Melo meets angst meets fluff meets slow burn in a memorable romance of a lifetime!
After 'Hidden Love' ended, news began to circulate that Sang Zhi's big brother was getting a drama of his own. Mind you, I only watch modern dramas once in a while and HL happened to be it at the time. I wasn't crazy about it, but I enjoyed it very much for a 'coming of age' drama and so of course, 'The First Frost' news piqued my curiosity. Initially, having gotten used to Victor Ma as Sang Yan, I was feeling some sort of way when news came that the original cast wouldn't be a part of this new drama in the works. However, when Bai Jingting was named as the main male lead, I was more or less content because I've watched at the very least, 4 of his prior top dramas in the years past.
I also had become a passerby fan of Zhang Ruonan by that time, after watching her in "A Date in the Future', continuing on to watch her works such as 'Love of the Panacea', 'My Boss' and her some of her movies which included her debut work, "Cry Me a Sad River". So, knowing both of their flexibilities and strengths as actors one a method actor, the other an experimental, my initial interest morphed into anticipation.
In waiting, I did the next best thing I could as a l book lover and avid reader. I read the novel and quite liked it because it had more depth, more maturity, and more complexities in comparison to the almost lightheartedness of 'HL' even with the growing pains and unrequited love, in retrospect.
Fastforward to the middle of last month when this drama was about to air. I had promised myself I wouldn't tune in until after either most of the episodes were out or after it all finished airing. Lo and behold, that promise was broken within the first two days of it airing (lmao). I began watching expectant but unsure of what...but...
The cinematography amazed me.
The storyline was strong, and yes even the subplot that had some of the masses revolting because it was different from the novel. I myself found that I liked the changes because while the novel/comic gave us a 1D/2D understanding of WYF and how she dealt with the trauma revisiting her, 3D/4D WYF in this Drama Adaptation underwent all the emotions and the heartbreak to make the decision and it was an experience in itself to be witness to it. It's so true that if an actor or an actress can make you feel a certain way, he/she is doing his/her job right.
The dialogues between the characters, especially the main leads?? Seriously, constant chef's kiss* because adds to their tension, angst, love, admiration, devotion, and interactions etc. The way those dialogues are delivered adds so much to the atmosphere too.
THE CHEMISTRY...between the mls/SangYan and Wen Yifan is the type of chemistry that is my book, VERY RARE. I think Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan are meant to be onscreen soulmates (lol). Yes, SY and WYF's love story is very slowburn but it's NOT a typical almost boring slow burn. One could feel the crackles in the air when they are onscreen together. The push and pull. The TENSION as their characters meet again face to face after many years.
When they do get together, it's not just the passion of the kisses but also the comfort of each shared hug...the belonging that silently shouts, "You're my world. You're my home." Their words for one another...sigh.
I love that the director gave the actors Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan leeway to interpret the characters of Sang Yan and Wen Yifan for themselves, therefore making the 'becoming' simpler yet exact and tailormade for them.
All in all, without giving spoilers, "THE FIRST FROST" is an absolute work of art. Now there are many art forms and various people prefer various pieces but not before they keep an open mind about every piece out on display.
Granted "The First Frost" in its drama form is an adaptation, therefore it will sometimes veer away the novel and comic but it is appreciated and also gives a more real and humane aspect that may not be there in its written and drawn form.
An absolute gem for any modern drama lover who is looking for a little bit of everything and more. Once you open your heart to 'The First Frost', it's going to heartbreaking to say goodbye. It's going to be exactly like saying goodbye to a first love.
I also had become a passerby fan of Zhang Ruonan by that time, after watching her in "A Date in the Future', continuing on to watch her works such as 'Love of the Panacea', 'My Boss' and her some of her movies which included her debut work, "Cry Me a Sad River". So, knowing both of their flexibilities and strengths as actors one a method actor, the other an experimental, my initial interest morphed into anticipation.
In waiting, I did the next best thing I could as a l book lover and avid reader. I read the novel and quite liked it because it had more depth, more maturity, and more complexities in comparison to the almost lightheartedness of 'HL' even with the growing pains and unrequited love, in retrospect.
Fastforward to the middle of last month when this drama was about to air. I had promised myself I wouldn't tune in until after either most of the episodes were out or after it all finished airing. Lo and behold, that promise was broken within the first two days of it airing (lmao). I began watching expectant but unsure of what...but...
The cinematography amazed me.
The storyline was strong, and yes even the subplot that had some of the masses revolting because it was different from the novel. I myself found that I liked the changes because while the novel/comic gave us a 1D/2D understanding of WYF and how she dealt with the trauma revisiting her, 3D/4D WYF in this Drama Adaptation underwent all the emotions and the heartbreak to make the decision and it was an experience in itself to be witness to it. It's so true that if an actor or an actress can make you feel a certain way, he/she is doing his/her job right.
The dialogues between the characters, especially the main leads?? Seriously, constant chef's kiss* because adds to their tension, angst, love, admiration, devotion, and interactions etc. The way those dialogues are delivered adds so much to the atmosphere too.
THE CHEMISTRY...between the mls/SangYan and Wen Yifan is the type of chemistry that is my book, VERY RARE. I think Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan are meant to be onscreen soulmates (lol). Yes, SY and WYF's love story is very slowburn but it's NOT a typical almost boring slow burn. One could feel the crackles in the air when they are onscreen together. The push and pull. The TENSION as their characters meet again face to face after many years.
When they do get together, it's not just the passion of the kisses but also the comfort of each shared hug...the belonging that silently shouts, "You're my world. You're my home." Their words for one another...sigh.
I love that the director gave the actors Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan leeway to interpret the characters of Sang Yan and Wen Yifan for themselves, therefore making the 'becoming' simpler yet exact and tailormade for them.
All in all, without giving spoilers, "THE FIRST FROST" is an absolute work of art. Now there are many art forms and various people prefer various pieces but not before they keep an open mind about every piece out on display.
Granted "The First Frost" in its drama form is an adaptation, therefore it will sometimes veer away the novel and comic but it is appreciated and also gives a more real and humane aspect that may not be there in its written and drawn form.
An absolute gem for any modern drama lover who is looking for a little bit of everything and more. Once you open your heart to 'The First Frost', it's going to heartbreaking to say goodbye. It's going to be exactly like saying goodbye to a first love.
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