Fun, enticing but has inconsistent pacing
S2 was good. it could've been better. With a story like AOS, you can go so many places but th writers repeated plotlines the endings of all characters were rushed. it started strongly but it faltered by the end. But Aos has some of my favourite kdrama characters ever written, they are morally grey and selfish, also they have interesting arcs ( that also weakend by the end). i dont know what seo yul's purpose in S2 was but. despite all that, it was wonderful. the cgi was great, the acting was impeccable. Again it could've been better.Was this review helpful to you?
EPIC! The best historic drama for me.
This drama was the first historic drama that I watched completely because I always felt that historic dramas are slow and mostly have sad endings so I avoided watching them and dropped them in between but luckily I gave this one a chance and I am not regretting it a bit!!Season 1 still has my heart but Season 2 was great as well. I feel a little greedy to ask for more end scenes but whatever they gave I am absolutely happy with that also.
I will always be a shipper of FM and ML from season 1 ..maybe that’s why I wished that they could have given atleast one scene to the season 1 FM.
Like everyone is saying that they wanted to see Naksu fight in season 2 the same is what I feel but still I understand that they wanted to project two different kinds of personalities in both the seasons. All the questions that I read in comments after watching each episode as they released they were answered somewhere or the other which made me believe that they purely wanted to make the audience happy and satisfied with this drama and leave no regrets.
One of the best dramas that I have watched in a while and I hope we get to see the cast together somewhere in other dramas.
Everyone’s acting was amazing and natural.
All the best to the team and Thanks for creating this drama <3
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This review may contain spoilers
The casting and the graphics used were too awsm
It's so good K-drama I just need another season which will further extend the story where NAKSU / JIN BU YEON finds the relics and JANG UK will capture them and new world arises with new enemies / monsters. Damn good casting. Comedy with crown prince is too cringe.Was this review helpful to you?
An WONDERFUL MASTERPIECE OF 2022&2023
The show may started without much fuss or hype but it created massive waves with new faces ,by giving chance by acknowledging their talent and they definitely haven't let down. S1 OR S2 both have pros and some cons but if you ask me if its worth to watch it and i can say ur time won't be wastedActing of leads was definitely good and change in female lead is understandable JSM played a strict teacher who cares and loves his pupil,while being ruthless and agonizing over love and revenge,while S2 GYJ played a innocent soul who loves her husband and persistent in her love with man with no heart and after all challenge and success choose to sacrifice herself for the world (world where he lives) and LJW showed what a man can become if he puts his mind, Hardwork, dedication ,and strong will to achieve a goal, and how to love someone with no heart in S1 and how live to with hope and how to be responsible, how not give in to darkness
Other characters was all played so well because we don't even remember some supporting characters name in some dramas but here every one is memorable
STORY IT definitely the best of 2022&2023 don't know if we can get good drama in future but this drama will be remembered whenever we think of 2022 it was a mix of comedy, romance, action, thriller there may some cons but it's only visible if we wanna nitpick about it and Music is pleasing to ear both s2 & S1 RE-WATCH VALUE IS 100%
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Brilliant cast and edge of your seat suspense
The emotional rollercoaster this show has taken me on has been spectacular! Though the second part was a tad slow at first, the writers managed to keep us in suspense until the very last 2 episodes on how everything will come together. So for those watching and worrying, just sit back and let go of your anxiety and have fun with every moment.Go Youn Jung had very big shoes to fill after Jung So Min charmed us with her sass and wit in season 1. But this season is not about the actress replacing the other. It is about growth and change. What you will get it hints of the same character yet different. And the main moments are the chemistry between the male and female lead. We also see hints of the special connection she has with the other male characters.
Crown Prince Go Won has been a lovely character once again. And Jin Mu has been the bad guy this show needed.
The only flaws with the show are the slow momentum, much less action and CGI. However, the ending will still leave you satisfied.
The OST of this show is one of the best! I can listen to it on repeat endlessly.
This show is worth rewatching and probably one of the few shows that I actually went back and saw multiple times in the process of waiting. Will definitely recommend it and whoever I did recommend the series to, have thoroughly enjoyed it. Hope you do too!
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One of my all time favorite dramas
I'm not ready to let go...Impressive how much this story touched me and how important these characters became to me.
I think that in the end that's what matters, the power that fiction has to make us dream and hope. So, even with the slips that occurred along the way, Alchemy Of Souls remains special.
I won't go into too much detail about what bothered me, especially in this second part, but I can say that I wasn't satisfied with the direction of the lack of memory plot. I also thought that the secondary characters and plots were poorly utilized, but the Hong sisters were lucky enough to create two great protagonists and they made up for what wasn't well worked.
And there's also the ending. We were all desperate, it's true, we thought it would be a tragic ending full of tears, but I'm so happy that it was the opposite, I couldn't be more satisfied, therefore, the taste that remains in the end is the best possible.
Jang Uk and Cho Yeong, thank you for being amazing and thank you to the entire cast, crew and production for bringing us this drama that will surely go down as one of the most important dramas ever produced...
I will miss you!
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Lacks impact and lore
If you’re in it for the world building, you will find this sequel to be entirely unimpressive. Light and Shadow is filled with parallel scenes from the first season, and while the interactions and appearances of our favourite characters are fun, the lack of fantasy elements which the first part had is missing in this one. A lot of the story revolves around the amnesia plot which gets too dragged after a point. The whole soul switching but single body element with Master Lee making episode wise appearances to give us cryptic comments was frustrating. The main antagonist remains from the first season, but he’s really not that smart or amazing to be taken as a real foe for our leads. The story could have been much shorter because by the time we get to the actual lord part, it’s just a rushed closure.Overall it doesn’t quite live up to its initial promise, but is a decent watch if you decide to give up on consistency. The best parts about this drama was the acting and the interactions, could have been amazing but falls short of it.
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IF YOU'RE NOT WATCHING THIS? WHY????
Seriously,Been a fan of Korean dramas since 2008 and I am such a trash for Fantasy genres and this just SLAYS everything.
ALCHEMY OF SOULS, thank you for gracing my year, 2022 and a week in 2023 with such an amazing story, amazing cast, and tear-jerking osts. This has been one of the best series for me and will continue to be. ❤️
I will forever be grateful to have known this series and become a fully-pledge GO YOUNJUNG & JUNG SO MIN fan.
ALCHEMY OF SOULS,
UNTIL THE END...
🌸💍
(Rating this not just for PART 2 but also PART 1.. You have to watch from season 1 to season 2)
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This review may contain spoilers
I highly awaited the second season , the cast ,the soundtrack were so good in the previous part ,so i had high expectations for this one. The last half of the last episode of season 1 was like a dream , i kept waiting them to wake-up and change the final , i cried a lot but i was also hopeful . For a better understanding, i recommend to watch the first part ,to see the growth of the characters, couse each and every single one of them has his particularly and unique story even if they are connected. The plot is catchy, you don't know what's gonna happen even if you think u have the idea . The final looked a bit rushed and i didn't had the time to process the events but at least it had the well awaited happy ending .The designs ,the clothing line is full of life (other than Jung Uk's ,his were all black) . I have no words for ost ,you can feel everything listening to it . With this project you can see the acting improvement of Lee Jae Wook , Go Yoon Jung and the others. I highly recommend to watch whenever you have the time .
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Nothing much to rave about but certainly an interesting wrap-up
This is a sequel to the Alchemy of Souls with an open-ended and frustrating ending. At the end of the first series, Jang Uk was killed but was resurrected by the Ice Stone. Three years later in this sequel, he becomes a soul shifter killer, hunting down the remains of those who had escaped in the first series. While hunting a soul shifter, he runs into a beautiful woman who is held captive by her mother and begs him to help her escaped.This sequel pales in comparison to the first. There are not much to look forward to. The identities are all revealed even that of this new Jin Bu-yeon is revealed to the audience. I thought the writer should hold on a few more episodes before doing that. I guess it is all to quickly allay the frustrations of those who watched the first series watching MuDeok died.
It becomes a bit of a drag - the identity of the new Jin Bu-yeon is known to the audience but not the characters involved. Jang Uk is in the dark and so are a lot of people in the drama. So the story revolves around them finding out one by one, and also how the 'righteous' people turn to the dark side.
I watched it as I wanted to know how it would all ends. So if you have already watched the first series, you would want to watch this one too.
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chemistry was good...
Not up to the level of part 1 but surely a finest quality maintained part 2. Hats off to hong sisters for an amazing fantasy story. Yet again they proved that no one can beat them when it comes to this genre. Amazingly written beautiful screenplay.Part 2 was so rushed that I felt. Also Naksu couldn't beat the bold mudeok's performance and charisma she created in Part1. It's about the actor not about the character. Just because she is super good looking doesn't mean she can climb up to the level of mudeok. Of course she did her part decently but mudeok always comes first.
The story is the main important part which i really enjoyed apart from anything. Every episode was a different experience from one another. So many characters also have very complicated situations, tensions, and even more beautiful fantasy elements. For example jinyoon relics, the four seasons, the magic of mages, Soul ejector, the kings star,ice stone, Fire bird and more... Also there are some beautiful romantic scenes with some nice osts..
Lee jae wook and his strong comeback after the disaster Do do sol sol la la sol was 🔥 also others. Everyone was superb. I don't know how you will feel when you binge all at once. But it was a wonderful ongoing experience for me.
Overall Alchemy of Soul is brilliant. Maybe you guys have different opinions about the Ending, As i said earlier compared to part 1 am not completely satisfied with part 2 but it was decent. Maybe they rushed things or lost the flow in the finale Episodes... Anyway.. definitely give it a try...
#N45Views
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Honestly One of The Best Drama In The Industry
I think this drama is going down in history as one of the best ever—damn! Where do I even start...First of all, I get why some people were frustrated—the slow pacing, the two-season format, the female lead switch—these things annoyed a lot of netizens. The accusations of a weak female lead? Yeah, I see the point. These are, and I quote, "the only frustrating cons in this drama." And while I half-agree, let’s be real—have you ever seen a masterpiece in film or TV that was completely flawless? People always find it easier to nitpick than to appreciate the bigger picture.
>Let Me Tell You
Watching this drama made me realize that while there are plenty of series with similar themes—think Chinese wuxia dramas—*Alchemy of Souls* stands out because of its execution. The plot, the chemistry (not just between the main leads but also the secondary couples), the acting, the lighthearted comedy, the OST, and the overall production were just *chef’s kiss*. This drama truly feels like an original work.
>Strong (at Heart) Female Leads—LMAO
I was one of those frustrated viewers when they switched the female lead. We were all attached to Mu Deok/Jin Bu Yeon (Jung So Min), her insane acting skills, and her adorable presence. But let’s be real—what we were actually attached to was *Naksu* inside Mu Deok. We were just scared to see a new actress take that role. Logically, though, Go Youn Jung was always the *actual* female lead. It wasn’t a replacement—it was a return to the rightful character. And after watching Season 2, I finally saw the bigger picture.
Naksu (Cho Yeong) was the main character all along. Mu Deok/Jin Bu Yeon was meant to be a background character for a reason. People disliked that she was sidelined for most of the series, but in Season 2, it becomes clear—Jin Bu Yeon is a reincarnation of someone powerful, and she never had a singular, personal goal. She’s a deity for a reason! She doesn’t care who’s in her body or what they’re doing 💀. Meanwhile, our actual female lead, Chae Yeon, starts as a vengeful warrior molded by the villain Jin Mu, but deep down, she’s a soft-hearted, cheerful, delicate girl. Over time, she sheds her rebellious, revenge-driven persona and learns to rely on Jang Uk emotionally. She heals. That’s why she isn’t fighting in Season 2—it’s part of her character’s evolution. And let’s be real, she totally stole Jin Bu Yeon’s body... but thankfully, our girl Jin Bu Yeon *does not care* 💀.
As for the other female supporting characters, yeah, sometimes they’re frustratingly weak. The lack of magical power compared to the male leads, the constant self-sacrificing—it gets annoying. Like, girl, you’re a CLAN LEADER, USE YOUR POWERS! But mentally? They all had their own kind of strength.
>The Acting & The Chemistry—*Chef’s Kiss*
The chemistry in this drama is crazy good. Jang Uk (the luckiest bastard alive) got to kiss both female leads—he doesn’t discriminate, and honestly, I wouldn’t either 💀. But seriously, his chemistry with both Jung So Min and Go Youn Jung is top-tier. The way his eyes look so in love? Insane. And the way both actresses make their characters feel like one person? Absolutely brilliant. The raw emotions in every scene—especially in their eyes—add so much depth. It’s unreal.
>The Unhinged Humor (LMAO)
Bruh, I’d be bawling my eyes out one moment and then laughing my ass off the next. The comedic timing in this drama is so good. Even the slower parts were bearable because of the humor.
>There’s More to This Drama Than Meets the Eye
A lot of the frustrations people have? They actually make sense if you pay attention to the small details. The storytelling is intricate, and every little moment matters.
> The Few Cons That Stood Out (In My Opinion)
- The Female Lead Not Fighting: She gets her powers back twice, and we never get to see her go all out? I was waiting for a massive Naksu fight scene in both seasons, but nope. I wanted to see her wreck the villains with her sword from Season 1! Instead, Jang Uk just keeps it as a souvenir 😭. As a horrible feminist who wants badass female leads, this disappointed me so much. They could’ve given us an epic fight showing her power, maybe even surpassing Jang Uk...
- The Dragging Plot : Towards the end, things slow down unnecessarily. But Season 2 does tie everything together, so it’s worth it.
- Too Much Romance in the Screenplay: Not saying romance itself was bad, but the amount of recycled romantic scenes was way too much. It felt like they replayed the same moments 50 times between Seasons 1 and 2.
- Season 1 Was Better Than Season 2: Honestly, I have to say Season 1 was better. The back-and-forth amnesia between the main leads in Season 2 was definitely frustrating. At least three episodes were just blank amnesia moments. I’m not necessarily a hater of amnesia plots, but in this case, I personally think it didn’t add much to the story. It actually made me drop the drama for a few months. I only gave it another chance because of how scrumptious Season 1 was!
>Final Thoughts
Despite the flaws, this drama is an absolute *must-watch*. It’s a masterpiece, and I wouldn’t trade the experience of watching it for anything!
At the end of the day, you are the viewer. This might be the best or worst drama ever, depending on your personal taste and perspective. I’ve shared my thoughts, but you don’t have to agree with them—and that’s totally okay, loves! ^^
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