Can love only be attributed to a feeling, or is the process more scientific than we would like to believe? Do “soulmates” exist, and if so does that definition simply boil down to the person in this world that you can love the most? These are a few of the key questions that series creators William Bridges and Brett Goldstein seek to explore in their new science fiction anthology series Soulmates. Set fifteen years in the future, this show operates in a world where doubt no longer has to factor into relationships. A tech company known as Soul Connex have developed “The Test” – both simply named and ominous sounding – which can determine your “soulmate” with 100 percent accuracy. Does it seem suspect that a series with stakes this monumentally life-changing would not question why society has seemingly accepted this new development without question? Of course! Yet once you set aside some of your basic skepticism, this character-driven drama offers intriguing explorations of human nature in this new normal with only a bit of unsteadiness.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this series is the questions that it conjures up within the viewer. If you are single, would you want to take away the thrill of dating and discovering different interests you have with different partners? If you are married, would you sacrifice a perfectly satisfying marriage for the chance that things might be a little bit better? This latter point is one of the big sticking points in the series, and the basis for the debut episode of the series. Sarah Snook (Succession) plays a woman married to her college sweetheart (Kingsley Ben-Adir, One Night In Miami) whose only fault seems to be that he can be boring at parties – or is it that she is bored of his stories? The seemingly picture-perfect romance gets a little rocky as friends and neighbors take the Test and seemingly find a newfound lease on life. Much like the envy you feel for that friend traveling across Europe that you see on Instagram, one starts to feel they are missing out on something. She has a solid marriage, but what if the test reveals something better could be yours?
Throughout this six-episode first season, you often find the series going to a similar well which feels like a problem this early into a run. Similar ground is covered in the third episode of the series where a match pops up from a Test taken long ago and we see how that impacts a husband and wife. The series does attempt to make each situation different enough, but sometimes struggles to give you enough of a reason to care about the characters before swiftly abandoning them and moving on to the next episode. The curveballs that show does throw out, such as questioning what would happen if the Test was used for nefarious purposes or what if your “soulmate” was a psychopath, are executed to varying degrees of nuance. Sometimes the series feels almost too bold in its desire to get more mileage out of the premise, sacrificing character moments in the process. The series seems a bit unsure of its intentions in its debut outing, but that does not mean that there are not some very fulfilling moments.
One element where this series does not struggle is in its casting. Even in the weaker stories, Soulmates finds a great balance of well-known and newly-discovered talent that elevates the experience. Even in a weaker episode like the second one where the conclusion really starts to strain credibility, you are still left with searing performances from David Costabile (Breaking Bad) and Sonya Cassidy (Lodge 49). The show is also given credit for not being so “sci-fi” that it alienates the drama that we can understand from a modern perspective. The screens these characters have to display information are more high-tech, but the basic human dynamics are real. This first season feels like a show working its kinks out that could really develop into something better in its (already renewed) second season. This season plays it a bit too safe with beautiful people coming together in upper-middle class situations. With a little more confidence in its premise it could go from intermittently good to consistently great.
Video Quality
The first season of Soulmates comes to Blu-Ray with an eye-popping 1080p presentation that pushes the format to its limit. The series is filled with intricately curated sets and gorgeous cinematography that is presented with perfect clarity on this disc. From the many brightly lit scenes to the darker, shadowy sequences, the skin tones and facial details are incredibly rendered in a way you could almost mistake this for a 4K disc. Subtle facial features are readily visible in closeup and medium shots. Colors from the production design and costumes pop off the screen alongside the varied lush landscapes. Black levels are very deep and never betray the objects on screen. No instances of compression artifacts crept up during the viewing. This is an immaculate presentation that perfectly showcases a beautifully shot series that deserves such treatment.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that is quite effective. The series is primarily dialogue driven with more tension being offered up than action sequences. There is some nice ambient activity in the rear channels, especially during crowded sequences at a restaurant or a school lecture hall. The dialogue primarily stays in front center channels and is reproduced clearly. The track does a good job of making sure neither sound effects nor the score ever overpowers dialogue. The score brings a richness to the series that fills up the room on this track. There is rarely a need for this series to bring any heft to the low end, but it works well as added texture to the proceedings. This track has a substantial dynamic range that should please fans of the series.
Special Features
- A Look At Soulmates: A nearly seven-minute featurette in which the cast and crew discuss the themes of the show. The biggest thing this supplement that clued me into the fact that the Brett Goldstein who created the show is the breakout star from Ted Lasso (holy crap!).
Final Thoughts
Soulmates can occasionally feel a bit repetitive due to the finite ways it displays how finding your “soulmate” can impact your life, but the show feels fresh thanks to the enticing characters and key variations from scenario to scenario. AMC Studios has released a Blu-Ray featuring a 5-star A/V presentation but not much in the way of special features. If you are looking for something to fill the Black Mirror-sized hole in your heart, this series should suffice. Recommended
Soulmates The Complete First Season is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: AMC Studios has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
