The First Frost: All you need to know about the Chinese drama Hidden Love’s spin-off, streaming on Netflix

 

Hidden Love had audiences hooked, with many, including myself, binge-watching all 24 episodes in a matter of days. Building on this success is The First Frost, a heartheartfelt spin-off featuring a pivotal character from Hidden Love. This new series beautifully extends the slow-burn, secretive romance from Hidden Love, promising yet another heartfelt narrative.

Bai Jinting and Zhang Ruonan play the leads in this ongoing Chinese Drama, whose narrative is adapted from a Chinese novel of the same name by Zhu Yi. Here’s all you need to know about the newest C-drama topping the charts in India and will soon dominate your binge-list too.

What is the story of The First Frost?

The First Frost begins on a bitter note with Zhang Ruonan turning down her childhood crush Bai Jinting, due to circumstances that will be revealed later. Cut to the present and the two cross paths as adults, reawakening long-lost feelings and a flurry of emotions. This slow-burn romance is packed with unspoken love, youthful chemistry and strong emotions, unfolding in a joyous manner as destiny brings Zhang Ruonan and Bai Jinting under the same roof.

When and where to watch The First Frost?

The First Frost is available for streaming on Netflix. Giving fans a little more than Hidden Love, which had 25 episodes, this series features 32 episodes.

Currently, 10 episodes of The First Frost are available for viewing on Netflix, one each will be released every day this week. The timeline of the next episodes has not been revealed by Netflix yet.

Apart from Bai Jinting and Zhang Ruonan, this bittersweet romance also stars Edward Chen, Zhang Miaoyi, Zhai Xiaowen, Paul Chun, Nina Paw, and Kong Lin.

What is the connection between Hidden Love and The First Frost?

If you haven’t yet watched Hidden Love (you are missing out on a gem), you can still enjoy The First Frost as both the narratives are independent stories which share a small link. 

The First Frost puts the spotlight on the love life of Sang Yan, the protective and goofy older brother of Sang Zhi from Hidden Love. Small references of his love life were made in Hidden Love, but this series is dedicated to his forgotten romance. 

The characters of Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu make sprinkled appearances in The First Frost, but fans of Hidden Love will be disappointed as Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan are not playing the cameos. As the romance unfolds, there will be more clarity if the makers have planned an overlap of Hidden Love and The First Frost narratives.

The First Frost makes for a strong independent watch, but knowing its connection to Hidden Love gives a better understanding of the 2023 C-drama's easter eggs.