Zahra Rahmani

A story about morality, politics and love: you will never be able to sell me WangXian as a bromance

The Untamed is, for me, something I love almost despite its flaws. The most obvious limitation is the censorship. It doesn’t just tone things down, it actively changes parts of the story in ways that affect its core themes. One of the most frustrating examples is how Wei Wuxian’s responsibility is altered. In the original, his actions and their consequences are morally complex and uncomfortable. In the drama, shifting the blame onto external manipulation softens that complexity and takes away from the weight of his character and the tragedy of his story.

The relationship between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji is clearly more than friendship. Even though the drama frames them as “bros,” their bond carries an undeniable depth. The restraint almost intensifies it, the looks, the silence, the unwavering loyalty. Still, I can’t help but wish we got more of them. What’s there is powerful, but it also feels like something is constantly being held back.

The drama also succeeds when it comes to to its characters and their emotional journeys. Xiao Zhan as Wei Wuxian is genuinely perfect casting. He captures every side of the character, the playfulness, the arrogance, the warmth, and most importantly, his gradual descent into darkness. His performance makes the emotional arc believable and painful. Wang Yibo, despite playing a character who is written to be restrained and emotionally controlled, manages to convey an incredible amount with very little. His subtle expressions and controlled presence make Lan Wangji’s feelings feel constant and unwavering, even when they aren’t explicitly shown. Both characters stand out because they follow their own sense of justice, even when it isolates them. That moral independence is what makes them compelling and what exposes the weakness of everyone around them. Because ultimately, The Untamed is not just about love, it’s about morality and the failure of those who claim to uphold it.

I love Wangji so much. No matter how well he can hide his feelings, the love he feels for Wei Wuxian seems to be deep enough for him to falter in his stoic nature and even though his emotions are subtle, you can undeniably see how much Wei Wuxian means to him. He comes across as both righteous and quietly affectionate, which makes his love for Wei Wuxian feel undeniable. What I find especially compelling is that Lan Wangji’s morality is never compromised by his love. He doesn’t abandon his principles, but he also doesn’t let those principles prevent him from loving Wei Wuxian. Instead, he holds both at the same time. That balance is exactly what makes him worthy of the title Hanguang-jun, since he embodies a kind of integrity that doesn’t require emotional detachment and his morals are unshakable and his character noble even in face of societal pressure and criticism. At the same time, Wei Wuxian remains just as captivating. A character who is both endearing and deeply tragic, which makes his dynamic with Lan Wangji even more compelling. The do not need to state their love outright, since it exist in gestures, choices, and quiet loyalty. Oh my god I love them so much.

What frustrated me most is how quickly the so-called righteous cultivation world collapsed. Characters like Lan Xichen, Lan Qiren, Jiang Cheng, and Nie Mingjue present themselves as morally upright, yet fail to act with integrity when it matters. Their decisions, especially their role in the siege, reflect not justice, but anger, fear, and a false sense of righteousness. Sheep behavior. The idea that they could justify violence against the weak and vulnerable on the Burial Mounds makes it hard to see them as truly “good.” To me, that moment exposes them as morally weak and opportunistic rather than principled. Jiang Cheng in particular felt harder to sympathize with in the drama. With the addition of Wen Qing, his actions come across as even more ruthless, which shifts how his character is perceived. Still love Jiang Cheng though.

At the same time, the drama makes some additions that I really appreciated. Expanding characters like Yanli, Wen Qing, and Wen Ning add emotional depth and gives more weight to the story’s tragedies. Another standout is Jin Guangyao, both as a character and in casting. There’s something so convincing about him that it becomes believable that Lan Xichen would trust him blindly. That contrast between appearance and reality is executed very well.

In the end, my biggest regret remains the limitation placed on Wangxian. The decision to frame them as friends and separate them, even temporarily, feels like a loss, especially given how central their bond is. Still, added moments like Wei Wuxian calling them soulmates, and Lan Wangji affirming it manage to break through those constraints and preserve what matters. Despite everything, the Untamed succeeds in delivering what makes the story powerful. The characters, the emotional weight, and the exploration of justice, loyalty, and love.

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Worth a watch, but not a rewatch

Despite My Demon being exactly the kind of drama I would usually enjoy, it ultimately didn’t meet my expectations. On paper, it has everything I like in a romance: a fantasy element, an interesting premise, and a visually appealing setup. A demon entangled with a human in a contract-based relationship has all the ingredients for something emotionally intense and engaging. And yet, while the drama works in theory, it struggles in execution. The main issue for me was the lack of emotional connection.

The female lead, Do Do-hee, feels underdeveloped, which makes it difficult to fully engage with her character. While she is presented as strong and independent, her emotional depth isn’t explored enough to make her feel real or relatable. Even though the romance is clearly meant to be the emotional core, I found it hard to become attached to it. The moments that are supposed to feel meaningful or moving don’t fully land, because the characters themselves don’t feel fleshed out enough to support that emotional weight. So the drama looks like a compelling romance, but it doesn’t fully feel like one to me. As much as I was excited for the show, in the end it just did not resonate with me much.

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Male Lead was the highlight

Love in Contract starts off with a genuinely interesting premise. The main couple is easy to like. The female lead, follows a familiar archetype, capable, kind at her core, but shaped by difficult circumstances. While her character isn’t particularly groundbreaking, she’s still engaging enough to carry the story. The male lead stands out more. His introverted, socially awkward personality makes him both consistent and unintentionally funny. The way he approaches situations with complete honesty, without fully understanding social norms, creates some of the drama’s most endearing and comedic moments. His emotional sincerity gives the relationship a sense of stability that contrasts nicely with the more chaotic elements of the female lead and the overall plot.

I also found myself enjoying the second male lead more than expected, he adds charm without completely overshadowing the main relationship. A highlight, though, is the female lead’s gay best friend. His storyline feels surprisingly grounded, especially in how it handles his relationship with his family. The fact that they never fully come to accept him, even until the end, adds a layer of realism that stands out.

However, despite all these strong elements, the drama never quite becomes memorable and it is enjoyable while you’re watching it. It’s sometimes funny, often charming, but I do not see myself revisiting the show again in the future.

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Classic One Piece Goodness

I ended up watching Season 2 in one sitting, which already says a lot about how engaging it is. What stands out most is how much the show follows its source material instead of trying to entirely reinvent it.

The casting is once again one of its biggest strengths. The Straw Hats’ chemistry feels natural and effortless. Usopp’s actor, in particular, adds a level of charm to the character that makes him even more likable than before. His humor feels more grounded, but still true to who he is. Beyond the main crew, the casting for Baroque Works was a major highlight. Characters like Mr. 9 stood out in a way that felt both entertaining and surprisingly memorable, despite their minor role in the original material. One of the smartest changes the adaptation makes is with Sanji. Toning down his more exaggerated, “creepy” traits makes him far more lovable and easier to connect with. It’s a good example of how small adjustments can actually improve a character in live action without losing their essence.

In general, the show makes a few tweaks to the story to fit the live-action format, but nothing that feels disruptive. If anything, these changes show a clear understanding of what needs to be adapted rather than copied directly. What continues to surprise me is how well certain elements of the One Piece world translate into live action. Moments like Laboon or the giants could have easily felt awkward or unrealistic, but instead, they work and even manage to keep the emotional weight they have in the original.

I also really enjoyed the early glimpses of characters who appear much later in the story, like Bartolomeo and Sabo. These small additions make the world feel more connected and reward viewers who are familiar with the larger narrative. If there’s one downside, it’s not really about the season itself, but about the future. Knowing that the live-action version will likely never cover the entire original story makes the experience feel a bit bittersweet.

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