The First Frost

Extraordinarily good

I can hardly stomach long and slow dramas, I tend to get bored like that *snap fingers* and I can't stand slow scenes where actors stare at each other for 15 mins unnecessarily... BUT!! I was willing to throw everything aside to continue watching this series despite being -according to my preference- a very slow and long drama.

Story is exceptional, but can be told in like 20 episodes and we all would be extremely satisfied, and everything would be shown and explained perfectly.

Acting was amazing, I loved the chemistry between the leads, I don't remember much of Hidden love so I don't know if they did the whole parallel stories without mistakes or plot holes because they both are interconnected and I'm a details freak but I'm glad I don't remember tbh because now I can enjoy it without thinking much.

Romance is spectacular, I want someone like Sang Yan, I believe every girl deserves love like Sang Yan's, and I don't mean the obsessive, clingy, over-8-years, can't-seem-to-be-moving-on, slightly-stalking type of love, just simply the devoted, unchanging and caring type.

Comedy is something I missed, because it's non existent here, in HL it was a excessive in a good way and ironically it was because of Sang Yan, I couldn't relate to the same character he was completely different here even his interaction with his sister felt like they are two different people in each series, but if you treat them as such, you won't be bothered by the lack of comedic relief.

Overall, pretty long, but at the same time entertaining and captivating, you won't feel bored watching it and the romance is spectacular.
Highly recommended ~~

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A slow healing drama

I really enjoyed this show overall. I think that the cast was well casted and that they fit their roles very well. I honestly think this role fit Zhang Ruonan so perfectly like while watching I was like thats Wen Yifan, never did I think I was watching Zhang Ruonan.

I think my one plot critisism is the transition between Hong Kong and their relationship restarting. I feel like it should've been more clear as to why she just decided to stop being afraid of her hometown and abuser again. My best guess is that time helped her think more clearly? I dont know I just think the transition could've been cleaner.

Anyways I am quite satisfied with the pacing of their relationship. A lot of shows get the pacing off leading the show to be boring but I think this show does that well. I also really liked the plot with her abuser and the results of that plot.

I kind of wish they made the female lead express her love a bit more because it feels like he is so much more captivated by her or I wish that they had a storyline of the male lead being upset with her so that she would have to take the initiative first. I feel like something like that could've balanced the dynamic a bit better.

Overall, I had a very good time watching it but I think its not a perfect show for me because at times I found the main characters decisions abit irritating like she was dragging her sadness which just mad the show extra depressing at times. But I can overlook it.

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Amazing Drama

This drama is incredibly captivating. Both lead actors portray their characters in a way that feels so real and true to life. The male lead is an exceptionally well-written character, and Bai Jingting brings him to life perfectly with his outstanding performance.
As for Zhang Ruonan, she never fails to amaze me. She portrays Wen Yifan's sadness with such depth and authenticity that I found myself crying through many episodes because of her emotional acting.
The two leads are a perfect match for this drama. Their on-screen chemistry is natural, heartfelt, and one of the biggest reasons the story is so enjoyable to watch.

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love heals as well as love hurts. sang yan is the biggest mastermind I have ever met and yearns so deeply I almost wish I thought of those plans for my future relationship. wen yifan, my precious girl. she has endured so much more than an average person could handle. she is strength and healed in personified. they both deserve to be loved wholly. i can't believe this masterpiece of a drama is real, I thank my past self for choosing to watch this. I need to rewatch this in the future to analyze all the hidden meanings in their actions . I may not have watched many dramas but this will leave a lasting impression on me. I love everything about it.

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Every dude’s out here scheming, and she’s the only saint in a world of snakes

A Gorgeous Mess Where Innocence Is A Superpower and Every Man’s a Villain

✨ THE GOOD:
Visuals that slap — Cinematography so stunning you might forget you’re stuck in this drama mess.

Lead actress nails it — Playing innocent like it’s an Olympic sport.

Atmosphere on point — Cold, bleak, and perfectly matching the mood of endless betrayal.

🤦‍♂️ THE “SERIOUSLY, EVERY MAN?” MOMENTS:
Plot = male conspiracy factory — Every guy’s trying to ruin her life like it’s a hobby.

Innocent goddess syndrome — She’s flawless, pure, and somehow the only one not shady in the entire cast.

Story takes a backseat — It’s all about her suffering and their villainy; where’s the nuance?

❄️ THE “CAN’T LOOK AWAY” FACTOR:
It’s exhausting but addictive—like watching a slow-motion car crash with pretty costumes.

The drama is so extra, you’ll laugh, cry, and rage all at once.

🎯 VERDICT:
"Like a winter fairytale where the ice queen is the only decent person, and everyone else lost the plot."

Watch if: You enjoy epic melodrama, innocent heroines, and men behaving badly.
Skip if: You want balanced characters or a plot that doesn’t revolve around endless betrayal.

Best paired with: 🍷 Something strong to sip while you shout at the screen.

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SANG YAN AND YIFAN IS TOO GOOD TO BE MISSED

One thing i can say this drama truly masterpiece. really like the story between sang yan and yifan and how yifan is soo lucky to has sang yan with her. She maybe feel she not worthy to get love but she deserve it. i crying along with yifan and ruonan so gorgeous especially when she crying. Never though she can act very well and yifan is just for her. She lived up yifan very well.

BJT as Sang yan is truly amazing and how he pull off the role very well. BJT should act for more modern drama, he suited this kingd of drama.

OST for this drama soo good. I usually did not really enjoying chinese drama OST but this one not. It soo nice to hear.

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A Slow Burn That Pays Off

When this drama first came out, I discovered Hidden Love and decided to watch them in order of release since they’re set in the same universe. I absolutely adored Hidden Love, which made me really excited to watch The First Frost. No one warned me, though, that it would be such a different kind of drama.

Before starting The First Frost, it’s important to understand how much perspective shapes the story. In Hidden Love, we see Sang Yan through Sang Zhi’s eyes—her annoying, "ugly" older brother who’s always teasing her. The tone is playful and lighthearted because it reflects her youthful point of view. In contrast, The First Frost is told from Wen Yifan’s perspective, which gives us a completely different view of Sang Yan. From her side, he comes across as more distant, quiet, and emotionally guarded. But as the story unfolds, we begin to see his soft side and the quiet ways he cares for her. It’s not that Sang Yan has changed; it’s that we’re finally seeing the parts of him that were hidden in Hidden Love.

I went into The First Frost expecting the same cute, heartwarming vibe as Hidden Love and When I Fly Towards You, especially since all three dramas are based on novels by the same author. But this one carried a lot more emotional depth and complexity.

At first, I honestly wasn’t enjoying it and even thought about dropping it around episode 6. But I’m really glad I didn’t. While the pacing felt slow and the story dragged at times, everything eventually came full circle. In the end, it was unexpectedly satisfying and meaningful, even if not everything made perfect sense.

One of the most rewarding parts of the drama is watching the characters grow. Both Wen Yifan and Sang Yan face personal struggles and insecurities, but over time, they learn to open up and trust each other. Their growth feels genuine, showing how love and understanding can help heal past wounds. Even the side characters have their own arcs, which adds layers to the story and makes the world feel more real.

(Be warned—this drama may make you cry.)

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Some boring parts but still worth it.

Yes, you read that right. Some parts actually bored me and I wanted to skip it but I’m glad I stayed for the main couple.

Honestly, I think the story of the grandfather didn’t add to the beauty of this drama and I wish they just cut it. It was okay at first but after a while, I found myself thinking I wouldn’t mind lesser episodes if they just focused on the main couple. Also, even though I like Zhang Miao Yi, I felt like she didn’t have chemistry with Su Haoan so I wasn’t invested in their story. An example of a great second couple would be from When I Fly Towards You and they just couldn’t compare.

Anyway, with that being said, the story for the main couple is amazing. I really like how they handled Wen Yifan’s trauma and I’m so glad the scenes weren’t too graphic and triggering. It’s just my personal preference. I also think Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan are such good actors and they really brought their characters to life.

I loved Victor Ma in Hidden Love and at first I had a hard time disconnecting him from this drama but I’m so so glad they had BJT as Sang Yan for this because he crushed his role. He gained a new fan in me and I will look out for his upcoming dramas. He was also hoooot during the action scenes and when he shouted at Uncle Che when he went to Overtime. That was very specific, I’m sorry. Haha. He is also good at the sad scenes too and he has the saddest puppy eyes I’ve ever seen, you can’t help but feel sorry for him. Actually, he and Zhang Ruonan both.

Also, I can’t help but mention that the proposal scene was soooo good. Like the way BJT and ZR cried during that scene, you can really feel the love, it felt soooo real hahaha.

Excuse my messy thoughts and long review. I just had a lot to say about this. Haha.

Edit: Updated my rating because I believe this drama deserves more. I can’t move on. Haha.

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When I started watching this series, I was convinced it would be good. I wasn’t wrong — it was fucking amazing and addictive. But I also thought it would be very sweet and “calm,” considering the author’s other works. Turns out, not quite. The series tackles heavy topics that are definitely not for everyone, but they’re handled extremely well — there’s really nothing to nitpick here.

Let’s start with the positives, namely the male lead — Sang Yan. I already loved him in Hidden Love, and here my love only grew stronger. A wonderful man and a massive green flag. I wish every good person could meet someone like him in their life. His unconditional love and immense support for the female lead were beautiful to watch — and at the same time heartbreaking. For two reasons. First, the positive one: he was the only person (aside from her dad) who was always there for her and truly showed her genuine love. Second, the negative one: he suffered a lot because of that love — and he absolutely did not deserve it. Honestly, neither of them did. They both truly fell in love back in high school, and their feelings remained strong even after their paths split. Their reunion showed that clearly, as the emotions slowly resurfaced. This wasn’t just about obvious on-screen chemistry (though it was definitely there, and the kisses were H O T), but about a deep, emotional bond. They were the most important people in each other’s lives, and both wanted what was best for the other.

That led to one moment where I was completely torn: Wen Yi Fan’s second escape to Hong Kong. At that point, two wolves were fighting inside me. One wanted to tear her apart for hurting Sang Yan yet again — a man who was nothing but wonderful to her. That wolf wished them both happiness apart, just so they could finally stop suffering. But the other wolf understood her. She had been through hell — the kind that’s hard to talk about and even harder to forget. She never received the support she deserved, and the people closest to her convinced her it was something shameful and that she should stay silent. Then Che Xing De reappeared in her life. She wanted to protect the male lead by disappearing from his life. That wolf knew that their true happiness existed only with each other — and that they truly shined only together.

As for Wen Yi Fan herself — the female lead — she was a tragic character. The actress played her brilliantly, and I felt her pain in every single episode (I cried in almost all of them). For me, it’s unimaginable how much hell the people closest to you can create in your life — and that was exactly her case. The strongest disgust and resentment I felt was toward her mother, Zhao Yuan Dong. Of course, I’m not defending that piece of trash (Che Xing De), who ended up exactly where he belonged — but it was her mother who allowed this to happen. She could have protected her and didn’t. She didn’t believe her own daughter when she said he tried to take advantage of her. She still wanted her to stay near him, claiming he was a good man. SICK. Years later, she acted like nothing had happened and wanted to fix their relationship (mainly because her new partner left her). I’m glad she didn’t get forgiveness from her daughter, and that the female lead cut her out of her life — she absolutely didn’t deserve to stay in it. Honestly, she deserved even harsher consequences. To make things worse, she let that trash live with her younger daughter, as if she wanted to put another child through the same hell.
Coming back to the female lead — I’m glad she met someone like Sang Yan. She deserved happiness. She was a good person, and her parent gave her the kind of fate no child should ever have. I’m happy that, thanks to him, she slowly started reclaiming happiness in her life. Thanks to him and his family — and we already knew from Hidden Love that his family is wonderful.

Still talking about the main couple — the proposal at the very end was beautiful. That kind of ending is pretty cliché, but here it really worked for me — especially with a small complication added. And one tiny BUT: it was sweet and at the same time slightly terrifying that he followed her around Yihe for six years despite having no contact, simply because he promised her back in high school that he would always be by her side :D

As for any love rivals — we only had admirers for the female lead (which is honestly weird, considering Sang Yan’s looks and personality — how was no one interested in him except me and Wen Yi Fan? :D). Still, both of them were decent guys and not overly annoying.

Now, the secondary couple: Su Hao An and Zhong Si Qiao. In their case, I feel a slight sense of dissatisfaction, though it’s hard for me to fully pinpoint why. Their relationship had huge potential, but somewhere along the way it feels like it wasn’t fully used (though, like I said, I can’t clearly define where it went wrong). What irritated me was that at some point I completely lost track of their dynamic. I thought they were together when they weren’t — or they were together, but she wasn’t sure if he loved her? I honestly got confused myself. On the positive side, both of them had wonderful families. Especially his grandparents — watching them together was a joy. They radiated a kind of happiness and love that had survived many, many years.

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