Netflix’s ‘The Early Spring’ Ends Its First Chapter, Opening the Door for More Chinese Dramas

The Early Spring wraps its 24‑episode run with a bittersweet farewell that may signal a longer Netflix push for Chinese dramas.

Why The Early Spring matters for Netflix’s Asian slate

From a web novel by Gu Niang Bie Ku to a binge‑worthy series on Youku and Netflix, the show charts a fresh graduate’s clash with corporate hierarchy in Beijing. When Shang Zhitao (Sun Qian) quits the capital in episode 21, titled “A Grand Retreat,” she isn’t merely leaving a city; she’s rejecting a relentless career treadmill.

Her decision follows three blows: a cold marriage talk with boss Luan Nian (Jing Boran), the suicide of a close friend, and being passed over for a promotion in favor of a nepotism‑linked junior. These setbacks push her toward Harbin, where she launches her own agency.

Season finale: a tentative reunion

Years later, Nian reappears under the pretext of a joint project, using their Samoyed, Luke, as an excuse. Gradually he proves change, culminating in a gallery proposal dubbed “Flora’s Museum of Time and Eternity.” Zhitao accepts, and the pair split their lives between Harbin and Beijing.

“Audiences in Asia have long loved this category, but we’re making them accessible to an even bigger global viewership,” says Maya Huang, head of Chinese‑Language Content at Netflix.

Netflix’s Reuters report notes a ↑ 10% rise in Chinese‑drama streams worldwide since 2023, while Bloomberg highlights the platform’s strategy to license titles rather than operate directly in mainland China.

Although Chinese series rarely earn second seasons, the source material offers a sequel—Miss Talkative—focused on Zhitao’s colleague Lumi. Should Netflix secure the rights, a new chapter could extend the franchise.

Reported by Donovan Trent (Global Sports Analytics Director).