The Spirealm (2024)

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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Vale seu tempo do primeiro episódio ao último.

A história pode parecer longa com seus 78 episódios, mas que passam voando quando se está imerso na história.
Os personagens principais têm uma química perfeita, o núcleo de apoio é magnífico e tem seus tempos de tela perfeitamente colocados, nos dando medo, amor e tristeza no decorrer do drama.
Roteiro e atuação trabalham juntos nos trazendo reviravoltas e reações tanto dos personagens quanto do telespectador que por vezes nos sentimos revoltados com as escolhas e dilemas da série, mas se olharmos pelo ponto de vista do roteirista é esse o real objetivo, fazer-nos importar tanto com a cena a ponto de querer mudá-la para nosso bem mental/emocional! (😢)

Resumindo, é uma escolha perfeita para quem gosta de imergir no drama de personagens que acabam demonstrando mais e mais suas emoções a cada episódio, onde no final você não conseguirá dizer, adeus.

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One of the great bromances however...

I loved watching spirealm! I loved the bromance, the stories, the characters and the cast in general was great! Even though the show doesn't follow the novel ending, it is still a satisfying ending considering censorship.

However, I have had one big problem with this show and it was Huang Junjie's acting. In my opinion, he failed to show some emotions and in some scenes his acting was pretty awkward. So while the bromance in general carried the show, the emotions were mostly seen from Xia ZhiGuang. Huang Junjie's ling ling had the same angry face, crying face, thinking face, he just squinted his eyes and that's it. And in some of the scenes where he was supposed to act surprised seemed exaggerated. This took out some fun from his character but otherwise the show was really good 👍

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Illusion Versus Reality

The drama is adapted from the web novel "Kaleidoscope of Death". The drama is a censored version of the web novel, the romantic relationship between the Male protagonists has been shown as bromance. My review is based solely on the drama version.

The protagonist, Ling Jiu Shi (Huang Jun Jie) an avid gamer and a programmer loves playing virtual online games. One day he gets drawn into a virtual game that is more life-like and the consequences of the game reflect in the real world. When Ling Jiu Shi enters the first gate, he is confused and doesn't know the rules, luckily he meets Ruan Lan Zhu (Xia Zhi Guang) inside who guides him through the 1st gate. Ruan Lan Zhu is a pro, having passed multiple doors previously so as he reveals the rules of the game to Ling Jiu Shi, the viewers also become privy to the information. Ling Jiu Shi and Ruan Lan Zhu team up later to pass the other gates. They have an intense relationship (if it was not a censored work, they would be romantic partners). Ruan Lan Zhu always protects and helps Ling Jiu Shi.

The game has 12 doors and the players have to finish the game once they start it. They cannot quit the game voluntarily. However the game has turned lethal as it is believed to be tampered by the (American) Capitalists. There is a different world inside each door, the players have to find the hidden door and the hidden key to pass the gate, the first person to insert the key gets a valuable clue about their next door. The game has become fatal because there are a number of disclosed and unrevealed taboos and if triggered the player dies. If a player dies inside the game, that person would meet with an accident in a few hours outside the game and would end up dead in the real world too.

Each game highlights unresolved feelings of the characters( NPC, door ghosts and others) that resonate with Ling Jiu Shi's life experience: abandonment, resentment, betrayal, regret, jealousy, greed, selfishness, grief.

Many aspects of Ling Jiu Shi's life bleed into the virtual game making it seems as if the game is somehow connected to him. The presence of a kaliedosope in every door (kaliedoscope had been given by Ling Jiu Shi's father and many memories of kaliedoscope are linked with Ling Jiu Shi's childhood friend Gao Dawei). Broken pieces, when viewed in a Kaliedoscope form a beautiful new picture with every turn of the barrel, similarly life is formed of broken pieces and when these pieces in a form of people and encounters come together, life forms a new memory that leave a unique footprint on the psyche.

Ling Jiu Shi and Ruan Lan Zhu want to find a way to limit the casualties and purify the game. How the experience inside the game changes Ling Jiu Shi? What do they discover at the end? It makes for an entertaining watch.

Overall: Definitely a must watch. As a person who doesn't play online games, the concept was quite unique for me.The twists and turns keeps the viewer invested in the story till the very end.



( More detailed spoilers written below)

:::::::::::::Illusion of Life vs Reality of Death:::::::::
The 11th door literally serves this dilemma on a platter as if it wasn't staring at viewers' faces throughout the series? The whole humanity is still searching for the answer. Is Death the only reality and is Life just a Dream or an Illusion? Many literary works and dramas address this topic.

William Shakespeare in the play 'The Tempest' "We are such stuff as dreams are made of; and our little life is rounded with a sleep...”

Ling Jiu Shi starts to realise the fleeting nature of life and for him as well as many other players, after passing through many doors, life inside the game (virtual reality) feels more real than life outside.

The thin line between reality and illusion blurs because life is temporary and death is inevitable for everyone.

After passing through the 11th door, Ling Jiu Shi discusses the significance of 12 doors with Ruan Lan Zhu. Ling Jiu Shi states the importance of number 12 in most cultures, 12 zodiac signs, 12 hours of day and night, 12 months, 12 negative emotions etc.

According to Chinese Culture 12 negative emotions are Anger, Fear, Sadness, Worry, Anxiety, Grief, Shock, Impatience, Jealousy, Hatred, Regret, Guilt.

As per Ling Jiu Shi, when a player in the game crosses all the doors they encounter all these 12 negative emotions and while finding the key and door they come to terms with them freeing themselves from the burden of that negative emotion. When all 12 negative emotions are shed away from life, a human is on the way to attain salvation.

I believe in the end Ling Jiu Shi attained salvation and immortality by shedding the weight of his mortal body and choosing to live an everlasting life of undying consciousness with people whom he loves. If that is not Heaven, I don't know what is?

::::::::::COMMUNIST PHILOSOPHY :::::::::::::
I feel the drama also brings forth the issue of whom to save in a dire situation? It is deeply rooted in communist philosophy of collective ideals and advocated to sacrifice the welfare of a single person IF it means fulfilling a larger responsibility towards the community. In the drama Ling Jiu Shi experienced a similar situation, in the real world when he had been a student, he had been buried under the wreckage of the secondary earthquake, his good friend Gao Dawei left him under the rubble when he heard cries of help from a group of people. This incident affected Ling Jiu Shi. Hence he always prioritised the wellbeing of Ruan Lan Zhu and his friends over those other unknown players in the virtual world. Ling Jiu Shi's attraction to Ruan Lan Zhu was also strengthened by the fact that Ruan Lan Zhu always valued Ling Jiu Shi's life above anyone else. The series poses a question WHOM WOULD YOU SAVE FIRST?


:::::: Ending that I had presumed::::::

I don't know why but I had presumed the last reveal would be that Gao Dawei had replicated his image in the game as an NPC, Ruan Lan Zhu.

After Ruan Lan Zhu would purify the game, in the real world Long Jiu Shi and Gao Dawei would meet, having reconciled inside the game, they would live happily in the real world.

The drama had always drawn parallels between Gao Dawei and Ruan Lan Zhu. The deep bond Gao Dawei had with Ling Jiu Shi in their formative years, how Gao Dawai was always there to comfort Ling Jiu Shi whenever he was feeling low etc....but the drama went the other way.

Also it is quite interesting that the same actor played the role of Gao Dawei and Ruan Lan Zhu.(As per info given by an MDL member, @Lyson)

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This censored bl suppressed (all bl drama industries) there are so many dramas and very few are interesting but this drama is at another level. It makes you feel a different Level of feeling ❤️‍🔥☄️☄️and emotions
makes you completely obsessed
There is no comparison at all
Extremely Beautiful
Mesmerizing
Exquisite
Masterpiece
Stunning
Stupendous
My words can't described its beauty. This is the masterpiece.
Bromance god censored just because of its⚗️🧪🌋 Chemistry
I just forgot the time.
Watching it day and night
already completed 58 episodes....
Insane level of chemistry ,visual....You know that🔥I don't need to say , 🫠🫠🫠🫠
Why Chinese government is so cruel to take down this masterpiece..... This can break all the BL records 💯🔥 without any doubt
Let's support the actors and series as they deserve highest

You can get Correct 💯 translation from Bilibili platform under retro fiction. They are updating every day and completed 58 episodes also

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I am blown away!

If you’re unsure about watching the show or not, I cannot recommend it enough. From the first episode till the last this show was brilliant. I personally didn’t find a single moment boring and I absolutely loved the acting and the chemistry between the actors, especially the two male leads. The chemistry between the two male leads was indescribable, every time they had a little cute moment I couldn’t help but giggle. The bromance/romance between the two guys was soooooooo good that I finished this show in just six days and I’m currently thinking about re watching it immediately. Not only the chemistry, but also the plot was incredible. I loved the different types of quests the doors had where some of the plot twists inside and outside tbh were so crazy, I almost fell out of my chair. This is One of the best shows if not the best I’ve ever watched so I can’t advise you to do anything but to watch it and see for yourself!

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WATCH THIS NOW!!!

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCH THIS YET, YOU'RE A NOOB, BRO THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST SERIES I'VE EVER WATCH, AND IM BASICALLY A BL FAN, BUT EVEN THO THIS HASN'T HAD MANY ROMANCE SCENE LIKE THE OTHERS, THE PLOT, THE ACTING, THE CAST, ITS EVERYTHING, I REALLY LIKE HOW EACH DOOR HAS A UNIQUE STORY BEHIND IT, ITS VERY CREATIVE, AND ALSO THE STORY BEHIND THE DOORS IS NOT REPEATING, ITS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SERIES, IM JUST SAD THAT THIS IS BANNED IN CHINA, BUT HOW COULD THEY BANNED SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SERIES, IM ALSO NOT DONE WITH THIS, BUT ITS JUST I DON'T REALLY WANT TO FINISH, I LOVE THIS SERIES WITH ALL MY HEART, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME IF I FINISH THIS, JUST LIKE THE UNTAMED I WILL NEVER MOVE ON FROM THIS, AND BECAUSE OF THIS SERIES I KNOW LOVE XIA ZHIGUANG AND JUNJIE OMGGG THEY ARE LIKE MY FAV NOW, THEY'RE VISUALS ARE VERY GIVING

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Beautiful and thought provoking

This show put me into an existential crisis. On the surface, it's beautiful, but so heart-breakingly, soul-destroyingly tragic I can't handle it. But if I'm interpreting it right, it's actually unbelievably brilliant, and ridiculously complicated, and even more romantic and beautiful than it appears. And, more importantly, has a happier ending than it appears.

"Many things can be explained by common sense, but sometimes our thinking is also limited by it." - Lanzhu

I’m gonna be honest, I only just finished it, and it exploded my brain and ripped apart my heart. So I'm actually writing this review as a way to try to process this super complicated story and explain it to myself, so I'll be talking more about how I interpret the story and ending, rather than commenting on the acting etc. (Though, seriously, the actors did an amazing job! And everything about the show is very well done. And even the CGI, which starts a little shaky, gets better as the show goes on).

Warning: incoherent ramble and MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!

DISCLAIMER: I haven't read the book, so I'm only theorizing based on the show, and how I interpret the show, with no other information.

When it comes to how to interpret The Spirealm, I think there are a lot of options, and I think the show is made in such a way that they are all true. We're told over and over again to question which version of reality is true, and even given the choice to pick our own version of reality or illusion. The references to the multiverse at the end, make this even clearer. And I really love that the show lets us decide how to interpret it... even if it makes it very challenging to process.

Personally, I have two specific ways I like to see it: one is super sad, the other is super happy.

The first option, as I see it, is the most straightforward. It’s a beautiful but incredibly tragic version. In this version, this story is a sci-fi, where most of the show happened in Jiushi’s head while he was in a coma, and Jiushi then spent his entire life trying to make that dream real. After 50 years, he finally succeeded in creating a virtual reality where he could make a version of his dream real (a version where everyone was alive and happy) and he spent the last few minutes of his life in that virtual world with his virtual friends and virtual lover, before he died.

I think this is a plausible and reasonable way to interpret it. The biggest questions would be about Jiushi's hallucinations at the start, and how he knew everyone’s names and occupations in the dream (and after). For the hallucinations, the most plausible way I can think to explain them is that they were part of a bigger emotional breakdown. We saw other evidence of this when he quit his job and was generally so miserable and aimless even his idiot friend was worried about him. It would explain why Jiushi became so deeply attached to his dream. As for how he knew so much about the people around him, I think there’s a very simple explanation: the story makes it very clear Jiushi was a genius. Geniuses can process a seemingly supernatural level of information at both a conscious and subconscious level. Some of the people he saw regularly in his community (eg the twins in the gaming hub, and Li Dongyuan the street seller), others he passed on the street right before the accident and overheard their conversations. With the rest, it’s entirely possible he overheard conversations and names while semi-conscious, even while in his coma. All this information was in his head at a subconscious level, and his coma-brain combined it all together into a slightly distorted representation of reality. Naturally, his coma-brain got some things mixed up (eg. he turned his doctor into a vet, and the wolf game was also the phone game was also his dream of changing the world). Also, his emotions heavily influenced everything. Eg, in reality Dawei abandoned Jiushi and went into economics, but in Jiushi’s dream, Dawei still cared about him and entrusted him with their childhood dream to save the world.

I think the coma-dream interpretation of the story makes perfect sense and is very beautiful. But it’s heart-breakingly, soul-destroyingly tragic. Seriously, if Jiushi spent 50 years trying to recreate a dream, creating a brilliant and world changing form of technology, just so he could spend a few minutes with his imaginary lover in their imaginary life (a lover who may or may not have been an idealized version of the man that left him to die after an earthquake... ouch!) before he died, that hurts way too much.

But, thankfully, there’s another plausible interpretation to the whole thing. But this option is harder to explain, so here goes.

Version two: the story is a fantasy in which the physical, technological, and spiritual/supernatural are interwoven. All the worlds we saw are real. All the events really happened. And the ending is real. And I might just say upfront, the show is listed as a 'fantasy', and tagged as 'Supernatural', 'Fantasy World', 'Survival', and 'Crossworlds Traveler', so I think that strongly suggests we ARE meant to see this as a fantasy world with crossworld travel, not simply a dream. And since the dream option is super sad, I much prefer this option (even if the other one is still a good story).

Basically, in this version, there are different realms. Primarily, there is a physical realm, and a super complex, multi-layered spiritual realm (but again, physical, technological and spiritual/supernatural are interwoven, so it's not quite that clear cut). The virtual self, is actually the 'spirit' self. There are also beings who only exist in the spiritual realm—like in other fantasy stories. All the realms (at least, all the ones we see) have been corrupted, and the problem has to be solved at the deepest level (inside the doors/spirit-realm/spirealm). Restoring/purifying the spiritual realm, purifies the physical realm. That’s why the physical realm changes and no one remembers the doors. Everything really happened, but precisely because it happened, the corrupted reality doesn’t exist anymore. It’s been purified. Now the physical realm exists in its purified version. People are now able to be their true, purified selves.

The thing is, when the realms are purified, the ‘old’ versions of people (the versions we know and love) cease to exist. Now, we have a purified version of the physical realm with purified versions of the same people. And Lanzhu doesn't exist anymore, because Lanzhu was never human. He’s more like a god that came into existence specifically to purify the worlds, and now he’s fulfilled his purpose and doesn't exist anymore. So, Jiushi has to essentially create a spiritual version of the old world, for the ‘deleted’ versions of everyone to exist in. More importantly, a reality where Lanzhu can exist and be ‘made real’, like Jiushi promised. This world is independent of the physical world, it's purely spiritual. Everyone inside is independent of the physical world and the purified version of them that lives there, and they are purely spiritual. And in his realm, Lanzhu is ‘real' and complete too. He has been released from his programming and mission and is autonomous, just like the rest of them. Jiushi has made him 'real'.

In theory, even thought the old doors have ceased to exist, doors are still possible and Jiushi has made new ones? So it's still possible for them to move between worlds if they want to? Unless Jiushi locked himself in the new world when he died? I dunno, I’m still figuring that part out.

But speaking of Jiushi's death... Jiushi was old when he first entered the spirealm because he was still the spirit of a living person. But when he becomes young, that was the moment he died in the physical realm and crossed over to live forever in the spirealm as a spirit/god. Now, he's just like the others.

I really like this reading of the story. Jiushi creates an entire world, saves everyone he loves, saves Lanzhu and makes him real, and they all live happily ever after. Jiushi and Lanzhu live happily ever after, together. And, most importantly, it’s all real. As I've said, it's listed as a fantasy with crossworld travel, but I do think both interpretations make sense. Actually, I kinda like that it was left open to interpretation. Pick the illusion or reality, life or death, just like the 11th door.

Lanzhu tells us: "Many things can be explained by common sense, but sometimes our thinking is also limited by it." So maybe, even if we're told it's a dream, that doesn't mean it is one? And also, maybe more than one thing can be true at a time, even if they seem incompatible?

I’m still wrapping my head around it all. I’ll probably come back and edit this after watching it a few more times and processing it more. But in summary, awesome show. Highly recommended. But be prepared to cry a lot.

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