HOME / ENTERTAINMENT / TV

'Soulmates' Episode 1: Did show rip off John Marrs's 'The One'? Viewers accuse AMC of plagiarism

The concept of AMC's new thriller 'Soulmates' looks eerily similar to the story of John Marrs' 2014 book 'The One' and viewers are not happy about it

AMC's latest anthology thriller is pretty 'Black Mirror' at first glance. Set in the future, some 15 years from now, the show follows a myriad of love stories spangled by a scientific test that determines your perfect match aka the titular 'Soulmate'. Futuristic fiction has always been a symbol of the dark side of these advancements, and 'Soulmates' is a more romantic spin on the same, focusing on six different couples and their experience with the test in six individual stories set on the concept. It sounds like a thrilling ride, but there's a problem: some viewers are calling the show 'plagiarised' from John Marrs' book 'The One'.

In 'Soulmates', Episode 1 'Watershed' focuses on the story of Nikki (Sarah Snook) and Franklin (Kingsley Ben-Adir) spiraling into doubt surrounding their marriage when everybody around them starts finding their scientifically proven perfect match in days or weeks, and there's a new 'soulmate' wedding every week. The episode sees Nikki's frustration as she feels there's more to love and life than Franklin, who has been her beau since they met in college. However, even though Nikki comes real close to taking 'the test', she backs out realizing Franklin is all she will ever need, but when she comes clean to him, it's too late. Franklin has already taken the test and met his soulmate. The episode ends on a sullen note for the two, separated and co-parenting along with their scientifically determined soulmates, but also still yearning for what they had with each other.

This has come across as 'plagiarism' to certain fans, who feel the story is too similar to 'The One', whose GoodReads description reads: "How far would you go to find The One? A simple DNA test is all it takes. Just a quick mouth swab and soon you'll be matched with your perfect partner the one you are genetically made for." In 'Soulmates', the 'test' is being conducted by an organisation called 'SoulConnex' which carries out similar medical examinations with equipment and alike, almost resembling the concept of a DNA swab. The idea isn't that different, considering 'The One' is also classified as a psychological thriller, and viewers were quick to notice that.

"I legit almost lost my mind watching the #SoulmatesAMC trailer. I thought it was based on the insanely excellent John Marrs book The One, about getting a test to find your soulmate and the havoc it caused. It's not," a Twitter user had shared. After the episode, another wrote on Twitter: "Ive tried to search if this is an adaptation of a book called The One from 2014 but cant verify. If yall are readers and like this concept this book is the same story with various couples and you live all their heartbreak and happiness, its crazy."

A third one chimed in agreeing, "I thought the same but I haven't seen any indicated that it's based on the One. Also the One has a deal with netflix to adapt into series. Seems like someone should be used for plagarism."

Keeping it short and simple, another viewer just asked "Ok #SoulmatesAMC how can you rip off @Johnmarrs1 #theone."

'Soulmates' premiered on October 5 and will air every Monday at 10 pm only on AMC.