Hidden Love (2023)

Hidden Love: A Drama of Contradictions

The Chinese drama Hidden Love attempts to weave a narrative of romance and self-discovery but often gets tangled in its own contradictions. At its core, it tells the story of Sang Zhi and her evolving relationship with Duan Jia Xu, her brother’s friend. While the show has its moments of brilliance, it is overshadowed by its uneven character dynamics and questionable romantic framing.

One of the highlights of Hidden Love lies in its portrayal of Sang Zhi when she’s allowed to exist outside of her romantic entanglement. Scenes featuring her at work or interacting with her university friends showcase a capable and well-rounded young woman. These moments provide a glimpse into her potential as a character—confident, relatable, and grounded. Zhao Lu Si’s acting amplifies these moments with remarkable versatility. She has a unique ability to seamlessly navigate between emotions, shifting from joy to despair within a single scene. Her performance in emotional moments, particularly those involving her heartbreak, stands out as some of the drama’s most impactful.

Victor Ma’s portrayal of Sang Zhi’s brother, Sang Yan, is another strong point. The sibling relationship feels authentic, capturing the blend of rivalry and deep care that defines many sibling bonds. Sang Yan’s role as both a protector and someone Sang Zhi can be vulnerable with adds depth to their dynamic. The airport scene, where Sang Zhi breaks down in his arms after a painful heartbreak, is a testament to the emotional strength of their bond and remains one of the drama’s most memorable moments. It’s rare to see a sibling relationship portrayed with such nuance, and Victor Ma’s performance anchors these moments with sincerity. The drama’s soundtrack also deserves praise, with its catchy and well-placed OSTs enhancing many key scenes.

However, the strengths of Hidden Love are often undermined by its central romantic storyline. Chen Zheyuan’s portrayal of Duan Jia Xu as the male lead is underwhelming, lacking the charisma or depth needed to carry his character. Jia Xu himself is difficult to relate to—overly controlling, possessive, and prone to jealousy. These traits make him less of a romantic ideal and more of a cautionary figure. His dynamic with Sang Zhi is particularly troubling, as he continues to treat her like a younger sister even after they begin dating. This lingering brother-sister dynamic casts an uncomfortable shadow over their romance, making it hard to invest in their relationship.

The five-year age gap between the leads is not inherently problematic, but Jia Xu’s behavior exacerbates the discomfort. Having known Sang Zhi since her childhood, his inability to shift his perception of her from a child to a partner feels unsettling. It’s as if the drama is trying to force a romance without addressing the fundamental mismatch in their dynamic. This issue is compounded by Sang Zhi’s characterization around Jia Xu. While she’s shown to be articulate and mature in other settings, her behavior around Jia Xu regresses into exaggerated cutesiness and awkward stuttering. It’s a disservice to Zhao Lu Si’s talent, reducing her character to a caricature when she’s capable of so much more.

The romantic scenes between the leads suffer as a result. Instead of chemistry, there’s a persistent sense of dissonance, as if the characters are trapped in roles they can’t escape. Sang Zhi’s infantilized behavior and Jia Xu’s condescending attitude make it hard to root for them as a couple. The narrative’s failure to transition their dynamic from a brother-sister relationship to an equitable partnership leaves the romance feeling forced and unconvincing.

Ultimately, Hidden Love struggles to find its footing. Its strengths in sibling dynamics, emotional performances, and music are overshadowed by a central romance that fails to resonate. For viewers who can overlook the uncomfortable framing of the leads’ relationship, there’s a baseline romance story here. However, for those who can’t get past the persistent brother-sister dynamic and lack of authentic chemistry in the main couple, the drama’s flaws become impossible to ignore.

Hidden Love leaves much to be desired, despite its occasional moments of brilliance. The inability to convincingly shift the leads’ dynamic and the wasted potential of its talented cast weigh heavily on the drama.

A 5.5/10 feels apt for a show that sparks moments of promise but ultimately fails to deliver on its central premise.

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Sweet youth romance + controversial setting

The best part of this romance drama is the chemistry between the main couple as well as the trio leads. The main leads ZLS and CZY are truly complement each other, although tbvh it's also hard to believe their characters are supposed to be 5 years apart with him being older.

Controversial part, the setting between adult male lead and child version of the female lead/ when the female lead during her high school in around 7 ep was actually quite uncomfortable to watch, yes we can argue the male lead didn't see her as a woman yet that time but it doesn't mean everyone should agree with that.

Overall, it's still quite pleasant to watch. All of us have crush, but mostly ended as unrequited ones. Nice to see someone's crush has her happy ending in the fictional world.

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just wow

One of the standout features of "Hidden Love" is its intricate narrative. The show masterfully balances moments of tenderness with deeper, more dramatic elements. The slow-burn romance is skillfully developed, allowing viewers to become fully invested in the characters' journeys. The pacing of the storyline ensures that the romance unfolds naturally, and the conflicts introduced are both believable and thought-provoking.

The production values are high, with beautiful cinematography and a well-crafted soundtrack that complements the mood of the series. The settings and costume design add an extra layer of authenticity, immersing viewers in the world of the drama.

"Hidden Love" also excels in its character development. The protagonists are well-rounded and undergo significant growth throughout the series. Their personal struggles and triumphs are portrayed with nuance, making them relatable and endearing. The supporting cast also adds depth to the story, with each character contributing to the overall narrative in meaningful ways.

While the drama does follow some familiar tropes, it manages to refresh them with a unique perspective and emotional depth. The blend of romance and drama keeps the audience engaged, and the resolution of the story is both satisfying and poignant.

Overall, "Hidden Love" is a captivating series that stands out for its strong performances, engaging storyline, and high production values. It's a must-watch for fans of romantic dramas and those who appreciate a well-crafted love story.

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From First Crush to Forever Love

Hello, Beautiful Shades of Green 💚

Green Male & Female Lead.
Green Brother. Green Parents.
Green Friends. Green Roommates.

A cast of characters that you’d want by your side IRL. No rivalries, messy triangles, or petty jealousies. Just genuinely good people who make our Leads’ story more endearing.

At a young age the FL { Zhao Lusi } meets and quickly falls for the ML { Chen Zhe Yuan}, her older brother’s best friend. They share many beautiful moments together, but devastation comes when she overhears a rumor that he now has a girlfriend, leading her to cut off contact with him to heal her heartbreak.

They’re reunited while she’s in college and, as he experiences how much she’s grown up, the ML falls fast and deep. Unaware that she’s loved him for years, he sets out to win her heart.

And he captures the viewers’ as well *sigh*. The movie date. His honesty. Him attending her class. The birthday surprises. The roller skating date. Adjusting to her pace. The camping “trip”.

The comforting hugs. The protection. The hand holding. The flirting. The caring actions. The intense gazes. The sweet kisses. All.the.love! 💞✨

Their chemistry is so natural & believable. They’ll make you swoon, sigh, laugh, & tear up. They’re just so… good!

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-S P O I L E R S B E L O W-


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The things I always want to know…
- F(r)K : 17💋
- 2G : 17 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BU : Nope 💍

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One of the best cdrama I have watched so far can't understand why people are disliking it on the basis of age gap like seriously it is not like they 10 or 12 years of age gap , it's just 5 years and we can clearly see that at the age of 14 she only had a crush on him when she was at her adolescence, any girls at her adolescence can have a crush it's not new and the ML started to like her back when she was an adult not when she was a child . And for those who were saying that ML was getting closer to her , so it's basically she treated ML as a family and he felt warm which he hasn't felt before which was depicted in the drama about his past , so it was natural for him to get closer to FL .

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Must watch C drama. it is a package of everything

ep 4 she says tht she is in love with him ..7 she finds out that he is dating some1 so she goes to Yihe as excuse to meet her online dating guy and sees tht duan jiaxu is with a girl and she is unhappy abt it and cries thinking tht she is his gf..n how he broke her promise tht he will tell her when he is dating some1…9 she find out tht he is unwell so she hurries to his office n while waiting 4 taxi he accidently kisses her on the forehead..and takes him to the hosp..10 she takes care of him in the hosp n all..n she takes revenge or splashes back the water to the obsessive gurl (was too cool) they have a moment..11 he thinks of her not in sister way and is worried for her..12 whn he found tht she is drunk at a bar he comes together…tht state she blurts out that she likes some1 and tht he is nice to her n every1 basically she describes him without saying the name and thn he asks her while she is sleeping in car tht if he can "is it ok if i become like him.."..omg..my heart🫠🤗🤩😘 in the morning whn picking her up to drop her to the airport the guy who likes zhang zhi confesses his feeling to her whn duan is in the car and she rejects him saying tht she likes someone else..n then she tells y she was drunk by duan seems to be upset he interrogates her abt who she went with n abt tht guy…funny scene anyways🤣🤣..13 she asks him if he has gg and he says no and he says to introduce girl to him but she says ik gurls of my age and he said it's fine..she was shocked..thinking he is kidding her..his fat friend ask abt the grl he likes n he started to describe tht she is little and all..omg..so he does like her..omg..😗🫣🤗🤩😘..the fat friend ask if tht gurl already has a gurl she likes n duan says yes n thn he describe the man the gurl like and the fat friend says “isn't that you and she likes you” n duan doesn't believe him but then he says it's also possible n thinks tht she might like him..omg…no way he is thinking this way..omg he wore the tie she bought for him on the fat guy wedding..omg..n he keeps touching the tie whn he looks at her..omg he's so cute 😊😊🫠🫠my heart can't take it…omgggg..he keeps looking at her ..omg he asks abt the old guy she like..he says cringy to her bro so he doesnt let her swap seats with him..woww..this guy…love him so much..sly fox..after finding out her pet name he also calls her by tht name..he gives her the new year gift with her initials on it..omg..my heart….realized tht for the first time when she goes home and turns back he would be walking but now he is watching her go in her house..woww for the first time..she searches wht the bracelets gift giving mean n it says"cherish love" and it's a present for lover"..wow..he buys her fav strawberry n thn she ask if he wants to eat it and thn she tries to give it him n thn he says give it closer so it can show she is feeding him..they both smiling in the car…wow..they look so cute smiling..14..he lied to her saying tht they both are on same plane..he gets a refund of his plane ticket so he can book the same time n plane as zhi..omg but he can't find the same time ticket after sharing with friends so can book it..when he went to pick her up he didn't see her wearing the bracelet so he looks down and asks her where it is n if she didn't like that gift..she ask he jiang is and he says tht it was the rude gurl n he says tht he would tell her if he had a gf like he promised..he remembered the promise omg…it was misunderstanding..thn she says tht she saw him with a gurl b4 at the airport ..n he says tht u think of her as my gf the face he made omg..he puts his hand on mouth smiles..omg so cute...i m blushing rn🥵😚☺️☺️he smoothly puts his hand on her seat..she thinks tht he has feelings 4 hr..he starts to doubts tht he is the 1 she likes..he tlks 2 bis frnd n says my girl..he smiles ear 2 ear.omg..gives kth vibes…going crazy rn..omg he introduces her as her friends to his colleagues..he tells the gurl colleague to clarify tht they are colleagues and she is married n tht she isn't his gf n duan wants her to know tht he is single for years..15 he is so flirty..he gives her indirect hints tht they are gonna be together ..omg ..he is my love .i can't handle him…🥵🥵🥶🥰😝😛omg..he does so many kind and adorable things for her..the bus scene..the cinema abt him wanting to hold hand with excuse of warming but she says it's not appropriate n he yes cuz she is not his gf YET….wow this guy…it's too much 4 me..thru resolve misunderstanding he invites her 2 his house..omg they celebrate bday n he asks her wt kind of guy she likes n then he asks her if he can woo her omg…m excitement…damn..this guy is killing me..he tells her that he wants to be more than a bro 2 her..he learns how to mak3 a cake 4 her..omg he melts my heart..he says he wants be his bf n says he will woo her until she likes her back..20 her brother catches her holding hand with duan jia xu..21 they give off husband and wife vibes..she moves to his new house n towards the end of ep they have a passionate kiss..omg..my heart is beating..

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Muitas doses de fofura

Hidden Love é um drama queridinho da internet, então é obvio que minhas expectativas estavam altas. Posso dizer que elas foram sim cumpridas, pois o drama entrega o que promete: casal fofo, romance leve, história que passa o ar de juventude e primeiro amor, e é claro, muitos clichês. A fotografia do drama passa a vibe de verão e primavera, as osts ajudam a reforçar essa estética já que também são fofas e bonitinhas, então é extremamente fácil se sentir acolhido na narrativa e nos clichês da história, ainda mais porque a protagonista Sang Zhi é uma fofa em todas as versões: criança, adolescente e adulta, ela consegue te conquistar em todas (apesar de que na minha opinião, não tinha necessidade de uma atriz mirim para interpretar ela com 14 anos). O casal é realmente muito fofo, e acompanhar eles desde o começo até o final aquece o coração. Os personagens secundários são legais apesar de não terem uma narrativa grandiosa o bastante para que você se apegue a eles, o melhor é definitivamente o irmão da Sang Zhi. Agora, a trama daquela menina que ficava indo atrás do Jia Xu é tão chata e desnecessária, parecia que ela estava lá só pra ocupar tempo e dar mais episódios, além de que essa menina é irritante e enjoada para caramba. Eu adoro o elenco desse drama, Zhao Lusi entrega tanto em suas personagens, e eu adorei o ator, irei assistir outros dramas com ele. Entretanto, uma coisa que me incomodou um pouco foi o fato de que no começo do drama, a versão de 14 anos da Sang Zhi é obviamente uma criança, enquanto não há nenhuma mudança no ator principal, então é um pouco estranho assistir as cenas do começo em que a Sang Zhi criança é apaixonada pelo Jia Xu que já está na faculdade, então há uma passagem de tempo de 2 ou 3 anos, e a versão de 16/17 já é a Zhao Lusi, o que fica bem desconexo. E nossa era difícil assistir as cenas do casal adulto quando misturava com os flashbacks de quando ela tinha 14 anos, apesar de sempre ficar claro que Jia Xu a via como uma irmãzinha nessa época. Outro erro que também é possível perceber é que as idades não batem com a diferença de idade que é tanto reforçada no drama, mas isso ainda dá para ignorar. Apesar de ser um drama muito fofo e leve, não senti que ele foi perfeito, nem que virou um dos meus favoritos como é o de tanta gente, ele é leve o suficiente para agradar e aquecer o coração com as cenas fofas e divertidas, e é isso, não há nenhuma grande novidade no enredo, mas é bonitinho de assistir.

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O amor

Eu nem consigo pensar em nada pra escrever. O final eu gritei TANTO, eu chorei. Eu tô tão triste por ter que me despedir deles, o tempo que passei assistindo foi tão gostoso, eu amei tanto! Foi divertido, foi tranquilo, foi bom. Foi tudo que eu gosto, queria e precisava.
O romance deles, com tanto carinho, com tanto amor ali envolvido foi a melhor coisa do mundo de ver crescer, eu amo tanto eles.
Tem alguns pontos que se tivesse acontecido de uma forma melhor eu teria amado mais ainda se é que é possível:
O primeiro é o irmão dela (te amo Yan!) Que poderia ter sido mais explorado, gostei do final dele ajudando e dando apoio ali ao duan quando ele foi falar com os pais, mas queria ver a história dele
O segundo é as amigas dela que poderiam ter sido um pouco mais exploradas, principalmente a amiga que gostava do jogador de basquete, eles teriam feito um ótimo casal secundário na história e realmente achei que fosse acontecer 🥺
E terceiro é só o fato de quando eles dirigiam o carro aparecia aquela montagem horrorosa, mas pelo o que vi o drama não tinha muito orçamento, na verdade não sei se é verdade isso, mas se for tá explicado.
(E talvez o fato de terem usado uma atriz que parecia ter menos de 14 anos no começo do drama)
Enfim, foi maravilhoso, estupendo, fantástico. Vou sentir saudades.

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The story is Beautifully written, all of the music is so nice and nostalgic, also with the acting!

This is my first review so i don't know if i can express my feelings the way i want to!
First of all, The story might be odd since at the first episode the girl is still in 8th grade but don't worry as you keep watching, you can say that it's good! Secondly, the acting is just too good that it made me cry in some emotional scenes, (I've never cried this much in dramas) and as you know, he is not rich but he always gave her things to comfort her, he literally has a mindset of a provider! Thirdly, all the music is so nice to listen too! Forever Star is my personal favourite, it always reminds me of some scene,iloveitsm. and Lastly, it's rewatch value is insane! every time i listen to their music or see some edits, i always want to watch hidden love! The story is nice, the music is also good, the acting is so nice their chemistry is top notch. Overall i give it a 10/10💗💗

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