The First Frost

Beautiful and captivating drama

This is just a beautiful drama.


There are not so many dramas in recent years that have me smiling , giggling and excited for the couple. This is one of the few. I loved this so much, I gave a review after the 10th episode and the review stayed consistent till the end.

The chemistry was through the roof and the acting was superb. Very big kudos to the actress for portraying her character so well. I felt the depression, trauma , tears through the smiles. She really did a very good job.

Now the ML has caught my attention in previous dramas like reset and you are my hero (both amazing dramas). He is such a natural and didn’t disappoint at all. His character here is the greenest flag I have ever watched in a ML. His love and gestures towards the FL is very reminiscent of the kind of love in older k dramas. I can’t even explain it but I was hooked lol .

The OST/ music wow….., let me just say my Shazam was working overtime. The music captured the emotions in the scenes and made them more impactful. I don’t remember liking any Chinese drama ost but this one , every song was perfect.

The Side characters were also very good. I loved the bromance and the friendships. The toxic Family dynamics were portrayed well. I felt bad for the FL mum until I didn’t feel bad for her anymore lol. I am glad there was no unnecessary redemption arc.

What I didn’t care too much for:

- Grandpa and grandmas story , it was cute at first then they started getting more screen time, I had to skip a lot of their scenes.

- The second ghosting arc was unnecessary and the reunion after that was also too forgiving and quick.

- The flash backs became redundant at some point towards the end.

Overall
Highly recommend this drama, especially if you are in a drama slump. It’s just a great watch. I wish I didn’t watch it yet so I could watch it for the first time again 😅

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Best modern Drama of 2025 so far

I went into this drama a little scared cos I knew how heavy it was going to be,and I was scared of how it would turn out bcs not many actors know how to potray grief,depression etc but ruonan literally devoured like she’s amazing. the way she potrays her pain is so beautiful,and let’s not even talk about BJT he never disappoints and he definitely wouldn’t start now,Sang Yan is on my top 3 characters played by him. He embodies this role so well. BJT and Rounan’s chemistry are really of the charts,they make me giggle and blush so hard. So far out of the modern drama’s of 2025 this is the best.

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A Good Mix of Romance and Drama

I would not keep this review long. Imagine Sang Yan going to Yihe frequently just to see her. That's the true meaning of "If he wants to, he would". His love did not end after they ended their communication. I also love how Sang Yan waited for her all these years even though he was hurt that she left. He yearned for her for so many years, and when she finally said the reason for her departure, I love how Sang Yan tried to console her and fight for her to give her justice. Overall, this is such a good series to watch and I can definitely see myself watching it over again.

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A Sloooow-Burn Romance.. but...Keeps You Hanging On... and it is WORTH THE WAIT

The First Frost is a slow-burn romance, which isn’t usually my preference, but I find myself invested in the story. The two main leads have strong on-screen chemistry, and with their solid acting skills, I knew they would deliver compelling performances.

The non-linear storytelling, smoothly transitioning between past and present, is well-executed. However, some interactions felt drawn out, and I did find myself skipping certain moments that didn’t hold my interest. The subplot involving the second leads didn’t resonate with me and felt unnecessary to the overall story.

That said, The First Frost is an emotionally rich drama that delves into themes of love, trauma, and personal growth. While its slow pacing and character-driven narrative may not appeal to everyone, viewers who enjoy deep, introspective storytelling will likely find it a worthwhile watch.

Update EP 25
One of the most heart-wrenching moments in the series is when YiFan leaves Sang Yan yet again, without a word of explanation or goodbye. YiFan's decision to leave Sang Yan is undeniably heartbreaking. After years of separation, she walks away once more, leaving him in a state of confusion and despair. Sang Yan, who has consistently been a pillar of support and unwavering love for YiFan, is left to pick up the pieces of his shattered heart. His confusion and pain are palpable, and it’s impossible not to feel for him as he struggles to understand why the person he loves would leave him again.

From a viewer's perspective, YiFan's actions may come across as selfish. While her reasons for leaving might stem from feelings of unworthiness or the belief that she is protecting Sang Yan from her struggles, it’s hard not to see her departure as a denial of his love and support. Love is about being there for each other through thick and thin, and by leaving, YiFan denies Sang Yan the chance to stand by her side. It raises the question: is it truly selfless to leave someone you love, or is it a form of self-sabotage that hurts both parties?

YiFan’s actions, while frustrating, are a reflection of her internal struggles and insecurities. The drama doesn’t shy away from showing the darker sides of love—how fear, guilt, and self-doubt can drive people to make decisions that hurt those they care about the most. It’s a reminder that love isn’t always straightforward, and sometimes, the people we love the most are the ones we hurt the deepest.

Update 10 Mar after watching EP 32
The acting in First Frost was nothing short of superb. Both the male lead (ML) and female lead (FL) delivered performances that resonated deeply, showcasing a profound emotional connection to their characters. The nuances of their emotions—hurt, pain, relief, anger, sadness, and regret—were portrayed with such depth and authenticity that it was impossible not to be drawn into their world. The actors skillfully guided the audience to empathize with their struggles, making you feel every emotion alongside them. Their ability to convey such a wide range of feelings was truly remarkable and stands as one of the show's greatest strengths.

While the slow-burn pacing of the series was not entirely to my liking, the payoff towards the end made it worthwhile. There was a sense of catharsis and quiet happiness for the characters, leaving viewers with a satisfying conclusion to their journey. Despite its deliberate pace, First Frost ultimately delivers a poignant and emotionally resonant experience, thanks in large part to the outstanding performances of its leads.

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A beautiful poetic masterpiece

10/10 – A poetic masterpiece that stayed with me long after it ended.

The First Frost wasn't just a romance for me-it was a journey through trauma, healing, longing, and unconditional love. Every scene and every dialogue feels intricately woven together. Every interaction carries emotion, nostalgia, or a deeper meaning that slowly reveals itself as the story unfolds.

I know many romance or thriller viewers might find the pacing slow, but as someone who absolutely loves melodramas and slice-of-life stories, this was perfection. The way the drama constantly moves between Wen Yifan and Sang Yan's perspectives, while seamlessly transitioning between their teenage years and adulthood, is one of its greatest strengths. It allows you to feel everything.

The cinematography is breathtaking, the OST is unforgettable, and the acting is phenomenal.

I genuinely don't think anyone could have portrayed Wen Yifan better than Zhang Ruonan. As someone who deeply relates to isolating myself whenever life becomes overwhelming, Wen Yifan felt painfully real. Many people define strength as someone who always speaks up and fights back. But Wen Yifan showed another kind of strength-the quiet strength of surviving. She is a victim of years of trauma, yet she continues to move forward despite believing she deserves so little. I don't think I would've connected with her if she had been written as the typical "strong female lead" who magically overcomes everything. Watching her slowly learn that she deserves love and kindness became the emotional core of this drama for me.

Then there's Sang Yan.

His patience, devotion, and unwavering love are almost impossible to believe. Waiting eight years, quietly going to Yihe just to make sure she was okay-it's unrealistic, yes. But somehow, it heals something inside you. Sang Yan feels like the kind of love people wish existed.

Some of my favorite moments perfectly captured what this story was really about.

When Wen Yifan discovers the countless train tickets Sang Yan kept from all the times he visited Yuehe, it silently reveals years of love that expected nothing in return.

And then comes my favorite line- she tells him she wants to die six years after him to make up for the years she left him alone. That moment completely broke me. It isn't simply romantic; it represents how far she's come.

You can even see it from the very first episode. She avoids remembering Sang Yan because remembering him means reopening wounds she desperately wants to bury. Earlier in the series, when we see Wen Yifan's memories of meeting Sang Yan, she says that for a moment she forgot the whole world, and it felt as though there was another version of herself inside him. Even then, you could already see how deeply she loved him. But by the end, she's finally able to express that love instead of hiding it. Even with her awkward, stoic personality, we see how she later starts to express her love to Sang Yan because she knew that's what he deserved.

This isn't simply the story of two people falling in love.

It's Wen Yifan's journey of healing from trauma and learning to accept love, while Sang Yan's years of unwavering devotion finally bear fruit.

The First Frost feels less like a romance and more like a poem. I became so attached to these characters that I genuinely didn't want the story to end. Every episode carries a sense of longing and nostalgia that lingers with you long after you've finished watching.

For me, Wen Yifan is one of the most realistic female protagonists I've ever seen, while Sang Yan is probably one of the most unrealistic male protagonists ever written. Somehow, that contrast creates something incredibly beautiful.

After everything Wen Yifan endured, Sang Yan truly felt like God's gift to her.

This drama won't be for everyone. If you're looking for constant plot twists or a fast-paced romance, you may find it slow. But if you love character-driven melodramas that quietly explore grief, trauma, healing, and unconditional love, The First Frost is nothing short of a masterpiece.

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A beautiful love story

The story itself for me are different than any kind of cdrama i've watched. It is really break stereotype, its a fresh idea. I mean the sleepwalking plot? I never see drama use this kind of plot, and too much suffering for female lead bcs usually the suffering one is came from the male lead. Zhang ruonan really deliver wen yifan soooo damn good until i realise that she is actually an E girl. I cried whenever she cried. For sangyan i kinda agree why the writer said that he is like and accesories so whoever suffering like wen yifan hope that they will find their own sangyan. I mean bro?? Bro is sucessful, handsome and rich. And yet he still wait for his first sight love who hurt him so much. But i wont blame yifan for this. Bcs no one ask sangyan to wait for her, while yifan suffering too much :( my poor babygirl

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Will stay with me for a long time

For me everything is perfect, from the cast, the story, the music, directing, the vibe of the drama, really everything clicks for me.
Brings so much nostalgia and feelings in every single episode. This is a drama to savor and I did not lie when I said I cried at every episode, not because it is super sad or depressing each episode, not at all. but because it is very touching and personal for me. I really love how ZRN and BJT portrays sangyifan. They are the perfect actors for this.
Definitely one of my few lifetime drama, I really like that it is a bit of a slow burn, a reunion too, and when they finally get together it is perfect. Love love love the acting from both the main leads once again I can not stress how perfect they are.
Will be rewatching this often like how I reread some of my fav novels just because.

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A Promise To Always Be By Your Side

"Did my dad send you to take care of me? No I volunteered."

The First Frost is based off of a novel of the same name by Zhu Yi who has given us a number of great dramas with beautiful portrayals of youth, love and friendship but this one takes the cake for its lovely showcase of healthy relationships, trauma and healing.
The female lead Wen Yifan had been hurt over and over again, abandoned by those she considered family and had a lot of trauma, but for her all her flaws and inhibitions she had someone who loved her irrespective and vowed to be by her side no matter what. Sang Yan, was a proud and aloof teenager who seemed to have no real interest in the world or people until he met Yifan and she changed his world forever. He gained dreams, motivation, purpose and most of all he learnt what it means to love someone. Their issues tore them apart but the tightly wound red string of fate brought them together once more to fall in love and understand both each other and themselves.

Story: Since it was based off a novel I hold very close to my heart, I had huge expectations for the drama adaptation of the story, and for the most part they did a great job. While a good number of changes were made, most controversially changing the most pivotal plot scene, the team did what they could to display their love story in its most raw visual form. Naturally, the expression between written and visual material is bound to be different and this drama covered a lot of those points very well. The heartfelt conversation between the leads and the slow progression of their dynamic was a pleasure to see. The drama team also made an inclusion with the story of the second couple, which I personally found a little draggy but the concept of love as a healing agent was still very much present.

Acting: This was possibly the best thing about this drama and the delicacy and finesse with which all the actors played their roles was lovely to see. Zhang Ruonan's Wen Yifan was exactly how I had pictured her to be, with all the subtle nuances and soft yet tough character who let most things go but could stand up for herself when she needed to. Bai Jingting as Sang Yan was amazing as he showed the yearning and careful approach to let her feel comfortable. His cheekiness and laid back confident aura was also very well portrayed.

Music and Cinematography: The cinematography of this drama really really elevated it and brought out its emotional undertones in an incredible way. The passage of time and seasons, the constancy of their love, the light to their shadows were all very well portrayed and gave it such a pleasant viewing experience. The soundtrack was also amazing and perfectly complemented the scene onscreen and the lyrics spoke their minds.

All in all, this is a drama I will cherish for a long time and will always recommend for the healing experience it gives not just to its characters but to its viewers who are losing faith in themselves and relationships to show that there really is light at the end of the tunnel. There will always be someone who accepts you for who you are and no matter how desperate things may seem, you will always be worth it. This wasn't a story of second chances, it was a story of a love that never stopped and continued to flow despite the changing seasons. It wasn't a story claiming love to be a cure-all but a guiding light on the path to cure. It was a story of promises to always be there for the people who matter the most.

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Very good

For starters, I'm a big fan of Hidden Love, so First Frost happening in the same universe has inevitably influenced my experience; more about it below.
The biggest plus of the whole series is certainly the FL, who is a very interesting and very likeable character and probably the best role of Zhang Ruo Nan so far. She alone was worth watching the drama. Compared to her, the ML comes somewhat short. First of all, I couldn't help but compare him with the Hidden Love counterpart, and eventually settled with First Frost happening in an alternate universe instead of a shared one, as I couldn't see him as "that Sang Yan" (goes for most of the other shared characters). It's my personal preference, just a heads-up in case you also watched Hidden Love. "This Sang Yan" also feels a bit flat - his arrogance is slightly overdone, and unlike the FL he lacks any other nuances. As a result, the first half of the drama wasn't completely smooth to watch, however once the romance properly kicked in things improved a lot, since the romance was top notch.

The drama was a bit longer than it should be. I would cut out the second couple and their circumstances completely - while they were alright characters on their own, their relationship added nothing to the overall plot. The Hong Kong part (apparently not in the novel and added only for the drama) was also pointless, somewhat out of place and with literally no consequence despite its "real time" length. On the other side, consequences weren't missing for the "evil" characters, and I truly appreciate them being there instead of going the "we are family so let's forgive ourselves" route.

Overall a recommended watch for fans of romance, complex female characters and "dedicated" male characters.

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Ultimate yearning

It’s official, the main couple in this drama is going up there as one of my all-time favorites. Wen Yifan is a rare FL that’s quiet and reserved but still straightforward and stands up for herself when the situation calls for it. And Sang Yan is just the most amazing ML I’ve seen — he’s supportive and unwavering and funny, and the way BJT plays him is just so heartfelt.

The drama plot hits the sweet spot between angsty and uplifting. The leads give us really adorable moments, but when it comes to Yifan’s backstory and how her family has made her feel unworthy of love, the drama becomes heart-breakingly relatable and both the lead actors play their characters beautifully, and the amazing OST certainly adds a lot to each moment.

I will say that this drama was a little more dramatic than I anticipated — it’s pretty steady most of the time but there are a few fights and backstories that were extremely intense. To add, I’ve always hated the separation trope, and yeah this drama has it. It lasts quite a few episodes and it is frustrating and depressing, but I think this is one of the few cases where I think it really makes sense, and I like how it was resolved not by the ML finding the FL again, but by the FL realizing there were good people around her, being brave, and choosing to call him again. This IS Yifan’s story, and that gave her a lot more agency. It also makes the conversation they had where she finally lays out all her cards on the table feel earned.

The biggest “blah” part of this drama for me is, unfortunately, the side characters. I loved the SFL in WIFTY, and I loved the SML in Your Name Engraved Herein, and they’re both fine when they’re acting either as Sang Yan or Wen Yifan’s friend, but when it comes to their romance, I really could not care less. They have a few arcs — something with a dog, something with a car accident. I’m sorry but I could not tell you a single thing that happened (lol). For this reason I've been bouncing between a 9.5 and a 10, but I think I love the main couple so much I can't bear to give this any less.

Other than that…folks, this is one for the books, and I mean it when I say I think this drama had the best finale I’ve ever seen. It wrapped everything up beautifully, revisiting all the moments between our leads and capturing their growth. I cried my eyes out.

I also just want to take a moment to say that the cinematography in this show is GORGEOUS. You can tell that there is so much thought put into each shot, and it captures the warmth, the angst, whatever the scene calls for — perfectly.

Watch this to understand real yearning.

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SLOWBURN ROMANCE NOT TYPICAL FLUFFY DRAMA

SPECIAL APPLAUSE TO RUONAN FOR POTRAYING MY FAV CHARACTER WEN YIFAN!!
it is not easy to potray this character but ruonan did it super proud of her! her eyes is crazy like u can feel the sadness deep inside too..eventho lots of ppl said they felt boring i do particularly think this drama is for those who loves slowburn,melancholy and healing.. it heals part of me who always think that i’m undeserving of something that is precious..the last 4 eps are superrrrrrrgoooddddd (pls skip ep 24&25 if u cannot handle a runaway arc haha) may all wen yifan in this world will find her sangyan and eventho if u cant find your own sangyan pls do know everyone is precious especially to ourselves!!! give yourself a good hug after everything u gone thru 🤍🤍🤍 shoutout to bai jin ting,other casts and production team for producing my fav healing cdrama with goood ost and cinematography 🫶🏼!!

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