This review may contain spoilers
Very good
For starters, I'm a big fan of Hidden Love, so First Frost happening in the same universe has inevitably influenced my experience; more about it below.The biggest plus of the whole series is certainly the FL, who is a very interesting and very likeable character and probably the best role of Zhang Ruo Nan so far. She alone was worth watching the drama. Compared to her, the ML comes somewhat short. First of all, I couldn't help but compare him with the Hidden Love counterpart, and eventually settled with First Frost happening in an alternate universe instead of a shared one, as I couldn't see him as "that Sang Yan" (goes for most of the other shared characters). It's my personal preference, just a heads-up in case you also watched Hidden Love. "This Sang Yan" also feels a bit flat - his arrogance is slightly overdone, and unlike the FL he lacks any other nuances. As a result, the first half of the drama wasn't completely smooth to watch, however once the romance properly kicked in things improved a lot, since the romance was top notch.
The drama was a bit longer than it should be. I would cut out the second couple and their circumstances completely - while they were alright characters on their own, their relationship added nothing to the overall plot. The Hong Kong part (apparently not in the novel and added only for the drama) was also pointless, somewhat out of place and with literally no consequence despite its "real time" length. On the other side, consequences weren't missing for the "evil" characters, and I truly appreciate them being there instead of going the "we are family so let's forgive ourselves" route.
Overall a recommended watch for fans of romance, complex female characters and "dedicated" male characters.
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Ultimate yearning
It’s official, the main couple in this drama is going up there as one of my all-time favorites. Wen Yifan is a rare FL that’s quiet and reserved but still straightforward and stands up for herself when the situation calls for it. And Sang Yan is just the most amazing ML I’ve seen — he’s supportive and unwavering and funny, and the way BJT plays him is just so heartfelt.The drama plot hits the sweet spot between angsty and uplifting. The leads give us really adorable moments, but when it comes to Yifan’s backstory and how her family has made her feel unworthy of love, the drama becomes heart-breakingly relatable and both the lead actors play their characters beautifully, and the amazing OST certainly adds a lot to each moment.
I will say that this drama was a little more dramatic than I anticipated — it’s pretty steady most of the time but there are a few fights and backstories that were extremely intense. To add, I’ve always hated the separation trope, and yeah this drama has it. It lasts quite a few episodes and it is frustrating and depressing, but I think this is one of the few cases where I think it really makes sense, and I like how it was resolved not by the ML finding the FL again, but by the FL realizing there were good people around her, being brave, and choosing to call him again. This IS Yifan’s story, and that gave her a lot more agency. It also makes the conversation they had where she finally lays out all her cards on the table feel earned.
The biggest “blah” part of this drama for me is, unfortunately, the side characters. I loved the SFL in WIFTY, and I loved the SML in Your Name Engraved Herein, and they’re both fine when they’re acting either as Sang Yan or Wen Yifan’s friend, but when it comes to their romance, I really could not care less. They have a few arcs — something with a dog, something with a car accident. I’m sorry but I could not tell you a single thing that happened (lol). For this reason I've been bouncing between a 9.5 and a 10, but I think I love the main couple so much I can't bear to give this any less.
Other than that…folks, this is one for the books, and I mean it when I say I think this drama had the best finale I’ve ever seen. It wrapped everything up beautifully, revisiting all the moments between our leads and capturing their growth. I cried my eyes out.
I also just want to take a moment to say that the cinematography in this show is GORGEOUS. You can tell that there is so much thought put into each shot, and it captures the warmth, the angst, whatever the scene calls for — perfectly.
Watch this to understand real yearning.
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SLOWBURN ROMANCE NOT TYPICAL FLUFFY DRAMA
SPECIAL APPLAUSE TO RUONAN FOR POTRAYING MY FAV CHARACTER WEN YIFAN!!it is not easy to potray this character but ruonan did it super proud of her! her eyes is crazy like u can feel the sadness deep inside too..eventho lots of ppl said they felt boring i do particularly think this drama is for those who loves slowburn,melancholy and healing.. it heals part of me who always think that i’m undeserving of something that is precious..the last 4 eps are superrrrrrrgoooddddd (pls skip ep 24&25 if u cannot handle a runaway arc haha) may all wen yifan in this world will find her sangyan and eventho if u cant find your own sangyan pls do know everyone is precious especially to ourselves!!! give yourself a good hug after everything u gone thru 🤍🤍🤍 shoutout to bai jin ting,other casts and production team for producing my fav healing cdrama with goood ost and cinematography 🫶🏼!!
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First love, second chance ❄️
This is a drama that follows the two main leads, Wen Yifan and Sang Yan, who have had feelings for each other since school. However, due to circumstances and insecurities, they couldn't be together. After years apart, they meet again. Although they pretend not to recognize each other, they end up getting close once more when the protagonist, due to a past trauma, needs Sang Yan's help. Together, they face old feelings…The phrase "Wherever you go, I'll go with you" reflects the deep bond and evolution of their relationship.
My thoughts: This drama is emotional, with a good mix of romance and personal growth. The main characters have strong chemistry, and the unresolved feelings over the years create an interesting tension in the plot.
Would I recommend it? Yes, it's worth your time. 🎀 𓂃
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I can't get over
It's been a very long time that I could finally watch a wonderful story. The whole story was so heart touching, I simply can't get over it.The plot, the characters, the side actors, you can't find a single flaw, and as the story progresses you will fall in love with them ❤❤
I could explain it further, but you don't have to read a review to watch it, just watch it, and I'm sure, I'm going to watch it again sometime
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Bai Jingting delivers a heartfelt performance as Sang Yan — a man who hides his guilt and affection behind sarcasm and restraint. His every glance carries emotion, his quiet moments say more than words ever could. Zhang Ruonan as Wen Yifan is equally compelling — fragile yet resilient, she embodies a woman who has learned to protect herself from love, only to rediscover its warmth through patience and understanding.
Their chemistry feels natural, grounded, and beautifully understated. The drama doesn’t rush them; instead, it lets the tension breathe. Shared silences, hesitant smiles, and small gestures become the language of love. Every episode feels like watching two people slowly melt the frost around their hearts.
Visually, the series is stunning — filled with muted colors, soft lighting, and quiet cityscapes that mirror the emotional distance between the leads. The pacing is calm but deliberate, allowing each moment to linger.
What makes “The First Frost” special is its honesty. It doesn’t romanticize pain — it acknowledges it, showing that healing isn’t instant and love doesn’t erase the past, but helps us move through it.
In the end, it’s a story about timing, forgiveness, and the courage to begin again. “The First Frost” doesn’t shout to be heard — it whispers, and somehow, that whisper stays with you long after it ends.
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An amazing experience
This is truly up to standard of an S drama. Everything is perfect with a slow pace that I love. The story is deep and real, it made me cry because their love is just so pure. It was the first drama I watched without waiting for all the episodes to drop before watching it completely.The acting was incredible. Zhang Ruonan embodied the character of Wen Yifan perfectly. I could see the struggles of her character in every detail she made. Bai Jingting has a face where I can feel his emotions through the screen and can't look away. Their happy moments just made me smile instantly. It also has some humoristic tones that I love. It's not too much and they deliver it amazingly.
The music is so good. It's the type of music you learn all the lyrics unconsciously because you heard it so much and it was so catchy. I LOVE music where there is some sort of humming, so for example "There is you amidst raindrops" is my fav track. It had two singers singing at the same time and I literally stop every time I heard this music in the show to just listen to the full version on YouTube.
Finally, I would love love to rewatch it again but I feel like I wouldn't have the same emotions as I did for the first time watching it. It is still a deep, fluffy and mature drama with a love so beautiful you already know it's hard to find something like this in real life. I remember when it was first airing, I would stay up late until the last second to watch it as soon as it released even tough I had school the next day (it released at 12am).
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Awsome, healing story - Bai Jing Ting and Zhang Ruo Nan did a fantastic job
I've read the novel and i liked it.It's a difficult story and I have had mixed emotion about the adaptation and some reservation on the leads too.
I was very excited and i had reserved the show, but later with some fearcaused by other novel with bad adaptation i started watching it only the second day, but i really really loved it.
I think it's wonderful, a work of poetry, a true masterpiece.
I loved the story, the adaptation, the soundtrack, the actors... everythings are absolutely perfect.
The actors gave such depth to the characters...
I really don't understand the haters, the novel reader's haters.
It's true that there are little differences, but which adaptation doesn't have it and here the overall story remain the same.
My characters image of the protagonists were slightly different from the adaptation but i admit that i really loved this interpretation.
The leads actor did a very good job, from the expression to the clothes style.
The pace was very slow, because the story is so, therefore i hope who doesn't know the story to give a little more time before giving up because it's worth. The episodes became better and better and i think it's difficult to watch such a satisfactory last episode.
I loved the attention the production gave to every single detail in the story.
I loved how they showed what wasn't written in the original story, but It makes sense as of an other pov, on the personality and actions described in both the novels.
It really gave you new insight of the story.
The soundtrack really fit the story.
It's a very healing story.
The script and the dialog are very well written and contain many quotes from the novel.
Rewatch the story is very recommanded because the story, the dialog and also because every time you can spot new details.
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If you're looking for a story about love, you found it here.
The First Frost is a story about love in all kinds. Love that we long for, first love, love of a lifetime, love we find in our friends, love that we think we don't deserve, love that we are deprived of... The leads are the characters itself. You get attached to them. You root for them. You feel what they feel. And they feel so much it hurts in a heart wrenching way.The First Frost is beautifully made from start to finish for those who love it for what it is – and was always supposed to be.
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Masterpiece
Best love story ever!The script and dialog so beautifully and poetically written - so many phrases and lines and movie clips I want to remember forever. The plot draws you in from the get go and never lets go of you with anticipation of what is next for the characters surprising you with the playfulness of real people, drawing upon such real depictions of real families and their relationships good and bad and how people journey through life and love. Never too exaggerating nor understating the pain or sorrow or joys and happy times. The acting - omg kudos to them all! With the actors I smiled, I laughed, got embarrassed, blushed like a schoolgirl, cried like a baby, felt their sorrows and hurts, disappointments, got really mad, remembered the feelings of longing and regret, and loneliness, healing from trauma to finding courage and acceptance and joy on the road to peace and happiness and lasting trust and love. The director and all the crew I’m giving up you my very enthusiastic thumbs up for such a masterpiece production! Thank you!
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Let me be willful. I will wait for you to come to me.
A story of healing and love that never asks anything in return.A perfect portrayal of handling trauma and a pure intention of providing safety and comfort to one another.
Wen Yifan is a broken person who experienced many traumas and never had a warm home after her father died. This drama shows how a bad experience can lead to her distancing herself even from the man she loves. They handle it perfectly, and we see her slow progress of healing.
Sang Yan... ahhhh. This guy... Every time we see his effort for Yi Fan, it is just wonderful. He respects her boundaries. He listens. He sees her. struggle. He silently helps her. He's the perfect portrayal of how we deal with hurt people. We respect their boundaries and wait for them to open up.
What a lovely journey. This is a story that will stay in my heart but cannot be rewatched fully. I just want to watch those beautiful moments and the way Sang Yan punches that uncle. :)
Great OST. I kept playing them for weeks.
I'm glad I gave this a chance because I do not watch much when it comes to contemporary drama.
overall: 9.5/10
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This review may contain spoilers
Will make you pray to have their kind of love.
This is probably my new fav cdrama. i felt and experience different kinds emotions watching every episodes. i legit cried in the last ep, the whole proposal scene. i am single my whole life, but i guess, relationship and marriage is not scary after all if i have a "Sang Yan"both lead actor/actress gives justice to the role, their chemistry is soo 🤌🔥 couldnt think of anyone who can pull off the role of Sangyan and Yifan better than the two of them.
i never post reviews here in MDL despite being a k/cdrama fan for more than a decade, but i am this time, that is how good this drama is 💯🥹 in fact
i am actually rewatching it again hahaha i am just too attached to this drama, i still can let it go lol
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