ngl hated it
So cliche. So textbook. and so overdone.This plot from the beginning was horrible. I hate cliche plots. Give me something unique???
Not only that, the acting. THE. ACTING. I wanted to die. Don't get me wrong, ZLS is wonderful. However, I don't quite understand the hype. Her acting... is only okay. And I think it's because she quite literally sucks at these cutesy girl next door roles. It's way beyond cringe (which is weird because all she needs to do is be herself and it'd be great). Her more powerful and independent roles is where she really shines. This, was just not it.
On top of that..... just not a huge fan of CZY. hes.... just okay I guess....
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Perfect drama
Found such a perfect re-watch worthy drama after a long long time. My last favourite was goblin.I have been looking for a drama that would give you butterflies nd keep you hooked. This is one of the best drama. This drama should come with a warning sign that you might get addictive to the story and the main male lead. He is drop dead gorgeous. I hope they do another project together with the same brother they had in this series.
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Drama yang wajib banget ditonton ketika lagi nyari drama ringan buat healing.
Gatau lagi mau koment apa. Drama ini perfect sih menurutku (kecuali episodenya yang terlalu sedikit).Dari alur cerita yang super ringan tapi nggak bikin bosen sama sekali. Chemistry pemain yang luar biasa bagus bahkan sampe ke behind the scene-nya. Karakter development yang perfect. Semua tentang drama ini bagus menurutku.
Ps; aku orangnya lumayan picky kalau ttg drama romance gitu sebenernya. Gampang ketriggered cringe. Tapi di drama ini menurutku, gada hal yang cringe sama sekali. Semuanya terasa natural.
Rewatch? Offcourse yes.
Drama ini akan jd drama healing terbaik versi aku dan aku yakin aku gakan bosen buat rewatch.
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A drama adaptation that stayed true to the original source material
This drama has a special place in my heart. To be honest, when I heard that the novel will have a drama adaptation, I had my doubts. Given that most adaptations don't really give justice to the original source material, I really thought this project won't go well. Fortunately, I was totally wrong! I love how they closely followed the novel. The vital scenes that kept the story standing together were well executed. I must say some of the scenes was even better in the drama than what I have imagined while I was reading the novel. The Female and Male leads down to the supporting casts had created this dynamic that will made you feel a sense of comfort from just watching a fictional show. The acting felt so real and natural. Interactions are not forced with no over the top expressions. Lines were delivered perfectly especially from the leads from the funny sibling interactions to Duan Jia Xu and Sang Zhi's conversations which made me so emotional. I also love how they showed Sang Zhi's university life and Duan Jia Xu work life normally. Sang Zhi's interactions with her roommates felt so relatable and nostalgic as well. Moreover, the leads were so character coded and their chemistry were off the charts! I almost forgot they're just acting. The greenest couple I have witnessed in dramaland. 💚 Their genuine care, love, and trust with each other made me realize that I may not find a love like that. 😀 I definitely cried in single. 😭💘Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
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A Fairytale of Love
Once upon a time, you have a young princess who met her prince. She liked the prince the moment that she saw him. That is how I felt watching this drama. A beautiful woven fairytale of love.In our lifetime we are fortunate to receive the most unexpected gift, you didn't really think it would be that extraordinary but with "Hidden Love" it is. This drama resonates with so many of us that we are transported back to our youth and relive our moments of our own first love.
As soon we Shang Zhi we know that she is a girl that is full of sweetness, naivete, and childlike qualities and there is such a depth of kindness and love that you cannot help but want to protect and embrace her. That is how Duan Jia Xu felt about Shang Zhi. Being her protector but it was really Shang Zhi who was the protector. She helped Duan Jia Xu understand that even though life had thrown him the worst struggles and disappointments, he was more than worthy of being loved.
It was so exciting to see their love blossom over so many years until you felt like family watching your own daughter in this relationship and cheering her on. We felt all of her heartaches, tears, joys and misunderstandings. You feel yourself wanting to help her fix everything and keep the beautiful world that she envisions not only for herself but Duan Jia Xu as well.
Many may go in with a jaded attitude and not feel what I or others feel about this drama and that is ok. But if you just allow yourself to think about the most important love that you had in your life--you will understand. It's just magical.
You find yourself, laughing, smiling, crying and just overjoyed with this fairytale of love. But you know there has never been a fairytale without an obstacle, and you would think it would have been Shang Zhi's parents, but it was actually Duan Jia Xu himself.
Her parents always like Duan Jia Xu but felt the problems that he had in the past with his family would be an issue with moving forward in their relationship. Duan Jia Xu was not to be deterred. After speaking with Shang Zi at the airport he understood and stated to her clearly his feelings and love for her.
Here is the following monologue from episode 24:
Shang Zhi: "Why did you drink? What's wrong? I'll get you something hot to drink."
Duan Jia Xu: "Why did you wake up?"
Shang Zhi: "Are you in a bad mood?"
Duan Jia Xu: "I think I treat you badly."
Shang Zhi: "When did you treat me badly? Is it because of what I said to you at the airport today? I told you because I just wanted you to know. Since you didn't know before, that's why I wanted to tell you. But I didn't want you to feel...You treat me very well. Whether it's the past or now, you still treat me well. It's true."
Duan Jia Xu: "Shang Zhi, I love you. I'm sorry, Zhi. I've said this too late. Over the years, I know I've made you sad. It was your unwavering dedication that made me realize that I'm not good enough. My imperceptive or indecisiveness. None of it was good. But for these shortcomings, I'll try my best to make it up to you for every day we spend together. Zhi, I won't forget the choice you made. I love you, Shang Zhi."
What else can you say after that? Oh, I do.... they lived happily ever after! The End!
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Not my typa show
Please refrain from reading this comment if you have not completed the series, as it contains major spoilers.I typically do not find myself compelled to write reviews for dramas; however, the portrayal of the main characters in "Hidden Love" has prompted me to provide a less favourable assessment. My critique pertains solely to the character of "Sang Zhi" and not to the actress "Zhao Lusi", who has exhibited exceptional talent in her other drama works. I just couldn't stand to like how Sang Zhi presented herself in Hidden Love.
Pros
Although I've given such a modest rating, I would like to acknowledge several positive aspects of the series:
1. "Hidden Love" effectively explores and promotes healthy family relationships, particularly in the depiction of Sang Zhi's close bond with her brother. His unwavering support showcases a protective and caring older sibling. For example, he backs up Sang Zhi when she is getting bullied at school, ensures she is well at university, etc.
2. The series handles the age gap between Jiaxu and Sang Zhi with sensitivity and respect, emphasizing that their romantic relationship develops only when Sang Zhi reaches adulthood. There was also a lot of disclaimer throughout the show to emphasize that they are 5 years apart and establish their relationship on a legal and ethical foundation.
3. Sang Zhi's willingness to stand up for Jiaxu - for example, when the antagonist poured water on Jiaxu, she demonstrated her commitment to protecting her man by pouring water back.
4. Sang Zhi handled herself really professionally during her internship, even though her supervisor gave her a hard time.
Cons
1. The primary concern I have with the series centres around Zhao Lusi's portrayal of Sang Zhi as a 17-year-old, which often felt incongruous with the character's age. It almost felt like she was stuck in a 10-year-old's body. For example, there was a scene where she wanted to eat a lollipop and asked her brother's friend to open the wrapper for her - this is what ticked me off. A 17-year-old should reasonably possess the skills to open a lollipop wrapper independently. How are you 17 years old but still need someone to open a lollipop wrapper for you? This inconsistency was particularly vexing, given the more mature portrayal of Sang Zhi at 14 by the younger actress. It raises questions about whether Sang Zhi's affluent upbringing resulted in excessive pampering. Perhaps she came from a rich family so she was babied throughout her life but this still makes absolutely no sense to me. At age 17, she possibly never washed the dishes or her clothes and that's ok but the inability to open a lollipop wrapper appears far-fetched. Another example is the scene where Sang Zhi's brother takes her out to hotpot while her parents are away for a wedding and she is caught playing "fort" at home...
Given that this drama had such high ratings, I really wanted to give this drama a second chance to see what the hype is about. The initial 7 episodes wherein Zhao Lusi portrays Sang Zhi as a 17-year-old were cringe-inducing and prompted me to skip ahead to episode 8, where a 2-year time skip makes her transition to adulthood.
2. Shan Zhi's character demonstrates growth in maturity by the age of 19, making her interactions with the main lead during their early stages of romantic development more enjoyable. However, the relationship takes a downturn once they officially start dating (in ep 17/18). There were several cringeworthy moments I just couldn't stand, such as the moment at the roller skating rink when Sang Zhi felt compelled to notify Jiaxu of her intention to kiss him, which disrupted the flow of the scene. This action appears overly contrived and unrealistic, as spontaneous gestures of affection are typically more natural in romantic relationships. It's also a little bizarre for someone to say "I'm going to kiss you today" - it should usually happen naturally, at the right moment, right? I get that she wanted to respect Jiaxu by giving him a heads up but he already showed affection in the previous episodes that it is safe to assume Shan Zhi can do the same without asking Jiaxu for consent. There were also a lot of weird moments where she was getting flustered for no apparent reason. I mean, c'mon, your mans chilling in full long-sleeve pyjamas at home (and also considering y'all been dating for at least 3 months now)? It's not like he's lounging around shirtless in his boxers on the couch. It just doesn't add up to me.
3. The whole lack of communication in this show is really something else. I mean, in any decent relationship or interaction, good communication is the key to building those deep, meaningful connections, right? But seriously, there were so many times in the series where it felt like Shan Zhi couldn't get her thoughts across to Jiaxu. Let's talk about that KTV scene, for instance, when they randomly bump into each other after two years. There's this whole mix-up with her friend's sweater and some cigarettes falling out, and she tries to explain it to Jiaxu, but he's just not buying it. I mean, come on, at that moment, it felt like she could've laid it out better, like, "Hey, I accidentally grabbed my friend's sweater, and it's an exact copy of the one from KTV, so that's why this whole thing went down." You know, just to clear the air and avoid any misunderstandings. Another example is when they are in Jiaxu's car and Jiaxu asks Shan Zhi if she has any feelings for him and she literally did since the beginning of her childhood, but she replies with "no" because she was shy. I mean, she could've said something flirty like "don't worry about it" with a smirk (?) again, just my opinion. And then, when they were dating, it felt like they never had any real, deep conversations.
While Hidden Love strives to depict an innocent love story, it ultimately falls short due to numerous unrealistic and cringe-inducing moments found during the start of their relationship. As they progress further in their relationship (a year in), that's when I start seeing more improvements and fewer cringe-inducing moments - which is why I think the drama deserves +1 point higher than mid @ 5/10.
I know a lot of ppl gave a much higher rating for this drama so please don't be offended. This is just my opinion.
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Unpretentious Fluffy Drama
This drama is perfect for a binge-watching experience. Watch beautiful people enact young love. It is perfect escapism.The actors did a stellar job but I have to specially mention #ZhaoLusi who brought the character of Sang Zhi very true to the book.
The chemistry between Zhao Lusi (Sang Zhi) and Chen Zhuyuan (Duan Jiaxu) is palpably scorching. But having said that I actually love the brother-sister synergy between Zhao Lusi and Victor Ma better. It actually got to me more and I would have loved it if they had more scenes together.
Highly recommend this drama, particularly to those who wanted to relive the cute feeling of puppy love/first love.
I would also like to mention the OST. The songs are very catchy which is of course a testament to how good they are for a non-Chinese speaker.
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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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My heart....
I don't know if any show has affected me the way Hidden Love has. I watch with a smile on my face and I even cry through the sweetest scenes. First of all, the age gap is not an issue at all. He is only 5 years older and there is nothing inappropriate in any of the 25 episodes. Please do not be put off by any of the negative comments because you will miss out on a beautiful experience. I rewatched all the episodes while I waited for more episodes to be released. Now that I have watched all 25 episodes, I am so sad because I will miss Jia Xu and Sang Jhi! I also loved Sang Jhi's brother Sang Yan. I read that there will be a sequel with Sang Yan's story called First Frost. I am hoping to see the same actors play Sang Jhi and Jiaxu in First Frost.Sang Jhi grew up in a loving family. Her parents are kind and generous. Her brother loves her and is protective of her even as he bickers with her. It is still so touching to see how much the brother and sister love each other. I enjoyed watching the beautiful dynamics of Sang Jhi's family. If you enjoy watching sibling relationships, it is another plus for Hidden Love.
Duan Jia Xu had sad family life and he worked hard to pay off his father's debts. What made his relationship with Sang Jhi so beautiful is that even though he didn't have money to spare, he always took care of Sang Jhi and refused to take money from her or allow her to pay for anything when he was around. And even more beautiful was the way Sang Jhi cared for Jia Xu by protecting and taking care of him. He never had anyone to rely on and instead took on the burden of taking care of his mother and father. It was so beautiful to see the emotions as he felt Sang Jhi's love for him.
Both Zhao Lu Si and Chen Zhe Yuan are the magic key to Hidden Love. Zhe Yuan expressive eyes...sigh. Just watching him play Jiaxu is enough to convince me that a 17-year-old girl would have a crush and fall in love with him. Lu Si was perfect for Sang Zhi. You just need to watch to see. The BTS clips provide information on the scenes and be sure to watch the extra scenes at the end of each episode. The strawberry scene at the end of episode 13 was one I had to rewatch immediately. I absolutely love this show!!! There is nothing quite like it.
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Sweet Warm Drama
I'm not a fan of Zhao Lusi and Chen Ze Yuan. I'm watching out of curiosity as to why it's so popular.a warm and sweet teenage story, perfect for watching when relaxing. but for me this was a bit boring, I skipped some scenes that were too long, like the scene when Sang Zhi was thinking. this is great to watch, especially for those of you who like relaxing dramas that warm your heart. i recommend it.
ML and FL are very good looking, they also have strong chemistry. very suitable. I last saw ZLS on Feel at ease Mr Ling, and CZY on Mr. bad did not expect they would play together and break a record like this. their acting skills are very natural and pleasing to the eye.
Anyway, this is a warm story, watch it if you're bored and relax. I think it will also be good if you watch it when you're lonely. one more thing, this drama is very light, especially since the characters are still teenagers, don't think the conflict will be complicated!
Happy watching all!
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No. 1 in rankings!
No. 1 in MDL for top C-Dramas and overall (even beating out K-dramas)! Hidden Love is getting all the love it deserves! 💗For those who are still wondering or hesitating to watch this drama, just give it a try! It has a good storyline (nothing very stressful), lots of heartwarming scenes, nice visuals (Zhao Lu Si's clothes here are pretty and looks good on her!), beautiful soundtrack (Forever Star is especially written for this drama), superb acting (even the micro-expressions of the leads are spot-on), perfect chemistry between the main leads and even the supporting cast (sibling chemistry between Zhao Lu Si and Victor Ma, which we often don't get from dramas), and I don't know what else to say to convince you, the rankings don't lie! I will definitely miss waiting for new episodes to come. Congratulations to the cast and crew of Hidden Love! ❤️
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Lovely
There are spoilers interspersed throughout my review, because some of them were things I liked, some I didn't.LOVED:
1) Zhao Lu Si as Sang Zhi. She is so beautiful and bubbly, I felt she was perfectly cast for this. Finally, a show in which they didn't put her in a lot of oversized outfits.
2) Chen Zhe Yuan as Duan Jia Xu. I've not seen him in anything before and I loved him in this. First, he's gorgeous. Second, the character was a warm and caring person.
3) Romance chemistry - just wow! The ML said things that most women would love to hear from their man. The way he looks at her, sigh. Good kisses.
4) Story - knowing someone for a long time and developing a relationship. For the most part, this was handled well.
5) Victor Ma as Sang Yan. He was a terrific character. The dynamic between him and his sister, and him and his friends was such fun to watch.
6) SPOILER: It seems like most romances have a secondary female that used to be a girlfriend that comes back after years and wants to pick up where they left off. She thinks she's entitled to him because she wants him. FINALLY, this show portrays the female the way I feel about the secondary women in other dramas. She's a stalker and not-just-a-little unhinged. And I love how the FL told the stalker's friend to go with her to get some counseling! END SPOILER.
7) Ending - I cried.
8) The voices weren't too terrible and the roommates weren't stupid and irritating.
9) The focus was on the romance of the main couple. Not a lot of wasted time.
10) She met him when she was in middle school. The way they handled her crush, her youth, and how he felt about her was handled well. This could have been kind of creepy if he liked her too soon. And the progression of how his feelings changed made sense.
11) The brother's reaction to finding out his friend was dating his sister.
12) The fact that the ML didn't drink alcohol.
13) I know it's not realistic, but I love when the people haven't had relationships before. When he came out and said he'd never dated...he got me!
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: (SPOILERS THROUGHOUT)
1) Sang Zhi acted in a very immature fashion when she was younger. I get that she was young, but when a girl has a crush on a guy, especially an older guy, she does everything she can to demonstrate how mature she is.
2) She's had a crush on him for literally years. She grows up, he confesses his feelings, and she says she needs to think about whether she likes him. I wanted to smack her upside the head. I felt so bad for him, but thank goodness he was patient. I think he knew, even if she didn't say anything. I was mad for a couple of episodes.
3) Her friends saying she needed to "test" him, and her doing it. Game playing in a relationship isn't a good thing, and it, again, made her look really immature.
4) Her making herself cry (when she was younger) to get her way. Once she grew up, I felt that she was still trying to manipulate people.
5) Them saying they would be there for each other, but then keeping things from the other because they didn't want to bother/overwhelm them.
6) One of the last episodes, he's alone in the living room drinking. She comes out and asks him about it, and he never opens up about what the problem is. AND, I really had a problem with the fact that the first time they were intimate he was drunk.
7) Parents, especially, complaining about the age difference. It was five years, people!
Kudos to the writers for not making this a long and drawn out story. My fast forward button got a good rest while I was watching this. It's low angst, light, fluffy, cute, and all the other things when you don't want something heavy. It's one of those shows that I put off, thinking it couldn't possibly be that good, and then I was disappointed when it was over. I will definitely be re-watching it at some point in time.
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