Doing an Untamed rewatch with a friend, and we’ve reached Guanyin temple. A lot of the shots of XiYao after Mingjue’s body has been discovered have an interesting quirk. Nie Huaisang is often framed between the two of them. Like he’s splitting the two up.
Not a day goes by where I don't think about how Sizhui is the embodiment of the Lan principles despite not being Lan by blood, exactly how Wei Wuxian was the embodiment of the Jiang principles despite not being a Jiang by blood. God I forgot how tragic this show was.
Ι love this scene so much because LWJ sees a lantern that looks like the one WWX had drawn for him in the past and he really wants WWX to see it. However, he is too shy and reserved to shout to him to catch his attention so he just stands there for a while, just waiting patiently to be noticed Q^Q. And WWX indulges him and suggests they buy it because he knew LWJ wouldn't just get it for himself :''(( AND then LWJ carries it around before giving it to LSZ to keep (that is so dad of him).
Not to mention that the bunnies lantern is a very significant item to LWJ. It wasn't only the first gift he received from his crush ever (in CQLverse) but it is also symbolic of the promise they had made to protect the weak together and do what is right. On top of everything, LWJ is showing his vulnerable side here by admitting that he indeed likes rabbits (he couldn't beat the allegations hahaha).
another concept that has lived in my mind rent-free for so long that I've finally gotten around to creating! these boys are just such [clenches fist] incredible narrative foils. I am truly team #morallygreybisexualtwink.
And while we’re talking about my rewatch of the Untamed, I find the other sects’ reaction to the battle in which Wen Xu lost his life to be really interesting. A lot of them are a little disturbed at how many dead bodies are there, how they’ve just been left to rot, and how Wen Xu’s head is just...there. It implies that, when it comes to revenge, Mingjue has gone overboard. On one hand, it presages the fact that in the next episode, when we’re reintroduced to Wei Wuxian, he’s also ready to go overboard. It also kinda mirrors the fact that when Huaisang sets his mind to vengeance, he will go overboard as well.
I love Nie Huaisang’s introduction. WWX saw this kid sneak a bird into class and immediately went “oh this guy’s a troublemaker, we’re gonna be friends”