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Very good adaptation of web-novel, spot-on chemistry & problems between leads, great OST
I read the novel & I think I left a comment about it when this first started. This is one of the best adaptations of a webnovel that I've seen so far. The actors playing the leads looked very good together, had very good chemistry. The leads look & sound the part they are supposed to play - worker/boss, naive newcomer versus industry hotshot leader. Their romantic relationship & work relationship was toxic & prime example of gaslighting. Their s*xual chemistry is very well done (even in the webnovel) - that's how it started in any case. They started out as a friend with benefits kind of scenario in the webnovel & while FL's feelings are clear, ML's feelings were not.
The ML was not worth it as a boyfriend in the webnovel or in the series - he was too self-serving, arrogant, unempathetic & had his cake in an otherwise unworkable situation (boss/ mentor in a relationship with employee/ junior). It was very frustrating to see ML 'drawing a line' between boss persona & boyfriend persona & undermine FL or not understanding that she needed comfort or a few nice words at the end of a tough day. He WAS an arrogant jerk. BUT he did love her & she did love him & it's clear to see that too.
Some of the stuff between them termed 'misunderstandings' was contrived because an actual couple would've talked out about plenty of things than leaving it in the air FOR SIX YEARS!!!
The Norway aurora borealis scene where ML is crying his heart out with his friends watching was cringey only because of the friends (& their own crying!!! One of them even filmed the crying to later on send to FL!!!!) Other than that, when ML spouted the 'I love You' line 3 times in that scene, it was absolutely perfect & heart-breaking.
The important thing to remember is that he grew as a person, learnt from his mistakes, & decided to go after FL instead of living with regrets. FL also grew both as a woman with a backbone & as a an independent businesswoman. The proposal scene in the drama is well-done too.
Their breakup occurs in Ep. 21-22 - which IMO was too late to set the stage for the second arc of the story: which was the most important - the 3 years that it took fo the growth of FL as an independent leader / employer & businesswoman & how ML had to navigate himself back into her life slowly, while she set the pace. In the drama I think it was a break of 2 years, The scenes of her coming back to give a lecture at Lima was also brushed over as were the attempts of ML to win her parents (bringing gifts, taking time to see them) etc. Two episodes were too few for this important arc IMO.
The best scene of the drama was when FL breaks it up with ML saying 'I want to end this filthy, disgusting relationship'
PLUS, the drama did not show their after marriage life: which was underwhelming in the webnovel - they had a kid together, he was away on business all the time, she was busy with her own expanding business & they saw each other on weekends or something if I remember correctly. So they could've shown a version of married life too in the drama - as a post credits scene? I've read that Early Spring is getting a second season, so hopefully we'll see the leads in a new avataar with the basic chemistry in tact.
One very important arc of the webnovel was the shocking suicide of one of FL's best male friends, who had been troubled for a long time but still.... his books were taken by FL & it was a touching quiet reminder of his place in her life even after death.
I've noticed C-dramas are doing what K-dramas at one time were very good at: creating a couple you root for or romance you crave to see the last episode of with great OST.
This drama has great OST (especially the haunting start-credits song 'Her' sung by the actor Liu Liuning from 'Prisoner of Beauty'. the lyrics of that song are pretty spot on). 'Passing Sunny Days/ Sunshine', 'This Moment', 'You Should Know' 'You Are My Light' are also great.
ML & FL were styled appropriately too for the roles - the clothes, hair & makeup (& apartments) fit their roles.
Very good drama & well-done (faithful to source material) adaptation.
The ML was not worth it as a boyfriend in the webnovel or in the series - he was too self-serving, arrogant, unempathetic & had his cake in an otherwise unworkable situation (boss/ mentor in a relationship with employee/ junior). It was very frustrating to see ML 'drawing a line' between boss persona & boyfriend persona & undermine FL or not understanding that she needed comfort or a few nice words at the end of a tough day. He WAS an arrogant jerk. BUT he did love her & she did love him & it's clear to see that too.
Some of the stuff between them termed 'misunderstandings' was contrived because an actual couple would've talked out about plenty of things than leaving it in the air FOR SIX YEARS!!!
The Norway aurora borealis scene where ML is crying his heart out with his friends watching was cringey only because of the friends (& their own crying!!! One of them even filmed the crying to later on send to FL!!!!) Other than that, when ML spouted the 'I love You' line 3 times in that scene, it was absolutely perfect & heart-breaking.
The important thing to remember is that he grew as a person, learnt from his mistakes, & decided to go after FL instead of living with regrets. FL also grew both as a woman with a backbone & as a an independent businesswoman. The proposal scene in the drama is well-done too.
Their breakup occurs in Ep. 21-22 - which IMO was too late to set the stage for the second arc of the story: which was the most important - the 3 years that it took fo the growth of FL as an independent leader / employer & businesswoman & how ML had to navigate himself back into her life slowly, while she set the pace. In the drama I think it was a break of 2 years, The scenes of her coming back to give a lecture at Lima was also brushed over as were the attempts of ML to win her parents (bringing gifts, taking time to see them) etc. Two episodes were too few for this important arc IMO.
The best scene of the drama was when FL breaks it up with ML saying 'I want to end this filthy, disgusting relationship'
PLUS, the drama did not show their after marriage life: which was underwhelming in the webnovel - they had a kid together, he was away on business all the time, she was busy with her own expanding business & they saw each other on weekends or something if I remember correctly. So they could've shown a version of married life too in the drama - as a post credits scene? I've read that Early Spring is getting a second season, so hopefully we'll see the leads in a new avataar with the basic chemistry in tact.
One very important arc of the webnovel was the shocking suicide of one of FL's best male friends, who had been troubled for a long time but still.... his books were taken by FL & it was a touching quiet reminder of his place in her life even after death.
I've noticed C-dramas are doing what K-dramas at one time were very good at: creating a couple you root for or romance you crave to see the last episode of with great OST.
This drama has great OST (especially the haunting start-credits song 'Her' sung by the actor Liu Liuning from 'Prisoner of Beauty'. the lyrics of that song are pretty spot on). 'Passing Sunny Days/ Sunshine', 'This Moment', 'You Should Know' 'You Are My Light' are also great.
ML & FL were styled appropriately too for the roles - the clothes, hair & makeup (& apartments) fit their roles.
Very good drama & well-done (faithful to source material) adaptation.
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