Apricot Dragon

I didn’t know it was based on the novel by Hidden Love author Zhu Yi, but it was very obvious from first episode I was in the same universe and even some of the same characters (just different actors).

First Frost is a super great watch from start to end. No draggy bits, no boredom with side quests or bland characters. I couldn’t wait to have spare time and grab the remote.

Romantic love, familial love (and tribulations), even love of pets, along with good food, good friends, big and small life events. At the center are two compassionate but very closed-off characters who find solace and trust and joy in each other to open up, very fun to watch. There’s some personal darkness in FL’s past, but thankfully not as horrific as (sadly) this subject matter can be in real life. Its effects, however, are long lasting and treated respectfully.

The ML’s devotion and completely unconditional love was unusually pure. Obsession-like, but not quite, as there was 0 expectations. I really liked his character, but I tend to like the externally stoic characters with the big heart inside.

I’m probably not supposed to compare, but I liked it way more than Hidden Love.