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.
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This review may contain spoilers
Plotline isn't the best but there is a depth if you look for it, and the cast made it work.
While I can't say I'm a diehard fan of Mik Thongraya, I have found that he's one of the actors whose lakorns I've watched the most over the years. With each of his dramas in which he's the main male lead, he's gotten better and better at portraying his characters and 'Gun' is no exception. Yes, Gun comes off as temperamental but when the viewer is able to grasp his view on life, his internal struggles, and his insecurities I would say that Mik has captured all the complexities there is to "Gun".Gun married his ex-wife for love and devotion, what he got in the long run was an ambitious, unsatisfied, and self-serving woman who used their child to tug at his heartstrings at every turn. "Gun" is probably one of Mik's most emotional characters to date considering the events that has transpired upon 'Gun's' failed first marriage and how he now views the world and those around him.
This is the first lakorn I've watched starring Pupe Kessarin and the young lady has heart in spades. 'Wimala' isn't the strongest character out there in lakorn land and has a tendency to want to run away from her problems (at least once) but her compassion for those around her, especially 'Gun', can melt any ice-cold glacier. I would say that Pupe Kessarin is one of the young Thai female actresses today that can make good use of the line, "Eyes are Windows to the Soul". You can tell when 'Wi' is stubborn, and you can definitely tell when she's in love and when she is compassionate or passionate about someone or something. Pupe can convey her emotions at the drop of a hat and when those tears begin to flow, boy do they flow. Her being so pretty is just a bonus, on her good days, she's a Thai version of a young and fresh-faced Katie Holmes. On her best days with full face makeup and complete styling, she's a young and pouty lipped, Thai Jessica Alba, at least, for me. I like Pupe a lot and will definitely look out for her and her works in the future.
Mik and Pupe's onscreen chemistry as 'Gun' and 'Wi" isn't the 'firecracker loud, toot their horn and bust out the champagne, let's celebrate,' kind, but at the same time, it's soul deep and soul stirring. Every time they stare into each other's eyes, I get butterflies and my heart melts for them. Wi has all the qualities Gun was looking for in a life partner. Something he was denied of, with his first wife in the long run. Every time Gun's eyes go soft for Wi and every time she stares back at him in wonder within their most intimate moments, "The Little Mermaid's" song, 'Kiss the Girl' plays in my head. LOL. (Mik has gotten so much better with expressing emotions through his eyes in this lakorn that's why!) 'Gun' is endearing when he wears his heart on his sleeve. He gets to be the kid at the candy store instead of the businessman, once bitten twice shy and it's a bonus that only 'Wi' could summon up that 'soft look' from him. I like how 'Wi' is very compassionate with 'Gun' when his demons come out to wreak mental havoc with him and is able to calm him down, even in the times that she doesn't fully understand, giving him a safe place to fall back on. Mik and Pupe's onscreen chemistry didn't feel like a lightbulb. When 'Gun' and 'Wi' were hurt, angry, confused, frustrated, sad, happy, or deeply in love with one another, it shows, and it is felt. (It isn't just, "Okay, it's a love scene!" "Done! Now turn off the emotions...)
Where to start with Preaw? She's definitely beautiful. This is probably not her first drama that I've seen but I don't recall them by name. However, if a woman can make you hate her antagonist character with every fiber of your being... (no, not for her need and addiction to inflicting pain upon herself and enjoying harsh measures of BDSM as a bedside manner) but how she plans everything out to serve herself and her wellbeing...then Preaw did her job as 'Orn' very, VERY well. I mean to be able to stir up enough compassion in 'Wi' to where she wanted to give you back your 'ideal family' because she also feels your ex-husband's pain of separation of from his child, even at the sacrifice of her own happiness is saying a lot. I hate 'Orn' with a passion and now, if Preaw were to have a future protagonist role, I don't think I can watch and not feel 'Orn' lurking somewhere in the depths. Hahaha.
The push and pull of the threesome in this somewhat emotionally heavy lakorn is, as tense and volatile it should be.
SoWayree 1 Couple: (Special Appearances)
Honestly, Kem and Mookda have major chemistry but SW1 was not able to draw my attention for the long haul (just parts and certain episodes), however after their couple appearance in BW, I may go back and watch cause Parin and Mita together, are cute, and have grown so much as a couple and are a lot wiser in here. :)
I can tell a lot of thought went into the plotline to make it all come together and connect even with SW1 but feel as if still a lot more could have been done to give this lakorn more substance, overall.
For the major lakorn fails, I must say it's all in the technicalities for me. For example, when 'Wi' gets her arm grazed by a bullet and lies on the hospital bed gazing at a snoozing in the chair 'Gun'. In order for her to get a better look at him and process her thoughts about him, she turns to her side. Her injured arm side, LOL. Or when Mik as 'Gun' has done more than a few takes of carrying Pupe as 'Wi' and has sweat stains under his arms and it shows in the final cut that makes it through to the episode. >.<
(I must say, Mik sweats very easily. >.<)
Or how if you pay attention, you can tell that some scenes that go together in an episode was shot at different time periods because of state of the ladies' acrylic nails including style and color. Hahaha...yes, I have some invested interest in how films are made.
My final thoughts are that while Buang Wimala isn't for everyone, it's here for those who are willing to give it a go. No lakorn is Perfect in my viewer experience but I can't think of better actresses and actors to play the said roles in this lakorn. I also want another go with the Mik-Pupe Love Team. As this is their first work as a love team, I definitely feel and see potential there for further development if and when they are given the opportunity to work together again. In all of Mik's lakorns concerning his opposite lead, I feel as if I've not seen him be able emote so much with his eyes, until now. If and when I watch this lakorn again, it will be for the cast chemistry and the soundtrack, for sure.
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