On September 2, Netflix released its latest weekly Global Top 10 list for non-English TV shows (August 24–30), with Youku's urban drama The Early Spring ranking second globally with 2.4 million views. Despite airing for only five days during the tracking period, the drama reportedly achieved the highest ranking ever for a Chinese domestic drama on the chart, followed by Pursuit of Jade. It is also the only Chinese drama among the Top 10 titles on this week's chart, trending in Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Brazil.
Back home, The Early Spring has also performed strongly: within three days of its premiere, its popularity index on YOUKU surpassed 10,000, setting the fastest record for a modern drama to reach the milestone in 2026.
Since August 29, the C-drama has also continuously topped Yunhe's daily ranking for effective full-length content, with its latest market share reaching 25.3%. Following Mystic Nine, it is the second drama from Youku's 2026 summer lineup to top the chart. Meanwhile, the drama has also consistently remained No. 1 on Datawin's daily ranking for full-length content across all online platforms and Maoyan's overall online popularity chart.
The Early Spring follows Shang Zhi Tao (Sun Qian), who, with her ordinary educational background, unexpectedly lands a job offer from a world-leading advertising agency and becomes a rookie in the workplace. On her very first day at the company, her sharp-tongued boss, Luan Nian (Jing Bo Ran), advises her to give up. The exceptionally talented "genius" Luan Nian and Shang Zhi Tao, who has just begun her life in Beijing, cross paths.
She endures mounting pressure and continually works to improve herself, eventually becoming an employee who can hold her own. Intrigued by each other, the two navigate the push and pull in the urban jungle, repeatedly coming together and breaking apart, while healing each other and growing together. As he gradually learns to rein in his sharp edges and she becomes increasingly capable of standing on her own, the two write a new ending for each other.
The drama was filmed in the Tiantongyuan community, capturing the lively vibe of everyday life there. For young people who have moved to Beijing to pursue their dreams, it is more than just a geographic location — it is also the warmest haven for people like Shang Zhi Tao in a big city.
The drama uses nuanced cinematography to portray the authentic lives of ordinary young people settling down here. Whether it is a brief moment of rest on the bus after work, discounted bread picked up on the way home, or the warmth of a steaming hot pot shared around the table with caring roommates, these everyday moments all become Shang Zhi Tao's earliest warm memories of Beijing.
Stream The Early Spring on YOUKU and Netflix.
Source: Sina Finance
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