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One of the most complete Chinese films in recent years
Overall, the screenplay is impressive, establishing the central conflict right from the start. However, the middle episodes drag on, to the point where I almost gave up on the series. I decided to stick with it, though, and was pleasantly surprised by how things unfolded in the latter part of the show.
As for the acting, the cast delivers decent performances overall. To be honest, while I'm a fan of Tan Songyun, there are moments when she doesn't quite capture the emotional depth of her character. The male lead isn't given many challenging scenes, so his performance feels fairly average. The actress portraying Du Hua Mei, meanwhile, often comes across as overly theatrical. At times, I found it difficult to see her as the character rather than an actress consciously performing for the camera. I also think Guo Ke Yu, who plays the female lead's adoptive mother, does an excellent job in many of the emotionally charged scenes. The rest of the supporting cast deliver competent performances, fulfilling their respective roles without particularly standing out.
Visually, the cinematography is beautiful and polished, with many scenes carrying deeper layers of meaning. Many contemporary Chinese directors seem to favor slow motion and tilted camera angles to heighten emotional intensity, although, in my opinion, these techniques rarely achieve their intended effect. *Against the Current*, however, takes a different approach. The director employs other visual techniques to convey emotions and advance the story more effectively, which is one of the aspects that kept me engaged throughout the series.
As for the music, I genuinely enjoyed the songs featured in the show, particularly its original soundtrack (OST).
All in all, the series delivers a clear and meaningful message. Its visual storytelling and music also stand out compared to those of many other Chinese dramas released over the past five to six years.
As for the acting, the cast delivers decent performances overall. To be honest, while I'm a fan of Tan Songyun, there are moments when she doesn't quite capture the emotional depth of her character. The male lead isn't given many challenging scenes, so his performance feels fairly average. The actress portraying Du Hua Mei, meanwhile, often comes across as overly theatrical. At times, I found it difficult to see her as the character rather than an actress consciously performing for the camera. I also think Guo Ke Yu, who plays the female lead's adoptive mother, does an excellent job in many of the emotionally charged scenes. The rest of the supporting cast deliver competent performances, fulfilling their respective roles without particularly standing out.
Visually, the cinematography is beautiful and polished, with many scenes carrying deeper layers of meaning. Many contemporary Chinese directors seem to favor slow motion and tilted camera angles to heighten emotional intensity, although, in my opinion, these techniques rarely achieve their intended effect. *Against the Current*, however, takes a different approach. The director employs other visual techniques to convey emotions and advance the story more effectively, which is one of the aspects that kept me engaged throughout the series.
As for the music, I genuinely enjoyed the songs featured in the show, particularly its original soundtrack (OST).
All in all, the series delivers a clear and meaningful message. Its visual storytelling and music also stand out compared to those of many other Chinese dramas released over the past five to six years.
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