Synopsis
"The Untamed" is a 2019 fantasy drama with a Douban rating of 7.7, starring Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo. Adapted from Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's novel "Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation," it tells the story of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji joining forces to solve mysterious cases. The series gained immense popularity in overseas markets such as Thailand and South Korea, becoming one of China's most successful drama exports. Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo rose to top-tier idol status through this drama, with "The Untamed Girls" forming one of the largest fan communities.
Overview
The Untamed is a costume fantasy drama that premiered on Tencent Video in June 2019, directed by Zheng Weiwen and Chen Jialin. Xiao Zhan plays Wei Wuxian, Wang Yibo plays Lan Wangji, Meng Ziyi plays Wen Qing, Xuan Lu plays Jiang Yanli, and Yu Bin plays Jiang Cheng. The entire series consists of 50 episodes, with a Douban rating of 7.7. After its broadcast, it sparked an unprecedented viewing craze in both the Chinese and overseas markets.
The drama is adapted from Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's web novel Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. It tells the story of the deep friendship spanning sixteen years between the Yiling Patriarch Wei Wuxian and the Second Young Master of the Gusu Lan Clan, Lan Wangji, as well as their joint investigation into the truth of past events. The Untamed is most praised for its exquisite costumes, makeup, and props, and its deep integration with traditional Chinese culture—the drama extensively uses traditional instruments like the guqin and dizi, and its etiquette and costumes reference numerous historical documents, presenting an elegant Eastern aesthetic.
Plot
Sixteen years ago, the five major cultivation clans jointly attacked the Yiling Patriarch Wei Wuxian, who fell to his death from a cliff in the Burial Mounds. Sixteen years later, a strange incident involving a ghost hand injuring people occurs in Mo Manor. A young man named Mo Xuanyu becomes possessed by the ghost hand. In reality, the soul that awakens in Mo Xuanyu's body is none other than Wei Wuxian—he is reborn through Mo Xuanyu's sacrificial ritual.
After his rebirth, Wei Wuxian encounters Lan Wangji in Mo Manor. Lan Wangji is the Second Young Master of the Gusu Lan Clan and shared a profound past with Wei Wuxian sixteen years ago. Although Lan Wangji remains outwardly cold and restrained, he is deeply moved upon seeing Wei Wuxian reborn.
The two join forces to investigate the origin of the ghost hand, solving multiple mysteries related to the events of sixteen years ago along the way. As the investigation deepens, the truth behind Wei Wuxian's siege gradually comes to light—it turns out everything was a meticulously orchestrated conspiracy by a mastermind behind the scenes.
Cast
| Actor | Character | Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Xiao Zhan | Wei Wuxian | The Yiling Patriarch, free-spirited and unrestrained, uses unorthodox cultivation methods |
| Wang Yibo | Lan Wangji | Second Young Master of the Gusu Lan Clan, aloof and noble, also known as Hanguang-jun |
| Meng Ziyi | Wen Qing | A physician from the Qishan Wen Clan, kind and righteous |
| Xuan Lu | Jiang Yanli | Wei Wuxian's senior martial sister, gentle and kind |
| Yu Bin | Jiang Cheng | Wei Wuxian's junior martial brother, leader of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan |
Xiao Zhan's portrayal of Wei Wuxian is the soul of the entire series. He masterfully depicts Wei Wuxian's youthful high spirits and the open-minded freedom that comes after experiencing life's vicissitudes. Particularly after his rebirth, Wei Wuxian appears carefree and seemingly heartless on the surface, but the occasional glimpse of world-weariness and pain in his eyes makes the character especially poignant.
Wang Yibo's portrayal of Lan Wangji represents a completely different acting style. Lan Wangji is an extremely restrained and introverted character who does not show his emotions. Through extremely subtle changes in expression and body language, Wang Yibo conveys Lan Wangji's deep yet controlled feelings for Wei Wuxian in a profoundly moving way.
Cultural Impact
The influence of The Untamed extends far beyond the television series itself. Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo became China's hottest top idols overnight because of this drama. The sheer size of their fanbase and the spectacular scale of fan support are unprecedented in the history of Chinese entertainment.
More importantly, The Untamed achieved tremendous success in overseas markets. The series was translated into multiple languages and broadcast on international platforms, sparking viewing frenzies in Asian countries like Thailand, South Korea, and Japan. Related videos of The Untamed on YouTube have accumulated billions of views. The Untamed has become one of the most successful cases of Chinese TV series going global.
References
- Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/27195020/
- Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/陈情令
- Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/陈情令
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