Basic Information: The First Frost (难哄)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Cast | Bai Jingting(白敬亭, as Sang Yan), Zhang Ruonan(章若楠, as Wen Yifan), etc. |
| Broadcast | Feb 18, 2025 – Mar 10, 2025 (China, Youku, 32 episodes); available in Korea via Netflix |
| Genre | Modern Romance (Long-term Crush Reunion) |
| Synopsis | A love story between two individuals who reunite as adults after secretly loving each other during high school, eventually living together by chance. |
| Author's Rating | ⭐7.5/10⭐ "A quietly touching adult romance amidst familiar tropes." |
Honest Review
The First Frost (难哄) beautifully blends youthful romance with mature emotional depth. Initially sweet and playful, the narrative gradually reveals deeper emotional layers and scars of the characters, offering a calm yet profound experience. The playful, bickering chemistry between the leads living under the same roof is both amusing and heart-fluttering. The realistic depiction of their reunion as adults greatly enhances viewer immersion. Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan’s compelling chemistry makes this reunion romance particularly engaging.
Directed by Qu Youning (瞿友寧), the drama boasts a calm and refined tone, seamlessly alternating between past and present to naturally portray emotional development. Although starting with a romantic comedy vibe, it transitions smoothly to address Wen Yifan’s trauma and Sang Yan’s sincerity, providing emotional depth beyond a typical romance.
However, some subplots added to the original story, such as the grandparents’ storyline, occasionally slow down the pacing. Wen Yifan’s initially passive portrayal as a journalist might feel somewhat unrealistic. Despite these minor issues, the compelling romance between the leads overwhelmingly compensates, making it an absorbing watch overall.
Character Introductions
Sang Yan (桑延) – Bai Jingting (白敬亭)
Wen Yifan (温以凡) – Zhang Ruonan (章若楠)
Nicknamed "Shuangjiang (霜降)" after the frost season, Yifan was bright and academically successful yet somewhat naive in school. Warm yet reserved, she struggles to open up fully. Past insecurities caused her to distance herself from Sang Yan after high school. Returning as an adult reporter, she coincidentally reunites with Sang Yan, bravely seeking happiness through self-growth.
Su Haoan (苏浩安) – Chen Haosen (陈昊森)
Sang Yan’s best friend and business partner at the bar "Overtime." Loyal and dependable, he also has a romantic subplot with Wen Yifan’s best friend, Siqiao.
Zhong Siqiao (钟思乔) – Zhang Miaoyi (张淼怡)
Yifan’s vibrant and protective best friend, known for standing up against gossip. Through a playful fake relationship with Haoan, she discovers new aspects of herself.
Xiang Lang (向朗) – Zhai Xiaowen (翟潇闻)
A childhood friend who briefly confessed his feelings to Yifan and subsequently moved to Hong Kong, acting as a catalyst in strengthening the main couple’s relationship.
Plot Summary
After university, Wen Yifan returns to her hometown Nanyu as a journalist. By chance, she encounters Sang Yan working at a bar, reigniting old tensions and emotions from their high school years. Despite initial awkwardness, frequent accidental encounters reignite feelings.
Due to housing circumstances, the pair unexpectedly end up sharing a home. Initially guarded, daily life together slowly erodes their emotional barriers. Sang Yan’s subtle care gradually opens Yifan’s heart, allowing a sweet, ambiguous relationship to blossom.
However, unresolved past misunderstandings linger. The drama compassionately portrays how they navigate and overcome these issues, demonstrating that old crushes can indeed evolve into lasting love.
Differences from the Original Novel
Adapted from Zhu Yi's popular web novel, the drama offers notable adjustments. The novel’s first-person narration from Wen Yifan’s perspective limited insight into Sang Yan’s feelings, but the drama openly explores his emotions from early on, making their mutual attraction clear from the start.
Character portrayals have also shifted slightly. The novel emphasizes Yifan’s innocence to the point of social awkwardness, while the drama attempts a more realistic depiction due to her role as a journalist, though some viewers still find her overly gentle.
Additional subplots like the grandparents’ story and minor antagonists (such as a stalker junior colleague) were included to heighten drama and emotional depth, receiving mixed reactions from original fans but enhancing narrative richness overall.
Audience Reactions and Ratings
Despite initial high expectations, The First Frost began with a low Douban rating of 5.4, trailing its predecessor drama Hidden Love (偷偷藏不住) at 6.7. Criticisms included loose pacing and softer-than-expected portrayals. Yet, the leads' chemistry and visual synchronization quickly quelled casting concerns, and popularity surged rapidly.
Remarkably, the drama achieved substantial commercial success, quickly surpassing 10,000 popularity points on Youku and recording over 500 million views within two weeks. Internationally, it broke into Netflix’s global top 10, reaching No. 6 and achieving No. 1 rankings in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.
In Korea, Netflix viewers praised the drama’s chemistry, compelling story, and charming supporting characters, although some noted a slow start. Overall, despite mixed reviews, it proved commercially successful and deeply engaging.
Recommendations for Similar Dramas
If you enjoyed The First Frost, here are other contemporary Chinese romances you'll love, each with a heartwarming atmosphere and youthful charm:
Hidden Love (偷偷藏不住) (2023)
You Are My Glory (你是我的荣耀) (2021)
My Sunshine (何以笙箫默) (2015)
A Love So Beautiful (致我们单纯的小美好) (2017)
Additionally, modern-setting Chinese romances like Falling Into Your Smile (你微笑时很美) and Go Ahead (以家人之名) offer engaging narratives tailored to diverse tastes, providing plenty more enjoyable viewing experiences.
