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So, You're Considering Selling Your Soul To The Untamed: a primer thread for @AlixEHarrow and anyone else looking to yeet themselves headfirst into the abyss.
The Untamed, aka Chen Ching Ling, aka CQL, is a live-action xianxia drama adaptation of the BL novel Mo Dao Zu Shi, aka MDZS, aka Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, by Chinese writer Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. It's as gay on screen as Chinese censorship allows for.
Structurally, it's split into two timelines: the narrative present day, and the events of 16 years ago. The first 2.5 eps are set in the present and function as a Greek chorus, as we then jump back 16 years to see Where It All Began for 30-odd eps before rejoining the now.
On a practical level, this means the first 2.5 eps give you a lot of information to absorb very quickly, not all of which will immediately make sense, as you, like newly-resurrected protagonist Wei Wuxian, are trying to figure out what's going on.
And I do mean "newly resurrected" in the literal sense. This is why I say the first two eps are a Greek chorus: they effectively portend the tragedies of the past that you're about to see while also telling you that those tragedies aren't the end; things will continue.
With all that being established, who are the characters? I'm going to try and group them together in a way that makes sense to how you encounter the story. SO:
First up, we have the protagonists, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. They are the show's romantic pairing and its narrative backbone, so let's take them one at a time.
Meet Wei Wuxian, aka Wei Ying, aka the Yiling Laozu. Taken in by the Jiang Clan as a child after his parents were killed, he's an incredibly gifted cultivator and, at the outset, something of a cocky troublemaker. He also believes in justice over convention.
Note: at the start of the show, Wei Wuxian has been dead for over a decade, and is brought back to life by a spell called Sacrifice Summon, wherein a young man - called Mo Xuanyu gives up his life to reincarnate Wei Wuxian. As such, Wei Wuxian initially pretends to be Mo Xuanyu.
Next, we have Lan Wangji, aka Lan Zhan, aka Hanguan-Jun, aka second of the Twin Jades of Lan. He is upright, talented, virtuous, aloof and stone cold horny for Wei Wuxian.
Wei Wuxian's family are the Jiang Clan; Lan Wangji's family are the Lan Clan. Let's start with their respective siblings.
This is Jiang Cheng, aka Jiang Wanyin, Wei Wuxian's martial brother. Jiang Cheng is a great big ball of Feelings who really needs a hug. His primary mode of expressing affection is anger, and also he has a purple lightning whip called Zidian, which is very sexy of him.
Jiang Yanli is Jiang Cheng's older sister, and thus Wei Wuxian's martial elder sister (shijie). She cares for her idiot brothers when their shared braincell goes astray, which is often. In love with Jin Zixuan (more of whom later). Maker of pork rib and lotus soup.
On the Lan side, we have Lan Wangji's elder brother Lan Xichen, aka Lan Huan, aka the First Jade of Lan. Ships his brother and Wei Wuxian like it's his job and lowkey horny as fuck for Meng Yao (more of whom later). Mostly gentle and calm but dangerous in battle.
There are more Lans and Jiangs, but we'll get back to them later, when we do the clan leaders and the Juniors Quartet: before that, though, we're going to take a look at the main players from the other main cultivation clans: the Nie, the Wen and the Jin.
Nie Huaisang, later called the Headshaker, is a himbo-passing intellectual who prefers artistic pursuits and bird-catching to swordplay. A close friend of Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng who gets into shenanigans with the three of them when they're teenagers.
His older brother is Nie Mingjue, aka da-ge, aka Chifeng-zun. Nie Mingjue is a MAN, and he has the moustache to prove it. A walking sexual awakening and reluctant twink-wrangler, he is very tired of political bullshit and would just like to sword things, thank you.
Sitting somewhere between the Nie and the Jin is Meng Yao, later known as Jin Guangyao and Lianfang-zun. He's the bastard son of the Jin sect-leader and when we first meet him, he and his dimples work for Nie Mingjue. Wants to get RAILED by Lan Xichen (who wants this also).
Starting for the Jin Sect, we have sect heir Jin Zixuan, aka The Peacock, aka Jiang Yanli's betrothed and crush. He's initially a rude awkward dick, but he gets better with time. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng Do Not Like Him. Has one (1) friend and the world's worst dad.
The one friend in question is Mianmian, aka Luo Qingyang, not a Jin by birth but a Jin disciple. Kind, snarky, virtuous and loyal, she has more braincells than most of the rest of the cast put together. Too perfect for this world, we have no choice but to stan.
And then we have the Wen Clan, who come in two flavours: the Qishan Wen, who are power-hungry assholes, and their Dafan Mountain cousins, a family of doctors trying to navigate family loyalty to shitty relatives while trying not to get killed or be shitty themselves.
From the Qishan Wen, we have Wen Chao, aka This Fucking Asshole. Truly the Dirt Fuckin' Worst. Just Look At This Guy! He Fucking Sucks So Bad.
Better than Wen Chao in every possible way is his henchman, Wen Zhuliu, aka Core-Melting Hand. A Wen by conversion who owes everything to the clan, he is dangerous, powerful and Wen Chao's enforcer-slash-babysitter.
Rounding out the Qishan contingent is Wang Lingjiao, aka Jiaojiao, Wen Chao's mistress. She's cruel, vain, petty and just the absolute worst.
From the Dafan Wen, we have Wen Qing, a healer and protective older sister. Jiang Cheng falls in love with her because honestly who wouldn't? A true queen who stays loyal to those she loves while trying to keep them safe.
Wen Ning, aka the Ghost General, is Wen Qing's younger brother. Either a killing machine or a pure cinnamon roll: there is no in between. Friends with Wei Wuxian. Deserving of Love and Protection.
Finally, we have Wen Yuan, a precious baby child and war orphan. He doesn't show up until later but he is VERY cute and important and you WILL want to protect him with your entire life, as do Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji.
Returning now to the adults in the cultivation world, we have the elders/leaders of the clans - they matter a great deal to the plot in narrative terms, but don't show up as much as the younger generations. When they do, though, it matters.
From the Jiang Clan of Lotus Pier, we have Jiang Fengmian. Trying to be a good dad, leader and husband, but a bit too proud of Wei Wuxian at Jiang Cheng's expense.
His wife is Yu Ziyuan, aka Madam Yu, aka Lady Violet Spider. She takes no prisoners, gives no fucks, and excels at tough love. Not Wei Wuxian's biggest fan but will do anything for Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli. A stone-cold badass who gets four photos here because I say so.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE, the purple lightning whip Zidian is originally hers. She uses it onscreen. wlw, you have been warned.
Head of the Wen Clan, Wen Ruohan. Kicks off the plot by getting obsessed with evil Yin Iron and trying to take over the cultivation world. Literally has an evil throne in a palace surrounded by lava. Bad guy.
Lan Qiren, elder of the Lan Clan and uncle to Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen. His clan has three thousand rules graven in stone on a wall and he loves every single one of them. Obsessed with the letter of the law to the point of sometimes forgetting its spirit, but not actually bad.
Finally for the clan leaders, we have Jin Guangshan, aka World's Worst Dad To All His Bastard Children. Rich skeezeball dad of Jin Zixuan and Meng Yao. A missing stair in human form.
And for completion's sake, here are some clan bit players: three dudes who suck and a woman who deserves better. L to R, top to bottom, they are: Su She, aka Su Minshan (originally a Lan disciple); Jin Zixun (shitty Jin cousin), Wen Xu (Wen Chao's bro) and Qin Su (a Jin wife).
With that done, there's only two main groups left, and I've arguably saved the best for last: the Juniors Quartet, who appear in the present-day timeline, and the Yi City Squad, who show up mostly in their own bits in the past. I'll start with the juniors.
First among juniors, we have Lan Sizhui, aka Lan Wangji's son. Precious angel. A good sweet boy who is kind and clever and deserves the world. The first person to show compassion to newly-resurrected Wei Wuxian in his guise as Mo Xuanyu.
Also from the Lans, we have Lan Jingyi, aka Lan Sizhui's loudmouth BFF. Snarky on main and not afraid to tell you to shut up.
Ouyang Zizhen is a curious, loyal, outspoken friend to Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi and Jin Ling. His dad sucks, so let's assume he takes after his mother.
Rounding out the juniors is Jin Ling, aka Jin Rulan, the son of Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan. About two seconds away from yelling at all times, he has several chips on his shoulder. Takes after Jiang Cheng a lot. Absolutely needs a hug but would stab you before admitting it.
And then there's the Yi City Squad. Let's start with Xue Yang, a sexy murder puppy whose main emotions are Stab and Flirt. Does not make good life choices, but does so in a very compelling way.
Next is Xiao Xingchen, aka the bright moon and gentle breeze. Too good for this sinful world. Gay for Song Lan (and possibly Xue Yang, depending on your preferences).
Song Lan, aka Song Zichen, aka the distant snow and cold frost. Gay for Xiao Xingchen, but with Angst.
And finally, we have A-Qing, a mischevious girl who is not as blind as she pretends to be. Sort of Xiao Xingchen's adoptive daughter.
OH ALSO there's Clan Leaders Yao and Ouyang, who really only show up to talk shit about everyone else and be smug assholes, but they're plot relevant I GUESS so here they are.
And there you have it: your guide to The Untamed, a show about the Venn diagram of overlap between being gay, doing crimes and fighting The Man for justice. Also there are occasional bunnies! COME WATCH IT AND YELL WITH US.
