classical historical palace drama

Story/production: I'd say this drama is a very classic historical palace drama, without super plottwists. And those are absolutely not needed at all, since the production is doing a good job with it's story telling about seeking revenge and harem fights. It could hold the quality till the end with exception of the last episode, which felt really rushed and sudden. I really didn't expect the end. The drama reminded me a little bit of Yanxi palace, with a more comedic, but at the same time less exaggerated approach (The main heroine would be having more funny moments with male lead and other less high powered characters imo).

Acting/Cast/Characters: I think the whole cast is doing a good job, either support or main leads. I personally liked both lead characters, especially the female lead, who is entertaining and being able to protect herself. You got enough with those naive crying female leads? Then this drama got the perfect female lead for you.

Overall: A nice drama with a very classical approach and being successful with it, except the last episode.

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wasted potential

Story/Plot: One of the more rare serious time travel c-dramas. I think this is actually the segment, where the drama could have shine. It had an interesting and mysterious start, but unfortunately couldn't maintain it.

Acting/Cast: The cast was kinda average and bland acting wise. Especially the female lead was lacking with face expressions.

OP: For time travel or historical drama fans, it might be worth to have a look into it. The drama really had some potential, but too many weaknesses either in production or cast. So you might drop it after few episodes.

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Story: I think like for most ppl actually the play with stereotypical gender roles is what made the series stood out first, while later seeing the hilarious comedy value. I personally wished that the series have just kept it's essence like the first 20 episodes, where comedy was the main plot. Because from the 30th episode the series definitely got weaker in my eyes with the drama and political focus, which is much less entertaining. I would have given at least 9,5 points to the series if they have kept the quality and comedy focus of the first 20 episodes.

acting/cast: I have to say it has been a while, where I was that satisfied with a cast. Like the main leads nailed their roles and supporting casts are in their role completely as well. I especially actually loved the mother of the male lead lol.

Definitely worth watching, one of the funniest c-dramas I've seen. You might need to get used to the style of this work. So at least watch the second episode, if you make it through then you got a series for laughter for a while.

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decent actors but way too slow and dragged

Story/Production: The major problem I got with this drama is that it's way too slow paced. Those + episodes could have been cut into half probably. I'm not joking that I watched many episodes literally with 1,25 to 1,5 speed and it was still feeling slow.
Cast/Characters: I personally like the FL character the most, she's very realistic and strong, which is not that easy to be found in dramas imo. All the other actors are doing a decent job, even though I did feel Luo Jin felt a little bit old to act as an teenager.
Overall: I just think the drama had decent actors, a very average script writing. The length should definitely cut into the half.

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Actually one of the better Chinese dramas, but still in my eyes not one of best of its best.

Story/Plotline: The first half of the storyline was kinda slow to draggy, while the second half was much more interesting and fast paced IMO. Personally I'm positively surprised about the holding back of romance in background, while there's the focus more on the political intrigues, revenge, struggles and war. Also loyalty and ideals seems to be more significant than love (feeling wise of the whole series).

Characters/actors:
Chu Qiao/A Chu/ Xing'er is finally a heroine, which is not naive and helpless and fighting for her ideals either physically or mentally- Personally the actress did a solid job but looked kinda fragile that I wonder if it's suitable to portrait a female fighter (problem lies by the director though).
Yuwen Yue: Couldn't understand this calculating character and the actor couldn't shine because the lack of character development in comparison to the 2nd male lead.
Yan Xuan: The most outstanding actor because of the tragic of his character. I think one of the most interesting char because the the drama is showing a gradually change of Yan Xun to fall into the depth revenge step by step.
I couldn't feel the chemistry of all main cast neither between YWY with CQ or YX with QC (but I might be the only one ,who thinks like that).

The supporting cast was fine as well, I really liked the Prince of Liang, who was actually a great comedy relieving char.
All actors did a solid performance but not outstanding enough for me though.

editing/directing: was kinda average for such a high-budget production if I had to compare it with some recent dramas on the same segment.

All in all a good average drama on international terms, one of the better chinese ones. 7/10 to me.

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I actually wish for more work like Ancient Detective instead just paying attention/most of the production fee to well known actors, you can actually invest the amount of money well into production. The mix between crime, wuxia and comedy was surprisingly well, even though I personally wasn't the biggest fan of the love storyline.

Story/production: To me the main plot was really obviously and I already guessed right. But in general imo great production doesn't always need those super plot twists or surprising innovations. if it's just doing a good job. All cases are not groundbreaking but it's doing a decent job holding the suspense and being entertaining.
The cinematography is really good imo (especially the first case) for a not biggest production. The fights are aesthetically pleasing and I liked how they didn't OVerused the flying/strings like most historical or Wuxia dramas.

Acting/Cast: The cast is actually doing a decent job imo.
Music: Fitting OST.

Actually a pity and underrated piece just because not having big names (actors) in it. And I wish the trend is going to change.

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Story: weak point
It seems like in China there's the trend with the adaption of (internet) novels, but many are failing either due scriptwriting or directing . Like many of the novel adaptions always got a happy comedic beginning and the dramatic second half/end with very simple to no plot. Problem is the also the overused bad written time travel plot.
Acting/Cast: wasted cast
The cast was actually pretty decent with their acting especially the main leads are doing a great job and had good chemistry.
Music: There was nothing outstanding to me. I liked the OP theme song.
Overall: A teenish romance drama with strong leads but weak plot.

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interesting start + young cast

Story: I think the story did have some interesting start with many questions regarding those slaughtering and revenges for the Wuxia world. But continuing with the drama the plot is getting less appealing with the revealing of some answers. So it couldn't hold the interest of me.

Acting/Cast: Personally I feel the cast was actually still very young and felt somewhat that they might still need more experience. So that's why probably the 2nd leads stood out more to me than the main ones. Especially the female lead was kinda lacking with her face expressions.

Overall:
The drama could captivate one's interest at the beginning but couldn't hold it till the end.

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I will evaluate and write this review with the standard ratings of MDL, in additional I will add production/cinematography/directing next to those as a factor.
Out of all C-dramas I have watched especially fantasy ones, I'd say it has done the best with planning and the use of budget.

Production/cinematography/directing: amazing job
I think it's probably one of the best aspects of the drama to me. The drama was not one of those with the HIGHEST budgets as a webdrama, but used it's money pretty well imo. Like most time I have problems with the shabby CGI in Chinese dramas. But The Untamed knows how to limit it and when it's using it then it's pretty decent. For the cinematography, all places and background sceneries are all wisely chosen.

Story: decent script writing + changes and differences with the original work
The reason why the story is outstanding is probably thanks to the original novel and the scriptwriter doing a decent job. I have to say the changes made for the part of changing/leaving out the romantic love between the male protagonists actually made the drama more different and more outstanding to me. You could focus more on the criticism of clear fake separation of good and evil and also societal pressure (IMO). I personally preferred the original story telling with the time jumps in the novel, which keeps more curiosity and expectations alive. But in general I can understand this decision might be coming from being afraid that the viewer would getting too confused with all those jumps.
What I didn't like that much was probably the end ark, I felt compared to the rest of the drama, it was a little bit draggy and I felt they could invested the time in the previous episodes more instead. Besides of that there are some few changes I didn't like or preferred to have not done. But those are still pretty OK to me.
All in all I think out of all Chinese dramas I have watched, The Untamed actually has the best story and script writing despite some changes.

Acting/Cast: competent idol cast with amazing lead
I think all the cast were chosen well and they doing a pretty decent job especially if you consider actually nearly all actors are having an idol background. But I never felt some BAD acting. The best choice I have to say is actually Xiaozhan as Weiwuxian. He was literally bringing the character alive and being able to do a great job either playing as the playful troublemaker or vengeful dark avenger completely. Despite never having received acting lessons and coming as an idol. So I'm not surprised that he roses to fame still with that big amount of potential.

Music: Best C-drama BGM to me.
All melodies are suiting the scenes and backgrounds. And the Qin and flutes are all well placed. Nothing much to say just perfect OST.

Rewatch Value: very high
Due that there are so many different medias for this work like novel, audio drama, manga, animation and audio book, I think it's actually pretty worth to rewatch this drama and compare the differences. The view might have changes or the viewer might being able to look deeper into the story than before and discovering other differences/changes.

Overall: One of the best C-dramas I have watched with a good cast, amazing male lead, great cinematography, perfect BGM and deep story. Definitely worth having a try at least.

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average low-budget drama

Story/Production:
I'm actually a fan for historical comedy dramas. This one couldn't win me over. The problem wasn't it's low budget, but it's script-writing. The comedy wasn't my taste either. The stronger point is that it stays most time on the comedy route til the end unlike some other production.

Actors/Characters:
All the characters are very flat and stereotypical imo. The actors are trying their best and I would say they actually fit their roles. But at the end the average to good acting couldn't rescue the drama. Bai Lu is actually very suited to act in such historical comedy dramas. Imo her potential got wasted here.

Overall:
An very average low-budget historical comedy drama. Bai Lu fans can have a try.

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when you got the money, but fail in every aspect

Story/Production: I always do consider the budget of the drama and imo this drama probably is not the highclass ones, but it had some money for sure if u look at the action scenes. The script is one of the worst I have seen, it's not entertaining and the conspiracy palace fights are awfully written. There's unexpected random couple change, I didn't mind the random but the unexpected part. I don't have anything against couple changes, BUT it was so badly written

Acting/Cast/Characters: All the characters are very flat and the actors are doing the best an average job imo.

Overall: Would not recommend this drama to anyone, even as a historical c-drama fan.

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I feel if you're watching an entertaining historical drama this one is actually not bad despite being a low-budget one.

Story: Many historical comedy C-dramas got the problem that they suddenly switch the super dramatic serious line at the middle or end, which luckily never happened here. Most time it kept the comedic touch without taking it too stern. Don't expect super mindblowing plottwists, it's mainly here just for laugh.

Acting/Cast: Actually a nice cast which are chose n quite well fitting their chars. Especially the male lead, who stood out the most for me. He can switch between serious and comedic facial expressions very naturally.

In overall I'm satisfied since it has been while where I liked a comedy history C-drama.

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interesting heroine with a view from a different angle

Story/Production: different view + too many episodes
Many historical dramas are telling about the fights in the harems to gain the emperor's favors, where the heroine is slowly climbing up to the ranks of an concubine. There's a lot of killing, conspiracies, betrayal etc. The drama got all of this, but the thing, which they did different, is actually to focus it with the view from the losers side walking the opposite way. I think that's one of the things, which do stick out and keep the interest of the viewer.
The production is decent for the budget, but imo they could have condensed it much more into less episodes.

Characters/Cast/Acting: miscast
The character of emperor I felt is probably the more realistic approach. Did he like Ruiyi? Yes, but does he love her unconditionally? Nope, he's an emperor and he got many wives. I actually prefer this over the fairy tale image, which could find in many other emperors from other historical dramas.
The FL character is depicting someone, who wants to hold on their own morals and beliefs despite being in such a gruesome palace. And unlike most happy go lucky fairy tale ending, it showed a more realistic, what you sometimes have to pay as a price.

I actually like the characters and I would say that both FL and ML are actually competent actors. BUT I felt they didn't completely sunk in their characters and blend in completely. Wallace Huo couldn't convey the emotions completely imo. And he somehow gave an aura more like a master from a rich household than an emperor. Zhou Xun is having a too mature vibe and acting, for such an innocent or even naive character. Not her fault and probably the stylist's, her lips were also very distracting due the make up.
All the side characters and actors weren't every oustanding in my eyes, so there isn't much to say from my side.

Overall: A drama with a more realistic approach and focus on the "loser's" side, but could have done better with different main leads and shortened amount of episodes.

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