An Odd but Fun One
Initially, I gave it a 9.5 instead of 10. But after thinking for awhile and got the conclusion that there might not be another C-drama of similar type in the near future (a year or two), I gave it a 10. That being said, this drama is not flawless for me, but definitely worth a watch if you are up for some stories featuring adventures, mysteries and horror (slight, not a lot). It's best if you get into the drama blind (i.e. without knowing any spoilers), spoilers would really kill the fun watching this!To put it simply, watching this is like watching Great Escape, the tv show, but in drama format. Or it's like another similar drama, 19th Floor (p.s. but way better ?). Or if you didn't know about both mentioned shows, it's like watching a group of people playing multiple levels of escape rooms, but in this drama, they are escaping worlds (or what they called Doors in the drama) instead of rooms.
I really like how the characters were written in this, especially Ruan Lan Zhu. Easily one of my most favourite MLs of all time.
Castings were very well done too! I didn't know about Xia Zhi Guang before watching this, but he portrayed Ruan Lan Zhu perfectly. Lu Meng Lin as well, perfectly fits her role as Tan Zao Zao. And many other side characters, be it the players (Liu Xiao Bei as Li Dong Yuan) or the NPCs (Jia Xiao Han as Lu Zuo Zi, Jessie Yan as the nurse, Chen Xu as Lady in the Rain) just to name a few, they are all very memorable to me. The only minor complaint I have is that I wished Huang Jun Jie's acting was better. He wasn't too bad, but could be a little better.
Music and OSTs in this drama are good too, especially "I Know", the theme song that they play in almost every sad scenes. And the song in Zuo Zi's story.
I would definitely rewatch this again, but I think rewatching won't bring me as much surprises as when I first watched it. Hence, its score being the lowest among the 4 categories.
Thank you for reading this review. And lastly, if you haven't watch this, what are you waiting for? ?
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This review may contain spoilers
A Phenomenal Blend of Horror and Logic
I must confess that I'm not typically a fan of horror movies. However, this series managed to captivate me despite my reservations. Let me break down my experience:1. Logic and Fear:
- Horror movies often sacrifice logic for scares, but "The Spirealm" struck a perfect balance. While some episodes did get intense, the overall storyline remained grounded and engaging.
- Yes, I got scared, but it was the right kind of fear—the kind that keeps you on the edge of your seat without feeling overdone.
2. Perfectly Logical:
- The series wove together a beautifully logical narrative. Every twist, every door, and every revelation felt purposeful and exciting.
- I didn't experience any disappointments; the plot consistently delivered.
3. Production Quality:
- "The Spirealm" was impeccably made. The sets, costumes, and visual effects felt authentic and immersive.
- The attention to detail elevated the viewing experience.
4. Talented Cast:
- The actors deserve applause. Not just one or two, but the entire ensemble.
- Their performances were nuanced and genuine—no forced reactions here.
All in all, If you enjoy solving mysteries and appreciate high-quality storytelling, "The Spirealm" is a must-watch. It's a well-made, well-played series with a stunning story. I'd give it a solid 10 out of 10. "The Spirealm" combines horror, logic, and exceptional production values. Give it a try—you won't be disappointed!
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MUST WATCH
I absolutely still do not understand the fact why it was taken down!?One of the most amazing story I have ever seen! *A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THE TEAM AND THE WHOLE CAST AND CREW*
The story, the plot, the cast, the acting, the ost everything just left me speechless! Well I am falling short of words.
For someone who hasn't watched "The Spirealm" yet you're missing something huge!
I highly recommend watching this drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
THE BEST CDRAMA I KNOW
I haven’t watched many cdramas but they are definitely my second favorite to kdramas. This particular one just wouldn’t get out of my head- and I realized I have a second favorite drama ever- and I started watching foreign dramas in 2022.This is a masterpiece and I really wished China wasn’t as toxic or whatever to ban it. It would’ve done so good as a bl but I saw the love in Ruan’s eyes that he had for Jiushi.
That ending!! I was so so sad when they didn’t remember him and although I’m happy they are still alive- I’m team Ruan and Lingling. And as I end the series I can’t help but feel that if I was in Jiushi’s spot, I would know that this is a false reality now and no matter how much of wishing it wasn’t, a part of me would always know it’s fake and I wouldn’t be able to think otherwise.
I need another series like this one. I loved the bl/bromance and the gaming/virtual reality aspect. I wished they had done better promotions and it’s a shame it was taken down hours after it was put up. We need more Spirealm edits too because I swear they are in like limited supply.
Let me know if anyone knows any Chinese dramas like this one. To be honest I’m not into historical dramas and I prefer watching more modern-day ones like this one.
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PIECE OF ART
PIECE OF ARTI can't stop thinking bout this drama over and over. The Untamed was the 1st Chinese bl drama that I ever watched. It's been more than 3 years now since I started watching Bls. Every year few series tops my list and "The Spirealm " Is one of them. I didn't have high expectations when I started watching this drama but boy it got me hooked.. The chemistry was flowing the acting was actinging. Lan Jiu Shi & Ruan Lan Zhu stole my heart ❤??. I'm not a fan of the ending I understand the ending was bittersweet. I can't imagine how jiu shi spent his 50 years recreating the spiritual realm like this so heartbreaking ?but in the end, jiu shi recreated EVERYTHING I think RUAN ZHU remembered JIUSHI ?. They got me crying... I LOVE THEM, I LOVE THEM. Qiani Li, Tan Zao Zao and Li Dong Yuan (Thank you for your service guys) ? I cried my eyes out when you guys died. I'm probably gonna rewatch The Spirealm AGAIN ? I CAN'T LET THEM GO ?
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NO REGRETT!!
One of the best horror mystery movies I have seen in 2024. The plot was amazing and the acting/chemistry was incredible. Throughout the show, there was no time for a dull moment. I felt very engaged as well as all the emotions the 2 main actors were portraying. I love this show so much and wish it would just last a little bit longer. But as for every joy ride, it must eventually come to a stop. The show was very fulfilling. Highly recommend anyone who is considering watching. Thank you for all your hard work. I look forward to the official release so I can support the show properly. As of now, I will miss you.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I want to give 10 and 0 simultaneously for the rewatch value.
I want to give 10 and 0 simultaneously for the rewatch value.Though I definitely want to re-rewatch, after that I know I’ll feel this nostalgia again and I don’t know what to do to overcome it anymore…
I usually do not write reviews, but after completing the drama I felt a huge nostalgia so now I think I got a glimpse of how the man without the heart may feel. To the pretense of fulfilling that blank hole after watching several bts, I finally took the pen to write this.
Anyone who watched this till end can’t give a score less than 10.
Story is very good, specially I think you have read the book it would be better since you could understand more accurately and enjoy too. But if you are someone like me, who haven’t read the book yet still you can enjoy it immensely without any spoils. And there’s a bonus point too, cz after reading the book you can enjoy the drama again.
Acting is good. Not only the main casts, but also others have done a good job. The acting was a team work in here, same as passing the doors. That’s make the beauty of this.
I watch a video of Xia Zhi Guang saying, after reading the script he read the book too. I remembered reading somewhere that Chen Fei Yu has also done the same after receiving the Immortality script.
It seems some actors, specially these young talents do not take these characters as merely as another role, but they try to give their whole dedication for the process. I think that’s what make these dramas specifically charismatic.
Also I was fascinated by finding that two most mesmerizing scenes caught my eye were ideas of XZG. The water dripping from the glass when Li dongyuan threw his gift at Ruan Lanzhu and the scene where Ruan lanzhu captured through the empty heart of the iron statue. ( He interpreted it bcz RLZ is an AI, he has to do what he was programmed for despite having emotions. Just like a man without a heart. )
So, when considering XZG not only his acting and singing skills, but again dedication to the work captured my heart. In that video he said what he did at that time was a gambling. I hope he’ll never encounter such situation in the future.
As for Huang Jun Jie, I have seen his works previously. I liked Dr. Cutie. Though I feel something amiss in his acting at some point, I’m not a judge of actors.
I love the Opening theme song sung by XZG and the song “I know”.
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Extraordinary storyline and great acting
Prepare to get your heart broken into million pieces and your mind baffled at the fantasy world. If you are looking for fantasy, great games and riddles mysteries to solve, thrill and most importantly amazing bromance. This is for you.The phenomenal idea of making a VR game which allows you to pass doors but makes the dangers real is so well done. The game is upgraded jumanji with technology. Each gate mystery is excellent and the way leads are smart and handle them is a delight to watch.
The show stealer is the chemistry though. Ruan Lanzhu and Lingling dont even hug but every hidden glances, nuances in their conversation and promises made to each other is more than a kiss or hug could convey. And Ruan is sooo damn transparent with his emotions that you will swoon.
Watch it!!! Or you will regret missing out on a great creation.
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Great Horror Series
This was a great horror series and also one of the best series of 2024 for cdramas. Even though this show was only allowed to be aired on international platforms due to source material being a BL, I hope that cdramas are able to make more horror style shows such as this in this future. This is a highly recommended.The Good
Strong plot! The show executed the horror theme very well and kept things engaging throughout. It didn't have any boring plots or stories in the doors throughout for me. Production was decent for a modern drama and the OST was nice. The highlight of the show were definitely the relationships between each character and the connections they formed with each other. The acting was also decent and everybody played their character well. Each of the characters were also interesting throughout the series. I appreciated that romance wasn't the main focus of this story as it is with most cdramas. It's nice to watch something different sometimes. I loved that focus of the story was on the doors. They rarely deviated from the main plot of the story with subplots which kept our attention on what mattered most in this show.
The Bad
A couple of loose ends that never was handled such as Ling Jiushi's friend still being shrouded in mystery. The last 20 minutes of the last episode fell a little flat for me but I assume it was to pass censorship. Wish ed it could have wrapped it up stronger. Would have liked to see a little more world building and character backstory for some of the other characters but was satisfied with the overall focus being on what was happening in the doors.
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Refreshing
Just to preface, this is a very censored adaptation of a BL novel, you will barely even see the main “couple” touching each other, although it is clear that the relationship between them can be seen as a bit more than bromance by the way they talk with eachother.The whole series keeps you captivated every single episode.
If you’re a liver of Sci-fi, horror and games, this is the series for you.
You’re supposed to feel emotional during this series so expect to laugh and cry hysterically.
The ending is bittersweet, it’s not anything you would expect (unless you’re like me and read the spoilers before watching).
Honestly it’s one of the only series that I actually listened to the opening, everything about it was beautiful and sentimental.
The opening song is a big clue as to what happens
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This review may contain spoilers
Censorship Doesn't Dim the Romance in this One!
Yes, indeed I did watch this phenomenal series and, while not a gamer nor understanding much about the intricacies of this series, I treasured its theme and ambition. This series is breathtaking in its presentation, cinematography, storytelling, and acting. I was completely mesmerized and astonishingly could pretty much follow the gist of the story minus the minutiae and detailed storylines. Being a Westerner, I also got hopelessly entangled by the names and relationships of individuals. None of that mattered to me, however. My focus was on the two main protagonists and the heart of their story.To say this series is unconventional would be an understatement. Interestingly, it was adapted from a BL, but it is NOT a BL. Is it romantic? Oh God! yes. It is beyond a bromance but certainly not a BL. It is in a category all by itself. The two leads, almost from the beginning, develop a strong and inseparable bond between each other that is unshakable. Early on there is a natural affinity between them and it does not take long for both to pledge fidelity to one other.
https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/10/11/the-spirealm-series-review-ep-1-to-78/
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A Thrilling Journey Through Virtual Reality and High-Stakes Drama
This series has captured my mind due to the excellence in weaving a storyline that is so exhilarating and engaging that you can’t help but to binge watch and hope to see more of it. Using the medium of virtual games (a term used loosely here) and multiple short plotlines while building a central mystery creates an intriguing and enjoyable viewing experience.The story centres around a virtual game that has manifested in the real world. Players are forced to engage in this sadistic, high-stakes game, where losing means death in the real world. Our protagonist, Lin Jui Shi, finds himself trapped in this world, and Ruan Lan Zhu comes to his rescue. Together, they work to unravel the mystery behind the game while trying to survive.
The game involves entering doors and encountering different scenarios each time, based on urban legends. The series excels in creating an atmosphere of dread and mystery, with each storyline being unique. It's fascinating to see the characters navigate the game, interact with NPCs, and decipher clues to escape safely. However, the series delivers a not-so-subtle message about the greed of capitalism. The game, designed by a Chinese developer in America, is manipulated by greedy capitalists to make more money. Our protagonists must solve the riddle, fix the game, and save the world from capitalism—a theme that is a bit on the nose.
What truly sets this series apart are the characters. Beyond the two main characters, the rest of the cast delivers outstanding performances. The story is rich with emotion, and viewers will often find themselves sympathizing with the characters, saddened by their predicaments, and moved by their losses. A compelling storyline is bolstered by exceptional acting.
However, the series is not without its faults. The game world is poorly explained, and viewers are expected to go with the flow. There is no clear understanding of how altering the game's code causes it to affect the real world. Questions arise, such as why players who die in the game die in real life, how the game can be corrected by simply winning all the doors, and why the game can't be re-released by the greedy capitalists even after it's been fixed, rendering the protagonists' efforts potentially futile.
In conclusion, despite many unanswered questions, "The Spirealm" is a great watch due to its amazing storyline and stellar acting. Additionally, the series contains very limited BL scenes or dialogues, primarily portraying the main characters as very good friends.
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