Lyson

What you've just said about the TU start is actually very common, almost every person who hasn't read the novel and watches the show struggles with all the character introductions or confusion about the time line. I think it would be good to take a break, watch some shorter or less complicated shows until your feels are clear and ready for more, and when you get back to TU, feel free to ask me any questions you have. Or just post in the comment section of TU, if I don't see it there, there's another person always available to answer questions there. TU is absolutely worth it, when you finally get into it, prepare to FEEL FEELS.

How far are you into TU? Many people struggle at the start of TU as it is, because of the non-linear storyline being difficult to follow and adjust to. If you think you might not be able to get into already, I would recommend waiting, TU will take you a minute, but once you get into it, it's gonna hit hard. But it's very different in genre and story, so, you may need to distance yourself from The Spirealm to enjoy it for its own qualities. I say this as someone who has TU and The Spirealm as my top 2 Asian BLs ever.

Did anyone else notice the double audio on Lanzhu's voice in ep 36 at 34.05? Nice touch. Very suitable for the moment, considering.

The voices of the ML's may not seem like they match correctly (depending on the viewer's sensitivity) because the actors are often dubbed in Chinese shows, as they are dubbed in The Spirealm. So both of the ML's voices you hear are not the actors actual voices. Maybe that's the reason it sounds unnatural to you.
The show itself is incredible.

Blame censorship for the ending, they had no choice unfortunately. If you're a reader, consider reading the novel! The ending is 11/10.

Oh nope, nope. Qiushi (Jiushi) doesn't know, he thinks Nanzhu (Lanzhu) is human, but Nanzhu also thinks he himself is human because he erased his memories. During the 11th door Qiushi starts to sort of figure out that Nanzhu may not simply be human. Then in the end after it's all over and they're reunited and together in the novel, while they don't ever outright plainly discuss it directly, Qiushi does know that Nanzhu is not human and that he's from the alternate Door World.

I had to do that with The Untamed because I didn't know it was based on a novel until after I was already finished the show. I was annoyed because I would have preferred to read the canon material first. I'm just like that. Original first. At least I got to do that with TGCF though.

Whichever you choose first, as long as the genre and tags match your preferences, you'll love it!

On top of that, he's also a troll to XR and LDY, which is just funnier somehow 😂

I watched the show and read the book simultaneously, but I finished the book first, then finished the series. I suppose I would suggest reading the book first, because the book is canon and knowing the original foundation makes watching some things in the adaptation clearer, where they may not have screentime or freedom of creativity to emphasize it (especially in a Cn censored BL) That said, yes, the series and book are very different.

The novel is more detailed and has more horror elements and violence/gore inside the door world, with less focus on support characters, most of the support characters are more just plot devices. As for the CD, it also had MUCH MORE Ruan Baijie. (I can't explain this without spoiling) Because of censorship, the series branches out and adds more focus to some key support characters, building more relationships and attachments, which leads to a much greater emotional component for the viewer. The series also changes up some things about the Door World itself, and they did an overhaul to the basis of the Door World (due to censorship), which, while deviating from the plot, was done super well and the show doesn't suffer for it. The lack of Ruan Baijie's character is also handled VERY well.

As for the MLs as a couple, both the novel and series are AWESOME in this aspect, the casting is so good, really. The only real difference being that the series refrains from any overt physical scenes between them. Still, from episode one, you will know what's up between them.
That's my opinion ✌️😁

Yep, I love that he's not human AND I love Baijie, but I absolutely preferred the few times he went into the doors as himself and was still BOSS BITCH, just masculine AF 😂 I think the moments where Zhiguang pulled the same attitude was just fantastic!

We're just messing around 😂it's all jokes bro!

Because I like the colder side of Nanzhu has in the novel, I'd be down with pretty much anything either version might do to survive. One of my fave moments in the series is where Lanzhu threatens to kill Balang and then dig the keys out of his stomach. Whether it's the book or the series, he isn't human so I don't expect human empathy and sensitivity from him.

Did I cancel the fan meeting? 🤣🤣 You guys woke up and chose weird today for real 😂

Lots of people died in Nanzhu/Lanzhu's solo door in the novel and the series 😂 I was tryna keep my original comment open and non spoiler.
It would have interesting to see Lanzhu's solo door in the series specifically, I think he would have been much colder when alone, more like Nanzhu in the novel.

I didn't forget 😂 I just didn't mention it because it because I didn't wanna say too much, lol why're you and LordFengCui thinking I'm forgetting stuff today😂 guys wtf 😂😂

We'll never know what Nanzhu faced in that door unfortunately, but I'm sure it was really intense since ALL the doors in the novel are extra intense and dangerous.

Yo bro, I didn't forget though, the comment is vague for both the series and novel, nothing specifically referenced or stated. And the Slenderman door doesn't even exist in the show and nothing about the door is revealed in the comment with regards to the novel.

I like to think that Ruan Lanzhu's 10th door in the series was the Slenderman door from the novel because THAT door at level 10, with Lanzhu BY HIMSELF would definitely have been super dangerous and hard to survive, hence him coming out so exhausted and being ill for days afterwards. In the novel, Qiushi and Nanzhu worked so well as a team in that door, and it was still so dangerous even for them at level 6. It makes sense to me that that door would nearly take out Ruan Lanzhu, despite how experienced and advanced he was.

Well it contains like ALL of the usual Thai BL generic stuff, BUT it's hilarious and pretty fun, and episode 1 was entertaining enough to make me come back for episode 2.