The First Frost
The First Frost
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The First Frost

"After all these years, I still only like you."

8.4
Yr 2025
Rt 45m
Status Ended
Drama
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

Wen Yifan, by chance, ends up living with her high school classmate Sang Yan, whom she once rejected. They keep their distance until Wen Yifan learns from Sang Yan that she sleepwalks, intertwining their lives once more.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 80 /100

The First Frost has earned a generally warm reception from critics and viewers, who frequently praise it as a moving, beautifully paced second-chance romance. The series is lauded for its poetic atmospheric aesthetic and thoughtful exploration of deeper themes, such as trauma, healing, and long-standing friendship, alongside its central love story.

The performances of the main cast stand out as key highlights, with reviewers noting the strong emotional depth displayed in key scenes and the effective chemistry between the leads. Audiences appreciate that the story avoids overly dark or melodramatic tropes, choosing instead to focus on the gradual rekindling of affection between two former classmates.

However, critical opinion is not entirely unanimous. Some viewers point out that secondary subplots can feel cluttered and take focus away from the main pair's character growth, while sharper critiques contend that the plot meanders at times and handles heavier thematic issues somewhat superficially. Overall, most consider the drama to be a worthwhile watch for romance fans seeking a distinct tone.

“exceptional storytelling almost like watching poetry beautifully unfold in the form of a series”

“thoughtfully explores deeper themes of trauma, healing, and friendship alongside the central love story”

“this is a nice show that is worth the time especially for those who like a different feel to a romance drama”

“The characters are lifeless, the plot meanders without substance, and its attempt to address the serious issue of sexual assault is superficial at best”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix
US • UK • CA
Netflix Standard with Ads
US • CA • UK
Why fans love it

The First Frost leans into the tension of shared living spaces and the unpredictable nature of proximity. By pairing a guarded female reporter with the lingering presence of a classmate from her past, the narrative creates a steady friction that elevates the typical urban romance structure. Zhang Ruonan navigates this dynamic with a deliberate restraint that highlights the vulnerability inherent in re-examining a severed connection.

The introduction of sleepwalking as a core plot device adds a layer of eerie intimacy to their cohabitation. Instead of relying on conventional misunderstandings, the show uses this involuntary state to force genuine vulnerability between two people who spent years building walls against one another. It transforms a second chance at romance into a practical puzzle, where the professional and private spheres of the characters collide in ways that feel both personal and inevitable.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 64
Regulars 8
Longest run 16 eps
Bai Jingting
Bai Jingting
as Sang Yan
Zhang Ruonan
Zhang Ruonan
as Wen Yifan
Edward Chen
Edward Chen
as Su Haoan
Zhang Miaoyi
Zhang Miaoyi
as Zhong Siqiao
Zhai Xiaowen
Zhai Xiaowen
as Xiang Lang
Yuan Ye
Yuan Ye
as Mu Chengyun
Chen Jianan
Chen Jianan
as Su Tian
Fu Miao
Fu Miao
as Qian Wenhua
Show 56 more
Feng Yunzhi as Zhao Yuandong Ning Xiaohua as Fat Uncle 1 episode Zhang Yihao as Bar Singer 1 episode Zhang Zhe as He Mingbo 12 episodes Zhang Ruixi as Yu Zhuo 11 episodes Gao Yuqing as Zhong Gulong 4 episodes Liu Chutian as Sang Zhi 8 episodes Deng Ying as Li Ping 6 episodes Wu Yuheng as Duan Jiaxu 8 episodes Zhang Keyuan as Fu Zhuang 16 episodes Zhao Xiaodong as Wen Liangzhe 7 episodes He Jiong as Zhang Wenhong 5 episodes Lin Shan as Man 1 episode Li Rongdong as Jin Yongxin 5 episodes Teng Gen as Qian Fen 6 episodes Duan Xingyu as Zheng Kejia 4 episodes Su Yiyang as Chen Junwen 7 episodes Liu Siqian as Cai Jing 1 episode Yu Shuxi as Zhong Wushuang 5 episodes Li Shuyue as Zhong Wuyan 5 episodes Meng Hanxi as Young Sang Zhi 4 episodes Wang Yiqiao as Zhen Yu 1 episode Mi Niu as Young Zheng Kejia 3 episodes Zhou Yang as Zheng Huayuan 3 episodes Wei Zixin as Sang Rong 4 episodes Nina Paw Hei-Ching as Jiang Ru 5 episodes Paul Chun Pui as Su Haojia 11 episodes Ji Peng as Wen Ming 4 episodes Chen Yujin as Zheng Kexin 2 episodes Zhang Shihong as Uncle Ma 5 episodes Kong Lin as Che Yanqin 9 episodes Wang Sheng as Wen Liangxian 3 episodes Su Qi as Fang Li 8 episodes Rainy Zhang as Lin Yuqing 3 episodes Jeffrey Ngai as A Sen 3 episodes Yuan Liruoxin as Cui Jingyu 1 episode Cheng Li Ou Yang as Cui Jingyu's Son 1 episode Su Aiting as Aunt Fang 2 episodes Xu Yiwen as Lin Yuqing's Mother 1 episode Jiang Zhongwei as Gan Hongyuan 3 episodes Zhao Lei as Bar Singer 1 episode Feng Yi as Bar Singer 1 episode Tong Junjie as Zhong Guoqiang 2 episodes Li Mei Yi Bing as 8-years-old Wen Yifan 1 episode Yan Kexin as Yu Kexin 1 episode Yang Yuxuan as Li Xiaochun 1 episode Zhou Yanfei as Shi Jiayu 1 episode Li Sitong as Shi Lei 1 episode Li Hongchen as Che Dexing 6 episodes Solange Maggie as Wang Linlin 2 episodes Han Jianyi as Da Jun 2 episodes Zhang Simin as Chen Xi 1 episode Wang Zhiyuan as Lu Yi 3 episodes Kan Xin as Zeng Yi 1 episode Li Yimeng as Guo Ling 2 episodes Cheng Cheng as Guo Ling's Father 2 episodes
Signal Match

Similarity

Where The First Frost overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

romance urban first love sleepwalking cohabitation female reporter web series based on web novel second chance romance
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
February 18, 2025
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
45 minutes
Origin
CN
TMDB Votes
83