[This review may contain some minor spoilers concerning characters but there won’t be any major plot related spoilers]

I enjoyed watching this one quite a lot; and what stood out to me the most was acting. The story was good [nothing spectacular in terms of political plot/scheming but it was engaging enough to make me interested and excited to see what happens next], the music was fitting and it managed to successfully enhance many scenes throughout the drama, landscapes were gorgeous [it’s really something that captures your attention while watching], costumes were hit or miss [I mostly liked them but some were a bit iffy], CGI was good enough [compared to some other dramas it’s actually really good] and fighting/action scenes were interesting to watch even though they were sparse. But like I said, the real highlight of this drama are its actors, characters and their relationships.

Darren Wang as Wolfie/Prince Bo captured my attention from the first episode. The way he could seamlessly alter between the kindness and innocence of Wolfie, and strictness and viciousness of Prince Bo is really commendable. Prince Bo is the epitome of the cold male lead [for the most part], but in rare occasions when he smiled his eyes would soften and you couldn’t help but like him or feel sorry for him. I wish they showed more of his backstory and what happened to him during the time he was away from Ma Zhai Xing tho. Seeing that process and his inner struggles would’ve made this drama even better. We see some flashbacks but they hardly tell us anything about this transformation. Darren was definitely the best fit for this role, both for his acting skills and for his physical appearance. He has that masculine beauty this role required.

Li Qin as Ma Zhai Xing was also amazing. Her character went through many hardships and tragedies and her portrayal of those distressing moments was striking. Her crying felt natural and not forced. Ma Zhai Xing went through several phases. But whether she was a naive, lovestruck girl or a serious and determined princess, Li Qin managed to make it believable. Many people complained that as a female lead she was annoying and too weak, and while I do agree that she was annoying [not always!] I also think her behavior wasn’t that far from the reality of how lovestruck girls act in real life. Yes, it’s not wise or helpful and it’s actually quite toxic but it is how it is. Once she got over Prince Bo [or did she?] she turned into a dignified princess that understood what needed to be done in order to achieve her goals.

Xiao Zhan as Ji Chong was also exceptional. This was Xiao Zhan’s first serious role and I was a bit worried that the lack of experience will affect his acting but it turned out that I had nothing to worry about. Ji Chong is an interesting character. When he first showed up as a bounty hunter he was mysterious, arrogant and devious but also charming. Later in the story after he revealed his true identity he turned into a kind, sensible and responsible person whose main goal was to protect and help Ma Zhai Xing. He’s one of the most likable characters I’ve ever seen. Xiao Zhan did a good job showing both of his sides - cocky and free spirited & empathetic and responsible. The ending he got warmed my heart!

When it comes to other characters I have to say that I loved their development. Bao Na and Yao Ji were in my opinion even better characters than Ma Zhai Xing [at least they were less annoying]. I couldn’t stand Bao Na and her attitude when she first showed up but in the end she matured and turned out to be extremely likable. Yao Ji was a great example of how strong female characters should act and I also liked her complicated relationship with Prince Bo. Both actresses did a good job. Members of the Night Fury were also very likable as characters. The ending gave us beautiful conclusion of their storylines.

What I also love in this drama is the romance. Now, in most cases I’m not a huge fan of romance and I try to avoid dramas that are heavily romance oriented. However, in this case it really worked out for me. I like the dark undertones of their relationship. It’s not fluffy or light [even though there are some really heartwarming moments, especially in the beginning and towards the end]. Lord Bo and Ma Zhai Xing start off as childhood friends, get separated for years, and once they find each other again they start off as strangers and reluctant allies but soon enough become lovers. Then everything falls apart and they become enemies. In order to make her hate him Lord Bo verbally abuses her and in general acts like a jerk. Their relationship does get better over time and through all this Lord Bo actually loves Ma Zhai Xing and is trying to protect her in his own twisted way but for some people this may be triggering. I’ve seen people complaining how this type of relationship isn’t trendy anymore in C-Dramas and how they don’t like it, but like I said - it worked for me. I won't spoil the ending but I do have to say that it was beautiful and fitting in its own way.

I’ll end it here. The Wolf is far from perfect and if you’re expecting a masterpiece you’ll probably end up disappointed. I also wouldn’t recommend it to people who like fluffy, light and conflict-free romance relationships or intricate political plots. However, if you like a bit darker historical shows focused more on the characters and their relationships, with the touch of fantasy [those parts from the trailer where Lord Bo transforms into a wolf were cut so don’t expect nothing like that, he’s just stronger and more capable than normal people] I think you may enjoy this. I went in with no expectations and came out more than satisfied.