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| Blood River Marks Gong Jun’s Fiery Comeback After Fox Spirit Matchmaker Setback |
After a brief stumble with Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Moon Pact, Gong Jun has roared back into the spotlight with his brand-new Wuxia drama Blood River (暗河传), which premiered on October 21.
Though its initial debut was a little muted—overshadowed by Love in the Clouds starring Hou Minghao and Lu Yuxiao—the buzz has since caught fire.
And it’s not hard to see why: the drama brings back the essence of classic Wuxia with a slick modern polish.
Blood River acts as a companion piece to The Blood of Youth, the 2022 sleeper hit that reignited love for the genre.
This time, the story zooms in on the Dark River—an underground assassin organisation shrouded in power plays and silent blades.
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| Blood River has reached a Heat Index of 8,500 on Youku so far |
Gong Jun steps into the role of Su Muyu, a deadly yet disciplined assassin who slowly ascends through the ranks to become the enigmatic leader known as “Kui Daren.”
The plot kicks off with the Dark River’s grand leader (played by Geng Le) suffering a near-fatal wound after a breathtaking duel against a Tang clan master.
With their leader incapacitated, the three major families within Dark River spiral into political chaos, each hungering for control.
Su Muyu finds himself trapped between duty, loyalty, and survival—tasked with protecting his injured master from constant attacks, even from those he once called brother.
The emotional tension between Su Muyu and Su Changhe (Chang Huasen) serves as the heart of Blood River.
The two assassins share a deep, brother-like past—both emerging from the lower ranks with shared dreams of honour and recognition.
But as power shifts, so do ideals: Su Changhe seeks reform, believing in revolution from the outside, while Su Muyu clings to the belief that loyalty and internal reform are the true path forward.
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This clash of beliefs drives the story’s emotional core. Gong Jun’s restrained intensity paired with Chang Huasen’s fierce idealism makes for a captivating dynamic.
Their chemistry—rooted in trust, betrayal, and unspoken grief—feels raw and lived-in, giving the series emotional depth that goes beyond sword fights and palace plots.
Beyond its storytelling, Blood River dazzles with visuals that rival some of 2025’s biggest fantasy titles.
The opening battle between the Dark River leader and the Tang clan master is a feast of stunning choreography and smooth visual effects.
The sword fights flow with balletic grace, balanced by just the right amount of digital magic to keep things believable and thrilling.
Su Muyu’s later fight sequences are equally breathtaking—each encounter carries emotional weight, using fight choreography not just as spectacle but as storytelling.
From the crimson-lit corridors of Dark River to moonlit duels on rain-soaked rooftops, the series looks nothing short of cinematic.
Viewers have even compared its production level to The Immortal Ascension starring Yang Yang and Jin Chen, calling Blood River “one of the most visually striking Wuxia dramas of the year.”
Many fans see Blood River as a major turning point in Gong Jun’s career.
His portrayal of Su Muyu feels mature, layered, and self-assured—less about the flashy heroics of Word of Honor, and more about a man torn between loyalty and moral clarity.
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It’s a performance that reaffirms why he remains one of the most magnetic faces in the Wuxia landscape.
During a recent chat, Gong Jun commented lightly on the online response to his projects, saying he hasn’t been checking “heat indexes” or Douban ratings lately:
“I’m focusing on my current and upcoming projects. The ratings world has changed—it’s no longer what it used to be. These days, there are bots spamming both good and bad reviews. I just want to put my energy into the work itself.”
A grounded response from someone clearly back in form.
Blood River hits all the right Wuxia notes—brotherhood, betrayal, inner conflict, and spectacular duels—delivered through top-notch visuals and compelling performances.
If Gong Jun’s previous projects wavered, this one may just mark his proper reawakening.
With momentum building and word of mouth spreading fast, Blood River could easily become the late-year Wuxia surprise that fans didn’t know they needed.