The Spirealm

Disturbing but brilliant

I am not really a horror person so when I first went into this, I was a little nervous. I don’t do well with jump scares or anything scary but I had very little trouble with this. So if horror isn’t typically your genre, I would still recommend you give this a try. Unless you’re super squeamish then I’d recommend you steer clear.
So I went into this with knowledge of the ending/big twist but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment at all. It was really interesting thinking about what would come next, how they would get out of each door, what the taboos were and who would die. Speaking of death, I think I cried harder at this drama than I’ve cried at any other contemporary cdrama like ever. I actually had to pause a few times just to sob because I was crying so hard I couldn’t see anything. I am dead inside. As for the bromance aspect of the show, I really enjoyed it. They were cute and funny and honestly soulmates. I do have mixed feelings about the ending because while it can technically be called a happy ending, I would classify it as ambiguous. A little bit like the ending of Guardian, though perhaps not as depressing. Happy enough but if you think about it, there are too many unanswered questions for me to be content.
Over all, I super recommend this. The acting is great, the story is intriguing, and the OST is pretty good. 10/10

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Wow

While watching the show, I was like “oh it’s a good drama” but what made it sooooo memorable for me was how I didn’t want it to finish, I wanted to know more what happens in their future…. I loved it
Apart from the loopholes and some things I didn’t understand, what made this show so damn memorable to me was how I felt soooooo empty after this ended… only a few dramas make me feel that void after it ends and even some of my high rated dramas didn’t make me feel that but it was few of those dramas that made me feel so empty and made me look for the novel and I was so eager to know what happens next or if they get their deserved happy ending….
The cast was fantastic, I’ve seen Lanzhu in dashing youth and he was cute, good character but my god I never knew he was that good looking. I love when my handsome men get praised in the dramas cos beauty needs to be praised.. and the praises did him justice, he looked so good ..

Also a moment of silence for that chemistry between two male leads coz even though this was a sterilized, censored adaptation of BL, I could feel their chemistry oozing through the screen… those glances, those dialogues, the way they are always together, it felt sooooo natural ..many times in bl, the chemistry is so forced but here their chemistry was sooo natural , it felt so right to see them together and I wud have loved og BL script with these two, but I loved this version too… something abt these untitled, unnamed relationship in these adaptations makes u addicted coz u just want more and u can’t have it so it kind of makes u crave it and u end up being obsessed. All in all, I loved it

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A MUST WATCH

Soooo good. I just wished the mc would be more expressive though. ML is the love of my love when he cries i want to turn into a napkin to wipe his tears away. A lot of the characters are loveable even the ghosts (well some of them) when i saw the 78 ep i was thinking how i could watch like it would take years but it is never enough! They even skipped some scenes and the ending for me was not it! Though happy ending it still fell short compared to the novel. But everything from acting to pacing, vfx to cgi whatever it was and the story *chefs kiss. Some stupid ass reasoning might’ve caused unnecessary drama but it’s bearable(at least for me) and at some point ( yeah right more like all the time) you want to just press the heads of the mc and ml and say *now kiss and hug and cuddle etc.) so watch it!

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Best in horror

Oh my god, where do I even start? The Spirealm isn’t just a show—it’s a full‑blown emotional and psychological assault in the best possible way. Imagine being thrown into a VR world where each of twelve doors is a twisted reflection of your deepest fears, traumas, and desires—and you can’t leave until you face them. That’s the roller‑coaster ride Ling Jiushi (Huang Junjie) and Ruan Lanzhu (Xia Zhiguang) take us on, and I LIVED for every second.

Huang Junjie as Ling Jiushi brings the perfect mix of cynicism and vulnerability. You see his PTSD, his guilt over creating this nightmare‑machine, and you feel it. Then there’s Xia Zhiguang’s Ruan Lanzhu—the calm, unflappable leader who melts under Ling’s fierce protectiveness. Their chemistry? Off the charts. Even with China’s censorship rules, every stolen glance and subtext‑packed scene screams devotion.

The world‑building is INSANE. One door is a haunted mountain village where the dead stalk you. And it never feels repetitive—each nightmare‑realm is a new gut‑punch. The production design, the lighting, the score—all of it drips with dread and beauty at once.

Yes, it got pulled from iQIYI (thanks, censors), but that just proved how powerful it was. Fans rallied, international platforms picked it up, and now we all have this gem on Viu and Viki. Because this show deserved to be seen.

Li Dongyuan (Liu Xiaobei) and Cheng Qianli/Yixie (Liu Ruogu) round out the cast with their own heartbreaking backstories, adding layers of family trauma and betrayed trust. And the female characters? Finally, real, supportive women who hold their ground in this men‑only nightmare arena.

I’m a sucker for painful, tragic, mind‑bending stories, and The Spirealm delivers all of it. I wanted it more brutal, closer to the novel’s raw horror—and yeah, I’ll always crave the uncut version—but even in its edited form it’s a masterclass.

100/10—for the twisted thrills, the tragic beauty, and the unbreakable bond between Ling Jiushi and Ruan Lanzhu. If horror and heartbreak are your jam, drop everything and watch this now.
P.S i have read the novel and trust me it ismuch more grim and graphic than this series. I just wished they had enough budget to release every door page by page. Every door was so traumatizing that i had to take a few deep breaths before starting another one.

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It’s worth your time

I accidentally stumbled upon this series. Being an avid fan of mystery dramas , I found the series very intriguing and captivating. My friend who happened to watch one episode midway also got hooked to this. For someone who had no idea about the original plot , my friend was able to pick up the romantic tension between the leads.So the chemistry between the leads undeniable. The ending was satisfying . I have seen so many contradicting theories online regarding the climax. My advice would be not to read them before watching😎. The side characters have their own soul and get connected with you. Recommended.

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Very addictive

I got to watch the reformatted 38 longer eps vers.
I loved the dynamics of the 2ML they obviously developed a deep bond and affection for each other to the extent they would die for them. Their lives are put in danger enough times that it is clear to see how they look after each other. Both leads are above average intelligence and looks so they carry the drama easily.
Huang Jun Jie plays Ling Jiu Shi had an Alpha male persona but was somewhat restrained in body language.
Zhi Guang plays Ruan Lan Zhu in his first major role and at 24 yrs old I feel this will open a lot more doors (pun) to his career.

The side characters are also interesting although their screen time is shorter. The Spirealm game has tasks behind the 12 doors; to locate the door ghost, find the exit key and uncover clues on how to not get killed are what kept me hooked.

I liked the colour palette used and often moody lighting added to the sense of danger. The opening track, Cánh Cửa - Hạ Chi Quang (The Door) and deep singing voice is very hypnotic. Huang Junjie also sings the ending theme OST. The other tracks are magic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qPMm_cCrDo

This is based on a novel and apparently suffered a little from the adaption but not having read the story I thoroughly enjoyed this version and was never bored.

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