Reviews

Wanted to continue loving it so much,but ......

I would start off by saying I actually loved the 1st half. They were adults with kind of adults brain and everything was going soo well, and bam!!!!!!it all suddenly goes downhill.

I wanted to love it soo much,but the ending was abysmal. The later half was not bad but not as good as the first one .

Their courting phase was soo cute and I could literally see sparks fly with every little hand graze and eye-smiles. And then suddenly as soon as they got together in a relationship...... the chemistry just vanishes away!!! Idk ,I somehow feel that the drama was shot backwards. In their relationship era they feel like strangers,and strangely,in their courting era they have the most electric chemistry!!

A bit of spoiler here,


The wife was never shown.
Neither, the reason y she left. It was just like,well one day she left,but why??? We never got to know it. It felt like a plotline ,just to show how great of a person he is. I had a feeling that the mum wasn't ready for the baby,but they never explored on it.

Okayish watch,could watch for a slow burn love story.

Leer más

The Journey Was Beautiful, the Ending Felt Cautious

This is my first time writing a review, to the point that I actually created an account just to post it.

I'm a huge fan of series that take the time to build their atmosphere/colorgrade and immerse you in its characters. When a story feels nostalgic and emotionally grounded, it makes me happy and this series definitely did that.

I'm a casual viewer. I don't usually analyze how a story was written or whether it's based on real events or entirely fictional. I simply judge it by how it's presented.

The trailer hooked me based on the setting, the timeline, and the overall tone, I expected a more realistic approach with a bittersweet or even tragic ending. I knew this series would rely heavily on its characters and their emotions, and both lead actors did a wonderful job portraying love, guilt, sadness, and yearning. Every emotion was visible in their eyes, and that was one of the strongest aspects of the show.

However, around Episode 5, I started feeling that instead of going down the path of emotional angst I was expecting, the story shifted toward a happier resolution. Don't get me wrong, I was happy with how things turned out. It just didn't feel as impactful as it could have been. It almost felt like the writers chose the safer route as if they didn't want to fully commit to the emotional weight the story had been building.

Episode 6 was emotional in its own way, but I couldn't shake off feeling that there was more to it that never made it to the screen. It felt as though parts of the emotional journey had been trimmed away, whether because the production wanted to avoid a truly tragic ending or because they were hesitant to explore those darker emotions.

Despite that, it's still a beautiful story. The atmosphere, the performances, and the emotions stayed with me, and it's a series I'll genuinely cherish. I just wish it had been a little bolder with the ending it seemed to be building toward.

Leer más

Is the hype justified? Kinda...

I like dark (and at times toxic) romance but I do have some things that will immediately turn me off a story. Now, where I draw the line is pretty subjective, I enjoyed "To My Shore", which arguably crosses similar if not worse moral lines.

I suppose it's because in "Double Helix" it seems like Yi Chen had no possible power in or outside of their relationship. (Although Lu Feng's devotion could imply that in their dynamic, Yi Chen had the upper hand, this is not the case.)

Yi Chen is punished for doing just about anything Lu Feng doesn't agree with. And Lu Feng's treatment of him was domineering and abusive. Using his superior resources, physical strength and ruthlessness to manipulate and psychologically torture Yi Cheng and hold him captive.

And yet Yi Cheng gives him countless chances despite Lu Feng doing nothing to atone for them until going to therapy and ultimately in-patient care (which he is basically forced into by way of ultimatum.) His actual improvement shown with a montage in the very last episode. And I also don't feel great about justifying his behaviour somewhat with "mental illness".

I worry about the people I see defending Lu Feng online. You're more than allowed to like the character/enjoy a toxic ship but to justify his entirely selfish and abusive behaviour is concerning.

I gave the show 6 stars despite loathing the storyline because I really liked the second couple (Yi Chen's brother did nothing wrong besides his initial homophobia, he was right to protect his brother imo). The show's production quality was quite satisfactory and I honestly enjoyed the performance from Lv Si Tong and Ayden Sng.

I look forward to their next project because I do think they're talented and have great chemistry. This show just really went downhill for me story/character wise.

Leer más

The Villain I Wasn’t Ready to Feel Sorry For....

I had already set a reminder to watch this series as soon as it came out, but when it finally premiered, I still hadn’t finished the series I was currently watching. So, of course, I had to marathon that one just so I could start this one sooner 😂 Thankfully, it was worth the effort. The first few episodes took their time building the mystery, but the strange idea of a man who can transform into gas and commit murders on live television immediately caught my attention. It felt dark, unsettling, and different from the usual crime thrillers I have watched.

What impressed me the most was how the series slowly turned its villain into such a tragic and emotionally complicated character. It never tried to justify his actions, but it made me understand how pain, exploitation, and a corrupt system shaped him into the person he became. Uta Uchida was especially impressive as the Human Vapor. I honestly could not believe this was his acting debut because his screen presence was so strong, even when he barely spoke. Shun Oguri and Yu Aoi were also amazing, and the emotional connection between the characters gave the story much more depth than I expected. The visual effects were surprisingly realistic, and the background music made every tense or emotional scene hit even harder. Also, Ellie, My Love is definitely going into my playlist now.

The pacing did feel a little slow in the middle, and I think the story could have been told more tightly in fewer episodes. Some parts also left me wanting clearer explanations, especially about the secret organization and what they were actually trying to accomplish. Still, once the tension picked up, I became completely invested in the mystery and the characters. Overall, this was a pleasant surprise. Dark, emotional, visually impressive, and much more heartbreaking than I expected.

Leer más

Gong Yoo deserved more respect

I have finished watching this show. In comparison to the Coffee Prince reunion where the cast members and production obviously know how to respect the veteran, this Goblin one showed how rude some of the cast members are and the way they edited Gong Yoo in this show. Kim Goeun in particular makes fun of Gong Yoo a lot and bosses him around when the opportunity arises. Gong Yoo is the protagonist of the show. He deserves more praise for his hardwork. Heck, he rested for two years after this drama and he was the only one out of the cast members who actually won a prestigious award for his role as Kim Shin.

Leer más

She was already dangerous before she died.

Zoey Meng is back in another leading role in a series named Blossoms. Coincidence? I think not. At this point, she's the Queen of Blossom dramas in my books.

The series has only just begun, but I'm already overly optimistic and hoping it lives up to its promising start.

The premise itself isn't new: a woman's clan is massacred, she dies, and is given another chance at life. What immediately caught my attention, however, was the character reversal.

Rebirth dramas often begin with a kind-hearted, naive heroine who returns determined to seek revenge. Here, it's the complete opposite. The woman who dies is already calm, composed, intelligent, and calculating. She deliberately uses her own death as part of a larger plan to avenge those she loves. The person she later inhabits, on the other hand, is the innocent and sheltered one. It's a refreshing twist that I haven't come across in the dramas I've watched so far.

Zoey Meng does complete justice to the role. She portrays a woman who is cold, calculating, and remarkably composed, with an uncanny ability to read people and anticipate their motives and actions several steps ahead.

What I'm most curious about is why she was brought back. Who gave her this second chance, and for what purpose? That's the mystery I'm most eager to see unfold.

The romance has also been handled surprisingly well in these opening episodes. Although the Crown Prince is clearly and hopelessly in love with her, he doesn't allow those feelings to cloud his judgment or distract him from his responsibilities. He steps in only when absolutely necessary, making him feel calm and dependable rather than obsessive. He Yu has captured that balance beautifully so far.

The other character who has piqued my interest is the Fifth Prince, Xiao Changqing. On the surface, he appears to be a man devoted to his departed wife, but I don't think it's that straightforward. The series has already hinted that he is ambitious, meticulous, and decisive. I have a feeling there's a much larger scheme unfolding around him, and I'm looking forward to discovering where his story leads.

Leer más

Fireworks Took Their Own Sweet Time!!!!

Love Has Fireworks is one of those dramas that starts by quietly lighting a match, then eventually turns into a proper fireworks display. It is not perfect, but it is a fun and enjoyable watch.

The story itself is good, although the first several episodes felt a little padded. At times it seemed like scenes were added simply to make the episode count look respectable. Once the plot settled into its stride, it became much more engaging and the pacing improved.

The female lead is one of my favourites, so I was already biased before pressing play. Thankfully she did not disappoint. She once again delivered a natural, warm performance with just the right amount of charm and emotional depth. She makes even ordinary moments enjoyable to watch.

The male lead surprised me the most. I have always liked him, although he has never made my personal "sexy list." I was honestly a little hesitant because I had not really seen him carry a role with this much comedy before. Well, I happily stand corrected. He absolutely nailed it. His comedic timing became one of the highlights of the drama, and as the episodes went on he completely grew on me in this role. His emotional scenes were equally convincing. Stellar acting from both leads.

The chemistry worked well, although if you are hoping they become a couple early, you will need some patience. Their relationship really gets moving around the early thirties in the episode count, so this is definitely a slow simmer rather than an instant spark.

Now, before anyone says there are no misunderstandings or breakup drama, let's be realistic. There are misunderstandings, and some of them are stretched a little further than they probably needed to be. They are not painfully frustrating, but they are there, so I would not call this a misunderstanding free drama.

My biggest pet peeve was the number of romances happening all at once. It sometimes felt like everyone except the office furniture had their own love story. Personally, I prefer the main couple to stay the main attraction, with perhaps one secondary romance if it genuinely adds humour or strengthens the friendships. Here, the romantic spotlight occasionally wandered a little too much.

Production quality was solid throughout. The cinematography looked polished, the sets were attractive, and everything had a bright, comfortable feel that suited the story. Nothing flashy, just consistently well made.

The soundtrack fit the mood nicely without trying to steal the show. It complemented the emotional and lighter moments well, even if none of the songs ended up permanently living on my playlist.

Overall, Love Has Fireworks is an easy, entertaining watch with lovable leads, strong performances, plenty of laughs, and enough heart to keep you invested. It is not trying to reinvent the romantic comedy wheel, but it rolls along comfortably and does its job well.

Final verdict. Come for the female lead. Stay because the male lead quietly sneaks up on you and steals the show. Just be prepared to share the romance with what feels like half the supporting cast.

Leer más

How do you value your life?

I finally finished this drama after so many tries.
We all know that drinking is an acceptable tradition in Korea. Many dramas have placed drinking as a norm in families, in workplaces and perhaps everywhere. This story takes us to the extreme - how heavy frequent drinking became a lifestyle that can ruin one's body, friendship, family and life.
I watched this because of Gong Myung - his gentle face is fitting for a doctor who is well-liked in Bocheon. As for Choi Soo Young, her character shows a woman who tried to be strong on her own, though had gone through heartbreaks and drown it only by alcohol.
The townspeople, just like any other drama, are a bunch of gossips, though we know deep in their hearts, they care for one another. They do have issues, yet they learned to swallow their pride and forgive and be forgiven.
The drama brings lots of life lessons:
1. Problems do not go away by drinking alcohol. it can even ruin your thinking and eventually may cause death
2. Families are important. We should learn to value our family and see how alcohol can destroy relationships.
3. Strong support to help an alcoholic is needed. Alcoholics may not want to stop, may not want anyone to meddle with them, but true friends will go the extra mile no matter what.
4. Determination, self-control, patience and much love help each other solve problems, overcome hardships and realize happiness.
The latter part of the drama became more serious. Though there were deaths in the drama, am glad it still ends in a happy note.

Leer más

The best drama I've ever seen by an absolute country mile

No drama comes close to the mastery of this one.
The plot is wonderfully well written, everything that happens in the drama has a precise meaning and purpose, the dialogues are probably some of the best I've ever seen in any media, the music is absolutely incredible, I with modern drama had music that is even 1% as good as the soundtrack of this drama.
The characters are complex, likeable and very relatable, but the main point is the efficacy of how the writing/direction manages to make you feel any emotions they want with absolute precision.
At no point in watching this drama I was disconnected with the intentions of the writing, they absolutely gained my trust and my emotions are completely under their control for the whole length of the show, and they don't make evil use of this power.
Thank you to whoever wrote this, for giving me some of the best experiences any media could ever manage to give me.

Leer más

amazing start, but dissatisfying towards the end.

overall, it's a decent one for a quick and simple binge watch, but it's not the best choice if you're looking for something meaningful or deep.

it started off messily strong but with a good and clear aim. however, towards the end it kind of lost that one aim it had. it tried to redeem that, which kind of worked but it was as if it forgot what exactly it was redeeming. it's good, maybe even refreshing for some. the characters are well-written and in solids, it's easy to like and understand them. only one character was kind of complicated, whom i liked (along side han-rim).

would i recommend this? probably not.

Leer más

ONLY 28 Episodes For The Whole Drama? Like What? I Watched 3 Episodes, 2 Specials, And I Am HOOKED!

I Am Really Shocked That This Drama Only Has 28 Episodes, The 1st Episode Was Like WOW!!! The Stunts, And The Diffrent Affects Were Amazing. I Was Seriously Trying To Figure Out If The Fire Coming From Xiao WuYi Sword Was Real, Fake, Or Just Put In To The Screen After Everthing Was Filmed, Or CGI. All I Have To Say Is, It Looks So Real, I Kept Telling My Husband I Hope Hou MingHao Didn't Get Burn Or Hurt From The Sparks, And Flames. That Fight Scene In The Very 1st Episode Was Crazy For The 1st Episode, But I Guess... Since There Is Only 28 Episodes. I've Watched 3 Episodes, And 2 Specials And All Were Action Packed. Fight Scenes Are Insanely Crazy, And Really Good.

O.k. 1st I Must Say How Much I Love Hou MingHao, And Riley Wang... They Both Are Such Tallented, And Great Actors. Not To Mention Both Are Gorgeous, Cute, And Handsome All At The Same Time. (I Say That About All My Favorite's, Which Is A Lot, To Many To Count. 🤪) This Is The 2nd Drama That Both Have Acted Together In, So It Is Really Nice To See Both Acting In Another Drama Together. I Hope I Will See Them Act Together In Many More.

There Is A Love Triangle Going On Which Is Pretty Stange, And Confusing. Riley's Charater Is In Love With The Female Leads Charater, And She Is In Love With Him. Xiao WuYi Asked The Queen To Marry Her Which Is Strange, Because It Looks Like Riley Charater, And Xiao WuYi Are Very Good Friends, Even Best Friends. Strange Enough Though I Think Xiao WuYi Is In Love With Her, Or He At Least Really Likes Her.
Oh, And What's Even More Stange, And Confusing Is On The The Female Leads, And Xiao WuYi's Wedding Day, They Didn't Even Get Married, There Was No Ceremony. So How Are They Even Considered Married. There Was No Bowing To The Heavens, Bow To Your Parents, And Bow To Eachother. None Of That, So... How Are They Married???

On The Other Hand, This Is A Totally Diffrent Side Of Hou MingHao That I Am Not Use To, He Is Mean, Ruthless, And A Killing Machine... But There Is A Reason Why He Is This Way, And That Is Because At The Age Of 14 He Was Sent To War, And Fight In The War At Such A Very Young Age. He Didn't Have A Very Good Life Even Being A Prince, And He Ended Up Losing Thousands, And Thousands Of Soldiers, Because Of The War. So Because Of This War Even His 2 Right Hand Tursted Woman, And Man Are Ruthless, And Killing Machines. At Least In The Beginning They Were, And Eventually They Mellowed Out A Bit, And They Killed Somewhat Less, But Were Just 3 Episodes In, So Lets See What Happens In The Last 25 Episodes!!!
None The Less Thought I Love Hou MingHao's Charater Xiao WuYi, Ruthless, Mean, A Killing Machine Or Not, He Is Such A Strong, And Almost Invisible Character. He Has His Moments Though Where He Is Sweet, Funny, Caring And Kind, And That Is What Reminds Me Of Why I Love Hou MingHao So Much... He's Great At Playing Both Sweet Or Evil, No Matter What!!! He Is Just So Loveable Either Way!!!

Be Careful Who You Trust, And Who You Don't Trust. You Might Think You Can Trust That Person, Especially, Because You Think They Love You Or There Family, But No. There's Alot Of Twist, And Turns. Someone May Seem One Way, But In Real Life They Are The Total Opposite Of Who You Think They Are, And Are Fake! They Could Be Someone You Think You Can Trust, And That Someone Is Being Fake. I Had A Really Bad Felling That This Someone Was Bad, Which I Was Right About, But It Was Hard To Believe, Because Of Who They Are, And What They Are To Another Person. Which Is Family!!!

P.S. I Hate Arranged Or Forced Marriages!!!

After I Watch The Last 25 Episodes, I Will Write A Full Review.

July 12th, 2026 9:59 P.M.
July 13th, 2026 1:22 A.M.

July 13th, 2026 @ 2:33 P.M. I Just Watched Episode #4, And Some Specials, And Behind The Scenes...
For Those Of You Thst Are Boycotting This Drama... Well All I Have To Say Is You Have No Idea What Your Missing Out On.
I Find It So Strange China Is So Terrified Of Gays, They Treat Gays As If They Were Dieseased Or Something...
THIS WAS NOT HOU MINGHAO'S FAULT!!! AND I DO NOT BLAME HIM FOR ANY OF THIS, That A Teenager Was Acting In This Drama With Him, AND NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HIM!!! HE IS A VERY CLASSY, AND RESPECTABLE PERSON, SO YOU CAN KEEP YOU RUDE COMMENTS TO YOURSELF.
***I BLAME THE PRODUCERS, THE GIRL, HER PARENTS, AND HER AGENCY!!!***
SO CHINA IS AFRAID OF GAYS LIKE THERE THE PLEAG, AND CONTROLS, AND BANDS EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO GO WITH THEM, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO A 17 YEAR OLD THAT IS ACTING IN A DRAMA WITH A 27-28 YEAR OLD, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, LIKE WHAT IN THE H-LL? 🤯🤔

UNFORTUNATELY THEY HAD SET THE PERFECT TRAP FOR HOU MINGHAO, AND HE HAD ALREADY SIGNED THE CONTRACT BEFORE THIS GIRL WAS EVEN IN THE PICTURE...AND FOR HIM TO BACK OUT OF THE CONTRACT, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY SOME HEAFTY FINES FOR NOT FOLLOWING THOUGH WITH THE CONTRACT. I BELIEVE IT WAS THE JEALOUSY AT IT'S FINEST BY THE PRODUCER, TO TRY, AND RUIN HOU MINGHAO'S CHEERIER, REPUTATION WELL BEING, AND STATUS!!! THAT IS REALLY SAD, AND HORRIBLE ON THE PRODUCERS PART!!!
3:07 P.M.

3:12 P.M. And As Far As Her Being 17, She Looked Very Mature, And Professional, Just Like Hou MingHao... I've Watched A Few Interviews, And Behind The Scenes. She Doesn't Look Uncomfortable In The Least. Actually Hou MingHao Was The One That Looked To Be Embarrassed, But So Adorable. I Never Once Saw Her Uncomfortable.
YES, SHE MAY HAVE BEEN 17, BUT IF YOU ARE GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO JUST LIKE BOTH HER, AND HOU MINGHAO DID, THEN THE TURN OUT WILL BE ONE OF THE GREATEST DRAMA LIKE THIS ONE!!! ONLY GOING BY THE 1ST FOUR EPISODE, AND THE SPECIALS I WATCHED... And The Few Behind The Scenes!!!
***(BOY, I HOPE THE DRAMA DOESN'T PISS ME OFF SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINES... AND LETS HOPE THE ENDING IS GOOD!!!)***
3:23 P.M.

Leer más

if you're K-drama hardcore fans, I'm sure you've seen 93489483 dramas similar to this one

My Royal Nemesis is your typical K-drama romance. A lot of drama, involving chaebols, a business contract marriage, yadda yadda. Honestly, I didn't really pay attention to the timeline, the business politics, or the family drama—because if you're here to analyze all of that, you're going to find a lot of plot holes. As usual, the female lead's rival—why is it always a rich, beautiful, successful woman who is completely obsessed with the male lead? Are there no other good-looking chaebols in Korea? If I were her, there's ain't no way I'm chasing after a man.

Moving on, there's only one truly evil character, and I swear to god, he’s just an ungrateful brat. As for the grandfather (the ultimate ML-FL relationship hater), he isn't the ruthlessly cruel, inhumane type. He's still warm, and honestly, his objectives actually make sense. BUT THE HIGHLIGHT IS: CHA SE GYE, THE MAN YOU ARE, I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU.

Now for the female lead—she was described as smart and manipulative, right? But approaching the final episodes, I don't know, her intellect kind of dropped. It’s like she started forgetting about everything that had happened. Maybe because she finally opened up to the ML, she became less aware of her surroundings and just felt safe.

Overall, it’s okay. Since the whole plot is similar to other romance K-dramas—time travel, reincarnation, chaebols, business matchmaking—it might be boring for some people. But for me, this is such a comfort drama.

Leer más

Its villains are unforgettable—it's just a shame the rest of the drama isn't.

A 24-episode historical C-drama is a rarity, especially one led by a female protagonist. What could possibly go wrong?
As it turns out, quite a lot.
The drama opens with an intriguing premise that keeps you hooked. A kind-hearted and innocent Chu Zhao, betrayed by the prince Xiao Xun she loved, is given a second chance at life. This time, she returns not as a victim but as a brilliant strategist—sweet on the surface, venomous underneath, an excellent judge of character, quick on her feet, and determined to exact her revenge. Alongside her is Yanlai, a prodigious swordsman who has sworn to protect the Chu family.
Unfortunately, that's where the strength of their relationship ends.
Despite the amount of screen time devoted to them, their emotional connection was not convincing. The plot surrounding them also begins to lose coherence, with several developments feeling more convenient than earned.
Ironically, the rivalry between Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang became the highlight of the series for me. Both actors deliver wonderful performances, creating characters who are calm, calculating, and quietly dangerous. Every encounter between them—whether in court or beyond—felt like a battle of wits, with each conversation and calculated move an attempt to outmaneuver the other. While Deng Yi is driven by ambition and survival, Xie Yanfang is consumed by the pursuit of power and family prestige. Their scenes carried far more tension and intrigue than the central romance ever did.
I only wish the story had trusted these strengths. There was genuine potential here. With sharper writing and a more intricately crafted plot, Ashes to Crown could have been a standout historical drama. Instead, by the final two episodes, the series managed to destroy the goodwill built by its opening. I would rewatch it only for Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang. 3 stars for the villains.

Leer más

Il 14 maggio 2026 sono usciti su Netflix, in un’unica soluzione, gli otto episodi che compongono il drama giapponese Soul Mate, serie diretta da Shunki Hashizume.

La storia si snoda lungo l’arco temporale di dieci anni, viaggiando fra vari paesi: Giappone, Corea e Germania.
È proprio a Berlino che i due protagonisti si incontrano: Ryu, interpretato da Hayato Isomura, entra in una chiesa e rischia di morire in un incendio. Viene salvato da Johan Hwang, interpretato dall’attore e idol Taecyeon, un pugile sudcoreano presente anche lui all’interno dell’edificio.
Quest’ultimo non crede nel destino e non vuole nemmeno conoscere il nome di Ryu, ma ben presto i due si rincontreranno.
Johan parla giapponese, lingua che ha imparato leggendo i manga, tra cui La Fenice di Osamu Tezuka; Ryu prova più volte ad avvicinarlo anche tentando di pronunciare qualche parola in coreano.
Comincerà così un’amicizia che durerà nonostante la distanza e il tempo.

Già prima della sua uscita si discuteva animatamente se definire la serie bromance o boys’ love. Perfino Netflix, che lo aveva presentato come un progetto bromance, è poi passata al termine boys’ love.
Soul Mate non è niente di tutto ciò e, allo stesso tempo, è molto di più.

Il drama, infatti, gira attorno a due anime affini che portano dentro di sé grandi ferite, ma grazie al loro incontro riescono in qualche modo a guarirsi a vicenda.
Non sono personaggi perfetti: hanno le loro fragilità e i loro scheletri nell’armadio.
I protagonisti si riconoscono perché vedono qualcosa l’un l’altro che il resto del mondo ignora o non comprende. Nonostante cerchino di nascondere il dolore, il loro legame diventa sempre più solido.
In Soul Mate, l’amore non nasce dall’attrazione, ma dalla comprensione e dal supporto reciproco.

In un mondo iperconnesso, si può sentire la solitudine anche quando si è circondati da persone. Ed è raro trovare qualcuno capace di farci sentire meno soli.

Lo stesso attore protagonista Taecyeon, in un’intervista, ammette che il punto focale della storia non è la componente fisica o sessuale. L’intera serie parla di affetto, di diversi tipi di amore e di come possa essere espresso in modi differenti, mostrando tutte le sfaccettature attraverso cui questo sentimento può manifestarsi.
L’amore, infatti, può assumere molte forme e a volte non può essere racchiuso in una definizione precisa.

E in questo la serie ha centrato il punto: non ci sono baci o effusioni; i protagonisti diventano casa l’uno per l’altro. Si capisce da come si sostengono nelle difficoltà che fra loro non c’è un semplice rapporto di amicizia.

Ma se questo è il suo punto di forza, è anche il suo limite.
Durante la visione, quando la storia è già entrata nel vivo, avviene una discussione fra Ryu e Johan che rappresenta uno snodo fondamentale.
Tutto, però, avrebbe avuto un impatto maggiore se prima ci fosse stato un qualsiasi avvicinamento fra i due. Non si tratta di un bacio o di qualcosa di fisico, ma di un fattore emotivo: non c’è un gesto, uno sguardo o neppure un discorso — anche solo platonico — che richiami a una componente romantica.
Per questo motivo, le parole che Johan pronuncia sembrano quasi perdere valore.

L’attore Hayato Isomura ha dichiarato che ci sono tante serie boys’ love con baci e scene d’amore e Soul Mate voleva offrire qualcosa di differente; nonostante la chimica dei personaggi, che si guardano con uno sguardo tenero e d’intesa, rimane però la sensazione che qualcosa manchi.

Proprio questa ambiguità ha portato parte del pubblico ad accusare la serie di queerbaiting.
La serie sembra voler tenere il piede in due scarpe: il titolo definisce Ryu e Johan anime gemelle per attirare il pubblico amante delle serie boys’ love, ma non ha il coraggio di raccontare davvero fino in fondo la loro storia d’amore.

Un altro difetto è la trama frammentata: seguendo la storia dei due protagonisti per dieci anni vengono presentate, in soli otto episodi, tantissime vicende e personaggi, con il risultato che alcuni passaggi risultano troppo frettolosi.
Le storie secondarie sono molto commoventi, donano un ritmo pacato, offrono uno squarcio di vita di una famiglia atipica e danno spunto per parlare di diverse tematiche.
È tenero vedere la migliore amica di Ryu che sorride ammirando il ritratto che Johan ha realizzato dell’altro, o i genitori di Ryu che accettano Johan come se fosse un altro figlio, tanto che quest’ultimo li chiama "eomeoni" e "abeoji", ovvero “mamma” e “papà” in coreano.
Durante la visione, tuttavia, si avverte il desiderio che la narrazione si focalizzi soltanto su Ryu e Johan e sulla loro intimità.

Le vicende non presentano i soliti cliché delle serie boys’ love degli ultimi anni; anzi, ne prendono le distanze, essendo un prodotto totalmente diverso.
Non mancano, però, gli stereotipi legati al tag drammatico, per cui i protagonisti dovranno affrontare numerosi momenti tragici, forse anche troppi.

Si passa sopra a questi piccoli difetti grazie alla bravura dei due attori protagonisti.
Spicca fra tutti Taecyeon. È vero che conosceva già la lingua giapponese, ma recitare in una lingua che non è la propria non è sempre semplice; lui ci è riuscito in maniera impeccabile, ricorrendo comunque al coreano nelle scene emotivamente più forti: dopotutto, è proprio quando una persona è a pezzi che torna a parlare nella propria lingua madre.
Inoltre, il suo personaggio ha richiesto una perdita di peso, un rigoroso controllo della forma fisica e un intenso allenamento nel pugilato.
Hayato Isomura, invece, ha dovuto trasformarsi in un giocatore di hockey, sport in cui non aveva alcuna esperienza e per il quale si è dovuto esercitare ogni giorno così da rendere i movimenti più fluidi possibile.
In ogni scena è stato talmente eccezionale da essere all’altezza dell’altro protagonista, senza mai sovrastarlo, anzi lasciandolo sempre brillare.
Anche gli attori secondari sono stati straordinari: basti pensare a Kenshi Okada nei panni di Arata, amico e compagno di squadra di Ryu, che pur avendo uno spazio limitato ha rubato il cuore di molti spettatori.

Dal punto di vista estetico, Soul Mate ha tutto ciò a cui i drama asiatici ci hanno abituati: una splendida fotografia e luci soffuse.
La regia di Shunki Hashizume, regista anche del drama live-action More than Words, privilegia i momenti di quiete e le emozioni trattenute, lasciando spesso che siano gli sguardi e i silenzi a raccontare ciò che i personaggi non riescono a esprimere a parole.
Il tutto è accompagnato da musiche che enfatizzano ogni momento della storia.

Soul Mate è disponibile su Netflix sia sottotitolato che con il doppiaggio in italiano.
Hayato Isomura, che in Alice in Borderland era doppiato da Dario Sansalone, qui ha la voce del bravissimo Manuel Meli, che ho trovato particolarmente adeguato al personaggio.
Flavio Aquilone, nei panni di Johan, ha una voce molto diversa da quella dell’attore originale, ma lo aveva già doppiato in precedenza nel drama Vincenzo.
Non condivisibile è la scelta di doppiare qualsiasi dialogo, ad eccezione di qualche parola isolata, che si tratti di giapponese, coreano o inglese, un po’ come era già successo in Come si dice "Amore"?: in questo modo non si percepisce quando un personaggio passa da una lingua all’altra.
Purtroppo è un problema che ritroviamo anche nei sottotitoli, tutti uguali per font e colore, nonostante le lingue siano diverse; per un orecchio non particolarmente allenato può risultare difficile capire quando un personaggio cambia lingua.
Da questo punto di vista, Pachinko su Apple TV+ rimane ancora oggi uno degli esempi migliori di gestione del multilinguismo: i sottotitoli cambiano colore a seconda della lingua parlata dai personaggi — bianco per l’inglese, blu per il giapponese e giallo per il coreano.

Soul Mate è una serie imperfetta e forse troppo timida nel definire la natura del rapporto tra i suoi protagonisti, suggerita soltanto nel finale e della quale il titolo stesso rappresenta un indizio.
“Anima” è una parola che ritorna spesso durante la visione e diventa un filo conduttore all’interno del drama: Ryu e Johan sono due persone che stanno cercando di proteggere la propria anima e, per farlo, tentano anche di nasconderla.
In realtà, il modo più semplice di salvarla è donarla all’altro.

Soul Mate riesce a lasciare il segno grazie alla sensibilità con cui racconta la solitudine, il dolore e il bisogno di comprensione.
Al di là delle etichette con cui possiamo definire questo drama, ciò che resta è la storia di due persone che si trovano in un momento buio della loro vita e diventano salvezza l’una per l’altra.
Per l’appunto, anime gemelle.

Leer más