I need to put it out there. I love The Untamed’s ending. Well, I especially love the feeling that ending left me. Although the whole process was like having my heart taken out, chopped in 100 pieces, stick back together with Light Bearing glue, and placed back in my chest. I was happy, sad, confused, excited, anxious, upset, hopeful, and moved.
I’ve watched a lot of Chinese historical fictions since a young age, as they were really popular in my country. It’s easy to end a drama with 2 main characters riding off to sunset together. What’s difficult is creating a final vision that stuck in the viewers’ minds for a very very long time. For whatever reason The Untamed crew decided to leave what we saw as the ending (I’d imagine they filmed a few different versions, and could only use what passed the censorship test set by the government), they’ve made it - they created an image that would stay with me as a viewer forever.
It would have made a bit more sense with further context. Lan Xichen’s isolation was not explicitly explained in the last episode. That might have kind of downplayed the importance of why LWJ had to stay back not only to take up the Excellency role but also take care of Lan clan - considering Grand Master Lan already retiring and just focusing on giving lectures and stuff now. But we all understand, although LWJ has broken quite a few rules just to stick by his soulmate WWX, it’s not that simple when it comes to walk away COMPLETELY from your family (and the family ‘business’ - typical oriental family pressure passed down from father/male authority figure to sons/nephews). On the other hand, WWX does not have the same problem. He already defected from Jiang clan in his previous life and parted way with Wen Ning (pretty much his other next of kin) in this life. So we would have thought the easiest solution is just for him to stay in Gusu - which, according to The Untamed Special Edition, was meant to be the ending despite the fact that the beginning of that episode (the ‘Aren’t you coming with me Lan Zhan?’ scene being re-arranged) made zero sense whatsoever.
Putting that aside, let’s just look at why it’s actually quite important for WWX to be away for a while. I’ve said this countless times and we all know very well, this man has been through SO FREAKING MUCH. If anyone deserves a vacation (apart from LWJ but I mean would the drama-version of LWJ actually going to take a holiday?), it’s him. Gusu retreat is not exactly ideal with all the rules and judgemental look/attitude from your boyfriend’s uncle. With LWJ being busy picking up with new role, WWX would be so BORED. Trust me, I did not gather all of this from my first watch because I was so emotionally confused by everything in episode 50. After a few more tries, this is more of a realistic view to justify why LWJ being pretty calm saying (temporary) goodbye to WWX on the mountain. The same man who hesitated chasing after NHS in Qinghe as he did not want to leave WWX’s side, and everything from that episode onward really. There’s NO way he would be THIS cool with letting WWX leave if he’s not confident that WWX will RETURN.
Similarly, after living through 2 lives being so dense about LWJ’s feelings, WWX has finally come to terms with how much he needs LWJ by his side - so much that he assumes it’s a fixed thing and completely forgets that LWJ has family stuff going on too - case in point ‘Where should we be going next Lan Zhan?’. It does seem like WWX cannot put a name to it yet though i.e. his feelings and everything.
Some time apart would definitely do both of them some good, and when WWX figures out his feelings, they will reunite at the same spot which is obviously right above Gusu waterfall. I should have read into the whole ‘When we meet again, you better tell me the name of the song’ bit a little deeper, as it would have neatly justified my point above. By the time WWX comes back (which he did, we saw it, it’s real) and ready to let LWJ know how he feels (off-screen, thanks a lot Chinese censorship), LWJ will follow by revealing the song name - WangXian. If that doesn’t scream LOVE confession, I don’t know what is. If you know any pair of brothers or simply close friends who compose a love song using their ship name, please educate me as heterosexually speaking that’s not something I’d do.
If you look at the big picture of how the ending is executed in the drama, it does parallel the novel’s ending in a way. The only major change is that instead of WangXian going off for a honeymoon right after eloping at the end of the Guanyin Temple event, WWX goes by himself while LWJ stays behind to get his house in order. If I remember correctly, they return to Gusu in the novel and settle, like, explicitly confirming Jing Shi as their home.
In the drama, WWX returns to the same meeting spot (again, just above Gusu waterfall), LWJ hears the signal song (his radar is as sharp as Google alert, let’s not forget episode 2 when he outruns JC to Dafan Mountain upon hearing WWX’s flute). He then rushes to the mountain top and reunites with his soulmate. 2 obvious facts: it was HIS VOICE calling Wei Ying, and WWX’s biggest happiest smile (NEVER saw him smile like this to anyone else throughout 50 episodes) as he’s overflown with joy.
We might have doubted ourselves watching this as we were just so emotionally invested in ROOTING for these two. But on a nice and calm day, watch it again and you will realize how OBVIOUS it is being a HAPPY ENDING. No hallucination nonsense, no need to zoom in WWX’s eyes to find the white figure. It’s as clear as day. They reunite, profess their feelings, and settle in Gusu.
You’ll see what I mean about loving the emotional rollercoaster this ending leaves you, that no ‘driving off to sunset together’ type of finale can deliver. Happy, sad, confused, excited, anxious, upset, hopeful, moved, and… satisfactorily complete.
Thank you The Untamed cast and crew your incredible hard work to bring us such a well crafted production and story that will stay in our heart forever <3
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