Hidden Love (2023)

Drivel

I was absolutely shocked by how much I disliked this drama after reading other reviews here and elsewhere!

I've enjoyed everything else I've seen of Zhao Lusi's work, and I do think both she and Chen Zheyuan portrayed their respective characters well, but I found the character of the FL wholly unpleasant - spoiled manipulative lazy brat anyone? - and the story itself decidedly uncomfortable.

I'm aware that the portrayed crushes of both the young and teenage FL were entirely innocent, but imo the ML could not have been unaware of the soulful stares and puppy dog eyes that were directed his way. Which makes the ML's behaviour look not so great. He should not have encouraged her in the ways that he did - in my own subjective opinion!

I tried hard to see it as a coming of age style story, but by the time FL starts university she's still painfully immature despite her frequent sulky assertions of being an adult!

When I realised that I was fast-forwarding through most of the episodes in a vain attempt to get to any point where the FL was bearable to watch I surrendered and finally dropped the show. I hope that FL did continue to grow emotionally and intellectually, but I couldn't stay the distance.

I'm glad that many people clearly love and enjoy this drama but sadly it's not for me.

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Not for people who dislike age gaps and straightforward romance

Everything has already been written. I think it's purely a question of personal taste. Here are the two things that didn't work for me :

- Age - gap : I was very worried about that aspect. To be fair, it was handled rather professionally and there was no reciprocity until the FL was an adult. But it still is a bit on the edge for me. 19-24 is not huge in theory and a 5 years gap is pretty common later on in life. But people change A LOT during those specific years. I am 24 and would personally never consider looking at a 19 yo coming out of highschool as anything else but a young adult who has a lot to learn, no matter how "mature" they present. It would just feel wrong to me.
The ML has treated the FL like a little sister for 10 years and even though they weren't always together, they still were close enough to have each other's phone number and occasionally text. The shift in the relationship almost as soon as she becomes an adult is a bit abrupt for me.

- the ML approach : once the ML quite suddenly decides that he's gonna go for a 19 yo, he gets very blunt with his approach. And it makes sense, he's honest and clear about his intentions and it's probably the best way to straighflowardly break the existing walls between them. I personally don't like this style at all, it's a matter of personal preference but he came off as too pushy and rushed for me.

Other than those two major contention points in the story, it's a very well made, peaceful love
story. So if you don't mind the age gap and the straightforwardness, it's worth a watch.

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If you like Chic Flicks

Rated= 5~ 18/50 ~ 3.6
Scene // Zombie stumbling through an abandoned House. I can at least smack it with a club.


Which I don't ?What comes to mind is Legally Blonde. If you like films along those lines, you may like this.

I'm writing this before I can even rate this because I'm not sure what to go with.

I don't like the back and forth timeline type of plot flow because I find it jarring and for the first few eps this show did this by jumping from 14 year old FL to 17 year old FL a number of times. I prefer a more A to B approach, or give us the flashback at once. But that may just be me.

Personally didn't mind the FL's romantic feelings in her school days as it is very much a crush and the ML treats her like a little sister, and a possible substitute family environment that he lost due to a tragedy in his own life. There are no signs of romantic intentions coming from him that made me feel uncomfortable or feel like it was crossing into grooming territory. I also appreciate how, despite the trauma, the ML is not a cold and distant asshole and the writers took him the other way by remaining firmly grounded and compassionate to others. I could even look at it as over compensating slightly.

When we get the FL into Uni and she's now legal (which is stated multiple times by the FL and side characters in case we were still unsure) the ML seems to have a personality transplant and devotes himself to pursuing the FL when he figures out that he is the 'crush'. You may choose to interpret previous behaviour up until this moment as, he does have feelings but is in denial or he is continuing his brotherly protector role. Either way, there's something missing in the ML transition from brother to boyfriend. I do appreciate the writers at least trying to portray an inner struggle but I feel like it could have been more developed. His feelings were pretty platonic to me and within one episode he was suddenly smug, cocky and hot on the FL's tail lights as soon as he realised that he was the one she was crying over. Something just feels off to me. I think that's where the plot has gone wrong despite the careful approach to the FL's age.

I either have to see it as A. he only became interested when he found out that she had long been interested in him, and she's an adult now so can make her own choices or B. he did have other feelings but had repressed them due to her age and once she was a legal adult, there was a greenlight.
There was a lot of focus on the FL being underage and not enough of a portrayal of how the ML was really feeling.

What would make me feel better is showing more of an inner dialogue for the ML. I need to see a genuine developing growth from the little sister figure he wants to protect to a woman he now admires and is developing romantic feelings for.
There was one scene in the car of him first questioning his feelings and that was it. They dangled the complicated human condition in front of me and then said, nah, that's too much work. Let's just skip to undying devotion now.

I think this is why there are some reviewers who are feeling uncomfortable with this show. The key component to the relationship is missing and the viewer is left with having to choose between A and B.

Which brings me to the next reason I'm dropping this show. The 'Chic Flick' feel. There is this candy coated approach to everything. The FL is clearly from a rich family so gorgeous big house, with an older brother who might as well be her dad. Parents who seem to dote on her endlessly and treat their son like her servant. The sickeningly cute dorm room of the FL uni and she's complete besties with her roomies. Oh, and the love at first sight pursuer just to make the ML jealous. Everything is very picturesque and I can't help but feel like I'm being sold something subliminally from pinterest.
I don't even need to look to the end to know that this show ends with a proposal, doesn't it?

Another thing that randomly stood out like a sore thumb to me, is that the FL loves to draw and is studying Digital media at Uni. Perhaps it's my own inner creative being annoying about this, but I feel like this arty side could have been utilised more within the plot as it's a core element of who the FL is as a person. But instead, I feel like it's reduced to an aesthetic for the show's visuals like the little title screens. That bothered me a little. At least there is some groundwork done for the ML and why he's a game developer.

Acting and music was really nothing noteworthy because my brain shut off a lot of the time or I was simply skipping scenes.
I held on through the 17 year old who acts and is treated like she's still 5 arc so I could get to the main course of the plot, the beginnings of the actual relationship. But now I feel like the writers must have felt the same way. Go through the cutesy, enjoying your crush girlhood stage, get the first heartbreak in there, reconnect, then jump straight to being pursued by said crush.

Also, the 'other girl'.....they really lost me on that one but I guess it wasn't a love triangle so there's that. Block and delete should have been on his mind somewhere and then a restraining order but he just kind of takes it and relies on his place of work to amp their security. I'm sorry but what?

*Edit* when I was re-reading for typos it occurred to me (to my horror) that this is a scenario where a love triangle would be a legit issue simply because it would give that feeling that the ML was at least trying to just live his life and not just subconsciously waiting for the FL to be of age. Even if it was just a few dates that were being regularly spoiled by stalker girl. He's in his mid 20s, incredibly good looking, steady job and drives but has never dated and rejects any attempts to get him to date. So why the sudden interest in the FL?

One of those shows that I waded through to get to the point and then it just kind of glossed over it preferring to stick to what everyone just wants to indulge in. A privileged girl being spoiled by everyone around her and her 'impossible' first love becoming a possible soulmate.

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Another drama like this

Did anyone watched My Unicorn Girl drama?? i want to watch this drama again for the first time ?❤️ guys even if you have not watched cdramas ever in your life ,you DEFINITELY should watch this one , its a MAGICAL drama. I saw a reel on insta about this drama another day i go to youtube searched and watched it continuously..i didn't feel bored at all also I don't feel like to stop seeing even for sec ,i completed all 24 episodes...i literally cried for more than a week bcoz i want to watch more. I was laughing like hell for all the time while watching (it has happy ending) i miss this drama everyday, storyline , acting, expressions,comic time EVERYTHING IS ON HIGH LEVEL , I always regret why i didn't watch this before.??❤

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Great chemistry but pretty predictable plot

Acting was good, I liked the characters and the actors played it well. The chemistry between the two leads are good too.

However when it comes to the story, its pretty predictable, its something you can see to other romance stories, and not quite refreshing. Furthermore, there are flaws in the plot, like I feel it has too much episode for a simple story, some scenes can be out in the story like its not that necessary, plus I wish they could elaborate more the ML's feelings or experience from his past, and the first few episodes are pretty good, but as the story goes on, I lost interest.

Overall, the only thing I don't like about this is how story flows like it was too stretched, but I admit that some scenes are great, and the acting are great too.

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A Beautiful Love Story We All Wish For…

OMG I have no words to express how much I love this drama. All I need to say is if you haven’t seen Hidden Love yet, drop whatever it is that your doing and go watch this drama. You will not regret watching this drama it should be a must watch on everyone drama lovers list.

I just wish a guy like a Duan Jaixu and brother like Sang Yan existed in real life. Oh how I wish to have a love story like Sang Zhi and Duan Jaixu, I guess we will only find a perfect guy like Duan Jaixu in our dreams. The character development between the two characters were amazing and the chemistry between all the characters were so perfect. The way Sang Zhi portrayed her heartbreak in one the earlier episodes thinking that her feelings were rejected and the way she cried. Oh my god she deserves an award for the way this scene touched the viewers hearts. Watching her cry like that, the sadness she felt in that moment I felt it too. I cried watching that scene as it made me feel I was also getting rejected of my feelings. Afterwards the way Sang Yan the brother comforted made me cry once again to see the brotherly love and care he had towards her. These scenes felt so real.

I think it’s right to say that she fell first but he fell harder. She started loving him at the wrong time but he fell for her at the right moment and everything worked out perfectly. Honestly I have no words for this drama except just perfect. I am writing this review late. I finished watching this drama when it first started airing. I was hooked onto it from the beginning till the end. After I finished this drama I have probably till now have seen for 5 more times and I still get the same excitement rewatching this drama. That’s how much this drama is perfect. It’s a drama where you get to follow along Sang Zhi and Duan Jaixu fall madly in love at the perfect time. We get experience a story from her young self to her adult life.

This drama is honestly an amazing story and makes you feel super happy. I enjoyed watching this drama so much and this will forever be my favourite comfort drama. Once again to anyone who haven’t seen this drama yet go watch it now you will not regret it. A beautiful love story between two very beautiful characters. It will make you wanting a boyfriend like Duan Jaixu and a loving brother, protective and caring brother like Sang Yan. Duan Jaixu will definitely raising boyfriend standards in all girls.

A MUST WATCH!!!! GO WATCH IT NOW!!!

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BEST CDRAMA THIS 2023!!!

I rarely write a review but this romantic series sets the bar so high this 2023. I am sooo much attached with their characters and love the way this gives you only good vibes and no hard drama. Truly a feel good series or drama. They also portray the slice of life that is very realistic. A girl has a crush on a guy for a very long time. True that she fell first but he fell harder. The role of Duan Jia Xu, very kind, smart and hardworking. Hopefully this kind of person exists in real life. Also the role of Sang Zhi somewhat a spoiled daughter but is very willing to support and defend her boyfriend that makes her more matured and learn the true meaning of love. And ofcourse I am hoping that Chen Zhe Yuan and Zhao Lu Si will be a couple in real life. I so love this and rate it as 11/10!!!

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Finally a CDrama that competes with KDrama

So many CDrama's are small stories dragged out into 30 or 40 episodes with music scoring that make you cringe. Not so with "Hidden Love". From the start to the finish the script builds on each main character. Location shots and production values were more like a high-end KDrama with attention given to detail without shoving too many product placement adds. The star of the show is absolutely Zhao Lu Si, but my favorite is the young girl Zhang Xi Wei who plays the young Zhao Lu Si. She plays a 14 year old middle school student who develop a crush on the ML and constantly fights with her older brother. But there is real love between them and the bonds of their family are strong and healthy. A real plus in my mind when so many dramas focus on dysfunctional families.

Highly recommend this to any KDrama watcher who has given up on CDramas!

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It will change everything!!

Hidden love OMG! I’m still over this show it is is one of the best Cdramas I’ve ever watched.

I have never really watched C-dramas before and I didn’t think i would but that all changed. I was scrolling through tick tock and on my FYP there were so many videos about this show Hidden Love and even still I wasn’t interested until one day I had nothing to watch and I saw it pop up again on my FYP and I was like okay I’ll watch it. That’s when everything changed!

As I was watching this show in the beginning the few first episodes I was like oh no i hope he doesn’t have any interest in her cause she was still a change and she was clearly in love with him. So I had a few reservations in the beginning thinking that he will like her back and it would just be a no no cause she is clearly very young. As I continued the show I saw that he only saw her as a baby sister and that eased me a little that nothing was going to happen and she would find someone her age.

Then she grows up and goes to the university but at rage same town that he moved to and I was like ok let’s see what happens. When they first met again (after those years of them not being in contact ) at the club I could feel the chemistry oozy from the both of them and it got me hooked I was like yes that connection. Conversation that was had with those eyes was fire.

We see that Duan Jia Xu has had a hard past very very rough and when we see those flashbacks and all that he went through your heart can’t help but break for him. When I say I was crying buckets because of that he had basically no one. He had to rely on himself and payoff the debt that his father owed. He didn’t have a proper childhood and to make it worse even after he paid his debt Jiang Ying still kept harassing him and making his life miserable. Just because his father did something so wrong and hurtful doesn’t mean Jiang Ying had to pay for the debt the rest of his life.

We can clearly see that Sang Zhi is still in love with Duan Jia Xu and it was so fun and cute watching their love grow going through the uncomfortable, awkward and misunderstanding moments. I was rooting for them all the way. Duan Jia Xu’S jealous to him buying her strawberries cause he knows how much she loves them. They are good together they have helped each other deal. I love how Sang Zhi is ready to fight for Duan Jia Xu no matter what she doesn’t care the reason but she is always on his side. Duan Jia Xu needed her for she showed his true love and she cared about him and reassured his. This is one if the greenest flags in a relationship on both the male lead and female lead.

Not forgetting how broken Duan Jia Xu was when both his parents died and he said “I’m really old now that both my parents have died “ that broke me I cried for him that was so sad cause he was alone now but Sang Zhi was there for him and they both went to his mothers grave and she promised that he will never be alone and that she will love him and give him a family.

I really could go on and on about how much this show was just realistic and health. From the lead actors to the supporting actors everything was chefs kiss. This has been one of the best dramas for the year it was truly incredible and I hope there are more shows like this.

I would highly recommend this show over and over again to anyone cause it will definitely change everything for you and how you see life. Here’s to me hoping I find my own Duan Jia Xu!!!!

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