A legendary masterpiece
The Untamed is quite perfect in every way; the casting, the plot, the acting and especially the music. Everything just seems right. No matter how many times you rewatch it, you won't get bored. This is not a feat many series can accomplish, so I will always have a special place for The Untamed in my heart.Was this review helpful to you?
An EPICCC!
Gosh!!! If you are looking into Asian dramas and this isn't in your top 5 at least, we just cannot be friends. This is just what every viewer can everrr wish for. Where do I start, where do I stop? Because every time I finish, I want to rewatch it again. It's a form of existence at this point. Rewatched 5 times, 6th time soon!The plot was sooo refreshing! It keeps surprising you. I was introduced to the MDZS universe (Mo Dao Zu Shi - the original novel, which thank you Mo Xiang Tong Xiu for writing this masterpiece 😭) through this drama. So unlike many others, I did not know this was supposed to be BL drama-ish. In fact, this could be my first so called "BL" drama. And so, even now, the first term to describe Wei Ying and Lan Zhan would be 知己 (Zhījǐ, which, if literally translated, someone who knows all of you). And I know that sounds like lovers and yes they are, but through this drama, for me, it's definitely more about this one person who will stay by your side no matter what, who you know you can turn to even if the world turns its back on you. And that I feel is wayyy more than just romance and chemistry. So if you are capable of picking up the subtleties and happy with old soft love bromance, this is 100/10 👍🏻
Next, the cast. Ever heard of the perfect cast for the perfect drama. THIS IS IT! And there is nooo doubt. I still cannot believe they are not the actual people. Because I know for sure, if I were to ever meet them in person, I'll call them their character's name 😂 The more I rewatch, the more each character's part becomes clearer. The visuals and shots are really beautiful. Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo are legit one of the best pairs I've seen. It just makes sense, them as Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. And to anyone who says Wang Yibo isn't being expressive, let's fight, period 😤 And most important of all, THE ONE AND ONLY WEI WUXIAN AKA XIAO ZHAN. Man, he was born for this. If Wei Ying was a person in real life, he better be looking like Xiao Zhan. His acting skills are insane. So fine that you forget he is just the actor, not the actual person. 😭😭❤️❤️(Lowkey I'm sad about it, but we'll talk about that later).
The OSTs. Yes, Chinese dramas have really good songs, but this one has real good music. Especially if you like the Chinese instruments. Whether it's Wei Ying's 'Qu Jin Chenqing' by Xiao Zhan or Lan Zhan's 'Bu Wang' by Wang Yibo or 'Yi Nan Ping', pure chef's kiss. Even the plain instrument pieces like 'Zui Meng' are art of its own. But the most iconic would definitely be 'Wuji', the theme song itself. I like this version of Wangxian song the best of all across anime and voice drama and all.
Recently I've been watching the animated version and yes there are quite a lot of differences in the flow of the story. But definitely not in a way that reduces this drama's position in my heart. I have recommended this to literally anyone who has asked me a drama suggestion. The more I watch, the more nostalgic and closer I find myself to this drama. I could yap about it forever! 😁
Yup, as a fan of fantasy, action, smart plot and good relationships, ones that can stick the test of time, this is forever my FAVOURITE DRAMA EVER!
Was this review helpful to you?
It's a MASTERPIECE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Untamed is, without a doubt, a masterpiece. Even after more than six years and over 100 rewatches, it never feels old—it still hits with the same intensity, the same emotion, every single time. That kind of staying power is rare.What truly sets it apart is how perfectly everything comes together. The storytelling is rich and layered, blending fantasy, politics, and deep emotional bonds without ever losing its core. The performances are incredibly compelling—subtle where they need to be, powerful where it counts. And the chemistry? Effortless, natural, and unforgettable.
It’s not just a show you watch once and move on from—it’s something you return to, each time discovering new details, new meanings. That’s what makes it special.
It’s almost funny that some people still hesitate to start it because of its 50 episodes. If anything, fans will tell you the opposite—it feels too short for the world it builds and the story it tells.
Honestly, it sets such a high standard that it’s hard to imagine another show surpassing it. It’s not just good—it’s one of those rare series that stays with you long after it ends.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
MASTERPIECE. 10/10 the best show i ever seen.
storythe story is really well based, at first it’s a little bit confusing (i haven’t read the novel) but after 4 episodes it makes sense and it starts to being more interesting.
+ i love the fact that every character is well done, everyone has their own story and personality, they’re written soooo well
cast/acting
the acting is soo good, xiaozhan and wangyibo never disappoints me
music
what can i say? one of the best ost ever and its crazy because it’s sang by xiaozhan and wangyibo, they can do everything.
overall
i don’t know what to say honestly just watch it. u will never regret it. i started with thinking that 50 episodes were too many but now i feel so empty like they weren’t enough.
i just can say that the love in that show is the stronger than every other bl series even though it’s not shown, the acting is soooo good, xiaozhan and wangyibo are soo good but literally all of the cast is just amazing.
im going to read the novel as well i can’t wait🙏
im not gonna lie i’ve watched almost a hundred bls and shows but this is the best thing i ever saw.
thankyou the untamed.💙❤️
Was this review helpful to you?
More than 10/10: A masterpiece that will always have a special place in my heart.
I’m not usually patient with long dramas. My free time is mostly spent outdoors running, hiking, or cycling. But The Untamed completely pulled me in.Some dramas are simply entertaining, but some stories stay with you long after the ending. For me, The Untamed is that kind of drama.
I started this drama without expecting too much. I thought I was simply watching a story about cultivators, clans, and a mysterious past. I never expected it to become the drama that would introduce me to an entire world of C-dramas and remain my number one favorite until now.
What makes The Untamed unforgettable is not only its fantasy world, cultivation system, or the mystery surrounding the Yin Iron and past events. What truly makes this drama special are the characters, their choices, and the unforgettable bonds they created.
Wei Wuxian is one of the most memorable characters I have ever watched. He is playful, charming, and full of life on the outside, but behind his smile is someone carrying loneliness, pain, injustice, and countless sacrifices.
Xiao Zhan’s portrayal of Wei Wuxian was one of the biggest reasons this character became so unforgettable. He captured every side of Wei Wuxian — the carefree young cultivator, the person who carries the weight of protecting others, and someone who continues to smile despite everything he has lost. His emotional scenes, especially during moments of suffering and heartbreak, made the character feel incredibly human.
Lan Wangji, on the other hand, is a character of quiet strength. He does not express his feelings easily, but his loyalty and actions speak louder than words. Wang Yibo perfectly portrayed Lan Wangji’s restrained emotions, discipline, and unwavering devotion. Through subtle expressions and small gestures, he showed a character who loves deeply but chooses to protect silently.
The contrast between Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo’s performances created a powerful dynamic. Their characters were different in personality, but their bond was built on trust, understanding, respect, and standing beside each other when the entire world misunderstood them.
Beyond the main characters, what touched me the most was the drama’s exploration of loyalty, friendship, family, and the consequences of choices. It showed that people are not simply good or evil. Sometimes those who are judged as villains are the ones carrying the heaviest burdens.
The world-building, costumes, music, and atmosphere created a universe that felt alive. Every clan, every character, and every past event added depth to the story. But what truly made this drama special was the emotional journey — the happiness, heartbreak, sacrifices, and friendships that felt real.
After watching many C-dramas across different genres, The Untamed remains my top drama of all time. It was not just my first C-drama; it was the beginning of my journey into xianxia, wuxia, and countless unforgettable stories.
Some dramas end when the final episode finishes. But some stories stay with you.
The Untamed is one of those stories. A masterpiece that will always have a special place in my heart. ❤️
Was this review helpful to you?
The thing I like about this series is it'll bring you to a lot of realizations. It'll teach you to value and appreciate everyting. It'll teach you that greadiness and vengeance will just bring you evil. Don't be a mute, a deaf and a blind in the things that is obviously unfair. Voice out your opinions and perceptions. Be brave, be strong and bolder.
"Curb the violence and assist the weak. Have no regrets". The line that I cannot forget from the series because this expresses lots of emotions and promises.
And last and foremost, I truly admire the friendship of Wei WuXian and Lan Wangji. Their friendship is exceptional and real. A friendship that will make you envy. A friendship that'll make you wish and hope that you also have.
Was this review helpful to you?
I don't think it's perfect - but pretty near it! There are still points where I am scratching my head - but could be due to the poor translation? (Maybe I should read the book but that's probably still not as good as the original material in Chinese!).
The actors Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo omg... amazing. The chemistry these two had *swoon*. I can't get over these two, and I love the way they are with each other, how dedicated, how loyal... soulmates, and an amazing friendship. I cannot get over how great they were, and I have rewatched series for a second time focusing on them because it is just so so amazing. I am at this point where I am feeling so empty and missing watching this series, living this series.
Also the familial relationship of Shiji and Jiang Chen with Wei Ying omg... again, this will always make me cry and hurt my heart.
I have been replaying the OST because so many of the songs are so great! But it almost makes me so sad because I can't experience their story again afresh.
I would have rated this 8 when I first finished it... but after not being able to stop thinking about it for the last week, I have to put it up to 9. I won't give it a 10 because there are some small parts where I wasn't sure what was happening, how this or that happened.
Was this review helpful to you?
I am hoping for tv series that emphasizes on friendship, bravery, magic, fantasy and more twist and unexpected ending without too much romance(bored with it, so common).
Was this review helpful to you?
A MASTERPIECE !!!!
To be honest, I don't even know how to put into words how much I loved this drama. This was not only my first Chinese drama, but my first Chinese historical drama. This drama will always hold a special place in my heart. I do not know how I managed to finish this 50 episode drama in three days, but the no sleep was worth it! This drama's storyline is just so incredibly complex and intricate, and the amount of emotional whiplash that you get from this drama is honestly insane. This drama just exceeded my expectations, and became my entire personality after I watched it back in 2019. This drama will have you on the edge of your seat but also have your heart aching for Wei Wuxian and the amount of pain and suffering he endures throughout his life. The subtle romantic undertones in this drama were brilliant! Lan Wangji and his micro-expressions just made my heart hurt so bad:(( And the relationship between Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng...yeah don't even get me started on how much they broke my heart like NOOOO YOU'RE BROTHERS TALK THINGS OUT DON'T FIGHT !!! I cannot tell you the amount of times I yelled at my computer or cried my eyes out watching this drama, and this is definitely one that will have you feel as if your heart has been ripped out of your chest. It's honestly just a masterpiece from start to finish, and the entire cast is just so incredible!! Oh, and don't even get me started on the cinematography and the OSTs of this drama <3 (SO GORGEOUS)Was this review helpful to you?
The lovable cast and their chemistry as well as the Yi City arc saved this drama for me!
This drama's overall worth watching, but you need to adjust expectations. I suspect the reason it's so highly regarded is because of its efforts to adhere to the BL elements, cast chemistry (despite relatively poor acting from many, they all fit their character counterparts and shared great chemistry with one another), and overall faithfulness to the main story beats in the novel.However, this drama is plagued with major problems in its storytelling and overall production (aside from its low budget). There's a good story somewhere in there due to the source material (I later read half of the book in Chinese and it made a lot more sense than it did in the drama), but the drama has the worst production I've ever seen and fails to properly tell the story. Everything the drama changes due to censorship is not well thought out, but they're too lazy to work on the script more and just assume people have read the book.
For example, in the novel, the past was told in a series of short flashbacks and was the least interesting part. But for some reason, the drama creators decided to devote around 30 episodes to the past when there really wasn't enough novel material to warrant all that time wasted. This resulted in padded filler (they actually made up a storyline that ended up being a complete waste of time) and slow pacing for the first 30+ episodes. The drama only started getting good around the Yi City arc, which was when it started focusing on the current timeline.
Even then, the drama's storytelling was often confusing without prior knowledge of the novel. I was lucky enough to have my sister by my side to explain some of the main story beats because the drama did a piss poor job of telling it using the camera. There were some weirdly shot sequences that left me utterly confounded about what the director was trying to tell me. This confusion was all cleared up by the novel, which was well-written and completely believable. Lol, the novel author's a much better storyteller than the drama crew.
The editing and camerawork is also very shoddy and amateurish. There are many awkwardly filmed sequences where they cut off character's heads or the camera angle's not quite right. But all this gets a free pass just because many people are in love with the cast/chemistry btw characters.
The best rating I can give this drama is an 8/10 and that's only because I fell in love with the Yi City arc (loved the relationship between two characters) and I also loved the sibling chemistry btw the ML and his brother (I actually found them to have the spark and angst that's missing from the lead couple -this is largely due to censorship preventing the leads' romance from having central focus).
In addition, I adored the younger generation disciples and all of their interactions with the leads. But I can't give this drama a 9 or 10 when almost everything aside from cast chemistry/music and some well-done sequences are all executed poorly.
Honestly, even an 8/10 is generous, but that's my biased rating and I admit to it freely, lol. The cast chemistry and relationships are what ultimately save this drama for me. This is the main area where I give credit to the production crew. I don't credit them for the ambitious plot because that came from the novel and they weren't even particularly skilled at telling it, lol. In fact, many story changes they made only served to confuse the viewer and some, like the Yin metal storyline, were a complete waste of time.
It's certainly not a masterpiece like "Nirvana in Fire" and it's not just the censorship holding it back either since the entire drama's replete with numerous craftmanship flaws that has nothing to do with censorship. Censorship certainly doesn't excuse shoddy storytelling (ex: the romance btw the ML's sister and another character was poorly done/inconsistent whereas it made complete sense in the book), crappy editing, and amateurish camerawork.
So overall, this drama is worth watching if you can forgive the amateurish production and manage to connect and fall in love with its many lovable characters. But do prepare yourself to be patient for the first 30+ episodes (some got into it after the first 15 or so terrible episodes, but I didn't fall in love until the Yi City arc).
Was this review helpful to you?
Deserves its current top rating on the list
I am very selective of dramas I watched online and typically I only watched those with high ratings. I must say this drama deserves its current top rating for Chinese dramas. Good looking actors and actresses, bromance, mystery, beautiful cinematography, special effects, comic moments, heart-wrenching scenes, melodious music rolled into one.The initial couple of episodes were rather confusing. But I was intrigued by the mystery of Wei Ying's death and resurrection, and I watched on - great job of introducing that at the beginning. When I reached the episode he was thrown off the cliff, I revisited the two initial episodes and they all started to make sense. Similarly, I was not impressed initially with the cast. But the drama improved further down the track and so did the acting of the actors/actresses.
I had not read the novel, but this drama deserves credit in its own rights. From the reviews of readers of the novel, there were suggestions of homosexuality in the relationships. But the drama was tastefully done and there were no homosexual scenes. Although I am not homo-phobic, I really do not appreciate homosexual scenes so I am glad of there were none - I do not share and appreciate the emotions - in fact, they are a bit of a turn-off.
However, intense feelings and camaraderie were enacted. The looks that Lan Zhan gave to Wei Ying were full of quiet intense emotions, and the feeling of pain at his death and suffering was well expressed. Wang YiBo acted Lan Zhan well. If WeiYing or LanZan is replaced by a female, coupled with a bit of tweak, this could become a romance story. In dramas, I have a type - I am strongly attracted to the charismatic, calm, intelligent, handsome hero of little words.
The mystery of what happened in the 16 years that Wei Ying was dead was not quite satisfactorily explained. Did he stay dead for 16 years until he was resurrected? If not, what happened to him in the 16 years? How did Mo Xuan Yue found and resurrect him?
And I love the music pieces - the theme song at the end and the music piece at the beginning.
I was impressed with the attention to details - they had chosen a boy who had dimples on his cheek to act the young Jin GuangYao - consistent with Zhu Zan Jin who had very obvious dimples and acted the adult.
Finally, to those who had started watching this drama and are the impatient type, stay on for a few episodes before you give up. And if you have not started, go ahead and you would not regret it.
Was this review helpful to you?
