I never thought....in my years of using MDL that I would actually sit down and write a review but this drama made me experience so many things and go on this rollercoaster of emotions that I just need to write a review!! (sorry in advance if my review is all over the place, this is my first one > < )
Before I begin, I just want to give a disclaimer that while going into this drama I hadn't read the novel nor watched the Dong Hua like many other fans so this is purely based off of the drama as I had nothing to compare since I was unfamiliar with the story!
Story Plot/Pacing: The storyline was so well executed considering how complex and layered the plot really is that I really have to applaud it. For many people the beginning is confusing and slow paced, but for me personally, I never found it slow or boring. It might be the fact that this is not the first drama I’ve watched that throws you into the middle and then back tracks to explain the story. Im also just a sucker for all the cuteeee scenes when they were in school, my UWUSSSSS just gushed out LOL. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEE!!! if you are confused by the first 1-2 episodes PLEASE HOLD ON and continue watching it gets sooo much better you will not regret it! The story picks up pretty quickly and its an exciting journey, one that will really just play with all your emotions! You will cry, you will scream, you will smile soo uncontrollably, so beee prepared^^
Considering this drama being 50 episodes I went in originally questioning how it was going to play out because many other dramas I have previously watched (mostly kdramas) start off well and then just become so boring orrr dragging where I wanna pull out my hair and those are only 16 episodes….so I couldn't even imagine 50…But this drama, I was completely wrong!! The pacing was so well done, I never felt it dragging or rushed. I was hooked right from the start and I couldn't stop watching. My only critique to be honest…after watching the 50 episodes and this series multiple times i wish it was longer LOL. Like 70 episodes could've been fantastic and I think…that would've given it some room to further flesh out some details of the storyline that could've made some areas more clear to the audience that have no prior knowledge to the storyline.
ACTING/CAST: Overall, I thought the casts performance were truly impressive given the fact that many of them are new and just starting off in their acting careers. With each character having very distinct personalities and qualities, they brought their characters to life to give us a truly remarkable performance!! You loved some characters with your whole heart and you've hated characters with a burning passion…and that to me shows how great their acting was in this drama. But namely I would like to mostly focus on the two main leads, Xiao Zhan as Wei Wuxian and Wang Yibo as Lan Wangji! I originally only knew of Yibo going into this drama and wanted to watch this to support him but little did I know…that as soon as Xiao Zhan came on screen I fell in love so hard with his character…the fact that he talked 90% of this drama (bless him…because that is alot of words to remember LOL) and was able to execute every emotion so perfectly and naturally through his body and facial expression was truly remarkable. I felt every emotion through him….when he ached….I was aching, when he was happy I was happy. To see his character change from this playful innocent teenage boy to a serious, vengeful, pained character was truly remarkable. And I will forever be a fan of his now and watch his future works!! Yibo as Lan Wangji, having the completely opposite scenario where he literally has no lines lol, was able to express his emotions so beautifully with just his facial expressions. Like many have said….just by watching his eyes you can see all the different emotions he felt throughout this drama, the feeling of mourning, longing….loving….etc….Truly beautiful, that alone is hard to achieve. They were both truly made for the roles of WWX & LWJ.
OST SOUNDTRACK: I cant even begin to talk about the OST. I LOVE THIS SOUNDTRACK SO MUCH, and I am still till this day listening to them on replay on my apple music. The soundtrack, with or without lyrics complimented the drama and storyline so well. The emotions you felt while watching the drama still linger while listening to these songs, even though most of them are not really played in the drama. Wuji will forever be that iconic song!!
REWATCH/RECOMMEND VALUE: As someone who has already watched it 3 times….and probably more time in the future, i think you know my answer already haha. YES YES YES 1000000% would rewatch this. Ive always been a little hesitant when dedicating my time to watch Chinese dramas specifically because Im not the biggest fan of historical/fantasy dramas and the amount of episodes ALWAYSSSS intimidated me….40+ episodes >< i never thought I could do it…especially since Kdramas with 16-20 episodes alot of times would drag on and bore me….but The Untamed really ignited my motivation to watch more Chinese dramas and I cant wait to watch more in the future!!
Before I begin, I just want to give a disclaimer that while going into this drama I hadn't read the novel nor watched the Dong Hua like many other fans so this is purely based off of the drama as I had nothing to compare since I was unfamiliar with the story!
Story Plot/Pacing: The storyline was so well executed considering how complex and layered the plot really is that I really have to applaud it. For many people the beginning is confusing and slow paced, but for me personally, I never found it slow or boring. It might be the fact that this is not the first drama I’ve watched that throws you into the middle and then back tracks to explain the story. Im also just a sucker for all the cuteeee scenes when they were in school, my UWUSSSSS just gushed out LOL. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEE!!! if you are confused by the first 1-2 episodes PLEASE HOLD ON and continue watching it gets sooo much better you will not regret it! The story picks up pretty quickly and its an exciting journey, one that will really just play with all your emotions! You will cry, you will scream, you will smile soo uncontrollably, so beee prepared^^
Considering this drama being 50 episodes I went in originally questioning how it was going to play out because many other dramas I have previously watched (mostly kdramas) start off well and then just become so boring orrr dragging where I wanna pull out my hair and those are only 16 episodes….so I couldn't even imagine 50…But this drama, I was completely wrong!! The pacing was so well done, I never felt it dragging or rushed. I was hooked right from the start and I couldn't stop watching. My only critique to be honest…after watching the 50 episodes and this series multiple times i wish it was longer LOL. Like 70 episodes could've been fantastic and I think…that would've given it some room to further flesh out some details of the storyline that could've made some areas more clear to the audience that have no prior knowledge to the storyline.
ACTING/CAST: Overall, I thought the casts performance were truly impressive given the fact that many of them are new and just starting off in their acting careers. With each character having very distinct personalities and qualities, they brought their characters to life to give us a truly remarkable performance!! You loved some characters with your whole heart and you've hated characters with a burning passion…and that to me shows how great their acting was in this drama. But namely I would like to mostly focus on the two main leads, Xiao Zhan as Wei Wuxian and Wang Yibo as Lan Wangji! I originally only knew of Yibo going into this drama and wanted to watch this to support him but little did I know…that as soon as Xiao Zhan came on screen I fell in love so hard with his character…the fact that he talked 90% of this drama (bless him…because that is alot of words to remember LOL) and was able to execute every emotion so perfectly and naturally through his body and facial expression was truly remarkable. I felt every emotion through him….when he ached….I was aching, when he was happy I was happy. To see his character change from this playful innocent teenage boy to a serious, vengeful, pained character was truly remarkable. And I will forever be a fan of his now and watch his future works!! Yibo as Lan Wangji, having the completely opposite scenario where he literally has no lines lol, was able to express his emotions so beautifully with just his facial expressions. Like many have said….just by watching his eyes you can see all the different emotions he felt throughout this drama, the feeling of mourning, longing….loving….etc….Truly beautiful, that alone is hard to achieve. They were both truly made for the roles of WWX & LWJ.
OST SOUNDTRACK: I cant even begin to talk about the OST. I LOVE THIS SOUNDTRACK SO MUCH, and I am still till this day listening to them on replay on my apple music. The soundtrack, with or without lyrics complimented the drama and storyline so well. The emotions you felt while watching the drama still linger while listening to these songs, even though most of them are not really played in the drama. Wuji will forever be that iconic song!!
REWATCH/RECOMMEND VALUE: As someone who has already watched it 3 times….and probably more time in the future, i think you know my answer already haha. YES YES YES 1000000% would rewatch this. Ive always been a little hesitant when dedicating my time to watch Chinese dramas specifically because Im not the biggest fan of historical/fantasy dramas and the amount of episodes ALWAYSSSS intimidated me….40+ episodes >< i never thought I could do it…especially since Kdramas with 16-20 episodes alot of times would drag on and bore me….but The Untamed really ignited my motivation to watch more Chinese dramas and I cant wait to watch more in the future!!
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