Reviews

Dissapointed

I am very sad that i have to say this but….GemForths acting was not it. I was soooo excited for this series, I waited ever since the first trailer came out. It’s suppossed to be dark, uncomfortable, controversial so i expected the acting to be emotional and raw and…it was just meh. I love series where the looks and stares make the story and tell the emotion, instead of a dialogue, and I thought this one would be like that. They stared, but I felled nothing. They had long scenes of quietness, but it did nothing. I dropped it, because it was boring honestly.
And from what i’ve read in other reviews, I didn’t miss out. The trailer and pilot where dark and just something I was really excited for. And the series is not.
Maybe I watched too many series, or they are just making bullshit after bullshit.

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The only way to take this show is to see it as a long teaser.

This show was an interesting one. I finished it, so it was not that bad.
The actors... very good
The characters ... the shells were great but that's all I was given
Chemistry/romance ... none and that includes familial connections
OST ... good
Story line ... was interesting enough to finish
Choreography/fight scenes ... hmmm If a show does not have the ability to create great fight scenes but they want their show to have great fight scenes, they just shake and throw the camera around so much, no one can actually see what is happening ... stop it!

I liked the fantasy element, even though the graphics were lacking in some places, it was nice in others. It is the only reason I continued to watch it.

As I said before, the connections were strange. The ML and FLs connection seemed very forced, and they had no chemistry. The story was about saving evil people and having a bunch of innocent people die ... that's a new one for me. Left me with no satisfaction.

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Solid rom-com that evokes laughter with a unique twist

How Dare You's unique premise instantly caught my eye, and I thought it would be entertaining to watch two modern characters being thrust into the historical world, knowing they are both transmigrators. This is my first time watching WCR's work and I really enjoyed watching her acting. Her character had a wide emotional range that I thought was handled very well. Despite that, all the other actors stood their ground against her, especially TXT, whose acting was so convincing that I can't disassociate him with that character. CL was equally impressive, and I saw a new goofy side to him which I really liked.

The comedic timing of this drama was great and I really enjoyed scenes where they had to pretend to the other characters from the novel. I also loved that XHD gave so much attention and was so biased toward YWY, and how he fell for her first and fell hard. Watching them could be pretty heart-fluttering. There were also some emotional scenes that were acted very well, and the saddest for me was XYE' s part, iykyk. I did find the plot progression to be insanely fast though, and although the story tied together pretty well, I just think the part where Prince Duan believes the foresight excuse was pretty unbelievable because he was portrayed to be a genius strategist who could predict ahead of others. I also did not think enough attention was given to XYE and Prince Duan's relationship because it seemed like they just met and the next, they were already lovers? Also, Xu Yao was made out to be such an important character yet they axed him after a few episodes and even the book that was supposedly a game changer was not mentioned much. Lastly, although XHD's headaches were mentioned, it just felt like it went from 0 to 100 with how intense his headaches got, and was much of the driving force behind the story for that part. Felt like the headaches were exaggerated to keep the story moving forward.

Aside from that, I loved the sets, costumes, makeup, and most importantly, THE MUSIC!! Haven't heard such a good OST since TTEOTM. I was pleasantly surprised to find a lot of my favourite singers on the tracklist. Overall, good watch with tons of funny moments, good acting and music, and some very minor flaws that SHOULD NOT deter you from giving this drama a try! Would definitely rewatch if I'm ever in the mood to!

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Nope

Nothing original in this series. Can we have a mature female lead in a kdrama for a change? I could not watch this show without constant cringing because of Hyeri's character childish traits. Is constant crying, running away screaming or hiding under the table from her boyfriend a desirable behaviors in Korea?
Also did we really got another white truck accident trope in episode 3? Why do they always speed with honking without any effort to stop the car and checking if everything is okay with potential victim of a hit? So many questions...
Overall very boring drama with overused high school sweethearts trope.

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Xiao Fang is the best cdrama this year

Xiao Fang is an absolute delight to watch. The cinematography is breathtaking, with every scene beautifully composed to enhance the emotions and charm of the story. From the stunning landscapes to the intimate character moments, the visuals are consistently captivating and elevate the entire viewing experience.

What truly makes the series stand out is its perfect sense of humor. The comedy feels natural, well-timed, and genuinely entertaining, making every episode a joy to watch. The lighthearted moments blend seamlessly with the heartfelt ones, creating a balanced and engaging story.

The cast deserves immense praise as well. Every actor delivers an excellent performance, fully embodying their respective characters with authenticity, charisma, and emotional depth. Their chemistry is remarkable, making the relationships and interactions feel believable and memorable. Each portrayal adds richness to the series, making it easy to become invested in every character's journey.

Overall, Xiao Fang is a wonderfully crafted Chinese TV series that combines gorgeous cinematography, laugh-out-loud humor, and exceptional performances from the entire cast. It's a highly enjoyable watch that leaves a lasting impression.

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The story starts of well, there is good backstory for both ML and FL's childhood and how they act and why they act as such. As viewers you can't hope but root it all goes well then the story goes downhill. I won't even bother about the time-skip.

Fast forward post time-skip, the plot heavily depends upon tax fraud, laundering but there isn't enough scenes for us watchers to get hooked to it. I was very interested in the police officers wife, she was introduced in the turning point of the drama. They showed very late as to what happened to her -another pacing issue.

The chemistry between the leads is the sole reason I watched this alongside finding out what happened to the officers wife and why the officer still stayed home as a captain even after 6 years.

Lastly writers seriously need to come up with something better than the c-card for pity points man.

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I love BossNoeul, but this was unwatchable.

I know there are usually plenty of ridiculous moments in BLs (especially the comedy ones) but the secondhand embarrassment in this one really bothered me. There was no development, nothing made sense, just scene after scene of "funny" moments supposedly demonstrating the protagonists' love. Personally, I felt the plot got stuck in a circular structure and failed to move forward.
On top of that, the secondary couples had zero chemistry, and the younger brother's subplot could have been left out entirely. The only thing I found even remotely interesting was the main plot, yet it was just the same thing over and over again.

If you're going to watch it for BossNoeul, you might as well just rewatch their previous work.

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When Method Acting Shatters Reality: A Rare Partnership of Equals

One of the few BLs that features a true partnership of equals, rather than a standard "weak vs. strong" trope. Physically, they are almost equally matched. Both are actors, with the famous one having far more to lose, and both start out as seemingly real-world straight men with official girlfriends. The only other BLs I've seen with this kind of equal footing are KinnPorsche and Dare You to Death.
Both actors are good-looking with decent acting skills. Ollie, in particular, is exceptional at micro-expressions, displaying a brilliant capability of conveying deep emotions without words or even actions.
I love how "Deep In" captures a chaotic gay awakening brought on by extreme method acting, where both leads genuinely believe they are straight until their off-screen realities completely unravel because of their on-screen chemistry.

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A Win is Having Someone in Your Corner

I'll be honest, the main plot itself isn't anything new. I wasn't expecting much beyond an entertaining sports drama, but this turned out to be much more heartfelt than I imagined. While the overall story is fairly predictable and follows a familiar underdog formula, I have to admit that it was executed exceptionally well. While romance exists, it's never what drives the story. Instead, it's about finding the courage to keep moving forward. The drama celebrates perseverance, friendship, and the quiet determination to never give up on life.

The football team completely won me over. I didn't expect to become so invested in every member, but their friendship, teamwork, and individual growth made them impossible not to root for. Their story emphasizes that talent alone isn't enough, people thrive when they're given chance, encouragement, and someone who genuinely believes in them. I also appreciated the message about mental health. The drama reminds us that sometimes, all it takes is the right mentor, a nurturing support system, and people who continue to believe in you when you can't believe in yourself. That message is beautifully reflected in the football team's camaraderie and growth, which ultimately become the emotional heart of the drama.

Wang Fa's family deserves a special mention as the biggest green flag of all. Their unconditional support becomes the foundation that allows him to grow into the person he wants to be which was incredibly refreshing.

By the end, I realized this drama was never about winning matches. It was about finding the courage to keep moving forward, to never give up on yourself. Sometimes, success is finding the courage to stand back up, believing in yourself again, and having people beside you who refuse to let you give up. That's the victory this story celebrates the most. More than the football, and more than the romance, this drama leaves you hoping that everyone gets the chance to have people who support them the way this team supports one another.

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Absolute masterpiece

This drama was beautiful story told touched base on mental health and suicide which needs to be talked about more . Showing that not all kids have a prefect life sometimes school and sports are their only escape from dealing with abusive parents or ones that only come around to take money from them. even the pressures over being the prefect athlete that mental health should be watched too. I like the fact that touched on obsession and cyberbulling and how false narrative can harm a womens reputation. This was a cute love story the leads had such good chemistry i def watch them in another drama again. Their chemistry with young actors who played their students was everything. I highly recommend this drama you will learn alot.

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Lame

Jesus Christ. I genuinely can't remember the last time I watched something this spectacularly bad.
How does a guy make it into his twenties without ever hearing about alphas and omegas when he lives in a universe where literally everyone else seems to know what they are? He's spent his entire life in an ABO world where alphas, omegas, and secondary genders are apparently just a normal part of society, yet somehow nobody ever mentioned any of this to him? Not in school? Not by his parents? Not on the internet? If it's public knowledge, that's ridiculous. If it's a closely guarded secret, then why does everyone happily sit him down and explain the entire concept the moment he asks? And if it's supposed to be secret, why are there public clinics where anyone can casually walk in and get their secondary gender identified?
None of this holds up for more than five seconds. The world-building isn't just weak—it's fundamentally broken.
Then there's the acting. I honestly don't know what standards they used when casting these poor guys, but... dear God. Have any of them ever taken an acting class? Joined a drama club? Performed in a kindergarten Mother's Day recital? Anything?
The only explanation I can come up with is that the casting brief was simply "must be hot." Which raises another question: what exactly is Alpha Guy's brother doing here looking like the Thai Michael Jackson?
Okay, okay, that's mean. Making fun of someone's appearance isn't cool. But I swear that man gives me such severe uncanny valley vibes that I feel like I'm about to fall off the couch every time he appears on screen.
The writer deserves a standing ovation too—for all the wrong reasons. There's a famous writing rule: show, don't tell. It applies to TV just as much as novels. This show doesn't just ignore it—it grabs it by the ankles and launches it into low Earth orbit. Need to understand how this universe works? Easy. Character A just explains the entire setting to Character B in one massive exposition dump. Never mind that it often makes zero logical sense. Or, even better, Character B has literally lived in this world since birth, so why is someone explaining basic facts about society to them like they're an alien who landed yesterday? Nothing feels natural. Nothing feels lived-in. Everything feels like actors reading exposition because the audience needs a tutorial. It's so painfully artificial that it makes me physically cringe. I've read fanfiction written by fourteen-year-olds on AO3 that's more coherent than this.
And the chemistry between the leads? Don't waste your time looking for it because it isn't there. You can practically hear the director yelling from behind the camera: "Okay! Now passionately jump each other's bones!" And they respond with way too much wiggling to the point where I feel like I am watching worms wrestle. I've looked at my McDonald's order on cheat day with more sexual tension than these two have together.
Anyway... This show is basically the television equivalent of driving past a horrific car crash. It's objectively awful. It's probably going to haunt me in my sleep. And yet... I can't stop watching.
There's something deeply, deeply entertaining about witnessing a disaster of this magnitude unfold in real time.

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Puppy Love - a Slow-burn Romance across 25 episodes

Hidden Love follows the journey of Sang Zhi, whose childhood crush slowly blossoms into a mature romance over the course of several years.

As a child, Sang Zhi is a spirited, slightly spoilt girl who is forever bickering with her older brother and getting into trouble at school. When her teacher insists on meeting her parents, she recruits Duan Jia Xu—her brother's university friend—to pretend to be her older brother and rescue her from the situation. It is an amusing beginning to a relationship that neither of them realises will shape the rest of their lives.

From that moment, Sang Zhi quietly develops feelings for Jia Xu. Years later, they meet again while he is at university and she is a young teenager. Her childhood admiration gradually turns into genuine love, but like many teenagers, she is far better at hiding her feelings than expressing them.

When Jia Xu graduates and returns to his hometown, rumours begin circulating that he has a girlfriend. Heartbroken, Sang Zhi travels there hoping to find out the truth, only for a misunderstanding to spiral completely out of control. The consequences linger for years, driving them apart and causing them to lose contact altogether.

Watching this unfold, I could not help thinking, "If the two of you would simply sit down and have one honest conversation, we could save about eight episodes!" But then there would not be much of a drama. Miscommunication is hardly unique to Chinese culture, but in societies where people are generally more reserved about expressing their emotions, small misunderstandings can snowball into major heartbreak, especially during the early part of a courtship when each are uncertain of the feelings of the other.

Fate eventually intervenes when Sang Zhi enrols at a university in Jia Xu's hometown. They meet again as adults, and although they remain polite on the surface, old misunderstandings continue to cast a shadow over their relationship. As Sang Zhi cares for Jia Xu when he falls ill, his feelings for her deepen. Winning back her trust, however, proves far more difficult than falling in love.

The romance is filled with delightful moments of humour. Jia Xu is wonderfully smooth when it comes to flirting, alternating between subtle hints and bold declarations. One memorable scene sees him casually asking Sang Zhi about her "relationship status"—she nearly chokes in surprise while the audience is left grinning. At times, the drama feels like a masterclass in modern courtship: how to flirt, how to tease, how to pursue someone... and occasionally, how not to communicate.

Of course, once the flirting begins, so does the classic game of playing hard to get. Fortunately, neither lead becomes frustrating enough to make you want to throw your remote at the television.

The drama also explores a more serious lesson: making life-changing decisions without consulting the people you love can cause enormous damage to a relationship. One well-intentioned decision almost derails a romance that has taken years to bloom.

Several obstacles stand in their way.

First, Jia Xu carries an enormous financial burden because of his irresponsible father. I found this storyline particularly moving. Jia Xu spends years paying for mistakes he never made, and when he finally confronts his father, he says almost exactly what I had been thinking throughout the series.

The second obstacle is the five-year age gap. Personally, I never found this particularly convincing. Five years hardly raises eyebrows in today's world, so I felt the drama made rather more of it than necessary.

Hidden Love is, above all, a slow-burn romance. Very slow burn. It takes around twenty-five episodes before the relationship truly blossoms. I will confess that my streaming speed mysteriously increased to 1.25× somewhere along the way—not because the drama was boring, but because I was simply too impatient to find out what happened next!

One final nitpick: the English title.

How many Asian dramas have already been called Hidden Love? Surely we can do better. The original Chinese title, 偷偷藏不住, carries the meaning of quietly hiding one's feelings for someone. Titles such as A Love Kept Secret, The Boy I Secretly Loved, Love in Silence, My Secret Crush, or The Secret of My First Love would have captured that meaning far more beautifully while avoiding yet another generic English title. Come on, translators—if inspiration fails, even AI can help these days!

Overall, Hidden Love is an excellent portrayal of modern courtship in China. It captures the awkwardness of first love, the pain caused by poor communication, and the joy of watching two people gradually find their way back to each other. The cast is outstanding, the chemistry between Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan is irresistible, and the story is both heartwarming and surprisingly relatable.

If you enjoy gentle romances, plenty of butterflies, and enough flirting to make you smile from ear to ear, Hidden Love is well worth your time. And who knows—you might even pick up a few dating tips along the way.

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