Reviews

Much more than just a twink who likes getting his a** fucked.

Oh my god, guys, this was actually so cute, okay? 🥹❤️

I’m not gonna lie, the title caught me completely off guard, and I started watching purely out of curiosity, expecting nothing but secondhand embarrassment. Instead, I got a couple learning to deal with their own insecurities together, despite their age difference.

I really loved how they kept supporting and encouraging each other, helping one another become more and more confident in themselves. And, besides all the indecent shenanigans, they’re a surprisingly sweet and adorable couple!

I also really liked how the story handled their age difference in such a straightforward and grounded way. It made it clear that they were both fully aware of the consequences their relationship could have for them. On top of that, the older one never uses his age as an excuse to control the relationship or dictate the younger guy’s life, which made the age gap feel completely unproblematic to me.

It was genuinely really sweet watching the two of them grow and figure things out together! ❤️

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Just as perfect as I knew it would be. Sold me on K-dramas.

I've wanted to watch 'Crash Landing on You' for seven years because I KNEW it was going to be absolutely incredible, and it was just as amazing as I knew it would be. It was so good that it sold me on K-dramas — THE BEST gateway series, which got me absolutely hooked for more. I watched CLOY and thought: 'That was so good I'm now going to consume every show that's ever existed in this genre.'

Everything about CLOY was perfect.

It was so well cast and so well acted. I was rooting for every single character except the ones you are supposed to hate. My favourite characters were the four leads — they had this incredibly complex writing and were so engaging to watch. And the ensemble cast was really impeccable too. The first moment of the show that really truly broke me was this super heartfelt scene with all the village women visiting their friend's house — I think that goes to show how much you come to care for each and every character, no matter how minor their role.

The writing had a perfect genre balance of romance, drama, politics, humour, friendship/family dynamics and more. They had a lot of plot lines simultaneously unfolding, which they expertly managed through the show's run and wrapped up in a logical and satisfying conclusion. The romances were precious and swoon-worthy. I love the fact that they had two main couples. Both relationships were done so well and had me absolutely wrapped around their fingers the whole time. The many friendships were honoured beautifully. The politics, high stakes, North/South tensions, intrigue, mystery, action, violence, and thrilling intensity had me on the edge of my seat — which, paired with a gorgeous love story, was a high I chased in all my shows after.

The music was so perfectly chosen; every single time they played a song, I thought 'Wow, this evoking the exact emotion within me that they were trying to evoke for this moment and scene, AND it's such beautiful music too.' I listened to the OST even after I finished the show.

I bawled my eyes out at the end of the phenomenal story. I immediately wanted to rewatch it and share it with all my friends.

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Cute, But Nothing Special

I really enjoyed the cast of this show but the story was only okay. She has this big dream to do one thing and then sort of on a whim decides to go a slightly different direction. It also doesn't make sense that she chooses that area of the job specifically while crying that she can't watch him fight anymore. Like, then go somewhere else! This has been his dream forever and now he has to stop because you suddenly want to be the announcer? She was annoying at times for sure. As was the 2nd female lead who would not, for so long, grow a spine. And that bratty girl trying to steal her man.... she must've done a good job because I couldn't stand her either. lol

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Great concept...delivery could have been better

I absolutely loved this series until around episode 5, then it got tedious and boring. I'm not sure why. I fast forwarded through episode 6, 7, and 8. The ending left a cliff hanger so there is a possible second season. Here are my pros and cons:

Pros:
1. The concept for the story was really good. Three inept people find out they have superpowers but don't know how to use them and just bumble their way through sticky situation after sticky situation. I laughed out loud several times.
2. The comedic acting by the major actors was really good.
3. The music was outstanding. It partnered the odd, the absurd, and the funny really well.

Cons:
1. I guess I'm just tired of the bumbling, ditzy, way-too-exuberant female lead to the cold, silent, stoic male lead who somehow fall in love with each other. The relationship part of the two leads was just annoying. I wish they would have left that part out.
2. I watch this with English dubbing. Whoever they got to do Park Eun Bin's voice was annoying as hell. Her screaming was awful, and I think that was one of the reasons why by episode 5 I was just over this series.
3. The ending with Chae Ni's funeral and then she just shows up all smelly and dirty was stupid and unrealistic, and then they have Un Jeong running and running to get to her. Too cliche' for me.
4. It was funny, hilarious and cute in the beginning, but the funny got really annoying and that's when the series went downhill for me.

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Why is this director still working

High expectactions off the reviews. Set aside my weekend to immerse. What? The first five hours/episodes were glacial. The director kept putting Young Jane in the frame and longingly focusing on him for 30-50 seconds as he attempted to find an emotion. Rather like watching a tree sloth trying to move to another limb. That bad. The kid is pretty but has a long way to go as an actor. The script is pedestrian. Then episode 6 it picked up story line for a bit. Then back to the same horrible acting by young Jane in episode 7. Sorry to single him out but he really is wooden, inexperienced and unable to carry a series, especially a 12 hour Lakorn. Could have been done in 8 episode. I wish him well and that he finds a better director in future. Yes, I REALLY Blame the director. He has a problem with pacing, thinks painfully slow is suspensful rather than lethargic bilge. Have a feeling he watcheds Hitchcock as a kid and didn't get it. Yes he did the first Tarn/Type, with Mame basically directing in the background. Kid is clueless. Liked the OST.

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Thank you for the vindication, Flora!

Beyond the projection we look for in any drama, I never expected Flora to be my redemption hero after reflecting on myself at my age, in a drama whose main attraction was realistic, ordinary people in situations that could happen to any of us, instead of unusual fictional situations, overacted CEOs, gifted geniuses, or Cinderella stories.

This is not a toxic love relationship in an office environment, but a credible plot based on the attraction to power working as an aphrodisiac, between a normal woman and a man who is excellent in his work, but not an out-of-this-world genius, that could happen to any of us, despite the differences between Eastern and Western cultures. Any young, inexperienced woman in the world, like Flora, could never resist being impressed by a handsome, powerful, and results-oriented executive who built a career in the corporate world, watching him successfully face daily challenges with the right decisions, facing customers, employees, suppliers, and business partners, while carrying the responsibility of delivering results and meeting KPIs, quotas, and profitability goals, always ready to fight. As Flora said, it was the relationship between one above and the other below, between the boss and the subordinate.

From a personal perspective, Luke's character was written a little bit over the top, but the actor did a great job, not falling into the traps of a sometimes unrealistic and exaggerated character, but showing him as a credible, ruthless, hard-to-deal-with, no-empathy, no manners, and a control freak, with a behavioral problem acknowledged by his mom; the portrait of the character credibly showing the required toolset to survive the corporate battlefield, plenty of rivals doing whatever it takes to take you down, as happened to him several times (as shown when Alex’s assistant published the photos and videos). He protected himself by being stubborn and proud, imposing his way even on his superiors, and rarely admitting mistakes to avoid giving his opponents tools to attack him. This clearly sets the stage for his behavior when he tries to escape the trap of relying on what has worked for him to overcome setbacks and plan every step. Luke’s moving acting after the breakup lets us feel the helplessness, pain, anxiety, and depression over his responsibility in the breakup, the knot in the stomach of regret, and the emptiness that makes you blur reality and fiction, making everything that came before very important in your life.

Flora was also convincing as a young, inexperienced, beautiful woman with strong principles, arriving in the capital, needing a job, knowing her disadvantages, and impressed by an imposing Luke. She was credible as a normal person who needed to work hard to catch up (unlike the usually unconvincing gifted characters in other dramas), using opportunities, learning, and falling in love with her boss along the way. Her performance was very good, evolving from a shy employee to a woman in love, eager to go deep in her relationship with Luke, even when she couldn’t understand the big picture, which led her to make serious mistakes, as she recognized while narrating certain episodes. Her character development as an employee was also credible, conveying the mood and momentum through her expressions and body language. She was convincing as anyone’s girlfriend at work and never looked like a beautiful actress playing a hard-to-believe corporate clerk, so common in dramas.

Then came the equally credible office-romance setup: an easy-to-fail relationship built on secrecy and hidden encounters. Luke’s behavior shows what happens when a relationship develops at work, dating on his terms and following the only patterns he knows: control, harsh language, and a thin separation between personal and corporate life. Luke showed the changes in his life very convincingly when he fell that hard in love, a new feeling beyond his understanding, and he started losing control, scared to let his guard down, trying to understand what to do to stay with Flora, and always doubting if she was taking advantage of learning opportunities. On Flora’s side, she became a victim of the cocktail of attraction, admiration, and an addictive secret office romance; instead of making him feel secure, her insecurities led her to lies and misbehaviors, sent the wrong message, and fed his insecurities, which is repeatedly shown multiple times, as when Alex tried to poach her, sleeping in the guest room instead of marking her territory as Luke’s partner in his house, not telling him that she was being harassed after he directly asked about it, the dating site episode, and her relationship with her ex, without establishing boundaries. The flaws in the relationship started to crack the foundation, reducing communication to a primitive level of survival; they couldn't react properly, even when they were profoundly sorry, leaving a bitter sense of unreciprocated love, betrayal, and deep wounds. Unfortunately, Luke had the authority and the sharpest tongue, causing so much damage that Flora returned it to him in his own style, as shown in the breakup dialogue.

Unlike the common drama trope of unnecessary breakups used to manipulate emotions, this breakup was necessary to find peace after the emotional storm and to end a relationship that had gone wrong, with both of them exhausted, suffocated, and frustrated. In the breakup scene, we see Luke again, without reaction, consumed by anger, and Flora saying the same harsh words as Luke would. I can say Luke’s performance is real because I have been in his position: controlled by anger and saying hurtful words, only to end up with an emotional hangover after realizing the damage.

This is when Flora became my real hero and redeemed my experiences. She became aware and decided to stop being the person below in the relationship, doing what was necessary to rise to the same level, even without him; she evolved into a more mature woman, growing personally and professionally as she overcame her broken heart and disappointment, accepted his change, worked hard to achieve, and became a confident woman. Flora’s credible rebuilding process was the backbone and the only way to eventually earn Luke's trust to change. He was ready and looking for it after the reality check of losing what he wanted most, feeling safe to start changing after finding her again and letting her even lead the process, leaving behind his pride and arrogance, stepping out of the trap of being the leader, and relying on an equal partner to build a long-term relationship in which both evolve beyond physical attraction.

After watching Flora’s evolution, I realized that it wasn’t right to feel guilty for the most significant breakups of my life because my partners did nothing to evolve during the times we tried to get back together, and they never tried to evolve as Flora did; they stayed in the same stage as before the breakup, sure that it was my fault, complaining and never giving me security and clues to realistically make a change without stopping being myself, which led the relationship to the rocks. Thank you for the vindication, Flora!

Regarding the intimate scenes, they supported the plot with a credible interaction of couples in love enjoying each other, avoiding the stupid puritanism shown in Asian dramas (which, for me, is a factor in my lack of interest), and without falling into the almost required explicit sex of Western dramas and movies (even when it looks awkward being dressed after sleeping together). I have watched a few other dramas showing acceptable attraction and couples openly enjoying getting intimate; however, the scenes in this drama were on another level of emotion, tension, and sensuality, evoking the same level as it was clear they had immense passion to support their love, and a couple freely devouring each other like any other ordinary people could and do.

I was surprised by the intimacy coordinator's presence. She really made a difference in creating sensual scenes you can identify with, letting the actors express their feelings and convey the atmosphere you expect when watching adults in intimacy, without needing nudity (another Western practice, which, for me, is a cheap trick to catch attention). Even the scenes with several kisses showed different emotions and how control of the moment shifted between them, with hand placement on another level showing deep emotions; for me, that’s the art of movies. As I read in an article, because the scenes were choreographed, the crew and the actor were very comfortable, stopped guessing, knew what to do, and stayed focused on their jobs. I hope this marks a turning point toward dramas aligning more closely with reality.

Additionally, the dialogue felt very true to life, showing a couple communicating beyond the acting and matching how normal people behave. In key scenes, the metaphors carried an underlying message they exchanged, showing how they could evolve without exposing the other to “defeat” or acceptance of wrongdoing, and she often used that language to contrast his directness. For example, when they were in Tibet, he was attached to the stubbornness of not being in photos, and Flora didn’t fight over it, but asked the store employee if he knew a handsome model, sending the message, “I want my memories with or without you. When Luke was asking Flora for a job, you can almost read the statement: “I was wrong; I need your guidance; I would do what is necessary to be with you, and what was very important for me in my career means nothing without you.” On her side, she recognizes the need for Luke’s help without feeling inferior. The scene in Flora’s apartment when Luke asked for “permission”, the message of “are you ready to go back?” and her reaction were realistically well acted. Her directness was straight and to the point when needed, which was superb and left him speechless. The scenes of the mistakes' acceptance were great, emotional, well-written, credible, and you can imagine saying the same words. Additionally, their acting in the scenes where Flora’s way of accepting her mistakes was shown through melting Luke with hugs and kisses, and his letting this happen. Additionally, all the expressions and body placement in the “silent” scenes transmitted as much as any dialogue.

The supporting characters stayed in their roles, without unnecessary side stories that added nothing to the plot or exaggerated portraits that undermined the drama's credibility. Luke’s friends were very sharp with him, and Flora’s friends gave her reality checks about her feelings; all characters added what was necessary to the plot, which made the drama feel like something that could happen in your life. Even turning down potential partners wasn’t framed in the “silent movie villain” way common in other dramas to manipulate emotions, which immediately made the drama feel like fiction. Even the suicide scene wasn’t more dramatic than needed, and the message about the importance of dealing with depression on time was good.

The office environment felt realistic and very similar to real life; you can find the corporate jargon and the shock of adapting to it, as seen in the many work interactions (even when marketing isn't my specialty, I still remember the difficulties and hard work when I started working). The actors never seemed to be repeating a script but really working in the business. I am not familiar with housing in China, but the portraits of the different houses were realistic too.

The drama showed all the pieces in place- good script, clean direction, excellent photography, good OST, and an episode rhythm that made the 45 minutes fly by and left me wanting to keep watching. Of course, we found the typical licenses taken with the dramas’ plots, among others, money to survive out of nowhere, successful companies without any explanation, reserved parking spots in front of the place they are heading to, small suitcases with tons of clothes for a week, unlimited laptop battery, Wi-Fi everywhere, connecting to the company from everywhere and from any laptop, drinking glasses magically moving from one side of plate to another in the next scene, drinking from a glass in one take and from the bottle in the following, three friends gathering together in the same take watching Luke, but magically one took the video from a window, decision-maker relaxing at work or not going to work because of love, the timing (getting ready in the morning for a night date), Flora left the suitcase in Luke’s apartment after the breakup, she never picked up her stuff from the office, and the creation of a place such as a museum out of nowhere: Who took the pictures?, How did the move a giant fishbowl like? How did he get Flora’s object? The mistakes were few compared with typical Chinese dramas, which have plenty of mistakes and plot holes.

I usually write reviews to practice my second language in a way different from work or daily life, and this drama first caught my attention because it was set in an office environment with adults, and social networks constantly showed intimate and fight scenes, with this “Intimacy coordinator” presence (Is this necessary nowadays?). Even when I was ready to criticize it harshly because I was in a bad mood about external situations beyond my control that were clouding my mind, and I didn’t have high expectations, thinking I had seen it all, this drama between normal people eager to share their passion and their desire to improve touched a nerve and made me reflect on how I could use it in the future, even at my age.

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Great but flawed

Just some quick thoughts - I don’t really get why the VR game was even there. It’s a big deal at the start, then it basically disappears except for a few random moments. The only time it actually worked was when Hu Xia kept going in just to kill Zhi Yu’s character over and over, that scene made sense emotionally, but it’s literally the only memorable use of the whole VR concept.

The relationship itself was great though. It built up slowly and naturally, and their chemistry was solid. My only complaint is that for a drama set in an office, there were basically no office‑romance moments. No coworkers finding out, no awkward run‑ins, nothing. It felt like a missed opportunity.

I liked the idea of Zhi Yu digging into his dad’s case, but the way the show handled it felt rushed. It pops up in a few key episodes, gets solved super fast, and then it’s done. And maybe I’m forgetting something, but why was Pei Kangua even trying to kill Hu Xia? And why do it in such a sloppy way that she’s saved instantly? It’s such a weird choice. Like thats easily an attempted murder charge and for what reason?

The last two episodes didn’t land for me either. The whole “beat the villains and live happily ever after” part is usually a quick wrap‑up in most dramas, but here it drags on for two full episodes. It felt like filler.

But overall, it’s still a really good drama. The cast has great chemistry, and the main couple carries the whole thing.

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Red Flags Incoming

I already know this review will not be popular. I see many 10's and it's not too hard to see why. The main leads are easy on the eyes, but the story lacks originality and depth. Don't get me wrong. The lighting and music are very nice. However, the storyline of young, naive female falling for arrogant, handsome boss is old as time.

Shang Zhitao is a bit "green". She's young and naive. It takes her time to mature and become the woman she has always wanted to be. Falling for her boss wasn't apart of her plans, and yet she and Luan Nian are drawn to one another. Here's where I would like to point out that these two were carrying on a secret relationship for six years that absolutely went no where. The two of them were full of distrust of the other one right from the start, and a lot of it had to do with the power dynamics of the pair. Tao was too insecure to voice how this power dynamic made her feel inadequate. Luan Nian was domineering and possessive. And boy was he jealous to boot. Her sheer honesty and grit disarmed him, and yet he wouldn't let down his guard to be vulnerable with her.

These two were so infuriating. The constant push and pull and struggle of watching their miscommunication over and over again was maddening. I didn't find it endearing and I felt that the pacing of the series in the last two episodes was terrible. I would have liked it much better if Tao and Luan Nian would have never gotten back together or if they did, it was an extended time period where she could boast her own successes without his help. Instead, he bulldozes himself back into her life without even asking her if she wanted him there on the pretense of seeing the adorable dog named after him. This guise works of course and he doesn't even ask her to stay in her apartment, he just takes it upon himself to do so. And of course he steps in to save her fledgling business in the end like the savior that this series has made him to be.

This is NOT the behavior of a man who is trying to get his woman back. He is being domineering and controlling again. He goes behind her back and asks her co-worker if she's dating. I was appalled. We are supposed to see a reformed and mature Luan Nian and instead, he appears only slightly better. It's like he has the facade of feelings and emotions because he is like a child who lost his favorite toy, but he lacks true awareness of his actions. Oh, he cries and has a soliloquy over what he lost, but I needed true suffering and for him to let Tao go find herself and define her successes and failures without him. How else can a person grow? Also, just because two people are in love doesn't automatically mean that they should be together.

These two were involved for six years but weren't apart of one another lives at all. When Sun Yuan Zhu k**** himself, Shang Zhitao and Sun Yu are devastated, and yet when Tao tells Luan Nian that her bff is gone, he doesn't even console her. In fact there was no emotion at all. The dude is a walking red flag and we as the audience were supposed to cheer for a relationship like this to survive? I'm so sick of shows showing toxic behaviors and relationships in the guise of some grand once in a lifetime love. These two shared moments, true, but mutual understanding with a solid foundation of trust in your partner goes a long way.

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A comfort show

When I first started watching this, I thought it would be a silly comedy show with no real plot, but now that I've finished watching it, it''s become a comfort show for me. Genuinely such a heartwarming show with such great life messages.

I loved the character development for all the characters, the plot actually surprised me so many times, even after seeing some spoilers, it felt impossible to predict what would happen next, in the best way possible! I absolutely loved the ending, the MC Pei Qian's decisions were so surprising but felt perfect for his character. I'm so happy everyone got a happy ending.

I would love a spin off series or mini epilogue so we can see more of the character's current lives, but having this ending is also satisfying enough for me.

Live life, do what makes you happy, don't worry about earning as much money as possible, don't worry about the rat race. Follow your dreams. Be happy.

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Tender with Room to Breathe

Current convention seems to fold sexual attraction into the definition of soulmate but the series Soul Mate resists simple definitions. Instead, Soul Mate explores vulnerability, support, space and love in the apparent context of friendship and possibly more. The story unfolds at a pace that gives thought room to form and re-form. Consequences feel material--handled gently and sensitively, even under harsh conditions. Well acted and beautifully told, with an epilogue episode that "explains" all that may have been ambiguous or implied, this series elevates the meaning of Soul Mate in a broad and tender manner.

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Not Your Typical Idol Drama

I already wrote a rather lengthy review of this show in a Facebook group, so I won’t rehash that entire analysis here. I simply came to give the show the marks I think it deserves and explain why I landed firmly in the love-it camp.

For me, Early Spring works precisely because neither Luke nor Flora arrives as some perfectly packaged romantic ideal. They come with flaws, baggage, stubbornness, pride, and plenty of growing up to do. Their journey asks something much more interesting than “Are these two perfect for each other?” It asks whether two imperfect people can learn to love each other well enough to make a life together.

That also brings me to some of the reviews I’ve seen. I completely understand disliking Luke’s macho, masculine persona. He won’t appeal to everyone, and honestly, he shouldn’t. But disliking the character and judging the actor for portraying that character effectively require two very different conversations.

Luke was never written as the flawless, universally desirable idol. He makes mistakes. He frustrates you. Sometimes you want to shake him, and other times you understand exactly why Flora loves him. That contradiction makes him far more interesting to me than a character designed simply to check every box on a fantasy-man list.

And that’s where I think the actor deserves considerable credit. He didn’t soften Luke into someone more palatable just so the audience would like him. He committed to the character—the good, the ugly, the arrogance, the tenderness, the vulnerability, and all the contradictions in between. That takes skill.

Real people rarely come in convenient packages, and real relationships certainly don’t. You can love someone, be furious with them, admire them, resent them, forgive them, and still choose them. Early Spring understands that.

And Flora deserves the same grace. She has her own flaws, her own stubbornness, and her own growing to do. Neither character carries the entire burden of the relationship. They both have to learn that loving someone means accepting where they are while still giving them room to become who they need to become.

So yes, dislike Luke if he isn’t your type. That’s perfectly fair. But I think the actor accomplished exactly what the role demanded, and for me, that deserves recognition even if the character occasionally drives me absolutely crazy.

That messy, complicated humanity makes Early Spring much more compelling than a romance filled with two impossibly perfect people.

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