The First Frost

The leads ruined it for me

Things I loved

1 That it was related to Hidden Love that I adored and I thought I knew the character of the ML since I had adored him as well in Hidden Love. So I was excited to watch this.

Things I liked

1 That she was a journalist. My favorite job in the world. Unfortunately she never convinced me that she was a good one.

2 The parallel between present and past. When it's well done it's great and I've seen other dramas where I adored that. Here there were some good scenes in the past and the resent but all in all nothing to make me care.

Things I disliked

1 The second couple. It's funny that both actresses, the FL and the 2FL are in the list of those I won't watch any drama with her anymore. I think they're no great and every time I try to watch them they come out as too childish or too flat.

2 The ML. I won't say I hated him, but honestly after watching his role in Hidden Love played by another actor and loved him, here he felt lifeless. I can't comment of how he was written in the novel, but it would be surprising if the novelist created two so much different versions of him. in Hidden Love he was one of my favorite characters other than the leads. Here he tried too hard to play the brooding hero but in the and he wasn't convincing. To be honest I don't think I'd watch the actor in anything else since he doesn't appeal to me and seems like an adolescent and I can't see him in any thing adult. Unfortunately I don't find him a great actor either.

3 The FL. This was my last attempt to watch something with her. She isn't a good actress, it's now established. She is flat and bland and doesn't steer any emotion when she recites her lines. Is she pretty? Probably for many people. I don't like her acting so i don't find her attractive either. It happens when you dislike the acting of an actor to find them unappealing and the opposite is also true. I don't find some actors handsome but when they act I suddenly find them gorgeous. To make things short, the casting was wrong if you ask me. This is nowhere near the masterpiece that is Hidden Love. Humor, emotions, romance are on the highest level. Here there's nothing to keep. Maybe a scene here and there, but that's all.

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Heartwarming. A tear-jerker. It will capture your emotions.

I would rate this 11/10 because it exceeded my expectations. This drama is definitely one for the books, with its outstanding storyline, cinematography, and OSTs. They made the perfect choice in selecting the actors and actresses.

Honestly, I watched this because of Zhang Ruonan. I’ve already seen some of her other dramas—A Date with the Future and My Boss—where she played bubbly and strong-willed characters. But in The First Frost, you’ll see a completely different Zhang Ruonan! She completely pulled off her character, and I didn’t expect her to showcase such depth as an actress.

This was also my first time watching Bai Jingting, and oh my gosh! Why am I only discovering him now? He is such an amazing actor!

I also appreciated the second male and female leads. They had their own story, but it wasn’t too time-consuming, keeping the focus on the main leads.

I also want to highlight how this drama truly captures your emotions. The story is not complicated—it’s easy to understand, full of wisdom, not dragging, and blends light drama with humor.

I described this drama as binibigyan ka ng pag-asa sa pag-ibig—it gives you hope in love. If you have a great love, there will always be a place for it. When you love, you take a risk. You will do everything just to win in the end.

This C-drama is a must-watch in 2025! You won’t regret it!

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Nostalgia will hit you like a truck.

I will keep it short
for those who have watched Hidden Love and loved it .
The first frost will deliver that felling of watching Hidden love again in a new way .

I am not saying both of them are same but
I cannot help that it reminds me of HL.

Trust me when I say this , TFF and HL will go down in cdrama history. and this both drama has set standard for other modern romance drama .

TFF and HL has also spoiled me
cause it will be hard for me to get hooked up in other dramas if the other dramas do not deliver the same quality

the Cast, Director, Actors have played their role delegently. to the point that there are no la lacking.

some might say I am over rating this both drama.Its fine because people have different preference.
but you can't hate it unless you try it yourself.

This both drama will remain in a special place in my heart

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A Beautifully Written and Emotionally Captivating Love Story

I recently watched The First Frost, and I absolutely loved it. From start to finish, it was an incredible experience.

Sang Yan’s characterization was superb—his charm, wit, and unwavering devotion made him such a compelling character.

Wen Yi Fan’s innocence and love for Sang Yan were heartwarming, making their romance even more special.

The romantic chemistry between Sang Yan and Wen Yi Fan was beautifully portrayed, filled with heartfelt moments.

Sang Yan’s care and protectiveness toward Wen Yi Fan made their bond even stronger.

The screenplay, camera work, and production quality were top-notch, enhancing every emotional moment.

What made this drama truly unforgettable was its emotional depth. Wen Yi Fan’s trauma and painful past made me feel deeply for her, and Sang Yan’s heartbreak after their breakup was equally heartbreaking. But what moved me the most was their unwavering love for each other throughout the years—the way they held onto their feelings and finally reunited made everything so satisfying.

My favorite scene was when Wen Yi Fan discovered that Sang Yan had been visiting Yihe just for her, all this time. It was a moment I had been waiting for throughout the entire series, and it was executed perfectly.

The music was another highlight—every track perfectly matched the mood of each scene, making the emotional moments even more powerful.

And finally, what I loved the most—the story itself. Zhu Yi’s writing is absolutely brilliant; she is my favorite writer, and this is one of the best scripts I have ever seen. I’ve already watched it three times, and honestly, it feels like a drama I could rewatch endlessly.

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Why The First Frost Touched Me So Deeply

The First Frost (2025)
Cast:

Zhang Ruonan as WEN YIFAN (FL)

Bai Jingting as SANG YAN (ML)

Zhang Miaoyi as ZHONG SIQIAO (FL’s childhood friend)

Edward Chen as SU HAOAN Sang yan's childhood friend


Why did I watch this ?

I decided to watch The First Frost because it had been on my watchlist ever since its release in February of this year, and I was eagerly waiting to hear good reviews. It took me some time, but I’m glad I finally watched this masterpiece.

From start to finish I felt this drama deeply it was exceptional storytelling almost like watching poetry beautifully unfold in the form of a series. The strong performances from the cast left me speechless, especially the female lead, whose character felt so relatable.

Plot Summary:
The First Frost follows Zhao Yiran, a spirited yet fragile girl, and Xu Zhirui, a quiet but determined young man, whose fate intertwines one winter. As they navigate love, pain, and unspoken truths, their bond becomes a journey of healing, resilience, and hope in the midst of life’s coldest season
.
My Thoughts on the Characters:

I personally loved the female lead. Zhang Ruonan’s acting was surreal and heartfelt, making Zhao Yiran’s struggles and emotions feel real. Her character carried layers of pain abandoned by many, she grew into an introverted soul who never wanted anyone else to suffer because of her. Despite her dream of becoming a dancer never coming true, she found strength and purpose in her job as a reporter. Watching her journey was both heartbreaking and inspiring.

The male lead, Xu Zhirui, was another standout for me. Bai Jingting portrayed him as confident yet reserved, a caring and innocent soul who never gave up on his girl. His love for Zhao Yiran was quiet but truly noticeable he secretly cherished her from the beginning to the very end. I was touched by how much emotional growth his character had throughout the series.
And let’s be honest
his collection of black outfits gave him this mysterious, almost magnetic charm.


The supporting characters also added depth to the story. Zhao Miaoyi was portrayed as a bubbly on the surface, but her character revealed layers of care and loyalty toward those around
Her character was especially so perfectly crafted that I loved her too . She brought a different kind of warmth to the narrative, making her role more than just a side character.

Final Words:

Overall, The First Frost was more than just a drama for me
it was an emotional rollercoaster...
With its poetic storytelling, beautifully written characters, and heartfelt performances,
it’s a series that stays long after the final episode.
.
.

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A slow-burning, healing romance about reconnection and second chances.

This is the story of Wen Yi Fan and Sang Yan, two first loves whose relationship ended tragically, by Wen Yi Fan’s own decision. Years later, they unexpectedly reunite and become roommates, and the story follows their journey of reconnecting.

I came into this series completely blind, knowing only that it’s loosely related to Hidden Love (which I haven’t watched yet). So, I went in without any real expectations.

That said, this series touches on themes of abuse that could be triggering, so proceed with caution. But beyond that, it carries a sense of healing.

The pacing is slow, with a lot of silence and subtle gestures in their relationship, which I found to be quite meaningful. Both characters have been scarred by life, with Wen Yi Fan hurting Sang Yan being a key element. Over time, we slowly uncover the reasons behind Wen Yi Fan’s decision to distance herself from Sang Yan.

It’s clear that they need to rediscover each other, to share their stories, and to forgive one another.

Their growth feels organic and, dare I say, realistic.

Despite the underlying melancholy, there’s really a healing energy, enhanced by beautiful cinematography and soundtracks that makes this series a rewarding experience for those who have the patience to appreciate it.

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A MASTERPIECE made with love and attention!

The First Frost is a story of 2 individuals who have always loved each other and are only meant for each other, where they go through the storms to see the eternal sunshine, focused on their second encounter/chance at being together.

I watch a lot of romance dramas and The First Frost has a unique tone that deals with sensitive issues, it surprised me how dark it could get, so it was hard to watch at first, but it got lighter and healed me as the story progressed.

It felt more realistic compared to those fluffy and romantic dramas because FL's problems made me connect to reality, it shows the dark side of society.

If you're in a bad environment and you're a woman who's always alone, and you're really pretty, you have a higher chance of being harassed. I think it justifies why FL had to go through a lot.

It broke me and healed me just like the characters in the story, I cried a lot when I watched it, but when it got happier, I was really happy.

It's been a long time since a drama made me cry, get angry, squeal with joy, and have a smile or a frown stuck on my face when I think back on the episode, an emotional journey.
I watched edits, discussed with friends about it, and hung around MDL to see everyone else's thoughts and opinions.
For TFF, I enjoyed every moment, I didn't skip scenes like I did with other dramas.

It was just that good.




The story (+ explaining my understanding)-

The flashbacks (related to high school):
ML was the sun in FL’s life, he helped her survive in her world of darkness by understanding that there is good in the world, it enabled her to save herself from trauma (character development) and cut ties with those who have hurt her.

She learned how to love and that she deserved to be loved (+ how to treat herself better) as she was treated horribly by her family.

ML, on the other hand, has a wealthy and loving family. He loved FL very much and was motivated by love to try harder in school when he didn’t like to study.

He treated her the best he could, even got her a place to practice ballet. It made me think that FL was like a flower being nurtured by ML, so heartwarming, as her family never gave her the proper care and love she deserves. But in high school, their relationship only ended with ML getting hurt by F, she broke their promise to go to the same university and to be together. He faced his first major setback which helped his character development, which also made him more colder…

Also, it's not FL's fault, she felt worthless because of how badly her family treated her, which led to a lot of her actions and decisions, that's why she distanced herself, was/is mysterious and reserved, and most importantly, she believed that Sang Yan (ML) deserved someone who could love him back wholeheartedly, as she believed she couldn't, plus she wanted to leave everything behind and go somewhere far away where no one knows her (because of her family).

Don’t worry though, their second chance helps make up for it!

Overall, FL was a bit relatable in some aspects, so I was able to understand her character quite well.


Additional story/production notes:

Both of our main characters wanted the best for each other, it was such a pure and beautiful love they had for each other.

The story focuses on adulthood, where they meet again and get their second chance to be together (it's fate!), while it flashbacks to the past (high school life + university life) at the beginning of the episodes, and mostly shows ML's POV at the end of the episode, as the story is done in FL’s POV.

It is made with attention to detail, a high quality production, like the cinematography, plus even the whole OST album (sounds good and the lyrics!) is amazing! ❤️




Final thoughts-
The best modern romance C-drama!
It was definitely my cup of tea because I love the dark/sweet vibe, plus the comedic aspects gave me the "not trying hard" kind of humor and was still hilarious.

The acting was natural and perfect, as if they were a real couple. Like the marriage proposal scene, wow!

The pacing is slow as the story is a slow burn which definitely BURNED me. I especially enjoyed the banter and teasing scenes.

So it really was a full package, although I would have liked to see more of Sang Yan (ML) being taken care of by FL, and a wedding scene would have been nice.

Just wanted to state, Sang Yan is a whole green forest, the best boyfriend to exist in the C-drama world.

Also, I wanted to point out that this show can be difficult to understand, if you don't understand the psychological aspects, you won't be able to understand FL. She is one of the most realistic characters in C-drama, showing you how people with trauma/PTSD live. I would say that this drama is made for a more mature audience.

Lastly, TFF teaches us:
"Treat yourself well and the world will have more love for you!"

At the end of the day, this drama is a heavy, but a healing journey with cute and sweet romance that will leave you on the edge of your seat with the amount of emotion it will/can make you feel. A MASTERPIECE!

❤️🍃❄️

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One sided love story

When I first started watching it, I thought I liked it. But looking back, I realize that impression came almost entirely from the cinematography, the atmosphere, and the overall aesthetic.

At its core, the narrative is clearly centered around the female lead, with the male lead functioning primarily as her love interest.

The female lead is portrayed with very realistic human emotions and emotional baggage, while the male lead is treated almost like an idealized fantasy character.Because of that, their dynamic feels unbalanced, too heavy on one side and too light on the other, like an uneven scale.




When the first ghosting happens, I barely react. It feels like obvious plot convenience and at that point, I assume they’re only loosely connected. But as the flashbacks unfold, it becomes clear how emotionally close they actually were, which shifts the context.

Apparently, there’s a second ghosting. I’m not sure if that’s confirmed but I have no interest in continuing if that’s the direction it takes especially after a confession.

At that point, any remaining patience I have for the female lead would probably run out. And it’s not that I can’t appreciate flawed or emotionally complex characters. I’ve liked many problematic male or female characters before. Here she's not even problematic,just troubled. But this one just doesn’t engage me at all.




As someone who enjoys romance, I don’t mind when the man takes the lead or puts in more effort. But here, it’s not imbalance, it’s absence. There’s virtually nothing from the woman’s side. Even the slightest indication of effort, literally 1% would have changed how I feel about this story. Instead, by the end, the relationship feels entirely one-sided.

San Yang is idealized as a love interest to the point of being almost unreal, while her side is only developed as an independent character , her feelings for him remains underdeveloped.


As a character, I don’t have an issue with her. she has her own emotional weight. But in a story marketed as a romance, I couldn’t really see her as part of the romantic equation. I was willing to wait for her romantic growth but if she ends up leaving him hanging again, then the growth doesn’t really mean much. It just feels like the same cycle repeating. She passively receives his love rather than actively participating in it



Beyond the main storyline, the side plots only make things worse. They feel disconnected at best and irritating at worst. I couldn’t care less about the second couple. The grandfather’s storyline adds nothing to the central narrative. It comes across as unnecessary filler rather than meaningful expansion and the uncle and the female lead’s mother are consistently grating, adding more frustration


In the end, this is a drama that leans heavily on mood and visual appeal but aesthetics alone can’t sustain a romance. Without emotional reciprocity or narrative balance, the story feels hollow.

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Nice love story, but!

Full disclosure: I have not read the novel and am unlikely to, so I can only speak from the drama's point of view. The First Frost is a nice love story that could have been a better drama. It is an unconditional love that spans years of lost time. The two leads are high school classmates who are clearly in love with each other, but for some unknown reason at the beginning of the drama, they separate. I truly liked the drama, but this is where I found my first flaw. It was a bit too slow-paced getting to the reasons for the separation. It is not what I would call a slow burn, but a question of why it is so slow. If the director intended for it to be a slow burn, then they missed the mark. This was the biggest disappointment for me, the dragging on. Other than that, I liked it.

It is a good story that deserves to be told. The bitter taste of life and family abandonment should be told to help people heal. You will be disturbed by the suffering the FL must endure. Which will make you an instant fan, and you will want to embrace her. It takes a draggy turn in the middle for a few episodes. I don't know how to rate the production because I am not sure what to think. The production felt low-budget and small. However, that may be intentional. I could not believe some of the living conditions. This drama can be a bit of a "Debby Downer" at times, too.

As far as acting, the ML and FL do a good job. Especially the ML, he is fully invested. His love for the FL feels real and underappreciated. The chemistry is there, but because the story is so slow and sad, it is hard to feel it. The cast of characters is sufficient, their acting is just okay. There are a few side stories and couples. Some are more interesting than others.

The soundtrack is good and fits the drama nicely

If you are romantic, this is a good watch. The devotion the ML has for the FL will leave you breathless and wanting for yourself.

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