The Untamed (2019)

This is hands down my favorite Chinese drama, and possibly my favorite drama of all time as of now. I have heard many things about Mo Dao Zu Shi before the drama even aired. I've ran across trailers and clips of the animation, and I have heard about both the novel and Manhua, but I never actually ended up watching it. I only saw a few trailers, but I never had the time to pick it up until now. The live action version is the first adaptation that I picked up, and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. This is probably the best decision of my life, deciding to watch this drama this summer.

As a fan of BL dramas, I was a bit disappointed that they had to take out a lot of romantic and skinship scenes from the original novel between Lan Zhan and Wei Ying, but I decided to give this drama a go anyways. This drama is PHENOMENAL even without all the BL scenes that I originally was watching this far. On top of depicting the beautiful love and connection between Lan Zhan and Wei Ying, this drama teaches very valuable life lessons. We see themes of betrayal, love, hatred, forgiveness, and regret all throughout this story, and it really touches your heart deeply seeing how so many characters are actually misunderstood and sometimes, there was nothing that they could do to change how others view them and how to make the situation that they're in better. Wei Ying is an extraordinary character who radiates love and forgiveness even after everything that happens to him. He lost so much in his life, but he never lost his love that he has for other people. Even when the world was against him, he stood for what he believed was right, willing to accept any hatred and false accusations against him.

Lan Zhan was also such an amazing character, the total opposite of Wei Ying personality wise, but he was just as righteous and as willing to fight for justice as Wei Ying. The relationship between the two is just out of the world. Even though the censorship didn't allow for romance to be explictly shown between the two, it was just so obvious that they loved one another, especially through their facial expressions and actions towards one another. Actions speak more than words <3 Having a person like Lan Zhan in Wei Ying's life made me so emotional and happy especially after everything that Wei Ying went through: Lan Zhan stuck by his side from the beginning and never betrayed him or swayed to other people's side. Oh how I wish people like Lan Zhan exist more in today's society XD

The OSTs are perfect. I listen to them on repeat! It's been around a week that I've seen this now, and I am still obsessed! I've rewatched this drama at least 4 times now! I've also read the novel twice! Read the audio drama as well <3 This story is just too beautiful to NOT rewatch several adaptations of!

Xiao Zhan is literally the PERFECT person to play Wei Ying. He definitely did justice to this character! Wang Yibo was really good as Lan Zhan as well. The casting this time is amazing! I could not imagine anyone else playing the leads. Plus, their chemistry on and off screen is off the charts <3

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“I don’t care about anybody’s open road, my only choice is a log bridge to devil.”

(I will judge this BASED ON THE DRAMA ITSELF and yes I’ve seen all adaptations (novel, donghua, manhua, audio drama, right now watching the chibi version and waiting for a game to be released soon.))

I never thought that a wuxia drama can impact me in the best way possible. It’s no doubt that The Untamed truly made my 2020 year better after all the crappy situation going on this year with the rise of the pandemic and more terrible things shown on the news that makes me wonder if the world is really gonna end. 8 months later, I’m still not over this show and probably will never be. I’m still on a post drama depression with this show and I still haven’t found a cure to it. Gosh, what have this show done to me? Yes, I sound like a maniac but it’s the truth and I have to accept it. I live and breathe The Untamed.

Objectively speaking, the drama isn’t perfect. There are a few bits of minor mistakes here and there and it isn’t the best in terms of the technical aspects such as the bad CGI and bad practical effects as the drama is low budget which makes no sense to me. This show is based on a very popular BL novel, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation or 魔道祖师 (Mó Dào Zǔ Shī) in Mandarin like why can’t the show have more budget? Also, there are some questionable acting for some of the characters portrayed there, maybe one or two but hey, the characters there are not easy to play and are very complex. The fact that most, if not all the actors are rookies there, for me it’s a job well done! That's why I'm giving the acting a 10. I'm biased. But at the same time, I feel like those minor issues and mistakes add the charm to show and made me love it even more.

Now, for the good part. The story itself may be simple but it’s intriguing and effective. I don’t need a complex story just to blow me away. Sometimes, a good simple story with amazing and complex characters can really shine their way through. It’s rare for me to fully be immersed and emotionally attached to characters like this but here I am trapped. Save me please. I love how the characters there has a story themselves, including villains! I love how there’s no perfect character in the show, each character has their flaws and not everyone has a happy ending. Yes, it’s unfortunate but that’s what makes it so good. It makes them more human and relatable. The real world works like that with the cruelty and the hypocrisy of humans. It’s indeed a beautiful lesson in humanity.

Let’s jump straight into the characters. I’ll only speak on the 2 leads. I wish I can elaborate on this more but it’ll probably take up more than 2 pages. I’ll start with the lead protagonist who’s also my knight in shining armour, Wei Wuxian/Wei Ying/Yiling Patriarch. He is the most fascinating, relatable and cutest little bean. I love how he’s such a complex character yet stays true to himself. He can go from the cutest pie ever to the hot and sexy Yiling Patriarch in one snap. He’s not the typical idealistic man who’s doing things for the greater good, yet he’s doing it because he understands the whole justice and how the world works like. He does what he thinks it’s right and he fights for it. He’s admirable and he’s one of a kind. I love him to bits and I’ll never shut up about him. Falling in love at first sight with him has become one of the best decisions I made in life.

Next, Lan Wangji/Lan Zhan who's also known as Hanguang Jun which means Light Bearing Lord. A lot of people tend to overlook him as a supporting character or love interest as his POV is more on the quieter side when there's a whole character arc that he goes through as well throughout this whole story. He has to completely shift how he sees the world. His subtle actions and words speak volumes in those quiet moments. It shows in the rain scene. Seeing how he grow up from a teenager to a young adult is truly outstanding. The best part is when he questions his uncle, what's right and what's wrong, what's black and what's white. Those questions of right and wrong, black and white, good and evil, become part of the theme song in this drama. In the end, Lan Wangji learns that being true to yourself, following your heart and principle are more important than following the crowd.

I fell hard on Wangxian’s relationship in the drama. I never know how much I crave for this kind of romance, just loyalty, trust, longing, commitment, respect. Just so many words to describe it. I LOVE relationships whereby they don’t make the other weaker and where both are very gifted and talented, but together they can do anything. I love this concept of "love" so much because love is supposed to make you stronger. Where you can see that they can survive well without the other, yet you can't imagine them being apart. It’s honestly so haunting and difficult to get over these types of couples. It’s amazing how their relationship impacted me so much. They are soulmates and made for each other. I felt so single after watching it and I truly hope that my future relationship (If I’m ever getting into one LMAO) can be as beautiful, magical yet also cheesy and romantic as them.

All in all, the show probably made my life 10 times better and the soundtrack and theme songs are amazing and just beautiful to listen. Each character has its own song so do it give a listen. Don’t miss out on the good stuff. It’s pleasing to your ears. Do I recommend the show? Hell yes. It’s a must watch for those new to Chinese Dramas! But of course, what you think about the show is in your hands so don’t expect your experience to be like mine. I lost my sleep on this and I wish I can erase my memories and watch it like the first time again and go through that roller coaster ride again. I'll end my review with a favourite quote I read from the novel itself.

"Let the self judge the right and the wrongs, let others decide to praise or to blame and let the losses and gains remain uncommented on." - Wei Wuxian

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After I watched The Untamed twice, I watched the donghua and read the novel to get a better grasp of the original story. I understand why some fans may be upset with certain aspects of the drama, but I neither have qualms nor do I compare the medias. After my third rewatch, I decided to write about the drama. 

I enjoyed everything, but above all else, I loved and adored the characters. Therefore, this review is more like an appreciative post of my favorites. They are the reason The Untamed is so special and compelling, making it so deserving of its success. We laugh, cry, and learn with these characters as we follow along their journey.

Wei Ying/Wei Wuxian:
WY is the star and highlight during the past for me. People may say he is your typical hero with a savior complex. While this is true, it is not entirely. 

WY is guided by one thing and one thing only. During the lantern scene in episode 7, he says, "I wish that I can eliminate evil and protect the weak, always maintaining a clear conscience." Call it a wish, a promise, or a principle. Regardless of the label, it stands against the test of time, residing deeply in WY’s heart. It does not sway under the influence of trivial matters, such as, reputation, politics, or rules. WY is unrestrained in following his heart. He truly embodies “the end justifies the means”, taking it as far as cultivating an unorthodox path and standing against the majority. His dedication and selflessness moves you in ways that make it impossible not to love and cheer for him.

Lan Zhan/Lan Wangji:
LZ is the star and highlight during the present time. People may say he is your typical hero with a cold heart that melts gradually due to his soulmate. While this is true, it is…

LZ lives and breathes Gusu Lan Sect's thousands of rules. He is restrained and stubborn in his ways, not allowing anything or anyone phase him. Or so he thought. Although LZ is the opposite of WY in almost everything, they happen to share the same heart, vowing the same wish. To him, protecting WY is equivalent to keeping that wish alive.

The character development LZ undergoes is nothing new, but the way it is done is simultaneously beautiful, heartwarming, and heart-wrenching. His beliefs, basically his life, is challenged when WY strays from the righteous path that LZ has always known. He questions himself and the ideology he has upheld since young. Does he trust what has been hammered into his brain? Or does he trust the heart of WY he has witnessed? This hesitation makes your heart ache for him as he begins to realize the lines drawn between what is right and wrong and what is black and white may not be so defined after all. 

The lines are blurred. The world is, in fact, gray. When WY returns, the fire in LZ burns brighter than ever as he protects WY (in essence, their vow) with a renewed sense of justice and passion. The change in him is a wondrous sight that makes you swoon and wish for a LZ in real life.

Jiang Cheng/Jiang Wanyin:
JC is a misunderstood character. You either like him or hate him. JC’s pride lies in himself and his sect. Because of his noble status as a successor, he is unable to live freely like WY. JC has to care and mind what others say or think. He has a reputation to uphold because his existence reflects Yunmeng Jiang Sect. This burden, his guide, makes him selfish as his behavior is motivated by whether or not something benefits him and/or his sect. At the end of the day, when everyone left him, didn’t he just want WY by his side? He is probably the most realistic character beside from his sister, so I kinda laugh when people despise him. He is human, therefore, he displays anger, grief, and jealousy like we all have at some point in our lives.

Jiang Yanli/ Shijie:

SJ is both a sister and mother to JC and WY, understanding and believing in who they truly are. She is seemingly your typical female character, weak and timid, only capable of cooking lotus root and pork rib soup for her loved ones. Until you mess with her younger brothers… The courage and bravery she showed in episode 25 had me in awe of her strength to overcome her preference to blend into the background and not stand out or up to anyone. Emotions well up inside my chest whenever I hear SJ’s song, Yi Nan Ping, and its instrumental. SJ is too good for us. We are not worthy, and do not deserve her.

Wen Ning/Ghost General:
Our dear cinnamon roll… Loyalty at its finest. WN was just a shy boy, subject to ridicule. Even his sister kept his existence low-key, a way to keep him safe. Then WY walks into WN’s life, and everything changes. His persona of the Ghost General scares everyone out of their wits. I felt sad he was used as a weapon, and committed acts that he would never dream of in his original state. I was in greater agony when he accepted all the hatred and blame as a consequence. He did not fight back. He did not argue that he was not at fault. He simply took responsibility for his actions. And that, to me, is admirable. 



The younger generation:

The youngins do not get enough credit. Mainly, I am referring to Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, and Ouyang Zizhen. For the most part, they act as comedic relief. They are snarky in their remarks and extra in their behavior. I enjoyed the display of stark contrast between them and the older generation. The kids undoubtedly heard stories and rumors about the big bad wolf, Wei Wuxian, but it is plainly obvious they took it with a grain of salt. After “Mo Xuanyu” is revealed to be WY, instead of being scared, they trust in the kindness WY has shown them. They are not quick to act solely based on what they have heard, and they do not jump aboard the revenge train just because everyone else is targeting a particular person. What a wonderful indication of how the future is in better hands than it was during WY’s time. 



Of course, there were plenty of other supporting characters who were awesome in their own right, but these were my favorites. 



“The green mountain won’t change; the flowing water is endless. I’m sure we’ll meet again someday!”

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The Untamed, caught my attention after I saw that he had passed the evaluation of Signal and My Mister and became the top 1 of the CDM. Even though I wasn't the type of person to see something just for that reason, I was curious to know why this work was being so acclaimed and so well ranked as to overcome excellent doramas, well, most people cited the BL couple, I was afraid to see the work just for that reason, hardly anyone cited a solid reason to see the drama, but regardless I went to check for myself that the reason for the exaltation was not just because of the BL couple.

The idea the ​​drama is excellent, although it is common in Chinese works, if in Japan shounens are common, in China cultivation works are even more common, particularly I am not a fan of Chinese works and this was my first series, anime I had already seen some, but very few related to cultivation, so even though it was something "cliché" for me, it was relatively new, so I found the idea of ​​the drama excellent, remember, the idea, the execution not so much and this is what weighs in my assessment of it. The drama is extremely detailed, very much, which makes it very tiring several times.

We can say that the drama has two Sagas throughout its 50 episodes, which is the Saga of the past, as the name itself says and the arc of the present, 16 years after the death / disappearance of the protagonist, where he reincarnates, but between these 2 sagas have several small arches, we have the beginning that begins with the protagonist reincarnating and soon after showing his past with the characters, their interactions and bonds, I understand that the first arc that takes place in Recanto da Nuvens, is necessary for presentation of the characters, but it is too long and many things there are unnecessary, if the drama were more compressed and more summarized at certain times, it would really be a 10 with praise, but it takes too long to arrest the viewer who does not know the work. The Untamed, has a fantastic world, but it doesn’t masterfully work with him, something that disappointed me was the quotes to the Buried Mountain, where no man would be able to live and Wei lives there for 3 months and is just played in the work like any other Anyway, there are other points, such as the delay of sects turning against the Wen sect, among other things, but I will not go on too long here.

Most characters only make numbers, we do not know their beliefs or philosophies of life, there are few that the viewer will identify and that will be explored in the work, as is the case with Wei himself, which even I do not like his side playful, I don't deny being an excellent character, but the one who really stole my heart was the diva of Wen Qung, a strong character, who acted in the right way and her relationship with her brother was very beautiful to see, always putting him above her and for Sometimes I wanted him with Wei, when they were in the Buried Mountain, I was very sad for the end of it and there was no tribute, another character that I cannot forget to exalt despite his little screen time and his first appearance not being of the best and the mother Jiang Cheng, where when the Lotus Pier was attacked she did not surrender and fought for her sect despite its tragic end and of course no one else, none other than Lan WangJi, however what What most caught my attention in this character, was the fact that he was the opposite of Wei, while one was playful, the other was serious, while one was dressed in black, the other was dressed in white, so this contrast and analogy between both characters was very good.

As well as I mentioned above my sadness for the execution of the series, for the slowness and the lack of intelligence of the characters in being quick in the decisions, even more so for a fan of the "Art of War" to have seen some moments and situations in the battles it was hard for my eyes, just wanted to highlight this one more time.

The villains of the series, the first of them, would almost be my style of villain, and the classic villain who does his mischief by power and destruction, but lacked in the leader of the sect Wen, who is more ahead of the battles and has been more explored, in the The end was just a shallow villain with an even more pathetic death. Already the second villain and the type who hides behind other people and only lives smiling at everyone, who incriminates another person for his actions, who is good at speech and knows how to corner you only in the psychological and the type of villain that even if you are caught by an oversight will deny until death, Jin GuangYao, was a better worked and more detailed motivated villain, the son of a prostitute, was hated by his father, who mistreated him and was not respected by other cultivators, so that it was the trigger for his monstrosities and at the same time a motivation for his steps up the series, reaching the highest rank of a cultivator.

Anyway, despite some complaints, the series is good in general, my biggest compliments go to its setting, scenarios and photography, which were very rich in details and incredibly beautiful, it was the best drama I saw in that aspect. The costumes of the characters too it was spectacular and the osts were excellent, always matching the rhythm of the drama, when it was a lively moment, a lively song, a more tense moment, a more tense song, everything fit perfectly and the harmony was sublime.


*Tradução*

The Untamed, me chamou atenção depois que eu vi que ele tinha ultrapassado a avaliação de Signal e My Mister e se tornado o top 1 do MDL. Mesmo não sendo o tipo de pessoa que ver algo apenas por esse motivo, eu tive curiosidade em saber o porquê essa obra estava sendo tão aclamada e tão bem ranqueada a ponto de superar excelentes dramas, pois bem, a maioria das pessoas citavam o casal BL do drama, eu tive receio em ver a obra apenas por esse motivo, dificilmente alguém citava um motivo sólido pra vê o drama, mas independente disso eu fui conferir por mim que o motivo da exaltação não era apenas por causa do casal BL.

A idéia do drama é excelente, apesar disso ser comum em obra chinesas, se no Japão os shounens são comuns, na China obras de cultivação, são mais comuns ainda, particularmente não sou um fã de obras chinesas e essa foi minha primeira série, anime eu já tinha visto alguns, porém bem poucos relacionados a cultivos, então mesmo sendo algo "clichê" pra mim era relativamente novo, por isso q eu achei a ideia do drama excelente, lembre-se, a idéia, já a execução nem tanto e é isso que pesa na minha avaliação sobre o mesmo. O drama é extremamente detalhado, muito mesmo, o que deixar muito cansativo por várias vezes.

Podemos dizer que o drama tem duas Sagas ao longo dos seus 50 episódios, que e a Saga do passado, como o próprio nome já diz e o arco do presente, 16 anos depois da morte/desaparecimento do protagonista, onde ele reencarna, mas entre essas 2 sagas tem várias pequenos arcos, temos o início que começa com o protagonista reencarnando e logo depois mostrando o passado dele com os personagens, suas interações e vínculos, eu entendo que o primeiro arco que se passa no Recanto da Nuvens, e necessário pra apresentação dos personagens, mas ele é muito longo e muitas coisa ali são desnecessárias, se o drama fosse mais compactado e mais resumindo em determinados momentos, seria realmente um 10 com louvor, mas ele demorar demais a prender o telespectador que não conhece a obra. The Untamed, tem um mundo fantástico, porém não trabalha com maestria ele, algo que me decepcionou foi as citações para com a Montanha Sepultada, onde nenhum homem conseguiria viver e o Wei vive lá por 3 meses e simplesmente só é jogado na obra como qualquer coisa, enfim...tem outros pontos, como a demorar das seitas se voltarem contra a seita Wen, entre outras coisas, mas não vou me alongar muito aqui não.

Os personagens em sua maioria só fazem números, não sabemos suas convicções ou filosofias de vida, são poucos os que o telespectador vai se indentificar e que serão explorados na obra, como e o caso do próprio Wei, que mesmo que eu não gostando do seu lado brincalhão, não nego que é um excelente personagem, mas quem realmente roubou meu coração foi a diva da Wen Qung, uma personagem forte, que agia da forma correta e sua relação com seu irmão foi muito bonita de vê, sempre o colocando acima dela e por vezes eu queria ele com o Wei, quando eles estavam na Montanha Sepultada, fiquei muito triste pelo final dela e não teve nenhuma homenagem, outra personagem que não posso esquecer de exaltar apesar do seu pouco tempo de tela e da sua primeira aparição não ter sido das melhores e a mãe Jiang Cheng, onde quando a Píer de Lótus foi atacada ela não se rendeu e lutou pelo sua seita mesmo com seu fim trágico. E claro ninguém mais, ninguém mesmo que o Lan WangJi, porém o mais me chamou a atenção nesse personagem, era o fato dele ser o oposto do Wei, enquanto um era brincalhão, o outra era sério, enquanto um se vestia de preto e outro se vestia de branco, então esse contraste e analogia entre ambos personagens foi muito bom.

Bem como já citei mais acima minha tristeza pela execução da série, pela lentidão e pela falta de inteligência dos personagens em serem rápidos nas decisões, ainda mais para um fã da "Arte da Guerra" ter visto alguns momentos e situações nas batalhas foi duro para os meus olhos, só queria destacar isso mais uma vez.

Os vilões da série, o primeiro deles, quase seria meu estilo de vilão, e o clássico vilão que faz suas maldades por poder e destruição, porém faltou no líder da seita Wen, esta mais a frente das batalhas e ter sido mais explorado, no fim não passou de um vilão raso com uma morte mais patética ainda. Já o segundo vilão e o tipo que se esconde atrás de outras pessoas e só vive sorrindo para todos, que incriminar outra pessoa pelos seus atos, que é bom de lábia e sabe te encurralar só no psicológico e o tipo de vilão que mesmo se for pego por um descuido vai negar até a morte, Jin GuangYao, foi um vilão mais bem trabalhado e com uma motivação mais detalhada, filho de uma prostituta, era odiado pelo seu pai, que o maltratava e não era respeitado pelos demais cultivadores, então isso foi o gatilho pra suas monstruosidades e ao mesmo tempo uma motivação para sua subida de degraus na série, chegando ao posto mais alto de um cultivador.

Enfim, apesar de algumas reclamações, a série é boa no geral, meus maiores elogios vão pra sua ambientação, cenários e fotografia, que eram riquíssimos em detalhes e incrivelmente belos, foi o melhor drama que eu vi nesse aspecto, o figurino dos personagens também foi espetacular e as osts, excelentes, sempre combinando com o ritmo do drama, quando era um momento animado, uma música animada, um momento mais tenso, uma música mais tensa, tudo se encaixava perfeitamente e a harmonia era sublime.

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I was curious about why this drama has such a high rating and decided to watch it completely. For someone who love xianxia/wuxia themed series and has been watching hundreds of dramas, I will say this drama is okay to watch. It's pretty enjoyable at certain points but tbh it doesn't live up to the super high rating. I will say if you are a big fan of BL then you will definitely want to check it out and most probably will love it. But personally, I like TMOPB and nirvana in fire much more than this. I think the high rating come from the big original BL novel loyal fans and the fans of the pop idol boys turn main lead. I do really like the theme of complexity in evil and good in the series and the actors are pretty dazzling. The annoying part was just some really slow-paced fillers, bad CGI n cinematography and some plot holes. I did think of reading the novel, since this series does spark my interest a little into BL hahaha. But as far as wuxia novel goes, I already have a top fave (I Shall Seal The Heaven), so I think it will be hard to read another wuxia novel that has a storyline that can come up to par with it.

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BEAUTIFULLY DONE.

This is my first BL drama and it is a life changer. I can never judge a drama by what I assumed I won’t like anymore. Who knew such a beautiful love story existed between two males under such strict censorship by the Chinese government? It is 2022.. 3 years after the drama release and this is still an amazing drama. I’m sad I discovered this so late but better late than never! That being said, I am now obsessed with wuxia BL dramas.

The chemistry between both leads are sensational. You feel the unspoken love just by how they look at one another and the simple touches. All of their scenes together are absolutely breathtaking. The story itself isn’t anything too special but trust me.. watching these two leads will get you hooked. The tenderness in their gazes, the soft words, the simple yet special touches and overall chemistry between both beautiful leads took my breath away. Wang Yi Bo and Zhao Xian were made for the roles of Lan Zhan and Wei Ying. I’ve never seen such handsome males on the screen.

Also.. don’t watch the last 5 minutes of the ending here. Search the special edition online for the actual ending. Due to the censorship, they had to move the order of the scenes around to not show a “happy” ending of the leads being together. The special edition is the actual ending with the satisfying end.

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This show is very confusing but stick with it

I’d heard about the Untamed and decided to give it a try, not knowing anything about it. The first episode was very confusing to me, and I had to do a bunch of googling to even get a grasp. If anyone goes into this show as their first Chinese drama, they may also find the names confusing- there are many characters introduced very quickly. It became better as I slowly understood more, but I was still a bit confused and waiting for the show to become more exciting. I was at the point of, “if it doesn’t get better soon, I’ll drop the show”. However, I’m so glad I stuck with it- things took a turn at a certain episode and suddenly the show was much more emotional and intense. It became so good that it didn’t matter that I was confused at the beginning- and once you watch the whole show, watching the beginning again makes a lot more sense and you can see all the hints that were woven in.

(More spoilery from here)

The Untamed really wonderfully dealt with a lot of themes and issues, and each character was complex and layered. Wei Wuxian’s descent into madness was for me, unexpected (despite seeing how he was “evil” at the beginning, because I was so confused that I forgot about that) but fascinating and satisfying. The Wen clan initially seems like the main antagonist, but then it turns out that our protagonist is the villain, at least in the eyes of society. The Untamed showed so much about the struggles between what is right or wrong individually, vs within relationships, vs in society, or when someone has no choices... making bad choices for good reasons, or vice versa...

The character development is amazing and each character was complex enough to be the protagonist of their own show, in my opinion. Even most of the villains were so dimensional that I couldn’t dislike them. I can see why people call this show a masterpiece, and despite my initial confusion, this turned out to be one of the best shows I’ve ever watched.

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No one can unsee The Untamed nor can they ever forget it.

Nowadays, we are blessed with great bromance/BL dramas and movies from many places around the world. But only a handful of them can leave an amazing impression on us. One that you always end up coming back for more.
The Untamed is the best example for me.

First of all, they had to change many things of the original story because of the censorship in China. In the novel, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are obviously lovers, but in the series, they are "bosom friends". Nonetheless, the story was still amazing despite the changes. he scenery is breathtaking, and each clan's design and concept is brilliantly thought out. Despite being labelled as a "xianxia" drama, The Untamed incorporates many elements of traditional wuxia dramas while blending them with a new style. The cinematography and transition from one scene to the next were both excellent. The plot is far from boring, and the story flows extremely well. Once I started watching, I couldn't stop. But I'm going to say that the highlight of the series, was definitely the chemistry between Xiao Zhan (Wei Wuxian ) and Wang Yibo (Lan Wangji ). Even thought they were portrayed as "bosom friends", they obviously left us with the biggest impression that the both of them loved each other dearly and that they were in fact soulmates. No matter what people say, this was far from a bromance drama. I'm also going to praise the other actors because all of them were incredible in their roles. I'm going to be completely honest with you, the CGI's were not that spectacular and at times they were simply alright, but I couldn't care less at this point because I got hooked on the complexity of the story and what each character brings. I will just say that overall, this drama is a real masterpiece and that I will probably end up watching it a hundred times. Also the Ost is so catchy and you might end up downloading it or listen to it multiple times. (The two leads actually sing that song together)

PS. I wish I was better with words or able to give better reviews, but I just want to say that this drama was and will always be one of the best Chinese BL drama for me and hopefully my review left you wanting to watch this amazing drama.

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Definitely the TOP 1 on my list.

At first, I was quite reluctant to watch The Untamed because its genre (traditional + bromance/BL) is not the one I typically prefer to watch and I was even so confused on the first half of episode 1! I find traditional dramas to be cringey especially with all those flying around but not this one, it comes naturally and it's justified with the setting of the drama.

Now, I'm having withdrawal syndrome & sepanx. I can hardly move on from it that I even read the novel & manhua. After reading them, I probably would have expected more from the drama if I came across of those first. So I recommend to watch the drama first so you have no expectations what so ever then read the novel because THE NOVEL IS SO EXTRA. It's also quite a revelation to myself that I might like BL stories because of The Untamed. This may not be a popular choice and I may want more but I like the creativity & subtleness of how they work around the censorship in China. Anyway, we have the novel & manhua to supplement that need for more.

The Untamed are also full of eye candies! Wen Ning is so adorable especially when he was trying to sell the turnips, I love him there! Zewu Jun was like a different person from his role in Mr. Honesty, as well as Shi Jie (in Well Dominated Love) that I almost did not recognize her! Even the main villains are good looking too that you can't hate them! Hello Xue Yang! Hope to see you in another drama soon. Jin Guang Yao/Meng Yao is also cute & funny out of character. The only people I hate there would be those hypocripte leaders of small sects/clans and The Jin clans' Guang Shan & that unreasonably arrogant Jin cousin.

I particularly love Xiao Zhan's portrayal of Wei Wu Xian, his smiles in different emotions and how his character progressed and matured from being smart & charming yet annoying when he was younger to (as Jiang Cheng puts it) being "self-less" causing his fall from grace and ultimately coming into terms with everything that happened upon his return whilst he is still the smart & charming yet annoying one that everyone once knew and that probably what attracts the junior disciples of the different sects, without them realizing his real identity (believing that he is Mo Xuan Yu all along), to him. I find his interactions to them adorable as well as hilarious. He really charmed them especially Jin Ling, which I kinda feel that this is not the WWX Jin Ling had expected or imagined.

Wang Yibo, another huge eye candy! The more you look at him the more attractive he gets. His portrayal of cold & boring Lan Wang Ji is on point though I want LWJ to have more personal interactions with WWX. Plus I find it very amusing that only WWX is the only person who can call LWJ "Lan Zhan", never heard it from his uncle or his brother and everyone else is just intimidated.

The Untamed is worth watching and rewatching. I'll be hard to find another drama on par with this one.

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Worth the hype, but not a masterpiece

Every once in a while you encounter a show that is riddled with issues, but has a core that is so strong that it keeps the whole thing afloat. In the case of The Untamed that core is of course the two leads, Wei Ying (Sean Xiao) and Lan Wan Ji (Wang Yi Bo). These two characters are the heart and soul of the drama and the reason for its incredible popularity. They are compelling as these opposites attract, intensely moral people who endure tragedy and grief together, and their connection is immediately palpable on screen. Both actors do a great job of showing the journey these characters go on over the course of the show, and the layers they inhabit. They nail the comic and tragic moments beautifully.

The rest of the cast varies dramatically in acting ability. Paul Yu is solid as Wei Ying's friend and bodyguard Wen Ying, while Marius Wang struggles to give three dimensionality and depth to Jiang Chen, Wei Ying's adopted brother and a pivotal character in the show. This doesn't necessarily detract hugely from the drama as a whole, but it does mean that there are scenes in the drama that don't really resonate with me, are boring, or where the emotional intensity and complexity just doesn't come across they way it should.

Another issue with the show is its plot. The Untamed basically follows the life and growth of Wei Ying from young disciple to the infamous Yiling Patriarch, and although that works from a character standpoint (I care about Wei Ying and want to follow his journey) it can make the plot feel all over the place. There is no single, solid villain in the show, which I think weakens the second half substantially. There are some themes introduced about the danger of a herd mentality in regards to the cultivators turning on Wei Ying, but it isn't properly developed as it should have been. I understand that probably a lot of this is to do with existing issues in the source material, but it could have been reworked in the adaptation. Additionally, the plot is not chronological, which I think actual takes away from the impact of Wei Ying's downfall and makes the show feel even more disjointed.

My final big issues with the show are problems that I have with a lot of Chinese fantasy dramas: the magic and creatures look cheap, the villains are laughably uninteresting and not even slightly intimidating, and the action is dull and void of impact. I understand that the budget of the Untamed was low, so I can excuse the poor CGI, but when it comes to compelling villains and action sequences they have no excuses. Weak writing means they lean too heavily on effects and costume design to try demonstrate that THIS guy is EVIL, when really they should just write a good character. When was the last time I was scared or invested in a villain in a Chinese fantasy series? I feel like they depend too heavily on their villains being archetypes of evil (he's a demon! Evil spirit!) rather than actually having any kind of depth. As for the action, I'm not asking for it to be bloody and visceral. I understand and appreciate an action style that is more elegant than that, and I actually like that their magic means they do less stabbing and decapitating, etc. BUT. The problem is that the action as a whole has no weight or impact. There are no stakes established by the writing/directing, there is no intentionality from the camera, and no believability from the actors. As a result, I can't take the big battles or anything else seriously at all. I don't feel invested in any of it whatsoever. During big tragic scenes, or supposedly stressful and intense battle sequences I feel this deep boredom instead.

This was adapted from a web novel in which the relationship between Wei Ying and Lan Wan Ji is explicitly romantic, but in the show this was censored. There are no kiss scenes, no overt romantic declarations (technically) and they are never officially considered by the show as being more than 'very good friends'. This was off-putting to me before I actually watched the show because I thought it wouldn't be enjoyable. I was wrong. Although the censorship itself is gross for homophobia reasons, I actually think the writers and director did a great job of making it clear that this IS a love story. The intensity of Wei Ying and Lan Wan Ji's relationship is still there, as well as their position in each other's lives. They are each other's most important person, and other characters see them as such. They protect and defend each other, fight for each other, care for each other when they're sick or wounded, and are all around soulmates. I think the drama manages to convey this in a profound and beautiful way, despite the censorship.

On the whole I would recommend this show to people who love romance, fantasy, and don't mind if it's rough around the edges. If you're looking for great acting across the board, or a tight plot, or a good villain, look elsewhere.

Greatest Weakness: Lack of a solid villain and satisfying plot structure
Greatest Strength: The two leads

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one of the best asian dramas

I have finished this show a long time ago but I completely forgot writing a review about it.
I am not the kind of person who would rewatch a show only if it was THAT good.. well, this show was indeed, that good. A few months after watching it for the first time I binged watched it again and I have a feeling I will re-watch it sometime soon. I started reading the books after finishing a show and I loved it! I would recommend reading Grandmaster Of Demonic Cultivation because it is really great and has a lot more romantic/cute scenes between Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan.
Anyway, back to the show.
I usually skip through scenes when I get bored or just simply drop a drama if it has way too many filler episodes but with The Untamed I did not have to do either. I loved every single episode of it and I am pretty sure I would never get bored watching this show. I do not think that I will ever find another Chinese drama that I will love this much like I could talk about my love for WangXian for hours.
I do not want to spoil anything or talk more in-depth about this show, but I hope anyone who watches it will enjoy it just as much as I did.

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