short episodes, it leans on them far too often, sometimes in very questionable moments—yes, even during intimate scenes. Nothing kills momentum quite like cutting away mid-emotion to replay something we’ve already seen.
Of course, the classic mini-drama tropes are present: revenge/rebirth, childhood connection, ML who’s loved her forever while hurting her to protect her, etc. The last two tropes need a decade-long nap because if I never see them again, it would still be too soon. Budget limitations are very visible, but I’m forgiving with mini dramas—they tend to be bolder, messier, and more fun than full-length dramas that play it safe.
Yes, most side characters are underdeveloped and comically decorative, but this is a short, punchy watch—not a character study dissertation. It knows what it is and commits.
Final thoughts: I was really into this for the first two-thirds. Then it becomes a dragged, messy spiral that makes you mad because the FL clearly outclasses the villains. Add the ML into the mix and the bad guys should’ve been DONE—yet we keep the charade going for no reason. As a revenge story, not very satisfying.
Still messy, still dramatic, still enjoyable in parts, and yes, a happy ending for the leads :)
Consume at your own risk 😉
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