While the Chinese drama The Untamed based on the novel: The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation
written by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu isn’t
perfect it is perfect to me.
“In a magical world of inter-clan rivalry, two soulmates
face treacherous schemes and uncover a dark mystery linked to a tragic event in
the past.”
WARNING:
**It will drag you by the hair through 50 magical episodes
and give you a happily ever after. (All the feelings might overwhelm you but
remain seated and WATCH… you can even see a damn reflection in the character’s
pupil > so yes the cast & crew did their utmost to honor the story and
not screw the fans.
Keep in mind:
*It was only in 1997 that China stopped considering
homosexuality a crime.
*A writer of slash fiction was jailed for 10 years in China.
*It took me (Z. Allora > ME!) 5.5 years to find the only
and only gay bar in Suzhou China. That was in 2011.
In the article Chinese homoerotic writer jailed for ten
years published on 20
November 2018 shared some facts about China’s take on homoerotic writing:
“Homoerotic novels are not uncommon in China and
are easily accessible via different websites, but those who earn 50,000 yuan
(US$7,200) or more in producing or disseminating “obscene” material are subject
to Chinese criminal law.
Gay romance stories are popular in China too — in
fact, there is a term in Chinese for women who are fans of gay love stories, or
“funu”.”
But in recent weeks, Beijing has cracked down on “illegal”
publications, a broadly defined category that includes pornography, as well as
work that “endangers national unity” and “disturbs social order”.
Last week, government regulators increased the amount of
cash rewards Chinese citizens can earn for reporting “illegal” publications to
authorities — an upper limit of 600,000 yuan ($86,000)….
Gay-themed films struggle to make it into movie theatres,
same-sex relationships are banned from television screens and gay content is
forbidden on online streaming platforms.”
So I understand the critics who are pissed that in The
Untamed we didn’t see Lan Zhan & Wei Wuxian’s love on the page, I
would argue we most certainly did to a level (having lived there) shocked and
pleased me greatly!
The actors, directors, coaches, ad camera crew took it directly
up to the line and nudged the limits as much as they safely could.
I hear the screams of that’s baiting but there was never one moment they back away from the love these two shared. Did they make out onscreen > sadly no. But I, Z. Allora (> sayer of things like “plot is the words between sex scenes”) didn’t think it was necessary. (I know you best sit down right? LOL)
I hear the screams of that’s baiting but there was never one moment they back away from the love these two shared. Did they make out onscreen > sadly no. But I, Z. Allora (> sayer of things like “plot is the words between sex scenes”) didn’t think it was necessary. (I know you best sit down right? LOL)
Their shared stares, touches, gestures, and devotion to each
other made up for not seeing it what we normally see between a couple. It was
more of Pride & Prejudice demostrations than fuck me up against the wall.
You don’t have to be a genius or squint too hard to see
these actors and crew gave us as much what Mo Xiang Tong Xiu wrote in The
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation.
After I finished the story I felt broken down and rebuilt. I
started going at the episode one per week in my Yaoified Love group on Facebook
if you’d like to join us… I do a blow by blow episode summary, then character
POV summaries as well as finding interesting YouTube videos and clips about the
story, actors, and behind the scenes.
I promise you might hate me for encouraging you but you'll have zero regrets.
Many hugs, Z.
