The Untamed

(my review from viki)

I recommend you read the book (translated in English by Exiled Rebels, any other is stolen) or at least looking into character profiles, or something that will give you context before watching the show. Of course, you can still watch the show beginning as a blank slate, but there are some things the show just doesn't give context to that will be easy to understand if you read the book first. Having said that, let's get into the review!

The Untamed is a live action adaption of the BL novel Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. So far, the director has done a wonderful job staying to the original content. Despite changing a few details here and there, they haven't at all strayed from the main plot line. The actors are very impressive, they portray their characters perfectly, which only adds to the emotional baggage as you get closer to the ending of the past arc before switching back to the present. This show begins with 2 episodes in the present arc, and sure, you'll be confused, but then we switch to the past arc and everything is explained, up until episode 33 and whoosh we're back to the present arc!

The CGI is the best I've ever seen in any of China's shows so far, and there's great chemistry between our two protagonists. Due to censorship, the show won't be as explicit as the novel or audio drama, but let me tell you THE PINING IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE! They don't let the audience down. It's a wonderful show, filled with fantasy, mystery, horror, and even a dash of romance including the obviously there pining! This is a drama you won't regret!

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First I have to say that I don't normally write review that much but for this drama, I need to write one for the shake of Lan Zhan and Wei Ying.
At first, I didn't have any interest in the drama but I watch it anyway because many people recommended it and i heard great review on it.( This drama is also what bring me into the bl drama world, which I will never forget). Ok, so let get start on this:
Story:
The story is very interesting and well developed. As you continue to watch, the more interesting it became and there's point when the story could give you a whole rollercoaster ride. The story is not confusing at all, it's very clear throughout the story but there's points when they left stuff unsolved then explain it later which I think it's brilliant because the viewers can also have time to think and can also solve the problems along with the characters in the drama.
Acting/ Cast:
The cast are amazing and their acting skill is a total 100 for me. I have never see any acting skill as good the acting skills in this drama. The emotions, the vibes and the tension are just everything. The casts are doing an amazing jobs on portraying the characters they playing. You can see every micro-movement on their faces when they act as if they are doing it for real. I can't say praise them enough for their acting
Music:
The music are AMAZING!! after I finish this drama, I kept on listening to the OST nonstop. the music is calming, refreshing and emotional. i cried many times when listening to the OST because the OST really summarize the story as a whole. When you listen to the OST, it just feel like all that memories, bad and good, keep flowing back one by one into you heart. You could feel you heart getting heavier and fuller of the memories that it contain to the point that you want to cry because those memories are too beautiful.
Rewatch Value:
YESSS!!! this is a drama that you need to rewatch once a while after you finish because let me tell you, once you finish it, the story left such a big impact on you that it haunt you for months even years. I still can't forget it and once in a while I would go back and rewatch a certain episode just to make myself feel satisfy.
Overall:
This is such a beautiful drama. It's perfect in every way, You can't find a sight of an error in the drama. Everyone had put so much work, effort and time to make this drama possible and I think that they did an amazing job doing so. I never thought I'll be saying this but this drama really change my life in every way. I'm grateful that I get to watch it and
share it with others

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This was my first Chinese costume drama. I decided to watch this after reading some reviews. Initial 2-3 episodes were damn confusing. Being my first costume drama I had no idea regarding the whole cultivation thing swords and magical musical instruments. But once I got into the story it became very interesting . I sort of binge watched the entire thing and then started reading the novel . I went back again to the drama . I caught into post drama addiction with this. Even though I watched many dramas after this , I couldn’t hold on and left them unfinished.
The best thing about the drama is the casting . All of them were suited for the role . I must say the drama stayed true to the novel also in the best way possible.


Definitely worth your time

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Good luck thinking about anything else ever again.

I read this review on a website by an account holder named "Marisa" and I cannot stress how much I agree with it. So I'll be just putting it here for you too:
"Trying to explain the untamed is impossible. episode one is borderline unwatchable. it's unbelievably bad.By episode five you're ready to lay down your life for wei wuxian. the cgi is worse than something from the '90s. it's both an emotional romantic drama about war and morality... and an episode of buzzfeed unsolved but with a gaggle of adopted teens. it's childhood trauma. it's love. it's manipulation tactics. it's a spectacular collection of thirty-inch lace fronts. it's a masterwork in character writing. good luck thinking about anything else ever again."

It is what it is.

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This was the best drama that I ever watched

First of all, I was a skeptic when I saw 50 ep, but after finished it, it was just not enough. If you are wondering, should you start 50 ep drama or special edition version of 20 ep, my answer is...please watch full 50 ep. The story is a fantastic best show ever, and I watched many Kdramas and Thai dramas. Also, in the full version, you will fall in love with all characters, not only the main leads. OST is magical! I finished it last night, and now I'm watching a shorter version, which is nice, but it is not that in full glory. Also, I am a huge BL fan, and I didn't want to watch it because of censorship; however, this show showed me that you could express much more with eyes and actions than kisses and touches. Rewatch value: 100% Now I am planning to watch donghua (Chinese anime) and read the novel because of the spicy parts hehe

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There is so much to say! I've never heard about this story before, so I had no expectations on its plot, charcters or anything. When I watched the 1st episode, I was pretty confused but extremelly excited to see what was going to happen next. When you get so much information about a fictional universe, it gets a bit difficult to understand, but the producers made a great job getting to explain the whole plot along the 50 episodes. Then comes the casting. EVERY character is important, it doesn't matter if it is a supporting role or not, and you get to memorize all of them because their unique acting. They are involved in so many plot twists that you never know who you gonna love or hate next, but they will, for sure, leave an amazing impression on you. Now, the second thing that got me in love: the sound track. Based in a novel that uses music as a important tool, it was BEAUTIFUL how the whole sound track for this drama was made up. Every music or humming makes you fall in love even deeper with the story, making it much more special and "felt". And then, the thing that most got impressed: the main duo acting. I never paid so much attention to a flinch of eyebrows, or a minimal smirk, or a shy tear that would just wet the eyes but never fall down. I'm serious, Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan exchanged TONS OF FEELINGS without a single word many times. It was heartbreaking to see them suffering and amazing to see them happy around the scenes. They gave life to the characters with so much passion that it gets impossible to say who did the best! In general, this whole drama is a masterpiece. I'm very thankfull to all people in charge of it, you changed my life hahahaha

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The drama is exciting. It really shed my tears every single episode. I’ve been liking and loving this drama for months already. Though I already watched this a couple times but still I can’t move on. Everything was planned very well and well-performed drama. This was my first ever Chinese drama that I’ve watched. At first I am hesitant because it’s Chinese and they’re beliefs and traditions are quite weird for me. I really hate Chinese drama and stuffs but after viewing some episodes, I started liking and loving it. I was literally wrong on myself putting this assumptions of mine because “it’s Chinese”. While I’m watching (ongoing) this drama, it starting to caught every detail and attraction pf the story. I started listening to their songs, started learning mandarin, accepting their rich culture and traditions, those what symbolizes things, liking every Chinese typical period dramas. I’ve become more open minded on Chinese. I regretted this much for having a kind of racism attitude towards Chinese stuffs. I’m quite disappointed because I only saw this drama just this 2020 while on quarantine. I saw this as a sponsored ad in one popular social media platform. I ignored it several times on showing on my feed but after 5 or more than pop outs, I ended up deciding to watch it. And now, I do love Chinese artists, culture, traditions, beliefs, dramas especially coming from period ones.

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Phenomenal.

As long as the sea is bound to wash up on the sand, and the stars are above you, we will meet again" - Wei Wuxian.

This drama truly rendered me speechless. The cast and acting for this drama was beyond amazing, and I'm here contemplating how it's possible for this drama to have executed every character perfectly. As someone who prefers a novel over any live-action adaptation - I still have yet to read the novel- but the way the story was written is extraordinary. This is the first drama which has made me cry, laugh, empathize and has made me so eagerly anticipate for the next episode! Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan's interactions were so heartfelt and touching, and they made me squeal every single time. Those subtle hints, soul-piercing eye contact, head nods; it's all love.
And I have to add. This is the first drama which has made me empathize with every character, including the antagonists. May I please present an Oscar to every single one of the actors. Thank you. And the author of course for writing such a beautiful story.
And the soundtrack. Holy. It gave me shivers.
I have so much more to say about 'Untamed', but why am I out of words now.
This is supposed to be a review, but I'm gushing over how good this drama was.
All I can say is that I'm not getting over 'The Untamed' anytime soon.
Time for a rewatch...and to read the novel :)

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This show is ridiculous.

Me in my first 6 episodes: this show is weird. The dubbing is awkward, people are throwing tantrums for the weirdest reasons, i don't understand who is who and what is what.
Me 40 episodes later: crying my heart out when Wen Ning revealed the truth to Jiang Cheng about his golden core. Seeing Lan Zhan cry too broke my soul.
Me after the finale: This show is now an essence in my life. How did I even live without it all my 30 years.

The costumes and props are amazing. I find myself obsessing over what Lanzhan wears everytime he changes attire. Wei Ying's red ribbon is no joke, looks super good on him and his black outfit. The setting and scenery is bewitching and the camera angles are captivating.

The acting was awkward in the first few episodes but I found myself obsessing over Lanzhan's every change of facial expression. Everytime he curve into a slight smile or when he looks into Wei Ying's eyes, my heart goes boom! I read some chapters of the novel and instantly understood that Yibo did a really good job in portraying LanZhan.

The drama took a slightly different turn compared to the novel. I understood that the writers are careful enough to not show a lot of intimacy but show enough just to hint people about the hidden feelings LanZhan had for WeiYing. I knew about this show for a long time now but hesitated to watch it because I didn't want to be upset about the censorship. But seriously , the intensity of the interaction between the two leads will still leave you satisfied. If you need more, you can read the novel as the two leads have a happy ending as a couple there.

The music, gosh the music. Even the demonic tunes were bewitching. Need i say more?

Every character is amazing. If you are going to watch this, go in with an open mind . For non asians, it can be a bit confusing to understand the culture, terms they use and traditional beliefs that only traditional chinese people would understand despite this being in the fantasy genre. But throughout the episodes , you will find everything to be properly explained and all loose ends will be tied at the end.

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