The Early Spring

Keeps you wanting more. Unstoppable once you start.

This is a Drama that kept me wanting more. One of the few dramas that I couldn't stop. Had to finish once I started. I was soooo frustrated that I had to wait for the last couple episodes...would never do that again. I will rather wait until all the episodes are uploaded.
Acting was amazing. Chemistry was perfect, and that's what makes a drama worth watching for me. I have cringy scenes that makes me want to turn away or fast forward. Loved this drama. Storyline was Also good, office drama was also good, didn't get bored. Every episode was worth watching. Definitely a re-watch for me.

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Where do I even begin...

Wow. Just wow.

This drama had a death grip on me from the first episode to the last. I'd read the novel before watching and I can truly say that Jing Boran and Sun Qian were the perfect casting choice for Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao. Their aura, acting, and chemistry were off the charts!

The writing was also superb. Although they changed a few things, I think the writers remained faithful to the novel where they absolutely had to. I re-read the novel after finishing the drama and was surprised that most of the dialogue were really close to how they were in the novel.

Truly one of the best dramas of 2026!!!

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Decide for yourself whether to watch it

There was a lot to like about this drama. Personally, I'm glad they cut the number of episodes down. This didn't drag as much as a lot of Chinese dramas do.
The acting was top notch. I especially loved Qi Tian Qing as Sun Yu, and I loved the character of LuMi - such a supportive boss and friend! For me, the friendships really shone in this. They were very realistic - friends come and go through triumphs and tragedies.
Jing Bo Ran as Luan Nian was excellent. His wardrobe was amazing; he always looked like he was ready to walk a runway. Powerful, aloof, emotionally stunted, with moments of tenderness. His scenes in Norway were stellar.
Su Qian as Shang Zhi Tao was good as well. However, I questioned a lot of her clothing selections, they were weird and distracting.

Loved the acting of the leads, hated the characters. It's hard for me to decide who was worse, Luan Nian or Zhi Tao. With him saying things like, "Dating is too much work. If we want to date or sleep with someone else, we'll break up." Them meeting up on Fridays just screamed booty call. Admittedly, their chemistry was fire, and the intimate scenes were very tastefully done. But this wasn't love, this was hormones, plain and simple. They didn't get to know one another; their hormones were just running amok. Being a die-hard romantic, this is the first time I've wished that a couple didn't end up together.
Luan Nian - he was terrible to her! He was constantly calling her names and putting her down. He was often downright mean to her. Granted, he supported her so much behind the scenes, but she didn't know any of this. She could only base their relationship on his actions. Plus, he was very jealous, which made him even more mean, and he was very stalker-ish. He'd park outside her house and watch her with friends, etc. Watching him smoke (thankfully only one scene) was very jarring and all I could think was kissing him would be like licking an ashtray.
Zhi Tao - she was a doormat. After many years she talks to him about getting married and he came out and said he never thought about it. Break up, followed by makeup - over and over again. Get a spine, woman! She was great at her job, but still had such low self-esteem that she would put up with his behavior? She was willing to put up with whatever scraps he was willing to throw her.
I did like their time in Tibet. Spending time together, teasing one another.

What was up with everyone being assigned an English name? That made no sense and they sounded ridiculous using them.

Sooooo much drinking!

There was a happy ending for them, but honestly, we didn't get to see much of anything to show that he actually changed.

This is why I say decide for yourself whether to watch it. I felt that their relationship was toxic and unhealthy. Breaking up and making up repeatedly, yet allowing the same behaviors to continue. I never felt their love, only their obsession.

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Finally SUN QIAN is getting the love she deserves‼️

2026 is actually INSANE, there are so many good dramas and this is definitely one of them!

​Out of the two main leads, I feel like more people were familiar with JBR, but I’m so grateful to TES for casting SQ as Taotao!! If it weren't for SQ, the character Taotao might not have been this amazing!!!

And yesss, finally everyone gets to see how ridiculously talented SQ is 🥵🥵🥵🥵
I’ve loved her ever since Sweet Tai Chi (with BWJ).
Her acting is so top-tier and natural, love her so muchieee!!!

​Thank you Xiaotaotao... and Niannian for these past 2 weeks... hope you two get to reunite again soon 🫂🫂🫂

​Thanks to TES, I’m so excited for the other 3 couples in this shared universe!!!!
Aaaaa hope the rest get adapted soon too CAN'T WAITTTTTT ‼️🤟🏻😝🤟🏻

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Red Flags Incoming

I already know this review will not be popular. I see many 10's and it's not too hard to see why. The main leads are easy on the eyes, but the story lacks originality and depth. Don't get me wrong. The lighting and music are very nice. However, the storyline of young, naive female falling for arrogant, handsome boss is old as time.

Shang Zhitao is a bit "green". She's young and naive. It takes her time to mature and become the woman she has always wanted to be. Falling for her boss wasn't apart of her plans, and yet she and Luan Nian are drawn to one another. Here's where I would like to point out that these two were carrying on a secret relationship for six years that absolutely went no where. The two of them were full of distrust of the other one right from the start, and a lot of it had to do with the power dynamics of the pair. Tao was too insecure to voice how this power dynamic made her feel inadequate. Luan Nian was domineering and possessive. And boy was he jealous to boot. Her sheer honesty and grit disarmed him, and yet he wouldn't let down his guard to be vulnerable with her.

These two were so infuriating. The constant push and pull and struggle of watching their miscommunication over and over again was maddening. I didn't find it endearing and I felt that the pacing of the series in the last two episodes was terrible. I would have liked it much better if Tao and Luan Nian would have never gotten back together or if they did, it was an extended time period where she could boast her own successes without his help. Instead, he bulldozes himself back into her life without even asking her if she wanted him there on the pretense of seeing the adorable dog named after him. This guise works of course and he doesn't even ask her to stay in her apartment, he just takes it upon himself to do so. And of course he steps in to save her fledgling business in the end like the savior that this series has made him to be.

This is NOT the behavior of a man who is trying to get his woman back. He is being domineering and controlling again. He goes behind her back and asks her co-worker if she's dating. I was appalled. We are supposed to see a reformed and mature Luan Nian and instead, he appears only slightly better. It's like he has the facade of feelings and emotions because he is like a child who lost his favorite toy, but he lacks true awareness of his actions. Oh, he cries and has a soliloquy over what he lost, but I needed true suffering and for him to let Tao go find herself and define her successes and failures without him. How else can a person grow? Also, just because two people are in love doesn't automatically mean that they should be together.

These two were involved for six years but weren't apart of one another lives at all. When Sun Yuan Zhu k**** himself, Shang Zhitao and Sun Yu are devastated, and yet when Tao tells Luan Nian that her bff is gone, he doesn't even console her. In fact there was no emotion at all. The dude is a walking red flag and we as the audience were supposed to cheer for a relationship like this to survive? I'm so sick of shows showing toxic behaviors and relationships in the guise of some grand once in a lifetime love. These two shared moments, true, but mutual understanding with a solid foundation of trust in your partner goes a long way.

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At first I seriously underrated how well written this is!!

Writing - 10/10
Most spoilers for first 4 episodes, but there is one spoiler for episode 19 at end.

The first couple episodes are steamy and interesting - but there were a several “red flags” that the male lead was giving off and I thought, ‘wow, if this was real life, that poor young lady has no idea what she’s getting herself into.’ And my false prediction was that the writers would gloss over these red flags and pretend that they didn’t show anything about his true nature and to what the most likely ending to their relationship would be. In real life, there’s less than a 1% that this guy would ever make a good long term boyfriend/ husband - instead, he would only be a fling to get one’s heart broken before she meets a good guy who treats her well.

BUT - The writer of this story seemed to find the 1% story where, yes indeed he does actually want this to work out.

So why is it typically men hurting women in relationships where sex is involved when they aren’t yet in a committed relationship where children are considered?
Because, if you strip away culture and social pressures, sex for sex’s sake, with someone you have close to a zero attachment to - it is a lower hurdle for men.
Yes, there are men that just have no innate desire for meaningless sex and yes there are women who do want it - but it is heavily slanted towards more men more easily being able to seriously enjoy sex with someone that they have zero (and I mean zero) emotional attachment to.

So - this means(some) men will get into a situation ship with a woman with zero real interest in her as a person just to have sex on a regular basis.
AND —> all the red flags are super easy to spot when you realize that SOME of the men looking for zero emotional attachment will ALSO let the women think there is a possibility of a true connection and use her desire for that to gain access for the sex. If both are looking for a fling, then there is no person’s innocence that’s being damaged - and I have no judgement. But deceiving a woman with false hope is just as bad as rape. Just as deceiving a men with hope to get jewelry is just as bad as theft. Neither sex is perfect —> there are predators and victims on both sides.
The red flags are to spot the liars and deceivers.

All the red flags that this was what he was doing:
1) he talked down to her.
2) he didn’t respect her professionally and showed it.
3) his reputation of having many girlfriends.
4) he slept with her without trying to get to know her first (as she did with him)
5) he accused her of trying to cling to him right after the first time they slept together.

That last one’s a huge one. He never promised her anything other than sex, and this action scream that he was not looking to connect with her.

Later, all the red flags center around him not really admitting or even being aware that he was growing attached to her.

So, why am I listing these out?! Because so many romance novelist ignore all of the above. They create strange scenarios where the red flags are shown, but there is no logical reason for them. The ML does all these different red flags, but they magically don’t apply to him, he was misunderstood.

There was one lady I know that loved this guy who had same type of red flags, flat out said he had no interest in clingy type woman, that women just tried to use men for money and he didn’t want to get married, etc etc. he was in the 1% of the time when a guy would dump girl at any moment - but she waited for ten years - and then he finally asked her to marry him.

This story is that kind of relationship - so yeah, now I believe the writers are good - this isn’t some fantasy bubble about a guy who is good looking and successful but is behaving like a jerk - a fantasy story that he actually loves the FL and is just bad at showing his emotions and suddenly wakes up one day and starts treating her like shes gold.

Bad spoiler thru episode 19 below!

This is a story about real love, and how it works. The path forward with an emotionally distant man (who had a tough relationship with his father that has impacted his ability to connect in an honest and straightforward way) —> this is a hard road. she ends up having to bring up marriage first! This isn’t a glossed over fantasy of the “guy says he never wants to marry but she magically heals him after one heart felt conversation.”
Nope, that type of healing takes a lot of patience and a lot of time.

And she get hurt frequently along the way. She takes time, she slowly tells him what she wants/ need + he starts to do those things.

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Loving The Early Spring so far

Hey, just wanted to share. I didn’t expect to enjoy The Early Spring this much, but I’m already hooked and I’m only at Episode 17.

Bo Ran as Luke is honestly what keeps me glued. He has that naturally charming, slightly bad boy vibe, but it’s his acting that really stands out. It’s subtle, never overdone, yet every little pause or expression makes Luke feel so real. He completely steals the show for me.

The female lead plays more of a supporting role. Her performance is steady and consistent, but it is Bo Ran’s portrayal of Luke that truly commands attention. The narrative itself also leans more strongly toward the male lead’s perspective, which further emphasizes his central presence in the story.

What I love most, though, is how real and current the drama feels. The way it shows relationships, how people can hurt each other simply by speaking their mind, but can also learn to empathise, apologise and make things right, feels so relatable.

Even the music is spot on. It adds to the mood without ever taking over.

Honestly, I didn’t expect to be this invested, but here I am. ❤️

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Incredible Drama with Unforgettable Performances!

I have been watching The Early Spring up to Episode 19, and I am completely blown away! This is NOT your typical office romance drama—it feels so much more grounded, mature, and intense.
Jing Boran gives a phenomenal performance as the male lead. He doesn't even need words—his eyes say everything. His intense micro-expressions, every gaze, and every emotion conveyed through his eyes are just unforgettable. He has nailed every single detail of his character!
​Sun Qian is brilliant as the female lead. Her portrayal of a strong, stubborn, and resilient character is so natural and captivating. She brings so much strength and personality to the screen.
​The dynamic between Jing Boran and Sun Qian keeps me glued to the screen every single episode. A huge shoutout to the director and the entire production team for making every episode up to Episode 19 so compelling. I cannot wait to see how the rest of the story unfolds!

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