Fans of the Boys’ Love C-drama Word of Honor will want to be on the lookout for the upcoming Blood River (aka Tales of Dark River).
A Chinese drama that takes place in the same world as The Blood of Youth, and its sequel prequel Dashing Youth, and has Word of Honor‘s Gong Jun as its male lead.
Blood River wrapped up its filming last October and, barring any problems with the Chinese approval board, is scheduled to drop towards the end of the year via YOUKU.
It is also already on YOUKU’s 2025 drama schedule, so hopefully its release is a given. (Update: The wuxia drama premiered on October 20th).
Various Blood River posters have been dropping for the Chinese drama over the last month, as things hype up for its release, with Gong Jun the main focus.
And, yep, as you would expect, the costume designs are stunning and, from the trailer also released (watch down below), everything about it looks epic.
Story-wise, though, I think this will be an epic tale or a flop.
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Why do I say that? Because the Tales of Dark River donghua is complicated, it involves huge numbers of characters, especially male members of various sects, and I found some of it confusing.
What I am holding out hope about is that the script is co-written by novel author Zhou Munan, and hopefully that means he has been able to rewrite some of the confusing segments of the donghua into something more cohesive for the live-action.
Update: November, 2025
After watching every episode of Blood River, I will point out the C-drama did turn out to be visually sumptuous and definitely watchable.
Yes, some parts of it are still confusing due to the enormous number of sects and sect members, and I don’t think that can be helped without turning it into a drama with 50 more episodes due to huge amounts of exposition needed. And, believe me, there is already enough.
And yes, just like with the donghua, I did find myself rewinding some scenes two or three times to discern who was who because of that. But, overall, the screenwriters and the director have created a gorgeous-looking, action-packed, extremely well-acted and quite exciting drama I do recommend.
Gong Jun and Chang Hua Sen, who have one of the best bromances on film, in particular give spectacular performances and, can I just point out the amount of detail that went into creating those beautiful costumes is phenomenal.
You should just be aware going into it, it isn’t always an easy watch, but it is a stunningly-designed experience.
Production details for Blood River
Blood River is a drama that tells the story of an organization of assassins — the Dark River — led by three families, the Su, Xie, and Mu.
It is adapted from the novel An He Zhuan (暗河传) by Zhou Munan.
The live action adaptation is being directed by Yin Tao (The Blood of Youth (both seasons), Who Rules the World, Love of the Divine Tree), one of China’s top, and most exciting, directors.
Screenwriting is by author Zhou Munan himself, in collaboration with Lin Cong He (Dashing Youth). Stylist and costume designer is the wonderful Yi Xiao Ya (Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, Love Between Fairy and Devil).
What is the Blood River plot?
Gong Jun plays Su Muyu, the leader of an auxiliary organization called the Spider Shadow Guard, while Peng Xiaoran (Romance of a Twin Flower) is Mu Yumo, the C-drama’s female lead, and a member of the Medicinal Skills Faction.
Personally, I’m not quite sure why Peng Xiaoran was chosen for the role.
Nothing against the actress, but Tian Lei Xi already did a superb job in the role in The Blood of Youth, so a pity she wasn’t elevated to female lead for Blood River.
And yes, I am well aware Su Muyu was played by Jiang Zhen Hao in The Blood of Youth, but he was a poor choice for the role (a talented actor, just looked too old for the role), so I am thrilled to see him replaced by Gong Jun.
Interestingly though, Jiang Zhen Hao has a guest role as Su Muyu’s father.
So they are still keeping it all in the family somewhat, eh?
The plot of the C-drama, which is based on both the novel and its donghua (anime) adaptation, goes like this:
As the Jianghu becomes unstable, the head of the Dark River, the top assassin organization in the Jianghu, is in danger. The three heads of the three families who want to seize the throne have sent assassins to kill him, and soon it is discovered he has been poisoned.
And now, a timed race between life and death and the future of the assassin organization begins.
Su Muyu (played by Gong Jun), the leader of the Spider Shadow Guard, is forced to get involved in the fight between the heads of the Dark River.
In order to protect their respective factions, he and his friends begin to draw their swords against each other.
Meanwhile, it is essential Su Muyu also gets the help of divine healer Bai Hehuai of the Medicinal Skills Faction. If he cannot, it is only a matter of time before the organization’s leader will die.
The donghua adaptation of Zhou Munan’s novel is already superb (both seasons are streaming via YOUKU) but, with a 38-episode live-action adaptation now on the verge of being released, some of the plot points that weren’t wrapped up perfectly in the animated series now have a second chance.
Throw in that it’s the amazing Gong Jun as Su Muyu and, yep, Blood River is one is my most-anticipated Chinese drama of the year so far. How about you?
I will keep you posted as more information comes out about a solid premiere date.
Enjoy the gorgeous posters!
And watch the recently released Blood River trailer as, yep, the word “epic” to describe this may just be an understatement.
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