Against the Current (2026) Reviews - MyDramaList
Viewers praise the clever storytelling, the resilient heroine and the leads' chemistry, though some note mid-series pacing dips and time skips
AiringHistoricalRomanceFamily
Against the Current
兰香如故
- English title
- Against the Current (aka Orchid Fragrance Remains, The Story of Xiang Lan, Lan Xiang Ru Gu)
- Chinese title
- 兰香如故 · Lán Xiāng Rú Gù
- On Netflix?
- No — see other options
- Episodes
- 47 episodes · 45 min each
- Status
- Airing · daily at 21:30 China time
- Starring
- Tan Songyun and Liu Xueyi
- Original network
- Tencent Video, CCTV-8
- Premiered
- Sep 11, 2026
- Genre
- Historical, Romance, Family
- Based on
- 兰香缘 by He Yanshan
Updated
What is Against the Current about?
When her grandfather, a Grand Secretary, is framed for treason and her family is destroyed, Shen Jialan survives by taking the identity of a servant's daughter, Xu Lanxiang, and going to work as a maid in the household of her former fiancé, Lin Jinqi. In the Lin household, which is full of hidden power struggles, she relies on patience and wit to survive, rise above her new status and search for the truth behind her family's downfall.
Based on the novel: 《兰香缘》 by He Yanshan (禾晏山).
Against the Current cast
- Actor
Tan Songyun as Xu Lanxiang / Shen Jialan
Eldest granddaughter of a Grand Secretary whose family is wiped out on false charges; she hides under a servant girl's identity
Character
- Actor
Liu Xueyi as Lin Jinqi
Eldest grandson and heir of the Minister of Personnel's household, and Shen Jialan's former fiancé
Character
- Actor
Li Meng as Zhao Xingtang
Daughter of a newly powerful imperial favorite, who marries Lin Jinqi
Character
- Actor
Zheng Hehuizi as Du Cuique
Daughter of a military household who schemes against Lanxiang out of jealousy
Character
- Actor
Niu Junfeng as Han Liang
A scholar who becomes Lanxiang's neighbor
Character
- Actor
Pu Tao as Lin Xiulai
Lin Jinqi's half-sister, eldest daughter of the Lin family
Character
Against the Current episodes
Against the Current has 47 episodes, each about 45 min. It premiered Sep 11, 2026 on Disney+, Tencent Video and CCTV-8. New episodes: daily at 21:30 China time.
Where to watch Against the Current
- Watch Against the Current on Disney+
Disney+
Taiwan, Japan, North America and parts of EuropeSubscription
Premiered Sep 11 alongside Tencent Video and CCTV-8; new episodes go up as they air in China. Availability varies by country
- Watch Against the Current on WeTV
WeTV
InternationalFree + VIP
Daily rollout with English subtitles
- Watch Against the Current on Viki
Viki
Select regionsFree + VIP
- Watch Against the Current on YouTube
YouTube (WeTV official channel)
Availability varies by regionFree
Episode 1 with English subtitles
Tencent Video
Mainland ChinaFree + VIP
Exclusive online platform in China; VIP/SVIP ahead
We couldn’t find a Netflix listing for Against the Current. Outside mainland China it streams on Disney+ (in markets including Taiwan, Japan and North America), WeTV and Viki, and WeTV’s official YouTube channel has posted episode 1 with English subtitles.