# The Untamed (2019) Review: Loyalty Beyond the Grave > The Untamed is a 50-episode Chinese xianxia epic about two young cultivators bound by loyalty across death, a lavish fantasy whose central bond won a global fandom. Canonical: https://celluloidscore.com/reviews/the-untamed-review/ Published: 2026-07-12 Last updated: 2026-09-24 Author: Kaiser Khan — Founder & Editor Language: English Review basis: direct-viewing Spoilers: none Rating: 4.5/5 ## Verdict Yes. It is one of the best gateways into Chinese fantasy drama, ideal for viewers ready for 50 episodes of intrigue, swordplay and deeply felt devotion. ## Is The Untamed worth watching? **Yes. The Untamed is a sweeping, gorgeously mounted fantasy epic with an emotional core strong enough to carry all 50 episodes, and it deserves its reputation as a landmark of modern Chinese television.** The bond between its two leads, played by Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo, is what turned it into a global phenomenon, and the flashback structure gives the story real tragic weight. The reservation is that newcomers must be patient through confusing opening episodes, a huge cast of clans and occasionally uneven effects. ## What is The Untamed about? In a world of rival cultivation clans, where disciples train their spirits and swords to fight the undead, the mischievous, brilliant Wei Wuxian ([Xiao Zhan](https://celluloidscore.com/stars/asia/china/xiao-zhan/)) meets the stern, principled Lan Wangji ([Wang Yibo](https://celluloidscore.com/stars/asia/china/wang-yibo/)) as teenagers studying at the same sect. Their friendship is tested when a tyrannical clan seizes power and the young cultivators are drawn into war. The series opens years later, after Wei Wuxian has died in disgrace, when a strange resurrection brings him back and reunites him with Lan Wangji to unravel an old conspiracy. [The Untamed](https://celluloidscore.com/shows/the-untamed/) is adapted from Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's novel and directed by Chen Jialin and Zheng Weiwen. It is a Mandarin-language series from China, streaming internationally on [Netflix](https://celluloidscore.com/shows/platform/netflix/). This review covers the complete show: a single season of 50 episodes, and the story is finished. Meng Ziyi, Xuan Lu, Wang Zhuocheng, Yu Bin and Liu Haikuan lead the large supporting cast. ## A tragedy told in two times The structure is the show's boldest choice. After a brief present-day opening, the series plunges into a long flashback that covers the characters' youth, the war and the events that led to Wei Wuxian's downfall, before returning to the present to finish the mystery. It means viewers know from the beginning that something terrible happened, and every happy scene of the early chapters is shadowed by that knowledge. The result feels less like an adventure than a lament for lost innocence and injustice. The mythology is dense, with sects, spiritual weapons and forbidden cultivation techniques, but the series grounds it in clear loyalties and grudges. Once the clan relationships settle in, the political manoeuvring becomes gripping, and the story's treatment of prejudice, scapegoating and loyalty gives it real moral heft. ## Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo at its heart The relationship between the two leads made the show a phenomenon, and the actors earn it. Xiao Zhan gives Wei Wuxian a playful warmth that curdles into weariness, and he is equally convincing as the carefree student and the embattled outcast. Wang Yibo plays Lan Wangji with near-total restraint, communicating devotion through glances and silences. The novel's romance is rendered as an intense, unspoken bond under Chinese broadcast restrictions, yet the depth of feeling comes through unmistakably. The supporting cast is excellent. Wang Zhuocheng makes Wei Wuxian's hot-tempered adoptive brother one of the most complex characters in the series, and Xuan Lu's gentle performance as his sister provides some of its most tender scenes. The production design, with flowing robes, misty mountains and eerie night hunts, makes the world a pleasure to spend time in. ## The demands of an epic The Untamed asks a lot of new viewers. The opening episodes throw names, clans and titles at the audience before explaining them, and some viewers give up too early. Effects work is uneven, particularly for creatures, and a few mid-series episodes stall. Viewers unfamiliar with Chinese costume drama may also need time to adjust to the stylised acting and fight choreography. ## Who should watch The Untamed? It is ideal for fans of fantasy epics, anyone curious about Chinese costume drama, and viewers who love stories about loyalty and friendship tested by injustice. Fifty episodes of about 45 minutes each is a major commitment, but the second half rewards it richly. Expect sword fights, some blood, dark themes of war and persecution, and supernatural horror elements, though nothing unusually graphic. For more fantasy on the same scale: - [Love and Redemption](https://celluloidscore.com/reviews/love-and-redemption-review/), another Chinese fantasy romance about fate, sacrifice and cultivation. - [Alchemy of Souls](https://celluloidscore.com/shows/alchemy-of-souls/), a Korean epic with a similar mix of magical training, destiny and emotional bonds. ## The verdict The Untamed is a rich, romantic and ultimately heartbreaking fantasy epic that earned its devoted worldwide following. Its opening is confusing and its effects inconsistent, but the central bond, the ingenious structure and the lavish world-building make it one of the finest Chinese dramas available to international audiences. **Rating: 4.5/5** ## Related title - [The Untamed (2019)](https://celluloidscore.com/shows/the-untamed/) ## Editorial - [Editorial standards](https://celluloidscore.com/about/editorial-policy/) - [Report a correction](https://celluloidscore.com/about/corrections/)