Engaging and dramatic
Beautiful visuals, stunning costumes, great chemistry, interesting political plot but occasionally drags. The female lead is written to be too unreasonable but Wang Chu Ran did an amazing job showing her complexity. Too many repetitions of the “lying to protect you” trope from both main characters. It felt like watching a soap opera which I honestly liked. The lighting and settings were gorgeous. Definitely doesn’t deserve the hate in my opinion, but I think people are too quick to judge after watching only a couple of episodes.Was this review helpful to you?
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One of the most unique character dynamics
Absolutely loved both of the lead characters and their dynamic. Very original and fun plot. Cheng lei’s best character yet in my opinion. The shift of his character between being a lighthearted, slightly awkward love interest, and a tyrannical emperor driven mad by isolation and despair was unexpected and incredibly well acted. The plot twists actually shocked me and they did an amazing job balancing humor and darker themes. Wang Chu Ran did such a great job as well when it came to balancing comedy and tragedy.Was this review helpful to you?
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Arrestingly beautiful and deep characters
One of my favorites of the year so far. Obviously great acting considering the cast, but He Yu especially stood out with his performance. I did feel that it fell flat on a couple of storylines. The ending had so much potential but it was rushed and unsatisfying. Should have shown how the crown prince faked his death and the reactions of everyone (especially his son and tian yuan) when he returned. Was in tears for the last five episodes. Meng Zi Yi’s character felt too cold at first but her composure and eventual devotion to He Yu’s character was beautifully depicted.Was this review helpful to you?
Beautiful and transporting
I’ve rarely been so deeply touched by a story. While the graphics and costumes are questionable at times, the chemistry and character depth more than make up for it. The development of each character is captivating and the sacrifice and unfaltering devotion between the two main characters is heart wrenching and beautiful. This is a series that makes you feel like you’re reading a fantasy book, and once you’ve suspended your disbelief it is one of the most endearing and transporting stories out there.Was this review helpful to you?
A drama I keep coming back to
Very well-written characters. Genuine enemies to lovers. The main leads were able to accomplish their own goals and revenges on their own while supporting each other from the side. Every character was well written and had motivations of their own. Chen zhe yuan especially did an incredible job and gave an unmatched presence to his character. The fight scenes were some of the most impactful I’ve seen. The female lead was a bit too emotionless but is one of the strongest female characters and you grow to admire her.Was this review helpful to you?
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Nothing compares.
The sociopolitical relevance and depth of the plot makes you forget the low budget graphics. Wei Wuxian might be the most well written character I’ve ever seen. The shift in tone between a carefree privileged adolescent to standing against convention and corruption at the cost of everything is jarring. The Untamed depicts the dangers of mob mentality and how fear can be used to control people incredibly well. One of the best things about it is that the characters are not infallible. They make mistakes and have flaws. Lan Wangji’s flaw is that his moral code is so deeply ingrained that he fails to turn against a corrupt system. As a result he loses the most important person to him and lives in regret for 16 years, but when given a second chance he doesn’t make the same mistakes as he did in his youth. Wei wuxian is impulsive and arrogant and those threatened by his strength use that against him to demonize him. While many of those close to him knew he was not in the wrong they were too afraid to speak out, and, as a result, perpetuated a system of oppression and tyranny, demonstrating the danger of passivity. The way that fame, love, and admiration can turn to fear, hatred, and villainization is a haunting reflection of society and human nature. There are very few that I would consider to be a masterpiece but this is undoubtedly one of them. It has an unbeatable cast, an unmatched soundtrack, and handles comedy, morality, societal conformity, and tragedy with ease.Was this review helpful to you?
