LayarHijau – The Early Spring has achieved another major milestone on Netflix after spending four consecutive weeks on the Global Top 10 for non-English TV shows. During one of those weeks, the Chinese drama starring Jing Boran and Sun Qian ranked No. 2 with 2.5 million views.
Netflix also recorded The Early Spring as the No. 1 show in six countries that week, while it reached the Top 10 in 27 countries. The achievement further highlights the drama’s international reach following its strong popularity in China.
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However, spending four consecutive weeks in the Top 10 does not mean The Early Spring remained at No. 2 throughout all four weeks. Netflix’s weekly rankings change based on the number of views recorded by each title. During the September 21–27 period, The Early Spring was eventually pushed out of the Top 10, while Plastic Beauty entered the rankings.
The Early Spring’s Global Performance Since Its Debut
The Early Spring initially attracted international attention when it debuted at No. 2 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 for non-English TV shows. During its debut week, the drama recorded 2.4 million views and entered the Top 10 in 22 countries.
That early performance became one of the first signs that the Chinese drama was attracting audiences beyond its domestic market. Its popularity continued over the following weeks, allowing The Early Spring to remain in Netflix’s Global Top 10 for four consecutive weeks.
The Early Spring Becomes Weibo’s Most Popular Drama
The drama’s international performance has been accompanied by strong popularity in China. The official The Early Spring account previously described the series as the most popular drama on Weibo in 2026.
According to data shared by the official account, The Early Spring generated 38.2 million interactions and 1,323 trending topics on Weibo. The drama was also said to have surpassed a drama index of 100 million within just three days.
The figures reflect the level of attention The Early Spring received on Chinese social media, while its Netflix performance helped extend that reach to international viewers.
Youku China Releases Four Special Episodes
After the main drama concluded, Youku China also released four special episodes of The Early Spring under the High-Sweet Version format. The episodes contain additional material edited from the drama’s existing footage, with each running for around an hour.
The first special episode was released on September 19, followed by three additional episodes. The specials are not a continuation of the story after Episode 24, but instead feature additional moments involving Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao.
Youku has also provided approximately five-minute free previews for each special episode. So far, the special episodes have been released for viewers on Youku China and have not yet been made available on Youku International.
Viewers Still Want the Deleted Scenes
The release of the special episodes has also renewed discussions about material from The Early Spring that did not appear in the main broadcast version.
Some viewers are hoping Youku will eventually release scenes that were genuinely cut from the drama, rather than simply rearranging existing footage into special episodes. The demand comes partly from promotional materials that featured moments that did not appear in full in the finished drama.
However, footage shown in promotional materials does not automatically mean that every unreleased moment was deliberately cut from the final version. As a result, there is still no confirmation of how many unused scenes exist or what they contain.
Midsummer Clear and Bright Sparks Sequel Discussions
Discussions surrounding The Early Spring have continued following Youku’s official announcement on September 16 that it is developing a sequel titled Midsummer Clear and Bright.
Youku confirmed that the main creative team behind The Early Spring will return for the project. The sequel is part of Youku’s slate of projects planned for 2027, although the initial announcement did not reveal its cast or detailed storyline.
The announcement has led viewers to discuss two possibilities regarding the source of Midsummer Clear and Bright. One theory connects the sequel to the second novel in The Early Spring trilogy, Miss Chatterbox, while another suggests that the sequel could use an original story.
The second-novel theory also raises questions because Miss Chatterbox focuses on Lumi and Will rather than Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao. Therefore, there has been no official confirmation that Midsummer Clear and Bright will adapt the second novel.
Jing Boran and Sun Qian Reportedly May Return
Another major question is whether Jing Boran and Sun Qian will reprise their roles as Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao.
In September, reports emerged claiming that efforts were being made to bring both lead actors back for Midsummer Clear and Bright. Some reports also linked their possible return to production plans later this year.
However, Youku has not officially announced the cast for the sequel. For now, reports about Jing Boran and Sun Qian returning remain unconfirmed rather than an official casting announcement.
With The Early Spring’s four-week run in Netflix’s Global Top 10 now complete, attention surrounding the drama has moved beyond its international performance. Its popularity on Weibo, the special episodes released by Youku China, viewers’ interest in additional footage, and the development of Midsummer Clear and Bright have all kept the drama in the spotlight after its main story concluded.
