Against the Current has officially entered Tencent Video’s “blockbuster club” after crossing the 30000 heat index mark on September 15, 2026. The Chinese historical drama, starring Tan Songyun and Liu Xueyi, reached the milestone just five days after its September 11 premiere, making it the fastest drama to hit 30000 on the platform this year.
The achievement places the show alongside three other 2026 dramas that have crossed the same threshold: Shine on Me, Pursuit of Jade, and The Lead. For Tencent Video, a heat index above 30000 signals a major hit, and only a handful of titles reach this level each year.
What the 30000 Heat Index Actually Means
Tencent Video introduced its heat index system in June 2022 to replace simple view counts. The number is calculated using a mix of user plays, searches, and interactions on the platform. A drama that reaches 25000 is considered popular. Crossing 28000 marks a real hit. Anything above 30000 earns a spot in what the platform calls the “blockbuster club”.
For context, Tencent’s heat index numbers run much higher than other platforms. Analysts estimate that a Tencent heat index of 30000 is roughly equal to a score of 10000 on iQIYI, a rival streaming service. This is why the 30000 mark is treated as the gold standard for success on Tencent.
The Four Dramas That Crossed 30000 in 2026
Shine on Me was the first to reach the milestone this year. The modern romance drama, starring Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai, hit a peak heat index of 30130 on January 4, 2026. It became the highest-performing idol drama on Tencent since 2024 and ended its run with strong numbers.
Pursuit of Jade followed in March. The historical drama, led by Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei, crossed 30000 on March 11 and eventually peaked at 31248. It also made history as the first Chinese drama to simultaneously hit a 10000 heat index on iQIYI and a 30000 heat index on Tencent.
The Lead reached 30000 in late May. The realist period drama, starring Zhang Jiayi and Liu Haocun, peaked at 30236 and also pulled in a 4.487% rating on CCTV’s prime-time slot. It broke the record for the highest heat index ever recorded for a period drama on Tencent.
Against the Current Hits the Mark in Record Time
Against the Current premiered on September 11, 2026, and its rise has been quick. The drama started with a heat index of 23392 on day one. By day two, it jumped to 27017. It then climbed past 28000 and 29000 before officially crossing 30000 on the night of September 15.
The show is adapted from the novel Lan Xiang Yuan by He Yanshan. It tells the story of Shen Jialan, a noblewoman whose family falls into ruin after being falsely accused of treason. Her fiancé, Lin Jinqi, breaks off their arranged marriage, but fate brings them back together when she becomes a servant in his household.
Viewers have compared the drama to The Story of Minglan for its intelligent heroine who fights against the odds. Some have also drawn parallels to The Dream of the Red Chamber. The premiere episodes have been praised for their high production quality and strong performances from the ensemble cast, including award-winning actress Guo Keyu.
Fan Promises and Social Media Reactions
Before the show premiered, both leads made promises to fans about what they would do if the drama crossed 30000. Tan Songyun said she would wear a suit and perform a girl group dance. Liu Xueyi promised to record a cooking vlog.
After the milestone was confirmed, fans flooded social media to remind the actors of their commitments. On Weibo, one popular post read: “Tan Songyun even arranged a suit and girl group dance for breaking 30000! This flag is so sincere, everyone hurry up and push the heat, waiting for the iconic scene!”.
The drama’s official Weibo account also faced some light teasing. A “big family photo” from the Lin household had generated warm discussion among viewers before the 30000 mark was reached. After the milestone, fans noted that the promised celebratory group photo was not released.
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Questions About the Numbers
Not everyone is convinced that the heat index tells the full story. Some viewers have pointed out a gap between Tencent’s numbers and data from Yunhe, a third-party market research platform that tracks drama viewership in China. For Against the Current, Yunhe market share rose from 4.9% to 21.2%, which is a strong jump but not quite as explosive as the Tencent heat index suggests.
A similar debate took place earlier this year. Fans of Shine on Me protested Tencent Video’s claim that Pursuit of Jade was the first 2026 drama to cross 30000. According to figures shared by fans, Shine on Me had already reached 30130 on January 4, well before Pursuit of Jade hit 30007 in March. The disagreement highlighted how much fans care about these numbers and how closely they track them.
Where to Watch Against the Current
Against the Current streams on Tencent Video in mainland China and on WeTV for international audiences. The drama has a total of 47 episodes across two parts. Part one consists of 31 episodes, with part two adding 16 more. Each episode runs for about 45 minutes.
New episodes are released on a SVIP schedule at 9:30 PM China time on weekdays and weekends. International viewers on WeTV can watch with subtitles in multiple languages. The show is also available in regions including Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe through the WeTV app and website.
For viewers in India, the UK, Canada, and Australia, WeTV is accessible via its mobile app and web platform. Subtitle options vary by region, but English subtitles are typically available within a few hours of each episode’s release.
The drama still has more than 30 episodes left to air. Major scenes, including the main couple’s romantic development, have not yet taken place on screen. Many viewers expect the heat index could climb even higher as the story unfolds.
Also Read: Against the Current Release Schedule, Cast and Where to Watch The C-Drama
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