Major government media outlet Red Star News (红星新闻) also reported on Zhao Lusi: "Zhao Lusi" Partners with Foundation to Send Relief to Nagqu, Tibet. China Foundation for Rural Development Posts Message Thanking Zhao Lusi for Sharing Love and Warmth with Disaster Victims. On October 24, the China Foundation for Rural Development published a post regarding the magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Nagqu, Tibet Autonomous Region, expressing gratitude to Zhao Lusi for collaborating with the foundation to support relief operations for those affected by the disaster. This assistance brings love and warmth while encouraging the affected areas to overcome this difficult time. Netizens poured into the comments to express their praise, saying, "Zhao Lusi did so well!!!!"
the host of harper’s bazaar gala shared that first sentence #zhaolusi said to her was “are you feeling cold?” and touched her arm 🥺❤️
“in that moment i was genuinely stunned, instead of following the flow of our interview, she turned her attention to me, concerned abt how i was feeling
the first thing she asked was whether i was cold
she was wearing a sleeveless dress herself that day, even her arms were freezing cold yet her first instinct was to check on me, in that moment i almost couldn’t hold back my tears
during that event for 3hrs straight i was actually shivering from the cold, even my hands kept shaking while holding the mic, she noticed how i was feeling and comforted me thoroughly
actually that sentence wasn’t picked up by the mic so no one else heard it, but i was deeply moved by lusi’s warmth and genuine kindness that’s why i want to share this side of her, she’s really such a kind and beautiful little girl”
On 23 Oct, Zhao Lusi’s “Little Guardians” Public Welfare Foundation continued making a real difference in children’s lives by supporting communities in Sichuan and Guangxi, despite people trying to slander her over the haute couture dress issue:
1. Guangxi: • Donated $50k to support 6 flood-affected schools • Established 12 art education classrooms worth approximately $42K • Delivered 11,772 teaching aids and educational materials • Organized art therapy sessions with professional music therapists and psychological counsellors • Trained 60+ local teachers
TMI: Guangxi was hit by devastating floods in July & August this year, leaving communities & schools struggling to recover. That’s why Lusi’s stepped in to help the affected children rebuild not just their classrooms, but also their sense of safety and hope.
2. Sichuan: • Donated 320 children’s health and emergency kits • Provided CPR, Heimlich maneuver & flood safety lessons • Organized psychological support activities • Conducted school bullying prevention lessons • Provided educational grants to 8 disadvantaged students
Beyond donations, the foundation provides practical skills, emotional support, and sustainable programmes to help children grow in a safer, healthier, and more supportive environment.
While some people are busy dragging her over a haute couture dress, she’s out here helping children heal, learn, and rebuild their futures. The contrast speaks for itself.
Zhao Lusi through the lens of Getty Images at the Bazaar Gala! 😍👏🏻
She looks absolutely gorgeous! She looks stunning from every angle—no bad shots, no awkward angles, and she completely owns the camera. She looks like a real-life princess, so sweet, elegant, and breathtakingly beautiful! Everything about her is just dripping with sweetness. 💗✨ https://x.com/sx0liysw/status/2113231294348017924?s=20
Zhao Lusi establishes 12 classrooms to support children affected by flooding in Guangxi 💗
Through the Little Guardians Fund (小小的守护基金), Zhao Lusi has supported the RITTIE ROSE project since its very beginning.
Following the floods in July, Zhao Lusi donated 300,000 yuan (approximately 1.5 million baht) to help establish art classrooms at six affected schools, giving children opportunities to develop their artistic appreciation. She also invited music therapy specialists and psychologists to lead emotional healing activities for the children, while providing training for more than 60 local teachers.
Most recently, on October 23, all 12 classrooms, with a total value of approximately 280,000 yuan, were successfully delivered and equipped. Along with them came 11,772 teaching and learning supplies, and the classrooms have officially begun operating.
These activities do more than help children learn about art. They also give them a safe opportunity to express themselves and work through feelings that can be difficult to put into words, with volunteers and teachers providing close support.
Perhaps the most touching part is that the children drew pictures and handmade gifts themselves, asking volunteers to take them back and give them to Zhao Lusi. It was a heartwarming way for the children to share their love and gratitude, creating a beautiful connection between those who give and those who receive. 💗
This project has truly helped so many children and opened up so many opportunities for them.
new updates regarding #zhaolusi’s new drama <告别信> farewell letter 💌
fanclub shared that lusi’s character name would be 葛栗 ge li 🌰 the name was not shared earlier due to production team’s requirement
additionally, announcements for all offline fan support events will only be released on the day it takes place, to avoid the situation where events cannot proceed as planned due to unforeseen circumstances
new updates regarding #zhaolusi’s new drama <告别信> farewell letter 💌
fanclub shared that lusi’s character name would be 葛栗 ge li 🌰 the name was not shared earlier due to production team’s requirement
additionally, announcements for all offline fan support events will only be released on the day it takes place, to avoid the situation where events cannot proceed as planned due to unforeseen circumstances
Against the Current (兰香如故) — A Beautiful, Heartbreaking Story of a Woman Who Refused to Give Up on Life
A drama that broke my heart, made me cry, and left me thinking about its characters long after the story ended.
Some dramas entertain you while you watch them, some make you fall in love with their characters, and some leave a permanent mark on your heart. Against the Current belongs to the last category for me. It is not simply a historical drama about love, family, betrayal, power, and survival. It is the story of a woman who loses almost everything life could take away from her, yet continues to move forward with dignity, intelligence, kindness, and extraordinary strength.
What makes this drama so special is that it allows us to witness the different stages of its female lead's life. We see her as a daughter, a granddaughter, a woman who experiences devastating loss, an adopted daughter who discovers a new meaning of family, a servant forced to survive in an unfamiliar position, and ultimately a woman determined to reclaim her own destiny. Her journey is painful, complicated, and deeply moving. By the time the story reaches its conclusion, it feels as though we have travelled through an entire lifetime alongside her.
1. The writing: A story about an entire life, not just a single romance
One of the things I appreciate most about Against the Current is the ambition of its storytelling. The drama does not limit itself to one central conflict or depend entirely on the romantic relationship between the leads. Instead, it builds a much larger story around the life of Shen Jialan, who later lives under the name Xu Lanxiang.
The destruction of the Shen family changes the direction of her entire life. The future she once expected disappears, her identity becomes something she must protect, and the world she once knew is replaced by a reality in which survival itself becomes a struggle. What makes this so heartbreaking is that Jialan is not simply losing her social position. She is losing her home, her family, her security, and the life she should have been allowed to live.
The writing becomes particularly meaningful because it shows how one tragedy can influence every decision that follows. Jialan cannot simply return to the person she was before. She has to learn how to live with what happened, protect the people who remain beside her, and find a future in circumstances she never chose.
I also appreciate that the story explores the lives of women living within a rigid social hierarchy. Their choices are often restricted by family expectations, financial dependence, marriage arrangements, and the power held by others. Through Jialan and the women around her, the drama shows that strength does not always mean fighting openly. Sometimes strength means thinking carefully, remaining patient, protecting someone more vulnerable, or refusing to let a cruel world take away your sense of humanity.
The story's greatest achievement is its emotional breadth. It gives us political conflict, family drama, personal struggles, complicated relationships, and moments of tenderness that make the painful scenes even more powerful. The quiet domestic moments matter just as much as the major dramatic events because they show us what the characters are fighting to protect.
If I had one criticism, it would be that some parts of such a long and eventful life could have benefited from more time, especially the later stages of Jialan's journey. Nevertheless, the overall story offers a moving portrait of endurance, sacrifice, and the meaning of living well after experiencing profound loss.
2. Shen Jialan / Xu Lanxiang: A female lead whose entire journey deserves appreciation
For me, the heart and soul of this drama is Shen Jialan, also known as Xu Lanxiang.
What makes her such a memorable female lead is that her strength is not presented as something effortless. She is not a character who can simply escape every difficult situation because she is intelligent or capable. She faces circumstances that are unfair, painful, and sometimes beyond her control. She has to adapt, make difficult decisions, and keep moving forward even when life gives her every reason to lose hope.
Her transformation is one of the most compelling aspects of the drama. At the beginning, we understand that she comes from a family with its own traditions, values, and expectations for her future. Then everything changes. She is forced to live under another identity and navigate a world in which her position offers her very little protection.
Yet she never becomes completely defined by what happened to her.
What I admire most about Jialan is that she does not allow suffering to erase her kindness. She remains observant, thoughtful, intelligent, and compassionate. Even when she has experienced betrayal and injustice, she can still recognise the struggles of other people. She does not need to destroy everyone around her to prove that she is strong.
Her intelligence is also beautifully incorporated into the story. She observes people carefully, understands the relationships around her, and uses her judgement to solve problems. Her growth comes not only from surviving hardship but also from learning how to navigate a world in which people have different levels of power and freedom.
And then there is her emotional strength.
Jialan often has to contain her feelings because revealing too much could put her at risk. This makes her quieter moments especially meaningful. There is a difference between a character who feels nothing and one who has learned that she cannot always express what she feels. Jialan's journey is about carrying those emotions while still finding the strength to continue.
I love that her story is ultimately about more than winning a man's love or obtaining a higher social position. It is about reclaiming her identity, restoring her family's honour, seeking justice, protecting the people she loves, and building a life that belongs to her.
She is not simply a tragic heroine. She is a woman who continues to live, think, love, care, and make choices despite everything that has happened to her.
That is what makes her journey so meaningful.
3. Tan Songyun's performance: A portrayal I genuinely admire
Tan Songyun's portrayal of Shen Jialan / Xu Lanxiang deserves special appreciation. Her performance is one of the major reasons the character's journey feels so personal and emotionally engaging.
What impressed me most was her facial expressions. Her eyes, the subtle changes in her expression, her pauses, and the way she carries herself all contribute to the character. There are moments when a small change in her face communicates more than a long speech could.
I especially appreciate the restraint in her performance. Jialan is someone who frequently has to hide her true identity and carefully manage what other people see. Tan Songyun captures that guarded quality while still allowing us to recognise the emotions beneath it. Her composure does not necessarily mean that Jialan is unaffected. Instead, it often suggests that she has learned to control what she reveals.
For me, that distinction is important.
Her expressions make the character's emotional journey feel layered. We can appreciate the intelligence and determination on the surface while also feeling the sadness, vulnerability, and affection that she does not always express openly.
I also admire how she portrays the different sides of Jialan's personality. She can be composed and calculating when dealing with difficult situations, gentle when caring for the people close to her, and emotionally vulnerable when circumstances touch the deepest parts of her life.
Her performance helps connect these different stages of the character's journey. Jialan's circumstances change dramatically, but the values at her core remain recognisable.
I would describe Tan Songyun's acting here as top-notch for the qualities I value most in this character: controlled expressions, emotional subtlety, a convincing sense of dignity, and the ability to make quiet moments meaningful. Her portrayal gives Jialan an identity beyond the events happening around her.
Most importantly, she made me care about Jialan's life. I was not merely watching to find out what would happen next. I wanted her to find peace, happiness, freedom, and the chance to live without constantly having to fight for them.
That emotional investment is one of the greatest compliments I can give an actor.
4. The adoptive parents: The meaning of family and unconditional love
If there is one relationship that made this drama especially emotional for me, it is the relationship between Xu Lanxiang and her adoptive parents, Xu Wanquan and Xue Guihua.
Their kindness is one of the most beautiful parts of the story.
After losing her original family and being forced into an entirely different life, Jialan finds people who offer her something she desperately needs: a place where she can be cared for, where her well-being matters, and where she is not valued simply for her status or usefulness.
Xue Guihua, in particular, left a deep impression on me.
What makes their relationship so touching is that their love is expressed through ordinary acts of care. Preparing food, worrying about her health, giving her a place to rest, and wanting her to have a better life may seem like small things, but they become incredibly meaningful in the context of everything Jialan has lost.
Their home represents a kind of safety that the outside world cannot promise her.
I also appreciate the way the drama presents adoption and family. Xue Guihua and Xu Wanquan do not become important to Jialan merely because they help her survive. They become her parents through the affection, concern, sacrifices, and shared life that develop between them.
They show that family is not determined only by blood. Family is also built through the people who stand beside you when you have little left to offer the world.
And this is why the death of Jialan's adoptive mother was one of the most heartbreaking moments for me.
Xue Guihua's death hurt because she was so much more than an adoptive mother. She was a source of warmth, safety, and unconditional love in Jialan's life.
After everything Jialan had endured, the love she received from her adoptive parents felt like a small piece of happiness that life had finally allowed her to keep. Losing that source of comfort made the tragedy feel especially cruel.
I cried because I had come to understand what Xue Guihua meant to Jialan. It was not simply the death of another character in a long drama. It was the loss of a mother-daughter bond that had given the story some of its most tender and hopeful moments.
The sadness comes from remembering all the little things that made their relationship beautiful. The care, the affection, the quiet sacrifices, and the desire to see Jialan live well all become even more precious when we realise that those moments cannot last forever.
Xue Guihua's love remains important to Jialan's story even after she is gone. The kindness she gives her adopted daughter becomes part of the strength with which Jialan faces the world.
For me, this relationship is one of the strongest emotional foundations of the entire drama.
5. The deaths and tragedies: Why I cried throughout the story
One of the most difficult things about watching Against the Current is how much emotional attachment it builds before taking its characters through devastating experiences.
I cried when characters died because the drama gives their relationships meaning. We are not simply witnessing events on a screen. We have spent time understanding who these people are, what they mean to one another, and what their presence contributes to the lives around them.
The tragedy surrounding the Shen family establishes the immense cost of political injustice. Jialan loses the world she once knew, and the consequences extend far beyond her own suffering. The story asks us to think about the innocent people caught in circumstances they cannot control and the lives that are permanently changed by decisions made by those with power.
The death of her adoptive mother affected me especially deeply, but the other losses also contributed to the emotional weight of the story. Each death reminds us that the characters cannot simply return to the lives they had before.
And then there is Lin Jinqi.
His death is particularly painful because his relationship with Jialan is tied to so many different stages of her life. He is connected to her past, to the life she might once have imagined, and to the complicated reality she must navigate as Xu Lanxiang.
Their relationship is not simple. It is shaped by betrayal, changed circumstances, conflicting expectations, emotional distance, and the gradual development of understanding. This complexity makes the connection between them more meaningful than a straightforward romance.
Lin Jinqi's death is heartbreaking because of everything his character represents in Jialan's life and everything that is left unresolved by the loss. After following their relationship through so many difficulties, seeing his life come to an end brings a different kind of sadness.
It is the sadness of knowing that even when people finally begin to understand one another, life does not necessarily give them unlimited time to make up for what has happened.
I found the emotional impact of these deaths particularly powerful because they are connected to the drama's wider message: life is uncertain, happiness can be fragile, and the people who make our lives meaningful are never just background characters in our personal stories.
The drama made me laugh with its warmer moments, feel anxious when the characters were in danger, become frustrated by the injustices they faced, and cry when their happiness was taken away.
That range of emotions is a testament to how invested I became in their lives.
6. Lin Jinqi and the male lead's character development
Liu Xueyi's portrayal of Lin Jinqi brings another important dimension to the drama.
Lin Jinqi is a character whose circumstances, responsibilities, and personal decisions affect the direction of Jialan's life. His position gives him a kind of power that she does not have, and the differences between their circumstances are central to the conflicts in their relationship.
What makes him interesting is that his character cannot be understood through romance alone. He is shaped by family expectations, social position, political realities, and the consequences of his own choices.
Liu Xueyi brings a restrained quality to the role that works well for a character who does not always communicate his feelings directly. His expressions and silences help create a sense of a person who has thoughts and emotions that are not necessarily expressed in words.
His scenes with Tan Songyun benefit from this contrast. Jialan and Jinqi have a complicated history, and their interactions carry the weight of everything that has happened between them. Their connection develops within a story where trust, freedom, responsibility, and personal choice matter just as much as affection.
I also appreciate that their relationship invites viewers to think critically about love. Loving someone is not only about feelings; it is also about understanding their circumstances, respecting their choices, and recognising the consequences of one's actions.
Their story has painful and imperfect aspects, but that is part of what makes it emotionally engaging.
Lin Jinqi's eventual death gives their story a tragic dimension. It makes the time they have together feel even more significant and leaves the audience reflecting on the complicated path that brought them to that point.
Tan Songyun and Liu Xueyi create a central relationship that gives the drama emotional depth, even when the story around them is concerned with family, politics, and survival.
7. The supporting cast: Every character contributes to the emotional world
Another strength of Against the Current is its supporting cast.
A drama covering such a long and complicated story needs more than a compelling female lead. It needs supporting characters who feel like people with their own motivations, struggles, weaknesses, and hopes.
The supporting actors help create that wider world.
Guo Keyu deserves particular appreciation for her portrayal of Xue Guihua. She brings warmth and tenderness to the character, making her affection for Jialan feel natural rather than exaggerated. Her performance helps explain why the adoptive mother-daughter relationship becomes so emotionally important.
Chen Chuang also contributes to the story through Xu Wanquan. Together, the two actors make the adoptive parents feel like a genuine family rather than characters who exist only to move the plot forward.
Li Meng's portrayal of Zhao Xingtang adds complexity to the drama's exploration of women and their circumstances. Her character's choices and conflicts encourage us to look beyond simple labels and consider how social expectations, personal grievances, and unequal power can shape a person's life.
Zheng Hehuizi also adds a distinctive presence as Du Cuique, while Niu Junfeng's Han Liang contributes another perspective to the story's exploration of relationships and the future Jialan might choose for herself.
What I appreciate is that the supporting characters help the world feel larger than the female lead's immediate struggles. Their actions create consequences, their relationships affect one another, and their experiences reveal different sides of the society in which the story takes place.
Not every character needs to be perfect to be memorable. Sometimes a character becomes interesting precisely because of their flaws, contradictions, or difficult choices.
The performances across the cast help make the drama feel like an interconnected human story. Even when I disagreed with a character or felt frustrated by their actions, I could appreciate the role they played in shaping the events and emotions of the story.
8. The direction: Bringing emotional depth and visual storytelling together
The direction deserves appreciation for bringing together the drama's different elements: family relationships, political conflict, personal transformation, romance, and tragedy.
A story that follows a character through so many changes can easily become a sequence of disconnected events. The direction helps give those events a sense of continuity by keeping Jialan's emotional journey at the centre.
The quieter scenes are particularly important. Not every meaningful moment needs a dramatic confrontation or an emotional speech. Sometimes a pause, a look, or a conversation between family members can tell us more about a relationship than a major plot twist.
The emotional scenes also depend on restraint. If every moment is treated as equally dramatic, the audience can become overwhelmed and lose the ability to distinguish between different kinds of sadness. The drama's more intimate scenes allow us to connect with the characters before the next major turning point arrives.
I especially appreciate the way the story moves between the larger political circumstances and the intimate details of everyday life. The political conflicts explain why the characters face such difficult situations, while the family scenes show us what those conflicts actually mean for ordinary people.
This balance helps the drama feel personal even when the stakes become very large.
The director and creative team deserve credit for bringing these different narrative threads together into a story that encourages viewers to care about the people at its centre.
9. Cinematography: Beautiful visuals that complement the story
The cinematography is another aspect I would like to appreciate.
Historical dramas depend heavily on their visual atmosphere. The audience needs to believe in the world the characters inhabit, from the grand residences and formal settings to the quieter spaces where families eat, work, talk, and care for one another.
In Against the Current, the visual presentation complements the emotional tone of the story. The compositions, framing, lighting, and use of space contribute to the atmosphere surrounding the characters.
I particularly appreciate the contrast between the grandeur associated with the powerful families and the intimacy of the scenes in which Jialan experiences genuine affection. Those different environments help reinforce the distinction between social status and emotional security.
A beautiful residence may represent wealth and privilege, but it does not automatically provide happiness. Conversely, a modest home can become one of the warmest places in a character's life because it is filled with care and acceptance.
That contrast makes the story's visual world meaningful rather than merely decorative.
The cinematography also helps establish the emotional mood of different scenes. The way a character is framed, the distance between two people, and the visual space surrounding them can all reinforce feelings of isolation, closeness, uncertainty, or vulnerability.
These are details that viewers might not consciously notice in every scene, but they contribute to the overall experience.
For a drama with so many emotional transitions, visual consistency is important. The cinematography helps create a world that feels coherent while allowing the mood to change as the story develops.
10. Costumes, styling, sets, and production design
The costumes and production design also deserve recognition.
In a historical drama, costumes are not simply beautiful clothes. They help establish the social position of the characters, distinguish different environments, and contribute to our understanding of their changing circumstances.
Jialan's journey makes this especially important. Her life changes dramatically, and her identity as a noblewoman and her later existence as Xu Lanxiang place her in very different social worlds.
Costume styling can help communicate those changes without requiring the dialogue to explain everything. Clothing, accessories, hairstyles, and the overall presentation of a character contribute to the impression they make on the audience.
The contrast between formal aristocratic settings and the more modest spaces associated with servants and working families also strengthens the world-building. These differences make the social hierarchy visible and reinforce one of the drama's central concerns: the unequal circumstances in which people are expected to live.
The production design supports the story by giving the characters believable environments in which their relationships and conflicts can unfold. The interiors, furnishings, architecture, and decorative details all contribute to the historical atmosphere.
I also want to appreciate the work involved in maintaining visual continuity across a long drama. Historical productions require coordination between costume departments, set designers, prop teams, makeup artists, hairstylists, lighting crews, and many other professionals.
When these elements work together, the result feels natural rather than distracting.
The costumes and sets do not need to draw attention to themselves in every scene. Their greatest contribution is often that they help the audience become immersed in the story.
11. The production team: The many hands behind the drama
It is easy to focus on the actors because they are the people we see on screen, but a production of this scale depends on the work of a much larger team.
I would like to appreciate the people responsible for cinematography, lighting, editing, sound, music, costume design, makeup, hairstyling, set construction, props, production coordination, and all the other details that help bring the story to life.
Editing is especially important in a drama that spans so many stages of a character's life. The transitions between events, the rhythm of conversations, and the amount of time given to emotional scenes all influence how the audience experiences the story.
Sound design and music also contribute significantly to the emotional atmosphere. They can support a scene without overpowering the actors' performances, allowing a quiet exchange or a painful realisation to carry its own weight.
The work of the costume and makeup departments helps maintain the characters' visual identities, while the lighting and camera teams shape the atmosphere of individual scenes.
The production team also has the challenging task of making the historical setting feel consistent across the entire series. That requires attention to detail and cooperation among many departments.
I believe this deserves recognition because the emotional impact of a drama is rarely the achievement of one person alone. The actors give life to the characters, but the people working behind the camera help create the world in which those characters can exist.
Against the Current benefits from that collective effort. Its story, performances, visuals, costumes, sets, and sound all contribute to the experience of following Jialan through her life.
12. The emotional journey: What this drama made me feel
What I will remember most about Against the Current is how deeply I became attached to its characters.
I felt sadness when Jialan lost the life she once knew. I felt frustrated when she was forced to navigate unfair circumstances. I admired her intelligence and her determination to protect herself and the people she loved.
I also felt warmth during the quieter family moments, especially when Jialan was with her adoptive parents. Those scenes reminded me that happiness does not always have to be grand or extraordinary. Sometimes it is simply having someone who worries about you, prepares a meal for you, welcomes you home, and wants you to be safe.
That is why the tragic scenes hurt so much.
I cried when characters died, especially when Xue Guihua died. Her relationship with Jialan had become so precious that losing her felt like losing one of the story's most important sources of comfort.
I also felt deeply affected by Lin Jinqi's death. After following the complications of his relationship with Jialan, it was painful to reach a point where their story could no longer continue in the way I might have hoped.
The losses throughout the drama made me think about how much people can mean to one another and how easily ordinary moments can become the memories we treasure most.
What I appreciate is that the drama does not make sadness its only message. Although it contains heartbreak, it also celebrates resilience, compassion, and the possibility of building a meaningful life after experiencing hardship.
Jialan's journey reminded me that strength does not mean never feeling pain. It means that pain is not the only thing that defines you. It is possible to grieve, to miss the people who are gone, to remember what you have lost, and still find reasons to continue living.
The drama also made me appreciate the people who stand beside us during difficult times. Sometimes the person who changes our life most is not the person with the greatest social position or the most influence. It is the person who chooses to care for us when we need it most.
That is the emotional truth I found in Jialan's relationship with her adoptive parents.
13. What could have been better?
Even though I have a great deal of appreciation for this drama, I think an honest review should acknowledge that a story can be emotionally powerful without being perfect.
With such an extensive narrative, certain developments and relationships could have benefited from more time. Some viewers may also find that the restrained presentation of Jialan's emotions makes her difficult to read in particular scenes.
For me, however, her composure is an important part of the character's circumstances. She spends much of her life in situations where revealing her feelings too freely can be dangerous or disadvantageous. That does not mean every moment of restraint will work equally well for every viewer, but it is a meaningful part of how the character is written.
I also think the later stages of Jialan's life deserved a little more room to breathe. After investing so much time in her struggles, relationships, and growth, viewers may want to spend longer with her as the story approaches its conclusion.
These are areas where the drama could have been even more satisfying. Nevertheless, they do not take away from the emotional impact of its central story or the performances that make the characters memorable.
14. Final thoughts: A drama about surviving, loving, and learning to live again
For me, Against the Current is much more than a historical romance. It is a story about a woman who is repeatedly forced to rebuild her life and who gradually discovers that her future does not have to be determined entirely by the circumstances of her past.
Shen Jialan / Xu Lanxiang is a compelling female lead because she combines intelligence with kindness, determination with vulnerability, and emotional restraint with a deep capacity to care for others.
Tan Songyun deserves my sincere appreciation for bringing those qualities to life through her performance. Her expressions, subtle emotional shifts, and composed portrayal helped me connect with Jialan's journey and understand why the character continues to fight for a life of her own.
Liu Xueyi and the supporting cast also contribute to the story's emotional richness. The relationships between the characters give the drama its heart, while the direction, cinematography, costumes, sets, music, editing, and wider production work help create a world that feels immersive and memorable.
Above all, I will remember how this drama made me feel.
I cried when people I had grown attached to were gone. I felt the pain of Jialan's losses, appreciated the warmth of her adoptive family, and found myself wishing that life would finally give her the happiness she deserved. The deaths of Xue Guihua and Lin Jinqi were particularly heartbreaking because both characters were connected to such important parts of Jialan's emotional world.
But I will also remember the kindness, the quiet moments of care, and the determination that carried Jialan through her journey.
What makes her story meaningful is not that she escapes every tragedy or gets everything she once wanted. It is that she continues to search for a life worth living, even after so much has changed.
That is why the title feels so appropriate. Life does not always move in the direction we expect. Sometimes circumstances push us against the current, and we have to find our own way forward.
My deepest appreciation goes to Tan Songyun for her portrayal of Shen Jialan / Xu Lanxiang, to Liu Xueyi and the entire cast for their performances, and to the director and every member of the production team who helped bring this story to life.
Thank you for giving us a story that made me laugh, made me cry, made me care about its characters, and reminded me of the value of family, kindness, resilience, and the preciousness of life.
Against the Current may have reached its ending, but the emotions it left behind are not so easily forgotten. Some dramas end when the final episode finishes. Others stay with us because their characters have made us feel something real.
For me, this is one of those dramas.
A heartbreaking, beautifully told journey of a woman who lost so much, yet never completely lost herself.
K-Drama 
2 
5 
1 
1 
1 
2 
current rumoured cast:
• vivian wu
• weixiao
• konglin, yueyang (la’s fake parents)
"Zhao Lusi" Partners with Foundation to Send Relief to Nagqu, Tibet. China Foundation for Rural Development Posts Message Thanking Zhao Lusi for Sharing Love and Warmth with Disaster Victims.
On October 24, the China Foundation for Rural Development published a post regarding the magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Nagqu, Tibet Autonomous Region, expressing gratitude to Zhao Lusi for collaborating with the foundation to support relief operations for those affected by the disaster.
This assistance brings love and warmth while encouraging the affected areas to overcome this difficult time.
Netizens poured into the comments to express their praise, saying, "Zhao Lusi did so well!!!!"
Sending encouragement to #ZhaoLusi ❤️
“I’m worried that there might be rumors about you.
It’s okay. November is your month to shine.
Whether it’s Chen Qianqian or Xu Yan, just be happy.
Rumors don’t matter.”
“in that moment i was genuinely stunned, instead of following the flow of our interview, she turned her attention to me, concerned abt how i was feeling
the first thing she asked was whether i was cold
she was wearing a sleeveless dress herself that day, even her arms were freezing cold yet her first instinct was to check on me, in that moment i almost couldn’t hold back my tears
during that event for 3hrs straight i was actually shivering from the cold, even my hands kept shaking while holding the mic, she noticed how i was feeling and comforted me thoroughly
actually that sentence wasn’t picked up by the mic so no one else heard it, but i was deeply moved by lusi’s warmth and genuine kindness that’s why i want to share this side of her, she’s really such a kind and beautiful little girl”
1. Guangxi:
• Donated $50k to support 6 flood-affected schools
• Established 12 art education classrooms worth approximately $42K
• Delivered 11,772 teaching aids and educational materials
• Organized art therapy sessions with professional music therapists and psychological counsellors
• Trained 60+ local teachers
TMI: Guangxi was hit by devastating floods in July & August this year, leaving communities & schools struggling to recover. That’s why Lusi’s stepped in to help the affected children rebuild not just their classrooms, but also their sense of safety and hope.
2. Sichuan:
• Donated 320 children’s health and emergency kits
• Provided CPR, Heimlich maneuver & flood safety lessons
• Organized psychological support activities
• Conducted school bullying prevention lessons
• Provided educational grants to 8 disadvantaged students
Beyond donations, the foundation provides practical skills, emotional support, and sustainable programmes to help children grow in a safer, healthier, and more supportive environment.
While some people are busy dragging her over a haute couture dress, she’s out here helping children heal, learn, and rebuild their futures. The contrast speaks for itself.
100 Million Already!! #Zhaolusi
on Weibo
100 Million Already!! #Zhaolusi
on Weibo
She looks absolutely gorgeous! She looks stunning from every angle—no bad shots, no awkward angles, and she completely owns the camera. She looks like a real-life princess, so sweet, elegant, and breathtakingly beautiful! Everything about her is just dripping with sweetness. 💗✨
https://x.com/sx0liysw/status/2113231294348017924?s=20
Through the Little Guardians Fund (小小的守护基金), Zhao Lusi has supported the RITTIE ROSE project since its very beginning.
Following the floods in July, Zhao Lusi donated 300,000 yuan (approximately 1.5 million baht) to help establish art classrooms at six affected schools, giving children opportunities to develop their artistic appreciation. She also invited music therapy specialists and psychologists to lead emotional healing activities for the children, while providing training for more than 60 local teachers.
Most recently, on October 23, all 12 classrooms, with a total value of approximately 280,000 yuan, were successfully delivered and equipped. Along with them came 11,772 teaching and learning supplies, and the classrooms have officially begun operating.
These activities do more than help children learn about art. They also give them a safe opportunity to express themselves and work through feelings that can be difficult to put into words, with volunteers and teachers providing close support.
Perhaps the most touching part is that the children drew pictures and handmade gifts themselves, asking volunteers to take them back and give them to Zhao Lusi. It was a heartwarming way for the children to share their love and gratitude, creating a beautiful connection between those who give and those who receive. 💗
This project has truly helped so many children and opened up so many opportunities for them.
fanclub shared that lusi’s character name would be 葛栗 ge li 🌰 the name was not shared earlier due to production team’s requirement
additionally, announcements for all offline fan support events will only be released on the day it takes place, to avoid the situation where events cannot proceed as planned due to unforeseen circumstances
fanclub shared that lusi’s character name would be 葛栗 ge li 🌰 the name was not shared earlier due to production team’s requirement
additionally, announcements for all offline fan support events will only be released on the day it takes place, to avoid the situation where events cannot proceed as planned due to unforeseen circumstances
https://x.com/SSritaecha/status/2113253613531508915?s=20
A drama that broke my heart, made me cry, and left me thinking about its characters long after the story ended.
Some dramas entertain you while you watch them, some make you fall in love with their characters, and some leave a permanent mark on your heart. Against the Current belongs to the last category for me. It is not simply a historical drama about love, family, betrayal, power, and survival. It is the story of a woman who loses almost everything life could take away from her, yet continues to move forward with dignity, intelligence, kindness, and extraordinary strength.
What makes this drama so special is that it allows us to witness the different stages of its female lead's life. We see her as a daughter, a granddaughter, a woman who experiences devastating loss, an adopted daughter who discovers a new meaning of family, a servant forced to survive in an unfamiliar position, and ultimately a woman determined to reclaim her own destiny. Her journey is painful, complicated, and deeply moving. By the time the story reaches its conclusion, it feels as though we have travelled through an entire lifetime alongside her.
1. The writing: A story about an entire life, not just a single romance
One of the things I appreciate most about Against the Current is the ambition of its storytelling. The drama does not limit itself to one central conflict or depend entirely on the romantic relationship between the leads. Instead, it builds a much larger story around the life of Shen Jialan, who later lives under the name Xu Lanxiang.
The destruction of the Shen family changes the direction of her entire life. The future she once expected disappears, her identity becomes something she must protect, and the world she once knew is replaced by a reality in which survival itself becomes a struggle. What makes this so heartbreaking is that Jialan is not simply losing her social position. She is losing her home, her family, her security, and the life she should have been allowed to live.
The writing becomes particularly meaningful because it shows how one tragedy can influence every decision that follows. Jialan cannot simply return to the person she was before. She has to learn how to live with what happened, protect the people who remain beside her, and find a future in circumstances she never chose.
I also appreciate that the story explores the lives of women living within a rigid social hierarchy. Their choices are often restricted by family expectations, financial dependence, marriage arrangements, and the power held by others. Through Jialan and the women around her, the drama shows that strength does not always mean fighting openly. Sometimes strength means thinking carefully, remaining patient, protecting someone more vulnerable, or refusing to let a cruel world take away your sense of humanity.
The story's greatest achievement is its emotional breadth. It gives us political conflict, family drama, personal struggles, complicated relationships, and moments of tenderness that make the painful scenes even more powerful. The quiet domestic moments matter just as much as the major dramatic events because they show us what the characters are fighting to protect.
If I had one criticism, it would be that some parts of such a long and eventful life could have benefited from more time, especially the later stages of Jialan's journey. Nevertheless, the overall story offers a moving portrait of endurance, sacrifice, and the meaning of living well after experiencing profound loss.
2. Shen Jialan / Xu Lanxiang: A female lead whose entire journey deserves appreciation
For me, the heart and soul of this drama is Shen Jialan, also known as Xu Lanxiang.
What makes her such a memorable female lead is that her strength is not presented as something effortless. She is not a character who can simply escape every difficult situation because she is intelligent or capable. She faces circumstances that are unfair, painful, and sometimes beyond her control. She has to adapt, make difficult decisions, and keep moving forward even when life gives her every reason to lose hope.
Her transformation is one of the most compelling aspects of the drama. At the beginning, we understand that she comes from a family with its own traditions, values, and expectations for her future. Then everything changes. She is forced to live under another identity and navigate a world in which her position offers her very little protection.
Yet she never becomes completely defined by what happened to her.
What I admire most about Jialan is that she does not allow suffering to erase her kindness. She remains observant, thoughtful, intelligent, and compassionate. Even when she has experienced betrayal and injustice, she can still recognise the struggles of other people. She does not need to destroy everyone around her to prove that she is strong.
Her intelligence is also beautifully incorporated into the story. She observes people carefully, understands the relationships around her, and uses her judgement to solve problems. Her growth comes not only from surviving hardship but also from learning how to navigate a world in which people have different levels of power and freedom.
And then there is her emotional strength.
Jialan often has to contain her feelings because revealing too much could put her at risk. This makes her quieter moments especially meaningful. There is a difference between a character who feels nothing and one who has learned that she cannot always express what she feels. Jialan's journey is about carrying those emotions while still finding the strength to continue.
I love that her story is ultimately about more than winning a man's love or obtaining a higher social position. It is about reclaiming her identity, restoring her family's honour, seeking justice, protecting the people she loves, and building a life that belongs to her.
She is not simply a tragic heroine. She is a woman who continues to live, think, love, care, and make choices despite everything that has happened to her.
That is what makes her journey so meaningful.
3. Tan Songyun's performance: A portrayal I genuinely admire
Tan Songyun's portrayal of Shen Jialan / Xu Lanxiang deserves special appreciation. Her performance is one of the major reasons the character's journey feels so personal and emotionally engaging.
What impressed me most was her facial expressions. Her eyes, the subtle changes in her expression, her pauses, and the way she carries herself all contribute to the character. There are moments when a small change in her face communicates more than a long speech could.
I especially appreciate the restraint in her performance. Jialan is someone who frequently has to hide her true identity and carefully manage what other people see. Tan Songyun captures that guarded quality while still allowing us to recognise the emotions beneath it. Her composure does not necessarily mean that Jialan is unaffected. Instead, it often suggests that she has learned to control what she reveals.
For me, that distinction is important.
Her expressions make the character's emotional journey feel layered. We can appreciate the intelligence and determination on the surface while also feeling the sadness, vulnerability, and affection that she does not always express openly.
I also admire how she portrays the different sides of Jialan's personality. She can be composed and calculating when dealing with difficult situations, gentle when caring for the people close to her, and emotionally vulnerable when circumstances touch the deepest parts of her life.
Her performance helps connect these different stages of the character's journey. Jialan's circumstances change dramatically, but the values at her core remain recognisable.
I would describe Tan Songyun's acting here as top-notch for the qualities I value most in this character: controlled expressions, emotional subtlety, a convincing sense of dignity, and the ability to make quiet moments meaningful. Her portrayal gives Jialan an identity beyond the events happening around her.
Most importantly, she made me care about Jialan's life. I was not merely watching to find out what would happen next. I wanted her to find peace, happiness, freedom, and the chance to live without constantly having to fight for them.
That emotional investment is one of the greatest compliments I can give an actor.
4. The adoptive parents: The meaning of family and unconditional love
If there is one relationship that made this drama especially emotional for me, it is the relationship between Xu Lanxiang and her adoptive parents, Xu Wanquan and Xue Guihua.
Their kindness is one of the most beautiful parts of the story.
After losing her original family and being forced into an entirely different life, Jialan finds people who offer her something she desperately needs: a place where she can be cared for, where her well-being matters, and where she is not valued simply for her status or usefulness.
Xue Guihua, in particular, left a deep impression on me.
What makes their relationship so touching is that their love is expressed through ordinary acts of care. Preparing food, worrying about her health, giving her a place to rest, and wanting her to have a better life may seem like small things, but they become incredibly meaningful in the context of everything Jialan has lost.
Their home represents a kind of safety that the outside world cannot promise her.
I also appreciate the way the drama presents adoption and family. Xue Guihua and Xu Wanquan do not become important to Jialan merely because they help her survive. They become her parents through the affection, concern, sacrifices, and shared life that develop between them.
They show that family is not determined only by blood. Family is also built through the people who stand beside you when you have little left to offer the world.
And this is why the death of Jialan's adoptive mother was one of the most heartbreaking moments for me.
Xue Guihua's death hurt because she was so much more than an adoptive mother. She was a source of warmth, safety, and unconditional love in Jialan's life.
After everything Jialan had endured, the love she received from her adoptive parents felt like a small piece of happiness that life had finally allowed her to keep. Losing that source of comfort made the tragedy feel especially cruel.
I cried because I had come to understand what Xue Guihua meant to Jialan. It was not simply the death of another character in a long drama. It was the loss of a mother-daughter bond that had given the story some of its most tender and hopeful moments.
The sadness comes from remembering all the little things that made their relationship beautiful. The care, the affection, the quiet sacrifices, and the desire to see Jialan live well all become even more precious when we realise that those moments cannot last forever.
Xue Guihua's love remains important to Jialan's story even after she is gone. The kindness she gives her adopted daughter becomes part of the strength with which Jialan faces the world.
For me, this relationship is one of the strongest emotional foundations of the entire drama.
5. The deaths and tragedies: Why I cried throughout the story
One of the most difficult things about watching Against the Current is how much emotional attachment it builds before taking its characters through devastating experiences.
I cried when characters died because the drama gives their relationships meaning. We are not simply witnessing events on a screen. We have spent time understanding who these people are, what they mean to one another, and what their presence contributes to the lives around them.
The tragedy surrounding the Shen family establishes the immense cost of political injustice. Jialan loses the world she once knew, and the consequences extend far beyond her own suffering. The story asks us to think about the innocent people caught in circumstances they cannot control and the lives that are permanently changed by decisions made by those with power.
The death of her adoptive mother affected me especially deeply, but the other losses also contributed to the emotional weight of the story. Each death reminds us that the characters cannot simply return to the lives they had before.
And then there is Lin Jinqi.
His death is particularly painful because his relationship with Jialan is tied to so many different stages of her life. He is connected to her past, to the life she might once have imagined, and to the complicated reality she must navigate as Xu Lanxiang.
Their relationship is not simple. It is shaped by betrayal, changed circumstances, conflicting expectations, emotional distance, and the gradual development of understanding. This complexity makes the connection between them more meaningful than a straightforward romance.
Lin Jinqi's death is heartbreaking because of everything his character represents in Jialan's life and everything that is left unresolved by the loss. After following their relationship through so many difficulties, seeing his life come to an end brings a different kind of sadness.
It is the sadness of knowing that even when people finally begin to understand one another, life does not necessarily give them unlimited time to make up for what has happened.
I found the emotional impact of these deaths particularly powerful because they are connected to the drama's wider message: life is uncertain, happiness can be fragile, and the people who make our lives meaningful are never just background characters in our personal stories.
The drama made me laugh with its warmer moments, feel anxious when the characters were in danger, become frustrated by the injustices they faced, and cry when their happiness was taken away.
That range of emotions is a testament to how invested I became in their lives.
6. Lin Jinqi and the male lead's character development
Liu Xueyi's portrayal of Lin Jinqi brings another important dimension to the drama.
Lin Jinqi is a character whose circumstances, responsibilities, and personal decisions affect the direction of Jialan's life. His position gives him a kind of power that she does not have, and the differences between their circumstances are central to the conflicts in their relationship.
What makes him interesting is that his character cannot be understood through romance alone. He is shaped by family expectations, social position, political realities, and the consequences of his own choices.
Liu Xueyi brings a restrained quality to the role that works well for a character who does not always communicate his feelings directly. His expressions and silences help create a sense of a person who has thoughts and emotions that are not necessarily expressed in words.
His scenes with Tan Songyun benefit from this contrast. Jialan and Jinqi have a complicated history, and their interactions carry the weight of everything that has happened between them. Their connection develops within a story where trust, freedom, responsibility, and personal choice matter just as much as affection.
I also appreciate that their relationship invites viewers to think critically about love. Loving someone is not only about feelings; it is also about understanding their circumstances, respecting their choices, and recognising the consequences of one's actions.
Their story has painful and imperfect aspects, but that is part of what makes it emotionally engaging.
Lin Jinqi's eventual death gives their story a tragic dimension. It makes the time they have together feel even more significant and leaves the audience reflecting on the complicated path that brought them to that point.
Tan Songyun and Liu Xueyi create a central relationship that gives the drama emotional depth, even when the story around them is concerned with family, politics, and survival.
7. The supporting cast: Every character contributes to the emotional world
Another strength of Against the Current is its supporting cast.
A drama covering such a long and complicated story needs more than a compelling female lead. It needs supporting characters who feel like people with their own motivations, struggles, weaknesses, and hopes.
The supporting actors help create that wider world.
Guo Keyu deserves particular appreciation for her portrayal of Xue Guihua. She brings warmth and tenderness to the character, making her affection for Jialan feel natural rather than exaggerated. Her performance helps explain why the adoptive mother-daughter relationship becomes so emotionally important.
Chen Chuang also contributes to the story through Xu Wanquan. Together, the two actors make the adoptive parents feel like a genuine family rather than characters who exist only to move the plot forward.
Li Meng's portrayal of Zhao Xingtang adds complexity to the drama's exploration of women and their circumstances. Her character's choices and conflicts encourage us to look beyond simple labels and consider how social expectations, personal grievances, and unequal power can shape a person's life.
Zheng Hehuizi also adds a distinctive presence as Du Cuique, while Niu Junfeng's Han Liang contributes another perspective to the story's exploration of relationships and the future Jialan might choose for herself.
What I appreciate is that the supporting characters help the world feel larger than the female lead's immediate struggles. Their actions create consequences, their relationships affect one another, and their experiences reveal different sides of the society in which the story takes place.
Not every character needs to be perfect to be memorable. Sometimes a character becomes interesting precisely because of their flaws, contradictions, or difficult choices.
The performances across the cast help make the drama feel like an interconnected human story. Even when I disagreed with a character or felt frustrated by their actions, I could appreciate the role they played in shaping the events and emotions of the story.
8. The direction: Bringing emotional depth and visual storytelling together
The direction deserves appreciation for bringing together the drama's different elements: family relationships, political conflict, personal transformation, romance, and tragedy.
A story that follows a character through so many changes can easily become a sequence of disconnected events. The direction helps give those events a sense of continuity by keeping Jialan's emotional journey at the centre.
The quieter scenes are particularly important. Not every meaningful moment needs a dramatic confrontation or an emotional speech. Sometimes a pause, a look, or a conversation between family members can tell us more about a relationship than a major plot twist.
The emotional scenes also depend on restraint. If every moment is treated as equally dramatic, the audience can become overwhelmed and lose the ability to distinguish between different kinds of sadness. The drama's more intimate scenes allow us to connect with the characters before the next major turning point arrives.
I especially appreciate the way the story moves between the larger political circumstances and the intimate details of everyday life. The political conflicts explain why the characters face such difficult situations, while the family scenes show us what those conflicts actually mean for ordinary people.
This balance helps the drama feel personal even when the stakes become very large.
The director and creative team deserve credit for bringing these different narrative threads together into a story that encourages viewers to care about the people at its centre.
9. Cinematography: Beautiful visuals that complement the story
The cinematography is another aspect I would like to appreciate.
Historical dramas depend heavily on their visual atmosphere. The audience needs to believe in the world the characters inhabit, from the grand residences and formal settings to the quieter spaces where families eat, work, talk, and care for one another.
In Against the Current, the visual presentation complements the emotional tone of the story. The compositions, framing, lighting, and use of space contribute to the atmosphere surrounding the characters.
I particularly appreciate the contrast between the grandeur associated with the powerful families and the intimacy of the scenes in which Jialan experiences genuine affection. Those different environments help reinforce the distinction between social status and emotional security.
A beautiful residence may represent wealth and privilege, but it does not automatically provide happiness. Conversely, a modest home can become one of the warmest places in a character's life because it is filled with care and acceptance.
That contrast makes the story's visual world meaningful rather than merely decorative.
The cinematography also helps establish the emotional mood of different scenes. The way a character is framed, the distance between two people, and the visual space surrounding them can all reinforce feelings of isolation, closeness, uncertainty, or vulnerability.
These are details that viewers might not consciously notice in every scene, but they contribute to the overall experience.
For a drama with so many emotional transitions, visual consistency is important. The cinematography helps create a world that feels coherent while allowing the mood to change as the story develops.
10. Costumes, styling, sets, and production design
The costumes and production design also deserve recognition.
In a historical drama, costumes are not simply beautiful clothes. They help establish the social position of the characters, distinguish different environments, and contribute to our understanding of their changing circumstances.
Jialan's journey makes this especially important. Her life changes dramatically, and her identity as a noblewoman and her later existence as Xu Lanxiang place her in very different social worlds.
Costume styling can help communicate those changes without requiring the dialogue to explain everything. Clothing, accessories, hairstyles, and the overall presentation of a character contribute to the impression they make on the audience.
The contrast between formal aristocratic settings and the more modest spaces associated with servants and working families also strengthens the world-building. These differences make the social hierarchy visible and reinforce one of the drama's central concerns: the unequal circumstances in which people are expected to live.
The production design supports the story by giving the characters believable environments in which their relationships and conflicts can unfold. The interiors, furnishings, architecture, and decorative details all contribute to the historical atmosphere.
I also want to appreciate the work involved in maintaining visual continuity across a long drama. Historical productions require coordination between costume departments, set designers, prop teams, makeup artists, hairstylists, lighting crews, and many other professionals.
When these elements work together, the result feels natural rather than distracting.
The costumes and sets do not need to draw attention to themselves in every scene. Their greatest contribution is often that they help the audience become immersed in the story.
11. The production team: The many hands behind the drama
It is easy to focus on the actors because they are the people we see on screen, but a production of this scale depends on the work of a much larger team.
I would like to appreciate the people responsible for cinematography, lighting, editing, sound, music, costume design, makeup, hairstyling, set construction, props, production coordination, and all the other details that help bring the story to life.
Editing is especially important in a drama that spans so many stages of a character's life. The transitions between events, the rhythm of conversations, and the amount of time given to emotional scenes all influence how the audience experiences the story.
Sound design and music also contribute significantly to the emotional atmosphere. They can support a scene without overpowering the actors' performances, allowing a quiet exchange or a painful realisation to carry its own weight.
The work of the costume and makeup departments helps maintain the characters' visual identities, while the lighting and camera teams shape the atmosphere of individual scenes.
The production team also has the challenging task of making the historical setting feel consistent across the entire series. That requires attention to detail and cooperation among many departments.
I believe this deserves recognition because the emotional impact of a drama is rarely the achievement of one person alone. The actors give life to the characters, but the people working behind the camera help create the world in which those characters can exist.
Against the Current benefits from that collective effort. Its story, performances, visuals, costumes, sets, and sound all contribute to the experience of following Jialan through her life.
12. The emotional journey: What this drama made me feel
What I will remember most about Against the Current is how deeply I became attached to its characters.
I felt sadness when Jialan lost the life she once knew. I felt frustrated when she was forced to navigate unfair circumstances. I admired her intelligence and her determination to protect herself and the people she loved.
I also felt warmth during the quieter family moments, especially when Jialan was with her adoptive parents. Those scenes reminded me that happiness does not always have to be grand or extraordinary. Sometimes it is simply having someone who worries about you, prepares a meal for you, welcomes you home, and wants you to be safe.
That is why the tragic scenes hurt so much.
I cried when characters died, especially when Xue Guihua died. Her relationship with Jialan had become so precious that losing her felt like losing one of the story's most important sources of comfort.
I also felt deeply affected by Lin Jinqi's death. After following the complications of his relationship with Jialan, it was painful to reach a point where their story could no longer continue in the way I might have hoped.
The losses throughout the drama made me think about how much people can mean to one another and how easily ordinary moments can become the memories we treasure most.
What I appreciate is that the drama does not make sadness its only message. Although it contains heartbreak, it also celebrates resilience, compassion, and the possibility of building a meaningful life after experiencing hardship.
Jialan's journey reminded me that strength does not mean never feeling pain. It means that pain is not the only thing that defines you. It is possible to grieve, to miss the people who are gone, to remember what you have lost, and still find reasons to continue living.
The drama also made me appreciate the people who stand beside us during difficult times. Sometimes the person who changes our life most is not the person with the greatest social position or the most influence. It is the person who chooses to care for us when we need it most.
That is the emotional truth I found in Jialan's relationship with her adoptive parents.
13. What could have been better?
Even though I have a great deal of appreciation for this drama, I think an honest review should acknowledge that a story can be emotionally powerful without being perfect.
With such an extensive narrative, certain developments and relationships could have benefited from more time. Some viewers may also find that the restrained presentation of Jialan's emotions makes her difficult to read in particular scenes.
For me, however, her composure is an important part of the character's circumstances. She spends much of her life in situations where revealing her feelings too freely can be dangerous or disadvantageous. That does not mean every moment of restraint will work equally well for every viewer, but it is a meaningful part of how the character is written.
I also think the later stages of Jialan's life deserved a little more room to breathe. After investing so much time in her struggles, relationships, and growth, viewers may want to spend longer with her as the story approaches its conclusion.
These are areas where the drama could have been even more satisfying. Nevertheless, they do not take away from the emotional impact of its central story or the performances that make the characters memorable.
14. Final thoughts: A drama about surviving, loving, and learning to live again
For me, Against the Current is much more than a historical romance. It is a story about a woman who is repeatedly forced to rebuild her life and who gradually discovers that her future does not have to be determined entirely by the circumstances of her past.
Shen Jialan / Xu Lanxiang is a compelling female lead because she combines intelligence with kindness, determination with vulnerability, and emotional restraint with a deep capacity to care for others.
Tan Songyun deserves my sincere appreciation for bringing those qualities to life through her performance. Her expressions, subtle emotional shifts, and composed portrayal helped me connect with Jialan's journey and understand why the character continues to fight for a life of her own.
Liu Xueyi and the supporting cast also contribute to the story's emotional richness. The relationships between the characters give the drama its heart, while the direction, cinematography, costumes, sets, music, editing, and wider production work help create a world that feels immersive and memorable.
Above all, I will remember how this drama made me feel.
I cried when people I had grown attached to were gone. I felt the pain of Jialan's losses, appreciated the warmth of her adoptive family, and found myself wishing that life would finally give her the happiness she deserved. The deaths of Xue Guihua and Lin Jinqi were particularly heartbreaking because both characters were connected to such important parts of Jialan's emotional world.
But I will also remember the kindness, the quiet moments of care, and the determination that carried Jialan through her journey.
What makes her story meaningful is not that she escapes every tragedy or gets everything she once wanted. It is that she continues to search for a life worth living, even after so much has changed.
That is why the title feels so appropriate. Life does not always move in the direction we expect. Sometimes circumstances push us against the current, and we have to find our own way forward.
My deepest appreciation goes to Tan Songyun for her portrayal of Shen Jialan / Xu Lanxiang, to Liu Xueyi and the entire cast for their performances, and to the director and every member of the production team who helped bring this story to life.
Thank you for giving us a story that made me laugh, made me cry, made me care about its characters, and reminded me of the value of family, kindness, resilience, and the preciousness of life.
Against the Current may have reached its ending, but the emotions it left behind are not so easily forgotten. Some dramas end when the final episode finishes. Others stay with us because their characters have made us feel something real.
For me, this is one of those dramas.
A heartbreaking, beautifully told journey of a woman who lost so much, yet never completely lost herself.
https://v.douyin.com/aUrUuhyl9L0/ [email protected] :1pm