I have no idea where I was or what I was doing when C-drama The Early Spring began filming (September, 2025) or wrapped its filming (end of November of the same year), as I have no recollection of ever hearing anything about this drama at all.
So it was a pleasant surprise this morning to see a slew of posters dropping for The Early Spring in celebration of Chinese Valentine’s Day, and realizing the Chinese contemporary romance drama stars two standout actors — Jing Bo Ran and Sun Qian.
After a bit of research, though, it does seem to me that this one may not be for everyone as, according to people who have read the novel it’s based on (“Zao Chun Qing Lang” (早春晴朗) by Gu Niang Bie Ku (姑娘别哭)) the drama follows the relationship of a couple who work together, with the man being the woman’s boss, and turning out to be pretty toxic.
Now, this kind of story generally doesn’t bother me as I have thought for years that the term ‘toxic’ is overused and often isn’t actually true and, second, I usually find dramas where the man is difficult are far more interesting than those with just your average run of the mill lead.
In other words, what other people deem to be ‘toxic’, I just find fascinating.
How toxic is the plot of The Early Spring?
This is the rundown for the plot of The Early Spring, so see for yourself if it might be for you as well:
On her first day at work, the sharp-tongued boss, Luan Nian, tries to fire Shang Zhitao, whose educational background was average. But, eventually, the two embark on a secret romance through an “accident,” and end up in a relationship marked by intense struggles and mutual growth.
After several years together, however, a misunderstanding has Shang Zhitao leave Luan Nian and return to her hometown where she runs her own special events company.
Sure, I don’t know much more than that, but nothing about that sounds particularly disturbing, does it to you?
The Chinese drama also features a so-called “real life age gap”, (how fragile or naive do you have to be to think an age gap is remotely problematic in this day and age (?), but some people, weirdly, still do), with Jing Bo Ran being 37 and Sun Qian being 29.
In other words, actors at appropriate ages performing together. But, of course, you can guarantee some people will be fake “outraged”, as there’s always some of that.
The Early Spring co-stars Liu Xiao Bei (You Are My Fateful Love), Qi Tian Qing (Our Homeland), Zhang Ye Zi (Footprints of Change), and Ning Xin (The Inner Eye), so its supporting cast is low key, with nobody standing out to me as being particularly newsworthy.
Sometimes, though, they make the best kinds of casts as someone you don’t expect to be “all that” suddenly turns out to be spectacular.
No word yet, of course, when The Early Spring will premiere, but I will keep you in the loop as more information drops.
Until then, enjoy the romantic posters. Pretty, eh?
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