WinterLemondrops

I believe its Taecyeon's management who did. Given to the director's previous bl work, he can literally go all out with the intimate scenes unless the two parties agreed to do so. Yet in my opinion, given to how homophobic SK is, plus Taecyeon being a famous actor there, its safe to say that his management chose to not give him more explicit scenes to save his reputation, which is a shame but we cant help it.

The Summer Hikaru Died mentioneddd??? That series is sooo peak it really show queer struggles and exloration so well

Actually i alr saw someone made an ao3 of soul mate. The author advertised it on twt hahaha and there were tons of edits on tik tok u can check that out. Ive alr saved tons of them lol

What abt the bar owner where Johan used to visit, which is also the reason why Johan is labled as "gay b*stard" by korean haters

Dead.😞😞

Waiting for the ratings to reach 8.0 so i can finally rest on peace🥰 this series is just toptier

Now that you mentioned it, i also (always) wondered why Sumiko didn't tell Ryu abt Johan being sick immediately after she talked to Sua but decided to then tell him a year later when Johan is slowly dying. It somehow doesnt make sense for a bit

Thats what im saying. People are just jumping into conclusions without even observing it carefully rather than depending whats on the surface. Media literacy is so dead

Its an artist admiring his muse. The fact that he drew him many times in his sketchbook is just so heart fluttering like isnt this an old-fashioned romance people yearned for?

I agree with the trauma porn one. I believe that Seiichiro's accident and Johan's illness is quite unnecessary. Despite that, Johan and Ryu's relationship really sold me

Yes i was honestly also disappointed with the false marketing. But im still satisfied. Even though its not bl like we hoped for, at least the queerness is still there, and im literally okay with that

In my personal point of view, i view queer people similar to straight people. Obv some of yall would tell me that queer and straight are so different, which that i agree. But when in terms to experiences-- friendship, family, romantic or platonic--they share the same struggles.

Honestly, when i first saw the trailer, i was also scared that it might turn out as bromance. But when i watched the series for the second time, thats when the romance started to make sense. Yes i agree that the series can be vague, which is why it will take patience and focus to understand what the message is (even though it takes a lot of work unless ure a classic overthinker). I just find it ironic to see the same people who see platonic characters queer but this series as not (which imo, is. No offense to those who couldnt see it). Whether these fans may be queer or straight. Ive seen a lot of straight media which is in the flow and delivery as Soul Mate, which blurs the line between romantic or platonic, same goes to queer ones i consumed (which even took me days or weeks for me to understand the 2 mcs' dynamic). Its just that this drama alr stepped beyond that line (in my opinion same goes to others who are in the same boat as me)

And yes, i can see a film/series where nudity or s*x is important for the plot. Ofc, its a sign of the person's stripping away their insecurities and guard down to the person they love and the union of two souls. But i can also tell whether if the scene is only for fanservice, which is fine but sometimes annoying. Which is why i noticed a lot of bl fans who are always craving for nudes and kisses just to prove that the series is not straight.

I believe its the ABO one. The person's comment is so vague cuz its written in russian and my translator had a hard time translating it

You know whats so stupid and ironic? Is that the same "bl fans" here on any parts of the internet would come bombing in this series saying that this is "BROMANCE NOT BL" just bcuz theres no lip mukbangs or sweaty humpings. But when it comes to shows/films/stories or any forms of media which are not tagged as lgbtq or bl/gl, esp when it revolves around two men or women who literally hug while crying or anything that is platonic, these same fans would scream at the top of their lungs that "THIS IS DOOMED YAOI/YURI!" I can name tons of titles and ships, but ill select a few famous ones.

Banana Fish is a very famous "BL" highly recommended by bl fans bcuz of the chemistry of the two characters who saved each other from the darkness of reality. It covers very sensitive topics of child 🍇 SA, and substances, which is mostly revolves around Ash's character as a whole, building up long-tormented trauma. Not until he met Eiji, who saved his life by being by his side every time Ash had a mental breakdown, Eiji will always hug him tight. Ash always find solace in Eiji's embrace and presence that he vows to protect him from the organization who destroyed him and his friends. The ending of the series has left everyone crying their eyes out, and youll see it everywhere in edits on tiktok. However, if u search the series rn if its tagged as bl or not, its not. The author clearly states that Banana Fish's main characters, Ash and Eiji, only incorporates deep, intense, platonic relationship than a romantic one. Yet, what happened? Fans would still call it as the best bl series theyve seen in their entire life like they would show it to the entire world that Ash x Eiji is doomed yaoi. Additionally, Banana Fish doesnt even have explicit scenes like kisses or sxx or anything romantic. Just two men hugging/comforting each other, being domestic, and teaching each other's language, which is literally the same thing happening in Soul Mate. Ryu and Johan literally comforting each other, being domestic bfs, and learning each other's language. Eiji's last letter is literally has a similar delivery as Johan's final confession. But the twist? Fans see Banana Fish as BL even if its not, while Soul Mate as bromance even if its tagged Lgbtq (and dont give me that crap that in Banana Fish that they kissed during that one scene cuz thats obviously not a romantic kiss but a diversionary tatic r u delusional???)

Here's another obvious example. The Summer Hikaru Died is a story of the horrors of coming out, desire, grief, and sexuality. It literally has the same theme as Soul Mate, which also tackle topics abt grief, guilt, and coming out. TSHD was labled queer by the author, yet fans thinks that the author might be out of their heads, saying that the series is clearly, as plain as day, a BL than queer. The fact the the author literally has to remind everyone time and time again that it's queer yet majority refuses. That literally the author, the one who made the fcking series? Then, ive seen a lot of people in the internet would draw these two kiss or doing nasty crazy sht with the gym scene (which is weirdly disgusting imo for its literally a metaphor for the horror of hidden intimacy and desire for the other).

I can name bazillions more; Yuri on Ice. That scene was not even a kiss yet people are going batsht saying "HOLY SHT THEY LITERALLY KISSED" even though it was not confirmed by the creators. Yes they exchanged rings and exchanged "vows" and thats just it. And once again, YAOI, even though it was never stated that it is yaoi. (DONT U DARE BRING UP THAT BARCELONA SHT FOR IT WAS MADE BY A LUSTFUL CREATOR FOR LUSTFUL YOI FANS). If you have Soul Mate (2026) which is abt two men, but 3 years ago theres Soulmate (2023) which is abt two girls. Two best friends. None of them are genuinely in love with each other bcuz theres a guy in the middle. Yet their platonic feelings with each other and the ending that one friend honors her bsf's by posting a portrait of her (who was made by the dead bsf) in a museum had fans crying saying this is doomed. But then again, its was not as such but a platonic relationship between two "bffs".

Expectations. That's why most bl fans are disappointed with Soul Mate cuz of the high expectations, thinking that this doesnt reached their bl standpoint. The bl stereotype when one would fall, then they kiss, then they do freaky sht, then saving a damsel in distress, then get married. Clearly any stereotype you could think of. Soul Mate literally incorporates a realistic struggles of coming out and understanding the true feelings of each other, despite taking them 10 years for them to understand how much they meant for each other. Their relationship is clearly an embodiment of a queerplatonic relationship. They dont need lables just to prove that theyre in love with each other. Thats the bottom line. Like god I literally seen this to EVERY. SINGLE. SHIPS in any media which most fans find it queer. But this series is not???

ive even encountered someone who literally told me to experience in a relationship just to give a point that this series is not realistic. Like why do you have to order me to get a dude or a gal and do some "romantic" sht together just to prove your point??? (im aroace bi). Its also the same person who told me that "10 years" of waiting for the feelings to truly take form is bs and not love at all, then proceeds to compare Soul Mate to Revenged Love. Like seriously? Why would you even compare a drama like Soul Mate to an omegaverse? Then here youre telling me that Soul Mate is far from realistic handling trauma than a passion project abt a world with a secondary gender inspired by wolves? No offense I bare no hate with Revenged Love and to the fans who loved it but its just so funny and it really shows how they never get the message Soul Mate gave. Bcuz all they know is just pure love bombing rather than patience and longing. Media literacy is dead af.

Tysm for your thoughts! To be honest, men kissing and anything touchy feely is sometimes not really important for im mostly into the story and the flow of the plot. Ill give this a go! And probably approach this director's other works with low expectations. Because ngl sometimes there are indeed times that some things in the Soul Mate drama that are not necessary for the plot. But nonetheless its still good and i implore you to experience it too when youre ready. Im curious of your opinions😊tysm once again!

In my opinion, i do enjoyed it! The story is very lovely and tragic, and ofc the actors did an amazing job bringing their characters to life. Although it doesnt really scream gay romance unlike some bls ive watched/read over the years, still i believed its a good queer show nonetheless.

And speaking of the director's previous work, do you mean "More Than Words"? May i ask why you dont like it? I was actually planning on watching it myself since they said its good

I saw from twt that Ryu and Johan has like queerplatonic relationship, which kinda makes sense imo. And yes the found family troupe of the 4 is very lovely too

Hi! I genuinely dont mean to be rude but i hope you can give this series a watch and share your final thoughts abt it. Bcuz theres something in the ending that kinda solidifies the queer plot, and as a queer man, I wish to hear your opinion if its too much to ask🥹 also thank you so much for the clarification!

Well yea i dont think friends would say "when i first met you, i never realized you'll change my life and who i am" or "youre the light of my darkest times" to their friend

Its more of a queer story than your typical bl standpoint. It doesnt slap u in the face to tell you that its abt two men loving each other for the past 10 years, but its more focused on the slow chemistry and relationship between the two characters. Im sure this will be not bl fanatics' cup of tea so if ur not into very slow stuff, i recommend u to just skip this and choose other bls