A drama that resembles real people in real life
What I appreciate most about *The Early Spring* is that its characters actually feel like people. It feels like as if we are walking in their shoes. we work, we fall in love, we have bosses, we struggle financially, and life is harsh in the end.They are not always reasonable. They don’t always say the right thing at the right time. They can be selfish, insecure, ambitious, stubborn, kind, frustrating, and vulnerable. And that is exactly what makes them believable.
This drama doesn’t try too hard to make its characters lovable. Instead, it allows them to be flawed. Luan Nian can be difficult and emotionally complicated, but you can still understand where some of his behavior comes from. Shang Zhitao is not written as a perfect, endlessly optimistic female lead either. She makes mistakes, gets hurt, learns, changes, and slowly becomes more certain of who she is and what she wants.
What I especially liked is that the romance doesn’t exist in a separate fantasy world. Career, money, timing, pride, personal growth, and the different stages people are at in their lives all affect the relationship. Sometimes loving someone does not automatically mean that two people are ready for each other. That feels much closer to real life than the usual idea that love magically solves everything.
Even the unpleasant moments have value because people in real life are not divided into “green flags” and “red flags.” We can care about someone and still dislike some of their choices. We can understand a character without defending everything they do. *The Early Spring* trusts the audience enough to let us sit with that discomfort.
I also love how much is communicated through small expressions, silences, awkward conversations, and things left unsaid. The chemistry between Jing Boran and Sun Qian works so well because it doesn’t feel like they are constantly trying to convince us that these two people are in love. Sometimes you can simply feel it. They are indeed in love!
This probably won’t be the perfect drama for viewers looking for an idealized romance or characters who always behave the way we want them to. But for me, that is exactly its strength.
I applaud the makers of this drama. They created their own version of Masterpiece.
And maybe that is why they stay with you.
Highly recommended. 10/10 and you will end up falling in love all over again.
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