The First Frost

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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Not Bad But I Miss The Original Actors

Unnecessarily long. We get it. They're in love but went though a lot of tough things before they could finally be together. We didn't need half of these episodes....

That said, it wasn't bad. It was a sweet love story with a very dedicated and extremely romantic ML and an emotionally unavailable FL. Good character arcs. nice characters. But I REALLY miss the actors from Hidden Love (which this is a spin off of). I had to pretend that this was a completely different, unrelated story to even remotely enjoy it because the actors' interpretations of those characters are so different. Not bad, but very different. (Although it would have been so much better to see the original Sang Yan from Hidden Love because his acting was so unique).

I also really enjoyed the side characters' story and romance. I was a bit confused by the friendship of the three because it was shown as adults but not much in the flashbacks.

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A green forest

Sangyan is not just a green flag, or a green tree, he is an entire green forest. Love is patient, kind and it waits and he is the #1 example to prove it.

I have been meaning to watch this for awhile now since Hidden Love is on my all-time fav drama list.. I kind of knew going into it based upon clips and trailers that it had a bit of a different mood than Hidden Love, meaning, it already looked to be a bit less lighthearted. And indeed it was.

The trauma and difficulties are very pronounced and present. So while Hidden Love gives you butterflies and makes you smile to ourself, this one pulls your heart strings and will make you tear up.

PROS: As I mentioned just Sangyan, a true gentleman with a loyal heart, who holds your hand and is willing to give everything he's got to protect you. He has a heart of gold and his character is what carried this drama for me. Super sweet eye candy, First and second couples are super cute.

CONS: For starters, I do think this drama could have been done in less episodes. There are a lot of flashbacks, which isn't necessarily bad but just take note. My main con is actually connecting this to Hidden Love. I was very intrigued when I heard we were getting ZhiZhi's gege's love story but let's be honest, First Love Sangyan had the complete opposite personality of Hidden Love Sangyan (even ZhiZhi, Jizxu, etc characters have completely different vibes). Both Sangyans are wonderful but the stark difference is quite shocking. I actually struggled the first several episodes because the contrast was so great, I had to actually disassociate and it got better for me. I did receive a suggestion to view it as Hidden Love is ZhiZhi's POV and First Frost is Sangyan's which is helpful to some extent too.

Ultimately, it isn't high on my rewatch but it was very sweet, I am going through some things right now so the FL having someone who was always there for her in spite of everything felt very comforting.

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The importance of being earnest.

I admit I had high expectations for this drama. For starters, I really love Zhu Yi, the author of the original source material. She has a way of writing really beautiful stories about love and growing pains, that touch on subjects such as loneliness, self-love, friendship and overcoming society's prejudices in contemporary China, without making the characters' realities too harsh and cold. In her stories there's always room for hope and change.

Adding to this, I already knew Director and screenwriter Chu Yu Ning thanks to his impeccable work in the classic romcom It Started with a Kiss (and its sequel). So, I knew not only he would do an outstanding work but the team that he would bring to for this adaptation would be up to the highest standards. Finally, when it was announced Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan would be starring as Sang Yan and Wen Yifan, I knew this would be probably one of the best dramas of the year. I was right.

The First Frost is a beautifully shot story about two people loving each other unconditionally because they share a deep understanding of whom the other person is, and accept them with flaws and all. Sang Yan and Wen Yifan were never friends, they were always meant to be more, and their relationship is certainly based in a partnership of equals that respect each other. And because of this, they are able to navigate natural feelings in life such as heartbreak and fear of abandonment, and other more harsh situations such as overcoming childhood trauma and parents' neglect.

Every character in this drama was casted perfectly and all the actors brought their A+ game. Even when I fundamentally disagreed with some characters, such as Yifan's mother, the character and story building made me understand she was product of society and her environment, but I give props to The First Frost for delivering one of the most satisfying resolutions to this particular storyline. For too long we have been characters narratively forced to forgive neglecting or downright abusive parents, Wen Yifan said we are doing things differently from on.

There's a lot of value and importance in what The First Frost has to say about women's experiences through life, and how much we need positive people (of all genders) around us. Sang Yan is not perfect but he certainly is an ideal that we should aspire to, particularly the men. Yifan's journey was to learn that you don't need to be healed in order to receive love from others. Or, perhaps even more importantly, to love yourself.

Absolutely recommend watching this drama that delivers a powerful message through great character building, a compelling narrative, superlative soundtrack and writing.

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It reminded me of one of my favorite Austen novels, Persuasion…except I ended up liking it even more than Austen’s book when it was over. It also has some similarities with the Taiwanese drama, Mars, which I haven’t seen yet. This show isn’t for everyone as it explores darker themes such as healing, coping with trauma, the power of love and support, etc. The atmosphere in a lot of its scenes were laced with both sentimentality and sadness. This isn’t a lighthearted, feel good series, but in the end, the characters got the happy ending they deserved and I was truly happy for them.

The chemistry between the male lead (Sang Yan) and the female lead (Yifan) is one of the best I’ve seen and the young actor and actress did an exceptional job playing their roles. The main couple really loved each other…but in the case of the male lead…well, what can I say? He really, really, REALLY loved the female lead.

I’ve watched many asian dramas in the romance genre that I’ve liked, but I can only think of a few male leads that display the same depth of love, yearning and devotion towards the female lead that Sang Yan had for Yifan. Maybe Yehua from TMOP or the male lead from Marry My Husband...I can’t think of many, so I think the writer of this novel did a very good job in creating Sang Yan. Of course, appreciating this type of character or couple dynamic is subjective- if one prefers a male lead who is rougher around the edges, or a different trope (ex: hate to love, more of a best-friend dynamic or one that is less emotional), then naturally, this may not be for them and that’s fine. To each his own.

This is based on a novel and for the most part is an accurate adaptation. The novel actually throws you in for a loop, because it starts out like a funny lighthearted rom com with the theme of reunion after separation and co-habitation (ex: Full House) but then it suddenly gets darker when it shows (somewhere around the middle) the exact reason why the female lead was sleepwalking. The book actually tackled her thoughts of suicide and depression every time she recalled how her uncle almost succeeded in raping her and how her family, instead of protecting her, took his side and abandoned her.

The show does a better job of preparing the viewer for this, because it shows flashbacks of Yifan’s past earlier on, so they can decide if they want to continue watching this or settle for something less disturbing or with less mature themes. The scene where the uncle almost succeeds is also different. In the show, there is a struggle where they fall out of the window and the female lead is injured. Novel version was worse because he almost succeeded if it weren't for the family coming home right on time.

Sang Yan’s reaction when he finds out about this, the way he dealt with said uncle and the way he helps Yifan heal was very satisfying and touching. Yifan also deeply regretted the cruel way she rejected Sang Yan in their youth and when she found out about how he (the only person good to her) suffered because of this…well the things they do and say to each other (especially on his part) make for very good, sweet and emotional moments.

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ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.

When I first noticed the drama I was sure that I would not like it, but, oh boy, I truly loved it that I savored it in two days.

It was absolutely stunning.

It's not a common thing to find a Chinese drama that has such a strong plotline — the themes that the show presented are deep and happens every day to a lot of girls. Sexual harrasing at work, at home, by family and friends and, yet, only a few times justice found its target. Luckily, that show did not disappoint.

The ML was such a green flag that I could not help but feel giddy throughout the show and the chemistry between these two was unbelievable. Hands up to the actress presenting the FL for showing the despair and the agony of her past.

It is absolutely worth watching, yet, I would not re-watch it a second time. That kind of drama is best when watching for the first time.

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A poetic ode to love stories that wait: when timeless love knows no end

‘The First Frost’ feels like a miracle love story. Rich in emotion and poetic quality, it follows the lives of Sang Yan and Wen Yi Fan; two people who meet after what feels like a lifetime has passed between the abrupt departures that separated them and where they stand now. Such pairings in real life, where one person is open and ready for the next step in a relationship while the other isn’t yet ready to commit because of past trauma and low self-esteem, typically don’t end well. In most cases, the emotionally unaware person fails to heal or open up to others. One can only wonder how this common trope will unfold between the leads. How far will Sang Yan’s love bring them? Will it be reciprocated strongly enough, on her side, for her to rebuild herself and heal? Like a sunflower growing towards the sun, Wen Yi Fan slowly leans into his embrace; a space he crafted with patience, security, understanding, and warmth, ready to support her healing journey and allow her to find safety....and eventually bloom.

First high school sweethearts, then strangers, and finally, roommates. By pure chance, their lives collide with the force of old flames of passion waiting to reawaken their glow. Lit with a tender yet strong vulnerability, their reincounter blazes both of their worlds to their cores. Wen Yi Fan, now working in journalism, finally moves out of her co-living space after experiencing multiple harassment incidents. Sang Yan is owner of ‘Overtime’, a trendy bar where nightlifers go to take refuge from the rush of work and the neon lights of the big city. Graceful like ballet, Wen Yi Fan’s quiet resilience reveals itself through every step she takes, bruises and pain hidden behind a shy smile. The power of her determination that shines like a stubborn light that refuses to give out taunts Sang Yan to further discover her hidden beauty. To hold it, love it, and fuel it with his hands that dare let go of something so passionate. Slowly and quietly, their lives veer off into a journey of rediscovering the paths to each other’s hearts.

Usually, dramas in which the leads meet in a second encounter after having known each other when younger offer a fresh start to a new relationship, one where lost strings are quickly sewn together. Unlike these dramas, ‘The First Frost' handles the theme of reconciliation with a past lover with the fragile touch of melancholy, regret, and longing, showing the true face of separation rather than shying away from its rawness. Sang Yan is an attentive, confident, and thoughtful yet emotionally guarded character. He secretly carries a tender heart, despite his cold appearance. As for Wen Yi Fan, she is someone quiet yet strong, loving yet reserved. Together, they alight heart-fluttering sparks of chemistry. But the more hope that finds home in their hearts, the more something more sorrowful grows from deep within. Between every accidental and intentional brush of skin, the past lives in hiding, waiting to be found somewhere underneath the dark hues of hesitation, regret, and confusion that have tainted their bond. Is it possible to rekindle such a lost connection, one where trauma and years of no contact set them further apart?

When, in every conversation, there is something left untouched, and every silence is met with a lingering gaze, yearning to spill words left unsaid, there is a certain tension that builds, palpable through the screen. This tension is especially felt in a café scene in which they pretend not to recognize each other when first meeting again for the first time after six years. It is also ever-present when both are—seemingly very much against their own liking—forced to a closer proximity through a shared living experience after facing unfortunate fates in past homes. Even before their past is fully revealed, it is evident they share a complicated history. Viewers are left with the impending wonder of what the emotionally-charged energy between them will amount to: whether it'll burst in a second chance or a second departure and a retelling of past goodbyes. The leads attempt to build a completely new relationship, yet traces of past resolve, disappointment, and hope still lie behind faces of faked indifference.

Heavy on societal commentary and the problems faced by women in modern society, the visually appealing show—both cinematographically and in terms of the actors’ visuals—gains substance mostly through the trauma lived by Wen Yi Fan. Throughout the entirety of the series, Yi Fan carries the weight of past trauma and struggles. Left scarred from abandonment and abuse, she develops the habit of guarding her emotions, feeling undeserving of receiving or giving love to others. Her eventually opening her heart goes both ways: the way she ends up accepting Sang Yan’s love and reciprocating it is also her accepting and choosing to love herself. Her self-healing process manifests itself through the story’s central plot of romance, because it runs in parallel to her relationship with Sang Yan. This tactic at reflecting her inner growth to her outside relationship with Sang Yan only adds depth to the romantic component of the show. It showcases how love is a long, complex process and that true love is something that builds on patience, understanding and trust rather than arriving spontaneously.

As the story slowly progresses, the depth of their relationship is revealed in a gradual, non-linear way, breathing life into the series’ message. The mosaic of small moments that make up their past, scattered at the beginning of each episode, eventually becomes a fuller picture, coming together to create the core component of their relationship: true, long-lasting love. Alongside this coming-together of what becomes a legendary romantic tale, comparisons are drawn between their current and past connection, enabling viewers to fully grasp the characters’ choices and complex personalities. Across each timeline, there is no chase, but only a mere constant reminder for Wen Yi Fan that there is someone waiting even in the darkest of nights to catch and save her: Sang Yan. And it is this constant devotion of Sang Yan that pumps the chemistry, fueling their romance with timeless passion and love that transcends all. Wen Yi Fan and Sang Yan’s story is one of choosing vulnerability over pride.

‘The First Frost’s ending is especially powerful because it reinforces this lesson and flips our perception of Sang Yan. Throughout the story, he is portrayed as the steady and composed one, while Wen Yifan is painted as more fragile because of her struggles at work, her family situation, and the trauma she carries. But when he confesses being the weaker one in their relationship, it is revealed that his “strength” was a mere façade to protect his pride. Instead of risking being vulnerable, he chose to pretend he was no longer interested after Wen Yi Fan when she started pulling away. For two years, he missed her but chose to love in silence, which mirrors their earlier dynamic when she had been the one waiting for him, scared to confess her feelings out of fear of not being good enough for him. This cycle makes their coming-together even more touching, because it reveals the one thing keeping them apart was the fear of being the first to let their guard down. In the end, by choosing to love her fully, he was finally able to be by her side not as someone who needed protecting but as the one who could protect. His authenticity finally allowed him to become her strength.

The cinematography captures the show’s essence beautifully, giving a poetic undertone to the bustling city life of Chongqing, the Chinese “mountain city” where the leads’ stories unfold. Each scene seems carefully curated down to every detail to build an overall atmosphere that feels intimate and satisfyingly perfect. Its soundtrack only reinforces this feeling. If not with its hefty narrative and deep nature in terms of themes, it is with its standard-meeting portrayal of the male lead that enables ‘The First Frost’ to resemble its sister series; ‘Hidden Love’, the iconic wholesome romance starring hit actress Zhao Lusi, released in 2023. What ‘Hidden Love’ didn’t delve deeper into with its main characters Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu, ‘The First Frost’ did through Sang Zhi’s elder brother Sang Yan and his romantic interest. Though much more mature, this series does draw comparisons to the show it spins off, at least with what it is at-heart: a beautiful, inspiring love story.

2025-10-20

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Me ??‍?? Slowburns

I live for romance like this.

It was a slow comforting show even if it depicts serious disturbing problems.

The main couple was great even if in the past Sang Yan gave a bit stalker vibes when he went to her city.

The side couple was cute too and didn't outshine the main.

I love how when Sang Yan started his sentence by " Wen Shuangjiang" you knew he was about to spit the facts to reassure her or support her.

There is just one thing that I could not comprehend: the part where Wen Yifan is gone during 6 months to HongKong and then just changes her mine when Sang Yan pop up? like, what was the use for this? idk unless I missed something...

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