A Tale of The Untamed Heart

    

    The Untamed is a Chinese television series adapted from the novel "Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation" by the author Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. Unlike some of the poorly executed ones, this drama is a solid adaptation. With some slightly changed events for smooth plot development, the series overall stayed faithful to the novel.

    The Untamed follows the journey of two talented young cultivators of two prominent sects- mischievous, lively, and carefree Wei Wu Xian and his lifelong friend, seemingly cold, righteous Lan Wang Ji. They meet each other during their teenage years, study together, and accidentally come across a secret concerning the fate of the world. Following the path of their ancestors, they vow to protect the people from the upcoming threat together. With unexpected turns of events, their lives become upside down. Wei Wu Xian finds himself as a repudiated outcast whom people loathe and want dead. Lan Wang Ji stands by his side and tries every possible way to help him, but in the end, unable to keep him away from giving up his life. Sixteen years later, Wei Wu Xian is brought back to life by a self-sacrificing ritual and bound by a curse. He conceals his identity behind a mask, and while completing his curse-enforced mission, he encounters Lan Wang Ji. They reunite, start their adventure to solve the mysteries of current days, and eventually deduce the truth from the past. Both figure out that people are not always what they seem, including themselves.

    All of the casts of the series, including those in minor-roles, are well-chosen.

·     Xiao Zhan as Wei Wu Xian:

                    It is surprising seeing the wide variety of emotions Xiao Zhan portrays gracefully according to the phases Wei Wu Xian is going through. He makes you feel what Wei Wu Xian is feeling. Despite being a tough thing to accomplish, he flawlessly did that with utmost care and dedication. Xiao Zhan's natural charming smile fits perfectly with Wei Wu Xian's 'born with a smiling face' description. It can undoubtedly say that this character is only for Xiao Zhan to play.

·     Wang Yibo as Lan Wang Ji:

                    Wang Yibo portrayed the cold yet caring Lan Wang Ji with perfection. Lan Wang Ji is an aloof man, and so Wang Yibo has to depict all his inner thoughts and emotions through his micro-expressions. His performance in this series is a treat to watch.

    Beyond them, Yu Bin is well cast as Wen Ning, bringing innocence and loyalty into a rough character like a Ghost General. Wang Zhuochang successfully brings Tsundere Jiang Cheng to life, and Liu Haikuan as the calm, understanding Lan Xichen is heartwarming to watch. Similarly, Zhu Zan Jin and Wang Hao Xuan's acting convoy a lot of depth to Jin Guangyao and Xue Yang, respectively. Furthermore, even though there are not many female characters in this series, Xuan Lu as Jiang Yanli and Meng Ziyi as Wen Qing bring the warmth and protective nature of sisters in front of us once again.

 

    The Untamed's 50 episodes worth of plot can be expressed with a single sentence- "What is right? What is wrong?" The way the series handles this debatable question from a new angle is fresh and unique to the viewers. The main protagonists Wei Wu Xian and Lan Wang Ji, are the heart of the series. They are complex, fascinating, and inspiring as individual characters in their own ways, and the chemistry between them as soulmate or couple or whatever you want to describe this fated duo as is unbelievably stunning. Their mistakes and flaws make them just like us, not like some written fictional characters. The antagonists are vicious yet relatable. All other supporting casts are equally praise-worthy at their respective parts. Bits and pieces of their stories make the whole plot compact and easy to follow along. It may seem a lengthy series, and the first few episodes can be boring to some people. However, to me, they are necessary parts of the storyline to make the connection between two time-frames. If you are one of them, hang in there a few episodes, and you will find time flying by.

    The CGI sometimes is not up to the mark, but the overall cinematography is quite adequate. The costuming is stunning and express symbolism through colors and designs. Being able to find the hidden meanings behind them is fun. The OSTs of this series are the real hero. Along with the main OSTs, the character songs play massive roles in understanding the characters in depth. These scores with well-written lyrics and soulful melody make the viewers engulfed in the mood.

 

    The Untamed has a content rating of 15+, and it is appropriate for the series. There are quite a few scenes of mass killing, gore, and demonically controlled puppets, which are understandable because of the theme of the series. But, maybe a little frightening for someone with a weak heart. However, it does have a proper amount of light-hearted content to offset the creepy scenes.

 

    Overall, The Untamed is an exceptional series with a touch from various genres that people of all walks will find different and unrepeated. It surely deserves the high ratings it got from the viewers. It is a series that lives up to the hype. If you have some free time, give this series a shot and discover the wonderful world that awaits. The Untamed is highly-recommended. Happy Watching!