The First Frost

The best kind of love is the one that makes you want to change for the better.

omfg this exceeded all of my expectations and is one of the most beautifully done cdramas i have seen in 2025 so far.

-wen yifan? my love,my shayla oh my GODDD MY SHAYLAAAA. I love the way this story voices SA victims wen yifan is not alone and neither are the other innocent souls, seeing her grow stronger and braver and crack out of a dark place was inspiring and honestly beautiful to see.
she is ALSO breathtakingly GORGEOUSSS like sang yan my bro, i get it, i really do.
-the OST, I, much like everyone else is jamming to it as we speak i ADOREEE IT.
-sang yan? a man who yearns is a man who earns and sang yan proved that periodt. His love language is acts of service and it can be seen so clearly all throughout the drama i loved it.

one thing to add tho, i know most people's problems with this is that it seemed ''unrealistic'', such as sang yan being so deeply in love with her and yifan SEEMINGLY not ''reciprocating'' the same amount of feelings back.
but i call CAPP, they love each other in their own unique ways, while sang yans love can be seen through his actions, his yearning and his care. i personally think yifan expresses her love with her words, saying she wants to live 6 years more then him and the reason behind it omg girl i love you.
she loved him enough to leave her happiness for his safety and he loved her enough to look and wait for her for YEARS. Thats true love imo. they're perfect for eachother.

i may have had my own doubts when i was in the middle of the whole drama, but the last few episodes blew me away, the story was extremely enjoyable throughout and actually very heavy in contrast to hidden love.

9/10 would 1000000% recommend.

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A story worth telling

I really enjoyed this drama. The main leads acting was really good, especially the female lead. While the pace of the drama and the romance was really slow, I did not mind it because the characters and their story were being developped. The slow pace actually kept me invested because we kept seeing small glimpse of the character's inner thoughts and their full past. However, I do wish that Sang Yan's character had been more developed and explored because there were a lot of questions for me like "why does he like her so much?". I also wish we had explored the impact of the FL trauma on their inimate life. However, this is me nitpicking really, because other than that the story was really good. Even the second couple, they were quite thoroughly explored (perhaps even too much which in turn took screen time away from the main leads). Another thing that I enjoyed was that since we're looking at adults, everyone was quite mature in their thinking and acting. The minsunderstandings that happened were cleared up pretty quickly and no unnecessary and immature grudges were held (which is somehing that happens too often in other dramas). I also appreciated the duality of the leads. Yi Fan looks reserved and like a "pushover" but is actually quite strong and speaks up when she has to. Sang Yan looks cocky but is actually quite sensitive, soft and at times insecure. Overall, this is a drama I would recommend if you're okay with a slow-burn story and exploring darker themes.

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Great but too many flashbacks

I like that this drama showed that life isnt a fairytale,but they did get their happily ever after. But for me the male actor carried the show, female was beautiful but was very cringe and awkward to watch on some scenes but it could have been the writers vision and he told her to act like that idk. Another negative besides the cringe moments from the FL is how many FLASHBACKS they put in the show. I swear 40% of the show is flashbacks. They even do a flashback of something that just happened in that very episode...like its not like we forgot what happened 15 minutes ago writers... if you add all the flashbacks it would equal atleast 8 episodes 🤣. I know a lot of shows do the flashback thing but this show is way too excessive in that aspect. Also did anyone actually care about the grandpa sideplot? Because i found it boring and fast forwarded and it seems most other people did the same. Not sure why the writers felt the need to add that in and it really took up a lot of scenes too so its not like it was a small side plot. Anyway ive already rewatched 3 times and i dont really re-watch shows,i did fast forward all the flashbacks and grandpa scenes though 🤣 This show did make me cry of happiness and fullfilled what a love story should really be like though i will give it that! Now if only real life could be like the way he loved her :(

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At What Point Is Enough Enough?

This movie, overall was a great watch.
I enjoyed the music, the scenes, you name it, I loved it. But I found myself struggling to like the FL. NOT the actress, I think she did great, but the character. The character goes through a lot of hardships and you see how it impacts her relationships; she keeps her distance, doesn't believe she deserves goodness, doesn't share much about herself, and doesn't trust others. My question to that is at what point is enough enough? There has to be a decision to move forward and not let the past dictate your life. She does make that choice but at the signs of trouble, she falls right back into old habits and disappears.
I believe the FL lives her life with the mindset of "I don't want to inconvenience anyone, I don't deserve to be an inconveience anyone" but she never ASKS IF she's an inconvenience to anyone, she never ASKS her friends if they're ok, and she never offers to TELL her friends if she's how she's doing and if she's ok. She's already made the decision that she's an inconvenience and therefore the best thing for those around her is if SHE makes the decision for ALL of them by removing herself out of their lives.
That isn't love.
You can't say "I love you, so I'll make this decision without talking to you first, without getting your input first, and without thinking of how it'll affect you first. But because I love you, trust me, it's for the best." That's very selfish and self-centered. That isn't love.

I also found myself getting frustrated with the ML. Loving someone doesn't mean you have no boundaries with them. He has no boundaries of proper treatment from the woman he says he loves. He has boundaries with friends, coworkers, etc, but not her. That was annoying because the FL treats him how she BELIEVES is the best way to tram him. She genuinely believes she's doing the right thing and because he has no boundaries with her, he doesn't correct her; instead just coddles her and enables her selfish tendencies. That isn't love either.

I believe a person can be a victim and still be selfish outside of that victimhood.

Both FL and ML seem trauma bonded, trying to relive missed opportunities which is never good.
Overall, it was a beautiful watch- the cinematography of it all- I wouldn't watch it again (simply because once is enough for me with most shows/movies), but it was hard to witness this type of relationship.

Maybe I was too invested in the realism of it all ?

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Is there any point in saying anything about it? Just what

announced that this series was coming out, so I wanted to watch it (I was waiting for the whole thing to come out). I finally watched it with sis and I have to tell you that this is called a Chinese masterpiece. I haven't seen many cdramas, but this will 100% be one of my favorites. It's BEAUTIFUL. Really. The relationship between the main characters is BEAUTIFUL. The story is BEAUTIFUL. The overall production is BEAUTIFUL. I cried a few times - not because it was sad, but mainly because of how beautiful the drama is. What got me the most was probably that it's a spin-off of "hidden love" (which I still haven't reviewed (especially since I'm rewatching Imao)) and stay tuned!!! More spin-offs of hidden love are being prepared (some classmate or something). Anyways, in first frost one of the main characters is Sang Yan, whom we already know from "hidden love" as Sang Zhi's brother. Which seems really cool to me, because I really liked Yana in Hidden Love, and when you told me that it was actually a spin-off, I was even more shocked and excited.

I was super excited yesterday because, as I said, the drama was wonderful and I'm so sorry it ended (I would watch it again in a heartbeat). I also can't forget to mention the wonderful soundtrack, which is worth listening to (I'll throw my favorites in here) and I applaud the actors for their great work, and also the people who participated in the entire series, because this is called a masterpiece.

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comforting and nostalgicc

I have never seen such a beautiful drama. The characters, the story, the acting. I will forever stay in this universe even when im wrinkly and 80 in a wheelchair. The whole drama didn't make me as emotional as the last 2 eps did. I BAWLED OUT MY EYES. Yifan finding a family in sang yan's family, being freed from her past ghosts. The vile man getting behind bars forever, cutting off her selfish good for nothing mother and finally living for herself. thats my girl!! Legit so proud of her. And sang yan, oh the way that man YEARNEDDDDDDDD FOR HER. No man irl can ever measure as his equal. The pure love, the passion and the devotion he had towards her. Such a beautiful drama🥹

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I thought I would binge it, yet savored it instead

It's been a while since I cried so much watching a drama. For me, it had the perfect balance between heartbreaking and heartwarming. There was such a juxtaposition between ML's life and FL's life, you would think that these two could never make a relationship work. ML is from a loving and happy home, and it seemed like life was just handing him everything he wanted without effort. On the flip side, FL's home life consisted of being foisted off on one relative after another. No one wanted her, and no one loved her. I think this made her emotionally stunted, always trying to protect herself from being abused/left again.

I loved the mix of high school and current times. The writer did a good job of slowly revealing more and more of the ML and FL history. When their high school breakup is initially shown, it didn't make much sense to me, and I thought the FL was unnecessarily cold. However, as the drama went on, we saw how she was trying to protect herself when she had no one else to protect her.

I absolutely loved discovering how he loved her, in the many ways he tried to protect her, and all the efforts he took to just see her in her world, a world that he was not a part of. I thought initially he was being awfully cocky toward her, making it sound like he thought she was chasing him, but I think he thought (and rightly so) that she was very skittish and he didn't want to scare her off by coming on too strong. He always seemed to be looking only at her, yet she had difficulty making eye contact with him. It felt like self-protection.

I thought the writer making her leave him seemed out of place, but again, we saw the difference between her being in the sunlight with him and being in the dark alone.

Her entire family was a complete nightmare. It made sense that her character was emotionally withdrawn. She just wanted to keep her head down, remain unnoticed, and get through life the best way she could. Kudos to the writers for not putting in a redemption arc for her family, that would have made me mad.

I loved their scenes together, as teens and as adults. They made each other better versions of themselves. I thought their chemistry was on point. Some very good kisses.

For me, C-dramas tend to be too long and drawn out. My fast forward button got a complete rest while watching this. A lot of people might find this drama to be unrealistic in the romance department. But for the romantic in me, it ticked all the boxes.

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Beautiful Rollercoaster

I have to start off by saying this drama was not what I expected but in the best way. This drama was very beautifully written and very well executed. The Things the FL dealt with in her life really makes you feel for her and makes are her choses in life makesense. My heart also goes out to the ML he did so much behind the scenes. I couldnt rewatch this drama it was way to heart breaking for me and had me crying out for both the FL and ML. Also wanna add I really liked all the supporting characters they all added to story in a positve way and made the story alot better!

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Melodrama done right

In all honesty i picked this drama up upon it's release but never finished it till starting it over again recently. I put this drama on hold as i was getting burnt out binging dramas and was dropping everything amidst the dryness of the c-drama world earlier this year. A snippet of the ending drawn me back in and i was honestly seated tightly from the beginning till the end. As some comments or reviews might have mentioned, it is not everyone's cup of tea as the theme leans heavily on SA and dysfunctional family settings. Some may not be able to fully understand or grasp why some characters act the way they do but i found that the portrayal in this drama on those aspects were painfully realistic. I wish more fellow male watchers are able to understand the messages this drama brings among other things. The Male Lead may be too perfect in real world setting but nevertheless should be an example of what men should strive to be when it comes to people they hold dear.

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yifan me tocou profundamente

acho que posso começar dizendo que senti e muito. chorei diversas vezes ao longo desse c-drama porque quando comecei, não tinha lido nada sobre como seria a história, então realmente foi uma descoberta sobre dor, amor e sobrevivência.

ainda fico chocada com a força da protagonista, não por ser algo novo, até porque não é de hoje que vemos — seja na ficção ou na vida real — mulheres que passaram por diversos momentos ruins, com a família, pessoas de fora, abusadores, pedófilos etc., e continuaram suas vidas, mesmo quando não tinham rede de apoio, sentiam dor e tantas outras coisas. e é exatamente isso que toca: a trajetória da yifan não é nova para nós, mulheres. ou já passamos por isso, ou conhecemos outras que passaram. infelizmente, como é algo que a gente conhece, assistir acaba tocando nosso coração de forma muito direta.

ver a vida que ela viveu até o momento atual em que se passa o c-drama nos faz entender a forma como ela se comporta, suas decisões — mesmo as que não gostamos — e, principalmente, sentir empatia por ela como mulher e ser humano.

um ponto que destaco — pois vi muitas pessoas comentarem — foi quando a yifan deixou o sangyan depois de estarem juntos e acabaram passando muito tempo separados. entendo demais a frustração por esse momento. mas como eu falei antes, ver tudo o que ela passou nos ajuda a entender suas ações, mesmo não gostando!! fiquei de coração partido pelo sangyan e pela amiga dela, mas um trauma mexe com você de todas as maneiras possíveis. pensei muito no quanto ela se sentiu culpada e com medo a ponto de a dor de sumir, da culpa e da saudade parecer a melhor opção do que ficar e se abrir. a gente se frustra do outro lado da tela, mas não é como se a pessoa que não teve confiança suficiente para falar e resolveu sumir lidasse com tudo de forma tranquila e não sofresse. esse comportamento dela é um reflexo de tudo o que ela viveu, e ainda bem que ela teve pessoas incríveis ao seu redor para lembrá-la de que nunca vão desistir dela. entendo todos os sentimentos das pessoas que não gostaram, e eu também gostaria que isso não tivesse acontecido no c-drama, mas acho o cúmulo atacarem ela por isso, como se ela estivesse apenas sendo dramática ou como se não amasse ele e sua amiga o suficiente. eu sei que foi algo que magoou muito eles, mas sinto que depois disso ela aprendeu bastante.

eu amei que a yifan não perdoou a família no final. estava com receio de que a colocassem como uma mulher que perdoasse e voltasse a ter algum tipo de laço com aquelas pessoas. é muito doloroso assistir àquela situação, mas nada justifica o que aquelas pessoas fizeram com ela. nada vai tirar a dor de uma vítima que foi desacreditada, que não foi acolhida no momento em que mais precisava. achei extremamente necessário ela cortar os laços.

preciso também dizer que sou completamente apaixonada pelo sangyan, e que ele se mostrou um personagem incrível, que sempre esteve ali pela yifan — confiando, esperando, sendo paciente e amando. ele é definitivamente aquele tipo de personagem masculino que a gente pensa "ah, só pode ter sido escrito por uma mulher".

mostrarem o presente e ficarem voltando para as cenas do passado foi algo que não me irritou tanto como achei que iria. gostei da trilha sonora, e boa parte dos outros personagens foi ok para mim, mas confesso que meu interesse maior era nos protagonistas, então eu não me importava com nenhum deles o suficiente, e alguns dos enredos não me prenderam. como é algo que tem muitos episódios, eu já esperava que, em algum momento, o ritmo fosse se perder para mim — e realmente isso aconteceu, o que foi uma pena.

no geral, eu gostei. fiquei presa logo no início e assisti a um episódio atrás do outro. adoro um slowburn, então não tenho do que reclamar nesse aspecto. senti que trataram a história da yifan de forma real e sensível também. enfim, foi um c-drama que assisti quando eu realmente estava querendo algo assim. teve altos e baixos, mas foi uma descoberta incrível, que tocou meu coração tantas vezes que só me restavam as lágrimas de emoção.

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Definitely worth your time!

I decided to watch First Frost because of Zhang Miaoyi, even though she’s only the second lead. I’ve always liked her, so I gave the drama a chance — and I’m really glad I did.

To be honest, I had no idea what the story was about. I just knew it had some connection to Hidden Love, which I haven’t seen. That made me hesitate at first, thinking I might not understand what was going on. But it turns out, you don’t need to watch Hidden Love to enjoy First Frost. This story stands on its own.

At first, it looks like a light and sweet romance. But as it goes on, you realize it has a serious and emotional side. It touches on pain, trauma, and healing — not just love. That’s what surprised me the most.

The one who really stood out for me was Zhang Ruonan. I had never seen her in any drama before, but after this, I became a fan. Her character, Wen Yifan, goes through a lot. She was abandoned by her mother, almost assaulted by people she should’ve been able to trust — her uncle, neighbor, and even her boss.

Yes, she’s pretty, and people around her notice it. But it’s more than that. She’s hurt, lonely, and doesn’t have anyone to protect her. That’s why she ends up being a target. Watching her struggle broke my heart.

On the other hand, Sang Yan comes from a good and loving family. He has everything Yifan doesn’t. But that’s what makes their connection so meaningful. He becomes the one who helps her feel safe, little by little.

I also don’t understand the hate towards Wen Yifan’s character. People with PTSD don’t always talk about their pain or cry in front of others. Many of them become quiet, distant, or try to act like nothing happened. That doesn’t mean they don’t feel anything — they’re just trying to survive. I’m glad the drama showed that side of her. It felt real.

Zhang Ruonan’s acting was amazing. She showed all the pain, sadness, and emptiness of her character in a quiet but powerful way. You could really feel everything she was going through.

Even though I started watching for Zhang Miaoyi, I stayed because of Zhang Ruonan. She truly carried the story.

The music was also lovely — soft and romantic, perfect for the mood of the drama.

First Frost is not your usual light drama. It has romance, yes, but it also talks about hard things in life. It’s not always happy, but it’s real. If you’re open to watching something emotional and meaningful, this is worth your time.

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