The Untamed (2019)

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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What I enjoyed:
• Themes: good vs evil, loyalty, selfishness vs selflessness, mob mentality and group think, justice vs revenge, exploitation and corruption of power, privilege, justice, forgiveness, relationships (familial, romantic, friendship, brotherhood, siblings, parent/child)
• Music: I loved the soundtrack. I enjoyed the instrumental soundtrack more than the character songs
• Locations and sets: I loved the whole aesthetic behind different sect/clan principal residences. Especially Cloud Recesses and Lotus Pier
• Love story: It was a joy to watch their beautiful, but tragic love story unfold
• LWJ looked fresh, beautiful, and ethereal during second half of the drama
• Costumes: The different colors made it easier to tell the different clans apart

What I didn’t enjoy:
• Majority of the female characters were killed off and there weren’t many to begin with. I think only 3 female characters with lines survived
• WWX looked terrible in the second half. I’m not sure if it was a director’s choice, but he looked sickly, unwell, and deathly pale
• LWJ becoming chief cultivator. This just doesn’t make any sense. LWJ has shown zero interest in leadership roles. He outright ignores the other cultivators so it’s unbelievable that he’d have any capital to procure the chief cultivator position.
• It took forever to wrap up the JGY arc. Seriously, just kill him already. I totally agreed with WWX when he blurted, “Can we stop talking and just start fighting?”
• Plot: plot was confusing for the first two episodes
• Extra long flashback: When the flashback ended, I couldn’t recall what happened in episode 1 and 2
• JGY has the most punchable face and his dimples did nothing for me. He was also hammy in several scenes
• Wang Yibo looked dazed, sleepy, and unfocused in early flashback scenes episodes. It was a bit distracting
• Styling: I wished the director would have styled WWX differently after his resurrection. But he essentially had the same hairstyle, same look, same feel
• LWJ appearance: He looked ethereal and beautiful, but I felt that Wang Yibo should have bulked up for the role. His character is supposed to be more muscular and stronger than WWX.
• Noticeable continuity/editing errors. On repeated watch, the errors will become more noticeable
• The Ending: Initially, I was so confused by the ending. Did they end up together? Did they go their separate way? After doing a bit of research, I came to the conclusion that they did spend some time apart, but reunited after some time.

Overall, I LOVED The Untamed. After watching the drama, I read the novel, watched the Special Edition, watched BTS videos, watched interviews with the actors, read up on all The Untamed content I could find, and watched fan made music videos. This is the only drama that has captivated me (I've seen several dramas)

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Didn't thought I'd fall in love

I do not like bromances usually, I hate the fact that in those stories, their is only too subtle insinuation and no kisses or anything but I almost do not consider The Untamed not being one, here's why:
The chemistry and acting of the actors are insane, you can truly feel the love between them, there is so much signs they love each other, especially Lan Zhan (with his headband for exemple).
Also the story is really good and I didn't see time pass during the 50 episodes, even though I usually have difficulties to finish series and also with this genra.
The costumes and settings are also stunning, I loved it! The theme songs are wonderful too and add so real immersion and emotions to the series.
The only sad point is that I watched it on Viki after seeing the traductions seemed more understandable for me than with the YouTube translation but ho god what a mistake. I had heard of the "soulmate scene' where Wei Wuxiang tells Lan Zhang who he is for him but it was transformed into "very good friend" in the Viki translation and I only realized at the end so I was waiting for it when it already had passed...Poor me, the real translation is much more meaningful so don't do the same mistake as me.

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Truly a masterpiece

What a truly great drama! At first I thought - the men in this show sure are feminine looking. By the end of the show I couldn't believe how great this show is. The amazing story, acting and music . Man oh man, the music is in a league of its own!
The plot has some amazing moments that just pull at your heartstrings. Interestingly, this show gets better every time you rewatch it! Don't be scared away by the Boy Love elements. It's really subtle if that's not your thing. I'm not into BL but by the end of this film I wanted the two male leads to live happily ever after!

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Fascinating Characters + Intricate Storytelling

The Untamed is a phenomenal Wuxia show with an excellent cast portraying dynamic characters in an intense action adventure setting. The heart of the drama centers on Wei Wuxian, and actor Xiao Zhan plays this role to perfection. He has a certain magnetism and presence on screen that makes it hard to look away from him. He could switch from utterly charming and mischievous to devastated and tortured flawlessly. Not to be outdone, Wang Yibo was the perfect casting choice for stoic and taciturn Lan Wangji. In some ways, I would argue he had the more difficult role. He had to be both standoffish and distant, yet relatable and accessible to the audience. These two lead actors truly had amazing chemistry together, and their performances are the reason this show is still so loved today. While this connection is not explicitly depicted as BL due to China’s censorship on homosexuality, I think it deftly overcomes those restrictions to create a remarkable and loving relationship between these two men.

Found families are an important aspect of Wei Wuxian’s story, and he manages to build three distinct families over the course of the show. I loved the dynamic relationships he builds with all of them (Wen Ning! Jiang Yan Li! Wen Qing! Lan Sizhui!), but the relationship most intriguing to me was between him and his adoptive brother, Jiang Cheng. The bonds of brotherhood are explored in all of its complexity between many of the characters, and no more so than Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian. The angst, love, and competitiveness these two experienced was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I cared just as much about their relationship as I did about Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji’s connection by the end of the show.

While the characters are certainly the main attraction for me, the setting and cinematography were excellent too. The locations of Lotus Pier, Cloud Recess, and Nightless City are unforgettable. These aspects paired with a beautiful OST and intriguing plotline made for a memorable show. Probably the part I enjoyed the least was the structure of the opening act. The show begins with a three minute snippet of Wei Wuxian’s death before transitioning to the present day. The story only stays in the present day for two episodes before transition to an extended 30+ episode count of backstory. The backstory is certainly important to establishing the characters, story, and setting. However, I think starting the story with the backstory would have been less confusing than sandwiching it between the present day. I love when these sweeping sagas allow time for a well done epilogue, and The Untamed delivered big time. All of the plot points are tidily resolved and the characters (er, those still left alive) are given proper send-offs.

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Once you watch it, you won't get over it!

I mean what can I say that hasn't already been said?
It's a fantastic drama that made me care. It made me care so much that it's hard to believe these characters are fictional.
The themes in the story are just perfectly complex and very human, the acting is phenomenal, mainly for our two MLs. Seriously, Xiao Zhan really shines in this role. And their chemistry is beautiful. The drama versions of them are probably one of my all time favorite couples in fiction (and yes, it is canon).
All I can say is you will seriously be missing out on something truly beautiful if you don't watch it.

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It is simply perfection!

I liked how the actors played it. The atmosphere of the series was amazing.I could watch it again.In some moments it was very sad and in others it was funny.The places in the series are beautiful.I liked how suddenly Wei Wuxian became an enemy.I watched this series because it's very popular and I'm glad I watched it.I watched it for almost three months.After trying it, I had to watch similar series.When the series ended, I was sad because I wanted to keep watching as I enjoyed it.After trying the series, I had to watch the Anime version and read the Novel.I would simply rate it as one of the best series.

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