Reviews

Learning to love

The Early Spring is perhaps one of the most interesting cdramas this year. The leads, Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao, are flawed, sometimes frustrating, occasionally selfish, and often spectacularly bad at communicating. And honestly? That is precisely what makes this drama work.

What I appreciated most is how The Early Spring uses their relationship to explore some very contemporary issues in China: the pressure of succeeding in an increasingly competitive urban environment, workplace hierarchies, ambition, emotional isolation, mental health, and the changing expectations surrounding relationships. Beijing isn't simply a backdrop here. The professional world these characters inhabit shapes how they behave, what they fear, and even how they understand intimacy.

The drama is particularly interesting in the way it approaches mental health. Emotional wounds aren't treated as convenient nor reduces its characters to diagnoses or trauma. Their past experiences influence their reactions, insecurities and coping mechanisms, but they are still responsible for their choices. That's an important distinction, and one the drama generally handles well. Neither Luan Nian nor Zhitao gets a free pass.

Luan Nian can be arrogant, controlling, jealous and downright cruel with his words. His instinct is often to protect rather than communicate, and he has a tendency to decide what is best for Zhitao instead of actually asking her what she wants. His position as her superior also makes some of his decisions considerably more complicated than the drama's romantic framing might initially suggest. He can genuinely care for her and still behave badly. The show doesn't always make that contradiction comfortable, but it does make it interesting.

Zhitao isn't simply the innocent victim of his personality either. Her own decisions repeatedly create problems. She hides things, refuses help, tries to handle difficult situations alone and sometimes mistakes silence for independence. Her desire to protect the people she loves can become another form of self-sabotage. She is sympathetic, but she isn't always right.
And this is where I think The Early Spring is at its best: it understands that intention and impact aren't the same thing.

The leads frequently do things because they believe they are protecting each other, only to cause more damage in the process. They make sacrifices without explaining them. They keep secrets because they think the truth will hurt. They try to spare each other difficult conversations and then become resentful when the other person doesn't magically understand. Their relationship isn't destroyed by a lack of love; it's damaged by two people who repeatedly fail to understand what the other person actually needs.

The character development therefore isn't about suddenly turning toxic people into perfect romantic partners. It's about watching them gradually become more self-aware. Luan Nian has to learn that caring for someone doesn't give you the right to make decisions for them. Zhitao has to learn that independence doesn't mean refusing to rely on anyone. Both have to confront the difference between loving someone and actually knowing how to be in a healthy relationship with them.

I also liked the drama's willingness to let its characters make morally and emotionally ambiguous decisions. There are moments when you can understand exactly why someone does something while simultaneously thinking, “That was a terrible decision". That's much closer to how real relationships work than the usual cdrama dynamic where one character is obviously right and the other simply needs to apologize.

The performances help enormously. Jing Boran makes Luan Nian's unpleasant edges believable without stripping away his vulnerability, while Sun Qian gives Zhitao a quieter but increasingly assured emotional arc. Her character's evolution is particularly satisfying because she doesn't suddenly become a different person; she gradually becomes more confident in understanding herself and what she wants.

The biggest weakness for me is that the drama sometimes takes too long to articulate lessons it has already demonstrated, and the final stretch feels somewhat compressed compared with the amount of time spent establishing the relationship and its problems. Even some of the more important emotional realizations could have benefited from additional breathing room.
Still, I found the messiness more compelling than frustrating overall.

The Early Spring isn't really asking whether Luan Nian and Zhitao love each other. That's obvious almost from the beginning. The more interesting question is whether two imperfect people can recognize the ways they hurt each other, take responsibility for them, and actually change.

And, thankfully, the answer isn't “love fixes everything.” They have to do the work themselves. That's what makes the eventual improvement feel earned. They don't become better people because the plot demands a happy ending. They become better because, eventually, they understand that loving someone isn't enough if you don't also learn how to listen to them, respect their agency, communicate honestly, and take responsibility for your own emotional baggage. Messy, frustrating, sometimes toxic, but ultimately much more thoughtful than the standard workplace romance.

Perhaps the most contemporary thing about The Early Spring is that it doesn't present adulthood, ambition, mental health or relationships as problems with easy solutions. Sometimes growing up simply means realizing that being hurt doesn't automatically make you right, and having good intentions doesn't automatically make your actions good.

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The Romance Was Worth the 40-Episode Struggle ❤️

I went into this mainly because of Deng Wei, but I ended up staying for Su Yishui and Xue Ranran/Mu Qingge. And honestly, I didn't expect to get this attached to them.

What I liked most about this drama is the relationship between the leads. It wasn't just the usual “we meet, misunderstand each other, suffer, then fall in love” xianxia formula. Their relationship had so much history behind it—master and disciple, past and present lives, guilt, sacrifice, identity, and all the things they never got to say to each other. Watching Su Yishui grow from that rebellious, emotional disciple into the mature sect leader he became was probably one of my favorite parts of the drama.

And Deng Wei really impressed me here. Su Yishui could have easily become the typical tragic, tortured xianxia ML, but Deng Wei gave him so much personality. The younger Su Yishui was impulsive and almost feral 😂, while the older version carried so much restraint and regret. You could actually feel how much losing Mu Qingge changed him.

I also really liked Ranran/Mu Qingge as a character. Mu Qingge had that strong FL energy I always look for—powerful, confident, and not someone who just waits around for the ML to save her. I especially enjoyed seeing the difference between Mu Qingge and Ranran while still feeling that they were the same person underneath. Julia Xiang did a good job making the two sides feel distinct without making one completely disappear.

The chemistry between the leads was another big win for me. There was a lot of emotional weight to their scenes, and when they finally got their moments together, they actually felt earned. Even the memory-loss arc, which I normally would have been rolling my eyes at by that point 😂, ended up working for me because of how much Su Yishui's feelings still came through even when he couldn't remember her.

And THANK GOD for the ending. 😂❤️
After everything these two went through, I needed an actual happy ending. Not “they'll meet again in another lifetime,” not “their souls remain together,” not some open-ended nonsense. An actual happy ending. That alone made me forgive quite a few things this drama put me through.

Now, the problems.
The pacing. This absolutely did not need to be 40 episodes.
There were stretches where I was fully invested, then suddenly the story would slow down and I'd find myself thinking, okay, we get it already. Some of the explanations and political/conspiracy parts felt unnecessarily long, and the final arcs could have been tighter.

And then there's Mu Ranwu. 😭
Girl, I was SO tired of this woman.
I don't mind a complicated antagonist, but her storyline went on for so long that there were moments when I just wanted the drama to move on. Every time I thought, okay, surely we're done with this now, she'd come back with another scheme, another power-grabbing attempt, another reason to make me annoyed. 😂
I also wish the drama had spent a little more time developing some of the other characters and conflicts instead of repeatedly circling back to her.

That said, I never reached the point of wanting to drop the drama. Even when the pacing tested my patience, Su Yishui and Ranran kept me watching. And once the bigger pieces of their story started coming together, I was glad I stayed.

This isn't going into my absolute top-tier xianxia list, and I definitely wouldn't call it perfect. But it's one of those dramas where, after finishing it, I can genuinely say:
“Yeah, I'm glad I watched this.”
Beautiful leads, great chemistry, a ML who actually grows, a strong FL, plenty of angst, and—most importantly—an ending that doesn't punish me for investing 40 episodes of my life. 😂

Would I recommend it?
Yes, especially if you like xianxia with a strong romance, reincarnation/past-life elements, devoted MLs, powerful FLs, and a story that actually gives its main couple a proper happy ending.
Just be prepared to occasionally whisper:
“PLEASE. MOVE. ON.” 😭

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A modern, thoughtful drama -- worthwhile watching

This is a worthwhile watch, technically excellent, the whole crew is brilliant -- can you see me guys? On my knees bowing.
Great characters, generally great performances, although Jing Boran is as usual outstanding.

A primo technical watch for the way in which nothing is wasted and everyone's actions , every single moment contributes to the storyline. An adaptation of a much longer novel (how many times have we said this!) with one or two places where the director seems to have thought the narrative transitions were easily understood, but they werent.

I really enjoyed it. Havent seen a proper thoughtful, modern drama like this in quite some time.

"You dont have to be perfect to deserve love" a leitmotif in the show -- it also works on the outside for the show itself.

I loved it. I loved Shang ZhiTao anf Luan Nian SOO MUCH.

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I AM VERONICA PARK

The title probably is the only good thing in this show. Maybe the correct theme for this show should be "Play Stupid Game, Win Stupid Prizes". All of the things happened in this show were mostly the characters own medicine that they had to taste. Jeong Gal Hui got her own by kept pretending as Veronica Park. Do Min Ik got it by kept pushing aside the assault case. Lee Eul Wang got they price she had to pay after embezzling the company funds and stupidly got confronted by Chairman Sim.

Jin Ki Joo and Kim Young Kwang did quite well here. I really liked the way Ki Joo played Gal Hui. However, I feel Kim Jae Kyung is the star of this show. She did excellently as the eccentric Veronica Park, and her hilarious character brought a fresh breath into this complex storyline. I finished this show because of her and Dae Ju. Koo Ja Sung as Gi Dae Ju, on the other hand, felt too stiff to become a stiff person.

The pacing is slow, and either the romance or the comedy appeared rarely. I found the characters were extremely frustrating. Do Min Ik intentionally picked on her secretary for no reason, claiming it as "to make his secretary feels inconvenient and resigns", but at this point it seemed more like a workplace harassment. He also frustratingly forgave his toxic mother and his perpetrator easily. Jeong Gal Hui chose to side with the mere secretaries, who didn't even care about her, over Min Ik whom she chased for so long. Gal Hui's siblings had complex victim mentality issue , and it was very annoying. Lee Eul Wang was very shameless by seeking help from Min Ik, after leaking "some info" to Chairman Sim and got disposed. I really can understand the reason behind the "breakup", but I felt they dragged it for too long. The music scoring (not the OSTs) is extremely horrible. There are a lot of music that don't match with the scene vibes, like they put romantic backsound during funny scenes, etc.

Should I recommend this? Well, if you have other shows in your watchlist maybe it's better to pick other shows. Watch this if you're up for Kim Jae Kyung, or if you have nothing to watch anymore.

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Started strong, lost the plot....

I loved how the drama started but towards the middle, it really lost the plot. I just didn't like how everything revolved around the FL's life. Her being linked to the ML, the second lead also being the ML's brother and somehow everyone around her being connected to the ML or his family was just too unrealistic.

When she started working, even through work, she kept getting directed back to the ML and his company in the most ridiculous ways. They could've made the plot at least a bit more realistic. I loved all the high school romance plot but after their breakup and their lives 10 years later, everything just became so unrealistic and weird.

I felt the actors did a decent job, but the direction and the plot really let them down.

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Funny & Funny: Impressive Comedy, Impressive Romance

Having read the original novel, there was concern about multiple plot points and depth; but, the show has clearly developed the original script into something more!

The excellent direction by Jojo helps the actors' comic timing shine while the editing adds to the show as a whole. The set up and the jokes pull out laughs easily, making the watcher unaware of passing time.

Each character is so well-developed, falling in love with them is a given! Theer is extremely annoying (and maybe equally charming?), a character that is a great addition to Yin's repetoire (and shows how good of actor he is.) Mangkorn is feisty, sassy and can stand his ground, making him one of the cutest characters that War has played. Parn takes the cake as Theer's mother and Mai as Cupid...well, he is a hoot and a half!

The episodes are easily rewatchable; you might find yourself rewinding to rewatch certain scene because of how funny and flirty everything is.

The show is impressive comedy with impressive romance, making it the most impressive romcom!!

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Starts as a comedy and ends in a drama...

I did not expect much from this series. Luckily there was no brother/sister conflict as some hinted. It's about Natsuki who likes the same things as his sister but while his sister likes Sato as in "like", Natsuki does more than "like" him. What begins as comedy gradually turns into a drama about coming of age, discovering your own feelings and for Sata also deal with a confession from an unexpected source.

It's also about a family who have each others back and even the coming out is handled in a mature way. Yes there are little conflicts and little misunderstandings but overall they care about each other as families should do.

Production quality was good, cinematography was very popping (color-grading) giving it the summer vibe from the title and making this series very fluffy to watch. It's a nice binge-watch worthy series especially if you feel down. The finale suggest there might be a special, so maybe we get something which really feels like a finale. Overall, this was nice.

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EWW

4/24
• he is a piece of shit. what the fuck do you mean she should lose weight?
• she is just plain dumb. she tries to act smart but fails miserably.
• unrealistic
• bad direction
• the two martini scene is just ridiculous. talk about bad writing.
• the ex being obsessed is nowhere near acceptable. yet, fml says she just chose not to let go?
• is sun qian normally this bad? or did her acting skills go into the gutter along with her brain while choosing this script?
• can't they tell their actors to remain normal when the camera is not focusing on them? stop fucking licking your lips!!

dropped this. I can't take the disrespect anymore.

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The story's premise is flimsy and hard to believe. A psychologist working as an equipment manager at a school is then tasked with taking students to play a soccer match without them having trained together (?!)
They luck out and manage a draw, thanks to tips from the woman's tenant. The school wants the new team to keep playing, so they need a coach. She asks the tenant, but he turns the offer down. So, using her skills as a psychologist, she devises a strategy to convince him.
From episode 11 onwards, you start to see a tight-knit group with real potential forming around the two of them—the coach and the team manager—as they begin to grow fond of each other.
Just as the coach is settling in, however, something happens that forces him to leave her and the team (Ep. 16).
He returns to the squad, and after opening up to one another, they grow closer. Then a female friend of hers shows up, and he gets jealous (?!).
The revelation regarding the person responsible for the suicide of the boy he used to coach is a bit disappointing and nonsensical. It turns out to be a mentally unstable man—an older acquaintance of hers whose romantic advances she had rejected—who drove the young footballer to the breaking point (though what did that poor kid have to do with it?).
The coach is deeply in love, and the team—thanks to her clever tactics—is becoming increasingly united.
Then, she disappears out of shame over her old own scandal. She is the embodiment of inconsistency; she runs away when faced with problems. A fine example coming from a psychologist who works with young people.
The psychopath issue gets resolved.
I found little chemistry between the two, and her childish behavior made it hard for me to like her.

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The Early Spring (2026): A Masterpiece Written in Light and Emotion

Some dramas take time to find their rhythm. *The Early Spring* found mine almost immediately.

From the very first moments, I was captivated by the atmosphere of this drama. That remarkably formal opening immediately establishes a sense of elegance and intention, as if the production were quietly telling us that what follows deserves to be watched with attention. It was one of those rare beginnings that made me stop and simply absorb what was happening on screen. Before the story had even fully unfolded, the visual language had already caught me.

And perhaps one of the first things that stayed with me was **the blue**.

The color appears with such presence that it almost becomes a character of its own. It gives the drama a distinctive identity, sometimes creating distance, sometimes tenderness, sometimes melancholy. Alongside it, the use of lighting is extraordinary. The lights do much more than illuminate a scene; they shape its emotional temperature. Shadows, reflections, warm and cold tones, and carefully framed faces create an atmosphere in which even silence can feel expressive.

This becomes particularly beautiful in the more intimate scenes. There are moments that are considerably daring, yet they never feel gratuitous. The direction and lighting give them an elegant, almost cinematic quality. Sensuality here is not simply about physical closeness; it is about atmosphere, chemistry, anticipation, and the emotions underneath the moment. The camera understands when to stay close and when to allow the characters' expressions to speak for themselves.

That visual confidence is one of the reasons the production feels so impressive.

But beautiful images alone cannot carry a drama this far. They need a story capable of giving them meaning, and that is where the writing and direction deserve enormous recognition. The script gives its characters enough room to make mistakes, grow, hesitate, love, lose, and mature without making their journeys feel artificial. The direction then brings those emotions to the screen with a remarkable sense of restraint. Nothing feels as though it exists merely to fill time. Even the quieter moments have a purpose.

At the center of it all are **Luke and Flora**.

Jing Bo Ran and Sun Qian give performances that make their relationship feel lived-in rather than manufactured. Their chemistry does not depend on constant declarations of love. Sometimes it is found in a look, a pause, a change in expression, or the simple way they occupy the same space. There is tension between them, but there is also tenderness, vulnerability, pride, insecurity, and the inevitable difficulty of learning how to love another person without losing oneself.

What I particularly appreciated is that their relationship is allowed to mature.

Because loving someone and knowing how to love them are not necessarily the same thing.

Luke and Flora are not the same people at the beginning and at the end, and that matters. Their journey is not simply about getting together; it is about understanding what it means to remain together while both people continue changing. Their romance becomes more meaningful precisely because it is not presented as something effortless.

Jing Bo Ran gives Luke a controlled and confident presence, but underneath that exterior there is vulnerability. Sun Qian, meanwhile, allows Flora to grow naturally, gaining confidence and a stronger sense of herself without losing the qualities that made her compelling in the first place. Together, they create a relationship that feels emotionally grounded.

Yet one of the things I loved most about *The Early Spring* is that the story never makes the supporting characters feel like mere extensions of the leads.

I genuinely enjoyed **every character**.

The friends surrounding Luke are a wonderful example. They bring humor, warmth, personality, and a sense that Luke has a life beyond his relationship with Flora. Their interactions give the story breathing room and make the world feel fuller. They are not simply there to create comic relief; they help reveal different sides of Luke and contribute to the emotional rhythm of the drama.

And then there is **Sun Yuan Zhu**, whose story carries an entirely different kind of sadness.

His feelings for Shang Zhi Tao are among the most painful elements of the drama precisely because they remain so restrained. There is something heartbreaking about loving someone and never being able to fully express what exists inside you. His story reminded me that not every love becomes a relationship, and not every genuine feeling receives the ending we wish for.

Liu Xiaobei deserves special praise for bringing that quiet pain to life. Sun Yuan Zhu never feels like a character created merely to generate sympathy. He feels like a complete person, someone whose life continues beyond the central romance, and that makes his emotional journey all the more affecting.

His relationship with **Sun Yu** adds another layer of tenderness and sadness. What moved me was not simply what could or could not happen between them, but the emotional maturity surrounding their story. Sun Yu represents a kind of understanding that comes with knowing that love cannot always be possessed or returned in the way we want. Sometimes maturity means recognizing another person's feelings, accepting reality, and still choosing to care.

There is dignity in that.

And perhaps that is one of the most human messages hidden within the drama: **growing up does not always mean getting what we want; sometimes it means learning how to live with what we cannot change.**

That emotional maturity is present throughout *The Early Spring*. The characters are not defined solely by romance. They are also shaped by friendship, ambition, disappointment, responsibility, sacrifice, mistakes, and the gradual realization that adulthood often requires us to let go of certain versions of ourselves.

The title therefore feels especially appropriate.

Spring represents renewal, but renewal does not erase winter. It comes after it.

And perhaps the characters are all, in their own ways, moving toward their own spring.

The soundtrack deserves its own celebration because it adds another emotional dimension to the drama. It is not merely background music; it becomes part of the experience. Some songs accompany a scene and disappear when the episode ends. Others somehow remain in your head, attached to a particular emotion or memory.

And then there is **Liu Yuning**.

His song is absolutely impressive—and, perhaps most dangerously, **extremely catchy**. It is the kind of song that stays with you without asking permission. Even after leaving the drama behind, the melody can suddenly return to your mind.

And the MV is wonderful.

It captures the same elegance and emotional atmosphere that makes the drama so appealing, turning the song into something that can stand on its own while still belonging unmistakably to the world of *The Early Spring*. So, a very sincere congratulations to Liu Yuning. His voice gives the soundtrack an additional emotional weight, and the result is something genuinely memorable.

But ultimately, what makes *The Early Spring* feel so special is how well all these elements work together.

The writing gives the characters emotional depth. The actors give them life. The directors know how to translate their feelings into images. The lighting gives those images atmosphere. The color palette creates identity. The music gives the emotions another voice. The supporting cast expands the world. And the production brings everything together with an impressive level of care.

That is what makes this feel like more than simply a well-made romance.

It feels like a **complete artistic work**.

There are dramas that are enjoyable while you are watching them and dramas that continue to occupy a small corner of your mind afterward. *The Early Spring* belongs to the second kind.

I came for the story, but stayed for the atmosphere.

I stayed for Luke and Flora, for the friendships, for the characters whose stories quietly unfolded beside the main romance, for Sun Yuan Zhu's unspoken love, for Sun Yu's maturity, for Luke's friends, for those beautifully lit intimate moments, for the striking blue that became part of the drama's identity, and for a soundtrack that somehow refuses to leave your head.

Most importantly, I stayed because the drama understands something simple but profound: **people do not grow because life becomes easier; they grow because they learn how to carry what life gives them.**

That is why Sun Yuan Zhu's story hurts. That is why Luke and Flora's evolution matters. That is why Sun Yu's maturity feels meaningful. And that is why the smaller relationships and friendships deserve to be remembered alongside the central romance.

*The Early Spring* is, in many ways, a celebration of becoming.

Of loving without possessing.

Of letting go without forgetting.

Of understanding that some feelings arrive too early, some too late, and some at exactly the right moment.

It is visually beautiful, emotionally generous, musically memorable, and supported by an ensemble whose work deserves genuine recognition.

So congratulations to **the entire cast, the writer, the directors, the cinematography and lighting teams, the musicians, and every member of the production** who contributed to this work. A drama of this quality is never the achievement of one person; it is the result of many people caring deeply about the world they are creating.

And especially, **congratulations to Liu Yuning**. That song, that voice, and that wonderful MV have become part of what makes this experience even more unforgettable.

For me, *The Early Spring* is not simply a drama I enjoyed.

**It is a masterpiece that caught me from its very first opening and, through its colors, lights, music, characters, and emotions, gradually became something much more difficult to achieve: a story that feels like a memory.**

And perhaps that is the greatest compliment a drama can receive.

Not that it was perfect.

Not that every moment was flawless.

But that, after everything ends, **something of it remains.**

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Cat & Mouse chase that starts strong, but becomes heavily predictable

A plot which follows an individual's identity being stolen and on a run to get his identity back from a person called 'The Rat'.
As a suspense thriller fan, I was intrigued to watch this show. The premise was strong and the trailer looked solid. However, when it came to execution, it really wasn't much impressive.

The story starts strong with initial couple of episodes. The tense atmosphere and the suspenseful elements made me hooked with this Cat & Mouse series. But with every passing episode, the plot became confusing and inconsistent, thus diminishing the viewing experience little by little.

The second half is sluggish and the story becomes predictable, long before it ends. Also, the overstretched episodes doesn't justify the product. The show could have been well-written and executed in 6-8 episodes, however it stretched itself more than it should have. The ending was predictable and not much convincing. The story kept me hooked, but the conclusion could have been much better.

Performance wise, the characters were fine. Not much exemplary standout act to be honest, but nothing much to complain about here. The character of Noja deserves a special praise and was easily the strongest character of the show. Too many subplots and side characters kinda put me off.

What I really liked about the show is it's visual style and catchy music. The editing, colors and the overall atmosphere brings the sense of unpredictability and suspense on the screen.

Overall, Mousetrap is an average suspense thriller, that starts strong but underwhelms towards the end. It tests your patience through it's runtime and with an ending that may not necessarily be for everyone.

My Rating : 3/5

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WHAT A SHOW! LOVED ITTT

Signing in to write this review to boost the sad ratings T.T and not chat gpt but my own words T.T
This. Show. Is. Amaaaaaaaazingggggggg. All the recent dramas has been bleh for me. This was so intense and gripping, I finished it within 3 days - a bit longer than i would have liked. Other dramas welcome the jump forward or the 2x speed - but this? Every moment is a masterpiece.

I accidentally found out about this show because of a youtube short - was the funny periods scene lol. But im glad i gave it a try! The plot and characters have been amazing. No character was one-dimensional and bland like how other dramas generally do. What I also really enjoyed for once is the office space setting itself - being a graphic designer most of these elements were really nicely portrayed! And i liked how real they kept this - generally other office dramas have some mediocre drama and characters who are not that relevant.

Comedy kept goingggggg - no cringe and so well placed. It was nice to see comedy in the end as well and not be all serious like some other dramas.

For the main part - This is perfectly what I would describe a strong woman. Its not about being harsh or rude to others simply because it feels like so. Having vulnerabilities, overcoming them - going through a process of growth. Fantabulous! I'm so sad that this is over T.T I had to send my toddler away to finish this undisturbed XD Definitely among the top dramas I have ever watched in life.

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Good Story but Felt Rushed

The story was quite nice. I appreciated the crime and mystery elements incorporated into a BL series, and I for one am a sucker for complex issues unfolding behind what initially appears to be a typical romance. The combination of romance, family history, unresolved cases, and professional conflicts gave the story more substance than a straightforward love story.
The sexual tension between the main leads was PHENOMENAL, and I commend the two actors for this. I have seen my fair share of South Korean and Japanese BL series, and their chemistry is definitely among my top favorites.

Although the acting was quite good overall, I had some issues with the pacing and storytelling structure.

First of all, what ticked me off the most was the transition between Ep3 and Ep4. Ep3 ended on a particularly tense cliffhanger, leaving me expecting an immediate continuation of the emotional and narrative tension. However, Ep4 suddenly shifted into a much more romantic atmosphere. I genuinely had to rewatch Episode 3 to make sure I hadn't missed an important scene.

Second, some parts of the story seemed a little rushed. I would have liked to see more of the tension and gradual development between the two main leads before they started becoming romantic with each other. Their chemistry was already strong enough to carry a slower progression, and I think allowing their relationship to develop over more episodes would have made the romance feel more natural and emotionally satisfying. The story had so much potential for a slow-burn romance, especially considering the complicated circumstances surrounding the characters. If the writers had taken more time to explore their internal conflicts, misunderstandings, and growing attraction, the eventual progression of their relationship could have had an even greater impact.

Lastly, the ending was quite confusing. Without going into major spoilers, the final scenes left me with more questions than answers. The drama did not clearly establish how much time had passed or what exactly happened between the events leading up to the ending. Considering that the scene immediately before it involved such high emotional and physical stakes, the transition felt particularly jarring.

I just wish the drama had taken more time to develop its story and relationships, because with a few adjustments, it could have been significantly better.

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? WALKING RED FLAG… BUT HE’S THE BEST AMONG THE RED FLAGS! ??❤️

🚩 WALKING RED FLAG… BUT HE’S THE BEST AMONG THE RED FLAGS! 😂🚩❤️

P.S. Don’t be discouraged by the negative reviews! Watch it at your own risk! 😂 You might unexpectedly love it as much as I did! 👀❤️

💕 MY THOUGHTS
Honestly, I didn’t expect much from this drama. Even though it’s popular, I had never watched any drama of the ML before, and this was only my second drama of the FL. But WOW… this drama completely got me hooked! 😭❤️
I genuinely enjoyed it from start to finish. I was so invested that I finished the entire drama in just 2 DAYS! 😭😭😭
As I read some comments and reviews, I noticed that many viewers called Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao red flags and described their relationship as toxic.
And you know what? YES. It IS toxic. 😂
But somehow… it’s that addictively toxic kind of relationship where you don’t even want to leave. 🤣🚩

And when it comes to red flags, these two are honestly my favorite red flags! 😂
They definitely don’t have a perfect relationship or perfect communication, but you can really feel how much they love and care for each other—especially Luan Nian.
He may not openly talk about his feelings, and he may even deny them, but you can see how deeply he loves every bit of Shang Zhitao. He loves her in the way he knows how to love someone. ❤️

🚩 LUAN NIAN
Everyone already knows that Luan Nian has an attitude. 😂
He’s arrogant, strict, cold, demanding, and definitely NOT everyone’s cup of tea.
And THAT is exactly why I was so hooked on him!😂
I was eager to see how this cold and intimidating man would slowly show his vulnerable side to Shang Zhitao.
How would he change for her?
How would that cold heart melt?
How would this strict, demanding man become softer while still being caring in his own way?
I loved EVERY part of Luan Nian’s character. ❤️
And Jing Bo Ran… WHEW! 😮‍💨🔥
This man literally EMBODIED Luan Nian. He didn’t just play the character—HE OWNED IT! 👏🏻🔥

🌸 SHANG ZHITAO
I also really loved how the drama showed the struggles of being a newly graduated young professional entering the intimidating corporate world, especially coming from a different city and facing such a high-pressure environment.
We got to see Shang Zhitao’s growth—from an innocent and somewhat naive young woman into a confident, capable, top-tier manager. ❤️
They showed her struggles, her weaknesses, her strengths, her eagerness to become independent, and her dreams and goals.
And I honestly SALUTE her patience and understanding toward Luan Nian. 😂❤️
It just shows how genuinely she loves him.
I also loved that the drama didn’t make her growth solely about romance. She had her own ambitions and worked hard to build a career and identity of her own.

And Sun Qian… 🥹❤️
I loved the innocence she brought to Shang Zhitao. She didn’t need to constantly baby-talk or exaggerate her mannerisms to show her youthfulness. Her expressions and acting were enough. 😍

And their chemistry?!
OVER. THE. TOP. 🔥🔥🔥
The eye contact. 👀 The silent nods. The arguments. The make-ups. The little gestures. The tension. The way they look at each other…
EVERYTHING! 😭❤️
Their chemistry is one of the biggest reasons I was so invested in their relationship.

😭 AND THAT AURORA SCENE…
When Luan Nian was devastated after Flora disappeared…
I CRIED A BUCKET. 😭😭😭
That scene absolutely destroyed me!
I was so emotionally invested in these two that whenever they misunderstood each other, I WAS FRUSTRATED RIGHT ALONG WITH THEM! 😂😭

🏢 MORE THAN JUST A WORKPLACE ROMANCE
Early Spring isn’t just your typical workplace romance.
I also appreciated how it showed some of the realities of corporate life—the poaching of employees, stealing ideas, workplace harassment that some women experience but endure just to keep their jobs, seniority bullying, and the challenges of trying to prove yourself in a competitive environment.
And of course… meeting that one colleague who eventually becomes your BEST FRIEND. 🥹❤️
There’s a lot more to this drama than just the romance.

✨ OVERALL: 10/10 FOR ME! ✨
If you’ve been following my page, you already know that I’m usually into soft, fluffy, romantic-comedy dramas with lots of feel-good moments. 🥰❤️
So honestly, I NEVER expected to become this invested in Early Spring.
But here I am… COMPLETELY OBSESSED. 😂😭❤️
It surprised me, hooked me, frustrated me, made me laugh, and most importantly… made me FEEL.
And that’s exactly what I want from a drama. ❤️

🎶 BONUS: THE OST!
I’m absolutely in love with “HER” by my husband Liu Yuning! 😭❤️

His voice + this drama + Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao = PERFECTION. 🥹🎶

Final verdict: 10/10! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🚩 Red flags? Absolutely.
❤️ Toxic? Maybe.
😂 Addictive? 100%!
🥹 Did I fall for them anyway? ABSOLUTELY!

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