THE CONCEPT IS VERY UNIQUE
I have always avoided historical drama or any drama which contains historical stuff.. but this drama acting + concept+ editing+story+chemistry=10/10..it may seem boring at first to those who is not used to watching historical drama but you will love it. I love the silly UK very much & mu deok is also silly like her master but it may not look like their chemistry is everything.. no hate but seo Yul was the only annoying character to me idk for what reason 😭.. you may hate the other mages at first but they are cool tooWas this review helpful to you?
Epic!
Simply one of the best kdrama i have ever watch so far! Mind you that I’m not into historical kdrama that much but this one is crazy bro. the plot is so good! it has element of suspense at the end of every single episode. simply superb!The ending got me jaw dropping moment. It was so epic that i got goosebumps bro. wow!
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Wizards and Great Nonsense!
This show is so much fun, I'm a stickler for styling so the gratuitous K-pop hair made for a really entertaining watch in a Korean, and I use this word loosely, "historical" setting. Discovering tons of wacky terminology, following these decently fleshed out characters, and the queen that is Naksu... it's a great time!Hell, it even reminds me vaguely (maybe more than vaguely) of Mo Dao.
Highly recommend to anyone curious, I looked forward to every week when they aired an episode and I am excited for the next season starting Dec.10th!
I'll keep it spoiler free, but I think my one issue is the joke they kept making about the prince and the main lead. It was kinda hurtful at times that they kept making fun of their interactions and how they could be perceived by others.
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This review may contain spoilers
VERY GOOD, could be perfect.
This show has a lot to offer and you will probably find something that pleases you- I'm not a big fan of fantasy or action shows, but these themes was worked very tastefully, having also time for the romance and mystery portions of the plot to flourish. The visuals are outstanding and really set a new mark for korean dramas, the overall plot keeps you guessing and looking for the next episode, leaving and ending on a strong moment to lead to the next season (also it didn't leave the first season weak or unresolved to the point of it lessening the enjoyment).With that said, I found the romance and characters to be a bit annoying, especially in terms of romance. There's almost no chemistry between the two main leads, even if the spend a lot of time together. FL shows more affection to literally any other male character than the ML. There's the classic love triangle, for both the ML and FL but when the FL is constantly showing way more affection and reason to believe she likes the second love interest, to this the ML appears sometimes sad but doesn't act jealous or anything, and the ML's love triangle is almost non existent. It's not enough of a reason to drop the show or ruin it, but I find myself annoyed with their relationship.
The music is pretty good too, I wouldn't say it's enough of a reason to watch( there's other dramas with way more unique or interesting music) but I never felt like it wasn't the right music for the scene.
The acting is amazing obviously when you have some of the most recognizable actors and actresses here. Tho, I don't thing the show has a lot of jaw dropping scenes where you feel emotional with the acting, it just very consistent and believable. Also the FL is very fun to watch, probably one of her best roles yet.
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An Original -Good Outweighs the modest flaws
I'm not a big fan of fantasy so despite the high ratings I put this off. First time I stopped at the beginning of the second episode. However, after several months I gave it another try and this time ended up binging both seasons. Despite some obvious borrowings from other fantasy sources this story comes across as very original and fresh.The first season was well thought out so despite a few questions about the rules of this fantasy world the story, acting, and execution kept me engaged through to the end. The plot points follow believably more often than not.
Jung So Min's performance stands out. Her charisma dominates every scene in which she appears.
In this first season the writers weren't timid about consequences i.e. characters do die.
There was no question about jumping into the second season as the first one ends with a major cliff hanger.
However, the second season was not up to the first. The maturity level was deliberately lowered. There are a few mutilations of characters to achieve some sort of comedic effect and I often felt the plot getting bogged down by contrived situations, and several occasions in which an odd solution was injected to resolve scenes. These didn't stop me from enjoying the story journey, but I suspect the writers either did not have enough time to plot things out more carefully or more likely the suits put pressure on them to inject new elements to broaden the audience.
The first season Naksu character had a fierce introduction early on and ended up trapped within a weaker body without magical powers, and that challenge she faced - to achieve her goals without her usual powers - was entertaining. She had some interesting conflicting feelings emerge as her original desire for revenge ran into new facts that didn't reconcile with what she had been led to believe about the fate of her family.
In the second season that old fierce Naksu personality and that conflict were submerged behind an amnesia leaving a meek mild young girl with minimal magic and little agency, and the whole dilemma that season 1 was so focused on just disappeared. There were new dilemmas but these were not handled as well as the plot at times lurched forward.
Finally, I like a happy ending, but sometimes need one on the dark side because the story and characters demand it. The first season delivered. The second season really fudged on any consequences and we get a just so ending. Characters and story are set up to force hard choices, suffer the consequences, but then get bailed out. And when we see via the spirit of young Jin Bu Yeon that there is a major Devine entity at work this telegraphs a just so ending is coming for the lead couple.
Despite these flaws I found the whole very enjoyable and will rewatch again.
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A Most Watch
When this show was airing I started watching it then went to watch something else then came back and started watching it again after watching the first ep I became hooked. That is why this show, this K-drama is a must-watch.😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
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A treat for fantasy lovers (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)
PLOT: In a historical and magical universe, four families of mages rule the kingdom. Each has different superpowers, but a Great Villain practices soul alchemy. The ML (Jang Uk), son of the Jang family, has limited powers. The soul of Naksu, an elite assassin, finds itself trapped in the body of Mu Deok, a servant of the Jang family. Jang Yu and Mudeok join forces to become stronger.+++ I'm a fan of the two leads of this series, [Lee Jae Wook & Jung So Min] who are simply magnificent, magical, and brilliant.
+++ Directed by Park Joon Hwa (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)
+++ Storyline by the Hong sisters (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)
+++ Perfect cast, each actor brings their character to life with talent.
+++Top notch effects and CGI
+++ Great OSTs
=> Almost perfect (ღ˘⌣˘ღ) (ღ˘⌣˘ღ) MASTERPIECE!
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A treat for fantasy lovers
PLOT: ds 1 univers historique et magique, 4 familles de mages règnent sur le royaume. Chacune dispose de différents super pouvoirs, mais un Great Villain pratique l'alchimie des âmes. Le ML (Jang Uk), fils de la famille Jang, a des pouvoirs bridés. L'âme de Naksu, une assassin d'élite, se retrouve piégée dans le corps de Mu Deok, servante de la famille Jang. Jang Yu et Mudeok s'allient pour devenir plus forts.
+++ je suis fan des 2 leads de cette série, [Lee Jae Wook & Jung So Min] justes magnifiques, magiques, géniaux.
+++Réalis° de Park Joon Hwa
+++ Storyline des Hong sisters
+++ Cast parfait, chaque acteur fait vivre son personnage avec talent.
+++ Excellents effets et CGI
+++ Super OSTs
=> Quasi parfait ... MASTERPIECE !
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BEST DRAMA TO EVER WATCH
I’ve watched over a 100 kdramas and when I tell you guys this is the best drama I’ve ever watched I’m not over exaggerating, starting from the insane chemistry between lee jae wook and jung so-min and how chaotic their relationship is then the visuals of the whole cast, the script is written perfectly it has the best mix of drama/funny/action moments , I just love ittt. even though I love aos as a whole season 1 will always have a special place in my heart, I’m a big mudoek fan and I just love the storyline in the first more than. the second however both are amazingWas this review helpful to you?
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Automatically Became my Top Drama
My confession: I started watching this drama because I had nothing else to watch after binging Vincenzo, and I couldn't find a drama to overcome my slump. Therefore, I had low expectations and thought I would drop it after the first episode. (I thought it would be another overhyped drama.)However, it is NOT. I think I fell in love with everything about this drama. I enjoyed Jung So Min's acting in Because This is my First Life, and was surprised to see her in such a different role. However, she absolutely blew my mind. Watching the behind the scenes of her in fighting scenes was so cool because she moved so fluidly with the sword. No one could've been a better Mu Deok than JSM!! I also want to bring praise for Lee Jae Wook; this was my first drama with him as the lead. I think he suits Jang Uk so much, and he did a great job portraying sunshine Jang Uk, and in the second season with dark Jang Uk.
I honestly don't know why I doubted this drama. I love magic and fantasy dramas (like the Untamed and Who Rules the World; they're both C-Dramas). I am happy that Korea is starting to do more fantasy-related dramas that aren't in the modern setting. Daeho, being a fictional country gives more room for creativity rather than the Joseon era or a modern-day setting.
Additionally, the OSTs for this drama are so heartfelt. "Just Watching You" and "Scars Leave Beautiful Trace" are two of my personal favorite OSTs; they just add to the emotions.
If you are looking for a drama that will pull on your heartstrings, keep you on your toes, fascinate your soul, and make you laugh at the right time, then watch Alchemy of Souls!! And watch the second season as well. Although I will be watching the finale for it tomorrow, I am sure the ending will be fitting. Although, I am hoping for a happy one after all of Uk and Yeong's suffering... have hope :)
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A Spellbinding Mix of Fantasy, Romance, and Intrigue
Alchemy of Souls is a rare fantasy K-drama that pulls you into a meticulously crafted world of magic, destiny, and forbidden love. The standout is how it blends large-scale, cinematic fantasy with the intimacy of romance and friendship. The chemistry between the leads is magnetic, with moments of humor, heartbreak, and tenderness woven naturally into the action. The production quality—sets, costumes, and fight choreography—feels grand and immersive, making each scene a visual treat. While the story occasionally gets tangled in its own lore, the payoff in emotion and spectacle makes it worth the ride. It’s a must-watch if you love fantasy with heart.Was this review helpful to you?
