Home Artists Posts Import Register

Content

After watching Mo Dao Zu Shi, the donghua, and starting on my journey with the novel, audio drama, and manhua adaptations...it seems only fitting that I also give the final adaptation a go: the live action version! 

Knowing what I know about MDZS, these first two episodes were SO MUCH FUN! I have a feeling there's going to be a lot of laughs, swooning, and endless comparisons in the weeks to come as I go through this series!

Thanks for watching with me, and for the support!

Files

The Untamed: Episodes 1-2 Reaction! Live Action Mo Dao Zu Shi!?

Link to Reaction (starts at 4:36): https://share.vidyard.com/watch/3681BoiZzHLRUJ9rUmzRQW? After watching Mo Dao Zu Shi, the donghua, and starting on my journey with the novel, audio drama, and manhua adaptations...it seems only fitting that I also give the final adaptation a go: the live action version! Knowing what I know about MDZS, these first two episodes were SO MUCH FUN! I have a feeling there's going to be a lot of laughs, swooning, and endless comparisons in the weeks to come as I go through this series! Thank you for watching with me and for all the support! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RomaniaBlack My Anime: https://myanimelist.net/profile/RomaniaBlack Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/RomaniaBlack You can mail me a letter or anything (except food, please) at this address: Romania Black PO Box 768 Harrisburg, IL 62946 USA

Comments

Anastasia -

Firstly, let me scream out loud in joy! Another step in the long journey has begun anew. Then, please don't mind me ranting over some minor problems people point out when meeting the Untamed, I love that none of them bother you enough to drop the live action! Just some points for future discussion and general knowledge, then. The dubbing question did really rub me off wrong in some dramas but Untamed has never really disappointed me since they cared enough to hire most actors from donghua or audiodrama. Also, the dubbing is just easier in terms of sound management, when you're filming in a noisy studio center or outside in the wilds. Dubbing actors fanbase is also real, so a lot of different reasons to do just that! But let me tell you, Xiao Zhan's Chongqing accent is adorable. I've seen a drama where he dubs himself and gets a little overboard (well, specifics of the genre I guess, are real too) but his singing voice is godly. We totally could spam you on Discord with the song clips XD The next point that can be kinda show-breaking at first but then becomes familiar, is action scenes filming style, of course. If you've seen any of old Hongkong films, like Jackie Chan's ones, you know what I mean. Slow motion, unrealistic flying on wires, exaggerated gestures and all those artistic traits of the genre that can seem silly to a "realistic" cinema lovers but if it ever happens to you, you can think western as well as soap drama. Western has its own cinematic tropes, Hollywood action movies have their tropes we can find silly or endearing, and so are the exaggerated "flying" or low-budget special effects in wuxia -> xianxia genre. Well, they did have kinda low budget after all, but not all of those unfamiliarities are based on money deficiency. One other bit some people keep complaining on: it's actually rare for Chnese actors to learn specific professions or crafts their characters are famous with. It's easier to overwrite the sound of flute or emulate the surgical procedure than to actually teach the actor. That said, they at least do position music instruments correctly in the Untamed, and there is not too many of body doubles in action scenes if there are at all. I myself was a bit confused about Wei Ying fluting without opening his lips next to the flute orifice but they say it's actually how it is done with a dizi! And his archer skills are very pretty. As for different changes in the story, small or medium , you can guess yourself: the most glaring of them are due to censorship. We can't say zombies, so they are living people affected by dark energy and not thinking anymore, no salvation for them (except for WN). We can't say reincarnation so we say "I don't know if I was dead and where I have been but now I'm here again". We can't say "Wangji fought his elders for his love in some cave" so we have The Cliff Fall. Admittedly, there is the "he has to wear a mask because we can't have two actors" and "Wei Ying has some gimmicky powers he uses once and forgets forever" that are totally a free choice. But still! The end result and overall fandom reaction very much show that live action was a work of love to the original. There are just too many adaptations that don't do justice to the original books. This one? For me, it more that does. And they really tried to keep many little details that donghua omitted! Like Mo-papa being the third victim of the hand and A-Yan story. The one who pays the storyteller in ep1 is definitely Huaisang, he's in Nie colors and you should never trust a guy with a fan XD But yes, Xue Yang is also one of the best played characters in the drama, the actor is so sweet but portrays Xue Yang perrrfectly. Yi city arc happens earlier than in the novel so it could still be a spoiler if you watched before s3 but now it's all fine! And in all Chinese dramas I've watched so far the older actors playing some 1-5 episode roles are absolutely stunning. If the main actors don't do it for you? Those hot granddads and badass grandmoms are always doing their best.

WuXian Suibian

The chemistry, the looks, the soft expression, the touches we're all here for it. Does your face hurt? I don't think you stopped smiling through the whole thing. Now you can see why the world fell in love with the Untamed.

brianna a

Seriously those looks tho, like I can literally feel the love radiating wtf

romaniablack

RIGHT?! I've never known a glance to have that much chemistry and intensity -- this is going to be a fun ride! :3

romaniablack

I was so giddy and fangirling throughout most of this! I DEFINITELY see why people love this adaptation and I'm ONLY 2 episodes in...when we get to the later stuff? Hoo buddy, haha! I'm SO excited for this adaptation, now! THE CHEMISTRY -- seriously! A touch having that audience reaction?! Here for it.

goldmund

Finally! It's the Untamed time! OMG Monday will be my festival cuz I'm getting a double dose of MDZS. Qiren and Xichen, was Lan members, would certainly wear the head band. So the old man in the first episode is not Qiren. He is just a storyteller near the Mo family manor who gets paid to tell a story of WuXian coming back alive to the young disciples of the Lan clan who have just arrived to the Mo Manor. And guess who has the motivation to do so? When I first started the show, I originally thought that Wuxian's actor is perfect but Wangji is probably not handsome enough. But I changed my mind completely as the episodes passed by. Wangji was enacted so well and I'm curious to know your thoughts after several episodes. I love your reaction as always, and keep up the good work! Meanwhile, stay safe and have a wonderful week!

romaniablack

Yessss, More MDZS! :D :D And I don't know why I thought he was Qiren, hahaha, but that's sooo interesting about the motivations of paying off the storyteller coming up this early on! Hmm... But HAHAHAHA -- it's SO funny you mention this about Wangji, but in these first two episodes I was exactly like you; I thought Wangji wasn't as "handsome" as I'd envisioned him based on the donghua/novel. BUT, having just watched Episodes 3-4, this actor has REALLY grown on me already and the LOOKS he gives WuXian are SO Wangji...I think they went with a great choice. Thank you for the kind words and comment! And yes! Have a safe and wonderful week, too!

Samantha Wong

Hilarious fact about the actors. Actor that plays Wangji (Wang Yibo) is actually the youngest of the cast and actually the same age (maybe even younger) than the actor that plays Sizhui (Zhang Fenxing). There is an 8 year age gap between Wuxian’s actor (Xiao Zhan) and Wangji’s. Also, Yibo is actually shorter than Xiao Zhan so he had to wear heels and have his hair up to make him look taller XD. Their BTS footage chemistry was also very endearing with Yibo being the more playful and loves teasing his Gege. So if you want to hear Lan Zhan being really out of character you can check out some of the behind the scenes. I think there was a clip of them holding hands and skipping together.

romaniablack

WOW, I didn't realize Yibo and Fenxing were the same age, or that there was an 8 year gap between him and Zhan! WOW! That's also crazy that he wore heels to be taller than Zhan! I love that they have that much chemistry and friendship off screen as they do on screen -- I'm sure that helps make their onscreen chemistry seem more natural! :) Thank you for that info!!

Serralinda

Okay, I had more fun watching this time, but I still think Wangji looks too young and pouty or something (lol). If I expect it to be campy, then it's not as irritating. Oh god, my grandma was obsessed with the Young and the Restless - I watched a lot of it when I was a kid. And my mom has always watched K-dramas (She's Korean, I'm half), so I've seen a lot of Asian dramas in general, but she never was into the fantasy ones. The special effects are kinda cringy, but I'll try to just have a laugh at them and not get bothered. Wuxian's actor is amazing. I think I'll like Wangji's actor during the flashback stuff - he just feels too young to play older Wangji for me. Everyone else seems really fitting - Madame Mo was great.

romaniablack

To be honest, I just watched Episodes 3-4 and I wasn't on board with Wangji until them -- so maybe you'll have that same experience! ^^ And OH, the Young and the Restless...my Great-grandmother's favorite, haha! And yes, the fantasy special effects are...what they are, but I'm more invested in the characters' interactions for now and seeing what changes with the story from the novel/donghua, so I can turn a head at the VFX. :) I LOVE Zhan as WuXian, though! He's so perfect for the part, and I'm with you on Wangji at this point -- also, Madame Mo was great, too. **nods head**