This review may contain spoilers
uncomfortable watch
A Taiwanese BL that began with a deeply intriguing premise but quickly turned into something emotionally uncomfortable and morally confusing. The story follows Xia Cha, an elderly man who transmigrates into the body of his deceased grandson, Xia Ze Fang. Now living in a young body, he encounters Ye Hai Yuan, a man who — in a karmic twist — happens to be the reincarnation of Xia Cha’s late wife.
At first, the idea sounds beautifully tragic — two souls finding each other again across lifetimes. But as the story unfolded, I couldn’t shake off my unease. Why was Xia Cha, who had already lived a long, full life and known love, given a second chance, while Xia Ze Fang, a young man who never even got to experience his own story, was erased completely? His body, his voice, his youth — all taken away without acknowledgment. Nobody truly grieved him. It was as if his existence didn’t matter at all.
That thought stayed with me throughout. I kept feeling an ache for Xia Ze Fang — unloved, unwanted, and forgotten by everyone, even by the narrative itself. The injustice of it made it hard to root for Xia Cha’s second chance at love, no matter how fated or soulful it was meant to be.
And then there’s Ye Hai Yuan, the supposed reincarnation of the grandmother. What struck me most was the inconsistency of his love — if he and Xia Cha shared such an eternal bond, why did he never love Xia Cha when he was alive? Why did affection only ignite once Xia Cha was reborn inside the youthful body of his grandson? That sudden shift made their romance feel unsettling — as if love depended on the vessel, not the soul.
The Promise of the Soul had the potential to be a profound meditation on reincarnation and love transcending time, but it lost its heart in execution. The premise was fascinating, yet the emotional balance felt wrong. Instead of a moving love story, it became a quiet tragedy about a forgotten soul who never got to live.
At first, the idea sounds beautifully tragic — two souls finding each other again across lifetimes. But as the story unfolded, I couldn’t shake off my unease. Why was Xia Cha, who had already lived a long, full life and known love, given a second chance, while Xia Ze Fang, a young man who never even got to experience his own story, was erased completely? His body, his voice, his youth — all taken away without acknowledgment. Nobody truly grieved him. It was as if his existence didn’t matter at all.
That thought stayed with me throughout. I kept feeling an ache for Xia Ze Fang — unloved, unwanted, and forgotten by everyone, even by the narrative itself. The injustice of it made it hard to root for Xia Cha’s second chance at love, no matter how fated or soulful it was meant to be.
And then there’s Ye Hai Yuan, the supposed reincarnation of the grandmother. What struck me most was the inconsistency of his love — if he and Xia Cha shared such an eternal bond, why did he never love Xia Cha when he was alive? Why did affection only ignite once Xia Cha was reborn inside the youthful body of his grandson? That sudden shift made their romance feel unsettling — as if love depended on the vessel, not the soul.
The Promise of the Soul had the potential to be a profound meditation on reincarnation and love transcending time, but it lost its heart in execution. The premise was fascinating, yet the emotional balance felt wrong. Instead of a moving love story, it became a quiet tragedy about a forgotten soul who never got to live.
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