LayarHijau – The Chinese drama Against the Current (蘭香如故), starring Tan Songyun and Liu Xueyi, officially premiered on September 11, 2026. The drama released four episodes on its premiere day and immediately claimed the top spot in popularity rankings.
Against the Current also attracted attention after reportedly surpassing The Early Spring (早春晴朗), starring Jing Boran and Sun Qian, in terms of popularity. Before its premiere, the drama had already surpassed 3 million reservations from viewers.
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After the first four episodes aired, many Chinese viewers responded positively to the drama. Its depth of storytelling, the performances of the main cast, and the quality of its production were among the aspects that received the most attention.
Based on the early reactions, there are three key strengths of Against the Current that have led viewers to believe the drama has the potential to become a hit.
1. A Story Filled With Intrigue and Revenge
Against the Current follows Shen Jialan (Tan Songyun), the daughter of a prominent family who was betrothed from childhood to Lin Jinqi (Liu Xueyi), the eldest grandson of a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Personnel.
However, Shen Jialan’s life changes drastically after her family is accused of plotting a rebellion. The Shen family is punished, and their residence is confiscated.
The women of the Shen family choose to end their lives to prove their innocence. Shen Jialan herself is nearly killed by her mother, but she is rescued by a married couple from the Xu family whom she had once helped.
The couple then switches the identity of their deceased daughter, Xu Lanxiang, with Shen Jialan. With her new identity, Shen Jialan survives and begins living as Xu Lanxiang.
Years later, Xu Lanxiang enters the Lin family as a servant. She still remembers her past, including her engagement to Lin Jinqi, which ended after her family fell from grace.
While working in the Lin household, Xu Lanxiang discovers that Zhao Xingtang (Li Meng), Lin Jinqi’s wife, is involved in falsifying financial records. She also notices that the couple’s marriage is far from harmonious.
These clues lead Xu Lanxiang to suspect that the Lin and Zhao families may have been connected to the downfall of her family.
She then embarks on a journey to uncover the truth and clear the Shen family’s name.
The combination of family tragedy, switched identities, family conflicts, mystery, and revenge gives Against the Current a layered storyline with plenty of conflicts to explore.
2. Strong Performances From Tan Songyun, Liu Xueyi, and Li Meng
The second strength that has drawn attention is the performances of the three leading actors.
Tan Songyun plays Shen Jialan, who later lives under the identity of Xu Lanxiang. Her character undergoes an extreme change in circumstances, from the daughter of a prominent family to a servant.
This transformation gives Shen Jialan a lengthy emotional journey. Tan Songyun also has to portray a character who hides her true identity and past while living her new life as Xu Lanxiang.
Liu Xueyi plays Lin Jinqi, the man who was betrothed to Shen Jialan from childhood. His relationship with Xu Lanxiang becomes increasingly complicated when they meet again under very different circumstances.
Meanwhile, Li Meng portrays Zhao Xingtang, Lin Jinqi’s wife, who becomes an important part of the conflict within the Lin family.
The interactions among the three actors have become one of the drama’s main attractions. Viewers have praised Tan Songyun, Liu Xueyi, and Li Meng for bringing emotional conflicts to life and giving their scenes considerable impact.
3. High-Quality Sets, Costumes, and Visual Production
The third strength that has received considerable praise is the drama’s production quality.
The Against the Current production team reportedly spent around eight months building the Lin family’s residence on a large scale. The effort can be seen in the details of the environments where the characters live and interact.
Viewers have also paid attention to the costume design and overall production design. The combination of locations, costumes, and visual details gives the drama a polished and sophisticated appearance.
The production quality also helps strengthen the atmosphere of the story. The world of the prominent families at the center of the drama feels more convincing, while providing an appropriate backdrop for the conflicts between the Shen, Lin, and Zhao families.
The Drama Still Faces Criticism Over Its Pacing
Despite the praise in these three areas, Against the Current has also faced some criticism.
Some viewers feel that the pacing in the early episodes is still too slow. The opening sequence depicting the tragedy of the Shen family has also been criticized for having an overly didactic tone.
Tan Songyun’s character does not even appear in the first episode, as the story initially focuses on the downfall of the Shen family and the tragedy that befalls its members.
Nevertheless, the early response shows that Against the Current has already generated significant discussion since its premiere.
With its intricate storyline, strong performances from Tan Songyun, Liu Xueyi, and Li Meng, and praised sets and visual production, the drama has three major strengths that could help it maintain viewers’ attention and potentially become one of the standout Chinese dramas of 2026.
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