The First Frost

Long frost

A beautiful story… but with the wrong ingredients that’s how I would sum up what I think of The First Frost.
I started watching it with high hopes. I was expecting a slow progression, a soft and comforting vibe. But the storyline eventually kept moving in the same direction, over and over again.
The male lead seems to exist solely for the female lead. As for her, she feels trapped in an emotional ice tower, barely capable of feeling and expressing anything at all. Her portrayal was so detached that even when she stood up for herself, there was no real range or depth in her performance. It felt flat.
The flashbacks at the beginning were cute and provided meaningful context for the two leads’ story. But after the fifth flashback, watching the male lead repeatedly prove his devotion started to feel exhausting.
By episode ten, seeing him continuously pit himself out there for her with a falsely nonchalant attitude was no longer heartwarming or heart melting. Instead, it became disheartening.

I eventually stopped watching because the show felt heavy to sit through, despite its beautiful soundtrack and truly stunning cinematography.

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Overrated , so - so drama

speed- too much slow . lagging
Actors- good looking , but bland no expressions , awkward
Romance - didn't feel like real no butterflies , no aww moments
Story - was good biasedly not my type , shouldn't be compared to HL
Overall opinion - though it was not that bad and this is my fully biased opinion , this drama is not worth a rating of 10 . Everything felt unrealistic SY's character was something I absolutely loved in HL but here it was totally changed . His only motive in life was yifan here he was completely obsessed which is creepy actually , but since it is a drama and she didn't mind it , everything was fine . His character is potrayed as a full green flag but in just some cases he isn't . I mean he's great but it's over the limit . Also the drama leaves question marks in some scenes for the viewers who've already watched HL . The timing doesn't sync but guess that's okay not a big deal . It's just that it was a bother . as a HL fan . FL's character ....I don't know she was great but not my type , her acting was a bit obvious . Haoan was good though , I was kinda more invested in his story but it wasn't shown greatly .
Finally , it can be definitely watched (once) , and may seem and feel better if you haven't watched HL or don't compare this drama to HL while watching . and ofc all the actors are worth a applause and appreciation .

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Understanding the story

I can't say that I love the series as much as it's feels very authentic. At least to me. Having a life almost parallel to the FL I can relate to her difficulties in life and how that impacts her relationship and interactions with people. Especially her ML. Her acting is spot on and his is absolutely beautiful to watch. Some scenes left me in tears. His love for her... it's like "I will love you enough for the both of us". Watching her gain her strength and voice is wonderful to watch. I am at 27 (a little agitated with Netflix because they keep changing the number of episodes). I didn't know there were 32 EP until I came to MDL.

It is definitely not a passionate romance on her part but that it part of her character's foundation. If you having any understanding of SA you would understand the wall she must climb over. I love that ML is a "kick the wall down" kind of lover.

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The complexity and trauma hidden behind that stoic persona.

If only the show was shorter. It was such a good story, with a rather good message, extremely well delivered closure in all areas, so why don't I feel much when I think about it? Maybe, because it was all diluted too much in these 32 episodes.

Wen Yi Fan is one of the more refreshing and real female characters I have seen in quite some time. The detailed presentation of all the layers of the complexity and trauma hidden behind that stoic persona that was Yi Fan was truly stunning. The way we slowly learned how much of an impact her past has on her current self. How hard it is to heal. How hard it is to believe in yourself and believe you are worth being loved and cared for. It’s a whole journey filled with reflection and development, building up strength and character. Learning how to protect yourself and people around you, how to set boundaries. How to move on. How to start anew.

What’s more, I loved how the romance was not its own separate thing - it was an integral part connected to other plotlines. It felt like a cohesive picture - a situation happening in one area affected other areas of Yi Fan’s life: be it friendship, work, relationship. If I were to name the love story presented here, rather than slow paced, I’d call it patient. Was it a bit one sided plot wise? Yes. I’m not saying Yi Fan did not love Sang Yan. It was extremely clear she did. Considering the story though - it was all about how Sang Yan can help her, protect her, keep her safe, and support her. Did I mind? Not really. Relationships are almost never 50-50. Sometimes they are 20-80, sometimes 70-30. It changes as the life situation changes. Relationships should not be about keeping a score, but wanting to thrive as a unit.

For the conclusions - huge props for the story for not trying to fix the family relationships. Not even give a vague “maybe in the future”. The ties were cut as they should. There was no redemption arc for anyone. The aunt was awful till the end, the uncle was just a criminal who deserved the punishment he got, and the mother was selfish till the last moment they showed her up on screen. Finally we are not fed the bullshit idea that no matter how abused and neglected you are, you need to forgive and forget because “it’s family”.

I loved the last conversation Yi Fan had with her mother. I loved how she was not fooled by the tears. I loved how she understood she is worth the love. The mother was selfish, always prioritizing herself. Yi Fan did nothing wrong and that message was loud and clear.

Random thing I truly loved is the number of hugs we’ve got. Hugs are honestly so underrated in dramas. While kissing scenes might be the highlight of the romance, hugs are for me the highlight of the love - the way Yi Fan literally melted in Sang Yan’s arm, the way it showed how safe she felt being with him.

What’s more to appreciate? The acting. Zhang Ruo Nan aced the role. She embodied Wen Yi Fan. It’s so hard to play a character that feels a lot of strong feelings, but also hides them from others. The emotions have to be obvious to the audience, but also subtle enough that we as viewers understand she does not want to show them, and other characters might miss them. The balance of how much to show is a skill not that many actors and actresses possess.

Big props to all the villains too - strong performances that made me hate them with passion.

All that said, I had mixed feelings about the “trauma” aspect. On one hand they did a perfect job at showing how trauma can and usually does impact every part of someone’s life, because it can literally change one’s personality, sense of self-worth. It’s not just about “reacting to triggering events” - it literally influences any and all decision making. On the other hand, why exactly did they add all the sexual assaults and harassment to the show? From what I heard from people who read the novel, some assault/harassment scenes did not even take place in the source material… and I fail to see why they were added. Was her being harassed and assaulted twice not enough?

To the things I disliked - the show should have been shorter. I’d cut around 8 episodes if I had any say. There was quite a lot of repetition. Some plotlines were not only too long, but quite honestly completely not needed (grandpa's story was cute, until it was just boring and ill fitting - why so much focus on it?) Stalker actor? Why was he there? Just to annoy the audience, since his presence brought close to nothing in terms of progression of the plot.

And now I will say something truly controversial - I think there was too much Sang Yan. Wild take, I know, but hear me out. This is by all means one woman story - Wen Yi Fan. She is the only one with real depth and development. The one who faces both external and internal struggles. The heart of the whole drama. Sang Yan was there, stagnant. He did not need development, because his existence centers around Yi Fan. Where he lives, what he does, where he works, how he behaves - all dictated by Yi Fan’s existence. I had no issue with that. I don’t think in every romance drama both main characters need to be equally developed. I just think their screen time should then be adequate of how much they bring to the drama. Sang Yan was not an interesting character and I never truly cared that much for him because of that. He is hot and a perfect boyfriend, and then what?

The production and editing was hit and miss for me at the same time. You know how at the end of the episodes of dramas they always add highly edited screenshots from the episode with 87545865406 filters on them? This is kind of how the whole drama felt. The screenshots came out amazing, but some scenes just felt exhausting for me to watch. There were moments when the distorted reflections and lens flares literally blurred the faces so much, I could not see them. I wish they were more selective when they want to turn up the aesthetic shots.

The soundtrack was perfect for the drama, but music wise not my style. Still, the songs are supposed to fit the show, not my own personal preferences, hence high score from me.

Overall, maybe I just expected more. Something about this drama just did not click well with me, even though I should love it. I still enjoyed it, but there were times when I played the episode out of obligation of wanting to finish the drama, rather than excitement or seeing what will happen next.

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The most Anticipated drama, BUT also the most Disappointing drama...

I'm really looking forward to this drama because it's a spin off of "Hidden Love", and people who have read the novel say that this series is better than hidden love. While waiting for the drama , I finally started reading the novel "The First Frost" (the story is good, although I think "Hidden Love" is still better)

After a long wait... The wait turned into DISAPPOINTMENT!

The main reason is the Film DIRECTOR who also turned out to be the Screenwriter.
Although he did not change the main core of the story, he almost changed all the important details of the main story, such as changing Wen Yi Fan's life to be more miserable, changing the story of Zhong Si Qiao and Xiang Lang, making Wen Yi Fan cry from the beginning of her sleepwalking, and many more.

The second reason is the overall ACTING of the cast.
Almost all of their acting is just so-so like the actors of short duration chinese dramas, even Zhang Ruo Nan & Bai Jing Ting who are already experienced, for some reason both main lead seem unable to play their characters well, especially the one who plays Sang Yan.

The last reason is CHEMISTRY & CINEMATOGRAPHY.
Honestly, I didn't feel any chemistry between Shuang Jiang & Sang Yan, their romantic and touching scenes didn't make me blush, smile or warm my heart, very different from the novel where I could feel the strong feelings between the two characters who have liked each other since high school.
Almost throughout the drama we are presented with a very gloomy & dark background, making the drama seem like a low-cost production.

I was very surprised by the number of people who gave reviews with a rating of 9 and above, even a perfect score of 10.
I don't know where their ratings came from, maybe just by looking at the visuals of the main characters? or maybe just blinded by the popularity of the drama hidden love? (What is clear is that this drama cannot be compared to "Hidden Love" which is perfect in all aspects.)

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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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No tea, no shade, but this show wasn't that good and was severely overhyped.

I started watching this when it first aired, but I put it on hold until all the episodes were released. I picked it back up, then dropped it again because it was way too draggy, and the constant push-and-pull just didn't make sense. A few months later, I picked it up again because I hate leaving dramas unfinished, and new issues arose.

After a few more episodes, around the middle of the drama, I started feeling like the relationship and romance were way too one-sided. Yes, it was pretty obvious that they both loved each other very much. However, she learned about and even witnessed the many things he did for her and the countless ways he showed how much he cared, and she's just... I can't even put into words what I think of her character during that specific period. The words I want to use to describe her would make me sound mean. Anyway, I got past that since I guess they wanted to write San Yan as someone who deeply yearned for her.

Then I directed my attention to the second couple... Oh brother. I genuinely was not feeling their acting. I don't think it's a matter of whether they can or cannot act; I personally just didn't like their performances.

Another thing I DID NOT like was the styling in this show for any of the female characters; neither the female lead nor the second female lead. The second male lead was dressed sloppily as well. I honestly think the entire styling budget went to Jing Ting because he was the only person who consistently had well-fitted clothes.

They also did a poor job handling the female lead's trauma and mental health overall. That girl didn't only suffer from sleepwalking. Come on now, you're simply playing in my face. Furthermore, the rapist, the rape apologist, the classist stepsister, and the spineless mother were handled even worse. We saw that these characters were absolute monsters. We witnessed everything they did to the female lead and all the scars they left behind. Yet when it came time for them to face consequences, everything was wrapped up far too easily, especially for the aunt, the mother, and the stepsister.

I also wish they had put more effort into the storytelling surrounding the characters' careers. The way it was written, their jobs felt like nothing more than plot devices to create scenes, give the male and female leads an excuse to meet outside of town, wrap up another character's storyline, or introduce a new character. I'm mainly referring to the female lead's job as a journalist. Here's the thing: most of the time she was in the office instead of out in the field. The stories and exclusive interviews seemed to come directly to them rather than them actively seeking them out.

Anyways, outside of the romantic segments and the friendship scenes between the male lead and his friends, as well as the female lead and the second female lead, I found most of the writing to be boring.

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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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A healing love story.. ML is literally a green flag

I watched it with the expectation that it will be similar to Hidden Love, but I was so wrong. This drama is so much darker, mature and realistic. There were a few disturbing scenes that happened to the FL, and I feel like the ML is the only light in this drama that makes everything bearable. Not just for the FL, but for us the audience too!! The new actor that plays Sang Yan definitely suits the role better.

I wouldn't really rewatch it because it can get quite dark and intense (not in a good way). I love the casting and when the 2 leads get together because finally a healthy relationship can be seen for the FL.

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Well done but depressing

I'll be honest, I could not binge watch this drama because I found it depressing or a downer. FL went around looking morose and ML went around looking emotionally tortured. Thank goodness for the 2nd couple that gave us some relief. Unfortunately - for once - the writer/director did not over focus on the 2nd couple. Figures! The moment you actually want to see more of the 2nd couple, and you don't get it. Sorry of life, eh?

I understand that FL has trauma from her crappy family and every loser man she runs into wants to sexually assault her. She's pretty, yes, but I don't understand how this girl has an invisible magnet connected to her, which draws every loser within a 10 mile radius. I mean what are the odds that you get assaulted this many times in your life? It just seems farfetched to me. But she clearly needs to see a psychiatrist to heal from this trauma...or at least open up to ML - the only person in your life that's treated you well since your dad died - or her best friend. Rather she deliberately hurts ML to drive him away, and she continues hurting him over and over again when he's been nothing but caring and supportive. Instead she spends nearly the entire drama looking morose and depressed, showing signs of mental stress via sleepwalking, etc. and does nothing to heal herself via professional help or if that's too expensive, confiding in her friends who are willing to help. And just an aside to this actress, please cut your hair or wear it down your back. She tends to wear is down her front, which makes her look like a cocker spaniel. At least, they added bangs to her current self, which helps.

ML is unbelievable. Where do you find men like this is real life? He's been sold out to her since they met, never wavering, never dating another girl. Yet she treats him like crap, hurting him over and over again and refusing to confide in him when he's proven his loyalty and dedication over and over again. As a result, he spends the drama looking tortured. Don't get me wrong, the actor does a fantastic job with the role, but I feel so sorry for him. He DOES deserve a girl that will love him passionately, and I don't know that FL is ever convincing enough to make me believe that she loves him as much as he loves her. Poor guy.

Honestly, I liked SFL better because she had spunk and she didn't go around looking like a Bassett Hound. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know FL has trauma, but GET HELP, girl! I also liked SML and SFL's relationship and wish we'd seen more of it. The first time I've EVER wanted more of the 2nd couple and darned if I didn't get it. So frustrating.

Overall, I gave this a 9 because it was well done and well acted, but it was such a depressant. I would have liked to see FL realizing she needs help and actually reaching out to those around her to get it instead of pushing them away. It's not healthy to internalize everything. Yes, ultimately, you're the one that has to claw your way into a healthy mental health, but there's people around you that can help shoulder some of the burden.

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