The premiere of Spring Fever sets the stage for a romance shrouded in mystery and small-town whispers. Instead of rushing headlong into charm, the episode leans into hidden truths, awkward encounters, and carefully planted intrigue. It's a slow, slightly heavy-handed start that invites viewers to linger, anticipating the promise of what's yet to unfold.
Spring Fever Episode 1 runs approximately 75 minutes.
Stars: Ahn Bo-hyun, Lee Joo-bin, Cha Seo-won
The first episode of Spring Fever opens with a strange, recurring dream. A woman confidently writes on a classroom blackboard, only to be interrupted by another woman who suddenly slaps her. This unsettling image jolts Yoon Bom out of a dream she's been having for months.
Formerly a passionate teacher in Seoul, famous for her nickname "Story Hunter," Bom's life has taken a dramatic turn. Now she lives in the small town of Sinsu, teaching ethics at a local school, dressed in black from head to toe and deliberately keeping herself out of sight. Her classmates openly gossip about her, completely unaware that she's right there beside them.
The school's tranquility is shattered by the arrival of Seon Jae-gyu, a hulking, imposing man with an intimidating presence and a dragon tattoo that immediately sends the teachers into a panic. Rumors circulate that he's a violent thug capable of stealing cars and digging graves.
Jae-gyu is there because his nephew, Seon Han-gyeol, was denied a school award despite being one of the top students. The reason? Supposedly, he "has no parents." Jae-gyu vehemently denies this, making it clear that he raised Han-gyeol himself and deserves to be recognized as his guardian.
While most are afraid of him, Bom harbors a quiet curiosity. After a tense but awkward encounter one night outside her rented house, she begins to suspect that Jae-gyu isn't the monster everyone makes him out to be. Her doubts grow when she sees him having lunch with his supposed "gang" at a local market, who turn out to be anything but dangerous. Even the fearsome tattoo seems questionable.
Despite this, Bom feels nervous during the parent-teacher conference. Jae-gyu, on the other hand, seems strangely fascinated by her and hints that they might have met before, something Bom doesn't recall. Meanwhile, the episode introduces a central plot point: Choi Yi-joon, a lawyer in Seoul, files a lawsuit against Jae-gyu. It's revealed that Yi-joon was bullied in high school and believes Jae-gyu was responsible, suggesting a darker past that's about to resurface.
The episode ends with a quiet yet intense moment as Jae-gyu leans in while discussing his nephew's grades, leaving Bom visibly nervous and the audience intrigued.
The premiere of Spring Fever leans heavily into mystery and slow-burn romance, but at times it feels overly complicated for a romantic comedy's opening. Too much information is withheld: Bom's past trauma, Jae-gyu's true profession, and their hinted shared history are all introduced without much emotional resolution. The result is an episode that feels more like a pilot than a gripping thriller, relying more on intrigue than momentum.
That said, the performances elevate the material. Lee Joo-bin convincingly portrays Bom's emotional duality: the withdrawn small-town schoolteacher and the confident woman she used to be.
Ahn Bo-hyun brings a surprisingly gentle side to Jae-gyu beneath his intimidating exterior. While the plot may seem convoluted, the chemistry and unanswered questions suggest that Spring Fever could find its footing once the romance truly begins.
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