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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A Virtual World, Real Emotions—A Sci-Fi Friendship Story That Stays With You
💡 Plot ReviewThis drama is, without a doubt, a masterpiece. It’s not just a story—it’s a whole experience. The plot is deeply engaging from beginning to end, filled with heavy decisions, soul-deep connections, and beautifully crafted dilemmas. I couldn’t sleep peacefully if I didn’t finish an episode. I dreamed about it. I paused all my ongoing dramas just to fully dive into this one. That’s how powerful it was.
It’s rare to find a sci-fi drama that captures both high-stakes tension and emotional depth this well. And while the concept of game-world survival isn’t new, the way this show executed it? Completely on another level. Flawless pacing, meaningful arcs, and the kind of writing that leaves a permanent mark. The only thing I regret is not watching this sooner—and now that it’s over, I don’t think I’ll ever move on from it. This sits next to The Untamed in my "forever in my heart" folder.
🧡 Characters & Loyalty
Every single character, from the main duo to the side allies, felt like someone I could care for. This isn’t just about two leads—it’s about a found family, a bond that transcends levels, worlds, and even realities.
The Obsidian members? Absolute icons. Not just strong and loyal, but good-hearted people who brought so much warmth into a cold, digital world. Even the smallest characters who helped purify the game—I see you, and I love you too. No one was just filler. Even the door ghost had me emotional, that’s how deep this show went.
And the friendship between the leads? So raw, so loyal, so deeply human. Watching them risk everything for each other, again and again—it was emotional, inspiring, and unforgettable.
😤 Villain
Let’s talk about Yan Ba Lang. Short screen time? Yes. But impact? Insane. I was ready to enter the screen myself and fight him. That kind of villain who makes you feel actual rage—that’s effective writing. His role may have been limited, but the way he tied into everything left a huge impression.
🎭 Acting & Performances
Everyone brought their A-game. This cast didn’t just act; they lived the roles. The emotion, the chemistry, the nuance—it was all there. Not a single performance felt flat. I laughed when they laughed, cried when they cried, and clenched my fists when things got too real. I’m now actively hunting down their other dramas because I need more from this cast.
🧩 Plot Twists
That one episode—the one that pulled the rug right out from under us? Yeah. I felt that. The betrayal, the reveal, the pain. It was the kind of twist that hits so hard it stays with you days later. And yet, it was so well-written that it made perfect sense in hindsight. Genius.
Friendship & Emotion
Friendship is the heart of this show. Whether it’s inside the game or out in the real world, the emotional connection between these characters is what keeps everything grounded. That house filled with laughter, the shared battles, the quiet promises—they made me cry. Real, happy, full-hearted tears.
Even when friends became NPCs, the loyalty didn’t waver. That kind of writing? It’s rare. It made this sci-fi drama feel more human than most slice-of-life stories.
✅ Final Thoughts
This drama gave me everything—adrenaline, emotion, loyalty, heartbreak, and healing. If you love sci-fi, deep friendship, emotional storytelling, and characters that feel real, this is your next obsession.
I cried. I stayed up late. I paused life just to see what would happen next. And in the end?
Every minute. Every tear. Every heartbeat. It was all worth it.
Super Highly Recommended.
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This review may contain spoilers
Love begets hate
Such a beautiful story presenting every single possible human emotions. Such a thoughtful and lovely story.Let me explain my pov about story.
Ling Jiushi is a person who gets abandoned by alot of people his parents, his friend etc so it's either
1. He Finds a new game tries it likes it then gets into an accident and starts to make scenarios in his mind with the people he saw on the street that day and the game he was playing
2. His friend really makes the game. LJ played and won and ruan actually kept his promise and filtered the game and kinda reset it that's why only LJ remember it and no one else. Then LJ spent his life to revive the game to make it into a violence free safe game.
Regardless the ending is very open and we can predict whatever we want.
It is a thing that we never experienced before it also make me question the future of AI and over response to it. I think there is no doubt there is interest world which is much better then the human world we all are trying to divert our direction towards it. If u r a cdrama fan it's a must watch.
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Loved it, but lots of missed potential!
It started out really well, but the characters got progressively dumber. Or rather once the plot veered too far away from the original novel's plot, the screenwriters couldn't figure out how to keep things moving without forcing the characters to make really obvious mistakes which were completely inconsistent with their character settings. Plus the ending was a hot mess, but it wasn't actually any worse than the original novel, so can't complain about that.Also I wish they had done a better job with post production. The sound editing for Ling Jiushi's dialogues sounded like it was meant for an animated series rather than live action. I know most Chinese dramas use voice actors, but somehow it just too obvious here.
But honestly, even with all the flaws, the series is definitely worth watching. It was fast paced, with no boring parts. I binged watched all the episodes within 4 days. Every character was well developed, even the cannon fodder. Ruan Lanzhu's portrayal was brilliant. I was expecting to be disappointed because it seems like such a difficult role to play in live action but the actor managed to portray the core of the character really well, even with all the changes made to make it less BL.
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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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