Mastodawn

Jill 🛸Jul 4, 2023

Because I love Zhao Lusi, I had to start up the #cdrama #HiddenLove.

As other folks on here have said, the sibling relationship feels very real. The older brother picking on the younger sister, who fires back and embarrasses him in front of his friends. The awkwardness of two college men shopping for tampons. 😆

I love how Sang Zhi as a young girl is too smart and bored for school, and constantly has to have her parents come talk to the teacher because she doesn't pay attention in class and draws instead. I hope to see more of that confidence and cheekiness in her later ages...

Jill 🛸Jul 7, 2023

OK, how can he NOT be suspicious that she flew all the way to Yihe with gifts for him in his backpack, yet she says she flew to see her "online boyfriend"?

Jill 🛸Jul 7, 2023

D'aw. That old man may be hard of hearing but he's not blind. 😊

And what part of "don't contact me again" does Jiang Yang not understand? It seems pretty self-explanatory, and yet...

The episodes are shorter than an hour, but it feels like there's plenty of breathing room within the story. Not too slow, but also plenty of space. I'm enjoying this.

Jill 🛸Jul 10, 2023

Staying in, eating take-out, and watching anime on New Years instead of going out to party? Yes, please! That sounds divine.
#cdrama #HiddenLove

Jill 🛸Jul 10, 2023

Wow, Jiaxu has a completely different personality as "older brother" vs "flirting with a woman".

*dies of the absolute cuteness these two are*

He even learned how to bake a complicated cake just for her birthday? *dies again*
#cdrama #HiddenLove

Jill 🛸Jul 10, 2023

When she opened the gift and she it was a camera and that the camera already had a picture on it, my first thought: is it a dick pic? 🫣😆 No, an accidental open shirt chest pic... 😳😂

Jill 🛸Jul 13, 2023

My face for that entire first scene of this episode: 🫣😊😳🫣😊

THESE TWO. TOO ADORABLE. ACK.

#cdrama #HiddenLove

Jill 🛸Jul 13, 2023

Sang Zhi is much more dedicated to her studies than I was at that age with my college boyfriend. Whew, that was a steamy interaction, and yet she wanted to do school work. And Jiaxu thankfully understood and did not push against the boundary she made.

#cdrama #HiddenLove

Jill 🛸Jul 15, 2023

No, YOU shamelessly re-watch some of the best romantic parts of the series you haven't finished yet.

That hidden grin Jaixu makes at the airport when Sang Zhi asks if the woman at the airport years ago was his girlfriend or not. 🫣🥰 Like he's fully realizing just how long she's adored him and that maybe she actually flew there as a high school student to see HIM and not some fictitious online boyfriend. It is literally my absolute favorite part so far. I think I've rewatched that hidden grin about 10 times. He hides the grin with his hand but his eyes go wide in glee, too.

The acting in this show is just SO SUPERB. SO MUCH conveyed in facial expressions and reactions. The tiniest brow furrow from Sang Zhi when she realizes that Jiaxu's old classmate assumed the evil water-throwing lady was who he assumed as Jiaxu's girlfriend. The gum snapping when Jiaxu is jealous. The mischievous grin Sang Yan has as he locks Sang Zhi out of the yard.

#cdrama #HiddenLove

Jill 🛸Jul 15, 2023

Oh my goodness, I think the #cdrama #HiddenLove is one of the best shows I've seen. The quiet, sometimes awkward, sometimes sad, sometimes hilarious and silly, story of a love that grew from a childhood crush.

The acting is absolutely superb. The facial expressions between characters tell so much of the story.

It also has such a realistic brother-sister relationship, too. They care about each other and also annoy the crap out of each other, oftentimes on purpose.

I was sad to have to finish it, as I wanted to cherish each smile and teary eye of the story.

I also love how fierce and confident the female lead is in her love. Girl would cut a bitch, if necessary, without guilt.

The hesitant dance of consent is so well-represented, too. Navigating the first steps in an intimate physical relationship. I really appreciate, from an American perspective, the LACK of purity culture BS that permeates so much American media.

A++. Definitely recommended.

Jill 🛸Jul 18, 2023

Wow, even MyDramaList has #HiddenLove currently ranked as # 1 of the top 100 #cdrama shows!

I'm pretty sure that goes off of ranking by user, so that's a good list!

https://mydramalist.com/shows/top_chinese_dramas

Top 100 Must-Watch Chinese Dramas - MyDramaList

Get your drama fix with our comprehensive list of the top 100 must-watch Chinese dramas. From romantic comedies to action-packed dramas, find your next favorite show with our ultimate guide.

Henriette Jul 17, 2023

@jillithd The drama is good on so many levels. It is cute and sweet on the surface but beneath the surface real issues are tackled delicately and realistically. It just goes to show that a drama can be compelling without littering the screen with unnecessary skin on show and gratuitous violence. This is why I like #CDrama.

Elisheva Meira ✡︎ 🌈Jul 17, 2023

@jillithd Your review has sold me🙂 I'm going to watch this as soon as I'm ready for Zhao Lusi to be someone other than Xiao Qian in my mind :)
That might be a while though 😊

Henriette Jul 15, 2023

@jillithd The main couple is excellent, but the brother/sister relationship is fabulous, too, as are the parents.

Jill 🛸Jul 15, 2023

@Sollenbum the siblings are so fun to watch. They obviously care about each other but also annoy each other and bicker constantly. I love how she answers the phone when her brother calls. "What." In the most annoyed voice ever. 😂