I feel like Wei Ying had a crush on Lan Zhan since their time in as students and just didn't realize he was not straight/bi. He kept describing Lan Zhan as beautiful, he kept trying to get Lan Zhan's attention, and he was always talking or thinking about Lan Zhan even after he went back to Lotus Pier.
You’re honestly spot on! I’ve fully watched the drama and I think the same. I don’t think he knew or realized that what he was feeling was love towards lan zhan or knew that he was having a crush on him but he definitely wanted to get closer to lan zhan and grasp his attention as much as possible. Definitely give this drama a try, it’s slow and quite confusing in the beginning but trust me, once you’ve watched it you’re gonna be so attached and in love with the drama and characters(mainly the main leads). I finished watching a month ago and I’m still constantly thinking about it. 😭😭
So I'm guessing you know all this because you read the novel? You should check out the drama, but give it more than a few episodes before you stop. The first episodes has tons of overacting and isn't that great.
@@dramaobsession6619 well, I read the novel only after watching the drama, and when I watched it I didn't know at all that it was based on a BL, yet I saw their attraction and even mutual love quite early. I was sure they were not simply friends because of the way they look at each others, the way they interact. After I finished it, I watched it entirely a 2nd time again before reading the novel, and from the 2nd episode, at Dafan mountain, when Lan Zhan stops Wei WuXian playing the flute for Wen Ning, that look confirmed it for me. But then, that is in the present, so I then paid attention to the flashback, and cld see that there is a fascination from WWX toward LWJ from the 1st meeting at the gates, though it is not obviously love yet. And ofc big bro LXC reveals to us LWJ's early on too. So for me, the novel only confirmed what I had already seen in the drama alone!
I totally agree with you. I liked wangxian's relation dynamic more in the drama probably because i watched the drama first and then read the novel. In the drama the love and friendship between wangxian is strong pure unconditional and because there had been no direct romantic scene or kiss or confession it hits differently. As much as i love the passionate sizzling hot romance between wangxian in the novel i loved the innocent and strong love between wangxian in drama more.
Yea I wonder if I would've liked the novel more than the drama if I had read it first. It's hard to say! I do know that there are die-hard novel fans that don't particularly like the drama adaptation...
Coming at it from exactly the same angle, I also totally agree with this. There are definitely aspects of the novel I like more than the drama, but WangXian’s relationship was much more realistic and natural in CQL.
I love them both, drama and novel. They give different feeling. But even if in drama wangji and wuxian not say that they love each other I feel how they show their love with their affection. Production can't hide it at all. And when I read novel I catch so many things how strong wangji to keep his love. And weiying touch my deepest heart when they come to lianhuawu(in the altar for honoring Jiang Fengmian and his wife). 😍
Wei ying in the novel has - in my eyes - clearly romantic feelings towards lan zhan from the moment they met as students. He's just still mentally very young and just follows the general idea of going after girls and doing the typical "bad boy" chananigans of a free spirited teenager. But how he keeps pestering lan zhan and keeps wanting to evoke a reaction from him (even though the other kids rather want to leave lan zhan alone) can be seen as a sign of him having feelings even though he does not recognize it himself as he doesn't see himself as a cut-sleeve. Later on in the novel (after his ressurection) he hints towards that a little and how he finds them growing stronger while spending so much time with lan zhan, but he works consciously against those feelings as he is confinced that lan zhan would not at all be like that and that if it was meant seriously (and not jokingly as mo xuan) that lan zhan would be deeply offended. That gets very clear at the end where he loses the fight against his feelings and drunkenly takes advantage of similarly drunken lan zhan. But those feelings have been building up from when they where young. He kind of admits this by saying to lan zhan that lan zhan should have acted on his feelings when they where young (admitting that young wei ying would have answered them positively even though he was still oblivious to what those feelings where at that time in his life) The difference between the two is that lan zhan was very aware of his feelings for wei ying from the beginning and actively wanted to keep him at a distance as he was also confinced that those feelings couldn't be mutual and later on he struggled with the dark path that wei ying chose and his uncle disapproval of wei ying. Only after loosing wei ying and after growing older (and less dependent on his uncle) was he able to act on his feelings and choose to be beside wei ying even though he was still confinced his feelings weren't mutual.
If I remember right...in the novel, Lan Wangji smacks Wen Ning when he was drunk and tells him to go away. Wei Wuxian plays the flute to make Wen Ning go but Wangji smacks the flute and tells him not to play the flute for Wen Ning 😂 I found that real cute and wished they put it in the drama!
@@dramaobsession6619 ya even when they went to the restaurant and the waiter puts hands on wei wuxian's shoulder lan wanji was staring him so hard that the waiter got scared and said,"he is staring me as if i thouched his wife"😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
i wish they preserve that one line from guanyin temple scene bc to me its very heartwarming.. this one which jin guangyao said to wwx “didnt u know his life currently in my hand” as he referring wwx is lwj life 🥺 aaa i wish it was in the drama but oh well that’s probably will have problem with censorship 😥😥
Indeed, that is one of my fav iconic line from the novel! It is so simple yet so strong! Another one I regret that cld be kept is soon after, when WWX explains the [seemingly] difference between being afraid of death and not wanting to die... the "explanation" in the drama is so serious, while in the novel it's both funny and heartwarming, and ofc perfect to enrage Su She...
I feel like the novel made the reader more sympathetic to Jin Guang Yao. For example, in the drama he married his wife after he found out she was his sister because he did not know what else to do (he was too far into the marriage agreement) but he had a child with her knowing full well it was incest. Though in the novel they conceived before they were married and before he knew she was his sister. He also chose to never touch her after their marriage. He did awful things (including killing his wife and child) but I feel he deserves at least slack for this.
Yea, I think the drama made the baddies like Jin Guang Yao more bad and the good guys like Wei Wu Xian more good. Novel is a little more blurred around the edges when it comes to morality (which I think is a good thing).
Also, novel spoilers The scene when WWX performs Empathy on the spirit in the Guanyin temple and it shows a flash of JGY's childhood at the brothel his mother worked in. Definitely more sympathetic than in the drama.
Indeed, the novel specifically wants us to understand that life is made or grays and rainbows way more than black and white. I feel it might be part of the censorship in the drama, as it seems to be recurring a bit everywhere, not only in the Untamed. They have also toned down WWX power, and make it more obvious how good is heart is, though for me his morality is as high in the novel, just more subtle. It shows more that circomstances may make even the best person go through harsh decisions that they may not like. Plus, all the manipulation and subtle verbal pushing that JGY uses to make him go along his plans, against WWX's own wishes, is simply transformed in music counteracting ChenQing's, making it more obvious for the audience. It's like if the drama(thanks to censorship maybe?) wants to make sure we understand that's not what WWX wants, they don't want us to believe that grief, pain, ressentment, etc may make him lose his sanity and judgment. Which is another reason that I prefer the novel, despite that I LOVE the drama and how much the producers were able to put in despite the restrictions they had to deal with!
Loved your take on this! I strongly agree with you that the strong suit of the novel was its more nuanced morally grey characters. For me, the key difference between their relationship development in novel and the drama (besides the obvious censorship) is that the novel is very strongly from the POV of WWX, who is an unreliable narrator. He can very very dense when it comes to LWJ's feelings (I think we all headdesked at the epic "you like MianMian" line :D) and also his own. He also has low self-esteem after everything that happened and couldn't possibly imagine someone caring for him quite as much as LWJ did, and being so dedicated to him. But to me it's quite clear the attraction and interest from WWX to LWJ was there from the start, it just took the form of pigtail pulling (e.g. "pay attention to meeeeee" behaviour). He obviously admires the way LWJ looks, but just wasn't very introspective at that point. We keep getting hints of him wanting to approach LWJ and improve their relationship, but after the sunshot campaign he is afraid of being scolded (or, more accurately: of having to face that LWJ is right and he can't control the resentful spirits) and of ppl finding out his golden core is missing so he purposefully distances himself from LWJ. After his resurrection, even though he tries to get away at first, it's not because he actually doesn't want to be around LWJ, he's just scared of being found out and has no idea how LWJ feels about him. It becomes apparent quickly that he actually loves being around LWJ and doesn't want to be parted. imo he realizes his feelings are romantic (+ physical attraction lol) very late in the novel because he just doesn't have any self-awareness about that kind of thing :D Lol sorry for the novel-length comment, can you tell I feel strongly about this :D
I sooooooooo agree with you! For me, there is a line in the drama that explains so well this low selfesteem you're talking about: in the Empathy with NMJ, he sees himself beside JC and comment on his arrogance as being "fake it till you make it". He feels he has not other choice than to create a distance between him and everyone coz he cannot let anyone know the truth, yet he's never wanted to be feared, on the contrary he wants so desperately to be loved, yet doesn't believe he deserves it... For me, when you read the novel and watch the drama together, they complete each other. The novel is so deep in many layers, that lots of ppl don't understand everything, especially considering that lots of the fans are teenagers and young adults that may lack in life experience (hopefully they don't have lived through the kind of angst WWX goes through!) so take a lot of that unreliable pov, as you point out so perfectly, as the real thing. The drama shows us more explicitely, even adding elements like the music from Su She and JGY to manipulate WWX rather than skill with words to trigger emotions, or the Yin iron rather than the frightening high lv cultivation and saditism of Wen Ruohan.
I agree with almost all of what you’ve said. Except when they were young(in novel), they both had strong attractions toward each other, but didn’t know what it was. After leaving the cloud recess, Wei felt bored whatever he did and finding himself wishing to be with Lan. He couldn’t just put a finger to what he was feeling. LAN secretly sneaks out to get the lotus stem/seeds Wei mentioned and puts them in a vase. Someone said in the WATTPAD: “Since Wei resurrected into gay’s body, he somehow recognizes having romantic attraction to Lan. Lan...surprisingly gay.” kkkkkk. I, so agree!
Well, I don't think either is gay or straight. That reincarnation (which is not even that in the drama because of censorship!) shows that no matter the body, they wld love each other. They just happen to be both men, and that love is strong enough to overcome whatever obstacle THAT may lead them to encounter. And btw, that attraction in the novel is as obvious when they were young as in the drama. It's later on, like during the Sunshot campaign that it differs, since in the novel WWX is still oblivious while in the drama he accepts it. In a way, that acceptance may be the explanation or let's say another element to tone down his insanity later on. Coz yah, in the novel, his power is way superior and scary as in the drama...
I'm surprised you didn't mention the biggest difference (aside from the romance, of course); in the drama they introduced the Yin Metal, and had Wen Rouhan using demonic cultivation that had been invented by someone else ages before. In the novel, only the sword in the cave was 'yin metal' and Wei Wuxian created the cultivation technique himself, hence being the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation.
Good point! To be honest I was a little fuzzy on how it all happened in the novel - I felt like they glossed over it quite a bit because it was all told through flashbacks.
@@dramaobsession6619 well it's not really glossed, it's just told little bit by little bit, even in the present for instance at Mo manor when he examines the flags. It's just that we're nearly only in WWX's pov, so why wld he need to explain how he created it? 😉 So you have to read it at least twice to see all or let's say most of the elements to understand it. Basically, we have some foreshadowing as early as during his studies in Gusu, mainly through his dialogue with Lan QiRen, when he talks about the ressentful energy. Also, when JC scolded him about that, his reply is heartbreaking yet very enlightening for futur events: "If that kind of cultivation was easy, someone wld have done it alrdy. Why wld I leave the broad easy road for such a narrow dark one?" (Not direct quoting btw, but basicalLy the reverse sentence he will later tell LWJ) Then when they chase the water ghouls he wonders about what will become the attraction flags and the compass of evil. Another strong element was in the cave, fighting the tortoise, when he found the yin sword, it's so full of ressentful (yin) energy, that he wonders how it cld be used, but doesn't want to arouse LWJ's suspissions when he learns that the sword slipped in the water. So it shows that even 2 years after Gusu, he's still thinking about it. So the table is set to show that is was never his 1st choice, but that he had means in his head to fight the near impossible odds of survival when he was thrown in Burial Mound with no golden core. He was probably sustained by his mighty will to protect his siblings. So he did what he saw as what was needed to learn to control those huge ressentment energies surrending him, and created ChenQing maybe as a kind of remenbrance of the strong power of GusuLan through music, and because the material to create a flute was readily available, the natural evolution of the whistles he also uses. Then he perfected a lot of his technics during the 2-3 years of the Sunshot campaign, having so many corpses and so much ressentful energy at his disposal. But that was also his downfall, as he was constantly surrendered by yin, without the balance of yang a golden core cld have given him. So he grew more and more powerful, more and more fearsome and indeed feared, thus increasing both his power and the danger he was walking on by being constantly pushed this way and that. It was a spiral of increasing power by "lending" him more ressentful energy, making him more fearsome, thus surrending him with more ressentful energy and so on... Thus lie the real danger of that demonic cultivation. It needs a balance of strong love to keep it under control, love that he thought he had lost with Jiang YanLi's death. Thus even though that specific episode in the drama is... omg so strong and heartwrenching (btw, it was the very 1st I watched behinf my daughter's shoulder and made me want to watch the full thing), the chapter in the novel is so much more impactful because by the time we are granted that flashback, we have both all of his younger's journey, but also the comparison with the present time, where he already knows of his feelings for LWJ, he understands (or think... lol) that LWJ is a true friend that sticks to his side against the opinion of the crowd, the ever loyal Wen Ning is again by his side, and even one more interesting element, the juniors are in awe of him, without the fear of the elders. So with so much more love than in his previous life as well as more maturity, the impact of the Nightless city massacre is so much more sorrowful and emotional. And it is a reflect of the impact of the rollercoaster of emotions the novel brings way more than the drama. But then again, it may become too much for some, who will "retire" from it.
I honestly love your analysis comparing the two. As someone who had watched the drama and then attempted reading the novel, the difference in their relationship dynamic really shocked me. I thought that the novel would be like the drama and have their relationship formed somewhat before the 16 year, so you can say I was a little disappointed when it wasn't. I guess that's why I just prefer the drama over the novel .
I think in the novel WWX was less "mature" during his "first life" and didn't really understand that LZ cared about him and his own feelings. It's a different dynamic to the drama. I think if I had read the novel first maybe I would've liked that dynamic more. But since I watched the drama first I like their relationship in the drama more!
@@dramaobsession6619 yes I definitely agree, and I guess personally I just like to watch a relationship with more mature characters, so drama WWX is definitely my bias. However I do love the novel, I mean it's the original, none of this would've been possible without it.
the novel does have a translation. Here's the whole story: exiledrebelsscanlations.com/novels/grandmaster-of-demonic-cultivation/ She is spot on with the difference between the drama and novel. I love the novel, but I think I love the drama better. Hope you enjoy reading
I have just seen the show on Netflix here in Brazil and I will definitely check the novel out! I am really obsessed with the story and you video about the differences just made me more curious about it.
I know I'm late lol but I'm extremely obsessed with CQL and MDZS and I'm just here to say you should check out LWJ's and WWX's character songs. WWX's song specially literally says "I was also once stunned by someone and teased the cloud pattern with my fingertips" WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY LAN ZHAN and "I also had someone in the mortal world once to love and long for". LIKE DUDE the songwriters just said, "To hell with censorship" uwu
I think the novel is the best. I watched the drama first and fell in love with it so I showed it to my mom and watched it with her for the second time. Then I read the novel. Now I am disappointed in the drama adaptation. Biggest reason is that in the drama they have changed the personalities of the characters. Drama has given alot of screen time to supporting characters. Most of the characters appear very little in the novel. But still their impact is huge. I think with all the changes mdzs lost its meaning when it comes to the drama. Here is an example. TU: "he told me... he took you as his confidant, so he should trust your integrity." Mdzs: "he told me... that while he could not say whether your actions were right or wrong, he was willing to carry the burden with you, regardless."
I totally agree!! I have watched the drama and realized there was a novel later on thanks to the comments. But I must say I am afraid to read the novel cause I just love very deeply their relationship as best friends before any romantic moto. And it was just too good all the development on the highest convictions about justice and how they decided to stand for what was fair according to them. For me a romantic relationship between both of them is somehow accessory.
Honestly, their relationship in the drama was never solely friendship! I didn't know about the novel at 1st, even less that it was a bl, yet their love jumped in my face early on! So the novel was actually only a confirmation for me. On top of that, the character developpment is way better in the book than in the drama. As someone else pointed out here, in the drama, they're alrwady way too mature, like if they were born perfect. Of well, in Gusu at 1st they act a bit more like teenagers, but as soon as they leave it's like if they had already gone through everything, like if they were already 30 or even more! The novel characters will give us a lot of facepalming, a bit like the young Harry Potter doesn't have the maturity of the last book. But then the events make them grow way more, so it's so much more realistic! And their relationship follows the same road, so their coming (!) together is way more satisfying in the end. The journey is a wonderful bittersweet learning of what life may teach us all, so if we can learn it through their story rather than having to go through what they experiment, then it's sooooo worth it! Yes, I believe that is one of the few novels in this world that can teach us to be better persons, if we give it the chance, if we accept to read it beyong the obvious. So I wld strongly recommand you give it a try!
I liked 5he live action more than the anime, maybe because it was an actual human being interacting and showing affection even though it was not in a romantic way, which I would have preferred. The drama was AWSOME even making me feel sympathy for the villains,
Yea, I haven't seen all of the anime so I can't really review it, and I'm biased because I'm not much of an anime watcher so I tend to always prefer live action.
Thank you for the video. I love the tv drama but was disappointed with the last scenes that did not overtly show them settling together after a 50 episodes journey that brought the characters so close in perfect partnership. It think only this detail didn't make justice to the spirit of the novel. Great effort by the creative team in portraying a covered LGBT relationship. I slightly disagree with your that the TV just showed a platonic friendship. I personally felt the romantic tension from the beginning and this completely unconditional love from Lan WangJi was so so moving. Super effort from the lead actors. Great performances.
I watched the series before reading the novel too, but I do not see things as as different as you seem to believe. First about their relationship and more specifically their bond in upholding justice, I still see it as strongly in the novel, it's just that LWJ is so much harder to read since we have only WWX pov, and he's still unable to understand him! But there is plenty of hint throughtout the various flashbacks, we can see that LWJ is not simply attracted by WWX good looks, or vice versa. Even more so, the fact that LWJ still loves him so deeply in his new body shows that it's a "soulmate", and that can actually come only from shared values and ideals. Still in the past, he helps awaken Wen Ning consciousness, he even talks for the Wen against the Jin as Wen Ning reveals in Lotus lake in the present. Even more importantly, yet subtle, he teaches his disciples that demonic cultivation is only a tool, and the user is responsible for making it good or evil. We see that numerous times, like in Yi city by the way the Lan disciples react when "MXY" uses it, compared to the other disciples, especially Jin Ling. And he does all that because he believes in WWX ideals, yet has been unable to show it more before that later's death with the kind of upbringing he's had so far. Plus, he's so worried for WWX's health that he doesn't know well how to cope with that either. And honestly, how could either of them? They're basically still teenagers, that never really had time, thanks to war, to dwell on feelings and communication!!! By the time the war is done, they're only 20, and WWX is already so envelopped by suspiscion and fear by everyone, including the shidi he grows up with and doesn't know of his sacrifice, that he's unable to openup to someone else, believe that someone else still cares for him and trusts him. Yet, there is plenty of hints that he was always by his side, ready to help, even if WWX doesn't see it. One of my favorite such hidden hint is right after LWJ 1st drunk episode, when WWX plays with the kids, and tell them about the Sunshot campaign : he explains to their lil version that they're back to back, protecting each others... yet he doesn't even realizes the deep meaning of that! Now, for responsibilities of the massacres, the guild, the schemes... I think that the fact that the series blatantly show Jin GuangYao as the maestro behind the scene simply shows all the emotionnal manipulation that he actually does in the novel. We have to remember that demonic cultivation is based on ressentment energies, and WWX actually "channels" those energies through his body, which is why it affects him both ways, aka a toll on his body, but also feeding on his own fears, angers, frustrations etc to catalyse them into becoming paranoid. JGY knows perfectly well his difficults feelings with JC, his perpetual conflicts with Jin ZiXuan, his love for his shijie and how anyone attacking her easely unhinge him from early on. So he plays masterfully on that to disrupt his emotional stability and pushes him toward his own downfall. So for me, it actually shows better in the novel how a perfectly good person can come to commit acts against their better judgement and their true heart by the "wrong" conditions pushed upon them by such a toxic environment. In the end, imo, those 2 "versions" actually complete each other in a wonderful way to help us understand those very deep, amazing and unforgattable characters! Long live Mo Dao Zu Shi and everything that comes out of it!
@@jiminlacimolalala7552 it's a web novel. Original name is Mo Dao Zu Shi, translated by Grand master of Demonic Cultivation. Here is the best translation: exiledrebelsscanlations.com/category/grandmaster-of-demonic-cultivation/ Be warned though that it is way nore explicit than in the drama, because of the drama has to pass through censorship. Same for the donghua (anime) while the manhua follows closely the novel.
Xian basically gave a hint that he and Zhan were in a relationship when he told Rulan/Ling that he's over with Mrs. Jin because he's inlove with another one (no other person were so close to him other than lan zhan)
I think I am more moved by the drama than I would have been by the book. I actually felt they were just best of friends until the tortise cave incident. That was when I started getting those vibes...Lols
The show also made it clear during a conversation Wei had with Wangji elder brother when the brother explained the story of their mother. He hinted at how their father made certain decisions for their mom out of love abd that Wangji seems to show the same love towards Wei. Also, another person spoke of how they had "intimate relationship"
I just finished the drama, donghua, and novels this year, and it's become my absoltue favorite. the entire scene at the temple in the novel was really well done, and they did the best with what they could in the other adaptations. I do sgree that in the drama they definitely pushed wwx away from his more gray standing that he has in he novels to exhonorate him of some of his deeds. I liked how he was not purely black and white, and showed that morals are unique to a person, and people can be gray and not consign to what we think is wrong or write. JGY is also so itneresteing as an antagonist bc he is a bad person, but not entirely, and the drama tried to make him definitely seem more evil. he did good things, and he did care about people. he cared about Xichen, and i truly believe that outside of his mother he was the one person JGY would never lift a hand to. he was a victim of his circumstances who let it rot him, doesnt excuse what he did, but it shows that even good hearted people can be completely lost to their own want to be heard and accepted by society. i also think the romance def has a diff starting point in the untamed than the novels, and wei ying definitely had feelings during that first life. tho i love the novel idea of lan zhan falling for him the night they met on that rooftop bc wei ying collapsed his world with a simple sword fight and brazen disreguard for rules. he was his opposite, the challenge to everything the then 16 year old knew, and the more time they spent together at cloud recesses cemented that. wei ying was also the only person who tried to get to know him, for him,. it mentions that most of the lan clan avoided lan zhan bc of his nature, and su she's view that he was conceited kinda shows how he could have been percieved by others. wei ying was different, he challenged him and then just wanted to get along with him, he was lan zhan realizing he can be his own person, he can find his own views, fight for his own beliefs, and he did.
I read the novel first sooo the dynamic in the show really confused me. I like the flow much better in the novel as it shows how relations require communication. It was natural to me how they related to each other as I would react the same way Wu Xian has. But I like the timeline much better in the show.
Funnily, I watch the drama (twice) before I read the novel, and I like the timeline better in the novel. We get more action in present sooner, we're made to believe in JGY's evil earlier on too, so the impact of finding that he's less bad then we think is ofc stronger. And every flashback has a reason, unfold a new insight, gives us a new light to understand the true reason of the current situation, so for me it add a nice mystery, instead of having it all "predigested". I understand it is easier to understand in the drama because of that, and watchers don't necessarily enjoy rewatching as much as readers will want to reread to find every minute details and foreshadowing they may have missed.
I thought the pacing and timeline was the real issue/difference in the show, I like many other aspects of the adaptation and don't mind how they changed the relationship dynamic but each flashback in the novel was intercut cleverly to be relevant to something that happened in the present. It keeps you invested in both the present and the past. Meanwhile by episode 33 when the flashback ended, I had forgotten where exactly they had left off in the present. Also having a lot of comments saying the first two episodes are confusing is proof that they did not set up the present timeline very well. Around eps 7-12 where they went on the TV-original-Yin-Iron side quest was also a real drag (btw the whole Yin Iron subplot is my biggest novel vs. drama difference), while the post-flashback present timeline is too rushed.
The only reason so many fans liked the drama much than the novel is because they watched it FIRST. And then read the novel next. I'm completely okay about that, but for me I like the novel better.
Hi!! I saw the anime before reading the book and watching the Drama, and it was very very confusing and I couldn't understand anything of the plot, so that's why I started to read the novel first and then I watched the Tv Drama adaptation and I completely agree with you. I found the personalities of both WWX and LWJ slightly different in the drama, especially WWX, and I prefered how their love story has been portraited in the drama rather than in the book. For all the points that you have already discussed in your video. In my opinion, WWX is less selfish in the drama, and realized that Lan Zhan has feelings from him, while in the novel it seems like he realized it just because he was resurrected in the body of an omosexual. I am not saying that it is like this, but that's my feeling about it. I like that in the drama their relationship is more sentimental and romantic, if it makes sense, and not just from a sexual point of view, as we see in the novel. I mean, I listened to the Audio Drama as well, and I really like it, because of course I like the sweet scenes between them which have been cut from the Drama, but in this way their relationship in the drama is more geniune and romantic. It is just my personal opionion, I am not saying that it is better in one way or another, and anyway I like both the Drama and the novel. And I do agree with you that it is not fair that at the end all the blame is on Jin GuangYao, that's maybe the only thing of the drama that I don't really like. Because Lan Zhan was right to be worried about Wei Ying to lose control, because that's what happens when you do things that are bigger than yourself (I don't know if it makes any sense to you ahaha XD) anyway, I would have prefered that part to be similar to the book. I also like how more attention has been given to the character of Wen Qing in the drama, and she has been more characterised rather than in the book. We can actually understand her better and you can sense how much she loves her brother and she is faithful to her family. Thanks for your video, I am glad that we share this preference. I am sorry for the very long comment, but I couldn't help myself to express my opinion about it xD
Thank you for your comment! I think perhaps in the novel WWX did already have feelings for LWJ during his first life but didn't really realize it. He certain thought about LWJ a lot and was always trying to talk to him or get his attention. He was more immature in the novel than in the drama I think.
It's funny that you mention WenQing because I'm pretty sure one of the reasons she had a bigger role in the drama was that initially the script writers were going to double down on a platonic brotherly love relationship between LWJ and WWX and have WenQing as a suggested romantic partner for WWX. The script leaked, and when novel fans found out about this they freaked out and wrote a long and convincing letter to the producers saying that the show will flop if they turned a BL story into a boy-girl love story. Luckily the producers changed course and we got version of the Untamed that we know and love. Otherwise I think it would've flopped.
I like that the women in the drama are better portrayed indeed, even if there are less than in other dramas, I find women in bl to be more generaly interesting than in traditional "harem" thingy... They seem to be smarter and deeper, so gratz on the drama for showing it. Other than that, I enjoy the novel way more, since there are so many more layers and depth to everything there, including more like a full rainbow of emotions and motivations rather than the mostly black and white of clearcut good vs evil. Another point I prefer, maybe as a mother and more mature woman than the average readers/watchers that seem to be generaly teens and young adults, is the character's arc. If we take the timeline rather than the chronology of the book, we can see them at 16 more like real teenagers that still have to learn real life, thus make understandable mistakes before they mature through everything that happens to them, both thanks to those hardlearnt lessons and events generated by other ppl. In the drama, after goofing around in Cloud Recesses, they're suddenly nearly as mature as their present self when they leave, nearly like if they had already been through all the later hardship of losing their home, the Sunshot campaign and even death (though it supposedly is not death in the drama thanks to censorship, but whatever!) The same is true for their love. In the novel, the oblivious WWX has to think that he lost everyone he loved before he realizes there are way more ppl who care for him than he believed, and deeper too. Not just LWJ, but also all the juniors, simply because he allowed them to see his own deep caring rather than keeping everyone at arm's lenght like in his previous life, since he was afraid they wld discover and think less of him that he has no golden core. So basically, it's his low selfesteem that leads im to be arrogant, like it is actually said in the drama when he comments in Empathy with NMJ about his past self "fake it till you make it". Actually, the drama shows plainly a lot of the subtlety that is actually in the novel, while hidding in plain sight what they cldn't show thanks to censorship. So for me, the 2 go very well together, as the only elements that were created are as I just said, a way to portray more obviously what was already there but had to be read between the lines of the bias of WWX's so oblivious pov... Which is why I still prefer the novel to the drama, even if I watched the drama 1st, coz i have rarely seen such a depth to a supposedly simple romantic novel.
I was read the novel, watch the tv drama, anime, and the comic, but i think novel is the most, because they need to be goal in the end after all. And we need lwj POV.
@@dramaobsession6619 Exactly. I am seriously craving for a LWJ pov novel. I mean, that man was always so stone faced, but he felt the weight of the world inside him. It would be interesting to read his thoughts.
After many rereads, I actually think that we have about as many hints needed to read him about as well as LXC. It's just that we have 1st to understand WWX's biais in his pov. Once that's done, yah there are plenty of signs to understand LWJ!
Both dynamics in the novel and drama are good and I believe compliments each other... you get to understand their thoughts and feelings from the novel especially after watching the drama ❤️ I believe in both the novel and drama, they had already started developing feelings for each without really knowing it from when they became class mates but Lan Zichen knew & some how kept encouraging it. They naturally grew from friendship to soulmates. I believe the Chinese censorship made the drama bit different but they actors actually nailed the version of the novel with their acting. Even without verbally or physically expressing their feelings, it was very glaring from their actions
I do enjoy the Drama but the novel has a special place in my heart. Read it a few times because there are so many nuanced and subtle hints about both parties feelings from the beginning. You get a lot of context on Lan Zhan's true feelings from his brother. Wei Ying is smitten with Lan Zhan from the beginning employing school boy tactics, and Lan Zhan was never far from his thoughts even when he left the Cloud Recesses.
@@lenrussell2424 i think its more cause the donghua rushes too much and cuts too many scenes, especially the second season does not do justice to the story. I'm a huge fan of the novel but I really think the execution of the donghua s2 is pretty bad
I also really like the drama but the anime as kinda getting boring for some reason. Maybe it because in drama it's an actual real human that their interactions really touched me even though it was less romantic, also it was kinda but not my first time watching anime, anime aren't my thing there is too much movement going on it makes me want to vomit and get me dizzy, not because the anime was bad, I made it to ep 16 before giving up.
@@dramaobsession6619 I watched the drama 1st and I like the novel better! It has a better development imo (the characters in the drama are too good or too bad from the start, don't evolved as much) and so many deeper layers than 1st seen! For me the drama is a wonderful complement of the novels, it shows us some beautiful scenes that are only hinted or more like in the head od the characters in the novel, so it's very enjoyable, especially with such good and nice looking actors, but it can never reach the depth of the novel.
I personally always love novels even tho the shows are pretty good. However, I think the scenes that weren't in show but was in book was represented through some significant actions and background. I honestly don't know how to explain it. As much as I love the romantic, filtrious and playful side of book, I can not understimate how they were elegantly put their blood, sweat in to clearing each other's names and the mistery. I also think Wei Ying just didn't understand his own feelings for Lan zhan even tho he was always pinning Lan Zhan until Lan Zhan couldn't take it. What is the only thing which I dislike in show is that their first kiss was not shown and lack of romantic interactions make it harder to not to love Grandmaster of Demonic cultivation than The show, The Untamed.
I’ve watched Untamed, watched the donghua and read the manhua, and also the novel! Still can’t move on! Pretty much sums up my obsession. Going to twitter, weibo and UA-cam just to get a glimpse of wangxian /yizhan each day! Doomed for other romantics in the world.
I haven't read the novel yet (getting there, anime now :D), but I saw lot of the notes on the changes and I wish the did keep some of the blame on WWX and didn't throw it all on A-Yao... not that we don't get enough conflicting feelings about bunch of the characters as is, but it would have been nice :D. It's true that they could not show the romance directly in the drama, but I think Wang Yibo did a lot of the job just in the way LWJ is looking at WWX, that often says more than many many words, he mastered the longing stare quite amazingly :D. Though it would have been fun if they could have rolled into the bushes there at the end. And the scene before that, where A-Yuan tells WWX who he is is one of my favorite sweet moments of the whole show
I suspect they couldn't show WWX as a "bad guy" because of censorship. That's my theory at least. Agreed on the looks from LWJ - I loved all of the smoldering looks in the show!!
@@Blueberryminty a lot! Lol everything regarding the spirit world and the reincarnation. So the demonic cultivation is instead turning ppl into puppets. Also, instead of giving his body for WWX's soul, MXY sacrificed his body to bring back WWX from the brink of death, which explains why it's the same actor both in the past and the present (ok, we can be grateful for that detail since Xiao Zhan nailed that character so well... lol) but they cld have made a better job to hide him imo... but then instead of the full mask that Su She wears, we wld have missed his amazing smile, so... *sigh* oh well... lmao Then, as Drama points out, they had to tune down the grayness of the characters, make them more toward either good or evil. Thus, I believe, the music element of the manipulation of emotions by JGY, rather than his speaking skills. And probably the yin iron too, so it's less WWX's responsibility. His power is less frightening too, though that might also be thanks to the soooo bad special effects! Lol But then again since he cannot play with the spirits and corpses, turning more ppl into puppets wld make him even more evil than in the novel... though maybe they cld have used more of that "black wind" which represent the ressentful energy, the counterpart of spiritual energy, so maybe that's indeed the fault of bad vfx rather than the censorship.
No he leído los libros, acaba de comprarlos del Play Store, pero aunque sacaron las escenas de los besos, de la despedida del final cuando se van juntos entre los arboles, solo el final fue el q no lo entendí y me puso triste, pero gracias a ti, lo vi claro, la serie me gustó creo q incluso más, las miradas, las insinuaciones, el deseo de Zhan de proteger a Wei y el cariño con el q lo hacía, las lágrimas cuando pensó q lo ha perdido, las búsquedas durante 16 años, no se, las insinuaciones sutiles me han gustado más, con ésta serie me di cuenta q no se necesita verlos besarse para expresar el amor q se tienen.
Honestly speaking I love the novel more than the drama. I read the novel before watching the untamed and I'm a little dissatisfied with the drama. The drama followed every other details very thoroughly ( and includes scenes that didn't have in the novel) other than the relationship between two main characters. If anyone don't know about the novel or any thing about the main characters and only just watch the drama frist time they don't think it's actually adapted from a bl novel or any bl contain is there. The drama shows that LanZhan thought Wie Ying his very good friend but actually from the first time Lan Zhan saw Wieyin he never thought about him only a good friend he has feelings for him from the very start. But I can understand that due to censorship they can't show the things properly and they tried but it can't satisfy me. The only thing that I liked about the drama is Xiao Zhan 🥰 I'm grateful that my imagination of Wie Ying has a perfect face now. 😅
I absolutely love this drama, Wang Yibo and Xiao zhan are really amazing the story line had me at the very beginning. i have re-watch it at least 3 time already lol. However i haven't read the novel, is there an English version, if so can you tell me where i can fine it please 🙂
I feel many people would disagree with me but I think I like the way the series portrayed their relationship. In the book, I did not get the feel that Wei or Wangji felt anything deep for each other. If anything I felt that Wei wanted to avoid LZ at any cost while LZ seemed to be chasing after him for some unknown reason. In other words, the feelings were very one sided. I liked it in some sense but I still prefer the series. In the series, from the beginning you kind of get the feeling that there is something between them whether it is him standing devasted after Wei fell, or Wei hiding but smiling like a shy little boy on seeing LZ or LZ holding Wei's hand and their first eye contact. Without any word, only by expression, you could tell there is something going on between them. And the entire story you feel even more drawn by how they became frds and traveled together and how everything took a 180. It felt more deep, more touching and more moving. Which is why I found the relationship aspect in the series much better than the novel. But I liked the detail of the plot in the novel better! And I preferred how in novel they showed WW as anti-hero and not all victim of circumstances. That made the contrast between LZ and WW that much more interesting!
I also went looking for the novel after watching the drama 😂 I totally agree with you that the drama did justice to the novel. The anime was slightly messy (in terms of the storyline) while the manhua is near with the novel in terms of storyline. Its just I love the novel more than anythinh because it is the original piece. The writer is so creative that made me want to read more of their works specially the "Heaven's official Blessing" i heard its also BL 😍😍😍
@@odeliamili7129 hey, uhmm its okay if you dont like the drama, i wont say anything about that but can you please respect others view or perspective about this. We all have our own ideals which can be similar or different with one another
Honestly I think the novel is very romantic. But it make sense y they won’t get along at first wwx very chaotic while lwj calm their personalities would clash naturally. Plus them being distant to the war make sense. Wwx have a crush on lwj in the cloud recess arc I think it like him pulling a girl pigtail. Their misunderstanding r natural bc lwj is honestly horrible at displaying his feeling and wwx have lot of thing to deal with. Also I like novel mianmian better. Bc her a slave girl who upgraded to a cultivator choose to throw it all away to defend wwx is more meaningful then her storming out when she a jin disciple. I feel like it more impactful. Poor wwx getting kidnapped by lwj. I love how the novel wwx is morally gray and bamf and it not all jgy fault. Wwx is the boss Loss golden core: Jc: Guess I will die now Wwx: thrown in the burial mound and invented a whole as new form of cultivation
Just for censorship! Lol They still show subtly that this parting is not the end, as another video explains it. The very last sequence with WWX shows us that he sees someone that makes him smile beautifully, and he's wearing a different set of robes than at the parting... so it implies that he's actually back after some wandering...
What translation did y'all read to get that Lan Zhan forced Wei to stay by his side after his resurrection???? After the resurrection, Wei always sought out Lan Zhan, always thought Lan Zhan was a friend, but quite set in the formalities of his clan, and always knew Lan Zhan respected him.
I don't think WY seriously wanted to leave LZ, but I think in the novel after his resurrection right after he met LZ he did say to himself that he wanted to sneak away from LZ.
@@dramaobsession6619 I don't want to come across as rude via text, but, can you point me to the chapter that he said that in so I can find it? I literally finished reading it a couple of days ago and just finished watching the series so both is kind of melding in my brain. If you can please point it out, it would take me less time to find it.
@@nandhinisingh2514 there are plenty of chapters, where WWX plainly says that he did everything he cld to make LWJ want to let him go. I may forget others but here are some very explicit: ==> 11 & 12: at Cloud Recesses before the 1st flashback, many times from the entrance even trying to disgust LXC, the only time LWJ silences him after reincarnation since he forsaw it, up to flirting outrageously with him in bed to the point LWJ paralyses him ==> 19 & 20: from Cloud Recesses toward Qinghe, after the flashback, he mostly flirts again outrageously and tries to enrage the juniors by his not subtle innuendos, but after the man-eating castle, LWJ lets him know he's recognized him, so that's when he stops, without thinking much on what he's done so far since he doesn't know of LWJ true feelings ==> 99: after the revealation by LXC, he remembers everything he's done in the past to try to push him away and feels ashamed and scared of his own uncaring boldness
@@dramaobsession6619 I think yes he still wants to push away LWJ, or actually anyone and everyone. It's an habit he got since he gave his golden core, too afraid to be discovered, lacking selfesteem and feeling he doesn't fully deserved to be loved (of any kind). I think it's the persistence of LWJ that slowly "tame" him, making him believe that maybe after all he's worthy to have friends, that it's not as dangerous as he used to believe to make ppl see how deeply he actually cares for them. The awe the juniors developp for him as Senior Mo is also very important for that process.
@@roxelaneelmira4678 you missed the words "forced to stay". Wanting someone to let you go due to self hate/loathing is not the same thing as someone forcing you to stay against your will and consent. The one time I will say that Lan Zhan complete ignored WWX's consent was when he was first brought to Cloud Recess. That was completely wrong of Lan Zhan to do. However, the main reason for WWX not giving consent, is plainly stated by WWX: the rules. It wasn't because nor due to Lan Zhan, it was the rules that WWX didn't want to be confined by.
Maybe someone has said it before or maybe it's just me but I felt that in the tv show Wei Ying loves his sister and cares about her as a brother. More like mother son relationship. I mean it's definitely family love. But in the book I felt he loved her more than a sister. Before dying (to me) he was in love with her. After he resurrected he fools around with Lan Zhan to make him uncomfortable until he develops feelings toward Lan Zhan. Just my opinion. And maybe I should read the book again.
Dan ada satu bagian yg ada di drama tp tidak ada di novel, saat WWX & LWJ terseret masuk ke goa tempat leluhur Lan menyegel besi yin, dan mereka saling terikat oleh pita dahi milik LWJ
And can you pls do a review on The Winter Begonia’s ending? I just can’t accept that drama’s ambiguous ending! What does the novel’s ending said? Do they never meet again? Thank you in advance🙏
DramaObsession, THANK YOU🙏🙏🙏!!! You are such a nice and understanding person. You completely understand the frustration of the international fans. Bless you!
there is no official English translation of the novel, so you can't buy it but you can read the fan translation at exiledrebels scanlations...just search for grandmaster of demonic cultivation novel.
I want to know one think correctly plz tell me that what is the relationship between lanzhan and weiying plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz tell me I'm seeing them as a best friends
The Untamed is based on the novel, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. You can read the English translation at exiledrebelsscanlations.com/novels/grandmaster-of-demonic-cultivation/
As far as some of the takes that you mentioned in the video are correct, I have to be honest that your last statement about their vows being more meaningful in the drama is misleading. In the novel wei wuxian and lan wangji though may not have vows, their commitment and their beliefs combined with their morality does not change and does not differ in anyway with the untamed. In the novel we see wei wuxian defending the wens (though he may act murderous in nightless city but it was commited in self defence and he was the innocent one), we see wei wuxian and lan wangji bringing liberation to Qing-guniang and the rightful revenge against xue yang, how wei wuxian defended the weak; it all does not make it less meaningful than in the drama. Secondly, on the persepctive of lan wangji falling in love at first sight with wei wuxian during cloud recesses is also understandable and reasonable, given how in lan wangji's point of view, wei wuxian is similar to his mother. He may judged his mother as someone who disobeys the rules and brought unhappiness upon himself, thus thinking why she was punished and locked away. This way (at the very beginning of their meeting till whatever happened in cloud recesses with wei wuxian broking a lot of rules at once) lan wangji starts to gain feelings and attempt to prevent the mistakes, like how he thought his mother commited. He was telling wei wuxian to discipline himself and obey the rules. In my opinion, this is quite reasonable enough.
and also, self condemnation and redemption does not, or should of not make a difference with wei wuxian in the novel or drama, given how low his self esteem is. majority of what he did like harming thousands of people in nightless city, though he may have murdered some, though murder is wrong, it was completely within his SELF DEFENCE. all the sects intended to put an end to him.
Here's the English translation of the book: exiledrebelsscanlations.com/novels/grandmaster-of-demonic-cultivation/. If you're looking for the Chinese version it's widely available on the internet - just search 魔道祖师
@@taekook.aficionado Good question!! I think I explained this in my "Is the Untamed a Romance?" Video! The song that Wei Ying was playing on his flute in episode 2 when he was controlling Wen Ning is the song that Lan Zhan hummed for him in the tortoise cave. In the novel, it's made clear that Lanzhan composed that song and at no one except Weiying had ever heard the song before. So when Mo Xuan Yu started playing it in episode 2, Lan Zhan realized he was Weiying (and that's why he went over and grabbed him by the wrist and stared at him so intently :P).
I am enjoying your explanation of The Untamed esp. the connotations of the actions. Since I don’t read Chinese at all is there an English version of the book?
The only reason so many fans liked the drama much than the novel is because they watched it FIRST. And then read the novel next. I'm completely okay about that, but for me I like the novel better.
Not sure about that...I think the issue with the novel is that it summarizes too much, especially when it goes in the past. Telling the whole story leading up to the death of Wei has its disadvantages, but it also allows the the audience to become more invested in that arc than it is possible when it is told bit by bit and often only in a quick summary. It actually reminds me a little bit of the first book of Lord of the Rings, which I despised when I read it, because pretty much all the interesting things were summarized in hindsight, taking all suspense out of them, while in the movie, they are allowed to play out. I think it is the same here, since the events of the past gets the necessary room it is way easier to get invested in the fate of characters which didn't make it, hence it becomes easier to relate to the grief of those still alive. Thus said, I think neither is perfect. Even with the TV show I feel they rushed through certain events. I actually would like to see a version in which the best parts of the novel and the best parts of the TV show are connected, with more room left for certain events...or, in short, I actually think that the whole Wen-Arc is too short.
I feel like Wei Ying had a crush on Lan Zhan since their time in as students and just didn't realize he was not straight/bi. He kept describing Lan Zhan as beautiful, he kept trying to get Lan Zhan's attention, and he was always talking or thinking about Lan Zhan even after he went back to Lotus Pier.
I haven't yet watched the drama tho so I can't really comment on it, I'm here to figure out if I want to watch it.
You’re honestly spot on! I’ve fully watched the drama and I think the same. I don’t think he knew or realized that what he was feeling was love towards lan zhan or knew that he was having a crush on him but he definitely wanted to get closer to lan zhan and grasp his attention as much as possible. Definitely give this drama a try, it’s slow and quite confusing in the beginning but trust me, once you’ve watched it you’re gonna be so attached and in love with the drama and characters(mainly the main leads). I finished watching a month ago and I’m still constantly thinking about it. 😭😭
So I'm guessing you know all this because you read the novel? You should check out the drama, but give it more than a few episodes before you stop. The first episodes has tons of overacting and isn't that great.
yeah
@@dramaobsession6619 well, I read the novel only after watching the drama, and when I watched it I didn't know at all that it was based on a BL, yet I saw their attraction and even mutual love quite early. I was sure they were not simply friends because of the way they look at each others, the way they interact. After I finished it, I watched it entirely a 2nd time again before reading the novel, and from the 2nd episode, at Dafan mountain, when Lan Zhan stops Wei WuXian playing the flute for Wen Ning, that look confirmed it for me.
But then, that is in the present, so I then paid attention to the flashback, and cld see that there is a fascination from WWX toward LWJ from the 1st meeting at the gates, though it is not obviously love yet. And ofc big bro LXC reveals to us LWJ's early on too.
So for me, the novel only confirmed what I had already seen in the drama alone!
I totally agree with you. I liked wangxian's relation dynamic more in the drama probably because i watched the drama first and then read the novel. In the drama the love and friendship between wangxian is strong pure unconditional and because there had been no direct romantic scene or kiss or confession it hits differently. As much as i love the passionate sizzling hot romance between wangxian in the novel i loved the innocent and strong love between wangxian in drama more.
Yea I wonder if I would've liked the novel more than the drama if I had read it first. It's hard to say! I do know that there are die-hard novel fans that don't particularly like the drama adaptation...
Coming at it from exactly the same angle, I also totally agree with this. There are definitely aspects of the novel I like more than the drama, but WangXian’s relationship was much more realistic and natural in CQL.
I love them both, drama and novel.
They give different feeling. But even if in drama wangji and wuxian not say that they love each other I feel how they show their love with their affection. Production can't hide it at all.
And when I read novel I catch so many things how strong wangji to keep his love. And weiying touch my deepest heart when they come to lianhuawu(in the altar for honoring Jiang Fengmian and his wife).
😍
Where can I read/buy the novel?
@@suzanjagersma3369 exiledrebelsscanlations.com/novels/grandmaster-of-demonic-cultivation/
Here is the link to the english translation of the novel.
Wei ying in the novel has - in my eyes - clearly romantic feelings towards lan zhan from the moment they met as students. He's just still mentally very young and just follows the general idea of going after girls and doing the typical "bad boy" chananigans of a free spirited teenager. But how he keeps pestering lan zhan and keeps wanting to evoke a reaction from him (even though the other kids rather want to leave lan zhan alone) can be seen as a sign of him having feelings even though he does not recognize it himself as he doesn't see himself as a cut-sleeve.
Later on in the novel (after his ressurection) he hints towards that a little and how he finds them growing stronger while spending so much time with lan zhan, but he works consciously against those feelings as he is confinced that lan zhan would not at all be like that and that if it was meant seriously (and not jokingly as mo xuan) that lan zhan would be deeply offended. That gets very clear at the end where he loses the fight against his feelings and drunkenly takes advantage of similarly drunken lan zhan. But those feelings have been building up from when they where young. He kind of admits this by saying to lan zhan that lan zhan should have acted on his feelings when they where young (admitting that young wei ying would have answered them positively even though he was still oblivious to what those feelings where at that time in his life)
The difference between the two is that lan zhan was very aware of his feelings for wei ying from the beginning and actively wanted to keep him at a distance as he was also confinced that those feelings couldn't be mutual and later on he struggled with the dark path that wei ying chose and his uncle disapproval of wei ying. Only after loosing wei ying and after growing older (and less dependent on his uncle) was he able to act on his feelings and choose to be beside wei ying even though he was still confinced his feelings weren't mutual.
If I remember right...in the novel, Lan Wangji smacks Wen Ning when he was drunk and tells him to go away. Wei Wuxian plays the flute to make Wen Ning go but Wangji smacks the flute and tells him not to play the flute for Wen Ning 😂 I found that real cute and wished they put it in the drama!
i also loved that scene
i like how lan wangji gets jealous and he is so possessive💗💗😊😊
Yea Lan Wangji gets jealous quite often doesn't he? 😂
@@dramaobsession6619 ya even when they went to the restaurant and the waiter puts hands on wei wuxian's shoulder lan wanji was staring him so hard that the waiter got scared and said,"he is staring me as if i thouched his wife"😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@ahgasegot7forever1 yet the oblivious WWX doesn't understand it yet... It's so funny!
Where to see the untamed novel?
I read the novel first, then watched the drama. I agree with your take on all the differences. I loved the book, and I love the drama!
I'm glad you agree :) Thanks for watching!
Pl..romance ad love moments novel explain in the hindi plplpl
Does the novel have the same name and can i get the novel online ?
आपने novel kaha se padha
Where can I read the novel? And who is the author? Pls answer. Thank you
i wish they preserve that one line from guanyin temple scene bc to me its very heartwarming.. this one which jin guangyao said to wwx “didnt u know his life currently in my hand” as he referring wwx is lwj life 🥺 aaa i wish it was in the drama but oh well that’s probably will have problem with censorship 😥😥
Wait, I actually don't remember that line, lol. I'm going to have to go back and check it out! :D
Agreed. It’s inferred, but would have been lovely to hear him explicitly say it. I love that line too! ❤️
@@abigailasare5514 I loved that part. LXC was actually angry at WWX for putting his brother through all the heartbreak
Indeed, that is one of my fav iconic line from the novel! It is so simple yet so strong!
Another one I regret that cld be kept is soon after, when WWX explains the [seemingly] difference between being afraid of death and not wanting to die... the "explanation" in the drama is so serious, while in the novel it's both funny and heartwarming, and ofc perfect to enrage Su She...
I feel like the novel made the reader more sympathetic to Jin Guang Yao. For example, in the drama he married his wife after he found out she was his sister because he did not know what else to do (he was too far into the marriage agreement) but he had a child with her knowing full well it was incest. Though in the novel they conceived before they were married and before he knew she was his sister. He also chose to never touch her after their marriage. He did awful things (including killing his wife and child) but I feel he deserves at least slack for this.
Yea, I think the drama made the baddies like Jin Guang Yao more bad and the good guys like Wei Wu Xian more good. Novel is a little more blurred around the edges when it comes to morality (which I think is a good thing).
Also, novel spoilers
The scene when WWX performs Empathy on the spirit in the Guanyin temple and it shows a flash of JGY's childhood at the brothel his mother worked in. Definitely more sympathetic than in the drama.
The child was conceived before their marriage and before he knew they were siblings
Indeed, the novel specifically wants us to understand that life is made or grays and rainbows way more than black and white. I feel it might be part of the censorship in the drama, as it seems to be recurring a bit everywhere, not only in the Untamed.
They have also toned down WWX power, and make it more obvious how good is heart is, though for me his morality is as high in the novel, just more subtle. It shows more that circomstances may make even the best person go through harsh decisions that they may not like. Plus, all the manipulation and subtle verbal pushing that JGY uses to make him go along his plans, against WWX's own wishes, is simply transformed in music counteracting ChenQing's, making it more obvious for the audience. It's like if the drama(thanks to censorship maybe?) wants to make sure we understand that's not what WWX wants, they don't want us to believe that grief, pain, ressentment, etc may make him lose his sanity and judgment.
Which is another reason that I prefer the novel, despite that I LOVE the drama and how much the producers were able to put in despite the restrictions they had to deal with!
Loved your take on this! I strongly agree with you that the strong suit of the novel was its more nuanced morally grey characters.
For me, the key difference between their relationship development in novel and the drama (besides the obvious censorship) is that the novel is very strongly from the POV of WWX, who is an unreliable narrator. He can very very dense when it comes to LWJ's feelings (I think we all headdesked at the epic "you like MianMian" line :D) and also his own. He also has low self-esteem after everything that happened and couldn't possibly imagine someone caring for him quite as much as LWJ did, and being so dedicated to him.
But to me it's quite clear the attraction and interest from WWX to LWJ was there from the start, it just took the form of pigtail pulling (e.g. "pay attention to meeeeee" behaviour). He obviously admires the way LWJ looks, but just wasn't very introspective at that point. We keep getting hints of him wanting to approach LWJ and improve their relationship, but after the sunshot campaign he is afraid of being scolded (or, more accurately: of having to face that LWJ is right and he can't control the resentful spirits) and of ppl finding out his golden core is missing so he purposefully distances himself from LWJ. After his resurrection, even though he tries to get away at first, it's not because he actually doesn't want to be around LWJ, he's just scared of being found out and has no idea how LWJ feels about him. It becomes apparent quickly that he actually loves being around LWJ and doesn't want to be parted. imo he realizes his feelings are romantic (+ physical attraction lol) very late in the novel because he just doesn't have any self-awareness about that kind of thing :D
Lol sorry for the novel-length comment, can you tell I feel strongly about this :D
I sooooooooo agree with you! For me, there is a line in the drama that explains so well this low selfesteem you're talking about: in the Empathy with NMJ, he sees himself beside JC and comment on his arrogance as being "fake it till you make it". He feels he has not other choice than to create a distance between him and everyone coz he cannot let anyone know the truth, yet he's never wanted to be feared, on the contrary he wants so desperately to be loved, yet doesn't believe he deserves it...
For me, when you read the novel and watch the drama together, they complete each other. The novel is so deep in many layers, that lots of ppl don't understand everything, especially considering that lots of the fans are teenagers and young adults that may lack in life experience (hopefully they don't have lived through the kind of angst WWX goes through!) so take a lot of that unreliable pov, as you point out so perfectly, as the real thing. The drama shows us more explicitely, even adding elements like the music from Su She and JGY to manipulate WWX rather than skill with words to trigger emotions, or the Yin iron rather than the frightening high lv cultivation and saditism of Wen Ruohan.
I agree with almost all of what you’ve said. Except when they were young(in novel), they both had strong attractions toward each other, but didn’t know what it was. After leaving the cloud recess, Wei felt bored whatever he did and finding himself wishing to be with Lan. He couldn’t just put a finger to what he was feeling. LAN secretly sneaks out to get the lotus stem/seeds Wei mentioned and puts them in a vase. Someone said in the WATTPAD: “Since Wei resurrected into gay’s body, he somehow recognizes having romantic attraction to Lan. Lan...surprisingly gay.” kkkkkk. I, so agree!
Hahaha your last comment made me laugh!
Well, I don't think either is gay or straight. That reincarnation (which is not even that in the drama because of censorship!) shows that no matter the body, they wld love each other. They just happen to be both men, and that love is strong enough to overcome whatever obstacle THAT may lead them to encounter.
And btw, that attraction in the novel is as obvious when they were young as in the drama. It's later on, like during the Sunshot campaign that it differs, since in the novel WWX is still oblivious while in the drama he accepts it. In a way, that acceptance may be the explanation or let's say another element to tone down his insanity later on. Coz yah, in the novel, his power is way superior and scary as in the drama...
I'm surprised you didn't mention the biggest difference (aside from the romance, of course); in the drama they introduced the Yin Metal, and had Wen Rouhan using demonic cultivation that had been invented by someone else ages before. In the novel, only the sword in the cave was 'yin metal' and Wei Wuxian created the cultivation technique himself, hence being the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation.
Good point! To be honest I was a little fuzzy on how it all happened in the novel - I felt like they glossed over it quite a bit because it was all told through flashbacks.
@@dramaobsession6619 well it's not really glossed, it's just told little bit by little bit, even in the present for instance at Mo manor when he examines the flags. It's just that we're nearly only in WWX's pov, so why wld he need to explain how he created it? 😉 So you have to read it at least twice to see all or let's say most of the elements to understand it.
Basically, we have some foreshadowing as early as during his studies in Gusu, mainly through his dialogue with Lan QiRen, when he talks about the ressentful energy. Also, when JC scolded him about that, his reply is heartbreaking yet very enlightening for futur events: "If that kind of cultivation was easy, someone wld have done it alrdy. Why wld I leave the broad easy road for such a narrow dark one?" (Not direct quoting btw, but basicalLy the reverse sentence he will later tell LWJ)
Then when they chase the water ghouls he wonders about what will become the attraction flags and the compass of evil.
Another strong element was in the cave, fighting the tortoise, when he found the yin sword, it's so full of ressentful (yin) energy, that he wonders how it cld be used, but doesn't want to arouse LWJ's suspissions when he learns that the sword slipped in the water. So it shows that even 2 years after Gusu, he's still thinking about it.
So the table is set to show that is was never his 1st choice, but that he had means in his head to fight the near impossible odds of survival when he was thrown in Burial Mound with no golden core. He was probably sustained by his mighty will to protect his siblings. So he did what he saw as what was needed to learn to control those huge ressentment energies surrending him, and created ChenQing maybe as a kind of remenbrance of the strong power of GusuLan through music, and because the material to create a flute was readily available, the natural evolution of the whistles he also uses.
Then he perfected a lot of his technics during the 2-3 years of the Sunshot campaign, having so many corpses and so much ressentful energy at his disposal. But that was also his downfall, as he was constantly surrendered by yin, without the balance of yang a golden core cld have given him. So he grew more and more powerful, more and more fearsome and indeed feared, thus increasing both his power and the danger he was walking on by being constantly pushed this way and that. It was a spiral of increasing power by "lending" him more ressentful energy, making him more fearsome, thus surrending him with more ressentful energy and so on...
Thus lie the real danger of that demonic cultivation. It needs a balance of strong love to keep it under control, love that he thought he had lost with Jiang YanLi's death. Thus even though that specific episode in the drama is... omg so strong and heartwrenching (btw, it was the very 1st I watched behinf my daughter's shoulder and made me want to watch the full thing), the chapter in the novel is so much more impactful because by the time we are granted that flashback, we have both all of his younger's journey, but also the comparison with the present time, where he already knows of his feelings for LWJ, he understands (or think... lol) that LWJ is a true friend that sticks to his side against the opinion of the crowd, the ever loyal Wen Ning is again by his side, and even one more interesting element, the juniors are in awe of him, without the fear of the elders. So with so much more love than in his previous life as well as more maturity, the impact of the Nightless city massacre is so much more sorrowful and emotional.
And it is a reflect of the impact of the rollercoaster of emotions the novel brings way more than the drama. But then again, it may become too much for some, who will "retire" from it.
I honestly love your analysis comparing the two. As someone who had watched the drama and then attempted reading the novel, the difference in their relationship dynamic really shocked me. I thought that the novel would be like the drama and have their relationship formed somewhat before the 16 year, so you can say I was a little disappointed when it wasn't. I guess that's why I just prefer the drama over the novel .
I think in the novel WWX was less "mature" during his "first life" and didn't really understand that LZ cared about him and his own feelings. It's a different dynamic to the drama. I think if I had read the novel first maybe I would've liked that dynamic more. But since I watched the drama first I like their relationship in the drama more!
@@dramaobsession6619 yes I definitely agree, and I guess personally I just like to watch a relationship with more mature characters, so drama WWX is definitely my bias. However I do love the novel, I mean it's the original, none of this would've been possible without it.
I wish i can read the novel too
@@leztirf1 you can read the translation online
Tasnim Uddin Really? what website ? Thank you🤗
So lucky you can read the novel and watch the show. I wish the novel had a translation!!
the novel does have a translation. Here's the whole story:
exiledrebelsscanlations.com/novels/grandmaster-of-demonic-cultivation/
She is spot on with the difference between the drama and novel. I love the novel, but I think I love the drama better. Hope you enjoy reading
@@kat1304 Thanks for linking the novel! How's the English translation, would you say?
@@dramaobsession6619 the translation is great. Accurate and good. I think everyone read from this site
I have just seen the show on Netflix here in Brazil and I will definitely check the novel out! I am really obsessed with the story and you video about the differences just made me more curious about it.
Chapters 69, 95, 100, 111, 117, 119, 120 😏
If that kiss scene would have happened I don't know how I would survive I love them together
I know I'm late lol but I'm extremely obsessed with CQL and MDZS and I'm just here to say you should check out LWJ's and WWX's character songs. WWX's song specially literally says "I was also once stunned by someone and teased the cloud pattern with my fingertips" WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY LAN ZHAN and "I also had someone in the mortal world once to love and long for".
LIKE DUDE the songwriters just said, "To hell with censorship" uwu
I think the novel is the best. I watched the drama first and fell in love with it so I showed it to my mom and watched it with her for the second time. Then I read the novel. Now I am disappointed in the drama adaptation. Biggest reason is that in the drama they have changed the personalities of the characters.
Drama has given alot of screen time to supporting characters. Most of the characters appear very little in the novel. But still their impact is huge. I think with all the changes mdzs lost its meaning when it comes to the drama. Here is an example.
TU: "he told me... he took you as his confidant, so he should trust your integrity."
Mdzs: "he told me... that while he could not say whether your actions were right or wrong, he was willing to carry the burden with you, regardless."
im the 500 likes and the 100 comment 😁
just happy to know there are people other than me and my friend that rooting for MDZS 😊
I totally agree!! I have watched the drama and realized there was a novel later on thanks to the comments. But I must say I am afraid to read the novel cause I just love very deeply their relationship as best friends before any romantic moto. And it was just too good all the development on the highest convictions about justice and how they decided to stand for what was fair according to them. For me a romantic relationship between both of them is somehow accessory.
Honestly, their relationship in the drama was never solely friendship! I didn't know about the novel at 1st, even less that it was a bl, yet their love jumped in my face early on! So the novel was actually only a confirmation for me.
On top of that, the character developpment is way better in the book than in the drama. As someone else pointed out here, in the drama, they're alrwady way too mature, like if they were born perfect. Of well, in Gusu at 1st they act a bit more like teenagers, but as soon as they leave it's like if they had already gone through everything, like if they were already 30 or even more!
The novel characters will give us a lot of facepalming, a bit like the young Harry Potter doesn't have the maturity of the last book. But then the events make them grow way more, so it's so much more realistic! And their relationship follows the same road, so their coming (!) together is way more satisfying in the end. The journey is a wonderful bittersweet learning of what life may teach us all, so if we can learn it through their story rather than having to go through what they experiment, then it's sooooo worth it!
Yes, I believe that is one of the few novels in this world that can teach us to be better persons, if we give it the chance, if we accept to read it beyong the obvious.
So I wld strongly recommand you give it a try!
I prefer Drama bcz the production te is very smart and made all the rightful changes
@@roxelaneelmira4678 no sis i really prefer the drama and not novel.Every thing just felt weird
I just finish the series and then I found this video!
thank you for telling these things!
You're so welcome!
I liked 5he live action more than the anime, maybe because it was an actual human being interacting and showing affection even though it was not in a romantic way, which I would have preferred. The drama was AWSOME even making me feel sympathy for the villains,
Yea, I haven't seen all of the anime so I can't really review it, and I'm biased because I'm not much of an anime watcher so I tend to always prefer live action.
Also, Jinguangyao was Harrased in the book however Mrs. Jin got Harrased in the drama.... Huge level of censorship
Very true...
Thank you for the video. I love the tv drama but was disappointed with the last scenes that did not overtly show them settling together after a 50 episodes journey that brought the characters so close in perfect partnership. It think only this detail didn't make justice to the spirit of the novel. Great effort by the creative team in portraying a covered LGBT relationship. I slightly disagree with your that the TV just showed a platonic friendship. I personally felt the romantic tension from the beginning and this completely unconditional love from Lan WangJi was so so moving. Super effort from the lead actors. Great performances.
I watched the series before reading the novel too, but I do not see things as as different as you seem to believe.
First about their relationship and more specifically their bond in upholding justice, I still see it as strongly in the novel, it's just that LWJ is so much harder to read since we have only WWX pov, and he's still unable to understand him! But there is plenty of hint throughtout the various flashbacks, we can see that LWJ is not simply attracted by WWX good looks, or vice versa. Even more so, the fact that LWJ still loves him so deeply in his new body shows that it's a "soulmate", and that can actually come only from shared values and ideals. Still in the past, he helps awaken Wen Ning consciousness, he even talks for the Wen against the Jin as Wen Ning reveals in Lotus lake in the present. Even more importantly, yet subtle, he teaches his disciples that demonic cultivation is only a tool, and the user is responsible for making it good or evil. We see that numerous times, like in Yi city by the way the Lan disciples react when "MXY" uses it, compared to the other disciples, especially Jin Ling. And he does all that because he believes in WWX ideals, yet has been unable to show it more before that later's death with the kind of upbringing he's had so far. Plus, he's so worried for WWX's health that he doesn't know well how to cope with that either. And honestly, how could either of them? They're basically still teenagers, that never really had time, thanks to war, to dwell on feelings and communication!!! By the time the war is done, they're only 20, and WWX is already so envelopped by suspiscion and fear by everyone, including the shidi he grows up with and doesn't know of his sacrifice, that he's unable to openup to someone else, believe that someone else still cares for him and trusts him. Yet, there is plenty of hints that he was always by his side, ready to help, even if WWX doesn't see it. One of my favorite such hidden hint is right after LWJ 1st drunk episode, when WWX plays with the kids, and tell them about the Sunshot campaign : he explains to their lil version that they're back to back, protecting each others... yet he doesn't even realizes the deep meaning of that!
Now, for responsibilities of the massacres, the guild, the schemes... I think that the fact that the series blatantly show Jin GuangYao as the maestro behind the scene simply shows all the emotionnal manipulation that he actually does in the novel. We have to remember that demonic cultivation is based on ressentment energies, and WWX actually "channels" those energies through his body, which is why it affects him both ways, aka a toll on his body, but also feeding on his own fears, angers, frustrations etc to catalyse them into becoming paranoid. JGY knows perfectly well his difficults feelings with JC, his perpetual conflicts with Jin ZiXuan, his love for his shijie and how anyone attacking her easely unhinge him from early on. So he plays masterfully on that to disrupt his emotional stability and pushes him toward his own downfall. So for me, it actually shows better in the novel how a perfectly good person can come to commit acts against their better judgement and their true heart by the "wrong" conditions pushed upon them by such a toxic environment.
In the end, imo, those 2 "versions" actually complete each other in a wonderful way to help us understand those very deep, amazing and unforgattable characters! Long live Mo Dao Zu Shi and everything that comes out of it!
Is the novel a book or on UA-cam and what is the book name/title if it's a book tell me where I can get it and if it's on UA-cam tell me the title
@@jiminlacimolalala7552 it's a web novel. Original name is Mo Dao Zu Shi, translated by Grand master of Demonic Cultivation. Here is the best translation:
exiledrebelsscanlations.com/category/grandmaster-of-demonic-cultivation/
Be warned though that it is way nore explicit than in the drama, because of the drama has to pass through censorship. Same for the donghua (anime) while the manhua follows closely the novel.
Xian basically gave a hint that he and Zhan were in a relationship when he told Rulan/Ling that he's over with Mrs. Jin because he's inlove with another one (no other person were so close to him other than lan zhan)
I think I am more moved by the drama than I would have been by the book. I actually felt they were just best of friends until the tortise cave incident. That was when I started getting those vibes...Lols
I think you summarised it very well, I loved the the movie more than the novel.
The show also made it clear during a conversation Wei had with Wangji elder brother when the brother explained the story of their mother. He hinted at how their father made certain decisions for their mom out of love abd that Wangji seems to show the same love towards Wei. Also, another person spoke of how they had "intimate relationship"
I just finished the drama, donghua, and novels this year, and it's become my absoltue favorite. the entire scene at the temple in the novel was really well done, and they did the best with what they could in the other adaptations. I do sgree that in the drama they definitely pushed wwx away from his more gray standing that he has in he novels to exhonorate him of some of his deeds. I liked how he was not purely black and white, and showed that morals are unique to a person, and people can be gray and not consign to what we think is wrong or write.
JGY is also so itneresteing as an antagonist bc he is a bad person, but not entirely, and the drama tried to make him definitely seem more evil. he did good things, and he did care about people. he cared about Xichen, and i truly believe that outside of his mother he was the one person JGY would never lift a hand to. he was a victim of his circumstances who let it rot him, doesnt excuse what he did, but it shows that even good hearted people can be completely lost to their own want to be heard and accepted by society.
i also think the romance def has a diff starting point in the untamed than the novels, and wei ying definitely had feelings during that first life. tho i love the novel idea of lan zhan falling for him the night they met on that rooftop bc wei ying collapsed his world with a simple sword fight and brazen disreguard for rules. he was his opposite, the challenge to everything the then 16 year old knew, and the more time they spent together at cloud recesses cemented that. wei ying was also the only person who tried to get to know him, for him,. it mentions that most of the lan clan avoided lan zhan bc of his nature, and su she's view that he was conceited kinda shows how he could have been percieved by others. wei ying was different, he challenged him and then just wanted to get along with him, he was lan zhan realizing he can be his own person, he can find his own views, fight for his own beliefs, and he did.
gurl did you just read my mind...nailed it...kudos now they are enlightened.
I read the novel first sooo the dynamic in the show really confused me. I like the flow much better in the novel as it shows how relations require communication. It was natural to me how they related to each other as I would react the same way Wu Xian has.
But I like the timeline much better in the show.
True - I like the timeline of the show more too. The novel jumped around too much I think...
Funnily, I watch the drama (twice) before I read the novel, and I like the timeline better in the novel. We get more action in present sooner, we're made to believe in JGY's evil earlier on too, so the impact of finding that he's less bad then we think is ofc stronger. And every flashback has a reason, unfold a new insight, gives us a new light to understand the true reason of the current situation, so for me it add a nice mystery, instead of having it all "predigested".
I understand it is easier to understand in the drama because of that, and watchers don't necessarily enjoy rewatching as much as readers will want to reread to find every minute details and foreshadowing they may have missed.
I thought the pacing and timeline was the real issue/difference in the show, I like many other aspects of the adaptation and don't mind how they changed the relationship dynamic but each flashback in the novel was intercut cleverly to be relevant to something that happened in the present. It keeps you invested in both the present and the past. Meanwhile by episode 33 when the flashback ended, I had forgotten where exactly they had left off in the present. Also having a lot of comments saying the first two episodes are confusing is proof that they did not set up the present timeline very well.
Around eps 7-12 where they went on the TV-original-Yin-Iron side quest was also a real drag (btw the whole Yin Iron subplot is my biggest novel vs. drama difference), while the post-flashback present timeline is too rushed.
The only reason so many fans liked the drama much than the novel is because they watched it FIRST. And then read the novel next. I'm completely okay about that, but for me I like the novel better.
Hi!! I saw the anime before reading the book and watching the Drama, and it was very very confusing and I couldn't understand anything of the plot, so that's why I started to read the novel first and then I watched the Tv Drama adaptation and I completely agree with you. I found the personalities of both WWX and LWJ slightly different in the drama, especially WWX, and I prefered how their love story has been portraited in the drama rather than in the book. For all the points that you have already discussed in your video. In my opinion, WWX is less selfish in the drama, and realized that Lan Zhan has feelings from him, while in the novel it seems like he realized it just because he was resurrected in the body of an omosexual. I am not saying that it is like this, but that's my feeling about it. I like that in the drama their relationship is more sentimental and romantic, if it makes sense, and not just from a sexual point of view, as we see in the novel. I mean, I listened to the Audio Drama as well, and I really like it, because of course I like the sweet scenes between them which have been cut from the Drama, but in this way their relationship in the drama is more geniune and romantic. It is just my personal opionion, I am not saying that it is better in one way or another, and anyway I like both the Drama and the novel.
And I do agree with you that it is not fair that at the end all the blame is on Jin GuangYao, that's maybe the only thing of the drama that I don't really like. Because Lan Zhan was right to be worried about Wei Ying to lose control, because that's what happens when you do things that are bigger than yourself (I don't know if it makes any sense to you ahaha XD) anyway, I would have prefered that part to be similar to the book.
I also like how more attention has been given to the character of Wen Qing in the drama, and she has been more characterised rather than in the book. We can actually understand her better and you can sense how much she loves her brother and she is faithful to her family.
Thanks for your video, I am glad that we share this preference. I am sorry for the very long comment, but I couldn't help myself to express my opinion about it xD
Thank you for your comment! I think perhaps in the novel WWX did already have feelings for LWJ during his first life but didn't really realize it. He certain thought about LWJ a lot and was always trying to talk to him or get his attention. He was more immature in the novel than in the drama I think.
It's funny that you mention WenQing because I'm pretty sure one of the reasons she had a bigger role in the drama was that initially the script writers were going to double down on a platonic brotherly love relationship between LWJ and WWX and have WenQing as a suggested romantic partner for WWX. The script leaked, and when novel fans found out about this they freaked out and wrote a long and convincing letter to the producers saying that the show will flop if they turned a BL story into a boy-girl love story. Luckily the producers changed course and we got version of the Untamed that we know and love. Otherwise I think it would've flopped.
👍👍
I like that the women in the drama are better portrayed indeed, even if there are less than in other dramas, I find women in bl to be more generaly interesting than in traditional "harem" thingy... They seem to be smarter and deeper, so gratz on the drama for showing it.
Other than that, I enjoy the novel way more, since there are so many more layers and depth to everything there, including more like a full rainbow of emotions and motivations rather than the mostly black and white of clearcut good vs evil.
Another point I prefer, maybe as a mother and more mature woman than the average readers/watchers that seem to be generaly teens and young adults, is the character's arc. If we take the timeline rather than the chronology of the book, we can see them at 16 more like real teenagers that still have to learn real life, thus make understandable mistakes before they mature through everything that happens to them, both thanks to those hardlearnt lessons and events generated by other ppl.
In the drama, after goofing around in Cloud Recesses, they're suddenly nearly as mature as their present self when they leave, nearly like if they had already been through all the later hardship of losing their home, the Sunshot campaign and even death (though it supposedly is not death in the drama thanks to censorship, but whatever!)
The same is true for their love. In the novel, the oblivious WWX has to think that he lost everyone he loved before he realizes there are way more ppl who care for him than he believed, and deeper too. Not just LWJ, but also all the juniors, simply because he allowed them to see his own deep caring rather than keeping everyone at arm's lenght like in his previous life, since he was afraid they wld discover and think less of him that he has no golden core. So basically, it's his low selfesteem that leads im to be arrogant, like it is actually said in the drama when he comments in Empathy with NMJ about his past self "fake it till you make it".
Actually, the drama shows plainly a lot of the subtlety that is actually in the novel, while hidding in plain sight what they cldn't show thanks to censorship. So for me, the 2 go very well together, as the only elements that were created are as I just said, a way to portray more obviously what was already there but had to be read between the lines of the bias of WWX's so oblivious pov...
Which is why I still prefer the novel to the drama, even if I watched the drama 1st, coz i have rarely seen such a depth to a supposedly simple romantic novel.
This video makes me so happy
I'm so glad!
I was read the novel, watch the tv drama, anime, and the comic, but i think novel is the most, because they need to be goal in the end after all.
And we need lwj POV.
I would LOVE a LWJ POV novel.
@@dramaobsession6619 Exactly. I am seriously craving for a LWJ pov novel. I mean, that man was always so stone faced, but he felt the weight of the world inside him. It would be interesting to read his thoughts.
After many rereads, I actually think that we have about as many hints needed to read him about as well as LXC. It's just that we have 1st to understand WWX's biais in his pov. Once that's done, yah there are plenty of signs to understand LWJ!
Both dynamics in the novel and drama are good and I believe compliments each other... you get to understand their thoughts and feelings from the novel especially after watching the drama ❤️
I believe in both the novel and drama, they had already started developing feelings for each without really knowing it from when they became class mates but Lan Zichen knew & some how kept encouraging it.
They naturally grew from friendship to soulmates. I believe the Chinese censorship made the drama bit different but they actors actually nailed the version of the novel with their acting. Even without verbally or physically expressing their feelings, it was very glaring from their actions
I do enjoy the Drama but the novel has a special place in my heart. Read it a few times because there are so many nuanced and subtle hints about both parties feelings from the beginning. You get a lot of context on Lan Zhan's true feelings from his brother. Wei Ying is smitten with Lan Zhan from the beginning employing school boy tactics, and Lan Zhan was never far from his thoughts even when he left the Cloud Recesses.
I'm agree with you,and i actually like dorama more than novel,i also watched anime but i didn't really like it ☺
I think I must be biased because I watched the drama first, that's why I like it more!
To be fair to the donghua, it's basically the novel but with less gay, so if you didn't like the novel too much you won't like the donghua.
@@lenrussell2424 i think its more cause the donghua rushes too much and cuts too many scenes, especially the second season does not do justice to the story. I'm a huge fan of the novel but I really think the execution of the donghua s2 is pretty bad
I also really like the drama but the anime as kinda getting boring for some reason. Maybe it because in drama it's an actual real human that their interactions really touched me even though it was less romantic, also it was kinda but not my first time watching anime, anime aren't my thing there is too much movement going on it makes me want to vomit and get me dizzy, not because the anime was bad, I made it to ep 16 before giving up.
@@dramaobsession6619 I watched the drama 1st and I like the novel better! It has a better development imo (the characters in the drama are too good or too bad from the start, don't evolved as much) and so many deeper layers than 1st seen! For me the drama is a wonderful complement of the novels, it shows us some beautiful scenes that are only hinted or more like in the head od the characters in the novel, so it's very enjoyable, especially with such good and nice looking actors, but it can never reach the depth of the novel.
I personally always love novels even tho the shows are pretty good. However, I think the scenes that weren't in show but was in book was represented through some significant actions and background. I honestly don't know how to explain it. As much as I love the romantic, filtrious and playful side of book, I can not understimate how they were elegantly put their blood, sweat in to clearing each other's names and the mistery. I also think Wei Ying just didn't understand his own feelings for Lan zhan even tho he was always pinning Lan Zhan until Lan Zhan couldn't take it. What is the only thing which I dislike in show is that their first kiss was not shown and lack of romantic interactions make it harder to not to love Grandmaster of Demonic cultivation than The show, The Untamed.
I watched few episodes... like 6 I guess? and ran to read the book before returning to watch the rest
I’ve watched Untamed, watched the donghua and read the manhua, and also the novel! Still can’t move on! Pretty much sums up my obsession. Going to twitter, weibo and UA-cam just to get a glimpse of wangxian /yizhan each day! Doomed for other romantics in the world.
Is the book translated ??
I haven't read the novel yet (getting there, anime now :D), but I saw lot of the notes on the changes and I wish the did keep some of the blame on WWX and didn't throw it all on A-Yao... not that we don't get enough conflicting feelings about bunch of the characters as is, but it would have been nice :D. It's true that they could not show the romance directly in the drama, but I think Wang Yibo did a lot of the job just in the way LWJ is looking at WWX, that often says more than many many words, he mastered the longing stare quite amazingly :D. Though it would have been fun if they could have rolled into the bushes there at the end. And the scene before that, where A-Yuan tells WWX who he is is one of my favorite sweet moments of the whole show
I suspect they couldn't show WWX as a "bad guy" because of censorship. That's my theory at least. Agreed on the looks from LWJ - I loved all of the smoldering looks in the show!!
@@dramaobsession6619 what things have to be censored? Beside obvious gay things?
@@Blueberryminty a lot! Lol everything regarding the spirit world and the reincarnation. So the demonic cultivation is instead turning ppl into puppets. Also, instead of giving his body for WWX's soul, MXY sacrificed his body to bring back WWX from the brink of death, which explains why it's the same actor both in the past and the present (ok, we can be grateful for that detail since Xiao Zhan nailed that character so well... lol) but they cld have made a better job to hide him imo... but then instead of the full mask that Su She wears, we wld have missed his amazing smile, so... *sigh* oh well... lmao
Then, as Drama points out, they had to tune down the grayness of the characters, make them more toward either good or evil. Thus, I believe, the music element of the manipulation of emotions by JGY, rather than his speaking skills. And probably the yin iron too, so it's less WWX's responsibility. His power is less frightening too, though that might also be thanks to the soooo bad special effects! Lol But then again since he cannot play with the spirits and corpses, turning more ppl into puppets wld make him even more evil than in the novel... though maybe they cld have used more of that "black wind" which represent the ressentful energy, the counterpart of spiritual energy, so maybe that's indeed the fault of bad vfx rather than the censorship.
No he leído los libros, acaba de comprarlos del Play Store, pero aunque sacaron las escenas de los besos, de la despedida del final cuando se van juntos entre los arboles, solo el final fue el q no lo entendí y me puso triste, pero gracias a ti, lo vi claro, la serie me gustó creo q incluso más, las miradas, las insinuaciones, el deseo de Zhan de proteger a Wei y el cariño con el q lo hacía, las lágrimas cuando pensó q lo ha perdido, las búsquedas durante 16 años, no se, las insinuaciones sutiles me han gustado más, con ésta serie me di cuenta q no se necesita verlos besarse para expresar el amor q se tienen.
Honestly speaking I love the novel more than the drama. I read the novel before watching the untamed and I'm a little dissatisfied with the drama. The drama followed every other details very thoroughly ( and includes scenes that didn't have in the novel) other than the relationship between two main characters. If anyone don't know about the novel or any thing about the main characters and only just watch the drama frist time they don't think it's actually adapted from a bl novel or any bl contain is there. The drama shows that LanZhan thought Wie Ying his very good friend but actually from the first time Lan Zhan saw Wieyin he never thought about him only a good friend he has feelings for him from the very start. But I can understand that due to censorship they can't show the things properly and they tried but it can't satisfy me. The only thing that I liked about the drama is Xiao Zhan 🥰 I'm grateful that my imagination of Wie Ying has a perfect face now. 😅
I absolutely love this drama, Wang Yibo and Xiao zhan are really amazing the story line had me at the very beginning. i have re-watch it at least 3 time already lol. However i haven't read the novel, is there an English version, if so can you tell me where i can fine it please 🙂
I like the novel but I like the drama more because of the good looking actors and aweaome main lead.
Couldn't agree more about the good looking actors..😍😍
I read the novel first then watched the drama adaptation so I can only say that both are amazing👏👏👏👏😁😀😀😀😃😃😃
Can you tell me where did you read the novel ??
Also in the novel, lanzhan takes weiying back to gusu and they become cultivation partners
Thank you for your feed back. Is there an English version of the book?
Their first kiss in the novel got spoiled.... oh God... I was being idiot even when she said there is spoilers ahead...
I agree with what you said
I feel many people would disagree with me but I think I like the way the series portrayed their relationship. In the book, I did not get the feel that Wei or Wangji felt anything deep for each other. If anything I felt that Wei wanted to avoid LZ at any cost while LZ seemed to be chasing after him for some unknown reason. In other words, the feelings were very one sided. I liked it in some sense but I still prefer the series.
In the series, from the beginning you kind of get the feeling that there is something between them whether it is him standing devasted after Wei fell, or Wei hiding but smiling like a shy little boy on seeing LZ or LZ holding Wei's hand and their first eye contact. Without any word, only by expression, you could tell there is something going on between them. And the entire story you feel even more drawn by how they became frds and traveled together and how everything took a 180. It felt more deep, more touching and more moving. Which is why I found the relationship aspect in the series much better than the novel.
But I liked the detail of the plot in the novel better! And I preferred how in novel they showed WW as anti-hero and not all victim of circumstances. That made the contrast between LZ and WW that much more interesting!
I also went looking for the novel after watching the drama 😂
I totally agree with you that the drama did justice to the novel. The anime was slightly messy (in terms of the storyline) while the manhua is near with the novel in terms of storyline. Its just I love the novel more than anythinh because it is the original piece. The writer is so creative that made me want to read more of their works specially the "Heaven's official Blessing" i heard its also BL 😍😍😍
"The drama did justice to the novel"
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Don't make me laugh with this bullshit!!
@@odeliamili7129 hey, uhmm its okay if you dont like the drama, i wont say anything about that but can you please respect others view or perspective about this. We all have our own ideals which can be similar or different with one another
@@odeliamili7129 state ure arguments or shut up
Honestly I think the novel is very romantic. But it make sense y they won’t get along at first wwx very chaotic while lwj calm their personalities would clash naturally. Plus them being distant to the war make sense. Wwx have a crush on lwj in the cloud recess arc I think it like him pulling a girl pigtail. Their misunderstanding r natural bc lwj is honestly horrible at displaying his feeling and wwx have lot of thing to deal with. Also I like novel mianmian better. Bc her a slave girl who upgraded to a cultivator choose to throw it all away to defend wwx is more meaningful then her storming out when she a jin disciple. I feel like it more impactful. Poor wwx getting kidnapped by lwj. I love how the novel wwx is morally gray and bamf and it not all jgy fault. Wwx is the boss
Loss golden core:
Jc: Guess I will die now
Wwx: thrown in the burial mound and invented a whole as new form of cultivation
The one playing the flute in nightless city was Su She, not Jin Guang Yao
hi, can you please tell me where you bought the novel I couldn't find the original version, the one with that is uncensored
Can you please explain why they are going separate way in the end?
Just for censorship! Lol They still show subtly that this parting is not the end, as another video explains it. The very last sequence with WWX shows us that he sees someone that makes him smile beautifully, and he's wearing a different set of robes than at the parting... so it implies that he's actually back after some wandering...
THIS... I also watched the series first snd then the novel... and then the series again xD
What translation did y'all read to get that Lan Zhan forced Wei to stay by his side after his resurrection???? After the resurrection, Wei always sought out Lan Zhan, always thought Lan Zhan was a friend, but quite set in the formalities of his clan, and always knew Lan Zhan respected him.
I don't think WY seriously wanted to leave LZ, but I think in the novel after his resurrection right after he met LZ he did say to himself that he wanted to sneak away from LZ.
@@dramaobsession6619 I don't want to come across as rude via text, but, can you point me to the chapter that he said that in so I can find it? I literally finished reading it a couple of days ago and just finished watching the series so both is kind of melding in my brain. If you can please point it out, it would take me less time to find it.
@@nandhinisingh2514 there are plenty of chapters, where WWX plainly says that he did everything he cld to make LWJ want to let him go. I may forget others but here are some very explicit:
==> 11 & 12: at Cloud Recesses before the 1st flashback, many times from the entrance even trying to disgust LXC, the only time LWJ silences him after reincarnation since he forsaw it, up to flirting outrageously with him in bed to the point LWJ paralyses him
==> 19 & 20: from Cloud Recesses toward Qinghe, after the flashback, he mostly flirts again outrageously and tries to enrage the juniors by his not subtle innuendos, but after the man-eating castle, LWJ lets him know he's recognized him, so that's when he stops, without thinking much on what he's done so far since he doesn't know of LWJ true feelings
==> 99: after the revealation by LXC, he remembers everything he's done in the past to try to push him away and feels ashamed and scared of his own uncaring boldness
@@dramaobsession6619 I think yes he still wants to push away LWJ, or actually anyone and everyone. It's an habit he got since he gave his golden core, too afraid to be discovered, lacking selfesteem and feeling he doesn't fully deserved to be loved (of any kind).
I think it's the persistence of LWJ that slowly "tame" him, making him believe that maybe after all he's worthy to have friends, that it's not as dangerous as he used to believe to make ppl see how deeply he actually cares for them. The awe the juniors developp for him as Senior Mo is also very important for that process.
@@roxelaneelmira4678 you missed the words "forced to stay". Wanting someone to let you go due to self hate/loathing is not the same thing as someone forcing you to stay against your will and consent. The one time I will say that Lan Zhan complete ignored WWX's consent was when he was first brought to Cloud Recess. That was completely wrong of Lan Zhan to do. However, the main reason for WWX not giving consent, is plainly stated by WWX: the rules. It wasn't because nor due to Lan Zhan, it was the rules that WWX didn't want to be confined by.
My question is What exactly wen ning saw when he was at Buddha temple and left
Maybe someone has said it before or maybe it's just me but I felt that in the tv show Wei Ying loves his sister and cares about her as a brother. More like mother son relationship. I mean it's definitely family love. But in the book I felt he loved her more than a sister. Before dying (to me) he was in love with her. After he resurrected he fools around with Lan Zhan to make him uncomfortable until he develops feelings toward Lan Zhan. Just my opinion. And maybe I should read the book again.
❤
Can you tell me where can I read the novel pls...
Dan ada satu bagian yg ada di drama tp tidak ada di novel, saat WWX & LWJ terseret masuk ke goa tempat leluhur Lan menyegel besi yin, dan mereka saling terikat oleh pita dahi milik LWJ
And can you pls do a review on The Winter Begonia’s ending? I just can’t accept that drama’s ambiguous ending! What does the novel’s ending said? Do they never meet again? Thank you in advance🙏
I didn't finish watching Winter Begonia, but I'll try and find out about the novel and get back to you...
DramaObsession,
THANK YOU🙏🙏🙏!!! You are such a nice and understanding person. You completely understand the frustration of the international fans. Bless you!
PLS REPLY, where can u buy the untamed novel in english ??????????????
there is no official English translation of the novel, so you can't buy it but you can read the fan translation at exiledrebels scanlations...just search for grandmaster of demonic cultivation novel.
where can we read the novel
I want to know one think correctly plz tell me that what is the relationship between lanzhan and weiying plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz tell me I'm seeing them as a best friends
Hi, is The untamed novel available in English, If yes is the title of the novel, also The Untamed ?
Look forward to you reply.
The Untamed is based on the novel, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. You can read the English translation at exiledrebelsscanlations.com/novels/grandmaster-of-demonic-cultivation/
That's exactly right. I'm not aware of any published English version of the novel, but you can read it online at the link above.
Where can I find the untamed novel in english? I can only find it in chinese
Here's the online English version: exiledrebelsscanlations.com/novels/grandmaster-of-demonic-cultivation/
What is the novel name because I really want to read it
how much book it has?
Wow im really obsessed with this story line... And also disappointed with drama with lack of lan wanji and wei wuxian scenes
As far as some of the takes that you mentioned in the video are correct, I have to be honest that your last statement about their vows being more meaningful in the drama is misleading. In the novel wei wuxian and lan wangji though may not have vows, their commitment and their beliefs combined with their morality does not change and does not differ in anyway with the untamed. In the novel we see wei wuxian defending the wens (though he may act murderous in nightless city but it was commited in self defence and he was the innocent one), we see wei wuxian and lan wangji bringing liberation to Qing-guniang and the rightful revenge against xue yang, how wei wuxian defended the weak; it all does not make it less meaningful than in the drama. Secondly, on the persepctive of lan wangji falling in love at first sight with wei wuxian during cloud recesses is also understandable and reasonable, given how in lan wangji's point of view, wei wuxian is similar to his mother. He may judged his mother as someone who disobeys the rules and brought unhappiness upon himself, thus thinking why she was punished and locked away. This way (at the very beginning of their meeting till whatever happened in cloud recesses with wei wuxian broking a lot of rules at once) lan wangji starts to gain feelings and attempt to prevent the mistakes, like how he thought his mother commited. He was telling wei wuxian to discipline himself and obey the rules. In my opinion, this is quite reasonable enough.
and also, self condemnation and redemption does not, or should of not make a difference with wei wuxian in the novel or drama, given how low his self esteem is. majority of what he did like harming thousands of people in nightless city, though he may have murdered some, though murder is wrong, it was completely within his SELF DEFENCE. all the sects intended to put an end to him.
Can I know where I can read the novel version of it?
Where i can read the English version of novel ??
I'm watching it right now 😁😁
👌
Where can I find PDF's of this novel.? Please Help..
you can read it on exiled rebels, its fully translated on the site
Does anyone know where I can read the book?
Here's the English translation of the book: exiledrebelsscanlations.com/novels/grandmaster-of-demonic-cultivation/. If you're looking for the Chinese version it's widely available on the internet - just search 魔道祖师
Thank you for the information .
Where can I read the novel and what is ots name ?
How can I get the novel
Does Wei Wuxian ever figure out he wasn't at fault for his sister's death??
Really helpful 😂🤝
Thanks so much!
@@dramaobsession6619 I'm currently reading the novel and I have a doubt..!
@@dramaobsession6619 How did Lan Zhan realize Mo Xuan Yu was Wei Ying????
It's confusing when Lan Zhan replied to Wei: "You told me yourself"
@@taekook.aficionado Good question!! I think I explained this in my "Is the Untamed a Romance?" Video! The song that Wei Ying was playing on his flute in episode 2 when he was controlling Wen Ning is the song that Lan Zhan hummed for him in the tortoise cave. In the novel, it's made clear that Lanzhan composed that song and at no one except Weiying had ever heard the song before. So when Mo Xuan Yu started playing it in episode 2, Lan Zhan realized he was Weiying (and that's why he went over and grabbed him by the wrist and stared at him so intently :P).
@@dramaobsession6619 Thanku....💖
Me and my friend had doubts abt tht...
U explained it well..
Thnx...
😲😲😲😲😲😲😲
Where can i read the novel? 😭
I am enjoying your explanation of The Untamed esp. the connotations of the actions. Since I don’t read Chinese at all is there an English version of the book?
Can u write the name of novel???plz🙏🙏
Grandmaster of demonic cultivation
Where can I get the novel?
Novel name ?
Any possibility of season 2
Spinoff yes, but since it's based on a novel, it's not really seasons oriented...
The only reason so many fans liked the drama much than the novel is because they watched it FIRST. And then read the novel next. I'm completely okay about that, but for me I like the novel better.
Haha I think you're totally right. I'm in that boat because I watched the drama first
Not sure about that...I think the issue with the novel is that it summarizes too much, especially when it goes in the past. Telling the whole story leading up to the death of Wei has its disadvantages, but it also allows the the audience to become more invested in that arc than it is possible when it is told bit by bit and often only in a quick summary. It actually reminds me a little bit of the first book of Lord of the Rings, which I despised when I read it, because pretty much all the interesting things were summarized in hindsight, taking all suspense out of them, while in the movie, they are allowed to play out. I think it is the same here, since the events of the past gets the necessary room it is way easier to get invested in the fate of characters which didn't make it, hence it becomes easier to relate to the grief of those still alive.
Thus said, I think neither is perfect. Even with the TV show I feel they rushed through certain events. I actually would like to see a version in which the best parts of the novel and the best parts of the TV show are connected, with more room left for certain events...or, in short, I actually think that the whole Wen-Arc is too short.