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Press Releases (Foreign Press Releases)

September 26, 2026

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Recently, Against the Current, produced by China
Central Television (CCTV), Tencent Video and Star Lotus Pictures,
has been gaining popularity worldwide. The costume drama, centered on
an ensemble of characters striving to survive through adversity, is
streaming on WeTV, Tencent Video’s international platform, Disney+
and other platforms across Asia, Europe and the Americas.
The series has topped charts in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, ranked
No. 1 on WeTV in Vietnam, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines,
Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the United States, and reached No.
1 among popular series on Disney+ in markets including North America,
Vietnam, Spain, Portugal and Japan.

Through nuanced character development and restrained storytelling, the
series portrays an ensemble of characters in ancient China while
exploring the Chinese philosophy of “living well despite adversity.” Its
themes have resonated with audiences across different cultural
backgrounds. Viewers have spontaneously shared their reactions on
Reddit, Instagram and TikTok, generating strong organic word of
mouth. Some international viewers who previously did not regularly
follow serialized dramas have also subscribed to WeTV to keep up with
Against the Current.

Overseas viewers have described the series as a “high-quality, world-
class production,” praising its solid storytelling, well-developed
narrative arcs and natural performances. Discussions on overseas social
platforms have also highlighted the drama’s carefully planted narrative

clues and the way earlier details are meaningfully resolved later,
demonstrating the storytelling depth of long-form Chinese drama.
Against the Current also showcases China’s intangible cultural
heritage and traditional culture. Its real-life garden sets introduce
global audiences to the craftsmanship and architectural wisdom embodied
in traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon structures, which have also
received recognition from UNESCO.

As Tencent Video’s international streaming platform, WeTV now reaches
more than 173 countries and regions, supports subtitles and dubbing in
12 languages, and has surpassed 300 million cumulative downloads,
continuing to bring premium Chinese-language content to global
audiences.

The international popularity of Against the Current further demonstrates
the cross-cultural appeal of long-form storytelling. With rich characters,
emotional depth and carefully developed narratives, Chinese long-form
dramas are building broader and deeper connections with audiences
worldwide.