YCC

Ling Xiao's (Song Wei Long) mother... is truly unbearable..

Indeed, that one is a really difficult drama to watch, it gets almost unbearable toward the second half...

Generally, anything aired by CCTV should be good

ML has his reasons to ask for the Emperor's decree to marry her... Actually, there are many reasons (one of which was to protect her), but he didn't have the chance to explain to her... From her point of view, this was the man who abandoned her when her family was facing massacre from the late Emperor (current Emperor's father)... Basically she doesn't like the fact that other people can control her life.... That's why the title is "Against the current"

He has been ML for many dramas after that, and his portrayal are usually quite good... His eyes are very expressive... and those dimples... are so attractive..
The fact that he can portray villainous character well means his acting is quite good....

I thought the father is the real mastermind? She knew that her father killed her mom. This is a bit like Alfred Hitchock/Agatha Christie mystery, where everyone looks guilty, may be everyone is guilty to a point.

Based on the trailer... it should be happy ending

Probably one of the most memorable weddings in Cdrama.
One full episode just for the wedding!

I even suspect that they use AI for editing (sigh) instead of real people. There is no transition scene, the scenes just jump in and out without any connection.

She may be an AI character?

In those era, marriage is not just between husband and wife, but it was one clan alliance with another clan. It was the Duke who wants to have alliance with Lin JinQi, and it was him who arranged for LanXiang to be sold to the brothel.

Yes, Lan = orchid, Xiang = fragrance

I'm wondering whether the garish make-up, lighting, camera and editing took away the micro expressions of the characters...

she was raised in the palace

LXY micro expressions are so spot on...

it's basically about how women survived in a feudal society, but the production is very good. It's aired in CCTV, so it is of very high quality

I also felt that iQiyi is not doing justice to the leads. The make-up, lighting and camera are making them look garish. The editing is all over the place, and supporting characters are so one dimensional. Similar to how they ruin the leads in "Overdo" And yes, the background music is not helping.

I also felt that iQiyi is not doing justice to the leads. The make-up, lighting and camera are making them look garish. The editing is all over the place, and supporting characters are so one dimensional. Similar to how they ruin the leads in "Overdo"

He reminded me of Han Yang's (Chen Du Ling) father in the Glory. That guy is the scariest gas-lighting master... and he looks like a nice guy for the most part of the drama

There's a YouTube channel that kind of explain some of the scenes, I'm not sure of the source, probably from the novel.... but it explains a lot of the reasons why certain character does certain things, including some of the earlier scenes...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6JR2hxeY58