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The Spirealm chinese drama review
Completed
The Spirealm
0 people found this review helpful
by IncorrigibleMe
Jun 2, 2024
78 of 78 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

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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