Streaming Platform: Rakuten Viki
Chinese Show: A River Runs Through It.
Episodes: 36
Episode Duration: 30 to 45 minutes.
Featuring Cast:
Wang Rui Chang
Hu Yi Xuan
Qi Yan Di
Chen Bo Hao
Rating: 8/10
Translation Team: did a fantastic job! Was only one spot where it lagged that didn’t have subtitles.

Description of Show from Viki:
“Transferring to a new school right before the national college entrance exams was not part of Xia Xiao Ju’s (Hu Yi Xuan) plan. But when life demanded that she do exactly that, the only thing she could do was try to make the best of it. Feeling completely flustered in her new surroundings, settling in was difficult at best; but when a misunderstanding brings an unexpected group of classmates into her life, things for Xiao Ju finally start to look up.

Now surrounded by a group of friends, including the compassionate Cheng Lang (Chen Bo Hao), the straightforward Lu Shi Yi (Wang Rui Chang), the frequently dazed Qiu Yue Tao (Jiang Zhuo Jun), and her new best friend Lin You (Qi Yan Di), Xiao Ju feels ready to take on whatever life throws at her next. Tackling the college entrance exams with her friends at her side, Xiao Ju is certain she can take on anything. But after starting university, Xiao Jun’s confidence is put to the ultimate test when she realizes that the boy she loves only has eyes for Lin You. 

Struggling to make sense of the complicated world of love and friendship, Xiao Ju relies heavily on the strength and support of Shi Yi. Little does she realize that Shi Yi has developed rather strong feelings for her. Will her longing for another keep her blind to the love before her or will Shi Yi’s patience pay off in the end?

A sweet coming-of-age story, “A River Runs Through It” is a 2021 romantic youth drama directed by Sha Wei Qi.”

That being said! So far I am very much enjoying it.
It is a medium slow burn of a coming of age story and so far it is actually sticking to those lines!
There is so much bantering back and forth between the two leads (Xia Xiao and Lu Shi Yi) that it has made me laugh more than once and I am crossing my fingers they keep that throughout the rest of the series.
The way this storyline has been written is pretty true to one’s heart when you are still young and trying to make your own way in life. Dealing with your own emotional high and lows before learning how to regulate them just adds on a whole pile of “Fun”.

The relationship that grew between her and the two male leads was done very well in my opinion, was very natural and not forced and the ease of the friendship that they have now is a sweet story….. That’s about to turn Murky!!!
Because heelloooo, you know you can’t start a show featuring two male leads and one female lead and NOT expect drama! We love us some love story dramaaaaa…… If its done the RIGHT way anyway. I absolutely despise no communication between leads, it will ruin a story for me.
However so far we got decent communication going on (outside of hiding your feelings but that we can forgive) and I have high hopes for the rest of this series!
Also one of the things I have been really enjoying about this series thus far, is that every character is supporting each other, but especially all the lead friends. It’s literally so refreshing.
There was one scene where I choked back the screams of embarrassment…. because legit I got second hand embarrassment!!! Even as a thirty years young woman, to be 18 again and to have THAT happen to you, especially when you don’t have all that much confidence to begin with? Oh goddess moon stone, I’m still reeling over it! Hahaha!
Also may I just add that Lu Shi Yi (played by Wang Rui Chang) be cute? He be reaaaallly cute!! That jawline though! <3

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I’ve made more progress through the series and honestly I really adore the friendship/relationship between Lu and Xia, I love that they always are there for each other and that he always takes care of her no matter how he feels and that he genuinely cares about her.
There are a few cringy moments but honestly this series does a really great job of portraying what happens in life when we are more focused on our feelings/emotions rather then the details that occur outside of that.
The story is definitely a slow burn but there is enough interest that keeps me invested in this series enough to keep watching, honestly just for the genuine friendship that isn’t full of crazy outrageous drama. It’s been a sweet refreshing ride.
The second main lead couple is fun and cute to watch as well but I will admit I’m definitely not invested that much into them. They are kind of more fluff. That being said, both of them are acting wonderfully and are playing their characters well!

Anyway, more on the topic of it being a slow burn and some people’s complaints that the lead actress is taking so long and they wanna bang their heads and yell at her… Lets break it down!
As an insecure girl that really didn’t have much male friendships in her life before they moved to this new town, suddenly having two good male friends will throw a wedge into one’s growth scale. She is good friends with one and has an extreme crush on the other one. Take into mind that this is the first time she really HAS a crush on anyone before, never mind her good friend and finally really understanding these feelings, she’s thrown into some small family drama and then college. Navigating all of these things is a lot for anyone, but even more so for someone that has not ever experienced the intense liking of someone.
… And if ya know ya know! We all can go a little crazy with the intense emotions that come with liking someone close to you.
But that being said, yes the storyline is a slow burn, but the script is very well written, she’s handling everything with grace and dealing with her emotions and I’ve been enjoying it every step of the way because everyone’s characters are developing nicely without all these evil intents that get out of hand in other drama’s I’ve watched.
Ayeee that all being said, it makes sense to me and is understandable why she isn’t just ‘moving on’ and seeing all the efforts Lu Shi Yi is making towards her… She’s blinded by her first love and the devastating feelings of not being able to have him or even Express those feelings to him.

A little touch of seriousness to this show was added by Lu Shi Yi having a medical condition that is affecting his life and the career path that he has chosen. This topic has been touched on lightly but also touching us, that in the face of adversity we need to keep doing our best. (As this point was taught in the first 10 to 15 episodes of the series).

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I truly do really adore the relationship between the leads, it is just so sweet and genuine, and I know I keep repeating that but I can’t help it!!
He is so annoyingly buttheaded toward her in the sweetest ‘I’ll take care of you’ way. Typical male huh? Hahaha.
I just adore the way he looks at her with so much affection, I whole heartedly ADORE it. He mastered that so perfectly that honestly I feel like he must have a bit of affection for her in real life.
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(DISCLAIMER< THERE IS A SPOILER ALERT IN THIS SECTION SO PROCEED WITH CAUTION IF YOU DONT WANT IT.)


I have a handful of episodes left and we’ve just gone through the emotions once again and I feel like this is a good episode to end that era and move along with the storyline because now its dragging on.
With the third lead couple of Xia’s best friend and Lu’s roommate… I kind of hate their storyline to be honest, I don’t like how they have made his character or her character. While both are alright and nothing is seemingly bad about either of them, they seem very lackluster.
They storyline has tried hard to give them drama and while I do appreciate the fact that it isn’t happening to the main leads, it still seems out of place and silly with how much has been happening to them.
Also the fact that the guy literally let the musician girl tear him and his girlfriend apart AND THEN GOT TOGETHER WITH HER… I will forever have a grudge against him now. I don’t wanna say I hate his character because that’s too strong but I definitely dislike it… but UGH. I have complicated feelings honestly, because he had to move on right? His girlfriend broke up with him… However she only broke up with him because he was once again caught in a position where it looked like he was cheating and he never discouraged the other chick.
So frustrating.
But then Le Teo’s character!!! She’s like weak and lets boundaries fly by her then gets surprised and shocked when they are taken advantage of.
But also at the same time she is quick to jump to conclusions and she gets way to psychical in anger!! This is not okay in my book and I don’t like the fact that they are making it seem okay for men to be attacked psychically, however small the arguments may be. If you are drawing blood and its happened more than once.. do you not see a problem with that? Her character is just weird, I don’t know what truly makes me not like it that much… I love the support she has for her friend and that’s been my only saving grace of her.

(>SPOILER ALERT OVER<)

IT finally happened!!! He finally confessed he liked her!! And she turned him down! Bahahaha. What ensures next is a fun turn of events that actually fits both of their characters and is just the type of push I feel like she needs.

Bahahahaha, I just love the bantering between them, it’s so hilarious and just FITS them.

I finished the show, absolutely HATED the last three episodes. I am SO mad with how they ended things and several details have impacted the last three episodes.
I won’t say to much as I’ll give it away but the last three episodes ruined the entire series for me. However as far as ratings go I’ll give this a solid 8 out of 10.
It is still worth a watch in my opinion and there is a happy ending so there is that!

Cheers!
Lets Review Together <3