Hidden Love

I've been watching Asian drams since 2017 when Netflix started adding them. I'm a 65 year old white American male , so if I like it, anyone can like this show. I have watched many excellent ones like Pachinko, Meteor Garden, Rational Life, etc. But this one is my favorite.

Such a realistic story, never a fake moment. The chemistry between the leads is unmatched. Zhao Lusi is a very talented actress and I am now watching 3 of her other shows !

I'm only on episode 17 of 25 and look forward to the rest of the series. Easily a 10/10.

Rarely does a show make me laugh and bring tears to my eyes, but this one does.

The story line was very simple yet universal it touches across social & cultural boundaries lines. The actors & actresses were both attractive & talented. I liked the fact the respect the program showed towards the parents & Also liked the fact that main characters had to fight hard to preserve their love & to overcome their personal challenges. Their were no magic pills on this one...except a few things that was huh...really...oh...no...but besides that it was cleaned show, the whole family can enjoyed. It is for anyone who had a crush on their best friend sister...im joking..lol Love believe all things, conquer all things...True love never fails.

I've been watching Asian dramas since 2013. Hidden Love shows just how far dramas have come since then. Gone is the era of corny, unrealistic, over-done dramatics and toxic bullying relationships. Nowadays, the reign of realistic, feel-good dramas with healthy adult relationships and no villains or cliffhangers is in. I haven't been this impressed with dramas since Hometown Cha Cha Cha and Reply 1988, both of which Hidden Love reminded me of in parts.

The male protagonist, Jiaxu, is realistically perfect, a great man, a walking green flag, who is caring and loving to everyone around him and especially fond of Sang Zhi and her family (HCCC vibes). The female protagonist, Sang Zhi, is not a dumb damsel in distress, she makes reasonable decisions for her life and falls in love due to relatable circumstances. Even as an innocent teen, she is relatable (a sweet, honest, reliable, and attentive friend of her brother treating her well as a girl). The actors that play them clearly have real-life chemistry as well... the looks that Jiaxu gives her are a little too loving.

This drama is so good because it's so simple, yet completely free of anything problematic, corny, or unrealistic. It's grounded in reality and what real love looks like! There are no ridiculous villains, no over-done dramatics, no cliff hangers needed to keep you watching. Instead, the focus is on the family and friends surrounding the main characters and the highs and lows of their very real life through different eras of adolescence and adulthood (R1988 vibes).

Here's some progressive themes that I was so happy to see brought attention to in this show: menstrual cycles (normalization), predatory relationships (inappropriate age gaps between adults and minors), consensual acts (asking, can I hold your hand? Do you want to..?), prioritization of family, health relationship dynamics (always putting the other person first, anticipating their needs and wants), supporting the other person's dreams and growth.

Yes, it may be slow, but it's totally worth it. I was actually impressed with how short the "will they, won't they" waiting period of the plot lasted; Jiaxu is such a good guy that we don't wait long until he makes his intentions known to now-adult Sang Zhi. Additionally, despite the kid-friendly rating... the couple got shockingly spicy and handsy for an Asian drama (mostly suggestive moments, but plenty of intimate on-screen kissing and hugging).

Hidden Love is complete and well-thought-out. Nothing was rushed, everything was given its time, and I felt rewarded for watching. The effort put into this was apparent, and it's clear that women directors and writers were behind it all. 10/10, easy. I recommend this to every lover of Asian dramas as a MUST watch.

This drama is soo good,just speechless i watched it in 2 days first of all,i loved the acting...the chemistry between the main leads are great and their acting was super nice this is a kind of drama thats gonna melt your heart.

I think i am gonna watch it several times i really wish a second season ...although i think there aint gonna be one everything about the drama was a thumbs up🖤 Hope we can see dramas like this moree this drama is better than most other cdramas maybe cause of its realistic acting the male lead played the sad roles so good(its not a tragic drama though) and the female lead also was nice i hope to see more of them in the future🖤🖤🖤

International fan here:

I don't usually watch Cdrama, but this one piqued my interest. The story is based on a novel titled: "secretly secretly but unable to hide it" by zhu yi. I read some chapters and love that the series made sure it sticks closely to the original source. I love how the story unfolded. It guides the audience on how the relationship started from platonic to puppy love and finally true love. It clearly showed the transition of the guy's feelings from an overly protective older brother to something more. The story tells us about how someone can be one's destiny. Sang Zhi was exactly what Duan Jia Xu needed at the right moments and times. She was the little sister when he needed one. She was like a best friend when he needed someone to share his secret, and the girlfriend who loved him as who he was and will be.

I am a fan of the main and secondary leads acting. Their facial expression is convincing. The dialogues are also very witty and entertaining. I really love this drama and would highly recommend this. It is funny and touching. The sweet parts can also give you diabetes. Hahaha!

Congratulations to the team and crew!