This review may contain spoilers
Started Strong, Ended Awkwardly
I don’t usually write reviews for youth dramas because most of them follow the same formula and rarely leave a lasting impression. But The River Flows Through It stood out, at least in the beginning. It had something special until it peaked too early and left me wondering, “Then what?”
From the start, I was hooked. The story felt fresh, and I was genuinely curious to see how the relationships would develop. It was clear from the beginning that the leads were heading toward an enemies-to-lovers arc, but that predictability did not take away from the fun. Their chemistry felt real, and their growth as characters was believable.
The high school segment, which focused on their senior year, was especially well-paced. It allowed just enough time to connect with the characters and watch their friendships deepen. Moments like the summer trip were thoughtful and well-developed. But after they graduated, the story started to unravel.
Around episode 30, things lost momentum. The pacing became noticeably rushed. While their freshman year in college still had some decent moments, like Xia Xiaoju’s two-day trip and the group competition, everything after that felt increasingly hurried. Summer breaks, which previously felt like meaningful pauses in the story, suddenly passed in a blink.
Each college year flew by faster than the last. By the time senior year ended, I found myself thinking, “Wait, what just happened?” The story continued moving forward, but the emotional depth was gone.
Some viewers have criticized the writing, but I actually thought it was decent until graduation. Even with the faster pace, the writing held up for a while. But once Lu Shiyi left and Xiaoju tried to reach out to him, things started to feel off. It didn’t make sense that he would ignore her completely. Based on everything we had seen of his character, he would have responded. His silence felt out of character.
Then there was the whole situation with Shen Dou. It did not make sense for Lu Shiyi to be dating her when he clearly still had feelings for Xiaoju. That just wasn’t who he was. Yet, when he returned, he was still with Shen Dou and teasing Xiaoju as if nothing had changed. It felt inconsistent and, honestly, disappointing.
Another odd moment was when Cheng Lang saw Lin You with a random white guy. Given her backstory, it seemed far more likely she would have ended up with Yuan An Cheng instead. That sudden shift felt forced and left me wondering if the writer was trying to manufacture drama without respecting the characters’ established relationships.
Finally, the ending scene where Shiyi and Xiaoju kissed at their friend’s wedding felt completely out of place. It wasn’t romantic or satisfying; it just felt rude.
From the start, I was hooked. The story felt fresh, and I was genuinely curious to see how the relationships would develop. It was clear from the beginning that the leads were heading toward an enemies-to-lovers arc, but that predictability did not take away from the fun. Their chemistry felt real, and their growth as characters was believable.
The high school segment, which focused on their senior year, was especially well-paced. It allowed just enough time to connect with the characters and watch their friendships deepen. Moments like the summer trip were thoughtful and well-developed. But after they graduated, the story started to unravel.
Around episode 30, things lost momentum. The pacing became noticeably rushed. While their freshman year in college still had some decent moments, like Xia Xiaoju’s two-day trip and the group competition, everything after that felt increasingly hurried. Summer breaks, which previously felt like meaningful pauses in the story, suddenly passed in a blink.
Each college year flew by faster than the last. By the time senior year ended, I found myself thinking, “Wait, what just happened?” The story continued moving forward, but the emotional depth was gone.
Some viewers have criticized the writing, but I actually thought it was decent until graduation. Even with the faster pace, the writing held up for a while. But once Lu Shiyi left and Xiaoju tried to reach out to him, things started to feel off. It didn’t make sense that he would ignore her completely. Based on everything we had seen of his character, he would have responded. His silence felt out of character.
Then there was the whole situation with Shen Dou. It did not make sense for Lu Shiyi to be dating her when he clearly still had feelings for Xiaoju. That just wasn’t who he was. Yet, when he returned, he was still with Shen Dou and teasing Xiaoju as if nothing had changed. It felt inconsistent and, honestly, disappointing.
Another odd moment was when Cheng Lang saw Lin You with a random white guy. Given her backstory, it seemed far more likely she would have ended up with Yuan An Cheng instead. That sudden shift felt forced and left me wondering if the writer was trying to manufacture drama without respecting the characters’ established relationships.
Finally, the ending scene where Shiyi and Xiaoju kissed at their friend’s wedding felt completely out of place. It wasn’t romantic or satisfying; it just felt rude.
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