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Losing Control to _ove: Finding the Missing Key
🍑🌸❄️"After that day, it feels he has put a spell on me. He unlocked the secret of my desire....And all those years he made me long for more... He drove me crazy in my mind...I spent 6 years in this shameful, hidden relationship."🍑🌸❄️
The drama begins with Shang Zhitao's point of view with the quote above, and then it flashes back to the beginning when she met Luan Nian. I have to admit, I am completely captivated by Luan Nian. He is everything. He is seductive. He is tough, but he is soft.
🌸As you watch the drama, you will notice the director uses repetition to highlight key points. For example, the leads pass each other, going in opposite directions, several times. The first time is when the FL goes to her job interview. In the first scene, she is a rookie. Her hair is in a ponytail. There is a bounce in her step. As she passes the ML, she looks at him, and she looks back. In one of the later episodes, when she went in to turn in her resignation, her hair is in a ponytail, but she is no longer a rookie. Her steps are not bouncy. They are determined. She passes the ML; she doesn't look at him. This shows a change in dynamics.
🌸The title, THE EARLY SPRING, brings to mind thawing ice and tulips growing from bulbs that have been dormant during the cold winter months. Think of the male lead, Luan Nian, as the thawing ice and the female lead, Shang Zhitao, as a blooming tulip fresh out of college. Even her English name, Flora, correlates with the theme.It takes time and endurance for love and ambition to reach their full bloom. The early Spring is a time of new beginnings and growth. It is also a time of rebirth and relates to the second chance at love for the leads after a time of separation. Just like the tulips remain dormant only to bloom again in the early Spring, Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao will have their second chance.
🌸Main Characters🌸
💗🧊💗 Luan Nian is a highly successful and brilliant marketing director with confidence in his own ability to control and manage those around him, as well as his self-control. He thinks through problems logically and strategically. His character is complex. His actions show he has an emotional attachment to Tao, but he will not admit it to himself. He represents the illusion of emotional control. His logical mind didn't account for the missing key and the concept that love has no rules. But I love his character. He is my favorite in this drama. His words can be harsh, but he shows his affection for Zhitao more easily than she does. He is tough on the outside, appearing detached and stoic, but at times, so tender and caring to Zhitao. I would say he fell first. The problem is that he wants to be in control. He asks the question, "Can you control your feelings of love?" While he thinks he has self-control, he comes to realize that Zhitao shatters his control. When he falls in love with Zhitao, he doesn't want to admit it because he doesn't know how to deal with the vulnerability that comes with emotional love.
NOTE: Even though his character is sophisticated and controlled, it is Luan Nian who makes me laugh out loud at his unexpected and spontaneous actions. He is blunt! He is shocking! He is bold! He is daring! He is petty 😂 And he is addictive!
🌷🍑🌷Shang Zhitao is the female lead who first appeared as a fresh graduate with average academic standards. Luan Nian rejects her as an employee, but due to circumstances, she is nevertheless hired by the company. On her first day at the prestigious firm, her boss, Luan Nian, bluntly tells her she is not suitable and will not survive in the field. Instead of backing down, she works hard with determination to achieve her goals. Shang Zhitao represents women striving for independence and career goals. She is cautious not to jeopardize her career for her relationship with Luan Nian. However, she does not share her problems with Luan Nian and tries to work things out herself. He helps her when he does find out, but it also bothers him that she doesn't call him for help. Zhitao is a character to be admired for her resilience and perseverance. She is brave. She pushes forward even though she feels vulnerable and inadequate. She becomes someone respected and admired in the workplace and even impresses Luan Nian. Shang Zhitao's vulnerability was that she never felt she was good enough.
🌸The Metaphor of the Antique Typewriter🌸
The minute I saw Luan Nian meticulously dusting off his antique typewriter. I knew it was special. Not just to him, but to the theme of this drama. My parents had one of these, and I know the keys of the manual or antique typewriters work differently than the keyboards we use today. The keys need to be pressed with some control. If you press too hard, they stick or will not bounce back smoothly. If you don't press enough, nothing will print. The typewriter represents Luan Nian and his control. He operates his business deals with the same mechanical precision, and he believes in managing with a system of rules. It also mirrors the way he approaches Zhi Tao. He knows not to pressure her too much, and he knows when to back off when she resists him.
In episode 1, Zhi Tao accidentally knocks the typewriter off the pedestal at the end of Luan Nian's desk, and it shatters on the ground. It was shocking! The pieces went everywhere. On the pedestal, it represented his controlled world, but shattered on the floor, it became a visual symbol that he does not have the control he thinks he has. He reassembles the typewriter, minus the broken L key, and puts it back on the edge of his desk, where it sits precariously, waiting to be knocked off again 😱 Zhi Tao notices the L key is missing and finds a replacement key for him. The key is not a perfect fit, and he types. "You don't have to be perfect to be worthy love." I think it's the fact that she helped him that made him accept the key as is. The question is, what does the L represent? It could be "love" as it is missing from their relationship, and it could also be for "Luan" once he accepts that love is a necessary part of a relationship.
In a nutshell, the antique typewriter represents Luan Nian's controlled, ordered life . He prides himself on his control. But his well-ordered life sits precariously on a pedestal just like his typewriter.
🎶FAVORITE OST🎵
💗 Her ( Liu Yuning)
💗 Lady Snow(Jingfei)
💗 Peacheyblossom's playlist with English lyrics https://mydramalist.com/761231-zao-chun-qing-lang/discussions/154870-the-early-spring-full-ost-with-eng-subs-lyrics (copy and paste the link)
💗The Relationship 💗 "Can You Control Your Feelings of Love?"💗
The attraction is undeniable. Luan Nian wants a relationship with Zhi Tao, but he doesn't want the complications of emotional attachment. She wants to be with him. She doesn't want her career affected, as he is her boss. It is important to her to succeed without the stigma of taking shortcuts. But she is also unsure about being in a relationship with him. She resists. He pursues.
He challenges her with the question, "Can you control your feelings of Love?" At first, I thought there was an error and the meaning was lost in translation because why would a man who doesn't want emotional ties use the word love? The translation to the Mandarin word, xi huan, is like. Perhaps he really means "like" in the romantic sense, and maybe that is why it was translated as "love." He feels he has control over his emotions, and he knows she has feelings for him. She tells him she can control her feelings. The irony of it all is that Luan Nian already has feelings for Zhitao. It becomes obvious quite early in the drama even if he doesn't say it.
Luan Nian and Zhitao agree to an exclusive relationship. Can we say "friends with benefits?"
And then there were 3. Around episode 15, the addition of Luke🐾💗 became a symbol of unity and almost immediately softened the barriers between Luan Nian and Zhitao. They became a little family.
🌸Significant Quotes🌸
Tan Mian: You are a typical case of wanting something but being scared.
You didn't want her to cling to you,
yet you are afraid that she doesn't care about you.
Mr. Luan, you lost it.
Luan Nian: You don’t have to be perfect to be worthy of love.
Shang Zhitao: As much as I longed for love, I was still struggling with reality.
💗The Reconciliation💗
I will not go into the events that led to the separation. The journey had challenges but was filled with many beautiful moments and character development. The reconciliation spanned from episode 22 to 24. Luan Nian patiently waits for Zhitao to accept him back into her life. The conversations, the emotions, and the love that shone through their eyes when they looked at each other made this a beautiful part of the drama. I will not go into the details of the proposal, as the surprise will leave you smiling.
As for the typewriter that fascinated me from episode 1, I was thrilled to see a part of it make its appearance at the end. It was all so perfect!
"Their love survived the bitter winter, and finally welcomed the early spring.
From there through the blazing summer, they entered the brightest season of their lives.
And that warmth will never fade."
💗🌷💗The Early Spring is a powerful portrayal of love and relationships. It shows how two flawed people can hurt each other, evolve through years of separation, and finally stand as equals, proving that while we will never be perfect, we can always choose to be better.
We don't have to be perfect to be loved.
🌸 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION🌸
Youku announced a follow-up titled "Midsummer Clear Skies." What could this mean?
☀️"Early Spring" represents beginnings, uncertainty, and vulnerability.
☀️"Midsummer" implies full bloom. It signifies that the characters have left behind the uncertainties of early romance. They have become true equals.
"Early spring" weather is chilly, and overcast. It is unpredictable and mirrors the six years of intense, secretive, on and off painful misunderstandings the couple endured. "Clear Skies" implies the fog has cleared and secrets are out in the open. The sequel title makes me think it is a story that is bright and warm under "clear skies." The "clear skies" mean out in the open instead of secret and hidden.
☀️Luan Nian's account on weibo teased fans with the line: "In the height of summer, there are no ice sculptures."This points to Luan Nian’s character arc. The "Midsummer" title implies that his emotional defenses have melted away. Ultimately, the title implies that the sequel will leave behind the struggles of the past and step into a warmer and brighter chapter of their shared lives as a married couple.
☀️I wonder if the sequel will incorporate Lumi and Will's story or they will be given their own drama.
The drama begins with Shang Zhitao's point of view with the quote above, and then it flashes back to the beginning when she met Luan Nian. I have to admit, I am completely captivated by Luan Nian. He is everything. He is seductive. He is tough, but he is soft.
🌸As you watch the drama, you will notice the director uses repetition to highlight key points. For example, the leads pass each other, going in opposite directions, several times. The first time is when the FL goes to her job interview. In the first scene, she is a rookie. Her hair is in a ponytail. There is a bounce in her step. As she passes the ML, she looks at him, and she looks back. In one of the later episodes, when she went in to turn in her resignation, her hair is in a ponytail, but she is no longer a rookie. Her steps are not bouncy. They are determined. She passes the ML; she doesn't look at him. This shows a change in dynamics.
🌸The title, THE EARLY SPRING, brings to mind thawing ice and tulips growing from bulbs that have been dormant during the cold winter months. Think of the male lead, Luan Nian, as the thawing ice and the female lead, Shang Zhitao, as a blooming tulip fresh out of college. Even her English name, Flora, correlates with the theme.It takes time and endurance for love and ambition to reach their full bloom. The early Spring is a time of new beginnings and growth. It is also a time of rebirth and relates to the second chance at love for the leads after a time of separation. Just like the tulips remain dormant only to bloom again in the early Spring, Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao will have their second chance.
🌸Main Characters🌸
💗🧊💗 Luan Nian is a highly successful and brilliant marketing director with confidence in his own ability to control and manage those around him, as well as his self-control. He thinks through problems logically and strategically. His character is complex. His actions show he has an emotional attachment to Tao, but he will not admit it to himself. He represents the illusion of emotional control. His logical mind didn't account for the missing key and the concept that love has no rules. But I love his character. He is my favorite in this drama. His words can be harsh, but he shows his affection for Zhitao more easily than she does. He is tough on the outside, appearing detached and stoic, but at times, so tender and caring to Zhitao. I would say he fell first. The problem is that he wants to be in control. He asks the question, "Can you control your feelings of love?" While he thinks he has self-control, he comes to realize that Zhitao shatters his control. When he falls in love with Zhitao, he doesn't want to admit it because he doesn't know how to deal with the vulnerability that comes with emotional love.
NOTE: Even though his character is sophisticated and controlled, it is Luan Nian who makes me laugh out loud at his unexpected and spontaneous actions. He is blunt! He is shocking! He is bold! He is daring! He is petty 😂 And he is addictive!
🌷🍑🌷Shang Zhitao is the female lead who first appeared as a fresh graduate with average academic standards. Luan Nian rejects her as an employee, but due to circumstances, she is nevertheless hired by the company. On her first day at the prestigious firm, her boss, Luan Nian, bluntly tells her she is not suitable and will not survive in the field. Instead of backing down, she works hard with determination to achieve her goals. Shang Zhitao represents women striving for independence and career goals. She is cautious not to jeopardize her career for her relationship with Luan Nian. However, she does not share her problems with Luan Nian and tries to work things out herself. He helps her when he does find out, but it also bothers him that she doesn't call him for help. Zhitao is a character to be admired for her resilience and perseverance. She is brave. She pushes forward even though she feels vulnerable and inadequate. She becomes someone respected and admired in the workplace and even impresses Luan Nian. Shang Zhitao's vulnerability was that she never felt she was good enough.
🌸The Metaphor of the Antique Typewriter🌸
The minute I saw Luan Nian meticulously dusting off his antique typewriter. I knew it was special. Not just to him, but to the theme of this drama. My parents had one of these, and I know the keys of the manual or antique typewriters work differently than the keyboards we use today. The keys need to be pressed with some control. If you press too hard, they stick or will not bounce back smoothly. If you don't press enough, nothing will print. The typewriter represents Luan Nian and his control. He operates his business deals with the same mechanical precision, and he believes in managing with a system of rules. It also mirrors the way he approaches Zhi Tao. He knows not to pressure her too much, and he knows when to back off when she resists him.
In episode 1, Zhi Tao accidentally knocks the typewriter off the pedestal at the end of Luan Nian's desk, and it shatters on the ground. It was shocking! The pieces went everywhere. On the pedestal, it represented his controlled world, but shattered on the floor, it became a visual symbol that he does not have the control he thinks he has. He reassembles the typewriter, minus the broken L key, and puts it back on the edge of his desk, where it sits precariously, waiting to be knocked off again 😱 Zhi Tao notices the L key is missing and finds a replacement key for him. The key is not a perfect fit, and he types. "You don't have to be perfect to be worthy love." I think it's the fact that she helped him that made him accept the key as is. The question is, what does the L represent? It could be "love" as it is missing from their relationship, and it could also be for "Luan" once he accepts that love is a necessary part of a relationship.
In a nutshell, the antique typewriter represents Luan Nian's controlled, ordered life . He prides himself on his control. But his well-ordered life sits precariously on a pedestal just like his typewriter.
🎶FAVORITE OST🎵
💗 Her ( Liu Yuning)
💗 Lady Snow(Jingfei)
💗 Peacheyblossom's playlist with English lyrics https://mydramalist.com/761231-zao-chun-qing-lang/discussions/154870-the-early-spring-full-ost-with-eng-subs-lyrics (copy and paste the link)
💗The Relationship 💗 "Can You Control Your Feelings of Love?"💗
The attraction is undeniable. Luan Nian wants a relationship with Zhi Tao, but he doesn't want the complications of emotional attachment. She wants to be with him. She doesn't want her career affected, as he is her boss. It is important to her to succeed without the stigma of taking shortcuts. But she is also unsure about being in a relationship with him. She resists. He pursues.
He challenges her with the question, "Can you control your feelings of Love?" At first, I thought there was an error and the meaning was lost in translation because why would a man who doesn't want emotional ties use the word love? The translation to the Mandarin word, xi huan, is like. Perhaps he really means "like" in the romantic sense, and maybe that is why it was translated as "love." He feels he has control over his emotions, and he knows she has feelings for him. She tells him she can control her feelings. The irony of it all is that Luan Nian already has feelings for Zhitao. It becomes obvious quite early in the drama even if he doesn't say it.
Luan Nian and Zhitao agree to an exclusive relationship. Can we say "friends with benefits?"
And then there were 3. Around episode 15, the addition of Luke🐾💗 became a symbol of unity and almost immediately softened the barriers between Luan Nian and Zhitao. They became a little family.
🌸Significant Quotes🌸
Tan Mian: You are a typical case of wanting something but being scared.
You didn't want her to cling to you,
yet you are afraid that she doesn't care about you.
Mr. Luan, you lost it.
Luan Nian: You don’t have to be perfect to be worthy of love.
Shang Zhitao: As much as I longed for love, I was still struggling with reality.
💗The Reconciliation💗
I will not go into the events that led to the separation. The journey had challenges but was filled with many beautiful moments and character development. The reconciliation spanned from episode 22 to 24. Luan Nian patiently waits for Zhitao to accept him back into her life. The conversations, the emotions, and the love that shone through their eyes when they looked at each other made this a beautiful part of the drama. I will not go into the details of the proposal, as the surprise will leave you smiling.
As for the typewriter that fascinated me from episode 1, I was thrilled to see a part of it make its appearance at the end. It was all so perfect!
"Their love survived the bitter winter, and finally welcomed the early spring.
From there through the blazing summer, they entered the brightest season of their lives.
And that warmth will never fade."
💗🌷💗The Early Spring is a powerful portrayal of love and relationships. It shows how two flawed people can hurt each other, evolve through years of separation, and finally stand as equals, proving that while we will never be perfect, we can always choose to be better.
We don't have to be perfect to be loved.
🌸 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION🌸
Youku announced a follow-up titled "Midsummer Clear Skies." What could this mean?
☀️"Early Spring" represents beginnings, uncertainty, and vulnerability.
☀️"Midsummer" implies full bloom. It signifies that the characters have left behind the uncertainties of early romance. They have become true equals.
"Early spring" weather is chilly, and overcast. It is unpredictable and mirrors the six years of intense, secretive, on and off painful misunderstandings the couple endured. "Clear Skies" implies the fog has cleared and secrets are out in the open. The sequel title makes me think it is a story that is bright and warm under "clear skies." The "clear skies" mean out in the open instead of secret and hidden.
☀️Luan Nian's account on weibo teased fans with the line: "In the height of summer, there are no ice sculptures."This points to Luan Nian’s character arc. The "Midsummer" title implies that his emotional defenses have melted away. Ultimately, the title implies that the sequel will leave behind the struggles of the past and step into a warmer and brighter chapter of their shared lives as a married couple.
☀️I wonder if the sequel will incorporate Lumi and Will's story or they will be given their own drama.
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