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The First Frost

难哄 ‧ Drama ‧ 2025
Completed
Sinasina
5 people found this review helpful
Mar 10, 2025
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Great drama that aired at the perfect time, matching the season and my mood!

Romance-wise this is not far off from the best I have seen in cdramaland. The acting by the leads is fantastic, it's rather hard to believe the FL is played by the same actress I've recently seen in `A Date with the Future `.
I've read the novel & I think it's alright & oftentimes very beautiful, but as someone who has read countless Chinese romance novels, I think there are better ones out there. This show is really benefiting from its audiovisuals & the various involved arts besides writing, overall I'd say the drama is significantly elevated over the novel.

So why is it not 10 stars? Well there are a few plot related hiccups. Due to changes the director/script-re-writer made, the drama ended up having 3 rather weak episodes, 24 to 26 was it? It was really unnecessary to turn something sufficiently dramatic into a 6 month force separation due to noble reasons. Sure maybe this is arguably realistic enough, considering our FL's mental state, but there was really no reason to make this such a long affair on our screens. Also the second couple -which does not exist in the novel- is straight up boring & second ML's family things, grandpa's dog burial etc are 5/10 at best. Assuming these things did not exist in the comic either, the director's own touch misfired a little bit here, though it's not that much time-wise..
Mistakes aside, our rewriter has done some good work too here and there, for example the ending 3 episodes are very satisfying & well done as opposed to the what we get from the side stories in the novel.

Overall this is a beautiful and very atmospheric healing drama with a lot of positive messaging, I can only recommend!
I'm especially happy with how the FL has dealt with her mother, I'm shocked that this passed censorship to be honest, I fully expected the drama version to add a mini redemption arc or some kind of concession for the mom, but I'm super happy that the toxic parent got what was coming to them, amazing! (and this almost never happens in Asian dramas)

(triangle haters can safely watch, the flies get dealt with rather quickly)

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Completed
emma
5 people found this review helpful
Aug 31, 2025
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

my favorite drama of all time

this was the second zhuyi adaptation and second c drama i ever watched and it was impeccable amazing beautiful perfect incredible i have no words. like i would give it an infinity rating out of 10 if i could because its just that crazily good- at least on my terms. it is my ultimate top tier show of all time and i will not shut up about it and i will never get over it or ever recover from how amazingly good it was; after i finished that show i was genuinely depressed for a week realizing that it was actually over and all i could do was scroll on edits mindlessly, listen to the ost 247 and think about sangyan and wenyifan every waking hour. compared to wifty its a lot more somber and less feel happy but the plot, storyline, and characters are just so beautifully written i actually can’t and will never get over this
the fmc wenyifan suffers from past childhood and family trauma + abuse and has always been more reserved and hesitant since, but sangyan the mmc is the only one who she genuinely trusts and hes the only one who genuinely cares about her and hes shown that through SO MANY different ways and the edits of him are actually so perfect hes an amazing character like hes unreal and basically nonexistent no one will ever be actually like that in real life and the thing with them two its that its a second chance because theres flashbacks to their high school lives and how their friendship grew there
just to prove how good he is i created a 18 point list on everything hes ever done for her thats actually like so thoughtful like it extends beyond princess treatment vs. bare minimum it is higher than queen treatment hes just too incredibly amazing
but okay its not only the characters its literally just the overall vibe and setting of this whole show like it was set in chongqing which is a beautiful city and the aesthetics of every scene thats filmed is just impeccably beautiful and i need new adjectives to describe how amazing it is because these adjectives dont do it justice but the setting is just gorgeous and every scene is absolutely pure bliss and perfection
NOT ONLY THE SETTING AND THE CHARACTERS- the ost is just as good as everything else and it fits it so well i love how the actors’ own songs that they published are also part of the soundtrack too and the songs are just so beautiful and i just can’t accurately describe how perfect they are just go watch it so you’ll understand because this show is life altering
i am absolutely obsessed with the characters and i wlll never get over this drama- 100% my favorite of all time and im still at the restaurant !!!

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Completed
TonWazza
5 people found this review helpful
Apr 1, 2025
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.5

Love That Never Gives Up—A Story That Echoes Through Time

The First Frost is more than just a romance drama—it is an emotionally profound journey that resonates deeply with those who have experienced the trials of unwavering love. Watching Sang Yan patiently wait for Zhong Si Qiao, never wavering in his devotion, felt incredibly personal to me. His persistence reminded me of my own story—pursuing my wife for over a year until she finally accepted my love on the day I was about to give up.

Every moment in this drama touched my heart, bringing tears and an overwhelming sense of warmth. The performances were exceptional, and the storytelling beautifully captured the essence of love that withstands time and challenges. Without a doubt, The First Frost deserves a perfect 10/10—it is a masterpiece that will stay with me forever.

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Completed
D a w n
5 people found this review helpful
Mar 10, 2025
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0

A Frosted Reunion That Had Me Falling For

* No Spoilers *

This drama had me hooked from start to finish, never once tempting me to hit the fast-forward button—though I did skip a few of the more graphic scenes.

Sang Yan’s entire character seemed to revolve around Wen Yi Fan, as if his purpose was to bring her the warmth and affection she had been deprived of growing up. While he maintained his usual arrogance and teasing nature, he was always there to remind her that she, too, deserved good things. His loyalty and small, heartfelt gestures were endearing. He might have played it cool, acting cocky on the surface, but deep down, he was nothing more than a top graduate from the “loser school.”

Wen Yi Fan was never weak. Her constant efforts to escape the difficult environment she grew up in proved that. She was outspoken—whether at work or in expressing her dislike for her mother—except when it came to her feelings for Sang Yan, which took her longer to admit. Her past was heartbreaking, and her present was riddled with similarly unfortunate encounters (a bit too many, if you ask me—I’m looking at you, director! It was enough!). She bottled everything up, carrying the weight of it all on her own.

Bai Jingting’s portrayal of Sang Yan felt more refined and slightly less rebellious compared to the source material, but it was still excellent. He embodied the character effortlessly. Zhang Ruonan brought Wen Yi Fan to life so well that it’ll be hard not to think of Wen Shuangjiang when I see her in future projects. She may not match the exact visual description from the original work, but that hardly mattered. As for the second leads, Zhang Miao Yi and William Chan were an absolute delight to watch.

Now for the criticism:
The drama’s visual style included some artistic choices that may have made certain scenes difficult to watch—I definitely took note of that. The side couple’s storyline wasn’t an issue, but the way the grandpa’s arc was integrated often felt intrusive to the main plot. I understand that it was meant to offer a different perspective on love and contrast the various sides of life, but it sometimes felt excessive. Then there was the “mosquito dude” who constantly hovered around Wen Yi Fan, acting as if he was entitled to her. I’ll let that one slide since he was never a real contender, and watching him get put in his place was downright hilarious.

Lastly, the Hong Kong arc—I initially disliked it, but after rewatching it alongside the following episodes, I appreciated it more. It played a crucial role in Wen Yi Fan’s growth, allowing her to finally open up about her past with Sang Yan.

All in all, I loved this frosted reunion, I’m going to miss the warmth and love these two radiated so effortlessly on screen. I love them fiercely.

❄️: "Tell me, were you sent by my dad to take care of me?"
🍃: "No, I volunteered."

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Completed
Whimsy
5 people found this review helpful
Aug 4, 2025
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Genuine, Healing, and Full of Unconditional Love

I'm going to potentially bristle some hairs, and say that the extent one can appreciate this drama is a fairly good measure of one's maturity, emotional intelligence, and depth of empathy. It is not for every viewer, and I especially would not recommend it to viewers who are younger (mid-20s and under) or those who are simply looking for a good time.

I commend this drama's entire team for creating a masterpiece that delves so fearlessly into incredibly difficult topics. As a viewer, you physically feel the discomfort because the scenes do not shy away from taking you along as our FL endures abuse on multiple fronts. This drama can trigger intense emotions in the viewer - in the most painfully beautiful way, it shatters your heart but then brings it back together, stronger and healed.

The soundtrack is absolutely insane. This is hands down in my Top 3 for Chinese drama soundtracks, because wow. Gorgeous tracks, with a star-studded list of artists, that complemented the drama scenes so well. The cinematography was stunning as well. Nothing was overdone, but there was a clear sense of artistic flair that I really appreciated simply because it was beautiful. (Frankly, this drama is depressing enough without a more dark and gritty visual style.)

This is one slow burn. It doesn't drag, but I highly recommend you take the time to slowly savour the entirety of each episode. Each one is set up with the same formula: a snippet from the past, a time jump to the present, and a cute bonus scene before the ending credits. It's like a satisfying 3-course meal every time!

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

I want to defend the Hong Kong arc because it was widely discussed, with many viewers being discontent with it because it didn't "make sense". Those who had similar experiences, and/or share avoidant attachment tendencies like the FL, will not see anything amiss. If anything, the Hong Kong arc made perfect sense. The point was not for the plot to be logical. It was to send the FL on a trajectory of healing and was vital for how both her character and the main relationship progressed. Seriously. The people behind this drama knew EXACTLY what they were doing, and they executed it brilliantly. Kudos.

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Completed
anhsn
5 people found this review helpful
Mar 19, 2025
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0

When love becomes a healing power

I watched this drama for Zhang Ruonan, the leading actress. It catches my attention that she repeatedly starred in a drama in which she plays a wounded character, such as in Love is Panacea (she played a young woman who suffered from a terminal illness) and Date with the Future (her character is a survivor of a natural disaster). This drama is no exception but has led her to a new height. She played Wen Yifan's character, who suffered trauma, abuse, neglect, and sexual harassment so well. The way she portrayed the suffering and the strength of a powerless young woman who tried to survive in the harsh world is empathizing and touching. She delivered the character seamlessly.

The story itself is unexpectedly good. First, it takes human psychology seriously. The scenes involving responses to heartbreak, defense mechanisms, and trauma responses were executed naturally. It has strong sentimental nuances but doesn't fall into a melodrama. The cries and tears are controlled (suppressed and released) timely. Second, it respects the theme of love as a healing power. Love transforms people into a better version of themselves with understanding, forgiveness, unconditional positive regard, and genuine care. The villains are effectively portrayed as the antithesis of love, so we can compare and contrast things with minimum ambiguity. I like that they didn't try to "humanize" the evil people by giving them a troubled past and making them grey characters. Most evildoers deserve punishment, which should be the story's moral. Third, the relationship is burning slowly but simultaneously, full of tension and anticipation. From the first episode, we learn and know exactly about Wen Yifan and Sang Yan's love story. They just don't admit it and play along with the situation as mere roommates. The moment they realize their love, it is so monumental. The scenes of recognition were written poetically with some parallelism. Everything becomes well-rounded in the end.

It also gave us a strong message about social justice, women empowerment, and equality among people in society. This drama is packed with social criticism and reminders.



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Completed
larakhanz
5 people found this review helpful
Apr 2, 2025
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
I think the writer of this drama beautifully incorporated the aspects of romance , friendships , childhood and youth . The story is about the kids trauma and how the abuse and trauma makes and takes up most part of her life while her only escape from that trap was her childhood lover , who she wanted to embrace every time she wanted to runaway from the world . But nevertheless , there are always problems with true love , they has to separate their ways because wen yifan decided to not go to her dream college or the the college they decided to go to together , as a result they separated ways but couldn't maintain the distance that their heart was growing . This story was my comfort escape , when I wanted to runaway from the world well...I don't have sang yan to run back into but I hope this drama can become your... :)

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Completed
Eir
5 people found this review helpful
Mar 16, 2025
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

My Review of The First Frost

The First Frost is one of those dramas that lingers in your mind long after the final episode. It’s a slow-burn romance that thrives on nostalgia, unspoken emotions, and the bittersweet feeling of reconnecting with someone from your past.

Bai Jingting delivers a heartfelt performance as Sang Yan, a character who hides his vulnerabilities behind a playful yet emotionally guarded persona. Zhang Ruonan, as Wen Yifan, perfectly embodies the quiet pain of someone who has learned to protect herself from heartbreak. Their chemistry is beautifully restrained, making every small gesture—stolen glances, hesitant touches, lingering silences—feel heavy with meaning.

The cinematography adds to the atmosphere, using warm lighting and soft-focus shots to capture the characters' emotions. The storytelling is non-linear at times, weaving past and present together in a way that makes their relationship feel layered and real.

That being said, the pacing might not be for everyone. It’s not a drama filled with grand gestures or dramatic twists, but rather a thoughtful exploration of love, regrets, and second chances. Some of the side characters felt underdeveloped, and a few subplots could have been explored further, but overall, the main couple carries the show effortlessly.

If you enjoy slow-burn romances with deep emotional depth and beautifully crafted storytelling, The First Frost is definitely worth watching. It’s not just a love story—it’s a reflection on time, change, and the possibility of rekindling what was once lost.

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Completed
SophMarceau
5 people found this review helpful
Mar 17, 2025
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Love that gives you strength to be the best version of yourself

The drama about different types of love and how lack of it impacts one's life. The story about a girl with heartbreaking past and a guy, who loves her with every fiber of her body. Great performance from both leads that show the depth of the characers.
I'm especially impressed with the female lead, who shows the journey of the girl with walls all the way up, closed down to the outside world to the girl that loves fiercely and lives her life without fear, in a very heart-touching portrayal. There is great attention to detail in this show, from how the characters dress (male lead always wear black at the beginning and then starts to wear brighter colors as the story progresses) to in which light on which side of the screen the characters are shown.
The drama is accompanied with a great soundtrack that sets the mood for the show beautifully.
My favourite of 2025 so far.

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Completed
safa
5 people found this review helpful
Apr 3, 2025
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

THIS IS MY FAVOURITE DRAMA OF THE YEARR!! I just completed IT and all I must say is I LOVEDDD ittt!!

I can't accept that I finished it I want more please their married life tooo.
Wen Yifan is such a unique character she is an introvert, is shy but not socially awkward she cries but she's not weak. Her character is so real and I love it. I somehow feel relatable with her character because I feel we are similar.
Sang Yan is such a green flag he kept his promise and never left her side even when she distanced herself from the whole world.
This drama turned out to be so heavy I didn't expect it but everything was so real and natural the way she felt I could feel it through the screen.
This drama made me a fan of both leads. I love how we can see sang yan's blood boil and tears in his eyes when she's telling everything she has been through. He never blamed her once he instead blamed himself for not making himself trustworthy!!

THE ACTING😭😭😭
THE VISUALS!!
THE CINEMATOGRAPHY!!
THE FRIENDSHIP!!
THE LONGING!!
THEIR STORY!!!
I'm scared no drama could match this!!

MY TOP 1 DRAMA OF THE YEAR!!

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Completed
Lina
5 people found this review helpful
Apr 14, 2025
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Love is Becoming Each Other’s Light

The First Frost is one of those Chinese dramas that really gets under your skin—in the best way possible. It’s not just a simple love story; it’s a beautifully layered journey about love, heartbreak, trauma, and the slow, painful, but ultimately hopeful process of healing. As a spin-off of Hidden Love, The First Frost follows Sang Yan and Wen Yifan as they navigate their way back to each other after a complicated past. Across 32 emotional episodes, their story unfolds with missed chances, unresolved feelings, and a slow-burning connection that tugs at your heart.

It’s quiet and tender at times, heartbreaking at others, but always deeply human. Whether you watched Hidden Love or not, The First Frost stands strong on its own — a drama that reminds you that love isn’t always about grand gestures, but about growing, forgiving, and choosing each other even when it’s hard.

₊˚⊹♡ Sang Yan and Wen Yifan’s story begins in their youth — a sweet, blossoming romance cut short by painful circumstances. Years later, fate reunites them under one roof, forcing them to confront all the unresolved emotions and heartbreak they’ve been carrying. The narrative is enriched by a dual-perspective approach, with each episode presenting both characters' viewpoints, offering a comprehensive understanding of their internal struggles.

This is not a fairytale romance. Their love is built on lived experiences — on heartbreak, distance, silence, and healing. What follows is a tender rediscovery, a slow and powerful reconnection built on empathy, emotional growth, and quiet, persistent love. ♡

₊˚⊹♡ Bai Jingting’s portrayal of Sang Yan is nothing short of brilliant. He’s not your typical drama heartthrob — he’s gentle, emotionally intelligent, deeply kind, and patient. His love for Wen Yifan isn’t loud or showy — it’s steady and real. From the very first time they meet to the moment they find their way back to each other, his feelings for her never waver. Watching his journey — from a confused, heartbroken teenager to a man capable of setting aside his pride for love — is incredibly moving. Bai Jingting brings so much to this role: vulnerability, warmth, and unwavering devotion. Sometimes, he doesn’t even need to say a word—just one look from him, and you feel everything. The love, the pain, the hope. It’s all there, right in his eyes. ♡

₊˚⊹♡ Zhang Ruonan delivers a breathtaking performance as Wen Yifan. Her character is layered and heartbreaking — a woman carrying invisible wounds, quietly surviving in a world that has scarred her. You can see the guardedness in her eyes, the weight of her trauma, and yet also the flickers of hope when she begins to open up again. Her transformation — from running from her past to facing it with strength and grace — is portrayed with such authenticity that you can’t help but feel every step of her healing. Her pain, her fear, her hope. It’s raw, it’s real, and it stays with you.

₊˚⊹♡ The chemistry between Sang Yan and Wen Yifan is the kind that doesn’t scream for attention — it simmers quietly, like a soft flame that never goes out. It’s gentle, warm, and so emotionally rich that you feel it in your chest. It’s not exaggerated or overacted; instead, it feels natural and genuine. You see their love in the way they look at each other, speak to one another, and quietly care in the smallest of gestures. What makes it so special is that you don’t just want them to end up together — you genuinely hope they heal, find peace, and learn to breathe easier, both on their own and as a couple. Their love story isn’t just about romance; it’s about growth, forgiveness, and coming home to someone who sees all of you and stays.

₊˚⊹♡ The cinematography, the incredible OST, and the use of flashbacks gave this drama the perfect emotional depth. Every frame captures the ache, the nostalgia, and the quiet joy of rediscovery. The visuals, paired with the music, wrap around you like a soft blanket of emotion.

₊˚⊹♡ The First Frost is absolutely worth watching. (ノ^^)ノ It’s a well-written Cdrama with a beautiful story, unforgettable acting, and amazing OST. This is one of those rare dramas that stays with you long after the final episode. It doesn’t just tell a love story — it tells a story of wounds, of resilience, of facing life’s harshness, and slowly, carefully learning how to heal.


₊˚⊹♡ Favorite Quotes:

❄ "You are the fate I refuse to escape." —Sang Yan

❄ "Sang Yan, do you think you might have been sent by my dad to be good to me?"

Sang Yan replied, "No. I volunteered."

❄ "To me, you look like a fluttering butterfly. You always shine. I want you to fly free forever. I want to give you wings and destroy all your pain. I will always catch you." —Sang Yan

❄ “I want someone who is fierce and will love me until death. It’s you, Sang Yan.” —Wen Yifan

❄ "I never treated you as a backup plan." —Wen Yifan

❄ "Do you think everything in this house was bought randomly? Every item, each one was chosen for you. You deserve the best of everything." —Sang Yan

❄ "I want to live six years longer than you. That way I can love you for six more years." —Wen Yifan

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Completed
Jairen Flower Award2
39 people found this review helpful
Mar 16, 2025
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.5
This review may contain spoilers

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.

-------------------------------------------
● SHORT REVIEW
-------------------------------------------

[ --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.


-------------------------------------------
● IN-DEPTH REVIEW
-------------------------------------------

[ --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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  • Score: 8.8 (scored by 47,358 users)
  • Ranked: #132
  • Popularity: #156
  • Watchers: 92,847

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