The Untamed (2019)

many breakthroughs in chinese drama

Im a fan of Chinese drama. I had watched many dramas since last year with the total accumulating up to 20 dramas at least. Much of the storyline reviews boy girl love relationship and struggle for power within hierarchy to name a few. So basically plot would always the same no matter how they twist the story into a different way. The untamed had been the most unique every created and it still fascinates me until now after 1 year. The story does not belongs to any of the usual plot I seen before. First I need to give 3 salutes to this drama.

1) 95% of the cast consist of MALE. Surprising there are so few female casts in this drama and I would expect this drama would not be marketed towards female viewer. Well I was wrong in gender viewing statistic female and male viewers are equally balance. The center attraction well focus towards a very strong 2 male lead actors like xiao zhan and wang yibo. Both of them strong enough to magnet female viewer in watching them play.

2) NO KISSING AND LOVE SCENE but still xiao zhan plays a bit of gay-ish attitude towards wang yibo. I did not find it comfortable at first but later I got used to it. If xiao zhan one day change into a female attire and wear a wig., Im pretty sure I be easily fooled by him.

3) This is the biggest surprise for me. In a story full of brute force and very much masculine storyline I never expect the original author for this drama is actually a FEMALE!!... I did not mean to be gender bias but I had to praise her for her story work. To immense a female brain into male centric drama thought is a totally impossible feat let alone to make it so perfect without flaw , This author really deserve my praise. I really did not find any feminine trend inside every scene , Quite impressive indeed.

Lire davantage

Mi CDRAMA preferido por toda la eternidad!!!!!

Maravillosa e inolvidable historia en la que se mezclan muchos géneros: podemos encontrar aventura, intriga, luchas voladoras y de espadas, magia, conflictos familiares, compañerismo, el mejor bromance chino que se haya hecho nunca y amor. Sobretodo AMOR con mayúsculas. La he visto unas 6 o 7 veces y cada cierto tiempo vuelvo a mirarme unos cuantos capítulos. La pareja de actores protagonista es absolutamente fantástica, y su química te deja sin respiración. Con las restricciones a los BL la censura china ha provocado, quizá sin quererlo, una de las historias de amor más impresionantes que he visto. Porque lo que expresan Wei Wuxian y Lan Wanji con los ojos, con sus silencios y con sus acciones de devoción desinteresada vale más que mil palabras, tiene más valor que muchas escenas subidas de tono de muchos romances. Es la devoción por el otro, el deseo de proteger y salvar a tu alma gemela, de serle fiel aún cuando no hay esperanza, el pedir perdón y dar las gracias. Aunque esto pueda parecer demasiado perfecto no es así, es muy humano y realista. Wei Jin y Lan Xan también dudan y se equivocan pero lo que sienten el uno por el otro les hará superar las dificultades paso a paso. La OST bellísima, tanto las versiones instrumentales como las versiones cantadas por los jóvenes actores son perfectas para el drama, expresan con gran emoción todo lo que la historia está contando. Los personajes secundarios muy bien. Mi corazón se conmueve en especial por los hermanos de Wei Wuxian. Las pocas actrices perfectas. Su belleza, su voz, sus gestos me han encantado. La ambientación muy bonita, vestuario y escenografía perfectos. Los efectos especiales sobretodo de los monstruos y seres fantásticos quizá no son de lo más logrado pero a quién le interesa ese detalle? Porque amigos, cuando Wei Wuxian sonrie ya no importa nada más, y cuando sus ojos se encuentran con Lan Zan el mundo se borra a su alrededor y el espectador tiene la sensación de estar presenciando algo muy íntimo, jajajaj
Le doy un 10 y recomiendo mirar el anime, y leer el manga donde algunos aspectos de la historia se explican mucho mejor y hay escenas muy bonitas y románticas entre los protagonistas que tuvieron que descartarse en el drama. Estoy leyendo también la novela que está traducida al inglés en la web exiledrebels (los bodrios en watpad no valen la pena) y es básica para profundizar más en la historia y entenderla mejor. Allí si que podremos encontrar besos y confesiones y en los extras algunos capítulos verdaderamente hot. Abstenerse los que no se sientan cómodos con el romance homosexual. Los de la web están hartos de que gente con mucho odio y pocas luces entren en su página y dejen comentarios quejándose de cómo han cambiado el drama y cómo han agregado escenas no aptas para sus mentes retrógadas (??!!!). Señores, es precisamente lo contrario, la novela original ES un BL que contiene al final escenas explícitas de amor entre dos hombres, y es la censura china la que obligó a convertirla en un Bromance, por suerte para todos, los creadores de la serie, todo el equipo, han creado esta maravilla que es un MUST-SEE!!!!!
Eres fan de los BL ? Mírala, vas a experimentar algo diferente, de otro nivel. Eres fan de los bromance chinos y de Word of honor y crees que te va a saber a poco? No dudes, déjalo todo y mírala. Eres un romántico empedernido? No pierdas más el tiempo, no te amedrentes por los 50 capítulos y corre y mírala.

Lire davantage

Too long, too slow and too much information

Everyone was raving about the show so I gave it a chance.

I have to start saying I don't usually engage on watching shows that are this long and about ancient China, they kinda bore me. I think that 50 episodes is too much; I watched 10 and I was already bored, the story was moving too slowly for my taste and the relationship between the main characters was in one hand beautiful and poetic but in another hand to cold and lacking touch (probably because it is a chinese drama).
The characters have these powers and they kinda give me anxiety, like when they are fighting a villan I am almost shouting to the computer "Why don't you use the other power you have, will be more effective" and so on. And my final complain is that the show gives to much information: I was watching this with so much attention but at the same time there were so many clans and information being thrown.

Lire davantage

Headpiece Wang YiBo

I couldn't stray my sight from Wang YiBo headpiece, it's ridiculous period. On the other hand, Xiao Zhan was a beautiful and happy cheerful man. I love this guy...he's a great talented actor....a charmer...kind and I can name every good things about him and just focusing on him instead. I am not into 'chasing super natural' story line or 'school (class set up)'...Wang Yi Bo character wasn't that outstanding so far - he spoke little to nothing while Xiao Zhan did a lot of running (metaphorically) so I was kind of disappointed with Yi Bo. I am not into this line of story but I heard good things about the drama and yet still don't understand why this drama so famous and Yi Bo was getting much credits which in my opinion he's not as good as Xiao Zhan. I haven't have the power to rewatch it...not as memorable as I thought it would be so I let it off on ep 18 but will try it again for Xiao Zhan...lol.

I couldn't finish the drama with reason like 1) too late watching it (2022) 2) don't like Wang YiBo who barely talked and especially the head piece 3) not my favorite of genre (super natural) and school set up 4) couldn't bring myself finish it as many other newer more interesting dramas out. So, I dropped it. Might not a popular opinion but...Xiao Zhan is indeed the best.

Lire davantage

Those idiots that gave this drama rating 10 read this

This is the worst drama I've watched, the storyline is totally ridiculous illogical flow. Is the screenwriter sleeping in his job? The flaws in the storyline are seen on every episodes with inconsistent character and storytelling development.
When you're involved in death situations, would you be indecisive? The world is at turmoil, but these clans are indecisive even though they're being attack. They're wiped out by enemy they knew coming, but the screenwriter choose to keep a blind eye on the story development, which led the illogical reasoning on the clans demise. Is it logic? Those idiots that gave this drama rating 10, did you even watch this? Or perhaps you're supporting this drama because of your favorite actors and actresses.
My main complaints on this drama are the director and screenwriter didn't do their job well. How could you not seeing the illogical flow of storyline on the screen? It would have been a good drama if the director and screenwriter developed the story with attention and passion.

Lire davantage

I assume that the novel is better than the series. Series misses at least one important element (the love affair WWX and LZ). I found the plot tedious, repetitive and illogical. CGI is very bad. Dropped it after 20 episodes.

I liked the acting of of WWX and some other characters.

It was incomprehensible to me how a brilliant free spirit like WWX suddenly joined the immature brother's, in my opinion, simplistic and illogical narrative that he was ultimately responsible for pretty much everything that went wrong. When a story/character becomes too unbelievable that you can no longer identify with it, it becomes boring.

Lire davantage

A Flute, A Zombie, An Apple, and An Ass

I don't want to stir the pot on this drama, since it's considered by many to be the best drama ever made. However, I do want to talk about a few things that I liked, and a few things that bothered me.

Firstly, I only needed to watch the first two episodes to know exactly what this drama was going to be about, that's why I had to drop it. The very first scene has the most outrageously bad CGI, and I could have told you the entire plot of the drama from the first scene alone, which is something that really bothers me, but I'll go further into that shortly.

So, now that the characters have revealed their roles in the story, and we know the main protagonist was wronged and this whole scene was him seeking revenge through the crappiest CGI ever, then the story begins from the end, and suddenly, we are shown some of the best and most artistic "big-budget" cinematography I've seen in a Chinese drama. The unevenness of these two factors kind of threw me off.

In the span of the first two episodes, we learn exactly what happened to the main character 16 years ago. Firstly, the main character is presented to us as an eccentric genius with sociopathic tendencies. Right away, we can tell that he has been wrongly accused of harming a female character that he knew 16 years ago. The other characters literally feed us every bit of information we might need in order to piece together what has already transpired. My issue is, why the heck do I want to invest my time in watching so many episodes to get the details of what happened, and how he was obviously framed for a crime he didn't commit 16 years earlier? I don't care how things really happened, since I already know how they will end.

I had the same issue with Ancient Detective, as right in the middle of the drama, they go back in time to reveal how it all began. I don't really care how things began if I already know so much about the end result. Maybe that's my own personal failing. I don't mind a subtle hint (not like the very first scene) at the very beginning, but not a full expose within the first two episodes, followed by an entire series of episodes on how everything started. I also dislike prequels for this same reason.

Anyway, this is my issue with watching this drama. The main character is interesting and all, but I don't find watching a cackling, effeminate man who has clearly lost his mind a huge draw, personally.

I think that a lot of the hype behind this drama has to do with the gay and effeminate aspect of it. BL is kind of gay exploitation, and I'm not really into making homosexuality into an entertainment gimmick.

5.5 zombie flutes out of 10.

Lire davantage

Bizarro

Eu realmente não faço ideia do porquê esse drama estar no top 1. É tudo tão horrível que dá agonia de ver, me senti assistindo algo da década de 90. É um drama de fantasia em que os efeitos, que deveriam ser uma parte super importante, são completamente amadores, me lembrei dos primeiros Power Rangers. A maquiagem é horrível, qualquer peruca que você compra pelo e-bay fica melhor do que a utilizada. A direção também é péssima. Com tantas falhas, como a atuação salvaria? Me pareceu um drama fadado ao fracasso desde a abertura, eu só peguei pra ver porque estava no top 1 do MyDramaList, e tive que assistir 2 episódios pra ter certeza. Olha, não vou criticar quem achou bom por gostos pessoais, mas dar 9 é sacanagem, eu precisava escrever um review.

Lire davantage