The performances are stellar, with a strong cast bringing emotional depth to their roles. The cinematography and world-building are visually stunning, immersing viewers in a magical realm full of breathtaking landscapes and atmospheric tension. The blend of heart-pounding action, romance, and supernatural elements keeps audiences hooked with every twist and turn.
Alchemy of Souls is a must-watch for fans of fantasy dramas, offering both visual splendor and deeply human storytelling.
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It surprised me
I honestly thought I would be so disappointed to watch this but I am not. I can't explain how it tug my heart strings to see Cho-yeong(Naksu) live the life she could've lived if the traumatic things didn't happened. If life had been different, and she didn't have to choose between survival and living. I loved her as Mu deok-i, (S1)but I also loved her as Cho-yeong(Naksu, S2) because I got to see the version of her that bears freedom. Honestly, I was planning to skip S2 because I alrdy known beforehand that Mu deok-i wouldn't be there and I fell in love with the character but I am glad I took the risk.In S1, I was truly looking forward to their wedding but the thought that Cho-yeong(Naksu) would have to sacrifice her power, her chance to freedom consistently bothered me. I am glad that in S2, she wouldn't have to disguise herself entirely just to survive. I also love how the drama, perfectly tells the story of how Jang Uk truly loved her soul. A love so deep it was never bound by the face she wore.
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This review may contain spoilers
Everyone says they prefer S1, but honestly, I think S2 is better because she’s the original Naksu. I loved their chemistry, especially with the whole fake marriage trope it was so entertaining. I also really enjoyed the other couples, and the older couples were absolutely adorable. I almost cried thinking one of them might not survive. Was this review helpful to you?
From Sassy to Alchemy
This is my first review however I've watched over 150 (or 200? 😅) dramas. My first introduction to the Hong Sisters was through Sassy Girl and here we are... 15? No, almost 18 years later finishing Alchemy of Souls season 2.The story is engaging since season one but you can also watch season two as a standalone season.That can of course be taken as a good thing and as a bad one. Good because without becoming tiring S2 explains everything in enough detail while giving a fresh meet cute for the leads and an anew building romance which afterwards is solidified by their past backstory as it happens in many dramas. I mean so many dramas have their leads meeting as kids or being intertwined in fates coincidences.
The second is bad because it drives you away from S1 with a different pace and purpose. That I believe will be okay for most so I'm really not bothered. The director was also careful to not show us Season 1 female lead aka Naksu unless it was necessary. That might be in order to engage with the new lead best which I totally did and to not provide too much financial openings if any to the leading actress of S1.
So how was the story? Quite pleasant and true to the Hong Sisters mythos. Some tragedy, lots of laughs without making it silly and of course some had their happy endings others did not. Despite that though if we look back the Sisters are known to be the believers of better to have loved once than not at all and that sometimes love is here to stay or propel you towards where you wish to be. For me the ending was happy and satisfying.
The OST was also superb in my opinion. For me it's rare to find a good drama with equally good OST. Let's just say that they nailed it.
Regarding the technology used I believe it was a rather expensive production that saved well its budget for when they needed it the most. Cool special effects and green screen usage!
So will I rewatch it? Well, a handful of Hong Sisters dramas are on my rewatch list and annually I binge a couple so I'd say that yeah at some point I will certainly rewatch it. My only issue is the 30 episodes which let's face it they are 1.5 hours long but as my aunt said, thanks for this drama suggestion that cracked us up! It is true that there are hundreds of dramas that we could rewatch and everyone has different tastes but I believe that like Secret Garden you cannot help but go back at some point as they do have a rewatch value.
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A Must-Watch Masterpiece
I know it's late to add reviews, but I have forgotten to share my thoughts while "Alchemy of Soles" Season 2 was airing from December to January. After re-watching it, I can confidently say that "Alchemy of Soles" Season 2 is an absolute masterpiece and a must-watch. I've already completed it nine times, and there's something about it that keeps drawing me back in. It's interesting how I always find myself starting with Season 2 before moving on to Season 1, a pattern I've even followed with "Dr. Romantic." This series truly has a magnetic pull, and I can't wait to watch it again.Was this review helpful to you?
BEST NETFLIX KDRAMA EVER!!
I have to admit, when I watched season 1 back in June I was such a huge fan, and when it was announced that somin wasn’t going to be in season 2 I didn’t want to watch season 2 but then I got more into the OG naksu and I found that she was really talented and pretty so I decided to watch the show and let me tell you, that was one of the best decision of my life, this show had so many ups and downs, I cried so many times, I even threatened to sue the writers because of just how many scenes made me cry. I wasn’t even expecting a happy ending but the Hong sisters devoured with the second part, I loved Part 1 but Part 2 for me is the best. I really want a season 3 but I doubt we will get that. I also introduced this series to my friend who also loves kdramas and she watched all of season 1 and she watched season 2 when it was airing with me and she also told me that Part 2 was her favorite. Also I love our 🍀 couple I wish to see them together in future projects 😁Was this review helpful to you?
UNIQUE STORY AND THE DRAMA IS A WORK OF SATISFACTION
The drama, the characters everything is so well written and directed. One of the best drama I have watched till date. You will fall in love with each character of the story. I swear I am going to recommend this drama to everyone. I wish there could be more extension to this drama, even though I am satisfied with everything the end the beginning all of it was worth it. The end was satisfying. This is my first time reviewing about a drama. I don't want to give any spoilers. To anybody who wishes to watch it watch it because it will make you feel anxious, happy, sad, excited, thrill, kick I MEAN TO SAY IT HAS ALL OF IT.THE ACTORS DID A GREAT JOB AS WELL.
JANG UK HAS MY HEART😭
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This review may contain spoilers
My favorite drama of 2022 and goes to my top 5 of all time
I didn't know much about the drama until like the week it was going to air (very weird since I usually follow up on the dramas to watch specially kdramas) ok so I saw Jung So Min which I love her acting so much and then Lee Jae Wook another rookie I like since Extraordinary You and it was his major main lead debut so I clicked, I loved the story (since always root for the underdog) Despite watching because of Jung So Min I got sidetracked by Naksu original actress Go Youn Jung but oh well I kept watching.Part 1 was very entertaining keep me rooting for the couple as a team but it lack something and it was in my POV romantic chemistry always saw them as master and pupil they never gave each other the chance to go all for it, Naksu was kind of cold towards UK so bubbly character but when they announce Go Youn Jung was coming back I felt relief.
Not only they had the best chemistry for me, but the amplify the romantic part that lacked in part 1 IMO, so the entire drama made sense both characters matured one becoming more bubbly and spontaneous (Naksu) and Uk more of the leader and fighter we wanted to see in this kind of drama.
Over all, Jung So Min did a great job on part 1 and the reason I started watching it, then it turned to Uk journey and then when GYJ took over I didn't miss JSM a bit, because that's how good these two were, overall everyone acting specially the rookie actors did a great job and the senior actors so top notch that I got myself immerse in the Daho's world.
I highly recommend this drama to everyone looking for an entertaining and the love story of a lifetime....this puts the meaning of soulmates to the next level......
Excuse me if Im not going to the point or Im redundant with my wording but English is my second language and I barely barely write Reviews but I feel this drama deserved one of mine.....
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BEST DRAMA OF 2022.
AOS S1&2 were phenomenal and it was one of those dramas that I would like to re-watch in the future. It was a pack of everything, best of cast, visually and skills as well, best osts, interesting and fun plot and dialogues.While watching this drama I laughed, cried and again laughed. I am not a fan of historical themed dramas. But this one was different, while keeping the historical essence, it was funny and modern. I loved the costumes and how their looks and costumes changes after the leap.
S1 was great, no doubt. So min gave it a kick start and set a mark of excellence for the drama. She was excellent in action, funny as hell and cried sm because of her.
However, I will say GYJ did an amazing job in S2 because her job was harder. She had to act while also keeping the essence of mudeok and somin while playing her role. People had high expectations from her and many were waiting to throw shade at her. However, she proved those haters wrong with her acting and was like a fluff cotton ball while acting as Buyeon, however her sassiness returned when she got naksu's memories.
This drama gave the most exposure to Jae Wook. He was still a rising star until a while ago, he got some main lead roles but I guess the scripts weren't as good as this. He got to show his high quality performance and was praised by everyone. I hope he will be casted in more.dramas and cannot wait for his next project.
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This review may contain spoilers
Magnificent, Excellent, Perfect and all synonyms as well.
Alchemy of Souls left us back in August 2022 promising it would come back with another season half the size of the original one in December 2022. Were there any high expectations? Of course! Were they met? I realise now that certainly my expectations were low compared to what the second part provided us with.Part 1 did its thing. Introduced the story and characters to us, made us feel a lot of feelings we did not know we could feel, and left us with a cliffhanger (literally involving a cliff...) that lasted a couple months. The hype for Part 2 was gradually increasing as people started to watch Part 1 right before Part 2 dropped. Everyone, myself included, just wanted to see what happened after that finale.
Story-wise?
Yours truly fully enjoyed it. If I ever complained about it I can't remember anymore what that was about. Of course, sometimes it was a headache trying to understand what was happening, forming theories to keep ourselves busy till the next episode dropped. I am not going to lie and say I wasn't confused sometimes, but there's nothing that was left unexplained (in my opinion).
Character-wise?
I am a huge Jung Somin fan. I was kinda sad she wasn't going to appear in Part 2 but that didn't affect my expectations for the series. Go Younjung absolutely devoured her role. I wanted to see more of her Naksu in Part 1 and I'm so glad we got to see her even for a short 10 episodes. Her Jin Buyeon and her Naksu/Cho Yeong were two entirely different people with the same face, and she managed to convince me that I wasn't looking at the same person.
As for Jaewook, what can I say and where do I even start? He was fantastic. I just couldn't believe Part 2 Jang Uk was the same guy we met during Part 1. Jaewook's acting was just incredible and it played a pivotal role in me liking this part as much as its predecessor.
...
Alchemy of Souls is brilliant. If you haven't watched it, I really am judging you.
[I will continue to write this review later because I pulled an all nighter to watch the finale, definitely not a win for those in the west. But I would gladly do it again.]
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A must watch kdrama before you ?
the best kdrama!! chief kiss 💋 their acting was on top especially go young jung and lee jae wook. Perfect ending, perfect casting, perfect everything!! Every episode was not boring I got verryyy entertained and I literally force all of my friends to watch this masterpiece and I will not stop recording this to everyone I know. You have to watch this kdrama before you die, so you can peacefully and happily hehe love love. A big thank you to the Hong sisters for giving us the perfect ending I can't believe that its over😭 how can i move on??? from that perfect masterpieceWas this review helpful to you?
THIS IS THE BEST DRAMA EVER
I only started watching AOS because of Jaewook and Minhyun and I didn’t expected that I’ll like it so much! I’m sure i’ll never find a drama like this. What can I say, Alchemy of Souls is the best drama ever, my life will not be the same anymore. I liked everything about it: the story, music, acting especially Lee Jaewooks! I fully recommend to watch it. When you start from first episode of season one you won’t stop watching you’ll fall in love with Uk and Naksu. I guarantee you, watching it will be a emotional rollercoaster but ending is worth itWas this review helpful to you?
