A true gem of Cdrama
I loved it ! The plot is interesting from the start, the actors are excellent, the story has a good pace and we don't get bored, the characters are very well developed and the chemistry between the two protagonists is crazy, I loved their relationship and see their interaction throughout the episodes. Although it's recent, it's the best Chinese drama I've watched, 10/10Was this review helpful to you?
Unexpectedly Good Movie
I know this is apdapted from a book but I haven't read the book because of some reasons. I read a few negative reviews but still decided to watch to kill time. However, it was quite good since I watched with no expectation. It actually grew on me. The acting of supporting character is good. One the main characters did a good job considering he is an idol and this is his first main role. The acting of other main character is not as good as his partner. I wish they made the ending differently it was less heartbreaking. Overall, I will rewatch it.Was this review helpful to you?
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AMAZING? AMAZING!
When I tell you how this took over my life and left me questioning what is real and what is not around me, I'm not kidding.I went into the show, I did not expect to be watching a masterpiece. The acting, ost, plot, characters, everything was on point. The way Ruan Nanzhu looked so lovingly at Lingling was so cute. The way Ruan Nanzhu fell first but Lingling fell harder. All the doors were so interesting to watch and especially the 11th door.
The ending left me absolutely sobbing. You are telling me Lingling waited 50 years!?!?!? 50 years to recreate The Spirealm and have all his friends in that world and live with them. With the version of them that remembered him and loved him. He chose to live in the virtual world where the people he loved remembered him and their story and not the real world where they were alive but did not remember anything. How heartbreaking that part was to watch. Everyone was around him in his life but not in the way he wanted. And the most important person, the man he loved so so much was not there. So, he created the virtual game again, the 12th door of Lingling's happiness, entered that world to live there for the rest of his life with his husband and friends. Loved how the moment he and Ruan Nanzhu's hands touched, Lingling was back to the young age he was when they had first met. Now he could live with his husband for an eternity!
The concept of choosing which one would you want to live in? The Illusion of Life or the Reality of Death? It so perfectly went well with Lingling's story. He chose the Illusion of living with Ruan Nanzhu and his friends then live with the reality that Ruan Nanzhu, the NPC created for him did not even exist.
WATCH THE SHOW NOW!!!
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this left me feeling a whole lot of things
This show had so so much potential, and for some of it, they really did a great job. For other things, they just flopped hard.Jiushi is a game developer who stumbles across a VR game that's so much more than just a game and gets pulled into the world of 12 doors that you have to make your way through, each of them opening up into unique virtual universes with new life threatening challenges, and when you die in the game, you die in real life. When Jiushi goes into his first door, he meets Lanzhu, a master gamer who owns a company that takes other gamers through the doors.
The story is intriguing, it's a fresh spin on the real life VR trope, and the strange worlds that lie behind each of the doors are well thought out and incredibly creative. The main storyline though could have been SO much better. The main story line was veiled in so much mystery, I love not knowing what's going on and learning little bits as you go, but the reveals were lame! There were also psrts of the plot that didn't really make sense that just threw you for a loop and you just had to roll with it. I'm a sucker for a happy ending too, and I saw a lot of ways we could have had a satisfying ending, but this wasn't it. It was disappointing after staying with the story for so long, just for it to end and leave you feeling empty.
The acting was alright. Most of them were good actors, especially Xia Zhiguang who plays Lanzhu, he's amazing. There wasnt anyone terrible, but the guy who plays Jiushi wasnt a great actor, so it threw things off. These two could have had chemistry to kill for, some of their scenes you just sit there holding your breath, but the writers must have been scared towards the end since there's not much chemistry outside of the sad parts. I get it though, because ultimately the show was taken down, so sadly, their fear was justified.
Production value was great, the world graphics were mostly good quality,the music was awkward though? There was literally only actual music on what was supposed to be the romantic scenes, but it felt forced in there.
Overall I enjoyed this, but not nearly as much as I anticipated. It could have been amazing, and the ending just leaves you empty.
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Wonderful, emotional, and just beautiful (except the ending haha)
If anyone's read the novel before going into the series, they would surely have high expectations, and I certainly did too. I was not disappointed in the least, the plot, the mystery, the acting were all just executed to perfection. I love the cast, and they all suit their characters really well.I felt that I was really able to develop such a deep bond with so many different characters, and in such a short time, which is something even the best TV series don't always manage to achieve. RNZ and LJS are adorable, and they give off such obvious lovey-dovey vibes i keep squeeling and kicking my legs everytime they're together.
As someone who extremely hates watching any visually scary / even the tiniest bit of horror, I love that while the story is one of horror mystery, they somehow managed to make it not that horrifying, and most of the time I actually felt it to be slightly comedic. I was really glad the director took into consideration scaredy-cats like me.
Finally, the ending. This was the only reason I had to take the .5 off that 10/10. The ending was a tad chaotic, unexplainable, not understandable, and slightly sad. There were many things that I failed to understand, but ultimately if I switched my brain off, I still enjoyed the very last few scenes of melancholic happiness.
Ps - to novel readers: the ending is quite different than that in the novel, and definitely not as happy i would say, since the series left the ending quite open-ended
PPS - to all international fans out there, I actually feel so bad for you since the subs are probably not that easy to understand (or not understandable at all haha)
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If you love some action then this is for you
If you ever read 'global examination' bl (novel or manga) and like that, then you're going to like it to, both have some similarities and action and love, but this drama have SAD ENDING, and as it's a Chinese drama you can't see ml's intimacy not even a kiss (for that you need to read it's novel, it's novel have little different story and HAPPY AND LOVELY ENDING) but you can feel there love for each other, if you can't feel it it's still ok you can enjoy it as a action drama but remember at end it's a sed ending ❤️Was this review helpful to you?
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escape rooms in fantasy of life and death virtual game..
basically just watch the drama, for my interpretation of the storyline... with the guessing words from not accurate/auto generated subtitles.. just for reminder sake of comfortable watching, i do put a mindset for this drama that to just follow the flow of the drama, don't expect too much, and have a funtasy virtual journey through the end, it's really worth my time, because i couldn't stop watching the drama till the end of episode.1st episode i'm hook up for the RPG storyline, any dramas about RPG in beautiful scenery always added to my list to watch.. that's what i thought at first... then, unbelievably it's a horror one, and to added it to my surprise it's a spooky and gory one, i do horror but not the spooky-gory kind (such as "sell your haunted house"), so i'm a bit hesitant to continue at first, but after 2nd episode, i get my nerved tone down for the mystery of each door to solve, i like the solving cases storyline, so i can't stop continue watching them even in night time..
yep it's no draggy storyline, but yet a bit fast pace, i couldn't get too much attached emotionally, even when there're deaths of the support characters, i couldn't get the sadness about them, i just thought it's part of the game which is required to, after all it's a life and death virtual game.
for me, every solving cases storyline just need decent ending, and this drama is one of them, i don't expect much to have it a happy or sad ending, just enough for my logic to have the resolve ending.
and good BGM made me hook up through all the storyline.
both Main Lead characters Ruan Lan Zhu and Ling Jiu Shi give a superb chemistry, in gestures and eyes telling, they're so in sync in mind too, the calmness and knowing what to do from both ML, made the drama enjoyable to follow through the end, no fussy scenes from them, i always love the pair of Introvert characters, so comfortable to watch.. i love the early attitude from RLZ for his sassy and love to tease LJS, through gestures, eyes and words ("what's yours are mine, what's mine still be mine", keep me laughing hearing this sassy remarks), but it's getting lesser from the middle to the ending, a bit disappointed actually though, LJS still the same but a bit upgrade from too oblivious to a bit quick to catch RLZ rephrase.
and i prefer with RLZ's hair style of the 1st episode with his bangs down, soo real RPG character, breathtaking, lol..
i love BL storyline, but this drama not enough to be categorized as BL one IMO, just Bromance, because the storyline didn't focusing about their feeling, just a gesture here and there, not too emotionally attached storyline about them ("Untamed" were more for the romance than here), again IMO.
Re-watch the drama only when i miss RLZ, it's too spooky and gory for my nerve, just for a day-watch, not recommended at night-watch, if you don't have a strong nerve as me, lol.
well, just a tiny wish-of-thoughts about the whole set of story, it'll be really awesome feeling if it's actually done as the novel set of nuance that it's a real door, not just a virtual game, ayy just a bit imagining thoughts whether it'll feel different when i know it's not just game-set storyline, hehe, the drama already awesome as it is.
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Watching the final episode of this series left me with a profound sense of emptiness and sadness. It's as if saying goodbye to dear friends whom I've grown to cherish over the course of the show. Already, I find myself missing the characters deeply, wishing for just a bit more time in their world.
The actors delivered such incredible performances, bringing the characters to life in a way that felt genuine and heartfelt. Their portrayal of emotions was so captivating that I found myself completely immersed in their journey, feeling every joy and sorrow alongside them.
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Amazing drama that will capture your heart
First of all, I admit that I haven't read the original novel. Actually I didn't know neither about the novel nor about the existence of its adaptation, just got very curious when all this story suddenly began in February... So I accepted the adaptation as a given and really enjoyed all its storyline and twists.I first saw Huang Jun Jie as Zhang Qiling in DMBJ universe. Back then, watching Reunion: The Sound of the Providence, I thought that something was wrong with his role and realized: he does his best, of course, but this role isn't meant for him. It doesn't let him display his talent. But here in The Spirealm Huang Jun Jie truly shines! Perfect match. I totally loved his character's development, from being confused, unconfident, shy and a bit funny in the beginning to mature, confident and charming later. Ling Jiushi is kind, loyal and compassionate, and what I like most about him is that he doesn't harbour resentments. "I cherish what I have now".
Surely people already made a lot of comments about Ruan Lanzhu. Let me share my impression too :) Xia Zhi Guang performed such a complicated task brilliantly, I admire how he portrayed different sides of his character: mischievous, flirty, charismatic (and dangerous) behind the door, other times serious and (seemingly) indifferent, and his soft side meant for Ling Jiushi alone. And their wonderful bond. How this relationship changed them both. I don't mind the absence of frank confessions, because all is so crystal clear! To tell the most important things without words, just with those affectionate gazes, full of love and caring, that's beautiful. This is what art is.
The whole story is engaging and I would even say, addictive! I felt comfortable with the plot structure, foretasting every new adventure in the world of doors. All arcs were carefully written, characters, visuals, music, all is good. And personally I accept the ending.
Will I rewatch? Definitely yes! No goodbyes. Just see you later...
I wrote this review almost two months after completing the drama. Still can't let go.
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Loved watching it.. Must recommended drana
The character development of all the characters was so good... I mean the vfx, acting, story plot everything was so good im just obsessed with this drama and even though they got kinda sad ending but the overall chemistry btw them was so nicee.. At the starting drama was full of horror but coming to last eps it was sad & literally hurt my soul & my heart aches whenever i think abt ending and lingling Ruan.. My lingling baby deserved a very happy ending though... He was so kind & polite.... My baby deserved to be loved as the same way he loves everyone but unfortunately the fate was so cruel.. But im happy that atleast his frnds were alive.. Even though they forget him but at least they lived their lives to fullest.. This drama lives in my heart rent free and if you've not watched this drama yet you're missing out best drama so watch it.. Hope this review helped you guys out.... But moreover i wrote everything i felt after watching this dramaWas this review helpful to you?
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Exceeds expectations
CASTBoth MLs are, in my opinion, insanely good looking, so I might not be objective, when I also praise their acting. They had a difficult task to show to us, viewers, that they are lovers, and at the same time to show the communist censors that they are just friends. They don't get to have much physical contact, so they are limited to the way they look at each other or the tone of voice, but with those limited means, they did a great job. Another great actor was the one cast as twins - he managed to create two characters of not only separate, but actually opposite personalities, one - lovable, the other - not so much. This must have been difficult too, and again, executed just perfectly.
MUSIC mostly matched the mood, but, as is often a problem in Asian dramas, sometimes was too invasive.
STORY
Here start spoilers!
***
At first, I thought that there would not be much of a plot outside of the game itself, but I didn't really mind. Each of the "doors", or levels of the game, had its own story, interestingly told, visually pleasing and emotionally moving. The actual premise seemed absurd: there is a game that kills people, some gamers can magically play it as a team and earn money, and when the MLs complete this game, it will be purged of evil, brought about, obviously, by the US (censors bless us!). Therefore, I just resigned to the idea that this show would be guilty pleasure - stupid but fun. The ending changed my perception completely!
This drama tells a story of a person, who was so lonely that he hallucinated a whole universum where he has love and friendship. People, who he saw around him and knew their names but never dared to talk to, in his hallucinations became teammates for life or foes to death. As for love - apparently, he never even fantasised about loving someone real, so he completely invented his lover without basing him on an existing person. His real-life friend, with whom he reportedly planned to create a game, turned out to be just one of his school colleagues, who he wasn't close to at all - he didn't even know what studies that guy had taken up and couldn't recall his face - the character in the hallucinations always wore a hood.
When he woke up after this imaginary experience of closeness and affection, he didn't even try to change and to be more outgoing, so that he could find closeness in real world. No, instead he dedicated his life to recreating his hallucinations in the form of a VR game. Gives you food for thought, gives you a picture of how secluded modern people are. Breaks your heart.
***
Here end spoilers.
To sum up, this show goes way beyond a gaming drama or a censored BL. It tackles real problems faced by all too many people in the modern world. I strongly recommend it.
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