Adapted from a popular web novel and directed by Taiwanese filmmaker Chu Yu-Ning (best known for his popular comedy romance It Started with a Kiss), China’s latest drama, The First Frost, is off to a strong start. However, its premier wasn’t entirely smooth sailing. The viral c-drama has sparked controversy online, leading to polarized reactions from netizens. 

Starring Zhang Ruonan as Wen Yifan and Bai Jingting as Sang Yan, the story follows two former high school classmates who reconnect as adults and become roommates. Wen Yifan endured a traumatic childhood and has been a repeat target of sexual assault throughout her adult life. Sang Yan has always been her safe harbor, someone who protects and supports her.

While the drama received praise for a realistic portrayal of trauma and sexual abuse, it also faced criticism for a weak female protagonist. The show highlights Wen Yifan’s defenselessness and positions male characters as saviors swooping in to rescue the damsel in distress. 

The original web novel was written by Zhu Yi, and this isn’t the first time that an adaption of her work has stirred controversy. Zhu Yi also wrote 2023’s hit C-drama, Hidden Love, which featured an age-gap romance, where the college-aged Duan Jiaxu first met Sang Zhi when she was only 14.

Although their relationship did not blossom into romance until she turned 18, the flirtatious dialog while she was underage still sent netizens reeling. Similar to The First Frost, Hidden Love was criticized for infantilizing its female lead and setting a questionable example for impressionable young fans.Interestingly, both The First Frost and Hidden Love received raving reviews on IMDb at 8.3 and 8.6, respectively. While scoring significantly lower on Douban, the Chinese IMDb equivalent, with ratings of 5.4 and 6.7.

However, the stream of criticisms did not stop The First Frost from going viral and hitting Weibo’s trending page. The show, filmed in Chongqing, has sparked a surge in tourism to the city. The drama showed off not only Chongqing’s unique architectural landscape but also its vibrant residential neighborhoods. Many netizens shared their handcrafted First Frost Chongqing guide maps, leading fans to all of the iconic filming locations! 

All images via Douban.