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Soul Mate (Japanese Series)

By Golu
Is this technically a gay show? Even after getting through the whole thing, that's still kind of tricky to answer. There's never any physical intimacy shown between the two leads, not even a single kiss. What it gives you instead is something that goes way deeper than that. It traces an emotional bond that spans a full decade between two guys who are both dealing with their own baggage, and what they share basically amounts to being soulmates. The story moves across Japan, South Korea, and Berlin. Honestly, whether people want to call what they have a romantic relationship or not doesn't really matter to me. A relationship doesn't need a label like boyfriends attached to it to actually mean something. And closeness doesn't need to be physical to feel genuine. What this show captures is something quieter but way more powerful, a bond rooted in understanding, respect, and just showing up for each other. Across eight episodes, each running 35 to 45 minutes, this is one...
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The Holiday Exchange

By Golu
Holiday season again and the magic of gay Christmas films. This film surprisingly focuses on actual gay romance than showing a couple in a full on family. I guess because makers usually wanna keep it safe, but once in a while you do get a full blown romantic film, and this one its et during the Christmas time, making it for an apt watch. The film is cheesy, mushy, romantic with some very cheesy lines and a bit of conflict thrown in for no reason. Despite all that, it was good fun to watch a few very handsome fully grown men in a festive atmosphere.

LA based Wilde is just going through a breakup and is planning to sell his company because now he wants to do better and take a break. And then we meet Oliver, somewhere in Europe. He is a depressed divorce attorney at his father's firm and to cheer him up, his best friend gifts him a book about how to enjoy being gay and single or something like that. Oliver also puts his house on rent on misterBnB, which Wilde founds and next thing you know is that they talk and decide to exchange houses for holidays in a very last minute plan. The two boys are in a different continent now. When Wilde reaches in Europe, he immediately goes out for drink , make some local friends, only to have a surprise  guest show up at his house. It's Henry, Oliver's cousin who is requesting to stay for the night due to a winter storm. After initial awkwardness, the dup begin to grow on each other. Back in LA, Oliver ends up being at the book signing by the author of the famous book that his friend gifted him. Turns out this author is gorgeous and hunky and very good looking. The author Julius and Henry also have instant attraction and eventually they manage to talk and decide to go for a chestnut roasting date. In their respective places, The boys go on Christmas dates and have some holiday romance. Julius and Oliver roast chestnuts, and Wilde and Henry go to a pub and have a slow dance. Clearly there is a connect and holiday charm make is very very special. A bit of drama is thrown in around long distance relationship and the fact that Oliver never mentioned he is a divorce attorney. These are cleared as quickly as they arise. Everything works out, and we get lots of gay kissing. (We love that!) The couples call one another and introduce each other to their prospective boyfriends. They agree to all go to LA for the ultimate New Year’s Eve orgy, I mean party!

Although the whole story is far from believable and the characters may not be the most relatable in their actual lives (they’re all rich and living quite well), but the experiences they each go through are what we can connect with: facing the holidays being single with the hope of a Christmas romance. But a lot of holiday movies are not to be watched for reality. This is a mindless escape with likable characters and a happy ending, and that’s all it needs to be; exactly what you would expect. If you expect anything more, then to be honest it is not an issue by the film makers. You have to overlook a lot of things in this film, the setup, gay love etc, then you're just going to disappoint yourself. It's not gonna win any awards or accolades for its acting or direction either. That being said it's cute, lighthearted, and fun! But very very very cheesy. Amongst the four actors, Oliver and Henry playing cousins were extremely hot and good looking. The write Julius was also quite hot. I wish Wilde's character by also played by another hottie. The acting is average to decent. Again, just go in with very low expectations and low production quality and you will be fine. This film is a romance about gay men falling in love. While it has all the necessary romantic elements, it takes a while to get going and the characters’ problems feel contrived. (6/10)
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