@Scenestealer created 10 reasons you should watch Against the Current which are great points in deciding whether to watch this drama or not.

I keep seeing some variation of Should I start this? Is it good? Is it slow? Is the romance worth it?

I could answer yes to all four and still have no idea whether you should watch it.

So let's try this instead.

10 reasons you should, or absolutely should not, watch Against the Current:

1. You want revenge.

Wrong address. The drama gives Lanxiang every reason to become an avenging female lead and then gives her the considerably less glamorous business of staying alive.

2. You think “slow” and “nothing happens” are synonyms.

People work, earn, marry, lose status, change households and discover exactly how expensive independence is. If nobody plotting a conspiracy means “nothing happened,” this could be a long 47 episodes.

3. You’re here for the romance.

Bring provisions. The leads can spend episodes barely interacting, and when romance does arrive, it prefers trust, familiarity and changed behaviour to romantic milestones. Actual slow burn. Terrible misuse of the term, I know.

4. You like your heroines Strong™.

Proceed carefully. Lanxiang retreats, compromises, accepts help and occasionally knows when she's beaten. Then she makes sure she's harder to beat next time. Less impressive in an edit. Much more interesting over 47 episodes.

5. Someone told you this is the next Ming Lan.

It isn't. Households, marriage, money and women navigating social constraints? Yes. Ming Lan 2? Please let that poor woman rest.

6. You like supporting characters to remember they're supporting characters.

Bad news. The women here insist on having their own marriages, ambitions, compromises, grudges and terrible decisions. Very inconsiderate. Also one of the drama's best qualities.

7. Historical texture matters to you.

Good news: the world looks unusually lived in. Bad news: occasionally someone opens their mouth and the 21st century gets excellent reception in the courtyard. I have learned to negotiate.

8. You came for court intrigue.

Temper expectations. This drama understands what happens around a family dinner table considerably better than what happens around a throne. Fortunately, the dinner table is often where its real politics are.

9. You prefer dramas that trust you to get the point.

Results vary. At its best, Against the Current trusts a gesture, a transaction or a changed relationship to do the work. At other times, it becomes concerned you weren't paying attention and sends someone over to explain the homework.

10. You need to know what kind of drama this is.

Good luck. Family drama, survival story, romance, power struggles within a household, social commentary. All present. None entirely in charge. Sometimes the mixture is richer for it. Sometimes you can see the seams.

Still here? Then I'd probably try episode one.

If you abandoned this list somewhere around #3, this may not be your 47 episodes