A Quiet, Poetic Romance About Healing, Regret, and New Beginnings.
The First Frost isn't your typical lighthearted romantic drama-it's melancholy, layered, and emotionally intense. It follows Wen Yifan (Zhang Ruonan), who returns home, and reconnects with Sang Yan (Bai Jingting), her high-school classmate and former crush. The two pretend not to know each other but end up living together, stirring up past regrets, trauma, and unsaid feelings. The atmosphere, from cinematography to soundtrack, is wistful and haunting, perfectly mirroring their emotional distance and longing.What stood out to me is how Sang Yan expresses love-not with words but through unwavering presence. His quiet care, subtle gestures, and emotional patience felt profoundly real. Bai Jingting's micro-expressions and Zhang Ruonan's sensitive portrayal of Wen Yifan's trauma brought a raw authenticity to their bond. It's a character-driven romance that rewards patience.
"The First Frost" teaches that the deepest love often hides in quiet understanding, shared scars, and unspoken devotion-sometimes words aren't needed when your presence says it all.
If you love emotionally rich, slow-burning second-chance stories with nuanced characters and a cinematic vibe, The First Frost is unforgettable. Just be ready to sit with the ache-it's not a casual watch, but many find it deeply rewarding.
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Loving you, from the first day to forever ❤️
I never thought I would get glued to a Chinese drama like this. The plot is a simple one - Loving you, from the first day to forever ❤️ If I don't get another comfort series , I'm going to yap about #TheFirstFrost and Sang Yan for another year. Sang Yan is not just a green flag but a whole greenish Amazon forest. He has become one of my fav fictional characters right now.Both Male and Female lead acting and chemistry were exceptionally good. Male lead will make you seated in spite of the slow paced story and screenplay in the beginning Give it a try , you won't be disappointed.
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First Frost – Overhyped, Awkward and Disappointing
For me, this drama was boring and awkward from start to finish.The female lead is written as extremely weak, while the male lead is portrayed as the obsessive “hero” who constantly saves her, a dynamic that feels outdated and forced. Almost every other male character is framed as a bad guy who sees her as an object, simply to make the male lead look better. But he’s also stalking her which the plot conveniently romanticizes to win over the female audiences.
Bai Jingting’s portrayal of Sang Yan didn’t work for me. I actually preferred Victor Ma’s performance in Hidden Love , it felt unique and fresh.
Bai Jingting’s acting here is too safe, mainstream and sometimes awkward, especially in scenes with the female lead.
Their chemistry feels wooden and visually, I don’t find him fitting the “so handsome” image Sang Yan is supposed to have. In some angles, his features, especially his large nose made me question if this was really the heartthrob the story claimed.
The female lead, however is undeniably pretty.
Their relationship is equally unconvincing. The plot conveniently forces them to live together despite the FL repeatedly experiencing sexual assault.
In reality, someone with that trauma wouldn’t easily trust any man, yet here she just goes along with it.
It’s another example of the drama prioritizing a cliché romance over realistic character behavior.
Overall, First Frost feels like an overhyped, typical romance drama with little depth, a frustrating portrayal of its leads and nothing truly fresh to offer.
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This review may contain spoilers
Beautiful Show
Overall, it was an amazing and beautiful show. It reminded me a bit of When I fly Towards You maybe with a touch more mature characters (cause they werent in HS for majority). I really liked Sang Yan‘s character. He really portrayed like a pure form of love cause he knew that he loved her and it didn’t matter if she saw or knew all that he did for her. One thing I didn’t like was the story kind of dragged near the end and it was it felt like certain plot lines were added just to extend the story. I really didn’t like or feel it was necessary to have the second couple under their love story, especially there was so much going on and on top of that adding their confusion was just a bit too much.But overall, it was a beautiful story and I loved it
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THE BEST DRAMA I'VE EVER WATCHED!!!!
There's not even one thing that I dislike about it.IT'S LITERALLY THAT PERFECT 😭♥️
Anybody reading this, I swear you're gonna love it 😭
And honestly, I think it was better than Hidden Love. Athough I stopped watching it long time back (because it wasn't that addicting or eye catching) but yeah The First Frost was definitely A MASTERPIECE!!!!!!!!!!! 😭😭🥹🥹♥️♥️
If we say according to MDL, then it at least deserves a 9.2 rating!!!
The actors were FANTASTIC, the script was mind-blowing, and the way of filming was just wowww and and and not forgetting the BEST OST IN HISTORY oh my god 😭😭🙇🏻♀️🙇🏻♀️♥️♥️
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The First Frost, An incredible drama.
I come to this drama without any expectations of it being this good, I haven't watch Hidden Love thus I was going blind with the story. At first I was hesitating to start it since C-drama typically are long ep, and I like watching a drama in one sitting. But The First Frost might change it for me, I binged watch 1-10 at first, and kept up with new ep everyday.The story is super super interesting, I really dig what's Yifan story is, how her hardships during her high school days made her do choices that only benefits her, what I am talking about is how she was only looking at herself, and it has a reason though. It is to protect herself. But slowly she realize that someone, ugh when she saw the tin box of Yang with the tickets and picture of her in graduation, I shed tears. I was happy that she saw it (was literally the scene I want to see).
Now Sang Yang, what a story he has. He endured the pain, might have blame himself on why she left him. But his strong attitude made me like him. I can see why Hidden Love would be a good watch knowing how different Sang Yang will be. I aspire to be like Sang Yang.
I want to talk about the cinematography of this drama, It's so beautiful, the places they go to in Nahwa, Beiyu, or even in Yihe we're gorgeous. It made me want to go there for real. The effects is also so good, even the practical effects of using reflections or the crystalize things complements the scene more and added emotion.
The cast is perfect for the roles, Bai Jing Ting facial expressions really capture a confident person, it hooks specially when he looks at Yifan. Zhang Ruo Nan is the perfect Yifan, her portrayal of it should gave her a LOT of awards, I really was sympathizing with her, I cried with her, I was happy when she was happy. She portrays a girl that left by her family really well. The second leads are also good too, well I may be bias since I really like Zhang Miao Yi, she's a perfect best friend for Yifan. Edward Chen too did a well job portraying a man losing his parents and having the doubt of him being the reason of their death, and I was happy with her grandparents too. All of the other supporting cast are to commendable too, especially the one who portrays Yifan's uncle or Che Xing De, whenever he comes to the screen, I just wanna punch that face. Nah seriously, his aura literally is like a deranged person.
I also like the music and background songs, it's not too emotional, just perfect. Plus how it enters the scene, using instrumental first then having vocals after it is so good.
I highly, HIGHLY recommend everyone to watch this. Even if you watched, Hidden Love or not, it's such a good start.
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A Love That Waited, A Heart That Healed
I have watched many dramas over the years, but The First Frost has touched my heart in a way very few shows ever have. This is probably the longest review I’ve ever written, but this beautiful drama truly deserves it. If you enjoy deep emotions, slow healing, and a story that stays with you long after it ends, The First Frost is a must-watch.This drama is not your usual romantic story. It doesn’t rely on dramatic twists or flashy love scenes. Instead, it tells the quiet, emotional journey of two people – Sang Yan and Wen Yifan – who were once in love, then separated by pain, and who slowly find their way back to each other years later.
Wen Yifan is not a typical female lead. She is strong in silence, someone who has been deeply hurt by life but still chooses to be kind. The trauma she went through is heartbreaking, and the way she keeps going forward is something I truly admire. Zhang Ruonan played this role so beautifully, with just her eyes expressing pain, fear, and sometimes, hope. Her growth – from someone hiding from her past to someone who finally accepts love and herself – is what makes this story so meaningful.
Sang Yan is one of the best male leads I’ve seen in a drama. He is not loud, not aggressive, not demanding. He is gentle, patient, and emotionally mature. He waited years for Wen Yifan, not because he was obsessed, but because he truly cared. Some people may call him a doormat or a stalker, but I completely disagree. His love was respectful and thoughtful. He gave her space, never crossed her boundaries, and always supported her in quiet ways. Bai Jingting portrayed Sang Yan with such sincerity that I could feel every bit of his love, especially in Episode 27, where one simple glance showed so much pain and love together.
Their love story is not a fairytale. It’s full of pain, silence, and long waiting. But that’s what makes it real. Life isn’t always happy. Love doesn’t always come with fireworks. Sometimes, love is simply being there for someone, standing quietly beside them while they heal.
The cinematography in this drama is beautiful. The soft lighting, calm colors, and camera angles add to the emotional feeling of each scene. It’s not flashy, but it is so well made. The music also deserves praise. The songs grow on you slowly and blend perfectly with the characters' emotions. You might skip the opening at first, but trust me, by the end of the series, it becomes part of the experience.
Even the side characters were well-acted. I do wish we saw more emotional development in Qiao Qiao’s story, but it didn’t take away from the powerful journey of the main couple.
This drama also gives a very important message: healing doesn’t come overnight. Love cannot “fix” someone. Real healing takes time, and it has ups and downs. Wen Yifan didn’t change suddenly because Sang Yan loved her. She healed because she chose to, and Sang Yan simply walked beside her while she did. That’s something I respect deeply about this story. It’s honest. It doesn’t lie to the audience or give fake hope.
Also, this drama says something about society. It shows how women who suffer trauma are often left to deal with it alone. Wen Yifan’s strength is in how she chose to live again, even when the world gave her no support. And Sang Yan’s strength is in his quiet care. His love is not loud—but it is deep, respectful, and lasting.
Lastly, I want to say that this drama is very emotional. It’s not an easy watch in some parts. It made me cry, especially in the last episode. But those tears were worth it. The emotions are real, and the characters are unforgettable.
To the entire team – the actors, the writers, the director – thank you. You didn’t just make a drama. You told a story that felt real, that gave us hope, and that reminded us what true love and healing can look like.
The First Frost is not just a drama. It’s an emotional experience. It is my favorite Chinese drama now, and I know it will stay with me for a very long time.
If you are ready for a drama that speaks to your soul, this one is for you.
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invented romanticism
my sangyifan you will ALWAYS be loved and cared and remembered and missed and appreciated and everything by me 🥹🤎i enjoyed way too much this storyline ... it was so tragically and dramatically beautiful, their characters were so perfect to the point i feel really attached to them. i hope they stay happy forever because they deserve it ... i just can't stop thinking that with their love story they reinvented romance 💐 my sangyifan i hope in this life and the next ones you will love each other like crazy
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MUST WATCH DRAMA
Absolutely amazing! I’m at a loss for words, but here’s my best shot: This drama will make you feel the depth of love in every possible way from the moment it begins to its final seconds. The chemistry between the leads is so genuine, and the entire cast, from the young Sang Yan to Grandpa Su, delivers outstanding performances. Even the supporting characters shine, highlighting the true strength of friendship and how vital it is to have someone to lean on in life. Truly a captivating journey from start to finish!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
There are a million reviews up and mine really doesn’t matter but I still feel the need the write something maybe for my own closure and sense of good bye. It’s been a minute since I’ve watched a drama that left such a lasting impression and made me feel so sad that drama didn’t have more than 32 episodes! I absolutely loved this drama for how deeply it spoke to me and for its portrayal of hope, perseverance, and love amidst brokenness and pain. ML and FL’s story was beautiful and at the end of the day a fairytale but I guess that’s why we watch these dramas… to see the ML and FL in their unconditional love for one another. ML and FL were so well cast … even I could tell from my novice eyes that they were masters of their craft. I loved their chemistry and how drama used present and past timelines to tell their story. They let us into their world and I for once skipped nothing and thoroughly enjoyed every glance and unspoken word.
I’m going to miss this one!
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Heartwarming ,healing ,beautiful
Can anything be more beautiful than thisI guess No
While watching last scene ..i have tears in my eyes & iam all emotional
The things yifan goes through are terrible but how Sangyan healed her that process is beautiful
Sangyan isnt angel ..he hold grudges ,he gets angry too ,but there is only a girl in his life & he is devoted to her only ,when she isnt around ,he is like a lump of clay like his sis said
Sangyifan became part of daily life ..their interactions are so special & heartwarming that u cant get enough of it ... We watched them step by step from angry birds that barely talkEd to roommates to caring for eo to confession to become necessaity for eo ... They filled my heart with love for em...... They made me feel for em ..this show bring me back to c dramAs after 8 month ...thankyou youku for giving me such amazing show .. It is added to my most fav dramas ..rewatch value is 1000\10
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drama that will make it hard for me to move on❣️
Honestly, this drama will be hard to move on, be it in terms of storyline, OST, cinematography and also for the casting.Honestly, at first, for the cast as Sang Yan (Bai Jinting), I personally didn't fit in and for this role I initially hoped for Victor Ma but after I searched, it turned out that Bai Jinting was more than suitable for Sang Yan. And it took almost 2 years for this drama to air. But it's hard to forget the feeling of not being able to be apart from them😭😭😭❣️❣️❣️.
Even though you can't sail in the real world, I hope you two won't become strangers and can be in the same drama project again in the future 🥹🥰☺️.
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