A Journey Beyond Romance : Disappointed Reviews Miss the Realism of this Masterpiece
Key points:- Themes of friendship, hardships and societal pressure
- A deeper bond than lust and simple romance
- Impactful and moving storyline
* Most importantly, I highly recommend this series who wants to feel moved and grounded. Please do not let all negative comments alter your own evaluation of the TV show. You shall end up devouring this series while tears pouring out till the after the end. *
This series reveals the core foundation defining the themes of friendship, hardships and societal pressure. Through the characters’ relationships—queer and family related—that may appear unconventional from the societal norms, the term “soul mate” is defined as a bond that reaches a deep understanding that goes beyond linguistic communication.
The disappointed comments do not objectively portray the series’ worth. While I was also expecting a BL series from an honest point of view, the series show cases that love can go further than the lust and romance. I understand that many, me included, were expecting this TV show to be a Boys Love series with hot chemistry and love trope as seen in many previous Korean and Japanese gay romance tv shows. What brought some to be disappointed is the trailer and summary of the show that portrayed a different main idea.
However, the screenwriter and director successfully moves the audience through an impactful storyline. It is solid, moving and realistic to the context we live in today. The characters are well portrayed and support the main message; it is inevitable to attach yourself to them. While feelings of frustration and grief remain at the end of the watching, each event felt purposefully placed in this story line, completing the puzzle pieces together to form the whole of the message.
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The most beautiful love story I’ve ever seen
Wow. I just finished this and I don’t even have words for how beautiful it was. Best love story I’ve ever seen, truly touched my heart. Probably cried 10 times but worth it. This one will stick with me for a long time.Even though they never had romantic gestures like other shows, their love transcended romance honestly. It was deeper, and proves that not every love story has to be romantic/sexual in nature. This is not your average BL, in fact it isn’t a BL in my opinion, it’s so much more than that. I cannot even explain how good this show is, I truly will think about it for a long time. I cannot understate how beautiful this show was, please watch it, don’t listen to the bad reviews, they just wanted a “regular BL” which this is not.
BTW: If you want an idea of what this is like, it’s a bit like the anime movie “a silent voice” so if you like that, you will love this!
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This review may contain spoilers
A Healing Love Story
I had been waiting for Soul Mate for over a year, and honestly, it was 100% worth the wait.At first, I thought this would be a BL series, but it feels more like a bromance although there’s clearly something much deeper between them. And honestly, that’s what makes the story feel so real and emotional.
What makes Soul Mate so beautiful is that it doesn’t only focus on the relationship between the two men. The series also gives attention to the people around them and their own struggles. One of the most emotional parts for me was the woman’s story — dealing with the loss of her husband while also becoming a mother. Her storyline added so much depth and showed that everyone in the story is trying to heal in their own way.
The series explores loneliness, trauma, healing, and real-life struggles in such a natural way. At first, the two main characters seem completely different, but as the story continues, you realize they were always connected. In the end, it becomes clear that he had always liked him all along, which made their bond feel even more emotional because they truly are soulmates.
The chemistry, cinematography, and emotional atmosphere make this series unforgettable. If you love slow-burn emotional stories with deep connections and healing themes, Soul Mate is definitely worth watching.
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This review may contain spoilers
Sad and complex bromance with problems
In my opinion, no one does a sad story quite like a Japanese series. Soul Mate is a beautiful and touching story, but marketing it, even if indirectly, as a BL was a mistake.We had 10Dance a few months ago, so we know Netflix can deliver a great Japanese BL story with big names. At the same time, we’ve seen two versions of Love in the Big City recently, proving that big Korean actors are doing BL. Because of these expectations, Soul Mate will likely disappoint many viewers since it ultimately ends up being a bromance.
That said, the characters are complex and the acting is strong. I didn't always agree with their choices, though, like a friend withholding from their best friend the fact that a former “roommate” has been seriously ill in the hospital.
The only element the series truly fumbles is Arata. His confession and the incident are the catalysts for the entire show and a major driving force behind Ryu’s journey. It’s the reason Ryu is in Berlin, why he tries to give up inside the church, and why he abandoned hockey. Yet, it’s resolved so briefly and forgotten so quickly that it feels like Arata didn’t even matter. Ironically, mishandling this plotline is exactly what allows Soul Mate to exist. In my opinion, a proper resolution would have likely inspired Ryu to live without regret, prompting him to confess his true feelings to Johan much earlier.
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Not Typical BL ,Yet Classic
This series is far from your typical BL drama. It is a brilliant slow-burn that prioritizes deep, meaningful character development—not just for the leads, but for the entire ensemble.The story, which begins with Ryu’s journey and concludes with Johan’s, is nothing short of beautiful. What makes this series so compelling is the undefined nature of their relationship; it adds a layer of authenticity that is rare to find. The show proves that a narrative does not need forced romantic tropes to be profound. Instead, it offers a raw, quiet intimacy that feels perfectly earned by the plot. It is, quite simply, a classic.
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This review may contain spoilers
You have to watch to know what it really is.
I heard about this series first i guess in 2024 , that it's gonna be a thing. And i was very excited cuz one of the actors was Ok Taec yeon. Even though it took me 2 days to finish(cuz of my schedule) but i enjoyed every second of it. I was not expecting anything like this. I mean even when i watched the trailer i was like yea okay it seems normal lets watch it. But when i started it yesterday, i couldn't help but giggle to every scene. Every thing seemed so cute and just natural that i just wanted it to never stop. Though i was sad about Arata, but I wouldn't call it anyone's fault, i would say that the situation wasn't good.All the characters went through thick and thin throughout the series, something searching for warmth , support and compassion, while at other time, not wanting to burden the person on the other side, isolating themselves. But everything proved to be beautiful as they all supported each other.
i am mainly very disappointed about the fact that why johan everytime. i mean he's been struggling since childhood and in the end he got als too... that was so heartbreaking. and also Seichi too TT
i swear i cried throughout the entire last episode cuz it was so painful yet so beautiful. I dont usually like these kind of endings but this one was worth everything, ignoring every other element.
this was a meaningful watch for me cuz i learned that love doesn't comes easily. you have to let it grow and flourish. you have to be patient. you have to support yourself and the person on the other side. you have to understand them. but most importantly , you have to be you.
this might sound like some random rant but it was an eye opener for me...
*Saranghae*
*Aishiteru*
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love and life is for brave ones
i personally was able to relate very much to it. The show truly captures human emotions and insecurities really well. The series try to spread the message to never give up and be brave enough to face what comes one's way. Additionally, it also portrays the found family trope adorably. The series ignites the hope of living life, giving people second chances and holding them dear to the heart, when they are still around.Ryu is definitely a conventional human being whom i hold near to the heart and the actor playing it has done an incredible job. Plus, Johan speech in the last episode is worth applauding.(literal tears)
The music is melodious which goes very well with the scenes and vibe of the show.
While the show may be low on the romance level(intimacy) but ryu and johan definitely are connected close through hearts and the similarities of how they have experienced life events and how they look up to each other in loneliness is what truly makes them SOULMATES. Eventually this does not let the queer elements of their story get downplayed. I can see myself returning to watch this series when i feel low or to just restore belief in human nature
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This IS a BL
I've read several reviews claiming that this isn't a BL, and from what I can gather it's because Johan and Ryu don't have the typical on-screen physical intimacy that we've grown used to. But, they have the same amount of on-screen sex as the straight couple: none. However, I don't see anyone denying that relationship. Johan and Ryu have emotional intimacy, they express deep care for each other, the compromise and negotiate, they make decisions based on their independent and mutual wants and needs, and they plan life events together. Without spoiling key plot points, I want to stress how sweet, loving, and understanding their relationship is. It is a beautiful story, and the lack of NC scenes does not take away from their connection.Was this review helpful to you?
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BL Or Not
BL or Not..this is a gem!Brilliant series....Acting Top Tier. The chemistry between the leads is off the charts, and the storyline, though simple in concept, is executed with such emotional depth and nuanced storytelling. It's a show that stays with you long after the credits roll, making it a truly special viewing experience.
Definitely worth watching.
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This Isn’t Romance. It’s Something Deeper.
I don’t think Soul Mate is the kind of drama you “watch” casually. It’s the kind that quietly settles into your chest and stays there long after the final episode ends.What impressed me most was how emotionally restrained yet deeply intimate it felt. So many dramas try to force emotion through dramatic speeches or constant romance, but Soul Mate trusted silence, distance, longing, guilt, and timing. The connection between Ryu and Johan felt painfully human — two lonely people carrying heavy emotional wounds, finding understanding in each other without always knowing how to express it.
The cinematography was beautiful without feeling artificial, and the atmosphere across Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo gave the story this drifting, almost dreamlike feeling. There were scenes where barely anything was said, yet I felt everything. The show understands emotional loneliness in a way that many romance dramas don’t.
Hayato Isomura and Ok Taec-yeon gave incredibly layered performances. Their chemistry wasn’t loud or flashy — it was quiet, aching, tender, and believable. I especially appreciated that the story focused more on emotional dependency, healing, grief, and companionship rather than trying to constantly “prove” romance to the audience. That choice will probably divide viewers, but for me, it made the story feel more mature and realistic.
I also loved how flawed everyone felt. Nobody was written as purely good or bad. Every character carried regret, fear, selfishness, and love at the same time. Arata’s storyline especially hit hard and added emotional weight to everything that followed.
My only reason for not giving it a perfect 10 is that the pacing occasionally became a little too restrained, and there were moments where I wanted the emotional tension to fully explode instead of remaining so subtle. Still, when the show landed emotionally, it landed HARD.
Soul Mate is less about labels and more about connection — the kind of bond that changes your life forever, whether the world fully understands it or not. Quietly devastating, deeply comforting, and one of the most emotionally memorable dramas I’ve watched in a long time.
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High Teir Gay Romance and bittersweet slice of life
I was right! What an amazing and beautiful gay romance.I was hooked from the beginning to the end. The acting, cinematography, and writing were superb and heartfelt.
Overall it was a bittersweet experience about love, loss, life’s struggles, sacrifices, and the bonds we form.
People who just skipped through for kissing or NC scenes are missing out on one of if not the best, BL/gay stories I have seen in a long while. One of the few where I was enraptured by the storytelling and didn’t find myself 2x or skipping through any scenes even ones that were focused on the secondary characters.
It definitely fits in the vein of other amazing stories like Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo or Blonde and Blue Eyes. If anyone doubts the romance they are missing the whole thing and clearly didn’t watch it through nor paid attention to the last episode which clearly lays it out. Or are they being disingenuous and obtuse about depictions of romance since there’s no “fan service” or dated stereotypical cliches?
Also, as a follower of Christ, I absolutely loved the characterization of Johan’s faith, the symbolism of God’s hand at work in their lives, and the foreshadowing of the main lead’s future together. From the sculptor who mentions liberation from the sins/struggles of life, the bathing scene, the cryptic elder’s words to Ryu, how by chance Ryu met Johan, and by “fate” becoming the perfect person to care for and love Johan… refreshing especially in this genre.
Oh and the closing lines was a perfect capstone for this beautiful journey.
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