The Untamed was a 2019 Chinese television series adapted from the xianxia novel Mo Dao Zu Shi by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, starring Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo. It follows the adventures of two soulmate cultivators who travel to solve a series of mysteries that link to a tragic event in the past.

I am prefacing my review by stating that I have not read the novel or viewed other adaptations of this story and am solely basing my review off the television series as a whole.

Due to censorship laws in China this drama contains hidden subtext that portrays implicit feelings and ideas of love between the two main leads. This means that the romance is implied, but not announced explicitly. For many potential viewers this can be a deal breaker when selecting a new series to watch. For me personally, the show did a phenomenal job in overcoming the censorship hurdles to give us an eloquent love story.

The Untamed explores themes of love and betrayal; good and evil, while still managing to give us a strong plot, well-rounded characters, and elaborate clothing and makeup. It's easy to become immersed in the series with its stellar cast and pleasing soundtrack (OST). I highly recommend the Untamed as a must watch series for all new viewers and I most certainly encourage rewatching it for those who have already seen it.