Soul Mate

Watch and Judge this as a Japanese Slice-of-Life drama

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

There was a lot of hoopla when OK Taec Yeon was casted in this drama. An established Korean actor and former pop idol in a BL? Really? Then came the queer baiting accusations and the step back announcement that this is not really a BL. If you are expecting a typical BL romance, you will truly be disappointed.

Watch “Soul Mate” as a Japanese slice-of-life drama instead. Forget about all the noise surrounding it, and watch it as a regular drama. You might end up liking it. I re-calibrated my expectations and went into this without any expectations at all. I just want a well-written, well-acted, and well-executed drama. That’s all.

The first episode started with a bang. I was locked in and captivated by. A lot happened in that first episode, starting with the story of Ryu. Then the pacing of the drama falls back into typical slower slice-of-life fashion. Through a chance meeting, our leads met in Berlin, and their lives changed, and I think for the better. We started with Ryu’s story, and ended with Jo Han. Their journey feels like two great friends caring, helping and supporting each other. I enjoy seeing the slow progression but I can’t help but also want hints of romance dropped here and there. I definitely see a tiny bit more coming from Jo Han, and less from Ryu. I can deal with no kiss or NC scene to feel romance (seriously, even for me, it’s OK sometimes). But I just needed a little more to make the ending more impactful.

The slice-of-life plot itself isn’t too unique. I could see that ‘surprise’ speeding from a mile away. The forming of the new found family was lovely and sweet, though also very predictable. Oh, there are emotional moments, too and I definitely shed a tear or two in the latter episodes. I also feel that the closure of Ryu and Arata’s story is a little lacking and anti-climatic. I also thought there would be more to Ryu’s co-worker at the nursing facility.

The acting is good and the actors did their best with what’s given to them. Tac Yeon’s Japanese sounded pretty good to me (but I don’t speak Japanese). However, I feel that the writing could have been better.

In the end, this is an OK slice-of-life and a below-average romance drama. I enjoy watching it to a certain extent, but I couldn’t help but think we wasted two talented actors, especially for a Japan/Korea collaboration that could really WOW us.


Drama Completed: 7/5/2026 Review #701

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This is pretty, like the blue sunset, perhaps.

Ryu is the kind of man who helps, hugs, and shelters those in need, without hesitation or fear. He greets the world with a sunny smile, while Jo Han, an orphan and a relentless boxer, struggles to care for his sister, Sua, throughout his childhood. This responsibility has drained him of hope and strength, making it difficult for him to seek warmth from others and ultimately leading him to give up on himself.

Their meeting felt like alchemy, with Ryu touching Jo Han's heart and cherishing him to protect his soul. Ryu, who was ready to end his life, was saved and brought back to spirits by Jo Han.

As the frames unfolded, it was like watching the slow, factual, fragile life of people. Two individuals who are neither rich nor excessively in a rush to seek success, but to pursue the happiness of life.

The genuineness in the series I highly remark on is how Jo Han's yearning hobby of manga was actively diminished. Additionally, it portrays the lives within daycare centers—showcasing the experiences of older individuals and young babies who require extensive help, time, and patience. It also highlights the employees who work there and the immense pressure that daycare centers face. It is raw in the representation of the stress, the focus, the care, and the burden—how it lingers at low times, grabbing one's strength, playing, and almost quivering one's motive in life.

I was so sappy seeing the love of their friendship. Ryu's quirkiness shines through in his tendency to spread his arms wide and stand up for those he cares about, including Jo Han and Sumiko. Sumiko's a lovely friend. Though at times I felt like she could have moved out after her baby grew to a certain age, and with her salary, I was stunned to see Ryu planning his marriage to Sumiko just for her baby. The amount of love he showers on the baby moved me. He and Jo Han are the golden godfathers.

I monitored how they shifted Arata's character from Ryu's life, vividly, to Jo Han's. What happened to Arata was sad, and I am grateful that he has become well. Maybe it could have been beneficial to provide a little time where we could have had Ryu open up about what he felt after the conversation with Arata before moving from the hospital.

Jo Han's there like a constant pillar; he and Ryu have exchanged messages and calls and have been together before and after Jo Han's military service.
That's when it has clicked: their relationship isn't like any other bonds that were made on a random meeting, which gradually fade. It's a bond that doesn't need a name or label; it is strong, healthy, and stays.

The little details in the series, Jo Han's drawings and their accents, are carefully shown; they have both the Korean and Japanese styles.
I was mesmerized by the ending. I don't think it was strongly sad, as I felt it was more real, pleasant, and peaceful. Ryu's acknowledgment of Jo Han's health condition and those few minutes of backdrop to Jo Han's life established pride in me that Jo Han had come all the way. He has struggled and kept on earning, not giving up.

And the pause when he talks about how people who give up and drift through life don't feel pain anymore. His thinking of Ryu as a strong person, who let others into his life, and how his own self is scared of getting hurt, and he left after that one single night drunk argument because he doesn't want Ryu's happiness to be taking care of him. And alas, the way he wished for Ryu to be his last sight in the world.

The little vulnerable confession, "Why are you here? If you're here…it makes me...want to live longer."

And Ryu's vision of loneliness: "You said to me, 'You have a lonely look on your face again.' Loneliness is an incredible invention because feeling lonely means there's someone you truly care about. Someone you really want to see. That's truly amazing."

INCREDIBLE. INCREDIBLE LINES.

I am happy that they confessed and have enjoyed this so much. <55

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This could've been a movie. A bad one but at least shorter

This entire show was extremely underwhelming. I gave it a 1 cuz that's the lowest I can give.

Script:
•I'll start with what was the worst part for me. The lines didn't sound like how normal ppl talk. It just didn't sound correct. I had to check if the script writer was Japanese cuz it felt super unnatural.

•Fire scene: I didn't care for Ryu enough as to be like "No! Don't kill yourself!". There was no foundation for that scene or character. I couldn't care less. We didn't see him being loved and cared for or caring towards others. He was just a dude within a team. To the point that until the story focused on him, I didn’t even realize he was the main character.

•There's a stupid useless naked scene for no reason whatsoever.

•They should've cut the military scenes. It didn't add anything to the plot and we would've miss seeing Johan and understood Ryu's feelings better. At least if we got to like Johan which I feel like we didn't really.

The characters don't have a character. That's how I can explain this entire mess in a sentence

•Arata saying he was prepared for the response was such a stupid line. He can say he thought he was prepared but prepared? How was he prepared? He tried to kill himself cuz he couldn't handle it ffs! Also, that storyline was wrapped up way too quickly, and he was far too casual about it. They’re trying to make it seem realistic, but it doesn’t feel real. In real life, someone in his situation would likely struggle much longer, maybe even attempt again, or blame themselves much more harshly than what was shown. He seemed way too positive for someone who hasn’t mentally recovered and is now also physically unwell.

•Also why tf is everything so random? Like what is the point of this show? Life is shit? Is that what it is?

Acting and directing:

•The characters spoke too slowly throughout the show. So when they actually needed to slow down to convey emotional weight, it didn’t feel meaningful. Also, why does everyone keep repeating the beginnings of their sentences? There’s so much stuttering that it loses its impact instead of adding depth.

•Seiichi and Sumiko have less chemistry than Sumiko and SuA.

It ruins the entire experience of the loss cuz I don't feel like she loved him that much as to not go out and try to meet some friends and a new man.

Editing:
Editing is a mess. Welp... This is 1/3 editing, 1/3 directing, 1/3 script writing. You don't know how much time has passed and you get lost.

I’m so frustrated that if I don’t stop myself, this review could go on forever about how bad this show is.

Don’t watch it. It’s a waste of time.

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Soul Mate

Stories like these are important. I went into this expecting a romance, mainly because that’s how the advertising presented it.

Queer stories aren’t extremely taboo in Korea and Japan, but most productions centred around LGBTQ+ characters tend to be lower-budget shows with shorter episode counts and relatively unknown actors. In bigger flagship productions, queer characters are often pushed into minor supporting roles and used for comedic effect, with stereotypes becoming the punchline. Strong Woman Do Bong-soon and Vincenzo are two examples that come to mind.

I would still classify Soul Mate as a romance. It’s heavily implied that the two main characters are gay, and they both say they love each other by the end of the show. There are no real love interests outside of each other. This just isn’t a conventional love story — it’s much more restrained and subtle.

Personally, I wish it had been less subtle. High-profile queer stories in these countries often rely on implication rather than direct representation, and it feels like Soul Mate had the opportunity to do something more daring. The story works as it is, but at times it feels as though the restraint comes from a fear of fully crossing that line. One day we'll get a story that doesn't restrain itself.

I’m also tired of queer stories constantly ending in tragedy. What message does that send when so many of these stories conclude with one character dying?

Overall, I did like the show, even if I think it was slightly misadvertised. I do believe it’s a love story, but one that never fully commits to going all the way. Still, the performances are brilliant, the soundtrack is excellent, and the characters are genuinely compelling.

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Corny, Melodramatic, and Cliche

Take every sad plot point and character background you have ever seen in a drama. With every plot point, assume the screenwriter is doing this solely to make a tearjerker. Predict how said plot point could be a tearjerker. 99% chance you got it right. Even the music score felt rehashed.

The whole thing also stinks as if something fishy went down with the production of it. As if in order to make it palatable to a wider audience they clipped out every perceptible gay romance scene or the actors refused that aspect of the storyline so it was omitted. In turn, it meant we ended up with this incomprehensible bromance. Seriously, whatever they are is never explored. Once. Just a couple of best buddies for life, apparently.

The only saving grace was the acting. They did a great job with the dreary script they were presented with. Maybe they have some better projects you could spend your time on? But do not waste precious hours with this.

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I've been ugly crying since the last episode of the series.

Right now I’m sitting with a cup of coffee, puffy eyes, and unsuccessfully trying to find a way to describe this drama without spoilers. I usually have plenty to say, but this time I realized there’s no surefire way to talk about it.

It’s so simple and complex at the same time. It’s a story that makes you think about the value of time and the profound impact one person can have on another. That pretty much sums up the entire series.

I really liked the way it was filmed. The series gives us snapshots of Narutaki Ryu’s and Hwang Jo Han’s lives — like flipping through a stack of old photos, just quick flashes of particular moments. I think it was a very smart approach for a story that spans ten years. We don’t need to see every single event to understand what they’re going through.

I loved the characters, because this isn’t just a story about their feelings, desires, and passions. No — it’s about choices, dignity, and how deeply someone can leave a mark on your soul. Don’t be fooled by the summary or your expectations: this is not a love story. It’s about two people who meet at the most difficult moments in their lives and continue walking through life together without putting a label or frame on their relationship.

As for the music, I really wanted it to be more memorable. It worked well enough as background, but I hoped for something stronger.

In the end, this show deeply affected me. I had knots in my stomach for most of it, and after finishing it this morning, I could do nothing but stare at the ceiling, absorbing everything I had just watched.
For me, that’s the sign of a truly wonderful series — one that reaches into your soul, touches your heart, and actually makes you feel.

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This is not a love story, its a story about love.

You know when you watch a gay or LGBT movie and it does not center about being LGBT, like I don't know how to best explain it, like it's not just, oh, it's a gay movie. No, it's so, so, so much beyond that. I read somewhere about this movie that it's not a love story, it's a story about love. And that whole dialogue or line, it just touches so close to me because it's such a wonderfully written movie.

One of the biggest hate comment thingy that they're getting, that this movie is getting, is that there was no kiss, there was no heavy romance, but it showed love at its purest form ever. And I loved that, yes, the main characters were guys and they were in love, but it was so much more than that. It showed a whole process of how they saved each other when they were at their lowest. It was two really, really, really good friends coming together. And even beyond them, there was their other friends and other family.

There was a scene where Ryu, the main character's parents, offered the Rumiko the same thing that her in-laws had offered her, that you can come live with us and you're always going to be family. And they both offered the same thing. Two sets of parents who were not hers offered the same thing, yet one was so much more warm than the other. And the other was actually legally binded. And I don't know what else to say.

A lot of the times people tend to reduce queer films to did they kiss, was there enough romance, was it explicit enough, but what this movie is trying to say is much quieter and much bigger. It says that love is not always loud. Love is something understanding and quiet and beautiful and warm. Love is staying and understanding, and it's becoming a home for another person. I think that's another reason why this movie feels so intimate. The relationship doesn't need constant romantic confirmation because the care is already overflowing from every scene.

It was such a beautiful movie. I don't know. The ending hit me in a really good way, but like most other times, I wish I had gotten more. I wish I had gotten to see them even more happier, but I was thinking, oh, I wish we could see them happy, but that's not even true. We did see them happy. We saw them happy. We saw them sad. We saw them go through a lot of phases and it was wonderful. This is truly a wonderful movie about love and how it really is all around us, but it's just difficult to find sometimes.

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An alright watch.

I hate the fact that the drama was advertised/classified as a BL because their relationship was portrayed of being really good friends more than lovers.It felt like watching two guys who became best friends (Soulmates) due to their life experiences and they never judged each other's life's choices.Granted Johan was gay while Ryu wasn't exactly sure of himself after he was confessed too by his teammate.I want to say the drama was more of Johan's growth but the stunt he pulled in distancing himself from Ryu the person he truly loved just pissed me off.I hate characters like Johan....who despite being seen in a vulnerable state by the one person whom they truly cherish choose a path that hurts both of them when a life changing event occurs.Ryu on the other hand,did he really find happiness in life cause he quit ice hockey something he did and enjoyed since he was a kid, despite graduating he got a job that was exhausting mentally, emotionally and physically.Then the person who seemed to have a connection with him 'broke up' with him in a disrespectful way then he joins his dad's company and planned to marry someone he wasn't romantically interested in.To be honest Ryu never got his happy ending.

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mostly Mates and then some Soul (wrenching plot)

There was something genuine in here, which drew so much emotion out of me. The last two episodes, I was crying without stopping.

However, I cannot say that this show was good. Why? Their relationship was not well developed. Chemistry where. While I could see Ryu trying for a bit of chemistry to surface, Johan is like a board; almost too immersed into his character that he forgets that the character exists because of Ryu. I understand no overt bl or whatever the script said, but I felt I see kdrama roles and kpop members acting more touchy feely than these two. They really could have umped it up for at least a notch with platonic touches. Just to see some closeness between the leads cos I did not get any via dialogue. Ryu literally hugs Johan the same way he hugs Sumiko, cmon. They could have brought Arata back to show the jealousy subplot but nah, they put like 100th random disaster.

Their characters were not well developed. Ryo's interest in hockey dissipated almost as quickly as Arata from the plot. And then all those random plot twists for the shock effect? hmm, not impressed because they are obviously a lazy filler.

Idk, I would say that acting was relatively good but chemistry was zero. Is that an oxymoron? well maybe but I feel it is true. Maybe the genre caused some insecurity in the leads or we can blame it as always on the lack of quality script.

I would still recommend this one.

Thanks for reading,
RPX

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CROSS OVER SERIES

I would call it a Cross Over in all aspects of this series -- It crosses over the Normal BL's Agenda -- With the Bl'S that have come out recently this is Ultra Asexual or even non-sexual in all senses--There is no Physical & very little Dialogue between the Main's that would indicate differently -- It crosses the divide between Japanese Language / Culture & Korean Language / Culture -- The Languages are spoken so well there is an amazing flow almost merging the two spoken languages together by the end of the Series -- There are many props to be given for the Director Writer & the Actors to carry off this type of Emotional Non Physical Series in todays climate of Physical Nudity & Sexuality being over played -- You know for sure that there are Gay & Straight characters but I really could not say that the Main Characters are either -- There is a Scene where Yohan says he has fallen in Love with a Man it kind of gives you a gutted feeling when the only time it is openly discussed between Ryo and Yohan he is leaving but luckly the emotion in the Drama carries it & the Story in Nuanced enough to keep you engaged & I would suggest anyone to check it out -- It is well worth your time -- I watched it twice & each time I found something New

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