The Untamed

I'll admit that I've never read the original story, or seen the animated series, so I was going into this completely blind (basically; all I knew about the series before I watched it was all the guys have long, luxurious hair and fight each other graceful with swords whilst flying through the air... Oh, that and the fact the main two characters are in love...), but I have to say it really exceeded my expectations in many aspects!

I don't think I'm the only one who'll say that the first few episodes are a bit confusing to get into (especially when you're not familiar with the source material) which makes them drag just a little bit. But I'd say if you're feeling this way at the start, definitely try to stick with it! The story continues to get more interesting and intense, as well as things get explained as it goes on! And the characters all go through some really great development through the 50 episodes, which makes them more relatable!

As far as complaints go; my main issue is with some of the ways scenes are filmed and framed, particularly in very emotional scenes... It wasn't necessarily bad or too jarring, but it did pull you away from the immersion a little bit! The cgi isn't the best, but that's to be expected considering this didn't have a massive budget... It wasn't too bad to pull you out of the story, though, so I'd say it wasn't too big of an issue!

The biggest thing I'll commend the series on is something I imagine everyone has already said: that being the handling of the relationship between characters, particularly the main two! It's no secret that this is based on an lgbt ('bl') novel, and that China have strict censorship laws that don't allow depictions of that on screen. However, the producers and scriptwriters really were able to develop a believable and touching dynamic between the two main characters throughout the span of the series in subtle and well done ways! And more than that, the other friendships and relationships of the series were made believable and touching too!

Overall; it's an emotionally invested and well made drama, with some pretty decent acting on the most part and a bunch of really engaging and interesting characters!

It's a 9 out of 10 but only because it breaks my heart due to content regulations it can be exactly like the original source. I still think they did and amazing job adapting the script to make it GP friendly. I started the series, and once I started it was really hard to stop. The acting by both main actors, really reflects the original characters, Wang Yi bo totally nailed Lang Wangji, and Xiao Zan left me speechless, he delivered.

Trust me when I say this series is the most perfect blend of fantasy, subtle romance and family drama. Everything about this series has me wanting to rewatch it more than a few times. From the actors Xiao Zhan and Wang YiBo to the cinematography, the costumes, the sets and amazing soundtracks. This series brings me so much joy to watch!

Would highly recommend this series to anyone that wants to appreciate a good Chinese drama.

I have no idea why this came up as a recommended title for me on Netflix, but I am so glad it did. I've never shown an interest in non-English titles, let alone those in Chinese, and I almost gave it a pass. I'm now blessing my lack of impulse control. I was charmed almost immediately, even if the first two episodes left me pretty much completely lost. I was still mesmerized. Sticking with it, I was able to piece together the story, and I enjoyed it tremendously.

The lavish scenery, the music, the sets and costumes create a fascinating world, but the actors are enchanting beyond belief, and they sell this story like they were born for it. They all play their characters with an earnestness that makes the heart squeeze. Seeing the two leads bond throughout the series is a joy to watch, even throughout the emotionally wrenching periods of turmoil that drive the plot and the mysteries. There is something wholly profound, almost deliriously romantic in a way, about their relationship and how it deepens and evolves.

Whenever the mischievous Wei WuXian smiles, it feels like sunshine bursting from the screen. When we finally see the ridiculously stoic Lan WanJi smile, it's breathtaking for all its quiet honesty. It leaves you sorely wanting more.

It's not exactly perfect, though, this series. The effects are frankly sometimes silly. But it doesn't matter, with a story this captivating. The often fast dialogue can be tough to catch via the subtitles, but you do follow the gist. One serious negative is how the story treats the women on the whole. For any other series, it would be a deal-breaker for me. But I was otherwise so completely taken by the series that I can look past that. What I love about the series outweighs the negatives so much that I have no hesitation to give it a ten. It's earned that ten from me.

This series was actually more of an experience, and I intend to go through it again. I'm not ready to let go.

This drama started off slow for me but the story really came together. Just be patient as the story is unfolding. The two leading characters did an amazing job portraying their emotions. The Main character Wei Wuxian has the most beautiful smile. He is such a talented actor. I love their chemistry. There are so many twist and turn in the drama. The beautiful music really pulls at your heart strings. I cannot say enough good things about it. Clearly the world feels the same as this drama has been trending for quite some time now and have launched the two leads into super stardom. The loyalty between the two main characters is beautiful. One of the best drama I have ever watched and I have watched a lot of drama. I am completely obsessed and have been following their careers since watching it. Even after watching it so many times, I am still picking up new tidbits. Kudos to the cast and crew of The Untamed. What a masterpiece.