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Sexy Underground Romance. Great Chemistry.
When I saw the extraordinary 8.7 rating for The Early Spring (at least when I first started watching it), I wondered: what kind of modern office romance, with the usual CEO-and-young-intern trope, could possibly deserve a rating that high? So I gave it a try. Four episodes in, I was already on the verge of dropping it. However, as I plodded along, the great acting persuaded me to stay.
It turns out the boss is basically a two-faced creep. In public, he's serious, always wearing a stern expression, and rude to the extreme. But in private, he's a sexy, aspiring singer—and, well, pretty horny. Despite all that, he's upstanding and devoted. And the female lead? She's timid, awkward, and naive—the perfect prey for a hungry wolf. And yes, she falls for him.
I was actually surprised that I haven't seen more criticism from the "Me Too" viewers about the male lead taking advantage of his subordinate. Yes, their sexual encounters are consensual, but she was still under 18 (according to her employment record which I feel could be a mistake because she has just graduated college, so she must be in her early 20s unless she's a prodigy) when they first slept together. Add the boss-subordinate power imbalance to the mix, and it's hard not to feel uncomfortable with the setup.
That said, I think the biggest appeal of this drama is exactly that: the secret, intimate, forbidden office romance. Despite the tropey and predictable plot, I was mesmerized by the cities—Beijing and Harbin, which helped me continue, especially in the beginning.
On the funny side, I was surprised to discover that quite a few of the high ratings seem to come from middle-aged women. They are completely mesmerized by Jin Bo Ran's sexiness and happily compare him with their own husbands and bosses, whom they say "make them puke." Apparently, Jin Bo Ran is giving a lot of viewers something their real-life men aren't!
Despite my rocky start with the drama, I have to admit that I eventually came to enjoy the drama—and a big reason is the acting.
Jin Bo Ran and Sun Qian are both excellent.
Jin Bo Ran naturally has a stern-looking face, so playing Luan Nian is almost a perfect fit for him. His serious, restrained, and unwavering demeanor feels very natural. But what really impressed me was watching Luan Nian completely break down and cry. Those scenes were genuinely heartbreaking, and Jin Bo Ran absolutely nailed them. His performance made the character much more complicated and vulnerable than he first appeared.
Sun Qian is equally convincing as Shang Zhi Tao, the timid and naive young intern who gradually grows into a confident professional. Her transformation feels believable and unforced. And honestly, I can understand why Shang Zhi Tao is attracted to Luan Nian from the moment she sees him. Young women can certainly be drawn to mature, powerful, successful, and good-looking men—and Sun Qian does a great job making that attraction feel natural and believable.
And then there's the chemistry between Sun Qian and Jin Bo Ran.
It's amazing.
Their on-screen chemistry is intense, sensual, and probably the biggest reason romance fans will keep watching. There are substantial intimacy scenes throughout almost the entire drama, so if you're looking for a romance with plenty of physical chemistry, this drama definitely delivers.
So, would I recommend The Early Spring?
Yes—but with a big caveat.
If you can get past the uncomfortable premise of a boss seducing his very young intern, and you're willing to stick with it beyond the tropey beginning, there's actually a lot to enjoy here: beautiful city scenery, strong performances, emotional moments, and some seriously impressive chemistry between the leads.
For romance buffs, especially those who enjoy a secret office romance with lots of intimacy, this may be one worth watching.
It turns out the boss is basically a two-faced creep. In public, he's serious, always wearing a stern expression, and rude to the extreme. But in private, he's a sexy, aspiring singer—and, well, pretty horny. Despite all that, he's upstanding and devoted. And the female lead? She's timid, awkward, and naive—the perfect prey for a hungry wolf. And yes, she falls for him.
I was actually surprised that I haven't seen more criticism from the "Me Too" viewers about the male lead taking advantage of his subordinate. Yes, their sexual encounters are consensual, but she was still under 18 (according to her employment record which I feel could be a mistake because she has just graduated college, so she must be in her early 20s unless she's a prodigy) when they first slept together. Add the boss-subordinate power imbalance to the mix, and it's hard not to feel uncomfortable with the setup.
That said, I think the biggest appeal of this drama is exactly that: the secret, intimate, forbidden office romance. Despite the tropey and predictable plot, I was mesmerized by the cities—Beijing and Harbin, which helped me continue, especially in the beginning.
On the funny side, I was surprised to discover that quite a few of the high ratings seem to come from middle-aged women. They are completely mesmerized by Jin Bo Ran's sexiness and happily compare him with their own husbands and bosses, whom they say "make them puke." Apparently, Jin Bo Ran is giving a lot of viewers something their real-life men aren't!
Despite my rocky start with the drama, I have to admit that I eventually came to enjoy the drama—and a big reason is the acting.
Jin Bo Ran and Sun Qian are both excellent.
Jin Bo Ran naturally has a stern-looking face, so playing Luan Nian is almost a perfect fit for him. His serious, restrained, and unwavering demeanor feels very natural. But what really impressed me was watching Luan Nian completely break down and cry. Those scenes were genuinely heartbreaking, and Jin Bo Ran absolutely nailed them. His performance made the character much more complicated and vulnerable than he first appeared.
Sun Qian is equally convincing as Shang Zhi Tao, the timid and naive young intern who gradually grows into a confident professional. Her transformation feels believable and unforced. And honestly, I can understand why Shang Zhi Tao is attracted to Luan Nian from the moment she sees him. Young women can certainly be drawn to mature, powerful, successful, and good-looking men—and Sun Qian does a great job making that attraction feel natural and believable.
And then there's the chemistry between Sun Qian and Jin Bo Ran.
It's amazing.
Their on-screen chemistry is intense, sensual, and probably the biggest reason romance fans will keep watching. There are substantial intimacy scenes throughout almost the entire drama, so if you're looking for a romance with plenty of physical chemistry, this drama definitely delivers.
So, would I recommend The Early Spring?
Yes—but with a big caveat.
If you can get past the uncomfortable premise of a boss seducing his very young intern, and you're willing to stick with it beyond the tropey beginning, there's actually a lot to enjoy here: beautiful city scenery, strong performances, emotional moments, and some seriously impressive chemistry between the leads.
For romance buffs, especially those who enjoy a secret office romance with lots of intimacy, this may be one worth watching.
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