I Finally Got My Husband To Watch Soul Land

7–10 minutes

I Finally Got My Husband To Watch Soul Land

My husband has been on a ‘drama shorts’ kick for a while, thanks to ads on TikTok. This, in turn, led him to watch Chinese short dramas. To be fair, he has been listening to ‘I have a system’ style series on YouTube for a few years, as he would drive for hours on end. He completed a 300+ hour series in under a month while driving. Now that he has a new job and is not on the road for more than an hour a day (to and from work), he says he misses listening to these stories.

Then with the introduction of the Chinese dramas where he is reading the subtitles, I saw an openinga nd an opportunity. Finally, I can suggest that we watch Donghua together. Together is the main point. I have suggested Soul Land to him for years. He would moan that it had subtitles and he was not in the mood to watch and read, fair enough, he is tired after work. However, these subtitled shorts have neatly removed that excuse for me.

From “Five Episodes a Day” to Full Binge Mode

A group of six stylised characters stands in a stone room, with one character facing away, holding a red object behind their back. The characters have diverse outfits ranging from fantasy to modern styles.

We are officially 37 episodes in, and he has finally said that he wants to binge this, not watch it a few episodes here and a few episodes there. The original deal was 5 episodes a day. As I knew it would not, it did not happen. It took us weeks to watch these few episodes. My husband and I are the same: if we want to watch or read a series, we want to binge it. To dive headfirst in, commit to it, and let that series be our world as we consume it.

The first binge is planned for Saturday, which also happens to be Valentine’s Day. I am so happy. There is a lot to be said for simple pleasures.

Why I Wanted to Share This

Three stylised characters from an animated series, with one character displaying grey and white hair wearing goggles, two other characters with different hair colours and styles, all smiling and looking towards the viewer against a blurred background.

I wanted to share our journey with someone, so thank you for reading this far. As we continue our journey, I will share a few highlights here. This is my third time doing a full watch through, from episode one. I have been reading the Manhua for years. I started on the manhua and was so excited to see a somewhat decent animated adaptation.

There are over 260 episodes, so this is on the longer side for a series; however, this is not the first Donghua I have gotten him to watch. I started him off on much shorter series over the years. I also might have strong-armed him into watching anime when we started dating.

Things My Husband Has Commented On So Far

Two animated characters stand together in a vibrant outdoor setting. The female character has short hair with bunny ears and wears a pink dress with frilled sleeves, while the male character has dark hair and wears a blue coat with intricate detailing.

The animation looks like game cut-scenes. I don’t know if that’s a positive or negative assessment, since he’s a gamer who skips every skippable cut-scene. The visual style certainly has that polished, slightly stiff quality you’d find in high-end video game cinematics.

A character in a pink dress with long ponytails is delivering a kick at another character wearing a black hat and purple outfit, who is pressed against a wall. — Not this fight for the point below but she is awesome and I love this moment

‘She’s gonna kick his arse.’ This was his immediate reaction when Xiao Wu walked into the dormitory and it became clear Tang San would have to fight her. He called it before the first punch was thrown.

A male character with short hair wearing a mask, adjusting the mask while showcasing a determined expression, with another character partially visible in the background.

Having farting as an ability must suck. Self-explanatory, really.

His dad’s pass is fully filled in. He figured he was important or strong from the start, but his meeting with Yu Xiaogang confirmed it.

A figure in a dark hoodie is seen against a vibrant, swirling background of red, purple, and yellow tones, creating a dynamic and energetic atmosphere.

The ranking system is a tad confusing. He still does not follow the ranking system, which makes sense since we don’t know them. I think I am going to make a booklet with the ranking arranged as a pyramid of levels and soul ring colours. I think that would help us a lot.

A digital illustration of two stylised characters, a young man and woman, standing amidst a field of flowers. The man has short black hair and wears a dark outfit while holding a futuristic device. The woman has a cute hairstyle with bunny ears and wears a pink dress. Both characters are reaching forward, seemingly offering an item.

The ‘brother’ role upset him. When Tang San took on a brotherly role towards Xiao Wu in episode 10, my husband was genuinely upset. He’d fully expected her to be the love interest, as is typical in this style of story. He is relieved that Tang San knows Xiao Wu well enough not to teach her more deadly techniques or give her additional weapons, given her violent tendencies. Many would suffer.

My hubby is upset that Tang San is not OP right from the beginning. I just realised that I need to point out that neither are his ‘system’ characters, and the one show that does have an OP character from the beginning, he could not stand (yes, One Punch Man).

The eyecatch is too long. He wants us to skip it every time. Fair enough.

A male character in a blue outfit and a female character in a pink dress with bunny ears stand in front of a reception desk, while a staff member in a black vest looks on.

‘That’s a love hotel. These children have money.’ His observation about one of the rooms they rented made me laugh.

A wooden archway adorned with vines and greenery, featuring stylised text at the top, under a clear blue sky.

Shrek Academy’s name. The name stood out and confused him, just as it did me when I first read it. It has since become funny and endearing, though the association with the green ogre never quite leaves.

A young woman with long brown hair and striking blue eyes gazes directly at the viewer, wearing a detailed blue dress with ruffled accents. She appears thoughtful, surrounded by a softly lit outdoor setting with green grass and hints of purple flowers.

Ning Rongrong is… annoying. His exact words were a bit stronger, but let’s just say he finds her character grating. Fair assessment, honestly.

A mystical scene featuring a young girl interacting with an intricately carved stone statue illuminated by glowing patterns, surrounded by lush foliage and ethereal light.

He figured out Xiao Wu’s secret. By episode 24, he’d realised Xiao Wu is a spirit beast.

Oscar’s aim is impressive. He noted that Oscar is a really good shot with the hidden weapon. Yet Oscar managed to take himself out in a later episode by falling over a box.

As I said, it has been a few weeks to get to this point; I am sure there were more, but I have forgotten many of them. I know there was commentary during his fight with the human-faced spider, but I can no longer recall what it was.

My own observations on this rewatch

Two animated characters reaching out to each other with their hands, set against a background of orange and blue hues.

The projector makes a difference. Watching on the projector has proved to offer much better quality. The detail is immaculate. Who would have thought that watching 1080p on a 1080p display would actually matter? I really need to remember to adjust settings properly from the start.

A powerful character with white hair wearing ornate dark armour stands in a mystical forest, holding a staff, while a blue-haired female character in silver attire stands nearby.

The character outfits are stunning. I love the outfits worn by roughly 80% of the characters on screen, from the main cast to background characters. The costume design is genuinely impressive.

A character with silver hair and goggles smiles at an older man with glasses and a beard in a village setting.

Oscar is a favourite. I adore Oscar, the Sausage Uncle. I’m relieved they dropped that nickname early on in the series.

WeTV makes access easier. Having the series available on WeTV has made it far easier to convince my husband to watch. I just wish the Mandarin subtitles weren’t hard-encoded into the episodes, so we’d only have the English subtitles visible.

Subtitle quality varies. The subtitles are rough in places and could benefit from proofreading. Some sentences aren’t quite right. You can still follow along and get the general meaning, but there are moments when it’s really noticeable. I can forgive this since we’re watching on the free version of WeTV.

A close-up of a character with short dark hair and striking red eyes, showing pointed teeth and tongue out, dressed in a light pink outfit.

I need to stop spoiling things. I need to rein in my commentary, as it risks spoiling the story and journey for my husband. Remarks like ‘they’re in for a rough day’ during episode 31, and earlier comments like ‘soul bones are significant to the story, so I’ll let it explain how they work’ probably give away too much.

Two characters observing a live performance through glass, with one character saluting and the other looking on, in a futuristic setting.

He enjoys the comedy. My husband genuinely enjoys the comedy woven into the action sequences and appreciates the characterisation. Like when Tang San flung an opponent at a window, he knew his master was behind. In my hubby’s words ‘look what I can do, master’.

A character with long hair and a headband sits at a wooden table, meticulously arranging tea cups and accessories, while a large black bird stands nearby on a railing, set against a backdrop of lush greenery and a waterfall.

Product placement spotting has become a game. I play ‘spot the tea’ in the episodes, looking for the promoted products. My husband hasn’t noticed the green tea bottles, even when I point them out. I may have watched this series a few too many times.

A cloaked figure with a beard, wearing dark robes and a hood, stands in a dimly lit forest with red lighting.

Tang Hao is protective. Nobody must ‘bully’ Tang San, his precious baby boy, unless they wish to be beaten up by Tang Hao.

Close-up of a character with red spiky hair and a serious expression, wearing a red leather jacket. The background features blurred urban elements.

I forget Fatty’s actual name. I completely forgot and always do forget that his name is Ma Hongjun, although I do recognise it when other characters use his name and can place who they’re talking about.

A young male character with short, spiky dark hair, wearing a blue and black outfit with silver detailing, stands in a green, lush garden setting, looking directly at the viewer.

Missing Tang San’s second soul skill. I’m disappointed that we didn’t get to see Tang San acquire his second soul skill on screen. It would have been interesting to watch that development.

A mystical underwater scene featuring bioluminescent jellyfish and vibrant aquatic plants, with a figure in ornate blue armour standing among the foliage.

The forests remind me of jellyfish. And I love it

Watching Soul Land together is fun

A close-up of two animated characters. A young man with spiky black hair and a blue outfit looks toward a young woman who has bunny ears and a pink dress. The background features a warm, rustic setting.

Sharing this series has changed how I experience it. His theories, questions, and reactions remind me what it was like to encounter this world for the first time.

It also highlights how carefully the story is paced. Power is earned. Relationships develop slowly. Nothing feels rushed. That structure works especially well when you commit to the journey together.

The road ahead: 260 episodes and counting

A character with long blonde hair wearing a light blue outfit gestures expressively while seated at a table, with a second character with short grey hair and goggles in the background, in a wooden interior setting.

We still have more than 200 episodes to go. It is a long road. But now that he is officially in binge mode, I am optimistic. What started as a small attempt to share something I love has become a shared project, complete with inside jokes, planned watch sessions, and running commentary. As we continue, I will be sharing more highlights and reactions. For now, I am simply enjoying the fact that my long-running recommendation has finally paid off. And honestly, I cannot think of a better Valentine’s plan for us.

Watching donghua together might seem trivial in the grand scheme of things, but these shared experiences build connection, and for me, that is the point.

A close-up of a tabby cat with distinctive stripes, appearing curious as it approaches a computer keyboard.

As I typed these up, I was speeding through the episodes to remind myself, and I copied and pasted each character’s spelling from MyAnimeList. I also had my kitten, Jelly, demanding my attention and love. I think he wants me to fill up their pellets, so I will sign off here. Have a great week!