The Early Spring is quickly becoming one of the C-dramas attracting attention from international viewers, thanks to its mature workplace romance, strong chemistry between its leads and a storyline that follows two people whose relationship changes dramatically over the years.
Starring Jing Boran and Sun Qian, the Chinese drama combines romance, career ambitions and second chances as its central characters navigate a complicated relationship while trying to find their place in the fast-moving world around them.
The series premiered internationally on Netflix on August 26, 2026, and has 24 episodes in total. Netflix has also reported that the drama reached No. 2 on its Global Non-English TV list during its first week of release.
If you’re wondering where to watch The Early Spring, who is in the cast, how many episodes there are or when new episodes arrive, here’s everything you need to know.
Spoiler warning: This article discusses the premise, characters and release information for The Early Spring. It avoids major ending spoilers.
What Is The Early Spring About?
The Early Spring is a contemporary Chinese workplace romance centred on Shang Zhi Tao, also known internationally as Flora, and Luan Nian, known as Luke.
Shang Zhi Tao arrives in Beijing determined to establish herself professionally and build a future on her own terms. Her path eventually crosses with Luan Nian, a talented but guarded creative executive.
What begins as a workplace connection gradually develops into a much more complicated relationship.
The two are attracted to each other, but their romance doesn’t unfold without problems. Career ambitions, emotional baggage and the changing circumstances of their lives repeatedly put pressure on their relationship.
Rather than presenting romance as a simple journey toward a happy ending, The Early Spring focuses on how two people can change through years of love, separation, mistakes and personal growth.
Netflix describes the series as a story about a gifted executive and an ambitious newcomer whose relationship develops against the pressures of a demanding workplace.
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How Many Episodes Does The Early Spring Have?
The Early Spring has 24 episodes.
The series premiered on August 26, 2026, with additional episodes released throughout its run. Netflix’s official announcement confirms the 24-episode count and notes that the first 13 episodes were available internationally by September 2.
Because streaming schedules can vary by platform and region, viewers should check the Netflix listing for the latest availability in their country.
The Early Spring Netflix Release Schedule
The drama began streaming internationally on Netflix on August 26, 2026.
The reported release pattern began with multiple episodes on the premiere date before moving to a regular daily rollout. However, published episode calendars have differed, so viewers should rely on the Netflix episode listing for the final schedule in their region.
For viewers following the series day by day, the important information is that The Early Spring consists of 24 episodes and was released progressively rather than as a complete season all at once.
The Early Spring Episode Guide
| Episode | Release |
|---|---|
| Episodes 1–4 | August 26, 2026 |
| Episodes 5–6 | August 27, 2026 |
| Episodes 7–8 | August 28, 2026 |
| Episodes 9–10 | August 29, 2026 |
| Episodes 11 onward | Released progressively |
| Episode 24 | Final episode |
Release dates can vary by platform and territory, so check Netflix for the current episode availability.
Where Can You Watch The Early Spring?
International viewers can watch The Early Spring on Netflix.
The official Netflix listing identifies the series as a Chinese romantic TV drama starring Jing Boran, Sun Qian and Liu Xiaobei.
The drama also premiered in China through Youku, giving viewers in different markets access through different platforms.
Who Is in The Early Spring Cast?
The main cast is led by Jing Boran and Sun Qian, who play the central couple.
Sun Qian as Shang Zhi Tao / Flora
Sun Qian plays Shang Zhi Tao, also known internationally as Flora.
Her character is ambitious, sincere and determined to build a career in Beijing. As the story develops, Flora has to balance her feelings for Luan Nian with her desire for independence and professional success.
Her journey is an important part of the series because the story isn’t only about falling in love. It also follows Flora’s growth as she becomes more confident and independent.
Sun Qian is known for appearances in Chinese productions including Meteor Garden and Wild Bloom.
Jing Boran as Luan Nian / Luke
Jing Boran plays Luan Nian, or Luke, a highly talented creative executive with a guarded personality.
Luke initially appears confident and difficult to read. His relationship with Flora gradually reveals a more vulnerable side of his character.
As the story progresses, his emotional development becomes one of the central elements of the drama.
Netflix lists Jing Boran among the principal stars of the series.
Other Cast Members
The supporting cast includes Liu Xiaobei, Qi Tianqing, Zhang Yezi, Ning Xin, Zhao Zhenyu, Zhang You, Peng Yang and Cristy Guo.
These characters help expand the workplace and personal worlds surrounding Flora and Luke.
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Why Are Fans Talking About The Early Spring?
One reason The Early Spring has attracted attention is its approach to adult romance.
The series doesn’t spend its entire first half keeping the main couple apart. Instead, the relationship becomes an important part of the story relatively early, allowing the drama to explore what happens after attraction develops.
The chemistry between Jing Boran and Sun Qian has also become a major talking point among viewers.
Another unusual aspect is the production’s reported use of an intimacy coordinator, a role that helped structure intimate scenes and establish boundaries during filming. Several reports have described the drama as the first mainland Chinese production to officially use such a specialist.
The production team has explained that the purpose was not simply to make romantic scenes more explicit. The choreography was also intended to reflect changes in the characters’ relationship and emotional dynamic.
The Romance Between Flora and Luke
At the heart of The Early Spring is the complicated relationship between Flora and Luke.
Their attraction develops against a workplace setting, creating an additional layer of tension because their professional lives and personal feelings are closely connected.
The relationship also changes over time.
There are moments of closeness, conflict and separation, with both characters having to confront their own shortcomings.
Flora’s career ambitions are particularly important to the story. She doesn’t simply abandon her goals for romance. Instead, her professional development becomes part of her personal journey.
Luke, meanwhile, has to confront his own emotional defences.
The result is a romance built around the idea that loving someone doesn’t necessarily mean losing your own identity.
Is The Early Spring Based on a Novel?
Yes.
The Early Spring is based on the Chinese web novel 《早春晴朗》 (Zao Chun Qing Lang) by Gu Niang Bie Ku (姑娘别哭).
The novel provides the source material for the relationship and characters that viewers see in the television adaptation.
For readers who discovered the novel first, the drama offers a different way to experience the same story because television can use performances, music, locations and visual storytelling to communicate emotions that a novel presents through narration and internal thoughts.
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Is The Drama Faithful to the Novel?
The television adaptation follows the central characters and relationship from the source material, but viewers shouldn’t necessarily expect a scene-by-scene recreation of the novel.
Adaptations often change pacing, dialogue, supporting characters and the way certain emotional moments are presented.
That is particularly interesting with The Early Spring because the story spans a long period of emotional development.
Readers familiar with the novel may therefore notice differences in how Flora and Luke’s relationship is presented on screen.
If you’re interested in the adaptation itself, comparing the drama with the novel can reveal how the filmmakers translated the characters’ internal emotions into visual storytelling.
What Makes The Early Spring Different From Other C-Dramas?
Many Chinese romance dramas rely heavily on a familiar pattern in which the leads spend a large portion of the story slowly discovering their feelings.
The Early Spring takes a somewhat different approach.
The attraction between Flora and Luke becomes clear relatively early, allowing the story to spend more time examining the complications that come after two people become emotionally involved.
The workplace setting also gives the romance a more mature atmosphere, while the characters’ professional ambitions prevent the relationship from becoming their only concern.
That combination of romance, career and personal growth is one of the reasons the series has attracted international attention.
The Early Spring: What to Expect From the Story
Without giving away major spoilers, viewers can expect a story involving:
- Workplace romance
- Complicated relationships
- Career ambitions
- Separation and reunion
- Emotional growth
- Personal independence
- Second chances
- A long-term relationship journey
The series is particularly focused on how Flora and Luke change as individuals rather than simply asking whether they will become a couple.
Is The Early Spring Worth Watching?
If you enjoy modern C-dramas with romance, workplace settings and more mature relationship dynamics, The Early Spring is worth adding to your watchlist.
The combination of Jing Boran and Sun Qian gives the drama a strong central pairing, while the story gives both characters goals outside their romance.
The series has also performed strongly internationally. According to Netflix, The Early Spring debuted at No. 2 on its Global Non-English TV list for the week of August 24–30, recording 2.4 million views and 21.5 million hours viewed.
The Early Spring FAQs
How many episodes does The Early Spring have?
The Early Spring has 24 episodes.
Where can I watch The Early Spring?
The drama is available internationally on Netflix.
Who plays the main characters?
Jing Boran plays Luan Nian/Luke, while Sun Qian plays Shang Zhi Tao/Flora.
Is The Early Spring a romance drama?
Yes. Netflix categorises the series as a romantic TV drama and Chinese TV show.
Is The Early Spring based on a novel?
Yes. The drama is adapted from the Chinese web novel Zao Chun Qing Lang by Gu Niang Bie Ku.
When did The Early Spring premiere?
The series premiered on August 26, 2026.
Final Thoughts
The Early Spring offers more than a straightforward office romance.
Through Flora and Luke, the drama explores attraction, ambition, emotional vulnerability and the ways people can change over the course of a relationship.
With 24 episodes, a high-profile lead pairing and an increasingly popular international release on Netflix, the series has quickly become a title worth watching for C-drama fans.
And for viewers who want to go deeper into the story, the original novel provides another opportunity to explore the characters and compare how the written story was transformed for television.
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