Saagar Kote
AMC’s ‘Soulmates’ is an anthology series set in the near future, where a company called Soul Connex introduces a breakthrough technology. This core element, present in all the stories, utilizes the “soul particle” to allow individuals to take a test and locate their soulmates anywhere in the world, regardless of their current relationship or marital status. The series explores the lives of various people as they navigate a world where spiritual connection is technologically determined.
Through these different stories, the narrative delves into complex themes such as love, human connection, technological dominance, vulnerability, and the nature of truth, prompting the characters to confront deeper questions about themselves. In the futuristic science fiction drama series created by William Bridges and Brett Goldstein, the Soul Connex app and technology play a pivotal role in the fate of the characters, and so does the Church of Righteous Transition. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Soul Connex Takes Matchmaking to Unprecedented Levels
Written by the aforementioned creators, ‘Soulmates’ delves into a future where technology has established significant dominance over human society to the level where even love is dictated by scientific inventions. Although a fictional app that exists in the series, Soul Connex takes the ideas of real-life apps such as “Bumble” and “Tinder” to extreme levels. The Soul Connex app facilitates the matching of “souls” by using the “soul particle” in human beings. A simple biometric and retinal scan allows individuals in the near future to take a test, which matches them to their soulmates, wherever they are in the world. Interestingly, the app looks beyond traditional considerations like marital status, geographical distance, and other factors while coming up with a match.
Though the series doesn’t explicitly mention Artificial Intelligence (AI), it can be presumed that the future seen in the show reflects a troubling reality where AI-like technology has reached new heights, making apps like Soul Connex possible. Soul Connex also relies on something called the “soul particle,” something unique in each human being that leads to a match. In reality, discussions about “The God Particle” and other forms of scientific elements exist, but the show takes the idea and applies it to the vulnerable souls of human beings. Soul Connex also reflects the reality of society as it depends on the fundamental human need for connection, be it physical or spiritual. The concept of the app is spiritually connected to the world of Netflix’s ‘Black Mirror,’ which also talks about the dangers of technology.
Specifically, the episode “Hang the DJ” is the most relevant example in this context, as it also talks about dating and technology. The app promises a perfect match, but the series proves that there is no such thing, since individuals are complex. Human complexity and fragility are at the core of the series, which makes the app less than perfect. Another perspective that the technology in the show brings is the definition of love itself. Soul Connex looks at love at a deeper level, transcending sexual gratification. The idea of casual sex is negated by the app, as it only aims to establish a deeper connection between people.
The Church of Righteous Transition is a Troubling Twist on Assisted Suicide
The Church of Righteous Transition plays a vital role in the fight episode of the series, where Kurt and Martha find a deeper connection, away from the Soul Connex app. The Church, which exists in an isolated spot, is a means for people to actually “be” with their loved ones. The institution is meant exclusively for people who have lost their matched soulmates due to death. Since they cannot be with their soulmates in the mortal world, the Church makes it possible for them to die and reach their soulmates in the afterlife. Assisted Suicide is taken to new extremes by the Church, which allows its members to engage in mass suicide. The institution promises its members that it will allow them to live in dignity, and also helps them get ready for their own deaths.
The central theme here is the justification of taking one’s life for the sake of everlasting love. One of the more troubling aspects of the Church of Righteous Transition is the fact that it actually works for monetary benefits. The members are expected to give the Church a subscription fee of sorts to assist them in their own deaths. While mental health interventions help individuals in the real world to move away from suicidal thoughts, the Church capitalizes on grief and trauma by making it a means of financial gain. The series doesn’t attempt to stigmatize the concept or act of suicide, but rather intends to create awareness about the need for emotional support.
The narrative stresses the point that killing oneself is not the answer, and that people can find inspiration to live, even in moments of immense sadness. Although the Church of Righteous Transition is fictional, it reflects the dangers of manipulation, corporate interests, and the commodification of death and love. Ultimately, the series, through Soul Connex and the Church of Righteous Transition, aims to raise awareness about the dangers of technology and the reality of profiteering corporations.
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