So, you want to get into The Untamed?

[rogueslayer452]

Since my previous post some have expressed interest with getting into The Untamed, and while there are a lot of different and great primers out there (specifically here and here) to get you introduced to the series before starting out which are far more detailed about things, I kind of want to give my own addition, as well. No spoilers, just general bits of information that I think should be helpful based on my own viewing experience when starting out with this show.


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** When it comes to the English subtitles, Netflix does a pretty decent job, though I've heard complaints that it's not entirely accurate in places, which is kind on par for Netflix since they're kind of notorious for not being that great with subtitles in general. Anyone who has watched a show in another language and have it be translated can understand that oftentimes things can be muddled. At worst the significance of a moment can be lost, at best it's just awkward wording of a sentence or phrase. Chinese is a difficult language to translate, and it takes someone who understands and has studied the language, especially in context of ancient China, to fully grasp how to decipher the importance of what a word or phrase is supposed to mean in the context its used. For example, someone who has knowledge in this field did an excellent write-up about this featuring an important aspect of the show when a certain word is repeated in relation to Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian's relationship, since different platforms have translated it differently (i.e. it's been translated to as "confidant", "friend", and "soulmate", the latter is the closest though doesn't quite convey the depth of the meaning of said word).

Case in point, when it comes to more accurate subtitles the website, Viki, while not 100% perfect, is claimed to be better in comparison to other places. However, your viewing experience won't be hindered at all if you watch on Netflix, since it does a pretty good job with making you understand what's going on.

** The first couple of episodes are going to be confusing at first. That's okay. That's normal for every single person who has started watching the show. And then it'll be an extended flashback lasting for thirty episodes to help give context of what is happening. This show is very much character-driven, it is a slow-burn (fifty episodes) but it's absolutely worth it in the end.

** If you're not familiar with cdramas, there are two noticeable things: first, is that their special effects aren't always the greatest, it can seem rather cheap and silly at times. With that being said, The Untamed does a pretty decent job for the most part, and where it lacks in the budget for CGI creatures/monsters in some episodes it makes up for with the elaborate costuming, wigs, and set designs. Secondly, dubbing is very common in cdramas due to the many dialects in China, so, unless they're dubbing over themselves, you most likely will not hear an actor's real voice unless you watch any of the behind-the-scenes and interviews. So, it can be a little jarring at first. I, personally, didn't notice anything when watching on Netflix since the voices do match up pretty well, it wasn't until after when I was looking at clips online that I started realizing something with a little different.

** There's the official Special Edition of The Untamed which is just a massive compilation of scenes focusing entirely on Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian's scenes, featuring extending scenes and additional scenes that didn't make the final cut. It basically condenses fifty episodes into twenty that is just them, with the final episode being labeled "Wangxian", which is their ship name, and the name of the main song which is their song that plays in-verse and throughout the entirety of the show in various arrangements whenever a moment with them happens (it's an earworm and amazing, you'll end up becoming addicted to it, any version of it). Also, yes, they had to change the title of the song for censorship reasons, but we all know that it's still officially "Wangxian". (note: in the Japanese BluRay, they actually kept the name in during a particular scene, since they edited it out in the original version so we didn't hear him say it, so y'know....)

** Speaking of songs, a handful of key characters get their own song on the official soundtrack, some of them sung by the actors themselves.

** Bring tissues, because your heart will be ripped out and stomped on, repeatedly. It massively pays off in the end of course, but it will be emotional getting there, especially the first half of the show where it's basically a conga line of trauma. It's definitely worth it, though.

So, yeah. At the end of the day, this show is beautiful, heartbreaking, heartwarming, it has destroyed my life in the best possible way and I'm hoping that this, along with the other primers out there, will help those of you who are also curious about it get just as invested as I did. (✿◠‿◠)

Comments

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I was similar in that I saw it around, was curious about it, and I knew that I would watch it eventually to see what everyone was talking about. Mostly, I wanted to know how gay it was (and it's very gay, obviously subdued due to the censorship laws, but the subtext is very, very intentional, as I had gushed in my previous post how well it does despite the censorship laws), and somehow I ended up getting into it faster than I had anticipated. And you know those shows where you're curious enough to check out, but once you become invested you're, like, completely invested? Yeah, that's what The Untamed has become for me currently. If there is a big highlight of 2020 for me, it's discovering and becoming obsessed with The Untamed, and everything else connected with the story and the characters.

I'm happy that I've at least convinced you to check it out. :) Whenever you do get to it, it is fifty episodes, which may seem like a lot, but trust me, it's worth it.