I was trying to figure out what BL meant. I just started watching and I kind of see it now. I've never watched…
Soooooo true! I feel like the romance in this and Guardian is already 1000 times better than that in BLs where censorship isn’t an issue, maybe because the writers can’t take advantage of the freedom to put it out in the open and the actors have to portray it more skillfully and meaningful. But just imagine the possibilities. They would definitely reign supreme!
I was trying to figure out what BL meant. I just started watching and I kind of see it now. I've never watched…
Haha yeah most BLs are a lot more open with the romance between the two leads (probably obvious lol) but for all of its subtlety and censorship, The Untamed is far superior to most BLs I’ve seen.
Noooo you did a wonderful job!! There are so many reasons why The Untamed shouldn’t be reduced down to whether it’s BL or not (because that’s just far too simple and does this show a disservice), and I’m so happy to see all of the reasons people are offering!
Can anyone recommend me any good bl dramas? I started getting into them after this Drama. (Please don't recommend…
The History series from Taiwan is really good; I’d recommend starting off with Boundary Crossing and Trapped (stay away from Make Our Days Count if you don’t want a sad ending).
And, as Heart Lyn said, Thailand is pretty much the king of BLs. They’re hit or miss, and can be problematic, but if you check out my watchlist, pretty much all the completed shows from Thailand are BL.
I’d also recommend Guardian, from China. I’d say that one is really similar to the Untamed in how the romance is portrayed—pure and utterly heart melting. The actors did such an amazing job portraying it within the constraints of Chinese censorship.
Thank you! Agree so much!! I think people are too hung up on whether this is BL or not. I watch a lot of BL and would definitely not put The Untamed in that genre (which typically follow very specific tropes and character types). Just because a drama has two male leads who have a relationship (romantic or otherwise) that supersedes mere friendship doesn’t mean it’s BL. I hate that some people reduce this to whether it’s BL or not, because it offers so, so much more than that.
I wouldn’t label this BL. As someone who watches a lot from that genre, I think of those dramas as following a very specific plot line and utilizes very specific tropes. The Untamed is a fantastic, wonderfully written epic that offers so much more than your typical BL. Is there love and endearment between the leads? Yes. But it’s very subtle (it is China after all), and pure and genuine that I think it can be interpreted as a friendship marked by deep devotion and strong allegiance—brothers in arms—but can also be interpreted as romantic love by viewers who wish to see it as such. If you’re not a fan of BL, I wouldn’t worry about that much with this drama. If you like fantasies, the supernatural, period pieces, and political conflict, then I think you’ll enjoy this just fine. :)
Rant incoming:Man when are they gonna stop with the bullshit, unrealistic ways to ship dudes. I mean it's entertaining…
Yeah, agree with your criticisms. I get frustrate by that too. I don't even think of BL as part of the LGBT category--it's so specific, typically follows the same pattern, and almost always has those same tropes/problems you mentioned that I just put it in a category of its own lol
I still don't understand why so many people are hating on this show or complaining about the hype.. are you sure…
I mean...just because people voice criticisms and say it's overhyped doesn't mean they don't like BL (or even this show). Maybe they're disappointed in other aspects of the show, like the writing, character development, plot, etc. Don't mean to be rude--just wanted to point out that people can like BL as a whole while also stating what they feel are shortcomings of the genre and any particular show.
Some might agree and some might disagree. But I'm gonna state the things I've gathered so far.OK so since ppl…
Agree about the sister. Also, it's just weird to me in general that she's shipping her brother with someone in a way that a sister probably shouldn't lol, like going beyond mere support (pretty sure in ep. 2 they alluded to her writing an explicit scene between her brother and SaiFah).
I also think it's problematic that these uni students are doing the same thing to such a public extent. I cringed so hard when the two girls wanted to take a picture of Zon and Saifah and said they were voting for them to be the school's imaginary couple. I mean, I'd be lying if I said I didn't ship people myself, but that's on a more lowkey level haha. The way it's portrayed here and in other BLs, comes across as disrespectful to people's privacy and boundaries and is overall not a good look.
Ohmygosh I’ve only ever seen Jo Seung Woo act in roles where he’s suited up and has a serious demeanor. I almost didn’t recognize him at first in this drama. Makes me love him even more <3
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And, as Heart Lyn said, Thailand is pretty much the king of BLs. They’re hit or miss, and can be problematic, but if you check out my watchlist, pretty much all the completed shows from Thailand are BL.
I’d also recommend Guardian, from China. I’d say that one is really similar to the Untamed in how the romance is portrayed—pure and utterly heart melting. The actors did such an amazing job portraying it within the constraints of Chinese censorship.
Hope that helps and happy viewing! ^^
I also think it's problematic that these uni students are doing the same thing to such a public extent. I cringed so hard when the two girls wanted to take a picture of Zon and Saifah and said they were voting for them to be the school's imaginary couple. I mean, I'd be lying if I said I didn't ship people myself, but that's on a more lowkey level haha. The way it's portrayed here and in other BLs, comes across as disrespectful to people's privacy and boundaries and is overall not a good look.