THIS IS A MASTERPIECE!!
Story - For those who love the novel and dissapointed because there's no BL in this, DON'T WORRY!! The bromance is wonderful and will make you can't stop smiling. The story is rather faithful to the novel (not exactly the same tho).. they adapted many sweet scenes of LWJ and WWX.. (Trust me, they adapted almost everything except the confession scene and steamy scenes). For the additional plots, I don't have any problem with them.. it doesn't really change anything (maybe only more screentimes for minor characters like Wen Qing and Jiang Yanli).. And I think they add a new character, Xue Chonghai, to smooth the story.. It was a big question in the novel HOW DID WWX LEARN DEMON CULTIVATION? And the story about Xue Chonghai is to answer the question..This drama really has exceed everyone's expectations.. like, at first, in China, many the original novel fans can't accept the show (because there's no BL or Xiao Zhan & Wang Yibo don't have WWX & LWJ's charm, etc) and so The Untamed only got a low rating (4.8 in douban) but it keeps on increasing after the show airing.. now it has reached 8.0!! I think it proves the beauty of this show..
Acting/Cast - Both Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo did a great job in this drama!! At first, I though Xiao Zhan wouldn't suit WWX since he doesn't look like someone who talks a lot.. but I WAS WRONG.. WWX IS MADE FOR XIAO ZHAN!! And for Wang Yibo.. there're not many expressions shown by Lan Wangji here.. but I think Wang Yibo did a great job showing a cool but caring Lan Wangji~ >< The other supporting actors are new but really did a great job.. especially Yu Bin who played our little angel, Wen Ning~ like when he was stabbed, I can feel his pain too ugh.. ToT
Music - This drama has a set of beautiful songs.. the ending song, Wu Ji, sung by Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo and Yi Nan Ping are my favs.. Yi Nan Ping is a theme song for A Xian, A Cheng, and A Li.. the lyrics is so heartwrenching (I almost cried when the song was played).. and there are character songs too.. like Bu Wang sung by Wang Yibo for Lan Wangji's character song, Qu Jin Chen Qing by Xiao Zhan for Wei Wuxian's, Chi Zi by Yu Bin for Wen Ning's, Bu You by Liu Haikuan for Lan Xichen's, etc.. all of them have beautiful lyrics that tell the story of each characters.. MY EARS ARE BLESSED!!
Rewatch Value - DEFINITELY!! I can rewatch this wonderful drama again and again..
Overall - A must watch drama!! There is a complete set of genre inside.. comedy, mystery, friendship, family, romance.. >///<
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A once in a blue moon treasure that is enchanting, magical and extremely addictive
After being sorely disappointed by the infamous 'Descendants of the Sun', I've learnt that the 'hype' surrounding a drama does not always translate to an enjoyable watch for everyone. So when this massively popular show popped up under my radar, I wasn't sold yet. At the time, I didn't get why 'The Untamed' was so popular and well-received. The synopsis seemed messy, the cast did not consist of any veteran actors, and the production value was not very high. But after digging a little deeper and reading reviews and recommendations, it seemed as if everyone was loving this show. So I decided to give the show a chance to live up to its expectations. It only took a few episodes before I was completely hooked and now, 50 episodes later, I can confidently say that 'The Untamed' is one of the best Asian dramas I've seen to date. This show has cemented a place in my heart and I feel torn having to part ways with Wei Wu Xian and Lan Wang Ji and the cultivation world.Story:
Not trying to take anything away from the acting, execution or production of the show, but the story is what elevates this drama into the tier of the elites. The plot is complex and the synopsis does not do the story justice. The show is based on the BL(boy's love) novel 'modaozushi' (魔道祖师), with the only major change being the lack of on-screen BL scenes. (mainly because of Chinese censorship. For me personally, this wasn't a particular drawback, because even without the direct display of affection, I interpreted the relationship between our male leads as something much more than just friends. Moreover, there is so much more to the story than just the relationship between the two male leads.) The generous 50 episodes means that the show can set the background and flesh out all of the characters thoroughly. The show may seem a bit slow-paced at first, especially in the few episodes of introduction, but then it rapidly picks up momentum and stays that way for the rest of its run. The show will take you on an epic adventure filled with action and battle, but also goes far beyond just that. There is an emphasis on relationships, whether it'd be friendship, sisterly/brotherly love or romantic love. Although the major focus of the story is the 'bromance/love' between the two main male characters Wei Wu Xian and Lang Wang Ji, the rest of the characters are interesting and layered as well. The storyline is well-paced, exciting and balanced, setting a solid foundation for the show to build upon.
Acting:
The voice actors for the characters were phenomenal and bought depth and emotion that most normal voices just cannot achieve. There are many notable mentions for the cast, but let's first talk about the two male leads. Xiao Zhan who plays Wei Wu Xian brings his lively, playful and good-natured character to life. Wei Wu Xian is portrayed in a way that makes him very easy to like and to root for. Xiao Zhan conveys his emotions through his vivid facial expressions and gives a very natural performance. Wang Yibo who plays Lan Wang Ji may come across as a little stiff and emotionless at the start due to his polar-opposite personality compared to Wei Wu Xian. But he softens up throughout the drama and I found Wang Yibo's ability to convey with his eyes particularly impressive. A standout for me was Meng Ziyi (Zoey) who played the character Wen Qing, a top doctor of the Wen Clan. Her character was strong and independent, and although she has a cold, harsh exterior, she has a good heart and righteous intentions. My view on her character changed drastically throughout the drama and I went from initially disliking her, to her becoming one of my favourite characters. And to top it all off she's very pretty.
Cinematography/Effects:
The visuals of this show are splendid. The production value may not have been very high, but the show was still very aesthetically pleasing to watch. Lotus Pier and Cloud Recesses, the home of the Jiang sect and Lan sect, were breathtakingly beautiful, especially the amazing natural landscape. The special effects were nothing exceptional but they served their purpose and did not look exaggerated or choppy. The decorated robes worn by the characters gave them a noble, majestic look. The editing and directing was done well and the show was consistent and smooth throughout. In terms of the overall viewing experience, this show is very beautiful to watch.
Soundtrack:
The soundtrack of this show is easily one of my favourites. The obvious highlight is the duet by Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo "无羁 / Unrestrained". I really liked the use of traditional instruments in this track, especially the bamboo flute. It was also a nice touch to have a solo, duet and instrumental version of this song. Even though the three versions are similar, the duet felt more powerful and emotive, whereas the instrumental was less pronounced and more of an accompaniment. I also grew to like the bamboo flute as an instrument because it can bring out so many different emotions, especially the sad and reminiscent ones. The sheer number of tracks released also prevents the soundtrack from becoming repetitive and allows different tracks to be used generously to establish the mood and enhance scenes.
Sometimes the best things in life creep up on you unexpectedly, and all it takes to discover them is a bit of patience and an open mind. Just like how one shouldn't judge a book by its cover, before you decide this show isn't for you, give it a watch. It only took a few episodes of 'untamed' magic to shatter my assumption that the show wouldn't be to my liking. 'The Untamed' is a rare gem that lives up to the hype. Definitely give this drama a shot and discover the wonderful world that awaits!
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Where lays the line between good and evil?
As someone who's a fan of the novel and hugely loved the audio drama and anime adaptation, you can say that I have HIGH expectations for this drama. Cause with such great adaptations already exists, the bar will be extra high. Especially since live actions do not have a great reputation, so I am gonna be straight to the point. There were parts that are terrible, there were parts that deserve to be praised, but overall, it's a worth it drama to watch.Before I start with my review, I will answer a few questions that I've seen people struggling with before deciding to watch it or not. If you do not have this struggle, you can just skip these and immediately go to my review
*The plot is confusing, is this a romance story or not?*
I can't say this enough, but this drama ain't a romance story! This drama/novel is much more than that. This story is about the life of Wei Wuxian and the world he lives in. Romance might be a part of his life, but it ain't everything. The original novel maybe had about 20% (which is also extremely loved by fans), but that's it. There is romance, but it is not the main point of the story! This story is about the boundary between good and evil. Where exactly is the line between these two categories and is Wei Wuxian who is considered to be the most dangerous and evil person in history really as evil as people claim him to be? We'll follow his story in his previous life, his life after his reincarnation and follow his adventure what has happened between the 16 years he was "Dead".
*Will we see gay romance or not?*
I've seen so many people (especially guys) who avoided to watch the anime or this drama because they are afraid to see gay romance. I also believe there are a lot of people who are hesitating to watch it cause they want to see gay romance and are afraid that Chinese censorship will ruin it. I can tell you that both sides have nothing, literally NOTHING to be worried about. Wei Wuxian was bisexual in the novel and is STILL bisexual in the drama, but will not have a romantic relationship with any guys. However there is fan service here and there (Basically everywhere) for those who loved the novel and you can see them clearly if you pay attention to the details, you'll easily recognize them if you have read that the novel. So yeah, those who do not want to see romance, you'll be fine. I mean there are some twilight longing stares once in a while, but you can just go forward a few seconds or just easily ignore them. And for those who want to see romance, you'll find plenty enough hints, cute moments and fan service in the drama to survive. And with plenty I really mean PLENTY. So no matter if you want to watch it for the gay romance or avoided for the same reason. JUST WATCH IT!
*REVIEW*
*Plot* 8.5
I'm gonna be honest, the first 6 episodes were just terrible. It was bad, like REALLY bad. But that was exactly why I enjoyed it with popcorn and all. I was enjoying dissing it so much. I would have rated it a 6 MAX. However, after episode 6, it actually becomes okay. After episode 10, it actually becomes fun and after episode 13, you won't be able to stop anymore, cause suddenly it becomes SOOOO good and it doesn't stop there. It just went up so fast and it doesn't seem to stop till the end. I hesitated for a long time if I should rate it so high, but the plot just gets better and better. I might have even given a 10 if the first 6 episodes weren't so bad. So if you think you can survive a good laugher about a crappy plot for some episode before you get in the rollercoaster of emotions and addiction. Give it a try. But if you really can't stand the horrible acting, just read a summary somewhere and just start from episode 10 LOL. I was surprised how loyal they manage to be to the novel and the novel is definitely 10 worthy! It really shows how much effort they put in and even if they are lacking here and there, the moment you get used to it, you just can't pull yourself out of the story anymore.
*Acting* 8.5
I'll put aside about how much they were alike to the original novel and judge them purely on their acting. Some actors did a REALLY good job, some actors become better over time and some just stay awkward and terrible till the end.
Amazing actors like Wei Wuxian, Shijie and Wen Chao were just wonderful! They are such great actors and my cry moments were all given to them. They made me completely forget about the outside world and just pulled me into theirs.
Some actors were really awkward at first but gradually becomes better and better over time. Actors like Lan Wangji, Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng. Lan Wangji REALLY showed a lot of difference between episode 1 and episode 6. It was as if he suddenly understood his character and just immediately went to perfect, despite being so awkward at the beginning. Actors like Lan Xichen, I couldn't stand them at all at first, but when I got used to them, it was actually not that bad (Perhaps due to my impression of them in the novel). And there's also Jiang Cheng. Oh my boy, he is actually a pretty good actor... except when he cries? Yeah, I immediately went back to reality and actually had to hold back my laughter at really emotional scenes due to him. It DID become better and I actually feel kind of proud of the actor as well (Despite knowing nothing about the actor), but like I said it all becomes better the further you are in the plot
AND there are actors who were terrible till the end. Actors like Jin Zixuan, Wen Qing and Xue Yang. I'm so sorry, but I can't focus when you guys act. I'm glad that they aren't big roles, cause it was really distracting to see them act.
So yeah, there were terrible actors and really good ones. If it wasn't due to most of the actors becoming significantly better over time, I think I would have only given a 7 MAX for the great actors out there, but over time it will become better and some terrible actors will also die at some point so LOL.
*Music* 9
Up till now, I've not seen anyone complain about the OST's, cause they are all REALLY REALLY REALLY GOOD. Everyone even has their own character theme song and the lyrics are all related to the plot. Even if you end up not able to finish the drama, I'm sure you will keep at least the ending track with you, cause the songs are THAT good! One little thing that could be a bit distracting is the fact that their movement on the instrument are not in sync with the music LOL.
*Rewatch Value* 9.5
I have barely dramas that I rewatch, but this drama, this story, it makes you think about a lot of things in real life as well. Even if you do not completely rewatch it, there are just certain scenes, certain episodes that you WILL rewatch again. For emotional reasons or to experience things, you have not realized before.
*Overall* 9
I was actually planning to only give it an 8.5, but the plot just becomes better and better and I couldn't help but increase my rating every single week. However, I will not give it a 10. Some of the acting and first 6 episodes are still terrible. You cannot ignore them
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This review may contain spoilers
Love, Compassion, Inspiring Characters | Best Costume Drama of All Time
To enjoy watching this drama, one has to watch it without any preconception. Discard your logic. Just watch it as it is. Accept the events as they are playing out. Watch out for the beautiful relationships between the leads and beyond. Close your eyes and listen to the beautiful music. Take in the visual of the 2 main leads.I normally shy away from dramas that are tagged "Bromance", but somehow, I clicked on this one. Since I didn't have a high expectation, my initial impression was like, "Urgh! Another bad Chinese zombies drama" which was in the beginning scene. But to my surprise, it didn't take me very long to get into the hang of the story; I find the story super interesting and the actors super hot. In fact, the good look of the actors makes this drama feel like a manga/manhua; it's surreal, it's beautiful.
I was so hooked to the story that I binge watched all the aired episodes in one sitting. It is really good. Immediately I was acquainted with the main leads, in particular, Wei Wu Xian, who is the untamed one. He is playful, care-free, upstanding and has a heart of gold. Despite all the pain and false accusations he has to endure, Wei Wu Xian remains cheerful, humorous and kind. It is this magnanimous quality that brings tears to our eyes for his misfortune and makes us love him.
Wang YiBo, a very talented dancer, plays the Lan Wang Ji character. Whether on-screen or off-screen, Wang YiBo has that same cold look and therefore making him a perfect fit for the role. His coldness and outrageous good look provide a dream-like visual in the world of cultivation.
The bantering between Wei Wu Xian and the other men/boys is hilarious and cute, which we normally see in romances between a girl and a boy. But in this drama, the bantering doesn't feel distasteful or bad; it gives the impression of true friendship and brotherhood.
Many of the actors, especially the male actors, are so good looking that I find myself attracted to them. All of them are young and talented, and executed their roles very well. The visual of Wei Wu Xian and Lan Zhan is so beautiful - one in white holding the sword and the other in black blowing the flute. I love to watch the flow of their long hair and clothing in the air when they fight. It's simply out of this world.
Though I have not read the novel nor watched the related anime, I find the portrayal of the 2 main characters so amazing - everything about them is opposite to each other. Wei Wu Xian is always warm, talkative and playful, whereas Lan Wang Ji is always cold, solemn and rigid. It is interesting to note that the actual personalities of the actors are reversed off screen. Lan Wang Ji and Wei Wu Xian make a perfect pair.
For me, it's the 'soulmate' relationship that is truly awesome. Wei Wu Xian and Lan Wang Ji know exactly what each other is thinking and feeling by just looking into each other's eyes. They can read each other's mind. It's better than many boy-girl romances where there are tons of misunderstanding, frustrating the viewers. Despite being always expressionless, Wang YiBo brilliantly expresses his emotions without words in Lan Wang Ji. And for Xiao Zhan, he is so brilliant playing the Wei Wu Xian character as if it is written for him.
Their admiration for each other is never explicit, but the look on each face tells a million words. Wei Wu Xian has never imposed on Lan Wang Ji; he lets him make his own choices. For Lan Wang Ji, he is tormented. What is in his heart is totally against what he's been taught in his whole life. He has lived a very strict life with no friends nor any form of entertainment, until Wei Wu Xian appears in his life. Only Wei Wu Xian understands how he feels.
As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing 'gay' about this drama. It's just pure BFF (best-friend-forever) like we have with our own BFF. It is the great companionship one finds in another. The few comedic scenes added to lighten up the whole story are adorable and funny, helping the viewers to take a breather from the zombies and evil spirits.
All the sound tracks are so beautiful either sung or instrumental, each telling a story of a character or a scene. I love visualization the scene when Wu Xian picks up his flute and blows, and Lan Wang Ji playing the guqin. I can just close my eyes and listen to the beautiful tune. The visual is simply so beautiful that no words can describe.
The ending tears my eyes. The sacrifices Wei Wu Xian makes to save others, and in return Lan Wang Ji does the same for him. It's moving and touching. Sweetness comes and I ask for the story to continue.
Many viewers who have read the novel may be disappointed watching this drama that has not portrayed the gayness as it is written in the novel. On the other hand, many viewers shy away from this drama because they do not want to watch "gay" scenes. For me, this drama is beautifully and tastefully done, especially the visual aspect. If you refrain from watching for any of these reasons, you may be missing a lot of the fun. This is a drama that is well worth it.
I strongly recommend this drama to anyone who is still hesitating.
Two thumbs up!
An Update:
After watching this drama during its airing, I re-watched it multiple times, each time picking up certain details I've missed during the first watching. I realized there are many subtleties in this drama that can be missed or not understood in the first viewing. Then I also started watching the anime, and reading the novel. The drama does pretty well in sticking closed to the original story but then, there are also differences and hence provides totally different experiences to the viewers.
Like I said before, I'm normally not a "bromance" fan. But after watching this drama, something touches me. I don't know what, but I love this drama so much that I can't put it down. Even though initially when watching this drama, I felt the relationship was more of a soulmate friendship, but after reading some parts of the novel and watching the anime, I realize it is more than just a soulmate relationship. But this drama has cleverly and carefully tweaked the story to avoid that censorship threshold and yet not losing its heart-warming love relationship appeal. That's what makes this drama so loved and unforgettable. The two main male leads are so good together as if they are made for each other. Since this drama, I realize the misconception I have always on such relationship (bromance) due to our social norms and religious intolerance. I also realize only with an open mind, I can see further and feel more of the things around me.
Despite all the holes and flaws here and there, poor acting by some peripheral actors, hard-to-understand certain parts of the story and logic, substandard editing etc, this drama is phenomenal in terms of its visual appeal and music composition. One really has to sit in, watch it and listen to it, to appreciate it.
This drama has the best OSTs I have ever heard, be they vocal or instrumental, they are so beautiful. The character songs describe each character appropriately. From these songs, I even managed to understand some characters better whom I initially disliked, such as Xue Yang. The lyrics and music in the Yi Nan Ping (Jiang Yanli's character song) is the one that makes me very emotional whenever I listen to it because it is Wei Ying's memory of his shijie (Jiang Yanli); it's so heart-wrenching. The Qing Xin Yin (Clear Heart Tune or Cleansing) with the Luan Po Chao (Muddle Soul) interlude is so perfectly done, that by itself, it is already a master piece. I later also found out that this song is an adaptation from the original song called "You don't understand my heart". Lan Zhan plays this tune consistently for Wei Ying for healing when he is in coma or when he's wounded. The lyrics in that song are so fitting for Lan Zhan expressing his love for Wei Ying silently. The WuJI song, purportedly composed by Lan Zhan for Wei Ying, describes perfectly what happens between them - it is their song, their story. Another song that strikes me most, among others, is the Lotus Cove song. Whenever I hear it, I can feel Wei Ying's fond memories of his growing up life living in the Lotus Cove, so carefree and happy, loved and adored by all, especially his shijie. I can't help but cry for him when he loses all that means most to him.
I have never thought I'd enjoy a drama that shows two male leads in a loving relationship as much as I love this one. At this point, I don't think the label we want to use on this drama important anymore. The most important thing is, most viewers like me have enjoyed it tremendously.
This is a MUST WATCH drama!
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1Initially I was on the fence about starting this; there was a lot of hype around it and I've never (successfully) watched a Chinese Drama before. But what drew me in was the promise of a beautifully great cast, an exciting story, and some wonderfully superb acting. So you'll know without even reading ahead that The Untamed very well lived up to it's expectations, but why did it?
Let's rewind a little and summarize what it is that makes The Untamed such a rare gem among a multiplicity of other dramas in the same vein. The Untamed is the live action retelling of the Chinese novel The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi), a popular sensation that's only gaining more reader fans as we speak. Though a BL in nature, it's also so much more than that, and though censorship also plays a part where the live action is concerned, the producers of the drama made sure that none of the magic that made the novel so special was lost.
At its helm are two marvellous lead actors, both who manage to bring the characters alive in a way that made them their own. Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo display perfect synergy, in an undeniable chemistry that goes beyond the characters on-screen. It's obvious the series had a lot of thought put into when it came to the casting, as it goes without saying there's nobody else who would be such a perfect fit for these roles.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't struggle to summarize the plot of this epic series, especially without giving away too much context. It's simple on the surface but at the same time possesses a great scale of hidden layers that will continue to surprise and shock you as you progress throughout the series.
The Untamed follows two male characters from two different clans, both with very contrasting personalities; Wei Wuxian, outspoken and playful, and Lan Wang Ji, serious and virtuous. Though different in nature, through Wei Wuxian's persistence, the two slowly start to develop a friendship, one that transcends boundaries. When a new evil arises and threatens the peace of their world, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wang Ji both find themselves at the center of what essentially becomes an all-out war between clans.
Though this may be a theme that remains a central point, the series also manages to explore the consequences of heartache, love and loss, as well as the grey areas of villainy and an exploration in what is considered moral and the catalysts that cause us to sin. It's a compelling story that will grip you from beginning to end and doubtlessly inspire endless discussion and debate for months to come.
I cannot stress how much the plot summary doesn't really do it justice, as The Untamed is certainly an experience you have to be a part of to really get swept away. Because spoilers would make it a hell of a lot less fun to watch, all I can say is that you absolutely won't be disappointed.
I definitely recommend this for people who love cdramas, wuxia, supernatural fantasies, handsome men and beautiful women, epically choreographed battles and fans of Wang Yibo haha.
I also cannot end this without mentioning that the soundtrack is beautifully glorious and is just one of the many reasons I felt emotionally drained by the end of every episode.
Honestly, do yourself a favor and watch 2019's (and possibly of all time's) best drama.
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This Drama Has Changed My Life
Once you´re at the end, you´re at the beginning.Thanks to the Novel, "Mo Dao Zu Shi" by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, this masterpiece was produced and released early enough to cure depression. Due to the 50 Episodes, it might seem like a long way to go but don´t be hasty with your judgement because your decision to not watch it, will leave an invisible scar in your creative mind. Not only are the actors superb - I am not only talking about the main cast here - and reliable in their execution of every scene, but also the plot is unique and will keep you wanting for more.
Initially, I wasn´t that excited to watch this series and spend 2.250 minutes in total watching it. If back then I only knew how wrong I was. Presently, I think I spend even more time being obsessed with it. Once you´re at the end, you´re at the beginning.
Starting off with the novel has about 130 chapters and thematizes the origin and the hardship of the "friendship" between Lan Zhan and Wei Wuxian, which was implemented so well in the filming. (Once you read the novel, you get what I mean) While the original web novel depicted an explicit romance between the two main male characters, the adaptation was censored with homoerotic subtexts instead due to China's ban on LGBT portrayals in films. Nevertheless, it was portrayed well enough to not be disappointing, since the actors put a lot of effort to show their feelings without the need for physical touch.
Besides the tragic main plot of Wei Wuxian’s search for himself and the sacrifices he has to make, there are also side stories that make the Drama definitely worth watching. Especially the tragedy of Yi City. You just have to watch it.
The most interesting gift that this series gives you tho, is the ability to see through a monotone facade of "... is evil" or "... is good". I would say it is a life-changing and instructive drama than most of the dramas I saw. It will give you insights into the life of a wrongly accused soul, fighting their way to survive the hell of prejudices/being a villain. On the other hand, we have a killer, whose murder impulse got triggered by the unloving and mean environment.
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An epic, over-hyped as bl and undermined as an idol drama
It is hard to describe and review The Untamed.- It is adapted from a danmei novel (mdzs), but it is not a bl drama per se.
- Its cast consists new young actors mostly in their 20s then, with no veteran actors, but it is not an idol drama.
- It is produced as a web series with a limited budget and web viewers in mind, but its popularity is at an unprecedented scale.
- It received rave critical reviews domestically and globally for its strong plot, well-developed characters, incorporation of Chinese cultural elements, but antis continue to bash the drama.
- Some people simply shun or dismiss this drama as only a bl idol drama with young candy eyed idol cast that simply can’t act.
- Some diehard novel fans find this drama a lousy adaptation because of the toned down bl and gore.
* Transcendence of danmei novel into a critical production *
While this drama is adapted from a danmei novel, the two male leads are portrayed as soulmates in the drama, and the "soul" of this drama is not on their relationship (more on the “soul” later). That said, the chemistry between the two male leads is top notch - strong brotherhood, with some queer subtle for the experienced bl enthusiasts. The toned down bl and gore is not just because of censorship but the difficulty of portraying some of those gore details in live action, compared to in the novel or anime. I would add that the censorship transcends the danmei novel into a critical production, that brought more people especially international viewers to read the novel and the writer’s other novels.
* Big story on ugliness of society *
Beyond the candy bl-idol outer layer, at its core (“soul”), this drama depicts the ugliness of society, the struggles to uphold justice and the growing up journey of the key characters. It delivers powerful messages and quotable lines on society norms, the oppression one faced in going against society, how people often surface judge, how hypocritical nobles manipulate society norms for selfish power hungry causes, good vs evil, weak vs strong.
* Well developed multi-dimensional characters *
As a drama with ensemble cast, The Untamed has many characters, each with his own distinct complex traits, story and purpose. While the evil deeds they did are unpardonable, the key antagonists didn’t do evil for evil sake. The mistreatments they experienced as kids shaped their values and they did show their compassionate sides to those who respect and care for them. While there is no female lead, there are two endearing female characters: the best martial sister (shijie) who may appear gentle, but can really go all out and fight back to protect her brother, and the no-nonsense, courageous and righteous Wen Qing who unconditionally care for her brother and help others within her means.
* Passionate, determined, youthful cast with empathy portrayal *
The actors were selected based on their fit for the characters and their performance did not disappoint. This bunch of passionate, determined youths put in their hearts and souls to bring to life the many iconic and complex characters and their heartbreaking stories. Unconstrained by professional technical acting methods which they lacked, and under the guidance of the directors, their empathy portrayals allow the viewers to resonate with their characters. Remember the Empathy technique used by Wei Ying to experience A-Qing’s and Nie Mingjue’s past encounters? The cast’s empathy portrayal of such complex multi-dimensional characters make this drama and its characters both iconic and endearing, so much so that there are still many memes on the characters circulating in social media.
* Music and Chinese cultural elements *
In this drama, music is not mere bgm. Besides intrinsic depiction of each character via the character songs (pay attention to the lyrics), music is also a powerful tool that can both kill (Chord Assassination) and heal (Song of Clarity, Unrestrained), and introduces Chinese musical instruments - guqin (7-stringed zither) and flute. Just recently, in Jan 2022, "Moscow Metro News” published an article about how The Untamed promotes Chinese "guqin" culture in Moscow. Besides music, there are also tons of Chinese cultural elements infused in the drama, from the invitation cards, maple, lotus, cranes to the Tiger Seal, masks etc.
* Other aesthetics *
The CGI is bad, but the actual location filming such as at the Cloud Recesses and Yunmeng Lake and the elaborate 3000+ custom-made costumes and accessories make up for those awful CGI.
* Rewarding rewatch(es) *
There are a lot of details in each scene, including background objects such as the maple tree, crane, moon etc, that convey deeper hidden messages and backstories of the plot and characters. See spoilers in comments. Each rewatch not only re-rips one apart but also rewards with new understanding of the details that went into the production.
* Overall verdict *
In short, there’s so much depth at its core, beneath its pleasing aesthetics (casts, costumes, sets, OSTs). Censorship transcends the mdzs novel into a critical drama on Chinese culture, martial arts, sorcery, mystery, adventure, clan rivalry, power manipulations, society norms, kinships, friendships, good vs evil, weak vs strong, music that heals and kills, laughters, tears, angsts. Thanks to censorship, the re-focus on the multi-dimensional characters, empathy portrayal, strong plot, quotable lines, music and Chinese cultural elements make The Untamed an epic drama, in a class of its own.
Put aside preconceptions of bl, novel adaptations, young inexperienced idol actors, and watch this sincere, compelling production with an open heart and mind, and be awesomely charmed by an epic masterpiece that unfolds, and that creeps and stays in your heart for a long time to come.
“At best, you’re the untamed hero; at worst, you offend people wherever you go.” - by the novel MDZS writer
P/S: This is a drama that touched me immensely, and the only drama to-date i rated a perfect 10, as it got me so invested, surfing for analysis videos/articles related to the drama, noting down the quotable lines and set me thinking a lot.
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This review may contain spoilers
As a person who didn't read the novel...
I picked up this drama because of the hype and because I had heard of the novel and manhua beforehand. I think the high rating comes from people who have read the novel and therefore are attached to the characters in a completely different way compared to me. I tried to like it and understand it. I honestly tried. However, I could not rate this drama any higher. (Please don't kill me.)Story - The story was very hard to follow as a person who had no knowledge of the plot beforehand. I'm familiar with the concept of cultivation (vaguely), but there were some points I just didn't know, like the "golden core" concept. I had to google quite a fair bit about the plot while watching to understand it as well as explain it to my mother (yes, I watch dramas with my mom). The names in particular were hard to remember because every single person had like 3 names so I really wish there was a chart of the characters out there like there was with Nirvana in Fire.
Anyway, I had no idea what was happening in some points. I didn't really realize that Wuxian gave his core to Jiang Cheng until later which then led to him developing demonic cultivation. I didn't even know what happened when Wuxian fell into the graveyard. The entire first 30 or so episodes is dedicated to a flashback segment which kind of left me bored, but I understood that they needed to hook you. A lot of parts were dragged out. I literally hated that it took 4 episodes for Meng Yao to explain his whole evil plan. So yeah, the plot was a drag. I did appreciate the key moments between Wuxian and Lan Zhan though.
Acting/Cast - I really liked Wang Yibo, Xiao Zhan, and some others. The acting was decent for the most part. The most annoying thing was the way the zombies acted. Every time they were getting ready to attack, they just stopped and yelled out.
Music - I really love the theme song. I streamed it so many times on Spotify already. Yanli's song was a nice addition too. There was this one instrumental that kind of threw me off though because it was very modern(?). It just didn't fit.
Effects - I was actually impressed with some of the effects because they looked a lot better than those of 10 Miles of Peach Blossoms. However, there were still some moments that I just died laughing because of how bad the effects were, especially the dog-dungeon scene.
Overall - For the average drama watcher, I wouldn't recommend this. It's too confusing and long without proper context. If you're a fan of the novel, go ahead. Most fans enjoyed it so I don't see why you wouldn't.
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The biggest no homo BUT it’s a masterpiece.
I’ve read the novel and got concerned at how they will adapt a show that has gay romance as the core plot of the story, however, I was shocked to watch this show and discover the bromance which somehow passed the censorship. Though they never disclose the fact that they are in love with each other, the show directors filmed in such a way to show the close relationship between the two main characters without making it straightforward. After you watch it, you can clearly say “they are in love” rather than a scope of friendship. It’s simply genius. Such a soft bl, I was smiling so much during lan and wei’s moments. I am absolutely obsessed with this show that I watched the anime, read the novel and rewatched this show about 6 times. Not a single regret and would recommend this drama to everyone.Was this review helpful to you?
Dark cultivation, corrupt sects, political intrigue and immortal boys love
A well beloved drama by many fans, I was too curious to pass on watching this. Last year I dropped this twice and for some reason I couldn’t watch beyond the first episode. On my third try, I promised myself to finish this no matter what. The drama is about two immortal male disciples who fight against the schemes of the corrupt sects and unveil the secret events of the past. The setting is very much wuxia, the main focus is political intrigue between different sects, with xianxia elements (immortality, dark cultivation, monsters etc).Episodes 1-2 are a flash forward to the future where the male lead (Wei Wuxia) has come back from the dead. From episode 3, the actual story begins and until episode 33, we follow the plot of how he died and all events that connect with episodes 1-2.
The best part about this drama is hands down the male lead Wei Wuxia and his relationship with the other male lead Lan Zhan. I absolutely loved seeing their relationship build up and all their moments together. Their dynamic was a mix of mischievous bits and “I’ll die for you” vibes. This drama is heavily censored and it was interesting that I feel it’s both acceptable and normal to interpret their relationship as BL as well as a simple bromance. Well, I personally totally ship them as a couple.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t a huge fan of the plot/pacing. The story did always make sense and there were no stupid misunderstandings or plot holes. In fact, some key moments in the drama were executed fantastically and are very memorable. But in general I found the drama too long/draggy and boring at times. After episode 12 I started to ff/skip a lot as I was inpatient to see how it all plays out in the end.
POSITIVE:
- Great chemistry between the main leads. Their dynamic was the best part!
- Fantastic relationship build up and execution of the story between the main leads. I loved all of their scenes and interactions.
- Complex, endearing, hilarious and badass male lead (Wei Wuxia). His lines always cracked me up. His story is memorable!
- The best “if looks could kill” vibes from the male lead (Lan Zhan).
- Music instruments as weapons that look beautiful and totally badass.
- Dark Wei Wuxia with his flute slayed! I love that flute and his look so much!!!
- Brilliant acting from the whole cast, especially the main leads Xiao Zhan and Wang Yi Bo. In fact XZ deeply impressed me with this outstanding performance and portrayal of a character that is the total opposite of his other xianxia “The Longest Promise”. It’s safe to say I’m totally in love with XZ.
- Great villains. A good drama needs good villains and this one did not disappoint in that department.
NEGATIVE:
- Beginning of the drama is hard to watch and many people including me drop it multiple times.
- Not vibing with the plot/pacing. I like angst and political intrigue but this one felt too long, too dark, heavy and sometimes brutal.
- Unimpressive fight scenes. I might be spoiled with the recent high budgeted cdramas I’ve seen but unfortunately I didn’t like the CGI/visuals and fight scenes. Except the flute. I loved the flute. But the monsters and zombie-like people as foes were super weird and skippable.
OVERALL:
The Untamed feels like a classic and I understand the appeal of it even if it wasn’t 100% my vibe. I recommend giving this drama at least 10 episodes before deciding if it’s for you or not. If you want a wuxia setting (political intrigue between corrupt sects) and xianxia elements (immortality, dark cultivation and monsters) with beautiful bl/bromance relationship, give this drama a chance.
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You give me the sweetest taboo.
This drama flirts dangerously with the forbidden: dark cultivation, zombies, black and white magic, transmigration and boy love. The lead character Wei Wuxian (Xiao Zhan) is a free spirit who refuses to be tamed by social conventions; he lives by his own rules, is not averse to exploring dark powers and appears romantically open to both genders. The delicious exploration of such a slightly wicked character and taboo themes under the watchful eye of Chinese censorship put this high on my watchlist. I started watching with high expectations shortly after it aired.The story is based on a hit novel and is indisputably a very good one but the way it was told in the drama was really not good. While broadly true to the book, the production lazily assumes the viewer actually read it. The plot is centered around the attempt to restore a powerful magical artifact that the various cultivation sects vie to alternately control or suppress. The story opens with the mysterious reappearance of Wei Wuxian, the infamous Yiling patriach after a sixteen years hiatus. The fact that this is achieved by the sacrifice of Mo Xuanyu whose identity he assumes is one of several plot holes that never gets fully flushed out. Thus he conceals himself behind a (hideous) mask. The viewer is dropped right into in the middle of unfolding events and a wide array of characters without any backstory. Then we go into a prolonged flashback all the way back to the very beginning and up to the conspiracy that led to Wei Wuxian's fall from grace and long disappearance. This takes well over half the drama, which peaks around episode 34 with Wei Wuxian's apparent demise. We are then back to the present where we go into several shorter flashbacks intended to shed more light on the conspiracy. That made it messy and was less interesting because by then the two main villains are known. While the story regains some momentum towards the end, it doesn't come close to the mid-drama peak and the final denouement where the ultimate mastermind is revealed comes almost as an afterthought. That character was one of several insipidly acted roles and the final reveal tied up a few loose threads that wouldn't have been missed. This story would have been much better paced and less confusing had it just been shot chronologically.
The cast is inexperienced and even the main actors struggled to get into character for a long time. Some actors were just plain bad throughout. The first 15+ episodes were painful and the acting didn't get noticeably better until the mid-20s. I dropped it after episode 7 and many more times after that. Although there were some great parts, it just never hooked me. It took me 5 months to finish watching and I wouldn't have if I weren't so damn bored during the c-drama ban. What kept drawing me back was Xiao Zhan's infectious grin - he must have the best smile ever. He really did bring the marvelously controversial Wei Wuxian to life in a way that compels us to indulge the character's many obvious flaws. I was less impressed with Wang Yibo's Lanzhan; it is a stretch to describe his initial pissed off or constipated expression as statue-like or unemotional. He slightly relaxed his face muscles and improved markedly much later on and I really liked his Lanzhan at the end so kudos to him for that. I was also surprised by his grace and athleticism in the fight scenes. The two leads had good chemistry but where I saw sparks fly was between Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian. That confused me as I sensed from the start there was an emotional connection, that Jiang Cheng's feelings for Wei Wuxian were complex and went beyond sibling rivalry and envy. I don't think this was intended.
In genres like this, the heroes are only as good as the villains and therein lies the problem - the villains were not that hateful nor were they empathetic. Both actors were similarly styled and portrayed such similar mannerisms their roles could have been interchanged. They both overacted, had the same intense face lowered evil glare, mad eyed expression and crazy gloating smile. The directors were so lazy they pretty much gave them the same cliche traits and may as well have just used one actor for both roles. Surprise surprise, we are supposed to be sympathetic because they both also had serious daddy issues. Indeed this is the default excuse that explains the flaws of many characters including Jiang Cheng. Key takeaway: don't be a bad dad it really messes up the kids. No wonder I was bored! As for the ultimate mastermind, he was so well concealed he went unnoticed and no one would have cared if he remained that way. The ending was a bit of a crowd pleaser with a bit of something for everyone. I was just relieved it was over.
At this point it goes without saying that the production team for this show pretty much sucked. It would be a shame if the success of this drama despite terrible execution elevates them into a position to destroy other fantastic story-lines with poor editing, storytelling and shoddy camerawork. The only thing they got very right was walking the line perfectly between bro-mance and romance in terms of Wei Wuxian and Lanzhan's relationship.
So what made this such a huge hit? Well, the forbidden fruit nature of this drama can be highly addictive and is bound to resonate deeply with certain demographics and at some life stages though not for everyone. All the hidden meaning in certain interactions, the imperceptible flicker of an eyelash, the barest hint of a smile and the slight double entendre in the dialogue can be tantalizing for those looking for signs of a secret taboo romance. That kind of fun speculation only amused me for short spates. Ultimately a good, well acted story is all that I look for- whether or not it is about boy love would not make any difference to me. I was touched by the bro-mance between the two soul mates (which was all that I saw) as well as the relate-able and moving relationships between both sets of siblings - these were the high points for me. Sadly it was not enough to keep me engaged for long. I almost wish I had read the book. Maybe I would have enjoyed the drama more but even if I eventually get round to it, I am unlikely to re-watch this.
I almost gave this an 8.0 - but I felt I had to knock another 0.5 points off for the fact that it had a certain je ne sais quoi that just bored me silly when I wanted to love it. That and that simply god awful mask that would top the Don't list in any c-drama edition of Glamour magazine's defining list of fashion Dos and Don'ts.
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At times I felt that I must somehow be watching a different drama from everyone else …
I initially wrote a review for this drama a few months ago when I decided to drop it at episode 27. But I ended up giving it another chance, and this is now me rewriting my thoughts after finishing all 50 episodes.I REALLY should have liked this drama. It has fantasy, epic bromance, sweeping landscapes, touching loyalty, battles, an ancient setting, undying devotion, powerful magical objects, tragic friendships, and famous swords. It’s basically like someone took everything I love (aka all the ingredients of The Lord of the Rings), put it in one drama, and somehow came up with a far more unsatisfactory result that I would have imagined possible.
There was a lot in this drama that just wasn’t as good as it could have been. I largely blame the lackluster directing, which somehow managed to bore me in scenes that should have been powerful. There were a handful of moments when I genuinely felt touched by the connection between the two leads, but unfortunately those moments were rare highlights in 50 episodes that I otherwise felt indifferent to.
The storytelling is muddled, to say the least. It jumps back to the past and stays there for about 30 episodes. In principle, I don’t have a problem with a nonlinear timeline, but it didn’t really work here. I don’t think the importance of the time skips were clearly communicated to the viewer. Though learning that Wei Wuxian betrayed everyone was certainly an intriguing hook, I spent so long waiting to see how that would come about that by the time I actually reached that point, it was rather anticlimactic. If it had just gone chronologically, it could have been a heart-wrenching twist, rather than a disappointment. The transitions between scenes sometimes felt abrupt. There are also times where they hide information from the audience for the sake of dramatically revealing it later. Perhaps they thought it added a bit of mystery to Wei Wuxian’s character, because we were missing pieces of his story, but I didn’t see much point.
Even though I think there was a pretty good overarching story, I was often bored out of my mind while watching this drama. I guess I could say that this drama had pacing issues, or that the dialogue scenes were too long, but I don’t think that’s truly my problem with it. Some of my favorite dramas/films are slow-paced and dialogue-heavy. The problem is that the execution of these scenes often made it feel unbearably tedious, even when I thought I should be interested in what was going on. Far from being compelling, the acting often felt cheesy, the script was bland, and the directing brought little interest, except in sometimes succeeding at being simultaneously overdramatic and exceedingly dull. “Humdrum” and “uninspired” adequately describe the execution, and when you stretch that out over long back-and-forths between characters, it’s not something you can really get away with. Every so often, I did feel like the director had put some thought into how to construct a scene beyond the most obvious, utilitarian option, but there are only a few scenes in the entire drama that I would really say were well-done.
As for the plot itself, the first half primarily consists of the mustache-twirling-evil Wen clan plotting to kill everyone and a steady stream of fantasy-action scenes wherein the good guys fight the bad guys or the evil monsters they’ve conjured. This would probably work if the action scenes were really epic, but the choreography is boring and special effects aren’t particularly good, so not so much. The second half is pretty much Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji hunting down mysterious evil-doers, followed by a face-off with the bad guy. My impression was that it was a little lighter on the action scenes and a bit more focused on the interactions of the leads, which is probably why most people seem to like the second half better. However, I have to say that the only part of the plot that was particularly interesting were 5-10 episodes in the middle of the drama.
Unfortunately, the climatic battle is pretty laughable, because all these extras are randomly swinging their swords at nothing. I’ve been told that they’re battling invisible “resentment energy” or something like that, but that hardly changes the fact that all these supposedly seasoned martial artists look like they belong in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. So people are dying and I’m supposed to be sad, but all I can think is “Lol, look at that extra.” I don’t have particularly high expectations for well-executed battles in Asian dramas, but this was a new low. If you can’t make the fighting look good, at least make it inconspicuous enough not to distract from the other elements.
I was quite surprised to discover many people consider this drama rich in moral themes. On further inspection I admit that some of these themes are there. However, I don’t think they can really be said to have been well-developed, explored in depth, or presented in a new way. Personally, I never once found this drama to be thought-provoking. The only themes I felt were treated with some consistency were rumor and reputation, but even then, I’m not really sure what I got from it other than, “people are judgmental and will believe what they want to believe.”
I have to say I was also a little disappointed in the development of Wei Wuxian’s character. He’s certainly interesting, but some of his character transformations were not very well communicated, in my opinion. I also thought he was shaping up to be a pretty great character around the midpoint of the drama, but I didn’t really feel like it followed through on all the potential. Nor did I think the morality of his actions was really explored in a satisfactory way. Lan Wangji is less complex, but I found his progression to be more even and satisfying. There were a few supporting characters that I thought I should like or find interesting, but the only real emotion I felt towards any of them is some petty annoyance at the villains.
The acting is below par. There really isn’t a single strong performance in the drama. Actually, Xiao Zhan was occasionally excellent. The problem is that he was very inconsistent. He would go from good to bad to great to mediocre. Overall he was definitely the strongest actor in the drama, but it was far from a top-notch performance. I do think he’s talented, just very unpolished at this point. I would call Wang Yibo’s performance barely passable. He was never terrible, but he was rarely good either. He did manage to hit the right notes in a few important scenes, but spent most of the drama playing his stoic character a bit too stone-faced. Perhaps the even bigger issue, though, is the number of supporting actors who were overtly bad. Sometimes it was just a bit annoying, other times it completely ruined tragic scenes, because all I could think was how fake the actor’s crying looked. I think Jiang Cheng, in particular, was far too important a role to be portrayed so incompetently.
In terms of cinematography there are some pretty landscapes and moody blue-tinted shots, but it’s not 2009 anymore, so that doesn’t really constitute a stunning drama. Plus, there are a lot of awkward camera angles, dated-looking zooms, unattractive color grading, etc. The design of the sets and costumes had some nice details, but they often looked rather cheesy. And well, since I’m being a gloomy storm cloud anyway, I may as well just say that I have some issues with the design as well, particularly many of the materials they chose for the costumes. I mean, wrinkled (faux)leather hanfu? Seriously!? I do think this drama made an effort with the visual aspects, but the result wasn’t so great. By 2019 standards the production is mediocre at best.
I initially had very little opinion about the music. It simply wasn’t very unique or memorable to me. However, since people raved about the soundtrack so much, I started listening more carefully. Unfortunately, rather than appreciating the music more, I began to notice how unsuited some of the background music was to the scenes or the drama in general. I think I know what they were going for, but it really didn’t work. It was just bizarre. I will say that some songs/pieces were very pretty, so the music definitely had it’s high points, but it also had some low points, and overall I can’t say it’s a particularly great soundtrack.
It probably seems like I absolutely hated this drama. I really didn’t; there were a few parts I even liked. It was just incredibly frustrating to me, especially since the longer I watched without becoming immersed in the story, the more my nitpicking tendencies took over. Had there been some element that was truly brilliant, I might have been inclined to overlook this long catalogue of flaws (I can be pretty forgiving if you give me a reason to be), but even the things this drama got right, did not strike me as exceptional.
Overall, it's a story with potential, hampered by poor execution. I can kinda understand this drama’s popularity. However, given the very mediocre quality of the acting and production as well as the lack of compelling direction or storytelling, it’s hard to rate this drama as anything more than average (personally, I think it's below average). I really fail to see how this drama could possibly merit the oft used term “masterpiece,” when the skill and craftsmanship that created this drama is far from extraordinary.
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