The Untamed (2019)

As good as it probably could have been, given censorship

Foreword:
I should preface this by saying that before I first watched this show — long ago, actually, and have only just now gotten around to writing a review — I didn't know any of the main actors. To most, that may not be much of a problem but the amount of people I see nowadays calling this show popular only because of the two main leads makes me feel like it's a necessary disclaimer. I knew of Wang Yibo due to his time in UNIQ and only vaguely recognized Xiao Zhan from other dramas. Therefore, I went into this knowing almost nothing about their careers or abilities.

I think it is also pertinent to add that this is my first review on this site so I don't exactly know the etiquette around writing these. But I'll make my case as best as I can.


Story - 8/10:
For me, the plotline of The Untamed and the overarching Mo Dao Zu Shi franchise is very very strong. On the surface, it is about Wei Wuxian and his struggle with the evil: both inside him and around him. It knits politics and morality together in a painstaking and heart wrenching little blanket that you just wanna curl up and cry on. And don't get me started on the tragedies that happen. one after another after another. I don't cry very easily. I cried like a baby during this show. Let me just say this: don't get attached to anyone. For your own sake.

The pacing is slow but it's a necessary evil. There's a lot going on and a lot of years to cover. There are a lot of mysteries to solve and a whole ensemble cast of people with storylines that need to be resolved. I think the show's weakest point is the fact that the timeskip seems wholly unnecessary. If it were shot chronologically, it would be less confusing and literally nothing would change.

(Spoilers in this paragraph, skip if necessary) I also think the decision to reveal Wei Wuxian's swapped golden core weakened the story a little. I didn't realize it until watching the donghua but that final reveal could have been so gutwrenching. Instead, it fell short since the audience already knew.

And finally, I'll talk about the "bromance". I'm sure we all know what The Untamed was supposed to be. Of course, censorship couldn't let it be so. I think the authors of the script did a good job of maintaining the "relationship" between the two main leads in a way that wouldn't set off the anti-gay screeners but would also appease the fans: most of which probably came from the main novel. I love how tastefully their love story developed: though it was heavily censored, it was made clear that they had feelings for one another. Though part of that is due to Wang and Xiao's amazing acting, which I will talk about in the next section.

Some other minor nitpicks:
- There are so many names for each character that it was really confusing at first
- What the heck is the difference between the Stygian Tiger Seal and the ... Yin amulet? see I don't even know the names I just know they're both bad and are related somehow why is this so confusing
- Why does the "happy ending" not really feel like a happy ending. Everyone is dead and crying, Samantha. How is that satisfying. (half joking)
- Maybe I'm just slow but the "timeskip" timeline and "current" timeline were difficult to distinguish from one another. Especially when we jumped back to the present after the long and drawn-out timeskip.
- sausage fest. there are no "main" women at all. (yes, jiang yanli does NOT count as a main. i'm sorry but it's true.) I know this is technically a BL but it would be nice to see a badass woman that can fight and actually survive through the night. please.


Cast - 9/10:
Let me just say that I became a MASSIVE Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan fan after this. The two male leads did a great job of reading in-between the lines, sending one another loaded looks and just generally being so comfortable around one another that I couldn't help but feel the romantic implications despite censorship trying so hard to hide it. They quite honestly carry this entire show on their back and that's why the producers were able to get away with a second version of the show, based entirely around Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji's relationship (yes, I watched the whole thing right after finishing this version and yes, I loved it as well).

Xiao Zhan is so great. I don't even know what to say. His smile is so sweet and I could tell he really connected with his character. Sometimes I wondered if he was just acting in front of the camera or reading lines as himself in a costume. I had doubts about Wang Yibo going into this. I knew he was an idol and I knew he had been in other dramas prior to this but I still had my reservations. But he absolutely blew me away. His microexpressions are on point. His character was so obviously in love that my heart honestly stuttered sometimes. (Get you a man who looks at you the way Lan Wa...)

I think the only think barring me from giving this section a 9.5-10/10 was the fact that some of the supporting actors didn't feel... right? I know this was the first major production for a lot of these actors and none of them had really had experience prior to The Untamed, but I could tell. And that's not good. For some scenes in particular (and for a few actors in particular), I could feel the disingenuity and it just felt forced. Those scenes were few and far between and, like I said before, the two male leads were outstanding enough that it didn't really bother me all that much. It just took me out of the emotions of the scene for a few seconds and I dreaded seeing them come back onscreen.


Music - 10/10:
Ho.ly.crap. This music. I should probably warn you that I'm just a sucker in general for traditional sounds and instrumentation. The thing that drew me to The Untamed/Mo Dao Zu Shi in the first place was the fact that musical cultivation played a big role in the story. The soundtrack has both the regular instrumental background tracks but there are also character songs, many of which are actually sung by the actor that plays that character. Some personal favorites are Lan Wangji's character song and Xue Yang's character song.

I still listen to the soundtrack regularly. I barely know any mandarin yet I could probably sing you Wuji and Bu Wang from memory. Overall, these tracks are the perfect accompaniment to the story. Mournful and oppressive when the time calls for it, playful and lilting whenever Wei Wuxian is fooling around, and it always feels full. A beautiful and simple soundtrack fitted perfectly to the show.


Rewatch Value - 7.5/10:
The lowest of the bunch. Honestly, I should probably give this one a higher rating considering I've rewatched The Untamed probably about three times in full already. But I think I'm just an outlier.

The show is LONG and the tragedy never really ends. It is a very heavy story and I can understand why some people just don't want to put up with it again. It's not a happy-go-lucky story that's fun to watch over and over again. I'd also say that after a while, the shock value of the plot loses its... well, shock value.

The genius of the story is its ability to conceal and reveal, hiding villains and plotpoints in plain sight and revealing them at the times that would garner the most reaction out of the characters and, subsequently, us as viewers. To a person rewatching, who knows all the twists and turns, it probably won't be as exciting. (It's precisely why I can never rewatch crime or mystery dramas/movies. The excitement you got while watching it the first time just isn't there anymore. The suspense was the whole fun of it.)

But if you loved the romance, the character relationships, the fight scenes, the cinematography: welcome to rewatch hell. I said previously that I've watched it three times in full. Yeah, in full, but I've skimmed through it so many more times than that. The emotional moments hit HARD especially when you know how it's going to end and the character moments are, in my opinion, the highlight. It's not a fun rewatch, not by anyone's standards, but it's beautiful.


Overall 9/10:
I was originally going to give it an overall 8.5/10, but I just couldn't. This show made me fall in love with the Xianxia genre, two amazing new actors, and introduced me to a soundtrack that would carry me through a large part of quarantine. This show is not perfect but it has cemented itself as a staple for both the BL genre and the Xianxia genre. It is credited for skyrocketing the careers of two talented actors—both of which have become household names. I will say it's not a perfect show but it is definitely worth the hype it's gotten.


Final Word:
If you're about to watch or have already started, just keep pushing through. I dropped this show a few episodes in when I first started and then continued after I saw clips on Twitter a friend of mine posted and man, am I glad I did. I'll admit, it can get slow at times, and it's definitely a confusing plotline. But, let's be honest, most of us aren't here for plot.

If you can loosen up a little and embrace the confusion for a short while until each arc is resolved, you'll love this show. If you're just here for the gays then you'll definitely love this show.

I definitely wrote too much and no one's gonna read all that but I just love this show so much. I'm quite literally obsessed. Please watch this show.

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