The First Frost

In a World That Overlooked Her, He Chose to Love Her

Out of the 10–15 C-dramas I’ve started, I’ve only completed five, and this one instantly took the top spot on my favorites list. The female lead—my god!—I’ve never felt so emotionally attached to a character before. It felt like winning everything just to see her smile. The way her character is portrayed in this drama is simply unforgettable.
The cast was phenomenal in their roles, and the male lead was such a green flag that he didn’t even feel real. Just start watching, and by the end of the very first episode, you’ll realize what a treat you’re in for.
One of the absolute best dramas of 2025—the story, the characters, the OST—everything was top-notch. I wish I could give it 10000/10. Highly recommended!

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Very Impressive

I usually follow the dramas I watch quietly and keep my comments to myself. I won't be able to keep my feelings for this drama to myself. I was inspired by Yi Fan. "The First Frost” left a deep impression on me. From its well-developed characters to its emotional storytelling, everything about this drama captivated me. I truly connected with the journey of the main characters, their struggles, and their growth throughout the series. One thing that touched me the most was Sang Yan’s unwavering devotion—his patience, kindness, and the way he always wanted the best for the woman he loved. No matter how much time passed or how many obstacles stood in his way, he never gave up on her. The atmosphere was beautifully crafted, making each moment feel both heartfelt and immersive. The soundtrack added an extra layer of emotion, perfectly complementing the story. Overall, this drama was a touching and unforgettable experience that I highly recommend.

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Lost in Their World: The Magic of The First Frost

Honestly, there's nothing I can critique about this drama. It's simply perfect. Casting Bai Jing Ting as Sang Yan and Zhang Ruo Nan as Wen Yi Fan was the best decision. Their chemistry was truly outstanding. I could relate to all the emotions they portrayed. I felt deep sympathy for Yi Fan's past trauma and genuinely sensed the immense and sincere love Sang Yan has for Yi Fan was.

I was truly amazed by Sang Yan and Yi Fan's love for each other. Even though they were separated for quite a long time, their hearts never changed. They never dated anyone else. Even time could not change their love for each other.

What makes this drama even more complete is its exceptional soundtrack. Every scene, from moments of joy to times of sorrow, is perfectly underscored by its music. The soundtrack significantly amplifies the emotional impact for me as a viewer, allowing for a stronger connection to the unfolding story.

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The most magnificently alluring romance stories to ever exist in the world...

This is my very first time writing a review like this. Pardon me for my grammar or the way i explained it... oh and that point is enough to tell how magnificent "The First Frost" is until it makes me touched to write a review even though it could be such a mess.. I don't know if this contains spoiler or not but I think it is not... but maybe for some people it is spoiler🥹🙏

First of all, the two main characters are so beautifully written. Wen Yifan, who faced a lot of pain still manages to take care of herself well. She manages to stand up even when she loses everything and has no one to rely on. Even when she could have someone "Sang Yan", she still thinks of how she could have hurt him. She probably thinks it was like keeping "black ink" in her heart, one drop of it could make people around her feel hurt too.. That is why she is always closed her heart to explain more.. She is such an incredible woman, and i am proud to witness her story..

Sang Yan, a boy who used to get everything he wanted as he planned.. He grow up in a lively family.. Then he falls in love with Wen Yifan who hide her heart not because she doesn't love him, but because she loves him, she couldn't bare to see him know her pain... But he is a MAN who keeps his word.. He loves her and he will always do as what he said to her in their highschool.. He loves her in their bright day and their darkest one.. But i feel like, his feeling for her is much bigger than the word "Love" it self.. He adore her, he care for her, he appreciate her, he adore her, he is willing to do everything for her.. But the Bai Jing Ting (xiao bai) and Zhang Ruo Nan (nannan) who played them are nailing it soooo brilliantly🥹The PERFECT Wen Yifan and Sang Yan. I feel so attached and connected with their characters... I really love the way they interpreted their characters.. The chemistry is📈📈 off the charts🥹😭💖🤩 I really hope they will meet again in a new project together..

And that is why The First Frost got me 10/10 for the Story, Acting/Cast, and for Rewatch Value???! Broo the story and acting are so perfect, but we got perfect visuals too?!! hell yeah!! perfect visuals from the cast and the aesthetic videography!! thank you so much to all the of the Team who put everything into making such a brilliantly magnificent ART! OH! and don't forget the OSTs!! I'm currently writing this review while listening to the osts... such a perfect OST... every single song is a hit!! it compiles every scene so perfectly... oh also the background music, the sound, the instrumental oh my...🥹that "hoo hoo hoo~" sound that played during SangYifan Highschool scene is giving a very nostalgic feels.. (context: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtl3nU-dEqU&ab_channel=deepti)

Ohh how i love The First Frost so much🥹😭 I love Wen Yifan and Sang Yan sooo much!!🥹💖 I never ever felt like this before after watching plenty of dramas... you all are so precious to me.. i always wanted to go back to the time when i watched The First Frost for the first time again... i remember thinking about it all the time when i haven't finished watching it yet and even ended up crying plenty of times not just when watching the dramas but when i was just think about it in my head🥹💔💖... when it was ended I'm so not ready to watch the last 2 episode (eps 31 and 32) because i just couldn't believe that it was already ended🥹💖at the end i watched it at March 30th 2025 about like 11 o'clock i guess? until March 31st 2025 at 0:11🥹My Best Drama of All Time!!

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"Love that Waited, Pain that Endured: The First Frost’s Silent Strength"

In a television landscape often dominated by conventional storytelling, The First Frost emerges as a breath of fresh air — a drama that trades fast-paced plots for emotional depth, and grand romantic gestures for quiet, patient love. It is a drama about trauma, recovery, and the slow journey of healing, all wrapped within the emotionally rich romance between Sang Yan and Wen Yifan.

The love story between Sang Yan and Wen Yifan is not one born of fantasy, but of real, lived emotional experiences. Their reconnection is marked by unhealed wounds and years of silence, and what follows is a process of rediscovering each other through empathy, patience, and emotional intelligence.

Sang Yan, portrayed with understated brilliance by Bai Jingting, is not your typical romantic hero. He is steady, warm, emotionally intelligent, and, most importantly, patient. His love for Wen Yifan is never performative; it’s quiet yet powerful, rooted in understanding and genuine care. His journey — from a heartbroken teenager confused by a painful breakup to a man willing to set aside his pride to protect the woman he loves — is a masterclass in nuanced emotional writing. Bai Jingting brings layers to the character: vulnerability, restraint, and fierce devotion. His performance, particularly in pivotal scenes such as Episode 27, is a standout — communicating anguish, fear, and love with just a glance.

Zhang Ruonan as Wen Yifan delivers a quietly devastating performance. Wen Yifan is a complex character — traumatized, guarded, yet fiercely trying to survive in a world that has not been kind to her. Ruonan’s portrayal captures this duality: the dead-eyed stares of someone numbed by pain, and the flickers of warmth when she begins to trust again. Her arc — from a woman running from her past to someone finally learning to stand tall in spite of it — is executed with grace and empathy. Zhang Ruonan makes Wen Yifan not only believable but deeply relatable, especially to those who’ve known what it means to live with invisible wounds.

The core of The First Frost lies in how it explores healing not as a grand moment of catharsis, but as a slow, often painful, and deeply personal process. Wen Yifan’s trauma is not something love instantly cures, and Sang Yan’s devotion is never about "fixing" her. Instead, the drama beautifully illustrates what it means to hold space for someone else’s healing. Their relationship is defined not by romantic highs but by emotional intimacy: shared silence, gentle confrontation, late-night conversations, meals cooked and eaten in quiet company. They grow, stumble, and slowly learn how to coexist with their pain while reaching for something better together.

Flashbacks to their youth further enriches their bond, showing the youthful innocence they lost and the maturity they gain. Sang Yan’s POV moments at the end of several episodes serve as emotional anchors that allow us to fully empathize with his quiet but unyielding love.

Visually, The First Frost is a work of art. The cinematography — soft, grounded, often wistful — perfectly mirrors the emotional tone of the drama. The use of natural lighting, muted color palettes, and subtle framing adds texture to each moment, especially during emotionally charged scenes. The soundtrack deserves its own praise — emotionally resonant, unobtrusive, and deeply tied to character beats. The opening song, which initially feels skippable, grows on you and eventually becomes a part of the storytelling itself.

The directing and writing team clearly approached this project with deep care. There’s a remarkable attention to detail — from character expressions to scene transitions — that reflects their understanding of the source material and their commitment to doing it justice. While the supporting characters add texture, though the balance between the main and secondary arcs falters at times. The second storyline, particularly the Qiao Qiao-Haoan dynamic, feels underdeveloped, and the drama could’ve benefited from showing more of Qiao Qiao’s emotional landscape. Despite these hiccups, they do not undermine the power of the central story.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The First Frost is not a story for those in search of lighthearted entertainment or fast-moving plotlines. It is a drama for those willing to sit in silence, to feel deeply, and to embrace the messy reality of healing. Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan deliver some of the best performances of their careers, breathing life into two flawed, beautiful characters. And behind them, a production team whose dedication is felt in every frame.

In a world that often celebrates grand gestures and instant resolutions, The First Frost reminds us that true love is found in understanding, patience, and the quiet act of staying.

To the cast and crew, especially Bai Jingting, Zhang Ruonan, the director, writers, and everyone who made this story possible—thank you. You didn’t just make a drama. You told a story that stays with us long after the screen fades to black.

“Wen Shuangjiang, I’ve finally waited long enough for you.” — Sang Yan

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A heartwarming series

I will apeak honestly ,I didn't watched the trailer nor did I know the synopsis ,I just watched a clip and wanted to watch it.
I don't regret a single second.Everything was perfect start to end.A 45 minut episode passes out so quickly and I wouldn't realise it.worthwatching drama .not only it is a love story bilut it also tells us about society where we live .Full of emotions FL is not weak .she is strong .At the time when she was harassed she didn't care and wanted to jump out.Her character is definitely worthwatching.
Sangyan is perfect.his favial features and the mole are exceptional.plus the black dresses he wear look so good.Baijingting is cool.its his fifth continuous drama topping the charts.
1000000000/10🤩🤩🤩🤩

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I love you even with all your flaws, you are worth it, wen shuanjiang

Okay dont quote me on that cause I’m not sure if he did say that or not but he has said some of these words

Anyways I still remember when I first heard the news’s of this drama and coming back once and a while to check on any updates then the excitement of hearing it started filming then it wrapped up filming then impatiently waiting for the airing date (excuse me I’m just getting emotional)

Okay onto the real review
This drama itself is quite slow pace and does have triggering scenes involving SA (I cannot remember all episodes that include SA scenes but those I can remember is ep 25,27,28 maybe there is some in the beginning episodes as well)

if you are a person that is rather impatient I would not recommend this drama but like bai jing ting said in a interview recently for this drama “I hope they give it a chance” cause in the end everything is quite subjective
This drama itself is quite different from hidden love despite having the sang siblings as the main love interest both of their stories are drastically different so please don’t compare them

I enjoyed this drama as someone who has read the manhua but it does have its own flaws such as the arc from ep 24-26 I understand why they did that over the novel version of what was supposed to happen but there is quite some plot holes in that arc
Such as how yifan friends found her so easily in such a big city tho they probably had a ruff idea of where she was

It had its own comedic aspects as well which was nice nonetheless I wish they could’ve handled the second storyline better as there really wasn’t much balance between the main storyline and the 2nd one and sometimes it felt random in certain episodes
I wish they could’ve showed us more of Qiao qiao side of feelings when it came for hers towards haoan
The 2nd lead mu cheng yun was really annoying, it seems he doesn’t have this much of a annoying role in the novel but it looks like they really dialed him up for more dramatic effect

Nonetheless it had many amazing aspects that appreciated them for and it showed just how much effort the director,writer and crew did
The cinematography was beautiful, we were able to see so many beautiful done scenes that added depth in the episode itself
I appreciate how they added flashbacks to their younger days back in highschool in majority of episodes because it really adds more depth to our characters relationships and meanings to some action as well
I don’t know how it was supposed to go in the novel despite not really hearing good things
But I like the direction they took as the fan of the manhua I’m happy
I also appreciate how in a majority of the episodes they add sang yan pov at the end cause we get to see a bit of how he felt or what he did during that episode
Also how they gave us one last scene after a “this story is not over yet” like a bonus scene lol

The soundtrack I loved it and it seems I won’t stop listening cause it’s ending today the drama and I’m too emotional attached to it
A lot of the songs and lyrics fit the drama very well which I’m glad
I used to skip the openings but I learned to appreciate it more and more plus bai jing ting said in the interview for this drama something about how it’s unskippable or something similar but I agree with him

On the acting both leads did such a good job so did the supporting characters and the villain
To me bai jing ting did a great job at portraying sang yan it’s as if I saw him come to life from the story honestly and his subtle acting through his eyes in important scenes such as ep 27
Zhang ruonan did a great job as well portraying wen yifan especially the dead eyes in a way to make us see how Wen yifan really live in a way but just like BJT it’s as if I saw wen yifan come to life despite yifan being described more as a cold beauty and zhang ruonan having more cuter features she did a very nice job
The actors who played her family did a nice job as well cause they made me hate their characters so much

I love this story because we get to see two characters who are flawed in their own ways, learn and grow from the past selves so I hope you give this drama a chance than just listening to reviews and decide for yourself if you like it or not

This part is more of my own opinions/view on both Sang Yan and Wen yifan
So I hope that if you ever struggle to understand them this could help offer you a new perspective

The comment section on MDL (here) has been quite hell for the past few days because of certain opinion that has resurfaced many times to the point it’s scary how similar they are

For Wen Yifan it’s clear since the beginning that the girl has issues and pain
She was abandoned by her own mother, got SA by her aunt’s little brother(he’s a grown middle aged man) , got told to hide this SA by her mom and aunt and that it’s shameful and at her previous work place she got harassed
However I have seen the same argument come up in a lot of people’s opinion
“I understand her pain but why is she so selfish and not one ounce intelligent enough like she was described or she’s a reporter”
It makes me wonder did you really understand her? Or that she just went through pain and trauma?
It’s clear to me that WYF decided to lock that part away in hopes that it will be forgotten
and has been surviving everyday trying her best to be away and afar from her own family who caused her pain
Ultimately when her perpetrator showed again and hurt Sang yan bar’s reputation she spiraled after the threats her perpetrator made and now hurting her lover then went to threaten them hoping that this could be the end but it wasn’t and she ran because she only knows how to do that and even in these moments where you’ve spiraled it’s hard to think “rational” like someone said
I myself see a lot of me in wen yifan that’s why I love her as character and I know what it’s like to spiral and honestly during those times I was more overwhelmed by emotion then able to think smart or rational

I saw a lot say they don’t prefer this coward and weak FL and wish she stood up and stop being a weakling
Nevertheless haven’t we all been a coward in our life? Courage isn’t something you earn the moment you’re born
The reason why she ran away was after all those years of not confronting her trauma ultimately led to this situation we saw in ep 23-24
It’s not that she doesn’t trust Sang Yan and her coworkers or friends, it’s that she’s too scared she’ll be the reason why they get hurt whether reputation or physically even
During that arc of ep 24-6 I don’t think she was healing but took the time to find her courage and properly process the situation also to give herself time to think
Dont we all sometimes take a walk to clear our minds? In a way this is what I mean and she was planning to return after that long walk so she wasn’t planning to live there hiding

Some people forget that legal action or police reports always need evidence or her perpetrator can get out of it easily then
So I don’t understand why call her dumb when you’re dumb of not thinking that
Seeking help isn’t always easy especially someone like wen yifan who got abandoned and no one bothered to care about she thinks, trust issues are there but also who’s to say they would believe her? In our modern day, victims get more scrutiny than the perpetrators
Isn’t that ironic? Instead of asking if she was okay, it’s more she was the one who seduced him by her looks or provocative clothes in response

She herself has acknowledged that she hurt Sang yan with her words back in beiyu and how the moment she chose to run she knew and left it in her vague letter that she doesn’t deserve to ask for sangyan forgiveness

Not everyone is gonna react the way you want them to, she did her best as an adult to stand up for herself despite no one being there, she got distant and cold cause that was the only way to protect herself from anymore pain
After all this pain, I admire how strong she is for still even living and breathing and got herself a career

She herself is a flawed character that’s what makes me love her more, I relate to what she went through despite not going through the same pain. She herself is a complex character that’s not many understand after all they say “you should walk a mile in someone’s shoes before you judge them” and I guess seeing so many not understanding her means you probably lived a better life then her which you should be very thankful for & dont take it for granted
She is flawed but aren’t we all? So is the Justice system, we get to see her grow even tho the journey might be slow as hell for many but love can’t heal wounds such as trauma
Somehow we get to see a different side of a story that not many has seen in real life or fiction

Sang yan
many have complained about how this guy is too unrealistic and a SIMP
But pray to god we get a guy who is emotionally intelligent, chose to understand someone
And knows how to take care himself and devoted/loyal, he gets labelled as a doormat
These individuals can’t help but make their comment come off as rude and hateful
I didn’t see people complain about other green flag guys who are “simps” instead they get praised for that, example sungjae from lovely runner or minhyuk from strong women do bong soon

However I have seen majority a dissatisfied with how it seems yifan barely makes much effort as he does (we do see she cares like in ep 28 or how she bothered to cook for him)
She does care it just that not all of us are quite expressive in words or actions and I know well enough that if this is reversed y’all would be slamming the guy like no tomorrow

The thing about him is that since reuniting with her, he never had hopes the she would reciprocate his feelings. After all the young him that separated with her didn’t knew of her pain and struggles and believed what people said around him
To quote what user (u10146071) said in the comment “And he buys into the narrative that then everyone in school would have: oh, SY played himself. That pretty admired girl was never serious about him. How embarrassing.”

In ep 28 we see him say that lowering his pride means nothing for him now especially if it can put her perpetrator behind bars because the young him never understood why she hurt him with those words that day in beiyu until he learned of her past by himself and through her own words. He learned that he was immature and foolish to have had those thoughts about her with his broken pride

He was frustrated with her decisions especially that in ep 24 because then he didn’t understand why but still chose to give her space well he did search for her like a maniac so one can say he maybe lost his mind

Nonetheless he told her how his world crumbled and how sorry he was for his judgments about her back then

The sang siblings love surely is selfless they both don’t expect anything back from their lover but some individuals complain on “his behalf” saying this dynamic is bad
Let’s be honest sang yan himself never expected anything back from WYF, he just hoped that she lives a better life and one she deserves above all he just wanted to make sure she lived a good life and a happy one and he would have been satisfied

He simply saw what life she lived and decided to stay to help her and make sure she knows that he is there for her, that she isn’t alone

So I hope this could’ve offered you a different perspective on these two characters and what I thought of them and If you have made it this far omg congrats I typed a lot

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Becoming Each Other's Sunlight: A story about growth, healing and enduring love

The First Frost is easily one of the most well-produced Chinese romance dramas of 2025. From its brilliant acting and plot progression to the impressive official soundtrack and meticulous attention to detail, The First Frost takes viewers on a journey about what it means to love another, and oneself. If you were waiting for a Chinese modern romance drama with enduring love, the most loveable couple and healthy character growth, say less. Although much more “melo” than Hidden Love, The First Frost will leave you looking forward to every loving interaction between the leads (and perhaps swooning at Sang Yan’s good looks).

ꨄ OVERVIEW------------
Adapted from the novel of the same name by Zhu Yi, The First Frost documents the decade-long romance between Sang Yan and Wen Yifan. Despite becoming close friends in high school and agreeing to attend university together, Wen Yifan breaks the promise, leaving Sang Yan questioning their relationship for years. Their reunion is bittersweet yet provides the leads with the new opportunity to say their unsaid words, feel the unfelt love, and truly be together.

The structure of each episode is unique and appealing, as it starts with flashbacks that dive into scenes that molded the leads into who they are today, and end with scenes in Sang Yan’s perspective. The beginning flashback ends with a timeline that documents how many days the leads have known each other for, as well as an unfinished sentence that is completed at the end of the episode. The novel is written in Wen Yifan’s perspective, an aspect that the drama maintained. While some have expressed disappointment over the supposed imbalance between the leads’ efforts into their relationship, I would argue that Sang Yan and Wen Yifan’s romance is one built off of immense mutual respect and care. However, Sang Yan plays a pivotal role as the sunshine that melts the frost. Growing up in a successful family that has showered him with love, he aims to do the same with Yifan. One of my favorite quotes from the drama is Wen Yifan’s response after the nagging Mu Chengyun asks, “Has he (Sang Yan) ever confessed to you?” to which she answers, “He treats me so well that it’s like he’s confessing to me everyday.” The way both leads treasure one another is the sweetest thing ever. We also see Wen Yifan’s outpouring of love towards Sang Yan, the immense worry she has for his safety as she regains confidence in herself.

ꨄ ADAPTATION------------
While TFF is set in the same universe as Hidden Love, the timeline between the two dramas is slightly different. There was much debate over the leading roles of the drama adaptation, especially among Chinese netizens, as the original web novel is extremely popular. When the lead casting was announced to be Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan, the news received extremely mixed reviews. Never having watched Zhang Ruonan in a drama before and looking forward to another Bai Jingting hit, I dived into the first few episodes of TFF with curiosity and basic expectations (coupled with excitement after having watched cute Hidden Love). 10 episodes in, I could simply not imagine another pairing embodying Sang Yan and Wen Yifan as remarkably as Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan. As with all novel adaptations, whether shows or movies, it’s impossible for the entire progression to remain the exact ‘same,’ and quite unrealistic. Having read the novel, I was pleasantly surprised by how true to the original story the drama was, down to the small details. Despite certain scenes that may have fared more preferably if aligned with the original plot, the overall story was well-paced and sprinkled in the sweetest scenes at the perfect times. Given the nature of the leads and their history together, their reunion starts off slow, but their relationship and romance quickly picks up from there.

ꨄ SECOND COUPLE------------
When it comes to the second lead couple (portrayed by Chen Haosen and Zhang Miaoyi), the leads’ best friends, they were certainly cute, but I couldn’t feel much chemistry that kept me on my toes. Perhaps this is because they have a much shorter history than the leads, having known each other for much less time. However, much of their screen time together was partially overshadowed by the grandparents arc, which quickly turned dull IMO and took away screen time from both couples that could have been utilized to better develop and expand on their relationships. However, given the time allotted to side characters, I do have to say that Sang Yan and Wen Yifan’s relationship was developed very well.

I’d also like to take a moment to address the drama relationship between TFF and Hidden Love. While established in the same universe and both dramas have the same characters, a major concern among Hidden Love fans was the total change in casting. While I greatly enjoyed Ma Boqian’s portrayal of Sang Yan, an annoying older brother, Bai Jingting fully embodies the other side to Sang Yan, the composed yet loving man who silently stayed at the side of the only girl he has loved, and the only girl he will ever love. Given that Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan weren’t present in Hidden Love, it makes no sense that Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan would even make a cameo in TFF. Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu are also not a main focal point in TFF, and I personally enjoyed watching the bantering interactions between the Sang siblings, as well as the strong bromance throughout. Liu Chutian and Wu Yuheng were satisfactory as Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu. If the connection between these two Zhu Yi romances does capture your attention, however, you may or may not have noticed Sang Zhi’s phone case in both series, which have been the same.

ꨄ ACTING------------
As mentioned before, Chu Yuning did brilliantly casting his lead roles. I’ve watched Bai Jingting a few years ago in Reset and later in historical dramas, but he really brings out another extraordinary aspect to his acting in TFF. There’s such an obvious difference in emotions that Bai Jingting carries in his eyes. The eye candy is such a plus (and even Bai Jingting himself said that TFF captured him at his handsomest lol), but it is clear that Bai Jingting is the perfect Sang Yan.

Going back to watch the lead’s reunion scene after six years in Jia Ban (Sang Yan’s restaurant), you can see the sadness and longing in Sang Yan’s eyes, and the disbelief and denial on Wen Yifan’s face. The chemistry between Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan subtly increases, and if I could say so myself, this pairing is absolutely perfect, and just the couple we needed in the Cdrama romance world. The crying scenes also particularly stood out to me; The leads poured their heart and soul into their roles, allowing the viewer to feel the pain they have felt over the past decade and feel that same hatred towards the antagonists.

ꨄ CHARACTER GROWTH------------
The First Frost also effectively touches upon a very delicate topic. In the face of her father and grandmother’s death, Wen Yifan no longer has anyone in her life besides Sang Yan who really cares for her (with the exception of her best friend Zhong Siqiao, who is truly the sweetest), and even Sang Yan is far away from her, unaware of her situation. As a teenage girl with no adult family member to protect her from the threats of harassment, she is left to fend for herself. Her experience parallels those of many women in real life. The nuances in Zhang Ruonan’s facial expressions reflected that of Wen Yifan’s past experiences, encouraging sympathy and admiration for her personal growth. As the drama progresses, we witness Wen Yifan’s transformation: She starts standing up for herself, and later, others with similar grievances. She ‘rediscovers’ ballet, something so dear to her. She addresses her strained relationship with her mother. And of course, she gains the confidence to reach out to Sang Yan. I simply cannot express how much I adore Zhang Ruonan in this role. Her acting was just so realistic, from the nights of sleepwalking to Wen Yifan’s cute, bubbly moments. She nailed it all.

ꨄ PRODUCTION------------
The editing and filming aspects are also top-notch. Chu Yuning and his team absolutely found the best angles and lighting for their shots, capturing the leads in the best atmosphere possible. Filmed mostly in Chongqing, the audience was able to admire the cityscape and beautiful modern culture, from the trains that ran through tall buildings to serene night scenes strewn with fireworks and lights. The transitions were also seamless, allowing for the best-quality watching experience and satisfaction.

ꨄ OST------------
When it comes to the OST, I have to say that there are not that many Cdramas that can compare to the quality of these songs. We have well-written lyrics, a line of talented singers, and catchy tunes. Whether it’s “Willful” by Mayday, a song filled with strength and determination, or the dreamy “Like a Sunny Day, Like a Rainy Day” by Silence Wang, there’s a song for every scene. And by every scene, I really mean it. I fell in love at first sight with the OST the way Sang Yan did with Wen Yifan:

“Willful” - Mayday: Theme Song
“Like a Sunny Day, Like a Rainy Day” - Silence Wang: Romance Song
“Late” - Zhang Bichen: Past Pain Song
“Serenade” - Mao Buyi: Self-Healing Song
“It’s You” - Li Yuchun: Ending Song
“My Dear” - Zhang Zhenhao: Reunion Song
“The Invisible Man” - Bai Jingting: Waiting Song
“I’ve Never Liked Anyone Except You” - Zhang Lei + Fine Band: Longing Song
“Everything” - Zhang Ruonan + Zhang Miaoyi: Friendship Song
“Look at Me” - Yan Yidan: Heartwarming Song
“I Want To Quietly Slip Into Your Soul” - Xiao Bingzhi: Protection Song
“There Is You Amidst Raindrops” - Chen Kexin: Memory Song
“Stubborn” - Sandee Chan: Heartbeat Song
“Crush” - Chen Haosen: Adoration Song

This drama has carved a special place in my heart with its moments filled with love, acceptance, growth and resilience.​​ There are so many admirable traits in both leads, and their love story will give you butterflies in your stomach until the very last episode, the cutest little ending that marks the continuation of their happiness together.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ “Besides me, there will be many people who love you.” - Sang Yan

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ “Love is…becoming each other’s light.” - Episode 31

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ “It’s okay. The boy you like will also think that you were so brave. He’ll thank you for protecting yourself.” - Wen Yifan

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ “Tell me, were you sent down by my dad to be good to me?” - Wen Yifan

“No, I willingly do so.” - Sang Yan

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Yifan is a beautiful lotus flower

Zhang Ruonan and her character Wen Yifan is so beautiful. I'm not talking about just physically. She is resilient and strong in the face of adversity even if she's more delicate on the inside. The girl is a survivor when the world keeps throwing things at her. She reminded me of the lotus flower, a symbol of overcoming adversity. Even in the murky waters, the plant can survive and a flower is able to bloom. Through it all, she is still kind and gentle. And as already shown in the series, Sang Yan is the sun in her life. If Yifan is the lotus flower, then Yan is the sun that helps her warm up after the rainy moments and gives her the light she needs. While the pacing of the series may not be for everyone, I greatly enjoyed the time it took to craft the story and characters. Beautiful story, beautiful characters, beautiful acting, beautiful cinematography, and beautiful music. Beautiful job to cast and crew!

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sold my soul to this drama and bai jingting, no regrets

i am only two episodes in but i am already completely hooked. this drama is everything, comforting, beautifully shot, and so effortlessly captivating. the pacing, the cinematography, the warmth in every scene, it all just pulls you in. i’m watching this at 1x speed, savoring every single moment, not skipping anything because every second is worth it.

the ost feels like a warm hug, so soothing and perfectly woven into the story. the chemistry between the leads is just chef’s kiss. bai jingting is a gem, an absolute scene stealer, and ruonan is so stunning and expressive. their performances feel so natural, so immersive.

this drama carries a different tone from hidden love but in the best way possible. where hidden love felt like sunshine this one has a deeper, more emotional pull, yet both capture love in such a heartfelt, beautiful way. honestly, this might be one of the best novel adaptations i’ve ever seen. everything about it just works, and i already know it’s going to stay with me long after it ends. 🥹🫶🏽

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very somber, but also very swoon-worthy

I initially became interested in watching this drama because I watched "Hidden Love". While initially saddened that this drama would have a different set of cast, I was not disappointed in the choices, especially Bai Jingting as Sang Yan. I have seen him in "Destined", and I absolutely loved him there. I think my favorite thing was just trying to imagine Jingting replacing Victor in "Hidden Love" scenes and vice versa with picturing Victor in "The First Frost". I also recognized Edward Chen from "Your Name Engraved Herein" and Zhang Miaoyi from "When I Fly Towards You", so I was pretty familiar most of the central roles aside from the female lead. After watching this, I will say Zhang Ruonan will be another name and face I will recognize and look out for in the future.

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● SHORT REVIEW
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[ --LIKES-- ]

✔ Amazing OSTs

✔ Beautiful cinematography

✔ Strong female lead capable of standing up for herself. Despite her introverted and soft nature, she is far from weak. On multiple occasions and scenario, she has been shown to stand up and defend herself, not needing someone to come save her. She is her own heroine.

✔ Male lead is likable. Although he tries to act cool and nonchalant, he is very caring and sincere.

✔ Yifan's friend Siqiao is smart, capable, and cares a lot for her friends.

✔ Loved when Yifan's current superior Mr. Gan made sure no one was causing her problems at work and also helps defends her when her job is questioned due to gossip.

✔ Enough cute and romantic moments to balance out the bleakness of Yifan's story

✔ Love the consistent format of the series with a flashback at the beginning and a bonus scene at the end


[ --DISLIKES-- ]

✖ I admit the beginning of this series was slow for me. The sadness of the female lead's situation made it a lot harder to watch, especially compared to the lighter vibe of Hidden Love. Being set in winter also adds to the somber vibes. However, it gets better as the story progresses and we also get some cuter, lighter moments.

✖ Not sure how I feel about Mu Chengyun as a character. I felt like his character was there just for the sake of being there, but he never felt like anyone with an effect on the lead's relationship other than being a slight annoyance. He did a couple of annoying things like self inviting himself into Yifan's apartment and also lying about things Sang Yan said, but neither of those scenario were shown to really impact the leads' actions in the grand scheme of things. Our male lead was confident and the female lead never wavered or sided with Chengyun. I feel like we could've removed his character and it wouldn't change the story much, if any. I felt maybe having Xiang Lang (the guy best friend) was sufficient enough.

✖ I love Siqiao and Haoan's story, but I wish we spent a little less time on the grandparents' story. Would have loved more of Siqiao and Haoan's story outside the context of the Haoan's family stuff.

✖ Probably because I watched Hidden Love and adored the siblings interaction there, I kinda hoped there would be more scenes with the Sang siblings. I loved their bickering in HL, and I also understand First Frost has a more serious tone but I peronally would have loved a few more scenes/interactions with the sister, even if it's more serious and heartfelt rather than light and comedic.


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● IN-DEPTH REVIEW
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[ --STORY/PLOT-- ]

I'll begin by saying that even though "The First Frost" shares the same universe as "Hidden Love" and involves some of the same characters, you don't really need to have seen HL. With that said, I do recommend checking out HL though if you haven't, especially if you want to learn more about Sang Yan's sister Zhi and his best friend Jiaxu. It's kind of fun to see how the timeline/events line up between the two. The vibe is also a lot more lighter.

"The First Frost" adopts a more sad and serious tone and deals with much heavier topics. Yifan's life has been full of hardship. She deals with loss, assault, workplace harassment and gossip, and lacks love, care, and protection from the people who are suppose to be her family, especially her mother. However, when there was no one there to save and protect her, Yifan defended and stood up for herself. She does this on multiple occasions and I love that about her. While she appears to have a quiet and gentle nature, she is far from weak. She is capable of fighting for herself when it matters. Yifan is the hero of her own story. As a result, she is independent. This is both a good and bad thing. It's good that she is capable and solves problems on her own. However, since she's so use to handling things herself, she keeps her problems to herself and suffers alone instead of asking for help. It's understandable though given her own mother ignored her in the past. Despite it, she does her best to take of herself and even tries to protect Sang Yan from the traumas that haunt her.

As a contrast to Yifan, we have Sang Yan, who comes from a loving family. In the somber vibe that is Yifan's story, Yan brings light and warmth to it. He gives Yifan the deserved love, care, and comfort she lacks in her life. He is someone who makes her feel comfortable and helps her (and the viewers) smile. It's funny watching the male lead keep up a cool and calm demeanor but is actually really caring, cute, and sometimes even silly. I think that was much needed when the series feels very melancholic. The first time I actually grinned during this series was during a flashback of Yan getting his sister Zhi to pretend to be lost so he could meet up with Yifan. For me, that was my first impression of a lighter moment in such a heavy series. He does a lot of things like that to get her to notice him and it's somewhat endearing. Yan's involvement in Yifan's life gives us quite a few swoon-worthy moments with some nice cinematography. An example that stood out for me was after their Ferris wheel kiss, when Yifan was thinking about it. I loved the artistic way they showed her thinking about the kiss while lying in her room.

Yifan is not the only capable female in this series. Her best friend Zhong Siqiao is also very capable, hard-working, and smart. Siqiao is also selfless and cares a lot about the people around her. This is shown through her interaction with Su Haoan and helping him deal with his family problems. She is very likeable and I appreciated that. Sometimes, with Chinese series, the support female best friend role can have an annoying personality or traits, but the main females are both strong characters and I love that. Siqiao and Haoan's story is much lighter but still have a lot of heartfelt moments that should not be overlooked. Their story also deals with similar themes of love, family, trauma, and healing.

[ --ACTING/CAST-- ]

As briefly mentioned before, I was already acquainted with some of the cast going in. I was already a fan of Bai Jingting from watching "Destined", Edward Chen from "Your Name Engraved Herein", and Zhang Miaoyi from "When I Fly Towards You". All of which are series and a movie that I've rated highly, so I already suspected I would like this series a lot. I didn't know Zhang Ruonan, but after watching this series, her name is one I will look more into. I think everyone, main and supporting case alike, did a great job. Che Xingde, the aunt, and mom invoked anger in me so I commend the actors for their portrayal. Both our male and female leads conveyed the emotional and heartfelt scene very well and very naturally. Whether it was Sang Yan's sincere, tender, and persistent care and love or Wen Yifan's anxieties and sadness, I felt it all.

[ --MUSIC/OST-- ]

Much like Hidden Love, this series introduced to me so many great OSTs that gave me the feels. They were all memorable. Each added values and greatly enhanced the scenes they played in. I added most of them to my playlist, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be '像晴天像雨天' (Like A Sunny Day, Like A Rainy Day) sang by Silence Wang.

[ --REWATCH VALUE-- ]

As far as romance series go, this one is up at the top as one of the contenders for my favorite.

[ --FINAL THOUGHTS-- ]

Overall, this series has a lot of memorable scenes enhanced by great cinematography and/or great music, supported by great acting, and features likable main characters. The story is somber but balances it out with some very sweet moment. I loved the Sang Yan in "Hidden Love", but I like the character even more here in "The First Frost". Wen Yifan is a survivor, and I absolutely love her. I also really enjoyed the second couple, and they also had a lot of cute moments. The first couple of episodes will be kind of rough to get past, but much like Wen Yifan's life, it will get better with persistent like Sang Yan's love.

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● NOTE
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I'll always conclude my review by saying that ratings and reviews is not really a indicator of whether you may enjoy something. We all have different criteria and standards. Don't let a bad rating, review, or comment discourage you from watching something. My advice will always be to give something a chance if the premise interests you, and only use the ratings/reviews to determine priority if you have a list, or if you're deciding if you want to continue it due to time limitations.

♥ Thanks for reading my review! Feel free to comment or hit me up if you want to discuss anything ♥

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