REVIEW Drama Review: The Untamed Arc 2 - The Sunshot Campaign

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DRAMA REVIEW: "THE UNTAMED"
ARC 2: SUNSHOT CAMPAIN, POST-TRANSFORMATION
& THE RETURN TO THE PRESENT

OG Series: Episodes 19 (22:50) - 33 (13:17)
Wangxian Compilation Series: Episodes 7 (5:08) - 13 (24:38)


Written by: Polaris_Tae

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The death of Wei Wuxian


"if I am to die, at least dying in your arms would be worth it"

- The separation at Qiongqi Path.


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Disclaimer:
Men in this story often have three names. A birth name, a courtesy name and a title. In the case of Wei Wuxian: his birth name is Wei Ying, his courtesy name is Wei Wuxian, and it could be argued that the Yiling Patriarch is his title (although he was never given an official title, unlike Lan Wangji). At the bottom of the page are a number of characters listed with their names and titles. In this article, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji may be referred to by any of their multiple names. All other characters will hereafter, be referred to by their courtesy names.

There will also be light spoilers for the novel when discussing the relationship between the two lead actors.


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Lan Wangji arriving at a Qishan Wen outpost.


In this arc, we finally watch Wei Wuxian's slow descent into madness, to a state somewhat more reminiscent in its moral ambiguity to the original character in the novel. We also, at last, learn of the circumstances surrounding his first death, and are shown the entire truth regarding his nature, which until now was shrouded in the rumours and legends of his world.


The story picks up right where it had left off: after being thrown into the burial mounds by Wen Chao, Wei Wuxian (miraculously still alive, after six months without food or water) finally climbs his way out, seething with resentful energy -- a changed man with a singular desire to exact revenge on the Wen clan for the destruction of the Lotus Pier. He reenters society with the sole intent of fulfilling this desire.


We meet Lan Wangji, meanwhile, as he lays siege on a Wen outpost, in an effort to find the missing Wei Wuxian, only to be devastated by the disovery that he has been captured and thrown into the Burial Mounds by Wen Chao, a fate near impossible to survive.


However, the pair are soon reunited at Yiling where Wei Wuxian has tracked down Wen Chao and Wen Zhuliu in his pursuit of vengeance. Lan Wangji is, of course, shocked -- Wei Wuxian is alive, and a completely changed person, no longer the energetic, playful youth he had known. He confronts Wei Wuxian about his involvement with Demonic Cultivation**, urging him to cease his practise of it, lest he harm his body and mind, and lose himself entirely in the process. Wei Wuxian dismisses his pleas, resulting in a falling out between the two, before leaving with Jiang Cheng to rebuild the Lotus pier.


Throughout this arc, I found that there were two major plot lines explored -- Wei Wuxian's souring relationship with the four great sects (eventually resulting in his defection, following his undertaking of Demonic Cultivation), and in contrast, the undying love he shares with Lan Wangji. While Wei Wuxian becomes increasingly alienated from society, Lan Wangji proves his devotion to the man by supporting him unconditionally (going so as far as to attempt to bring him back to the Cloud Recesses to keep him safe, risking his own standing in society).



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Lan Wangji & Wei Wuxian talking on a rooftop in Qinghe.


Following the Wei Wuxian's return from the burial mounds, the subsequent defeat of Wen Ruohan, and the extermination of the Wen Clan, We slowly see Wei Wuxian's relationship with the four major sects and their allies -- in particular, his relationship with the Jin Sect -- degenerate. His status gradually goes from being that of a war hero and refined young master of the four arts, celebrated for his solitary triumph over thousands of enemy cultivators, to that of revolutionary and dissident, unworthy of anything but annihilation.


This, in turn, causes Lan Wangji's relationships with those closest to him -- namely his uncle and brother -- to become strained, as he continues to stand by Wei Wuxian at all costs. This is due to the fact that neither Lan Wangji, nor Wei Wuxian prescribe to the school of thought that the majority of their world does. The two are predominantly believe in individualism when it comes to judging others, and therefore do not blame a collective for the actions of its leader -- a stark difference from the society that sees the mass genocide of the Wen clan as a fitting fate, due to the deeds of Wen Ruohan. Wei Wuxian, in particular, considers this to be immoral -- no better than Wen Ruohan's atrocities in his eyes.


His relationship with the four great sects strains past the breaking point following the hunt on Phoenix Mountain (where he also finally confesses his feelings towards Lan Wangji). Approached by Wen Qing, a former classmate of his, he is informed of the torture being carried out on Wen sect. This causes him to defect from the Jiang clan, and sect-controlled society as a whole, to establish a life for himself and the Wen remnants, breaking Lan Wangji's heart. While living with the Wens he adopts one of the refugees, a Wen Yuan, and recognises him as his son.


The second arc concludes with Wei Wuxian falling to his death after losing his sanity in battle, and a distraught Lan Wangji showing emotion for what looks to be the first time ever, still reaching out for the man even after he has disappeared over the cliff, muttering a final crestfallen "Wei Ying", as the screen fades to black. This finally concludes the flashback, shifting the story back to the timeline of the first two episodes.



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Lan Wangji letting Wei Wuxian go.


One of the greatest aspects of 'The Untamed' is its portrayal of sexuality. Though the novel bears little ambiguity in the matter -- with Wei Wuxian clearly defined as a chaotic bisexual, and Lan Wangji as a homosexual -- to do the same in the format of visual media, is unfortunately far more difficult in China, due to the censorship of such material. Despite this, the producers still managed to stay true to the original author's intent, finding ways around the restrictions through the use of signs, symbols and dialogue. Right from the beginning of the series, when Wei Wuxian is first reincarnated, it is implied that he has harbours some unresolved feelings for Lan Wangji -- for instance, the first person that Wei Wuxian thinks about following the rebirth, is not his brother, Jiang Cheng or even his beloved sister, Jiang Yanli, but Lan Wangji. Then, during episode three, it is hinted, through a conversation between his two siblings, that Wei Wuxian is possibly bisexual.


This subtle, largely indirect method of conveying information about the characters is balanced with a more emotionally explicit style employed during crucial points in their relationship. One such scene is set at a cave in the back mountains of the cloud recesses, where Lan Wangji, allows Wei Wuxian to touch his forehead ribbon, after explaining to him the night before that the same ribbon, the Gusu Lan symbol of restraint, cannot be touched by anyone other than family, or your significant other -- signifying the degree of Lan Wangji's feelings for the other, whether self-aware or not.


The romantic development of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji's relationship is portrayed through the push-and-pull of interpersonal tension. The two begin as rivals, only for Lan Wangji to fall for the other as he gets to know him. Then, when Wei Wuxian admits to his feelings towards the other, the two, ironically, separate -- he would rather stand by his morals, even at the potential cost of his own life, than stay by Lan Wangji's side, safe from harm. Finally, the two reunite in Yiling, and set aside their differences, staying on good terms until Wei Wuxian's first death -- an event than leaves Lan Wangji completely heartbroken.



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Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian & Wen Yuan finally meet again in Yiling.


As I watched this, I have to say that I found it more engaging, and less excessively drawn out, than the previous arc. Notably, it didn't diverge in any signicant manner from the plot of the original novel -- instead, largely focusing on the two main characters, their relationship, and wider society as a whole. This, I felt, helped ground the story, allowing each new development to sink in and have gravity, rather than being drowned out by a sea of sub-plots. This is best seen in Wei Wuxian's transformation from excitable teenager to all-powerful Yiling Patriarch, which felt like a natural progression, and did not seem contrived or unevenly paced at all. The first arc, in contrast (as some of you may have read in the previous instalment of this series review), spent a lot of time on secondary characters, and essentially fabricated a filler mini-arc in order to make Wei Wuxian appear less morally ambiguous. As a result of this, Wei Wuxian earlier in this series deviates strongly from the novel. However, in keeping with the general spirit of direction within this arc, the producers seemed to have re-assessed the merit of this creative choice, making him truly evil by the time of his first death.


I found that Xiao Zhan's portrayal of Wei Wuxian was exceptionally good throughout this section of the series, especially during scenes involving extreme intensity, requiring him to convey explosive, crazed rage (I was left at the edge of my seat -- the tension was palpable!). Both his facial expressions, and the way he carried his body were exceptional. Similarly, his interpretation of Wei Wuixian's descent into madness, was rich with raw, heart-wrenching emotion -- a testament to his skill as an actor.


One of the major subjects that the story deals with is the idea of morality and it's ultimate subjectivity. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian are presented to the audience as the indomitable will, unwilling to bend to the whims and norms of the world at large, and moving along it's own divergent path. This brings into question, in the viewers mind, the integrity of the rule of law within the cultivational society, which sees no wrong in a weakly justified mass genocide in the name of retribution.



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The final moments of Wei Wuxian's first life


In conclusion, I think that the second arc of 'The Untamed' is a great expansion on a stellar story, successfully introducing progress and romantic development in the protagonists' relationship, despite the stringent censorship law the medium is limited by. Moreover, it's thought-provoking themes of individualism, righteousness, and the inherent moral "grey-ness" of human nature, take it beyond the level of an average BL romance drama, to something with philosophical value.


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Main Characters & their multiple names:

Wèi Wúxiàn:
Portrayed by: Xiao Zhan & Lu Zhixing (overdubbing)
Birth Name: Wèi Yīng
Courtesy Name: Wèi Wúxiàn
Title: Yílíng Lǎozǔ (Yiling Patriarch)
Weapons:
The 'Chénqíng' flute (to express sentiments).
'Suíbiàn', his sword (lit. whatever).
'Stygian Tiger Seal' (formerly)
Inventions: 'Stygian Tiger Seal', 'Compass of Evil', and 'Spirit Attraction Flag'

Lán Wàngjī:
Portrayed by: Wang Yibo & Bian Jiang (overdubbbing)
Birth Name:
Lán Zhàn
Courtesy Name: Lán Wàngjī
Title: Hánguāng-jūn ('Light-Bearing Lord')
Weapons:
'Bìchén' (lit. to avoid wordly matters), his sword.
The 'Wàngjī' Guqin.

Jiāng Chéng:
Portrayed by: Wang Zhuocheng & Wang Kai (overdubbing)
Birth Name: Jiāng Chéng
Courtesy Name: Jiāng Wǎnyín
Title: Sāndú Shèngshǒu
Weapons: the electric whip 'Zǐdiàn' and his sword, 'Sāndú'

Wēn Níng:
Portrayed by: Yu Bin & Li Xin (overdubbing)
Birth Name: Wēn Níng
Courtesy Name: Wēn Qiónglín
Title: Guǐ jiāngjūn ('Ghost General')


Hotlinks:

Find the Donghua on Youtube and WeTV
For the Novel:
OG Chinese version: https://www.luoxia.com/modaozushi/
English Translation: https://exiledrebelsscanlations.com/novels/grandmaster-of-demonic-cultivation/
Alternate English Translations: Doc with links to translations
Find the Web Drama on YouTube, WeTV, Netflix or Rakuten Viki
The WeTV Special Edition Wangxian Compilation Drama Series: WeTV, YouTube
^ It's spin-off movie 'The Living Dead' on the IQIYI App, with full English Subtitles
Find the Audio Drama at Suibian Subs (via their Discord)
Find the Manhua at WeComics, or fan-translated here
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Story: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Music: 10/10
Voice Acting: 10/10
Acting: 8/10
CGI: 6/10

8.7/10
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PROOFREAD BY: TIMINGIL
GRAPHICS BY: AKIDOKI

 
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