There's already quite a few items pinned into Discussions section here :)
For the nostalgic of Hidden Love sister drama (in all senses lol), be warned that the Discussion section items for that other page got mistakenly re-wired to Hidden Love (2020) which is an unrelated movie. This includes also Peachey Blossom's OST links post for the drama.... But since I had kept a list/directory organized by themes, in my own "companion piece" for Hidden Love, I just added a copy of that section in a new "Discussions item" there, and it does the trick to find all that was stored there in July-September 2023. In case you look for songs or clarification about the characters there.
But The First Frost is a different cast and a different "color". Let's wish it smooth sailing ! Reaching episode 4.
For the nostalgic of The First Frost currently airing sister drama (in all senses lol), be warned that the Discussion section items for this drama HIDDEN LOVE here got mistakenly re-wired to Hidden Love (2020) which is an unrelated movie. This includes also Peachey Blossom's OST post for the drama....
But since I had, at the time, ended my companion piece there on a directory list to those Discussions items, with links to them, I just copied that part in the Discussions section here, and you can find what was written then, plus the links to the music videos of Peachey Blossom and MK916's video "edit" summary of the drama. Enjoy!
my newsfeed is full with hidden love reels , I thought today is the anniversary of HL.But no it's not. I don't…
poor you -- lol But seriously, take your time and don't hook up with a random person just because this drama gave you an urge to live a love adventure! And even if you remember every scene and detail, don't be ashamed to rewatch on occasions what you like : for the tingle and the fluff that are undying.
Rewatched for the 3rd time bcz i was missing chen zhe yuan in Between TWOT episodes 😓 Also,after recent events…
Yes, I also went on a Rosy dramas re-watch binge. There will be an upcoming one with William Chan but I am not sure what will happen to the one with Peng Guanying. Rosy has been slowly reappearing but it is clear she is not up to get back to the hectic schedules she used to have; she needs to take it cautiously so as not to jeopardize a full recovery.
I miss this drama… going to rewatch and feel giggle all along the drama 😁
Yeah... I am missing the lovely guys here, while trying to adjust to the sister drama.
If I stay on with that one, it will be a testament to ZRN having improved drastically and to BJT successfully taking on the role for which we remembered Victor Ma... So, Victor Ma said he was not confident with romantic roles : it is also him who preferred to let another play Sang Yan. Given this info, I am less wistful, but still disappointed by some other faces to portray Sang Zhi, Duan Jiaxu, Qian Fei... in the new drama. Perhaps I'll get used to them:it's early days to decide whether I'll only stay with HL or also appreciate TFF.
I dont know why u would put such a comment here , no one has even mentioned liang jie here.
That whole comments exchange started by you is just trolling here! As a Lusi, Yuanyuan, AND Liang Jie fandom friend (yeah, I am into multi fandom exploring and to me a true fan is not one who scolds other ones to drag down admired actor or actress, their circle of friends, or their real fans) : this here has me very annoyed. You ought to know that some people masquerade as keluli or yuanbao and other fandom with an agenda, and the best response is to ignore them. Are you one of them, sowing seeds for strife ?? It has NOTHING to do with Hidden Love or even with Rosy or Gege.
You certainly should not to bring such kind of toxic disputes up HERE. I am sorely tempted to signal your persistent negative messages as "spam" in breach of MDL comments rules for honest and polite exchanges!
This drama is much anticipated , I jus hope that ZRN plays such a vulnerable and delicate character , I have not…
In first episode, she looks to fit the role fine. It will be good if she gets a hit here. I too was lukewarm about some of her previous drama characters. The kissing scenes were a turnoff there... Rest was... okay... But she can improve, I assume. I have not watched her movies.
Victor Ma already said that he is not interested in doing romance dramas, he doesn't see himself acting that way.…
I wished to see some of the old cast reprise their roles... But BJT may be OK as the "other version of Sang Yan", not the brotherly one, although I'll sure miss Ma Boqian. I am less satisfied with the choice for Sang Zhi, even if she should not be seen much, according to the book. And I am very dissatisfied with the choice for Qian Fei, who was one of the characters that did stand out in supporting cast of HL.
Now, it's really a different story, the city is different (Chongqing instead of Xiamen), the houses are different, Sang Yan's bar looks more glam than just students... Trying to readjust. The first episode seems to be set mostly in dark places : the rainy night of breakup that is unexplained (but ok, I read the book, so have the back story somewhere back in memories), the slummy apartment, the dark bar, the night out for the crowded New Year waterfront... Will it be a persistently dark story? Staying for now until I decide or not to continue. If I do, I'll drag it out of Plan to watch :)
Thank you for your very detailed comment. I’m glad you liked the review. No I found the corporal couple at the…
I see, but it's exactly the same footage as the end of the "vanishing" scene 42:48 , just cutting before the vanishing, and without the shimmering, so I thought it was only another flashback in the collection of those that illustrate end credits, and nothing additional. Of course, why not view it as a reality, just not in the backyard but another place in the mountain, and the (I think earthenware rather than wood) statuette of the Landrover bolted to the big stone, as a marker of their "new home" which Li Zan the architect might have built in a way to remind of his dad's home close to a tall and real olive tree so silvery that it looks white, in dreams ? The leaves on this end footage do look like real olive tree ones, silvery green rather than white. (Moving on, now...)
This is such a warm and comprehensive review! Thank you for penning it !
I agree with almost everything, including the quibble about the unrealistic moments like in the aftermath of the umbrella incident and the modern hospital with not very competent doctors (that's one thing that audiences might react to, in China, as well). The choice to use English speech at times was probably decided to enhance the "foreignness" of setting and the "mixed nationalities" bunch of volunteers, but did not go well with some English speakers who reproached the production for not hiring true English speakers! But the show was not designed with English speakers as a prime target audience. The world building, with construction of a real town and use of some real artifacts instead of just using CGI, was awesome. And almost everyone in cast was memorable (except the journalists from the meeting in Happo, and the annoying busybody trash reporter who annoyed Song Ran and Li Zan dating, later) Even the children stand out, some of whom could have been better credited (but there were many non professional kids and others from the shooting area, who were involved, including the old woman who sold the seeds on the market).
I went back to look for the picture of the sculpted car in the backyard of Li Zan's father ep.38 42:22, which was a nice wink to the scene of the "mirage" on the mountain. Just before that glimpse, there was footage from a bus driving Sia and the orphans together with Shen Bei and blue eyed puppy Zan along the winding mountain road, ep.38, 42:13 timestamp (this must have been filmed at the time of the first sighting of the mirage, in reality, although Shen Bei leafing through the book is a clue that it is "later" in the story) The children excitedly looked out from the bus, to the sky where the white olive tree grove reappeared. It followed seamlessly the scene of the postcard sent to Jiang Yu after he received his copy of the book, where Li Zan wished the young man to be able to "come and see this beautiful world".
Was it only the dad's fantasy? It sure marks the moment when realism blends in with fantasizing and dream images to allow audience to interpret the end as they feel best fits, with no hurtful images any longer, but a feeling of life and restored peace moving along into a future "dreaming about the things that we could be".
On the other hand, I did no find the scene of "corporeal" Li Zan and Song Ran AFTER the end credits, although I checked two platforms including iQiyi official one. Did you find that elsewhere?
About the OST and subtitling: I liked the music which was good, as expected from "master composer" Chen Xueran and his wife who penned most of the lyrics. The 12 songs add sound color to many scenes, and on my app, the lyrics did not distract or interfere much with dialogue subtitles in English translation or Chinese original on my large computer screen. Because I was curious about original names of some characters, and sometimes wanted to check some translations, I used the option to switch between language options for subtitles on iQiyi : that was quite convenient.
Warts and all, I was even more generous than you were about rating, because this drama really grabbed my attention, even to spending perhaps overmuch time on my Companion piece in discussions. But I hope that "piece" will also be useful for those who dive in next, or want to refresh some memories. I think the drama can be on a re-watch list; I did already go back to several chosen episodes.
I linked your deep felt review to the Companion piece, Reviews subsection, together with a selection of other ones which cover also a comparison with the novel ;)
Chinese authorities (like most governments for that matter) do not approve suicide, so that was something that must have been discussed out of the way to get approval to air. Death in itself is a natural event and can result from many other things indeed although many wish for a long life first, and a less painful transition in old age, instead of being blown up by a bomb, knifing, or victims in a plane or road crash... We are not shown the corpses or dying throes of the leads in this drama, but a rather dreamy-like ghostly vanishing of the young, whole, and contented pair, that could be their fantasy, or whatever audience decide to believe.
Watch it for yourself and make your own decisions. Just a word of warning if you have anxiety or PTSD or anything…
Wishing you well and better :) Here is a nice rock song I just stumbled upon while listening to some "screaming" I am "addicted" to since last century, thought I'd share if you never listened : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd0GEy5nl3A I's rather cathartic.
Some Chen Xueran songs are cathartic too. I put 2 representative (well known) ones I like after the 12 song OST description with links, in the Companion piece. I also linked the "Between" song under Taylor Fugit with whom CXR sang "Ignite Me On Fire". + different vibes Liang Jie singing and playing "Moonlight Dance".
-- Having a musical pause and a cup of breakfast black sesame and cereals (no more yuanxiao left, sigh) before returning to my busy day and the next drama I'm watching ;)
"Marcus S" will be off to M'sia with his growing family, but I hope he will announce whatever standing TWOT was computed at for past week. I expect it should be in the top 6, according to the data for Feb16 which I added in the Companion piece. Douban is slow on this one, but TWOT is polarizing between those who liked and related and those who keep denigrating, a tiring bunch but they manage to scare off people more effectively than the difficult themes and "disappointment" from those who expected large scale military operations or torrid love scenes and betrayal games like a modern version of Love In Flames Of War.
2 
4 
1 
For the nostalgic of Hidden Love sister drama (in all senses lol),
be warned that the Discussion section items for that other page got mistakenly re-wired to Hidden Love (2020) which is an unrelated movie. This includes also Peachey Blossom's OST links post for the drama....
But since I had kept a list/directory organized by themes, in my own "companion piece" for Hidden Love, I just added a copy of that section in a new "Discussions item" there, and it does the trick to find all that was stored there in July-September 2023. In case you look for songs or clarification about the characters there.
But The First Frost is a different cast and a different "color". Let's wish it smooth sailing !
Reaching episode 4.
But since I had, at the time, ended my companion piece there on a directory list to those Discussions items, with links to them, I just copied that part in the Discussions section here, and you can find what was written then, plus the links to the music videos of Peachey Blossom and MK916's video "edit" summary of the drama.
Enjoy!
Characters analysis, names, ages, in Hidden Love drama and book ; assessment of characters played by main cast, and goodbyes from them (https://kisskh.at/discussions/hidden-love/109103-shooting-locations-and-dates-misc-other-links?pid=2646315&page=1#p2646315)
But seriously, take your time and don't hook up with a random person just because this drama gave you an urge to live a love adventure!
And even if you remember every scene and detail, don't be ashamed to rewatch on occasions what you like : for the tingle and the fluff that are undying.
If I stay on with that one, it will be a testament to ZRN having improved drastically and to BJT successfully taking on the role for which we remembered Victor Ma... So, Victor Ma said he was not confident with romantic roles : it is also him who preferred to let another play Sang Yan. Given this info, I am less wistful, but still disappointed by some other faces to portray Sang Zhi, Duan Jiaxu, Qian Fei... in the new drama. Perhaps I'll get used to them:it's early days to decide whether I'll only stay with HL or also appreciate TFF.
As a Lusi, Yuanyuan, AND Liang Jie fandom friend (yeah, I am into multi fandom exploring and to me a true fan is not one who scolds other ones to drag down admired actor or actress, their circle of friends, or their real fans) : this here has me very annoyed.
You ought to know that some people masquerade as keluli or yuanbao and other fandom with an agenda, and the best response is to ignore them. Are you one of them, sowing seeds for strife ??
It has NOTHING to do with Hidden Love or even with Rosy or Gege.
You certainly should not to bring such kind of toxic disputes up HERE.
I am sorely tempted to signal your persistent negative messages as "spam" in breach of MDL comments rules for honest and polite exchanges!
I too was lukewarm about some of her previous drama characters. The kissing scenes were a turnoff there... Rest was... okay... But she can improve, I assume.
I have not watched her movies.
I am less satisfied with the choice for Sang Zhi, even if she should not be seen much, according to the book. And I am very dissatisfied with the choice for Qian Fei, who was one of the characters that did stand out in supporting cast of HL.
Now, it's really a different story, the city is different (Chongqing instead of Xiamen), the houses are different, Sang Yan's bar looks more glam than just students...
Trying to readjust. The first episode seems to be set mostly in dark places : the rainy night of breakup that is unexplained (but ok, I read the book, so have the back story somewhere back in memories), the slummy apartment, the dark bar, the night out for the crowded New Year waterfront... Will it be a persistently dark story? Staying for now until I decide or not to continue. If I do, I'll drag it out of Plan to watch :)
Forever Star - 张洢豪 (Zhang Yihao) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wL9ByL4mf8
Forever Star - 张洢豪 (Zhang Yihao) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wL9ByL4mf8
Of course, why not view it as a reality, just not in the backyard but another place in the mountain, and the (I think earthenware rather than wood) statuette of the Landrover bolted to the big stone, as a marker of their "new home" which Li Zan the architect might have built in a way to remind of his dad's home close to a tall and real olive tree so silvery that it looks white, in dreams ? The leaves on this end footage do look like real olive tree ones, silvery green rather than white.
(Moving on, now...)
I agree with almost everything, including the quibble about the unrealistic moments like in the aftermath of the umbrella incident and the modern hospital with not very competent doctors (that's one thing that audiences might react to, in China, as well). The choice to use English speech at times was probably decided to enhance the "foreignness" of setting and the "mixed nationalities" bunch of volunteers, but did not go well with some English speakers who reproached the production for not hiring true English speakers! But the show was not designed with English speakers as a prime target audience. The world building, with construction of a real town and use of some real artifacts instead of just using CGI, was awesome. And almost everyone in cast was memorable (except the journalists from the meeting in Happo, and the annoying busybody trash reporter who annoyed Song Ran and Li Zan dating, later) Even the children stand out, some of whom could have been better credited (but there were many non professional kids and others from the shooting area, who were involved, including the old woman who sold the seeds on the market).
I went back to look for the picture of the sculpted car in the backyard of Li Zan's father ep.38 42:22, which was a nice wink to the scene of the "mirage" on the mountain. Just before that glimpse, there was footage from a bus driving Sia and the orphans together with Shen Bei and blue eyed puppy Zan along the winding mountain road, ep.38, 42:13 timestamp (this must have been filmed at the time of the first sighting of the mirage, in reality, although Shen Bei leafing through the book is a clue that it is "later" in the story) The children excitedly looked out from the bus, to the sky where the white olive tree grove reappeared. It followed seamlessly the scene of the postcard sent to Jiang Yu after he received his copy of the book, where Li Zan wished the young man to be able to "come and see this beautiful world".
Was it only the dad's fantasy? It sure marks the moment when realism blends in with fantasizing and dream images to allow audience to interpret the end as they feel best fits, with no hurtful images any longer, but a feeling of life and restored peace moving along into a future "dreaming about the things that we could be".
On the other hand, I did no find the scene of "corporeal" Li Zan and Song Ran AFTER the end credits, although I checked two platforms including iQiyi official one. Did you find that elsewhere?
About the OST and subtitling: I liked the music which was good, as expected from "master composer" Chen Xueran and his wife who penned most of the lyrics. The 12 songs add sound color to many scenes, and on my app, the lyrics did not distract or interfere much with dialogue subtitles in English translation or Chinese original on my large computer screen. Because I was curious about original names of some characters, and sometimes wanted to check some translations, I used the option to switch between language options for subtitles on iQiyi : that was quite convenient.
Warts and all, I was even more generous than you were about rating, because this drama really grabbed my attention, even to spending perhaps overmuch time on my Companion piece in discussions. But I hope that "piece" will also be useful for those who dive in next, or want to refresh some memories. I think the drama can be on a re-watch list; I did already go back to several chosen episodes.
I linked your deep felt review to the Companion piece, Reviews subsection, together with a selection of other ones which cover also a comparison with the novel ;)
We are not shown the corpses or dying throes of the leads in this drama, but a rather dreamy-like ghostly vanishing of the young, whole, and contented pair, that could be their fantasy, or whatever audience decide to believe.
Here is a nice rock song I just stumbled upon while listening to some "screaming" I am "addicted" to since last century, thought I'd share if you never listened : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd0GEy5nl3A
I's rather cathartic.
Some Chen Xueran songs are cathartic too. I put 2 representative (well known) ones I like after the 12 song OST description with links, in the Companion piece. I also linked the "Between" song under Taylor Fugit with whom CXR sang "Ignite Me On Fire".
+ different vibes Liang Jie singing and playing "Moonlight Dance".
-- Having a musical pause and a cup of breakfast black sesame and cereals (no more yuanxiao left, sigh) before returning to my busy day and the next drama I'm watching ;)
"Marcus S" will be off to M'sia with his growing family, but I hope he will announce whatever standing TWOT was computed at for past week. I expect it should be in the top 6, according to the data for Feb16 which I added in the Companion piece.
Douban is slow on this one, but TWOT is polarizing between those who liked and related and those who keep denigrating, a tiring bunch but they manage to scare off people more effectively than the difficult themes and "disappointment" from those who expected large scale military operations or torrid love scenes and betrayal games like a modern version of Love In Flames Of War.