Spirit Realm (2021)

GOT-esque

The opening credits for this C-drama, the opening song and the graphics were just… wow! They were so out of this world. It felt like what was about to unfold was something straight out of Game of Thrones. It almost felt like Daenarys and her dragons would fly across the screen. Instead, we are shown other beasts and well, a wolf. A Frostwolf to be exact.

Another GOT moment was that the World of Fantasy started off in a land of ice and from there, the viewers are slowly invited into the Chilan continent. Then the two main characters take the stage.

We have a young thunder wielding hero who is searching for his grandfather as well as chasing his dream to get to the upper echelons of the cultivators. Next to him is his love interest, a water wielding daughter of the chieftain.

Throughout the series, one gets the sense that the hero does have some affection for the lady. However, it is clear that his desire to chase his dream is something he is more passionate about. I believe that this is a good message. Love is very important in our lives. But depending on one’s values, there really is nothing wrong or less noble about chasing your dreams and wanting to fill that void inside you.

To help our hero on his journey are his four good friends. The term friends is used loosely here.

The focus on this friendship was quite a good strategy. Simply because there was zero chemistry between the leads. The young hero, played by Fan ChengCheng (Adam Fan), was portrayed beautifully. This seems to be his first foray into acting but he did pretty well. The weak link was the heroine. As beautiful as she is, her eyes are just dead. There is absolutely no expression in them. If she insists on going down this acting path, perhaps her management team needs to send her off to training. This time, there is no beating around the bush as she is no longer a newbie in acting.

A little bit of research brought to light the fact that the lead actress was the lead actor’s mentor on Idol Producer. This led me to believe that maybe that’s where the disconnect was? That maybe the lead actor just continued to see her as a mentor instead of as a lover? However, this quickly went to the back of the excuse list as FCC was a great actor in this series. As mentioned above, he was not the weak link here.

The story line is simple and is straight to the point. It is not so complicated to watch and is accompanied by really amazing graphics. The producers and crew did so well on that front. Extra claps as well for FCC.

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A Freaking Wild Ride

I'll tell you...most fantasy genres are freaking disappointments. Why? They never go far enough. They talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Hence, why translating from book to screen takes imagination.

Whether, you liked the storyline. You cannot say the director didn't have vision. I believe everything is covered in this drama. Insect armies, giant fights, mass destruction, kaijus, Buddha palm ...WHAT? I was never bored. I kept thinking ...I bet they won't kill them...nope....I bet they won't destroy it...nope...Are we going to the underworld?...yep...Will we see the books?...yep

Gotta love the writing room. They went all out for the action. This is an action packed fantasy drama. This has more action than dramas that are 40-60 episodes. The actors were good enough. Were they Mark Chao, Yang Mi or Ethan Juan, Hu Ge, Tiffany Tang caliber?...Heck nah. But don't y'all forget Chinese Paladin...Our great ones all started somewhere.

If you want to stay up for days binging excessively on 36 episodes waiting breathlessly for the next episode to load. This is your drama. However, if you want to sleep...this is not for you...

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It's a good drama, great music and cgi especially the costumes. But unfortunately it feels not too satisfied with the ending, as if forced to stop in the middle of the story. Many figures suddenly disappeared inexplicably such as Gao Yu, Grandpa Qin Shan / Gong Mu Shan, the God of War (Gongmu Lie's father) and also the continuation of the story about the war with the White Silk World. I've been waiting for the final episode tonight but it ended quite disappointing. A bit of a spoiler: There are no kiss scenes between the main characters, only shadows at the wedding and kisses on the forehead..

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In my opinion

Oh I really enjoyed this film. After the end of the film, I felt very sad because there is no more episode. The ending might not have been perfect, but I hope there will have part 2 ^^ Even though it is Cheng Cheng's first film, he has done it quite well. Cheng Xiao's acting has improved a lot compared to before, I'm really happy. She worked so hard for this role, I know that. Let's keep trying. The film gave us a life like in another world. The setting and the visuals are amazing. After watching the film, I really like those costumes, hope to try them on when I go to China in the future, hahaa. The film crew created beautiful scenes with stories with many different emotions. I was really touched and admired Wu Chun's love for Gong Mu Lie, I cried in many scenes. The script is quite new, interesting and attractive. Besides I really like the ost songs, Cheng Xiao and Cheng Cheng's voices are really suitable for the song. The crew and cast made a very wonderful film, congratulations. Hope to see them again in part 2

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A beautiful yet tragic love story that constantly long & wait for each other + Insane CGI & Design!

"Women is not an interest, it's a men's need. An essential feeling. Without feelings, you'll feel incomplete no matter how much you get" - Xie Jing Xuan / Tang Si Qi

I feel like the introduction of this review should start with its phasing, so let me unfold my insight of this drama by doing so!

The phasing of the story was fast and jumpy for its first 15 episodes then started to slow down to gradually pick up a normal phase but yet again took a big leap for the main reason of completing the plot and the entire story... In short, It was a drama that went inconsistently with its overall phasing and narration to present only the important and signifant details to the viewers. I dare not say its bad cause it never was, instead, I wanna let people know that it was imperfect and full of flaws so better keep your tolerance up because you're about to encounter different types of feelings watching this. You may get bored and hesitant while watching it, but just trust this production and its process cause it's all fruitful at the very end.

When it comes to the story, I'd say it's like a disorganized and incomplete puzzle... It has multiple pieces of fragments they tried hard to collect to be put and place together. But after a long while, they only managed to build its core and some pieces around it that can only provide us so much information to see the crucial part of the puzzle disregarding the rest of it. A lot of scenes were always left hanging... unended and often abandoned. You got no choice but to conclude and assume what may have transpired for you to get the corresponding occurences to move on. Despite it being like that, I still enjoyed it and wanna say I'm glad they were able make it that way instead of crumbling it into unrecognizeable pieces. Although the ending was blurry and bewildering that actually started an idea for a 'possible' 2nd season /cross fingers/.

When it comes to the love and romance side of this drama, I can only say not to expect a lot. It was really beautiful and wonderful that you'll hope and expect a lot but you'll only be disappointed on how tragic and sorrowful it will be... Even when I feel like most of it was a bad decision and truly made the drama less interesting and exciting, it was still a crucial action to solve and complete the mysteries of the story. It was harsh yet understandable and plausible IF you look at the big picture.

CGI, Overall look and Design - Right off the bat till the very end, the editing and magics of this drama never fails me. It was created skillfully and meticulously as if they got a sudden income raise or something. Hahaha!

Fight scenes are mediocre at best... Aside from their fight scenes that are mostly about flailing their weapons, the power scaling of this drama is pretty messed up! I can still remember how ridiculous it is for me to watch them casting their magic spells and getting defeated even when they're supposedly more powerful than their opponents. Like, whatdaheck just happened!?

Chemistry - Is INSANE! Every pair this drama has produced have been nothing but a great satisfaction. They just worked out perfectly like a pair shoes. Main leads are oozing with so much mysteries and cold yet attractive spark. While the 2nd pairing got this playful and tempting vibe with them. Heck! There was even a point when the 2nd Couple's dominating and ruling this story. It's just sad that both of them ended up tragically!

P.S. I just wanna mention how Fan Chengcheng looks like Lan Wangji (Wang Yibo's character in The Untamed), How gorgeous and sparkly Cheng Xiao is and lastly, how Ma Yue always got the best roles! I've watched 4 shows of her so far and she always serves! What a great actress!

Story - 9.0, Just the the right rating I guess. I really wanna give it a higher score but doing so won't be justifiable. Story went extremely jumpy and always all over the place to the point where I have to internalize and organize the events for me to comprehend what actually happened. + The constant death of great characters ruined it for me. Ghad, I need Season 2 so bad.

Acting/Cast - 10, Exceptional and perfection! I would never replace anyone from this production. They've always been a pleasure to watch and everyone executed and played their character like nobody else can. Fan Chengcheng, Cheng Xiao and Ma Yue are the MVPs of this drama!

Music - 9.0, Never feel bad about it but they could've done better. Yes, I'm guilty for skipping the opening and not even watching the ending credits but I did try to ran through them 'once' and it's all instrumental with thrilling and mellow sound in it. Insert songs are closely the same. Nonetheless, I was never bothered by it and I find them comforting and settling to listen to.

Rewatch Value - 9.0, If you ask me to watch it again, I'll probably do, but... You gotta give me the Sequel / Season 2 right after. Although the execution was a bit brutal but the overall flow and plot of this drama is considerably good. it's just that I refuse to watch it again unless we continue the unfinished tale.

Overall - 9.0, Everything considered, I highly think this is an accurate score. This drama is good overall, even with its flaws... that goes left and right. I just wanna say that most of it's mishaps and shortcomings are justified on how they set up the plots to keep the story going. Afterall, everything was plausible at end. So... I guess it's fine!?

IF you find my review helpful please let me know

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First 20 episodes were ok. Fastforward

Summary: Scrap the chemistry between the main characters. They were good with their roles in a way, but zero zero, did I mention zero Chemistry. Watch it because it has ok story and good graphics.

PRO:
- I like the Seductress supporting role story. I fast forward just to watch her lovelife. Their expression seems more true and mischievous.
- it has good original plot in some parts
- very nice graphics. Seamless that earlier dramas
- episodes 1-20 is good then fast forward most by 31 because they’re all nonsense plot to spin and spin.

CONS
- the main actors chemistry is blah. Their eyes are not expressive enough. The main actress is pretty in a stoic FROZEN way. She should be the Frostbite lady instead of mother land. She lacks spirit. The main actor has good moves and okey expression.
- lots of filler and confusing add up to story just to prolong
- the dead are not dead. They always come back to re-fill roles. Same recycled actors really.

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I want to say WOWWW.
This drama starts amazing 10000 perfect,the beggining its good, the FL as a cold perosn, who is "poisoned" (but actually she is someone really strong) and the ML who is strong (but looks like he can't feel any love and has a secret indentity) he cares about the Fl but he doesn't see his own love for her.
It;s good because the FL loves the ML and eveyrone knows but the ML just doesn't notice it and they take each other are as a married couple but the ML is likethe ML of ever night(you will know what I mean if you watched hte drama) he takes the FL as a sister but actually has feelings for her but he just doens't relise his own feelings.

-Acting -Everyones acting is 100%it's really good.
-The chemistry is amazing I was justit doesn't go down the hill like other dramas go.
-story-As I said it's good because it's like the FL will do anything for the ML because she evne says that she will never love anyone else apart form the ML, which Is actualy annoying soeitmes the ML because he doesn't relise that he loves her,however when a guy approchis her he gets jealous which is quite oobvius that he likes her.

For me song tin yu is really annoying I don't like her,the plot and the drama are really interesting and I highly recommend everyone to watch this.

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So far, it's definitely worth watching

The starting scene of the first ep did not get my attention that much but as I watched until the end, my impression was--- dang! This will get more interesting and it did! And I know it will get more.

It gets better ep by ep and it will get your curiosity about the real identity of the MC. It is a drama with a heavy political topic set in fantasy which makes it fascinating to watch plus there's the secrets and mysteries that need to be uncovered--- main reason as to why you'll anticipate the next episode with excitement.

I've been looking for a drama that will not make me feel like 'it is just usual but I started it so let's just get to it' after watching few episodes. This drama did not give me the same feeling with the past dramas I've watched. I give it a 10 because of such matter.

I really like this drama. In my own opinion, the plot is really good.

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Tribal Wars, And The Destroyer of Dramas

You know that angry teenaged girl who acts like a spoiled brat in high school, doesn't care about anyone or anything, just goes around being irreverent and having a bad attitude? Meet Cheng Xiao, a destroyer of dramas. A woman who can't act her way out of a paper bag, but somehow, has become so popular through her manager, that the chinese entertainment industry forces her presence on us. Are there actually young women in this world that want to watch this "actress"? Has she bewitched the general public with the bangs covering her eyes? Whatever the reason, as soon as Cheng Xiao recieved a larger part in this drama, is exactly when it stopped being watchable. For those that think I am being catty, or unkind, please consider that not everyone has what it takes to be an actress, and that it is a waste of the entire cast and crew's work to cast a person who beyond being wooden, is the very embodiment of apathy.

It's been a while since I've watched this drama, but I do remember liking it quite a bit. I remember the male characters were likeable, and I was rooting for them, but the main conflict was resolved relatively early on, up until then, I could skip all the parts where Ms. Cheng's charcter was just moping around feeling sorry for herself. Until, the first "resolution", and then she was "infected" with some evil spirit or something, and became an important character, and that's when I couldn't take anymore.

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A definite watch

I first came across this about a year ago but I didn’t watch it because the first few seconds didn’t seem interesting but suddenly I decided to give it a chance and I’m glad I did. Everything about this was amazing. The main leads are pretty the costumes are pretty the story is pretty. Just after finishing it I’m sad it ended how it did where we didn’t get to see her resurrection or their battle with heaven or humans and we didn’t get to see the netherworld come back to land. I’m sad that there won’t be a second season with this unfinished story but I think it was just about them getting their identities back what the main point. Overall I’m in love this this drama out of all I’ve watched this has definitely topped all

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