The new Chinese drama The Early Spring (also known as Zao Chun Qing Lang) arrived on Youku on August 26, 2026, and on Netflix for international audiences shortly after. The show had everything going for it—a popular web novel adaptation, leading actors Jing Boran and Sun Qian, and a workplace romance premise that promised adult chemistry and career growth.
Within days, the show surpassed 10,000 heat index on Youku, becoming the fastest contemporary romance drama in 2026 to reach that mark. It also climbed to No. 6 on Netflix’s global charts and reached No. 1 in several countries, including Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
But here is the problem. Even with all that success, a growing number of viewers are dropping the show. And the biggest target of their frustration? The female lead, Shang Zhitao, played by Sun Qian.
So why are people so annoyed with the FL? Let us break it down.
A Struggling Intern Who Lives Like a Rich Girl
Shang Zhitao is supposed to be a recent college graduate from an ordinary family. She moves to Beijing to chase her career dreams. She rents a room in Tian Tong Yuan, a well-known area for people on a tight budget.
That is the setup. But what viewers actually see on screen does not match at all.
Instead of worrying about rent and daily expenses, the character walks around in expensive-looking outfits. She does not seem stressed about money. She does not show the struggles of a typical Beipiao (Beijing drifter).
One viewer put it plainly: “The female lead is renting in Tian Tong Yuan as a fresh intern. She should be counting every penny and worrying about living costs. But in the show, she wears designer knockoffs just to look good for an interview. It feels so fake”.
The drama tries to show her as a hardworking newcomer, but the details do not add up. She drives nice cars. She lives in a pretty apartment. She never looks tired or broke.
For viewers who know what it is really like to start from zero in a big city, this feels like a slap in the face.
The Fake Polo Shirt Controversy
One small detail created a big conversation online. In the first episode, Shang Zhitao wears a striped polo shirt with a small horse logo to her job interview.
Sharp-eyed viewers quickly noticed the logo looked like a copy of Ralph Lauren’s famous Polo design.
At first, people criticized the show. They wondered why a big production could not afford a real branded shirt for its main character.
But then the reaction changed. Many viewers started praising the choice.
Think about it. Shang Zhitao is a 22-year-old fresh graduate with no steady income. A real Ralph Lauren polo costs around ¥1,290 to ¥1,790 (about $180 to $250) on the official China website. That is a huge expense for someone who just started working.
The show’s character account on social media, “Shang Zhitao_Flora,” explained that her mother bought the shirt for her at a mall back home.
“My mom bought this for me at a shopping mall back home. It really brought me good luck.”
This detail made the character feel more real. A young job seeker with limited money would want to look presentable but cannot afford the real thing. Many viewers said this was one of the few times a drama showed what ordinary young people actually look like when they are trying to impress.
But even with this realistic touch, the character still faced major backlash for other reasons.
The Plot Makes No Sense for a Real Workplace
The show is supposed to be a workplace drama. But the workplace scenes make people who actually work in offices laugh—or cry.
Take the printer scene. In one episode, the office printer breaks. Instead of calling IT or asking building maintenance, the intern Shang Zhitao somehow ends up with the company director fixing it for her.
A company director leaving important work to fix a printer for a new hire? That does not happen in real life.
Then there is the first day at work. The new employee gets a ride home from her boss. Again, this is not how offices work.
The advertising agency office looks more like a fancy investment bank. Everything is shiny and perfect. There is no sign of the messy, stressful, deadline-driven life that real ad people live.
One review summed it up: “The show wants to be a workplace story, but every detail screams fantasy. It is like the writers have never worked in an office before”.
The Male Lead’s Behavior Gets Defended
The male lead, Luan Nian (played by Jing Boran), is a creative director. He is meant to be a strict but caring boss.
What viewers see is different.
In the interview scene, he cuts off Shang Zhitao while she is speaking. He tells her she is not good enough. He makes rude comments.
When she asks work questions, he says things like “I thought your time was not valuable” and “I do not deal with stupid people”.
One viewer wrote: “In a real workplace, this behavior would get reported to HR immediately. But the show acts like this is just a strict boss teaching a lesson”.
The problem is that the female lead accepts this treatment. She tells herself he is teaching her. She does not push back. She does not report him. She just takes it.
This sends a troubling message. It makes emotional abuse look like tough love. It makes power imbalance look romantic.
Some viewers even compared the dynamic to Fifty Shades of Grey because of the controlling boss and naive employee setup.
One social media user posted: “Back then, I literally watched Fifty Shades of Grey with my ex and now they had same vibes with The Early Spring”.
Another wrote: “Someone said The Early Spring is giving a soft version of Fifty Shades of Grey and now I can’t stop thinking about it”.
The Romance Moves Way Too Fast
The original novel is known for its slow-burn romance. The two main characters take six years to go from strangers to equals. They grow as people. They learn from each other. The relationship feels earned.
The drama throws all of that away.
Within the first few episodes, there is already a bedroom scene. By episode five, the leads have already confessed their feelings and started dating.
One frustrated viewer commented: “The original had six years of tension and growth. The show gives us five episodes and a rushed confession. Where is the buildup?”
The workplace growth story disappears. The romance takes over everything. Instead of watching Shang Zhitao become a capable professional, viewers watch her fall into a relationship with her boss.
The show claims to be about “adult mutual growth. But what it delivers is fast-food romance with no substance.
The Acting Divide
Sun Qian has received mostly positive reviews for her performance. Critics say she plays the awkwardness and determination of a newcomer to the workplace very well.
One review noted: “Sun Qian’s performance is natural and lively. She captures the greenness and stubbornness of a newcomer to the workplace perfectly”.
Another said: “Her micro-expressions and body movements are delicate and real. You can feel the character’s discomfort and wronged”.
But even good acting cannot save a poorly written character.
Some viewers have also criticized Sun Qian’s appearance. They say she does not match the novel’s description of Shang Zhitao as “plump and soft” and “ordinary-looking in the office”.
One comment read: “Sun Qian is 172 cm tall with a cool, elegant image. That is far from the ‘plump and soft’ Shang Zhitao from the book”.
Another viewer added: “Sun Qian’s looks are a bit plain. She is what you would call a ‘vibe beauty.’ She depends a lot on styling. Her flaws are still obvious. That is why people are complaining about her as the female lead”.
Jing Boran has faced more criticism. Some say his performance is too flat. He uses the same expression for every scene—angry, romantic, confused, it all looks the same.
One review stated: “When he acts opposite Sun Qian, she is full of emotion and layers. But he stays flat the whole time. He cannot match her energy”.
The Show Still Has Its Supporters
Not everyone hates the drama. Some viewers enjoy it for what it is—a guilty pleasure romance with attractive leads and steamy scenes.
One fan wrote: “I’m really enjoying it. If you like ‘second chance’ stories and romances with chemistry, you should definitely watch it”.
Another said: “I read the first third of the novel and felt meh. But the drama is surprisingly a lot better. Just pure, enjoyable hotness”.
The show has also been praised for its mature treatment of romantic intimacy. The chemistry between Jing Boran and Sun Qian has been called “sizzling” by multiple outlets.
But for many viewers, the problems outweigh the positives.
What Viewers Are Saying Online
Social media has been flooded with complaints. The criticism is not coming from a small group. It is widespread and consistent.
One user on Threads wrote: “After 10 episodes, my social conscience finds it hard to see this as romance. I see it as manipulation and power dynamics”.
Another viewer posted: “The show is popular, sure. But more and more people are dropping it. And the reasons are all the same”.
Some have even called for the show to be taken down. One headline read: “The Early Spring has only been on for four days, and viewers are asking for it to be removed. The reason is consistent: the values are twisted”.
The values criticism is serious. Viewers worry that the show normalizes toxic workplace behavior. They fear young audiences might think this is how real offices work or how real relationships should be.
One comment put it directly: “We do not want TV shows to give young viewers the wrong idea—that humiliation and pressure from a superior is actually a form of special affection”.
The Show’s Success Despite the Criticism
Here is the strange part. Despite all the negative feedback, The Early Spring is doing very well in terms of numbers.
It broke records on Youku. It is performing strongly on Netflix. The show is getting attention worldwide.
This creates a divide. The show is popular, but many of the people watching are not happy with what they see.
Some viewers are hate-watching. Others are watching because of the leads’ chemistry, even if they dislike the plot.
One analysis noted: “The show has sparked an unexpected conversation over a seemingly minor costume detail”. That conversation grew into a larger discussion about what makes a believable character and what crosses the line.
The Female Lead Gets Blamed
In all of this, the female lead character Shang Zhitao has become the main target.
She is blamed for being unrealistic. She is blamed for accepting bad treatment. She is blamed for not being pretty enough or not matching the book description.
But is that fair?
The character is written this way. The writers chose to make her passive. The writers chose to rush the romance. The writers chose to ignore the workplace realism.
Sun Qian can only do so much with the material she is given. And many critics agree she is doing a good job with what she has.
One supporter wrote: “Sun Qian’s performance as Shang Zhitao is natural. Especially the drunk scene—it was so cute. I heard it was improvised”.
Another said: “Sun Qian plays the stubbornness and resilience of a small character with layers. It is not a silly inspirational story. It is a real struggle with real growth”.
The Bigger Picture
The Early Spring is not the first drama to face these complaints. And it will not be the last.
The issues viewers are raising—unrealistic characters, rushed romance, toxic dynamics framed as romantic—are common in the genre.
But this show is getting extra attention because it promised something different. It said it would be about career growth and adult two-way journey. It said it would be grounded and real.
When a show makes big promises and then delivers the same old formulas, viewers feel tricked.
That is why people are annoyed. Not just with the female lead. With the whole package.
The female lead just happens to be the face of that disappointment.
Also Read:The Pearl Swindle: Release Schedule, Cast, Story and Everything You Need to Know
For more entertainment news and drama updates, keep visiting VvipTimes for the latest stories from the world of cinema and television.
Leave a Reply