#the spirealm cast

[guzhufuren]

Xia Zhiguang dancing Blackpink's Pink Venom save me. Xia Zhiguang. save me Xia Zhiguang

[naughtynanzhu]

The Spirealm BTS

[orchisailsa]

I would normally say something witty here as a justification for posting these aside from "unquenchable thirst," but the fact is my head is just white noise and dial-up modem noises and "arms ARMS ARRRRRRMMMMMSSSSSS A R M S" on a continuous loop

[lunarriviera]

um okay i now understand how guangguang could play a gong so convincingly even tho he was presumably like 22 years old, the man throws his entire body into the air like rent is due and flying will pay him money. no wonder he's completely self-possessed i'm in awe

[flying at 2:10]

[lilianhuas]

Rainbow themed photo shoot after his BL drama airs for an hour on iqiyi before vanishing. X

[zishuge]

Zeng Shunxi on Brilliant Garden

[shou-jpeg]

Obsessed with how The Spirealm makes it canon that rnz calls lqs "lingling" outside the door.

That's so cute.

[xiaogesword]

241105 | Huang Jun Jie as Jin Shisan in 山神 (Mountain Deity) ~ "Waiting for the right time to make a move."

(x)

[nemainofthewater]

Haven't we always wanted to see an adaptation of a novel we love? Cast actors in our heads, wondered how impressive action scenes can be translated from page to screen…

(…complained when the adaptation inevitably messed things up…)

There are 4 polls looking at adaptations from (web)novel to drama:

-Animated (already complete and found here),

-Danmei (live action) (the poll that you're reading!!)

-BG/het (Live action) (link to poll here)

-Other/Ensemble (Live Action) (link to poll here)

There is not a baihe category because as of yet there have been no Baihe adaptations.

These polls are using the novel’s category, so something that is seen as a BL tv series might have been adapted from a non-BL novel, for example, and therefore will be in ‘Other’ instead of ‘Danmei’

Best can mean what you want, either most faithful or most able to translate the feel of the novel even if elements have been changed.

NB: A series of polls looking at best Jin Yong novel adaptation has already taken place

[theside-b]

Spoilers for the novel (and my review for the Live Action) ahead :

The boys do get together, but that act ends with their break up when people find out that Tian and Wang are romantically involved, unlike in Unknown where everyone was ok with Qian and Yuan getting together in A Certain Someone the fact that they are 'brothers' plays a huge role at that stage of their relationship and the eventual demise of their first attempt at a romance. Their break up lasts 6/7 years, don't remember exactly, but its a long time...

A lot more happens, but the show made some fundamental changes to both characters. It takes A LONG time for Tian to come to terms with his own feelings, that scene where he sees his father with another man in bed tints his whole worldview from a very young age — he develops quite the internalized homophobia; he is fine with other's queerness but it's his own that he cannot accept since he sees his father sexual orientation as the reason for the destruction of his family.

There is a tense moment between Tian and his father, where his dad says "we are more alike than you care to admit" hinting that he knows of what its happening between the boys and mind you Tian is still trying to sort out what he feels for Wang. The show sugarcoats quite a lot, novel's Tian would never initiate a kiss with Wang or even play along like he did in the show, at least not at that stage of their relationship.

Speaking of which, Wang is also different in the books. In the show he reads as pretty open minded, curious about anything and everything. In the novel he's pretty straight (at first), the journey really begins as a bromance until the feelings start to change. There is a lot of push and shove between the two of them, and is veeery slow.

The show pretty much burns bright the part where Wang tears Tian's emotional walls. Which I don't mind, otherwise it would take 50 episodes to wrap the first act. I honestly thought they were going to draw an original route for the show, but they are slowly adapting elements they left behind so they can follow the book.

Now for the review:

All in all, I think the show did a good job all things considered: production began in mainland China where Liu Dong was cast, but censorship hinders lgbtqia+ productions there so pre-production moved to Taiwan and there the rest of the casting was done. It's hard to tell how much of that interfered in the script but I assume Tian's father core plot was removed in the first draft and got re-integrated once production moved to Taiwan (Chris Lee's casting was one of the last to be announced which probably means he was also one of the last to join filming). Considering that productions like The Spirealm got pulled for much less is understandable that they would avoid the more thorny subjects under China's homophobic gaze.

(Educated guess here: considering all the publicity push, I imagine either Andy Cheng or Stan Huang were the choices for Wang, but since Liu's casting was an order from one of the financial backers they got smaller roles — it's a common move in taiwanese productions — by the way, there is a 'love triangle' later, is a sad thing since there is no-way you can split the main couple, but the show made me wonder who is going to be playing the third party in the live action).

As I always say about taiwanese shows: you have to watch the live play. The On1y One is much like it's local peers, it works wonders in small doses, but as soon as you see the whole picture you start to see the cracks. It reminded me a lot of Kiseki: Dear to Me in the sense that the main couple story is the emotional backbone, with a somber approach with brief moments of humor but everything surrounding it is slightly unhinged.

Everything that happened at that school was insane. The amount of crimes committed in the school grounds was ridiculous, the fact that Qi Jia Hao didn't ended up behind bars after ordering thugs to attack Wang and assault the english teacher is crazy. The whole side-plot involving the teachers was head-scraching by the way, much like everyone else I assumed that Zhao Xi and Benny were married when they were introduced.

Imagine my surprise finding out that not only they were not married but at one point Zhao Xi thought Benny could be interested in the english teacher (speaking of her, why the hell did she sounded dubbed? Is that not her real voice?). This whole story felt so disjointed from everything else, and it came at the tail end of the season(?), so not only it took some much suspension of disbelief for me to buy that these 40-year old gays were that emotionally impaired but also demanded patience since they spent very valuable screen time which could've benefited the main couple.

That is all to say that while I was having a blast while watching, the more I stop and think about it critically the more problems I see in this show. And again, that usually happens with taiwanese productions, experienced the same with Kiseki and Unknown, two shows that I adore, flaws and all, and now the same happens with The On1y One.

[naughtynanzhu]

Lu Menglin XHS 2024.07.10

[orchisailsa]

I'm sorry, boss, I can't work today. There has been An Attack on Me, Personally and now my head is just filled with TV static, the word "ARMS" on a continuous loop, and ancient dial-up modem noises.

(via Weibo)

[lunarriviera]

[x] [x]

[lilianhuas]

3/20 HJJ weibo update

[just-misheru]

BLs currently On Air

A brief description of the BLs currently on air and my thoughts, in alphabetical order. I will try to keep this updated (May 4th). Contains spoilers!

🇯🇵 At 25:00 in Akasaka | episodes 3/10 on Gagaoolala

Shirasaki is cast in his first main acting role, a BL with his fellow University classmate Hayama, now a big star. He soon finds himself confused and conflicted as he struggles to keep his emotions towards Hayama contained on screen.

Watching the first two episodes I wasn't sure if I would love these two. Shirasaki began as the typical awkward and terrified jbl character that's never had a relationship. Hayama was almost watching him from a distance. By episode 3 these two really begin to get comfortable with one another. I have high hopes with 7 episodes still to go.

🇰🇷 Be Brave Boys! | episodes 4/8 Rakuten Vikki

Jin woo has a crush on Ki Sub and has managed to keep it a secret until they live together.

I'm really conflicted about this series. There are parts of it Ilike and I don't know if it's the dodgy subtitles but some of the dialogue is confusing. Why can't the main couple just be honest with each other? I will keep watching as I'm curious and I like the second couple.

🇰🇷 Blue Boys | episodes 3/4 on SukFilm YouTube

Two friends from high school meet again as adults and get together. However there is a misunderstanding between them that threatens their relationship.

The episodes are short but these boys make those 10 minutes worth it. They have great chemistry, fantastic kissing and come accross very natural together.

🇰🇷 City Boy Log | on cityboy_log YouTube

Vlog style scripted BL following idols Jaejun and Jihan.

I still love this chaotic duo and watching them in their boyfriend era. It's nice to have them back. Great chemistry and realistic acting.

🇯🇵 Living With Him | episodes 4/8 on Gagaoolala

Ryota moves out for the first time and shares his apartment with his childhood friend Kazuhito. Their relationship develops as they begin to care more about each other.

If you want to watch something that is cute and honest then this one is for you. These boys are refreshing to watch as there is no messing around, no pointless side plots; it's just two childhood friends developing feelings for one another.

🇹🇭 My Stand In | episodes 2/12 on iQIYI

Joe, a stuntman for a famous actor called Tong, meets Ming by chance. The two have a deep relationship but what Joe doesn't realise is that he is a replacement for Tong, who Ming has feelings for. Joe is involved in accident and wakes up in another body, a man also named Joe. Joe meets Ming again.

This series won't be for everyone, especially if red flag characters and toxic relationships are not your thing. I'm enjoying it so far. I can't wait to watch Ming realise what he has lost and for Joe to make him work for that forgiveness.

🇹🇭 Wandee Good Day | episodes 1/12 on GMMTV

Drunk with a broken heart Dr. Wandee goes from darling to daring, entangling himself with Muay Thai fighter Yoyak. A one-night stand somehow turns into friends with benefits. However feelings begin to develop that neither will dare to accept.

The male leads are gorgeous with great chemistry. Are there cringe scenes? Most definitely, but it works with this series. I love their characters especially Dr Wanadee, and I'm looking forward to seeing how things progress. I'm a little annoyed we had all that spicyness and no kissing yet.

Not Currently Watching (On Air)

🇹🇭 We Are | episodes 5/12 on GMMTV

🇹🇭 Love Is Like A Cat | episodes 10/12 on Rakuten Viki

🇹🇭 Two Worlds | episodes 8/10 on iQIYI

🇹🇭 City Of Stars | episodes 12/12 on iQIYI

🇹🇭 Only Boo | episodes 4/12 on GMMTV

🇨🇳 Inverse Identity | episodes 2/9 on PPeach app

🇨🇳 The Spirealm | episodes 38/38 on Rakuten Viki

Just Finished

🇹🇼 Unknown | episodes 12/12 on YouKu

🇹🇭 To Be Continued | episodes 8/8 on Netflix (vpn)

🇰🇷 Grey Shelter | episodes 5/5 on iQIYI

🇹🇭 Deep Night | episodes 8/8 on iQIYI