Netflix’s Chinese-language workplace romance The Early Spring has made an impressive global debut, landing at No. 2 on the streaming platform’s Global Non-English TV List for the week of August 24–30. The series recorded 2.4 million views and 21.5 million hours viewed during its first week of availability, putting it behind only the title that topped Netflix’s non-English television rankings for the same period.
The early success also extends beyond Netflix’s worldwide ranking. The Early Spring entered the weekly Top 10 in 22 markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Venezuela and Qatar, while reaching No. 1 on Netflix’s weekly TV charts in Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam. The strong opening has helped draw international attention to the series’ central romance and its two leads, Jing Bo-ran and Sun Qian.
Why The Early Spring Is Connecting With Global Netflix Viewers
Directed by Chiang Chi-cheng and written and produced by Gao Xiao-xian, The Early Spring follows Luke Luan, a highly talented corporate creative director played by Jing Bo-ran, and Flora Shang, a determined newcomer portrayed by Sun Qian. Their professional relationship gradually develops into a secret romance as they deal with workplace pressure, personal ambitions and the complications of keeping their relationship hidden. Netflix describes the series as a romance centered on a warmhearted new employee and her gifted boss whose relationship could jeopardize their careers.
The series has also received attention for the chemistry between its two leads. Director Chiang said their
“contrast and chemistry feel completely natural,”
while describing them as a pairing with a distinctive emotional rhythm rather than a conventional idol-drama couple. Gao similarly emphasized that the casting process focused on finding performers who could capture both the characters’ personalities and their emotional depth.
Jing’s preparation for Luke reportedly went beyond his performance. According to Netflix, the actor worked closely with Gao to discuss Luke’s emotional journey before filming, helped shape the character’s fashion-forward wardrobe and exercised almost every day for the role. Gao praised his preparation, saying,
“Jing Bo-ran always comes prepared.”
Sun Qian has also connected personally with Flora’s story. The actress revealed that, like her character, she comes from Harbin and moved to Beijing to pursue her career. She also noted that Flora’s decade-long journey mirrors her own tenth year in the entertainment industry, giving her a particularly strong connection to the role.
Chiang said his goal was to move away from the conventions of a typical romance drama and explore intimacy and relationships from a more mature perspective. The response suggests that approach is already resonating with audiences outside China, with the show’s international rankings giving The Early Spring a strong start.
The Early Spring premiered on August 26, 2026, and has 24 episodes in total. The first 13 episodes are currently streaming globally on Netflix, with additional episodes scheduled to arrive later.
