The Untamed (2019)

Where do I even begin. The entire drama has completely made me fall in love with C dramas. I had never been truly invested in a C drama until this one. Although the CG was very ‘questionable ‘ at times, the acting completely made up for it.

The cast was perfect, Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo did the characters justice and both just played their roles perfectly, I could never imagine anyone else playing LWJ or WWX. Although the acting in the beginning was a little stiff, they adapted incredibly well to their roles and made the story come to life.

Due to the ban in China for BL’s, many parts were changed so it would be able to air but don’t be disheartened because the writing really captured all the emotions between the two male leads that were acted out wonderfully.

The music is something else I need to applaud. Basically the entire OST soundtrack was sung by the cast themselves and the music was beautifully timed during the drama.

I would definitely rewatch the drama, I’m currently in the middle of rewatching it and am 28 episodes in again. Rewatching it makes me realise I missed some important parts that I will not spoil so you guys should definitely watch!

Lire davantage

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DRAMA I'VE EVER SEEN. OUTSOLD ALL DRAMAS. PERIODT

this is the most amazing drama I've ever seen in my whole life and tbh i never repeat this much on the same drama. i even repeat certain episodes more than 10 times and i never get enough of it. some people complain how can this be called bl when there's no skinship like others bl drama that has kissing and even s e x. lemme tell u something, bl drama aren't just about that, it's much deeper than that. i even scream my lungs out although what lwj did was just take care of wwx and show how much he love wwx by his action. the way he stand for wwx and fight for him touched my heart even more andthe way he crying when he knows about what happened to wwx golden core and when he searched wwx for that long when wwx disappeared and all of other moments makes me crying inside out because it was too beautiful. not to mention the music. especially wuji. taste luv, taste. it makes this drama even more gorgeous 😭😭💕 idk if u can understand what I'm trying to say since I've poor eng. skills but thanks for reading. and don't forget to watch THE UNTAMED. YOU'LLL NEVER REGRET IT I FUCKING SWEAR.

Lire davantage

Hands down one of the best dramas I've ever watch. I never had any interest in Chinese dramas (even though I'm Chinese lmao), and I certainly didn't watch anything that was not obviously gay. I mostly went for gay Korean dramas, but this time I made an exception because I knew this drama was an adaptation of a really gay Chinese novel.

Even though it's not "straight-in-your-face" homosexual, you can see the obvious love Lan Wangji has for Wei Wuxian (which is why there's a "romantic subtext" tag on this drama). What kind of bromie would play Inquiry for 13 years straight in hopes of contacting his bromie's spirit AND branding himself with the same WEN CLAN logo as his bromie on his chest WHILE drinking his bromie's favourite wine??? If that ain't gay, I don't know what is.

Anyways, I have to admit, even though this drama pretty much censored every distinctly gay moment in the novel, manhua, and donghua, I still like this drama much more than all of those. The drama elaborates on the story more than the mentioned versions, and it's much more interesting to watch. Really looking forward to Wei Wuxian finally finding out that Lan Sizhui was his son ????????

Lire davantage

A long rant, but it gets better by the end!

First and foremost, the adaptation kinda ruins the 'grandmaster of demonic cultivation' aspect of the novel. Why? SPOILER: because Wen 'mofo' Ruohan and by extension Xue Yang know how to do demonic cultivation, and are quite adept at it. That kinda defeats the whole point of the 'I've written a manuscript on demonic cultivation' facet to Wei Wuxian's character, which is the reason he is so notorious as the Yiling Patriarch. No one before him has ever dabbled in demonic cultivation to his extent. So, there goes that defining feature of the MC. (And don't get me started on the whole arc on the yin metal. I'm still sore with that. Although, to be freaking fair to the script writers, they've managed to squeeze in 'original' WangXian content. Wow, bless!)

Second, what is with the weird mechanics of the transmigration? I mean, I get it. It's going to cost the brain cells of the viewers to associate a single MC to two different cast actors, but!!! The execution of how Wei Wuxian hides his identity is sloppy. A mask... really? Worse, it's a half-mask. I suppose this is a popular trope in Chinese dramas where oops, if I wear a mask, people who have literally been with me from adolescence will not recognize me? Ok, no. SPOILER: Even Xue Yang has had a better disguise as Xiao Xingchen in Yi City. Come on.

Third and last, the drama is on the low-budget spectrum and it shows... Never mind the props. I think the swords, and just most of the trinkets and what-not that the characters carry are great. But, the sets? They are a hit or miss for me - especially the Nightless City. The set design for that is a downer, SPOILER: considering that a chunk of Wei Wuxian's downfall happens there... and the number of extras they had for the Slaughter in Nightless City and Siege of Burial Mounds is too few. This could've been remedied with post-prod editing, but I guess this isn't a priority. It would've made the battles more intense, in my opinion.

GRANTED, the first two criticisms won't matter so much to people who'll watch this without knowing the source material, but still these plot holes are silly! On the flip side, the additional arcs and scenes contribute to fleshing out the side characters better than in the novel. For example, Wen Ning and Wen Qing, Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan. They're introduced much earlier in the drama than in the novel so their exposure is more substantial.

Okay, so on to the things that made me go, OH YES THIS IS ART! A MASTERPIECE. The chemistry of the lead actors is outstanding. Given, CQL is just 'bromance' - boohoo for us novel readers - but the spark between WWX and LWJ is there. I think that both Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo have done their characters justice, and whatever popularity they are getting post-show, they truly deserve it. You can see it in their eye contact, their gaze -- I don't know how much direction they've had to take to achieve the synergy, but they both blew me away, more so Yibo because it's difficult to act out a character that's meant to have the emotional range of a statue.

The supporting cast aren't bad either. Most of them give off the unique vibe of the characters they are portraying. Hello, Zhu Zan Jin, I'm looking at you and your slightly-dimpled smile, and your take on SPOILER: charismatic yet scheming Jin Guangyao. I love and hate you. Also, Liu Hai Kuan, I feel your constant exasperation as Lan Xichen. I can relate as an older sibling (sigh). However, some of the styling choices do make me waggle my eyebrows and click my tongue. What, just what have they done to gorgeous Wen Ruohan and Nie Mingjue? Not to mention Uncle Jiang? According to the novel, they're ALL supposed to be beauties... Oh, well. Also, the make-up for the corpses is terrible as well. Squiggly, black lines. That's it.

THE MUSIC I GIVE FULL MARKS BECAUSE WHO CAN DENY THE PERFECTION OF THE OST? Like, we mere mortals do not have the right to pass judgment onto it. I don't know a lick of Chinese but I've listened to the entire OST on YouTube far too many times and I still get a little teary-eyed. Impossible.

Finally, and this is more of a comment in general -- be it for casual viewers or readers of the novel: the pacing of the drama can be a little off-putting at times. There are a lot of unnecessary panning shots so some scenes do get dragged out. BUT rest assured, these reviews do not lie. Fans tend to shower praises on something that they love, and certainly this series isn't immune to that, but The Untamed lives up to its hype. The latter half of the series is especially precious and action-packed, in contrast to the heart-wrenching flashbacks, so dropping it early is such as shame. Just give it a chance!

Lire davantage

I have tried so hard to move on from this drama, but since it was SO good I couldn’t and decided to just write a review for it, really hope this helps!
Wow...first off I have to say that I have never come across a show that has made me feel so much as The Untamed did. The cast is so incredible that I couldn’t help but fall in love with all the characters, even those who were meant to be the villains. In terms of storyline, I tend to love dramas that make me think or who have characters that each have their own back-story (which was partly why The Untamed appealed to me so much). I have to warn you in advance though, the drama is so good that you probably won’t be able to stop binging it until you are done with all 50 eps (and have re-watched about 3 times). The main characters, Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan are both so different and amazing in their own ways and the way both of the actors portrayed them is incredible.
The chemistry/bromance between both of the characters and actors is unforgettable and everything about the drama was just breathtaking. Although Wei Ying and Lan Zhan don’t actually voice their love for one another, it’s rather obvious with all of the intense staring (Lan Wangji) and teasing (Wei Ying) that goes down lol. When I first started this drama I had never watched Wuxia before so it was a little hard for me to understand. Don’t worry though, the story really isn’t that hard to grasp after the first couple of episodes. After watching this drama, I know that can never move on from Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, and just The Untamed itself. I really hope the actors can do another show together soon! I really hope you found this review a helpful and are now encouraged to give The Untamed a try. I promise you will not be disappointed!

Lire davantage

I am absolutely besotted with this drama!From the aesthetically pleasing scenes, to the outfits, to the action and the amazing chemistry between the 2 main actors, this drama has it all. Its just not Yibo and Zhan working well together, the rest of the cast just complete them. I have laughed,cried buckets,awed, got angry, anxious all in one as the drama is progressing. Seriously, one of the best dramas Ive ever watched, I would definitely recommend! Ive only watched up until epi 41 as thats as far as subs go at present - its so addictive, sometimes I get impatient lol! I will definitely be rewatching this at the end.
The OST is another one to recommend, seriously its do beautiful and almost haunting, it gives me goose bumps. Each character song resonates so much with the character and pulls at all your emotions. Even the opening theme, I dont think Ive sat through an opening theme in every single episode Ive watched, so beautiful <3

Lire davantage

Cuidado ao assistir: risco de se apaixonar

Vou tentar ser breve, mesmo querendo escrever um livro com elogios ao Yibo e Xiao Zhan

Eu já conhecia a história por ter lido o manhua, mas fiquei surpreso em ver que colocaram a história do ferro estígio. Essa inserção não foi ruim, já que foi matéria-prima pro amuleto do Wei Wuxian. A cena da caverna mesmo foi o fanservice que quem acompanhou as outras adaptações precisavam (pode parecer brega, mas amo quando toca wuji e mostra os dois em vários momentos). Mas acabaram pegando a culpa da morte do zixuan (e todas que vieram a seguir) e colocaram no meng yao. Essa é uma história em que todos cometem erros e sofrem com as consequências, sendo boas ou más, porém apagaram essa visão ao transformar o wwx em um mocinho (quase) sem erros e transformando o my no maior vilão.
A mudança de enredo e inserção de cenas permitiu um maior protagonismo das figuras femininas, principalmente da yanli e wen qing
Só vou comentar até aqui sobre o enredo pra isso não ficar gigante

Todas as atuações foram incríveis, mas o destaque vai para o Xiao Zhan, Wang Yibo, Zhu Zanjin e Ji Li.
Xiao Zhan incorporou o wwx de uma forma que acho que ninguém conseguiria. A clara transformação de jovem despreocupado a cultivador demoníaco foi incrível e seu riso/choro de loucura foi uma das melhores cenas que vi na minha vida.
Wang Yibo não ficou pra trás, mostrando que um personagem de poucas palavras e "inexpressivo" consegue passar muito mais sentimentos que muitas pessoas animadas. Seus olhares, pequenas mudanças de expressão e sorrisos pequenos gritavam o que o lwj sentia ou queria dizer. Muito obrigado por ter insistido em fazer esse papel, Yibo <3
Zhu Zanjin e Ji Li foram perfeitos também, mostrando faces inocentes e um tanto bobas em vários momentos do decorrer da trama, mas oferecendo tudo de si quando o personagem mostrava sua verdadeira face. O meng yao sorrindo cínico é uma das minhas coisas preferidas

Ok, isso já está enorme. Vou só fazer breves comentários sobre o resto.

O único defeito das músicas é que elas acabam. Todas (tanto as instrumentais quanto as cantadas) entraram na minha playlist de músicas mais ouvidas do spotify.

Se voltaria a ver? Sim, tanto que já revi algumas vezes ao longo do ano passado. Apesar dos efeitos especiais não terem saído de Hollywood, ainda amo essa história e só vou ficar feliz depois que decorar todas as falas.

Lire davantage

I originally picked up this drama only because it was #1 rated drama on MDL.

One month later, i have rewatched the untamed 3 times, read the original novel, finished the audio drama, read the manhua and finished the donghua till their latest episodes.

This drama is legit the best I have ever seen in my 20+ years of watching all sorts of dramas.

PROS:
-The storyline is beautifully written, it is a mixture of suspense, love, loyalty, mystery, kinship, fantasy. Character development is top-notch, not just for the main characters but the side characters as well.
-OST is addictive and beautifully crafted
-Acting is top-notch especially from xiaozhan and yibo! I'm especially impressed as these actors are mostly so young.
-Lotsa eye candy *-*
-Rewatch value is 10/10, because there are so many tiny secretive details hidden that it is impossible for you to catch them unless u rewatch it! Seriously i would recommend even those of you who have finished watching the untamed to try all the other adaptations as well because due to censorship some parts of the story (not just the boy love aspect) were changed and you can appreciate this beautiful work so much more if you delve into the other adaptations. Especially the audio drama (which sticks alot closer to the original novel) and manhwa which I personally enjoy even more than the untamed.

Cons:
- The multiple names of the characters may be a little confusing in the first 10 episodes or so. But please DO NOT drop this drama even if you are confused. All will make sense later on and you can rewatch the series :3
- Netflix's english translation can be a little inaccurate at times. (I'm fortunate to know Chinese)
-The biggest con: once you watch this you are very likely trapped by it (like me :D). Seriously I'm struggling to get into another c-drama, k-drama, j-drama, english dramas to no avail. Any recommendations will be welcomed :3

In short: Just watch it, i guarantee you will have no regrets.

Lire davantage

Thanks for the Director to pick up such an amazing story and put up a great adaptation.

The love story between Lanzhan and WeiYing is one of its kind. They are just a perfect fit for each other. Although China censorship does not allow any BL content, the Director really manages to take great risks to keep up the true essence of the story with incredible directing and actings. Without any confession, LanZhan unconditional love can be felt. He loves WeiYing with all his hearts and he shows it with clear actions. It will be nice if this drama can be remade sometime in the future when china censorship has lessened their censor for certain things. But I'm still quite satisfied with this.

Nevertheless, the BL content is not the best part of this drama (I do enjoy good BL, but this drama offers more than that). What I love the most is the fact that there are many interesting characters and each of them is really complex. Both the villain and protagonist have their own faults, bad and good. You will feel ache and sympathize with each of them.

Lire davantage

This is one of the best dramas I have ever watched, and it definitely deserves its high rating. I admit, the first few episodes of the drama (up to around episode 10) were pretty cringy to watch, mostly because of the weird CGI. However, please do NOT let this turn you off from watching the rest of the drama. It gets SO much better as it continues on. I genuinely started becoming invested in the story after episode 10, and every single episode after 24 I would consider a masterpiece. It is definitely worth it to bear through the first few episodes to watch the remaining episodes. What I loved most was that there were so many questions I had throughout the drama, but literally every single one of them got answered by the last episode.

Character-wise? 10/10. There is not a single character I hate in this story or that is one-dimensional (except maybe the first main villain, the Wen Clan leader) because their backgrounds are flourished out so well that you start to sympathize with some of them and understand their motives for acting a certain way. It will make you learn to think before judging or hating on certain characters. Wei Wu Xian is one of the best characters; he is very charismatic and may act childish at times, but is willing to become the scapegoat and sacrifice himself for others if need be. He has so many expressions and I give major props to Sean for being able to act him out so well for an inexperienced actor. I must also commend Wang Yi Bo, who did a perfect job as Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan is a man of few words and looks boring and stoic all the time, but it is amazing how Wang Yi Bo is able to display so many different emotions with just his eyes. All of the characters in this drama were cast perfectly. There weren't a lot of female characters in this drama, but the ones that did exist were all very charming and strong, which is a pleasant surprise, because in almost all dramas I experienced watching, at least one of the female characters were portrayed as ditzy and clumsy.

I also especially loved the relationship among the characters. There is so much growth and development among many of them, obviously including the one between Wei Wu Xian and Lan Zhan. This may be considered a BL drama but instead of explicitly depicting the growing relationship between them, their expressions and subtle actions when around each other are telling enough of how dear they hold one another.

The music in this drama is also amazing. Usually I don't pay attention to the music in a drama because they're not very catchy or distinct, but many times the music played at certain scenes has caused me to break down and cry.

Usually I am someone who is emotionless when watching dramas and I can only list a few shows I have watched in my lifetime that has managed to make me cry. However, this drama will definitely capture your heart and make you feel many different types of emotions, especially with the help of the music. It will make you smile, laugh, cry, angry, and spew out curse words. It teaches you many things, ranging from stuff about trust, loyalty, love, to sacrifice, betrayal, and familial piety. I would highly recommend this drama to anyone and there is no doubt that I would watch the drama again some time in the future.

Lire davantage