What’s better than a smash hit? Two smash hits! Despite a second part always being on the table, everything in TV revolves around your viewing figures and nothing is a foregone conclusion. The first series powered to number one in the ratings (on Beijing TV) for each episode and with that, the second series of Like A Flowing River was inevitable.

有什么比红极一时更好？当然是连庄！尽管续集的成功是理所当然的，但在收视率面前，一切都没有定数。第一部每集的收视率（在北京卫视播出）都是排名第一，因此，《大江大河2》的成功令人期待。

Based on the novel River of Time by Ah Nai, the sprawling epic (taking place between 1988 and 1992) was conceived as a celebration of China’s open-door policy (huge economic reforms across all sectors, handing more power from government to the people). Like A Flowing River focused on the lives of ambitious young Chinese men and women in an era of rapid growth, where rural areas were developing and urbanising and farmers were looking to push themselves into the hustle and bustle of a more modern civilisation. In particular, the show focused on the trials and tribulations of Song Yunhui (Wang Kai), Lei Dongbao (Yang Shuo) and Yang Xun (Dong Zi Jian) ending on a crossroads for each of them. Tragedy, promotions and new horizons.

根据阿奈小说《时光之河》改编，《大江大河》，这部庞大的史诗巨作设定在中国改革开放的背景下，关注在快速发展的时代中，中国年轻男女的生活改变，中国农村翻天覆地的变化，城市化发展的快速进程，农民们是如何将自己推入现代文明的喧嚣之中的。特别是，本片重点讲述了宋运辉（王凯饰）、雷东宝（杨烁饰）、杨巡（董子健饰）三人在人生十字路口的选择，有困难，有提升，也有改变。 

We begin season 2 approaching 1990. Song Yunhui is working for Donghai chemical, soon to be promoted to a deputy position despite his relatively young age. Meanwhile, Lei Dongbao, still recovering from tragedy (losing his wife in the first season), is given a new opportunity to start a copper wire factory.

《大江大河2》的故事发生在1990年，宋云辉在东海化工工作，虽然年轻，但很快就被提拔为副职，与此同时，雷东宝，仍未从悲剧中（第一部故事他失去了妻子）中恢复过来，他获得了开办铜线厂的新机会。

Some may find the structure of the series a little frustrating. Around a quarter of the way into this season we are reintroduced to Yang Xun. Then around the halfway point (of the 39-episode run) we’re also reintroduced to Liang Sishen (Yang Caiyu). It’s a show that requires patience given the slow burning nature. When we meet Yang Xun again he’s still full of youthful exuberance. He’s also saddled with debts, overextending himself as he tries to keep his market thriving. Yang has a great will and determination to rise out of the doldrums and capitalise on the expansive economic reforms which saw a boom in private sector enterprises. These reforms brought about by Deng Xiaoping in early 80’s China become a focal point of the intertwining stories. Yang soon sets his sites on opening a hotel.

有些人可能会对故事的结构有点不解，在故事已经过了四分之一后，杨巡出场，然后在故事过半，梁思申（杨采钰饰）出场，鉴于《大江大河2》不急不躁的叙事风格，这部剧需要耐心观看。当我们再次见到杨巡时，他仍然充满着活力，尽管他还背负着债务，但仍试图在繁荣的市场中寻找机会，经济改革的深化，私营企业蓬勃发展，让杨巡有更大的意愿和决心走出低谷，正是有了邓小平在 80 年代初对中国进行的这些改革，才会有这些故事的纷繁交织。于是，杨巡开始筹备他的酒店。

The characters and their arcs are the major strength of Like a Flowing River 2. Song is ambitious. His family struggled during the shift in government policies, and Song has fought constantly to achieve his rising positions of influence (and more so, to keep them). He pushes forward with the Donghai project, facing bureaucracy and a battle of traditionalism versus evolution. His work ethic also puts pressure on his marriage.  His wife, Cheng kaiyan (Zhou Fang), by her own admission is a little lazy and naive. She feels neglected. Cheng is also targeted by her brother and sister-in-law who seek to cash in on Song’s new project. There are financial ramifications which stretch the family drama further, not least Song’s marriage to breaking point.

人物间的矛盾是《大江大河2》剧情的主要推动力。宋运辉雄心勃勃，他的家人在政策转变中苦苦挣扎，自己也为了获得不断上升的社会地位而不断奋斗。在官僚主义、传统与现代的斗争中，他仍推进东海项目，他的职业道德也给他的婚姻带来了压力，宋运辉的妻子程开颜（周放饰），她懒惰而天真，开始觉得自己被忽视了。程开颜的兄弟和嫂子把她当成桥梁，试图从宋运辉的新项目中获利。经济上的牵扯进一步扩大了家庭矛盾冲突，宋运辉的婚姻开始岌岌可危。

Lei Dongbao, all hound-dog pathos, is racked with guilt following the death of his wife (Song’s sister). He has a position of responsibility to his workers and local villagers who have invested money and time into him. He can’t face his former in-laws nor Song initially. The former agricultural worker strives to move into industrial enterprise. He forges ahead with the risky copper wire factory despite no guarantees of it being a feasibly profitable project, and he scrapes as much money as possible (not just his own) into getting the project off the ground. Through shortcuts and human errors an explosion in the factory sets the project back and matters are complicated further when irregularities threaten Lei with the attention of the law.

雷东宝，在妻子（宋运辉的妹妹）去世后，他一蹶不振，因为他对工人和入股的村民们负有责任，他更是内疚不已。最初他无法面宋运辉，这位前农民选择了创业，尽管不能保证盈利，但他还是继续推进项目，他利用各种渠道筹集资金，由于走捷径和人为疏忽，工厂的爆炸使他的努力付诸东流，当雷东宝的违规行为触及到法律后，事情变得更加复杂。

As the show progresses, everything begins to gravitate around the Chemical plant project, which becomes intrinsically reliant on foreign investors and domestic partnerships so vital in these economic reforms but upended at every turn by the conservative elders (mirroring real life). The three old friends, Song, Lei and Yang. intermittently reconverge and soon all have vested interests in Donghai. Liang Sishen returns. She’s the most worldly of the group, having spent time in Wall Street. She represents the most distinct bridge between the burgeoning China and the international market full of expansive opportunities, but she herself is saddled by the weight of expectation and belittlement from her conservative and traditionalist grandfather. He built a prosperous empire in pre-reform days and often reminds her. The constant reneging and ever-changing government restrictions prove a thorn for all of the principal characters as conflicting ideologies of communism and socialism naturally slow business progress.  

《大江大河2》的故事继续围绕化工厂项目展开，该项目本质上依赖于外国投资者和国内合作伙伴的关系，但每一个转折点都受到保守势力的阻碍。宋运辉、雷东宝、杨巡三个老朋友，步步为营，很快所有人都在东海获得了既得利益。梁思申，她是这群人中最现实的人，源于她曾在华尔街工作过，她成为蓬勃发展的中国和充满广阔机遇的国际市场之间最亮眼的存在，其实她也背负着代表着保守和传统思潮的祖父的期望，她的祖父在改革前建立了一个繁荣的帝国并经常提醒梁思申，共产主义和社会主义意识形态会减缓商业进展，因此不断更替和不断变化的政策对所有主要角色来说都是机会。

The open-door era is perhaps the most fascinating of modern Chinese history. A post-Mao generation pushing back against the current regime, searching for more freedom of enterprise and expression. Yet still, a friction between evolution and conservatism would occasionally cause difficulties for individuals, companies and industries, personified in Chinese history by Deng Xiaoping and Chen Yun, two key figures in the reforms, who had differing beliefs in how to implement reforms (with Yun having the more conservative approach). Our young protagonists, pitted against significant change, must also contend with these conflicting values still upheld by the older generation. If Song and Liang approach problems with poise and refrain, then Yang and Lei charge at issues like a bull.

改革开放是中国现代史上一个辉煌的时代，中国人在寻求更多的商业机会和言论自由，然而，进化论和保守主义之间的摩擦偶尔会给个人、公司和行业带来困难。邓小平和陈云是中国历史上改革的两个关键人物，他们对如何实施改革有着不同的观念（陈云更保守）。面对变化，主角们必须与上一代所坚持的价值观作斗争，如果说宋运辉、梁思申以谨慎的态度处理问题，那么杨巡和雷东宝则更激进。

China would inevitably expand and open (even just small) doors to foreign investment and trade. One key obstacle facing the Donghai project is the use of foreign machinery. The intricacy of these deals due to ever fluctuating international relations makes it difficult, whilst Song’s preference for American products is blocked at every turn by his conservative superiors who want to use cheaper, inferior Japanese machinery for the sake of maintaining established relationships over building newer ones.  

中国将不可避免地打开外国投资和国际贸易的大门，东海项目成功的关键就是进口机械，由于国际关系的不断波动，交易的复杂性使项目变得困难，而宋运辉对使用美国产品的坚持则处处受到他的保守上司的阻挠，他们想用更便宜、劣质的日本机器来维持现有的关系而不是建立新的关系。

Director Li Xue, never shies away from shining a light on the difficulties faced by companies, and the people within them, during this time of major economic reform. Old versus new, tradition versus progress, insulation versus expansion. The aspirational rural villagers, seeking to broaden their world to the big City lights have mounted themselves with debts from local strong arms, banks and relatives. China continues to develop, but 30 years ago that boom was particularly huge, and it goes without saying, many probably pushed their ambitions to absolute financial limits. Success or ruination on a knife edge.

导演李雪，从不回避经济改革时期的矛盾，给予企业和个人更多的关注。旧与新，传统与进步，保守与激进，有梦想的村民，背负着债务，就是为了实现他们的城市梦。中国现在的发展举世瞩目，这是改革开放在短短30年间造就的辉煌，当然，其中也不乏有些人将金钱作为目标，在刀刃上行走。

Like a Flower River 2 is an enthralling show that will interest lovers of history as much as drama. From a technical standpoint the show is lavish. The production design is very impressive, beautifully creating a period of time that looks sprawling, rather than confined to basic interiors. It has impressive production values, with stunning cinematography. The music by Dong Yingda is the perfect balance of uplift and melancholy. The show never succumbs to melodrama either, which can sometimes hamper the international appeal of Chinese dramas. Wang Kai and Yang Shuo in particular are superb, headlining an excellent cast.

《大江大河2》是一部引人入胜的电视剧，既吸引了历史爱好者，也吸引了戏剧爱好者。从专业的角度来看，本剧可以用奢华来形容，剧本令人印象深刻，将三人的命运与时代交织在一起，而不仅局限于人的主观驱动力。《大江大河2》有着殷实的投资，精美的摄影，董颖达制作的音乐，将昂扬与忧郁完美的平衡，可以看得出来，《大江大河2》的创作者们不满足于仅仅制作一部情节剧，其实这种类型有时会阻碍中国剧集的国际吸引力。值得一提的是，王凯和杨烁，演技精湛。