The Wolf 狼殿下 Review

 ★★★★☆

The 2020 Chinese drama starring Darren Wang as Chu You-Wen/Prince of Bo, Li Qin as Ma Zhai-Xing, Xiao Zhan as Ji Chong, and Xin Zhi-Lei as Yao Ji. Directed by Chen Yu-Shan, Wang Wei, and Cao Hua. Written by Wu Zhi-Wei, Huan Ji-Rou, Chen Jian-Hao, Meng Zhi, and Chen Peng-Wen. 49 episodes, each about 45 minutes long.

Brief summary: Once upon a time near the conclusion of the Tang Dynasty, a little girl named Ma Zhai-Xing befriended a boy in the forest who had been raised by wolves. Tragedy separated the two and they were forced to cut ties. The girl grew up the beloved governor’s daughter in Kui Zhou. The boy was adopted by Chu Kui, King of Yang, and given a name and a title—Chu You-Wen, Prince of Bo. Eight years later, Ma Zhai-Xing and Prince of Bo’s paths cross again, but not in the friendliest of circumstances. Although Ma Zhai-Xing sees the face of her kind friend in the prince, Prince of Bo is anything but kind! When Zhai-Xing’s father is mysteriously murdered, the Prince of Bo takes her to the capital city for her own protection. Zhai-Xing is ready to avenge her father, but what if her revenge leads her to point her sword at the person she least suspects?

The Wolf proves to be an entertaining drama and a fun story to watch. The plot is exciting, the cast is talented, and the scenes and editing are well executed. What is especially unique for this kind of historical/fantasy genre is the use of animals to build up the story that we’re watching. It’s well titled “The Wolf” because the wolf’s symbol seems to drive so much of the plot and characterization for both lead protagonists. Not only does wolf-like strength and prowess fuel Prince of Bo’s and Zhai-Xing’s revenges, but also the concept of wolves mating with one mate for life. It helps explain why Chu You-Wen can’t truly let Ma Zhai-Xing go and vice versa. Beyond wolves, the drama also uses butterflies to describe Zhai-Xing’s and the Wolf Boy’s bond—a concept revisited right up into the final moments of the last episode.

Using the “Wolf” element, however, does appear to induce a few challenges that we are not quite sure the drama handles well. First, we have to appreciate the CGI notice on all of the animal scenes, especially the ones featuring wolves. Because, evidently, we wouldn’t be able to discern a CGI wolf from a real wolf otherwise. Second, the drama seems to stress that Prince of Bo secretly is the Wolf Boy, raised by wolves, yet he’s also this educated prince. It doesn’t give him a solid foundation and leaves us guessing many elements of his character. It’s short-lived and ill-supported. Furthermore, Prince of Bo’s “hulking” or “wolfing” out is difficult to grasp and it’s not well explained.

Yet that is easily overlooked compared to the cyclic character motives of Chu You-Wen and Ma Zhai-Xing. Both of them, for the majority of the drama, keep taking personal blame for events that they each had little to do with. If you like melodrama, The Wolf is definitely on your list. However, from an objective perspective, their vicious cycle is a bit disappointing. We were hoping for some more strength and sense out of our leads.

Ji Chong is by far the most well-rounded character in the drama. He knows how to cope with stress and fix his own problems, both of which Ma Zhai-Xing seems mostly incapable of. Even his family issues do not last very long because he corrects them. Even as a second-leading male, he proves to be one to win both our hearts and our respect. While Ma Zhai-Xing won’t be making our Favorite Heroine’s list, we do have to compliment her on having some spine!

There are some mixed feelings about the finale. The producers and writers obviously tried to conclude the series by wrapping the project with the perfect little bow. No spoilers here, but the finale seems anticlimactic. We were expecting more out of the final episode and a bit more refinement. Regardless of how the plot ended, the execution of it left something to be desired.

Although it’s certainly got its challenges that distract from the drama's value, The Wolf remains an interesting drama and an entertaining watch. Each member of the cast was well-suited to his or her role. They bring it to life in a way that captivates audiences for hours! Ultimately, they were what we couldn't get enough of. 4/5 stars!