Fantasy Joseon Wuxia Hogwarts
AoS is a fantasy Kdrama which brings together elements from my most beloved fantasy genres. I saw influences from the world of Harry Potter, WuXia and Korean mythology. All these elements have been amalgamated into a delicious new flavour, which was an absolute delight to watch. At the same time, the show truly retains all the characteristics we love about kdramas.AoS brought together a stellar cast with talents of all ages. Lee Jae Wook has been a wonderful actor ever since his first project, but he truly shines as Jang Uk. Jang Uk is impossible not to love, and you root for him all the way through the show. Jeon Seo Min has done well in her role of Mu Deok, and her experience did help the show. The other young actors have also created absolutely lovable people to watch on screen. The surprise for most of us was the character of the Crown Prince who became a crowd favourite very quickly. Hwang Min Hyun’s action scenes as Seo Yul were a delight to watch. As much as I talk about the young actors as they’ve led the main roles, the older, more experienced actors add density to the show with their performance.
The CGI and fantasy elements are handled well. Although the action sequences were not many, whatever they did add was done beautifully. The music works to amplify the emotions in the show. The costumes are nice, although I did have a problem with the FL’s costumes. They seemed to be made for comedic effect but it started getting annoying after a few episodes. But everyone else looks regal.
The only thing to complain about would be the pace, which is slowed down because of the 30 episode format with two seasons. In my opinion, making it a 24 episode show in one season would have helped the pacing. There are also controversies around the FL changing in S2 which is difficult to judge right now since we’re so used to JSM playing Mu Deok. We will have to wait and see if the show manages the transition well.
In a nutshell, watch the show, it's a beautiful representation of the fantasy kdrama genre.
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Though Fantasy , Human emotions are the same !!
This series has all the important genres: Romance , Action, Comedy, and Mystery.Well made series and writers have given through thought to each character.
Acting is amazing by all the characters and supporting characters as well !!
Though it has fantasy elements, human emotions are the same at the end and everything was perfect till 19.
However Ep20 is not that well thought, all powerful ones who controlled icestones get manipulated easily and importantly there was no clue about it in first 30 hrs or so. Last 20 min is done in a hurried manner.
Overall satisfying series in 2022, could have made with better ending !!
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A MUST WATCH!!
This is a MUST-WATCH Kdrama!! Every episode gets more and more interesting and gripping (I’ve binge-watched until Epi 18! ><.. update: now completed!)I’m not one who fancies Korean fantasy dramas, I don’t really care for goblins/ magic etc.. I didn’t finish Goblin, Tale of the Nine Tailed, Korean Odyssey... but this one has captured my undivided attention!!! :):):)
The storyline is riveting, each episode gets better and better, and the character development is so good! It probably reminds me of The Lord of the Rings (there’s one scene where all the mages were arguing about the Ice stone, it’s like when they were arguing what to do with the One Ring).
The only small dissatisfaction I have is the FL Jung So Min. As Mudeok she is fine (which is her primary role) but as the Shadow Assassin she doesn’t quite pull it off. Even with her serious trying-to-be-ruthless expressions, mehhh, it didn’t quite cut it for me. However, she pulled it off quite well for the final episode. Every other cast member was fantastic!! I especially love the love triangles!! 🤣❤️
A definite on your watchlist!!
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How can anyone not like this show ?
I dont care what anyone says, this is the best kdrama of 2022, and maybe even 2020 to now. Every episode had me on edge, the different characters, their development, depth and pacing of the story was just brilliant. Of course this show propelled Jung So Min to new found fame, and rightly so. Her performance in this should win whatever lead awards of the korean tv industry. Im planning to rewatch this before the sequel comes out on 10th december. A great series which has been quite innovative in the overused storylines and tropes of kdramas. I give this a 10/10, special effects, CGI, acting, OST music are all on point!Was this review helpful to you?
The most annoying thing is the passing. For example, you have 1 scene in which the story is progressing and the rest of the episode is just a filler. Up until ep 12, I was a bit bored. It could work with half the episodes. Also, I didn't like the many pairs. Some was completely unnecessary. And the love triangle didn't make sense. With everything happening, does anyone care who love who? I surely don't. All in all, I believe this drama contains a lot of things and it isn't clear if they are necessary. It is a bit confusing.
It is a promising drama. If it had a bit tighter plot, less elements and less comedy, it would be better. And I think two seasons is too much. If had better passing, they could fit everything in the 20 episodes of 1+ hour.
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This review may contain spoilers
Thoroughly enjoyable 1st season
From the very first episode, Alchemy of Souls had me hooked. The intricate lore, the unique world-building, and the promise of an epic hero’s journey immediately piqued my interest. Jang Uk’s path, riddled with obstacles and destiny-driven struggles, was something I was excited to watch unfold.One of the standout elements for me was the relationship between Jang Uk and Mu-deok. Right from the start, their dynamic was refreshing—built on trust, understanding, and an easy camaraderie. The scene where Jang Uk falls sick after receiving an immense energy boost and Mu-deok tends to him was particularly striking. Up until that point, there hadn’t been any explicitly intimate moments between them, yet this scene carried an unspoken depth, making it feel as if they had known each other forever. Their relationship was a highlight, and I only wish the series had given them even more screen time together.
Apart from Jang Uk and Mu-deok, I also enjoyed Mu-deok’s interactions with the Crown Prince. Their witty banter added a layer of charm to the show. On the other hand, I felt that some of the relationships between the younger characters took up more screen time than necessary. While I thoroughly enjoyed the older couples’ scenes, I would have preferred a greater focus on the main leads.
The hero’s journey aspect, which was the biggest draw for me, felt somewhat underwhelming by the end. While Jang Uk’s rise was satisfying to watch, I wished there had been more of his personal growth throughout the series. Similarly, Mu-deok’s character, despite being immensely powerful in her past life, was often relegated to the role of a mere maid. It would have been more fulfilling to see her take on a more active role in shaping events.
For the most part, the show felt like a breeze to watch, especially up until the first 15 episodes. The pacing was engaging, and the mix of action, humor, and romance kept me invested. However, the last few episodes were not as enjoyable. The storytelling felt a bit rushed, and some plot developments were not as satisfying as the earlier parts of the series.
That being said, the show excelled in many areas. The actors delivered stellar performances, the cinematography was stunning, and the visual effects—especially in the action sequences—were quite impressive. The humor was well-placed, providing a balance to the intense moments. However, I personally would have liked to see more romantic moments between Jang Uk and Mu-deok.
The ending left me with mixed feelings. Jang Uk’s literal rise from the ashes was one of the coolest moments in the entire season, and it was a fitting culmination of his struggles. However, Mu-deok’s abrupt downfall felt unfair, especially since she wasn’t fully conscious during those final moments. I wish the show had dedicated more time to her and Jang Uk in that critical scene where she stabbed him—it felt rushed considering their journey together.
Overall, Alchemy of Souls Season 1 was an engaging and visually captivating show with strong performances and a fascinating world. While some elements could have been developed further, it still delivered a compelling story. Now, as I move on to Season 2, I’m eager to see how the story unfolds from here.
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Even a kdrama hater will love this show!
To be honest, I’m not very big on watching kdramas, especially when they are over 16 episodes. Most of the time I never even finish the full 16 and just stop watching altogether. However, this show was not the case!I remember starting to watch this a while back and even though I did enjoy it, I only managed to watch up until episode 14 before forgetting that I was watching it. I later went to watch other dramas and didn’t bother coming back to watch it for a long time.
It was then that I managed to convince my sister (who has never seen a k drama in her life and refuses to watch them) to watch this entire series from start to finish.
I must say, it was definitely worth finishing! This is probably one of the best written k dramas I’ve watched, not to mention the amount of effort put into the sets must have been crazy. For both me (a person who doesn’t usually finish kdramas) and my sister (a kdrama hater) to completely binge watch a show, I would consider it to be nothing short of a masterpiece!
I honestly cannot recommend this enough! I can’t wait to rewatch this show over and over again :D
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2022's Ace
I initially knew about AOS since long time, but it never interests me because the actors and actresses were mainly rookies except for JSM, but then the second season came out and then I was like, "If there is a second season then that means the first season is good right?" so I gave it a go. IT WAS VERY GOOD.I am a character driven type of a person more than plot driven ones, and this drama served it to me in gold platter. Naksu opened the character with her intense battle and mysterious aura, paving the way into the drama's center plot. We are curious about this person. Mudeok is another interesting character, because it's supposed to be a 'fake' character. JSM played Mudeok very well, her expressions are so funny! It's just sometimes I see her playful kiss character flashing in Mudeok (?) so it kinda bothers me in a way, but I think it's not that prominent so it's fine.
LJW's Jang Uk is literally perfect. Jang Uk is the driving force in this drama, I think. His characterization is fleshed out perfectly and consistently throughout the season. Spoiled, repressed, lonely, innocent and deeply loving, it's hard not to empathize with him.
The supporting characters are all so good and very strongly fleshed out, no one is a stone faced NPC, everyone took part in the big picture of the drama.
Cinematography, CGI, coloring, wardrobe, soundtracks, the drama lines are all exceptional. You may find plot holes, but some will be solved in Season 2. Overall, it was very fun and entertaining and emotionally rollercoastered me into the finale, and built a strong foundation for a next season.
I would highly recommend this if you like a historical fantasy genre, or if you like angst with comedy, in general.
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Excellent
Can't go wrong with a good action period drama and The Alchemy of Souls is no exception. Everything about this series is binge worthy to the point I didn't want it to end so I hesitated until I found out there's a S2 in the works! That alone should prove it's an all around thrilling experience. From the visuals to the action, it all hits hard and every character brings their own spice. You'll find some classic actors, some K-Pop idols and some fresh new faces to bring it all together.Highly recommend to anyone looking for good plot twists, bad guys you love to hate and cute quirky comedy romance.
Enjoy!
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YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED SOMETHING AS WORTHY AS THIS BEFORE.
Well as the headline says, you probably haven't watched a drama so worthy of your time, energy and resources as this one. I had rated a 9.5/10 before I watched season 2 because I feared the Hong sisters would disappoint me in the next season. But today, after watching the finale of season 2 yesterday 08 Jan 2023, I came to correct my rating and award it a 10/10.I'll start with the story, and there's no story so perfect and unique as the one in the Alchemy of Souls. What a transition, and a quick one, from Jang UK a powerless reject that could not practice magic to a man that was fastest to reach Tansu and later the highest level of Hwansu. And the parallel transition of a high reputation Naksu to a feeble Mu Deok and the love story between the master and student. I won't spoil a lot you need to watch if you haven't. And the suspense at the end of each episode is worth a mention. You'll die to see what happens next. Very unpredictable making it a top notch.
Acting/casting. Whoever chose the cast should probably cast all dramas we would like to watch. So perfect that actors actually become the characters to an extent you won't imagine anyone better for the role. Such casting I've only seen in western series like The Game of Thrones, The House of the Dragon, and in Asian dramas like Who Rules the World, Zhao Yao the Legends 2019, Ju Mong, and some more of others. Lee Jae Wook as the male lead Jang UK is the most beautiful thing you're going to see onscreen, very tender no matter the situation. And Jung So Min as Mudeok is the prettiest woman you'll ever see staring at you. OMG I love the way she stares. Makes me wanna be Jang UK. Some moments of the show will haunt you forever like Uk's surprise, Mudeok's stare, Jin Mu's smile, Maidservant Kim's voice and tenderness, Jin But Yeon's smile and stare as well, Park Jin's seriousness, the fight scenes, the dialogues.
Up next is Music. You'll fall in love with the OST and the SFX. And guess who sings the ending theme song? The answer is Lia and I swear that song was for the show and vice versa. You'll love, cry, blush, your heart will race at the scenes the song is used. For the OST it's the best that could be made for the drama. Pure instrumental, no vocals. The SFX at the battle scenes and intense scenes will make anyone go crazy clutching tightly on whatever is near and at the edge of your seat. The same applies for calm and tender scene, the SFX will make you wish for a few additional seconds. Such perfect musical scores I've only seen in a few dramas like Royal Nirvana, Nirvana in Fire, and the western Game of Thrones music by Ramin Djawadi and other composers like Hans Zimmer.
Rewatch Value. Now this is something am not supposed to explain. As I've done with the above aspects, it's clear that this is a show you will want to rewatch infinite times. You'll never get of redoing this show and it gets addictive even though you know what's coming. Like right before I started this review I was on episode 4 of season one. This I think is the 9th time am redoing season 1. I don't want to believe am leaving this cast and story and world.
To wind up. A question of if you've ever wanted to write something onscreen or if a show has ever made you wish you could. AOS has made wish I could write a story onscreen. I am gonna miss this show and I don't wanna get sentimental. So I'll stop here wishing you all the best moments and I envy those that haven't watched it yet because you still have an unfolded world right in your grasp. For those that we've finished let's hope to see our cast once again in a traditional drama. See you soon and remember to get a Jin Mu smile for yourself.
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This review may contain spoilers
It didn't reach Hwansu
I feel cheated. I was promised a badass heroine and it wasn't delivered.She started as a puppet, ordered around by dark powers that lied to her, and ended as a puppet. In the middle, we had to watch her be tamed and subservient.
In the end, we find out it wasn't her body that was too weak, after all. She never tried to retrieve her energy, she never trained her body or abilities. She accepted her it was her fate, somehow. She didn't even try to find out who that body belonged to, even if she knew it reacted weirdly when inside the sorceresses place and even knowing the soul she met inside was blind and she knew the sorceress who disappeared was also blind. She's so smart and yet can't figure that out or be curious about that? She was a secondary character used to advance the path of her 도련님. They tamed her, destroyed her story and even turned her into another plot device. She didn't even get the ice stone.
I would have preferred this story without the main romance. The lore is great and interesting, the characters are fun and funny, the production and special effects were great. I was expecting more. I didn't even mind the slow pace and the episodes where it didn't seem like anything happened. It was fun to watch, I just wished it made sense as a story of a couple and not as a story of one chosen one.
The main romance didn't make sense. They had so much time, yet they didn't develop the connection between the two. The whole time we see FL trying to get ML get killed with no second thought and then with a second thought. There wasn't a true connection between both of them. There was a more thoughtful and present connection with both the other love interests. It also baffles me that she had so many love interests. What's the point? Does she only exist if she's valuable in the eyes of men?
It seemed like a very misogynistic take. We started with a powerful woman, who was certainly bad but had her reasons and could be turned to the other side, and ended up with a trad wife, about to marry her young lord. Why is it that in a made up world that looks a lot like Joseon we get the traditional contemporary wedding experience?
Anyway, it was good but it was also disappointing. Let's see what part 2 brings.
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A Beautiful Fantasy Historical Drama
Ah, where to start with this drama. I think it's one of, if not the best fantasy historical drama of all time. We are introduced to the world of Daeho which is full of mages and magic. The world-building is beautiful. The story is amazing, it kept me on the edge of my seat from either the beautiful romance or the intense action. The characters are written perfectly. I would like to point out, especially the villain, the number of emotions he pulled out of me is just incredible. The character development of the characters is amazing, especially the FL's. I liked the fact that it was 20 episodes because it gave the main leads time to develop their relationship deeper, it did not feel like it was dragging out at all. The OST was pretty good as well. The only complaint I may have is probably the VFX, you'll know when you see it. But other than that, if you want an amazing historical drama with an amazing story that you can lose yourself in, go for it, I highly recommend it. :)Was this review helpful to you?
