Hidden Love (2023)

Age gap romance done right finally !!!

I delayed watching this because I usually don't like age gap romances where the heroine is still a minor but I was absolutely proven wrong.

Lets talk about the many positives:
- Age Gap discussion done maturely
The story is aware of its weakness which is Sang zhi liking Jiaxu when she was a minor. But their relationship remains that of a brother and sister even when Sang zhi is an adult. Their dynamic only changes when Jiaxu realizes his feelings after they meet and get to know each other as adults. The characters even have a serious discussion about their age gap and were aware of it. It just made the story more realistic because the age gap was shown as a serious consideration.
- Chen Zheyuan stole my heart !
Even though both the leads acted well, Chen Zheyuan as Jiaxu stole my heart and I haven't recovered yet. His eyes and micro expressions were just swoon worthy and his character (playful and mischievous) was so refreshing to watch unlike the serious and cold CEO characters in other dramas. Jiaxu had his flaws and he owned it. He did an amazing job of portraying a smart, playful and cunning character. Whenever he smiled, you could feel the different emotions he was portraying. He was so natural and his character overall felt realistic. I'm madly in love with his acting right now and I can't stop gushing.
-The heart fluttering chemistry between the leads
The chemistry between Lusi and Zheyuan was palpable. I could feel the tension between through the screen and I was screaming giggling and kicking thd whole time whenever they had their moment on screen. The pining was swoon worthy and the kisses were heart melting. Strangely I didn't find their skinship moments cringey and I usually skip forward when the leads get too intimate, but I didn't do it here. It just felt natural.
- The character dynamics was fun to watch
The supporting characters felt real and their relationship with each other was fun to watch. Not many characters were toxic and didn't make too much drama. I also like Sang Yan and Sang Zhi dynamic, their sibling energy felt real and I liked that Sang Yan was protective over his sister but still wanted his friend to be happy.
- Sang Zhi's character was written so well
I was skeptical how they would show a younger female lead in a age gap romance since they typically go for the naive and innocent damsel in distress route. But i was pleasantly suprised by how mature Sang Zhi's character was. She thinks like an adult and is very clear about her feelings but still has the youthful and fresh vibe of a college freshman. She was very careful about her relationship dynamic with Jiaxu and even acknowledges real life concerns with their relationship. She was just a joy to watch and she was the best female character I've seen in an age gap romance till date.

Now even though this series was near perfect, I still have a few minor negatives:
- The earlier episodes could've been better
The childhood arc could've been thought out more. The cinematography looked weird and Lusi with her very childish voice was off putting since no high school student will willingly talk like a baby. The child actress could've also looked more mature. She acted well but she didn't look like a 14 year old and that just made the age gap thing more weird.
- The supporting characters could've been more fleshed out
The supporting characters were boring especially Sang Zhi's college mates. I just fast forwarded when it was only them on the screen since they were written too stereotypical and didn't feel fully fleshed out.
-Can we stop with the cheesy proposals already ?!
What is with China and its obsession with cheesy proposals. I was hoping that maybe this one will have a normal proposal since the story till then felt mature and realistic but they had to end it on a cringey note.

Overall:
Don't get scared of the plot and give this drama a chance if you want a swoon worthy romance that'll keep you up at night. 9.5/10.

Lire davantage

Made me watch cdrama again!!

It was fluffyy.. Sweet.. Stress and anxiety reliever for me.. I havent watch c drama in a very long time.. Last time mind you was "meteor garden" taiwan version.
I love how they look together.. Love the story line.. Love the people around them..
Its almost like it was written and produce for lusi and zheyuan. Their chemistry was great..
And the bts shoot is a show on its own. Love it..

The ost is amazing as well.
And if i may say.. The outfit that the leads wore on this show is better compare to other cdrama.

Overall i love it.. I love it..

Lire davantage

Perfect RomCom

Summary: At a comfortable 25 episodes, this is by far thee BEST romcom I've seen and will definitely watch again to catch any details I previously missed. I wish there was more story to watch! Following the standard formula of romantic interest > misunderstanding > confession > plot twist > clarifying love, this series packs some heavy one-two punches (also in the show) of both butterfly-inducing and laugh out loud scenes! There's also some heartbreaking scenes as well. That's why I consider Hidden Love (2023) a perfect romcom. NOTE: make sure to stick around (rather than skipping ahead) after the photo collages to see the outtakes relaying more details about an episode; not sure why the filmmakers produced it that way but it works. The soundtrack is also great.

Details: The interactions and situations between the two leads are sooo kě'ài de! I enjoyed watching both grow and evolve into an equal partnership rather than a mentor/mentee relationship, as they struggle through awkward moments and finally reveal their secrets to each other. It was funny to see the confident and caring Duan Jia Xu tease Sang Zhi through her insecure moments and heart-melting to see how courageous and determined she was in caring for him through his hardships. Both actors are great at expressing the really heartbreaking moments of the show. I also like that there weren't strong triangle situations, which can be annoying (sorry if you're into that).

But what's even more entertaining are the interactions of the leads with the brother, Sang Yan, who's also my favorite character in the show. He is HILARIOUS. I'll never look at the word "gēgē" the same again (hint: it's used like "oppa" in Korean culture). XD XD XD For some reason, I kept wanting Sang Yan and Yu Xin to get together with both their feisty personalities.

One thing I was a bit concerned about is so much focus on the child version of Sang Zhi crushing over the adult Duan Jia Xu. I mean no lines were crossed but there didn't need to be so much backstory on that, only the teenager to adult years. The filmmakers also spent way too much attention on the professional details at Duan Jia Xu's work, not sure what valued that added to the storyline.

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Different from other youth crush dramas

I usually dislike dramas that feature a young girl crushing on an oblivious older guy. But I gave this a try thanks to my fellow reviewers and I really liked it because the FL MAINTAINS HER DIGNITY. She isn't a lovable ditz who endlessly and annoyingly chases a guy who has no interest in her; she admires him quietly and he finds her likeable as well--just too young to consider romantically. Until one day she isn't too young, and then the ride gets even better. The other thing I liked was how the drama kept its focus even after they got together. So many Cdramas veer off into boring storylines about business or family in-fighting after the leads get together, but this one remembers it is a romance and comes up with small hurdles that our leads face by mutually supporting each other. It is sweet and refreshing and packed with some really good acting. A delight to watch.

Lire davantage

THE BEST CHINESE DRAMA I HAVE WATCHED

I cant express through words enough how i amaze i am with this drama. This is so well written, directed and casted. All the staff and people behind this masterpiece really deserves recognition. Its 2024 now. And as i rewatched this masterpiece I realize that this is really a gem. Zhao Lusi, Chen Zheyuan, Actor Ma and all the cast really did give justice to their characters 100 percent. The story is so heartwrenching, the ost is so good and cozy, the cinematography and aesthetic are just so perfect. How i wish i can just watch this over and over for the first time. The reviews and rating didnt do justice. The rating should be a perfect 10/10.

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No matter what, the first person who made our heart flutter will always be special<3

WOWW!! I don't care what others say about this drama being overrated because to me this drama is worth the hype. Everyone has different problems in their life and literally watch these drama to calm down their choatic mind and this one literally helped me heal. The amount of cheesiness was perfect, it didn't made me to cringe or left out. The most important thing is the male lead was not rich and arrogant/ portrayed to be someone who is beyond everything, he was just an ordinary guy trying to live a peaceful life with the person he loves. His/ her love was not exaggerated but still made us fall in love with the characters and made us believe in love. I always love a healthy and mature relationship between the main leads in a drama, yeah obviously i love angst but for this story, the amount of angst they added felt more than enough.

Sang Zhi's love for Jiaxu is everything!! Everyone talks about Jiaxu being a green forest, yeah i totally agree but Sang Zhi is the whole lot of green universe. She is cute, beautiful (both inside and outside), matured, understanding. This made the story more and more adorable.

Okay if I don't stop here, i would just keep on simping for them. I WOULD NEVER HESITATE TO WATCH THIS ONE AGAIN AND AGAIN ❤️

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