DiaDK

No need to block me. I have no intention of going on and on with this discussion. I also don't believe I've been rude, used offensive language, or personally insulted anyone. I've simply expressed my opinion about the drama and its characters, which is quite different from attacking someone personally.

I've also edited my comments to mark them as spoilers, so thank you for pointing that out.

I firmly believe that we are all entitled to our own opinions and interpretations, even when they differ considerably. To me, this isn't an argument but rather a discussion among people who are interested in looking beyond the surface emotions, beautiful cinematography, and immediate impressions to examine the characters, their motivations, contradictions, and the deeper messages of the story.

After all, isn't that part of what makes discussing dramas interesting? We don't all have to admire the same characters, agree with their decisions, or interpret their actions in the same way. A difference of opinion should be an opportunity for a meaningful exchange of perspectives, not a reason to take things personally or question someone else's character.

I have never said that a woman's life should be decided by men. I simply stated that there is a place for both men and women under the sun, and that neither gender needs to be elevated at the expense of the other. How you managed to interpret that as advocating male dominance is beyond me.

I'm not even going to entertain the entire master-and-slave argument you've introduced, because I have never suggested anything remotely resembling that. You're arguing against positions I have never taken rather than addressing what I actually said.

And since you've decided to label me a misogynist, let me point out the irony in your own argument. Your suggestion that Lin Jinqi should somehow consider himself fortunate or grateful to be loved by her could just as easily be interpreted as misandry. By your own logic, I could call you a misandrist for implying that a man's love, devotion and sacrifices should be considered secondary, while the woman's affection is some extraordinary privilege for which he should be grateful. Of course, I wouldn't seriously make that accusation based on a disagreement about fictional characters, which is precisely why throwing around labels like "misogynist" is so ridiculous.

My criticism has never been about women being independent, ambitious or strong. I have absolutely no objection to any of those qualities. My issue is with the way certain female empowerment dramas exaggerate these characteristics to the point where strength is confused with emotional detachment, independence with disregard for others, and determination with an almost complete absence of empathy. The writers seem so determined to present their female leads as exceptionally strong and admirable that they end up excusing practically every questionable decision those characters make.

And that is exactly what happened with Xu Lanxiang. As the story progressed, particularly in its second half, her character became increasingly unlikeable to me. She was perfectly capable of showing kindness, understanding, compassion and affection towards practically everyone around her, yet repeatedly failed to extend the same consideration to the man who stood by her and did everything he could for her. That contradiction is what I find so difficult to accept.

And please don't confuse my criticism with the belief that she was somehow obligated to love him simply because he loved her. Of course she wasn't. Nobody is obligated to reciprocate another person's feelings. But there is a considerable difference between not owing someone love and treating someone who has consistently loved and supported you with warmth, sensitivity and basic emotional consideration. My objection is to the way she treated him, not to her right to make her own choices.

Nor am I suggesting that the male lead was perfect or that every sacrifice he made entitled him to her love. What I am questioning is why the female lead's conduct should be beyond criticism simply because the drama is presented as a story of female empowerment.

I am a woman myself, and I certainly don't need a fictional female character to be glorified at all costs in order to feel empowered. I can appreciate strong, independent women without automatically admiring every woman who is written that way. Strength of character should include emotional maturity, empathy, accountability and the ability to recognize the people who genuinely care about you.

Ultimately, my point is very simple: female empowerment should not require diminishing male characters, dismissing their feelings or portraying emotional coldness as a virtue. And criticizing a female character for her behaviour does not make someone a misogynist any more than criticizing a male character makes someone a misandrist.

You are perfectly entitled to admire Xu Lingxiao and interpret her actions differently. I am equally entitled to find her behaviour selfish, emotionally cold and increasingly unlikeable. That is a difference of opinion about a fictional character, not a battle between men and women..

It's not a bad drama for its genre. As an alternative, may be try watching A Splendid Match. I personally prefer it to Against the Current - there isn't a single dull moment in the entire series. Ren Min did an amazing job of transforming this kind of "spoiled brat" character into a remarkably convincing young woman without making her clingy, arrogant, or irritating. She managed to make the character both believable and endearing, something that many other actresses simply cannot pull off, no matter how hard they try.

Some of the comments are laughable! Enough with these female empowerment dramas already. I personally don't believe that women need this kind of self-validation through dramas. If anything, I think these portrayals do more harm than good, constantly presenting women as if they need to prove how strong and independent they are. Quite often, this is taken to such exaggerated extremes that it ends up having precisely the opposite effect, making them appear weaker rather than stronger. Men and women both have their place in life, and there is absolutely no need for directors and writers to push this narrative so aggressively.
Xu Lanxiang took it to another level. She consistently relegated the one person who did absolutely everything for her to the back seat, while being exceptionally kind, loving, understanding and accommodating towards practically everyone else. The red thread scene was his final attempt to receive something he had never truly had from her — an expression of genuine love and a desire to be together. And how did she respond? With a heart as cold as a mackerel!
Sorry, but this isn't about demanding romance or expecting a female character to revolve her entire existence around a man. I've simply had enough of this particular character being glorified as some exceptionally virtuous, admirable and almost saintly woman, when something so fundamental was missing in the way she treated the person who loved her most.
And once again, I am a woman myself, and I am certainly not defending male-centred dramas. I simply refuse to accept that every questionable action of a female character should be excused or celebrated in the name of women's empowerment. In this particular drama, they took it far too far.

I just finished the series, and I can say that, to me, the red thread scene was one of the most heartless and coldest responses a ML received from a FL throughout the entire c-drama universe. He told her that he wanted them to be husband and wife again in their next life, and her response was that one lifetime was more than enough. Nothing more needs to be said!
And so much for all those viewers who keep insisting that Xu Lanxiang loved her husband in her own way. No way!

It is such an underrated show, everything is almost perfect - the plot, the characters, the actors, the chemistry, the side storylines and characters, the costumes. I could not find a dull moment in it, even for a minute. Simply loved it!

If i compare her to other actresses she comes along as much more mature than them in regards to the character she plays. She is about to become one of my favorite actresses. Although she tends to have this high pitch baby voice she is not as annoying as other actresses, who have the same trait.

It never ceases to amaze me how age is perceived in China, both in general and when it comes to marriage and old age. That said, I doubt he will face any issues because of it, considering his status, looks, and overall popularity. He actually comes across as rather shy and somewhat self-conscious, so I am not surprised that he might not necessarily see himself as especially handsome or attractive, despite how many people clearly think otherwise.

If i have to chose one scene only - A Moment But Forever (Episode 20) — Liu Xueyi plays Yuan Zhong. In the “cave of his consciousness,” he appears imprisoned and broken, delivering a dark monologue about human greed, betrayal, and the blurred line between gods and demons. Apart from that he is great in any other role he plays, most of them are as good as, or better than his performance in Against the current.

I think he is an amazing actor and consistently delivers strong performances in all of his dramas. However, when I compare Against the Current to his other works, I would not consider this his best role. It is probably one of the strongest scripts he has been given, but the character itself does not allow him to fully showcase the wide range of emotions and acting skills that he clearly possesses. In many of his other roles, he has had more opportunities to bring a character to life through greater emotional depth and complexity.
That said, the series itself is excellent and very well executed. In my opinion, it is one of the best dramas released this year.

I wouldn’t call myself a die-hard WHD fan, but I do feel he is the most colourful character on the show, while the rest of the cast seems somewhat flat by comparison. I suppose that explains why we see so much of him.
He is so spontaneous in all the reality shows he appears in, and there always seems to be something happening around him. I would even say he is better as a reality show host or participant than he is in his dramas.

I am a big fan of republican dramas, and this has been on my watch list for quite some time. Watching it now but i am not sure why i felt a bit disappointed when she chose the first ML, for some reason i see her having much more chemistry with the 2nd ML. Is it just me?

I love Esther, but i think it is her worst performance so far. The drama is great, i will still rank it high but personally I think that the female character does not fit the story line at all. And Esther makes it even worse. A girl with the behavior and style of 7 years old is parachuted in the cut throat world of underground fights and car racing and she is so well received and thriving there? No, this is not even remotelly believable, which kind of spoils the whole plot. It should have been a wild, confident and rebelious girl, which would have made much more interesting of a story.

Yes, I am not insulting the actress herself. I am commenting on her interpretation of the role and the way the character was portrayed, which, in my view, ruined the drama. Strangely, not many Yu Xiao supporters seem to understand this distinction—and then I’m labeled the idiot? I suppose next you’ll say I’m insulting the fanbase as well. I get it, no need to point that out.

As i said previously i do no thate her, and i am not even thinking of investing the effort to hate her. Also, i gave my arguments above, summarized in the sentence that she presented this character as a stupid woman who looks sheepish most of the time, which in turn ruined the character. Nothing personal, just an opinion.

I do not believe my words were harsh, but i guess i could have expressed myself by saying that she presented the character like someone lacking intellegence and most of the time she stares like the cute, innocent animal known for producing wool and making bleating sounds. Would that be better? Also, i could have described her appearance as “An unremarkable facial phenotype consistent with population averages.” Would any of that actually change the underlying facts?

I am not insultung her, i express my view of her interpretation of the character in LITC. There is the script part, and there is also the actors interpretation of the character. I think that she presented to us an extremelly sheepish and stupid female character, which ruined the series. As a person, she can be super smart, i do not say anything about that, but as an actress she gives this "cringe" vibe that is coming from her characters. And this is just my opinion, you and all her fans are entitled to love her as much as you want.

Hating someone requires deeper emotional investment, which i do think is worth to be spent on this actress. I expressed an opinion, which is different from yours, and i do not think there is anything wrong with that.

I tried to avoid such words as "stupid" , "cow" and "sheepish stare" when i made a comment about Yu Xiao, but i guess it was only a matter of time before it came to that! LMAO I am not a big fan of Neo but i think that even his popularity could not salvage the disaster that this creature ( Yu Xiao) brought on screen!

I am not sure what is the hype about this actress? She ruined LITC, most of the people watched it only for Neo. Such an average and plain face, with even less compelling presence and talent. Meh!