Light and Shadow
Alchemy of Souls Part 2 (2023)Likes
1. I liked the chemistry between Jaewook and Youn Jung more than with Jung Somin. Mudeok and Jang Uk to me felt like Master-Student while Buyeon-Jang Uk felt like the real thing.
2. I missed the original Naksu shadow assassin (GYJ looked soooo different as Jin Bu Yeon - the hair, light eyebrows etc) so sometimes I had to stop and think if this was really the same actress or not. Cho Yeong's evolution from the young girl, the teenager that Seo Yul met, to Mudeok, Jin Buyeon and back to Yeong. Still a little bit confusing but I love that she will spend the rest of her life as Cho Yeong.
3. I also love how much Jang Uk has grown since part 1 episode 1, esp now that he is the most powerful mage in Daeho. You dont need to be the king to be the most powerful, as long as you do your job and your passion well.
4. Park Jin and Kim Dojoo are too funny!! I miss Danggu's blonde hair and he didnt get a lot of cute scenes with Choyeon. Of course Master Lee is always all knowing.
5. It's always hard to write a great ending for fantasy dramas so was very happy that this show ended with quite well!!
Dislikes
1. Lots of flashbacks that could have been skipped. I also didnt like that Go Won had many scenes that were unnecessary and the turtle squad, trying make the scene funny. Good thing the turtle actually had a purpose in the story.
2. Seo Yul and Soi's "relationship", and annoying Yun Ok (why is she in this drama?)
Overall part 1 and part 2 could have actually fit in 20 episodes if they removed some of the draggy parts at the start, but also ok that they separated part 2 to give time for people to get used to the new actress/character and the 3 yrs later part of the story.
Rating: 8.5/10
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End the drama slump
I'm so glad I waited to start season 1 because if I hadn't known there was a second season I would have been so angry. Season 1 ended on an epic cliffhanger and season 2 picked up on a whole different drama. I loved that there is a clear distinction between the seasons. Season 2 did a great job of changing the mood. The actors were amazing. I really enjoyed all the interactions between the different characters. Every character stole my heart. I wish we could have gotten more of this season and not just 10 episodes. Overall though great drama. Definitely this is one to end drama slumps.Was this review helpful to you?
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A more traditional K Drama
To be clear, this contains spoilers so please view it as more of a discussion rather than recommendation - although I do recommend it.Firstly to get it out of the way: I was so disappointed they changed the FL The chemistry between Jung So-min and Lee Jae-wook; and the character development that Mu Deok went through was well earned and amazing. I missed them just being together.
Secondly: Go Youn-jung is one of my favorite actresses and I thought she did a fine job here.
If they had of kept Jung So-min, the story would have been completely different. I get the need for a different actress or "face" to make the plot work.
Little did I know at the time of watching, was that Alchemy of Souls 2 was much more like a typical Korean drama. It was only the second K Drama I'd ever watched and I wasn't totally fed up with amnesia plots, interfering parents, miscommunications, and 3rd act separations.
This is a romance (A plot) with a fantasy backdrop of scheming & plotting (B Plot).
The show starts with introducing the two main leads (and supporting cast in a classic Joo Wol monologue.) It efficiently shows Jin Bu-yeon's isolation, and Jung Uk's heart ache and incredible power. Any viewer paying attention at the end of season one would understand that in season two Jin Bu-yeon is Mu Deok straight away. The eventual convoluted exposition about Jin Bu-yeon's energy and Naksu's soul and Naksu's face was too awkward and I believe most people would just accept that it happened without thinking too hard on it.
The fact that it started with Jung Uk being miserable and emotionally unavailable is great. The perfect continuation from season one. The audacity of having to continue living after all that sorrow. I like to imagine I could feel his relief at getting stabbed to death after Naksu returned. I also liked the idea that Jin Bu-yeon is an optimist. It's nice to think that she is who she might have become if not for the childhood trauma and being groomed into a lonely assassin.
I like how they get married straight away in a fateful continuation of their love story. I was disappointed that they diluted it later to an engagement. I also would have liked to see them stay together more solidly to tie in with that theme.
Whilst i understood Jang Uk had to express his sorrow and unavailability; as The Viewer, it was painful to watch how coldly he kept rebuffing Jin Bu-yeon knowing who she was and seeing her so earnest.
Whist I don't like amnesia plots now, back then I didn't find them so frustrating. Even so, I feel a better story would have been Jin Bu-youn discovers who she is much earlier - even if she didn't immediately tell Jang Uk, and so her efforts to quietly help heal and protect him would have carried much more weight. Instead they just bounce off each other a few times due to poor communication, parental disapproval etc. like a regular Kdrama.
I love-hated the idea that Seo Yul's response to dealing with his regrets in season one is not to help Naksu this time, but to kill her. I did not see it coming. I liked his relationship with So Yi and felt the tragedy of her death.
Jang Uk and Jin Bu-yeon sort their feelings out; learn who they are in time to be tragically separated again to save the world and then ultimately live happily ever after due to a Deus ex machina from Jin Seol-ran / actual Jin Bu-yeon. Which was mighty kind of her.
Park Jin was a lot more fun in this season providing more of an advisory humanistic roll. His and Maidservant Kim's arc was cute.
I did enjoy seeing the Unanimous Assembly along with Jin Mu get wasted although I would have liked a slower, more painful death for him.
Jang uk being super powerful and wiping everyone with a few sweeps of his sword was both cool and anticlimactic.
In conclusion, I'm glad they had a happy ending although A bigger epilogue would have been nice.
I wait with bated breath for Cha Beom's spinoff series where he's balding and middle-aged, living in some far-flung village, still trying to gather his energy up bit by bit whilst fighting off brigands and watering crops. Team, make it happen!
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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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Among All Couples, You Two Are the Dearest--Light and Shadow!
Of course, I had no wish to spoil anything in the title, so I modified the quote of Master Lee as he tells Jang Uk and Cho Yeong, "Among all the married couples I have seen through my entire life, you two are the dearest." That is a sentiment that I'm sure resonates with most viewers.A light that embraces a shadow will never be lost in darkness. This may be the most profound piece of wisdom said throughout the entire series. Most people fear the darkness; fear the shadow, but only by embracing it—accepting it—can it be released and let go. Jang Uk is the light, and Naksu is the shadow, and both are equally important in maintaining that balance.
Season 2 was every bit as incredible as Season 1, and in some ways, even more so as we finally come to the culmination of this vast, deep, complex, and incredible story. While it may be sad for those who’ve traveled this amazing journey, we are grateful to have been a part of it at all.
This is an epic series that transcends just about every other series that I have ever seen. It’s beautiful, it’s deep, it’s revealing, and it’s vast in its wisdom. Like so many other Korean shows, it invites the viewer to take a hard look at the world around him or her as well as to take a look within ourselves. It’s another reason why I believe that Koreans—and a few others—represent the next stage in the evolution of entertainment. That people no longer wish to JUST be entertained, but this medium of TV and film can be used to bring about change and wisdom.
Jang Uk embodies the ice stone, making him pretty much invincible. And while others crave the ice stone for its power and immortality, Jang Uk merely sees it as a vehicle to do what is right. That is what makes him a true hero, in my book because he is truly selfless. The only real question is whether or not he can find some spark of happiness for himself. He began this journey as a somewhat lazy and selfish young man. And now, he represents all that is good and noble in man.
When we last left Naksu, her sole desire was to get her energy back. However, had it not been for the bells, one has to believe that her love for Jang Uk would have prevailed. As Mu-deok, Naksu was a bit rough around the edges. We could see her fluctuating between her desire to get her power back and get revenge to softening and dropping her guard to let love inside. As Jin Bu-Yeon—despite her loss of memory—we see a much softer Naksu who smiles a lot more and seems deeply infatuated with Jang Uk. And nothing can substitute Naksu’s finally embracing the light AND shadow of who she is.
Maidservant Kim is as lovely and handsome as ever! And seeing Park Jin’s attempts at mastering the art of cooking were hilarious! They make a cute couple.
At 30 episodes, this series easily goes down as one of the best of all-time for me. And the best fantasy series since Lord of the Rings—and in some ways—even surpasses that one. They are just about even, as far as I’m concerned. We’re given an incredible world of mages whom—despite their extraordinary power—fall to the same evils as ordinary men. The story and characters are vibrant and deep, and the special effects are state-of-the-art, but they never overshadow the characters or the story. The special effects do what they are meant to do: compliment and enhance the story.
I cannot think of a single flaw in the series. It was well-written, well-directed, and immaculately performed by the entire cast. Performances across the board were impeccable. The chemistry between Lee Jae Wook and Go Yoon Jung was fantastic, which is really saying something because the chemistry between Lee Jae Wook and Jung So Min was equally impressive. When I saw that Jung So Min wasn’t going to be in the second part of the series, I admit that I was apprehensive, but Go Yoon Jung more than impressed me.
At some point, I will definitely want to rewatch this series. I’m sure there will be details that I’ve missed or forgotten. Plus, I can watch all 30 episodes together rather than having to wait. Alchemy of Souls is a journey that has been more than a privilege to be a part of. It’s like being grateful that you were alive to see and watch Star Wars for the very first time, watch Sohyang, Michael Jackson, Bruce Lee, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, etc. Those special people and moments that only seem to come around once in a lifetime. Alchemy of Souls is an unforgettable series for that reason.
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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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Happy ending
Thankyou Hong sister for a happy ending 😭😭❤️ and to all cast thankyou so much we will miss you, I don't know want to do im so happy right now, we want a season 3 or a new drama for Go Yoon Jung and Lee Jae Wook 🤞🤞❤️ WE GOT OUR HAPPY ENDING how can I move on from this drama 😭😭 life is empty without alchemy of souls thankyou so much Alchemy of Souls!!!!!saying goodbye is so hard 😭😭😭😭!!!!! Huhuhuhuhuhuhhuhuhuuhuhuuuhhugugughuguhuuggufhwoqqlsnfnfnfnfmfhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhhuhiuhuuuhhhuhuhuhihuhuhuhuhhuhhuhuhuhuhuuhuhhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhu hi hi
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It’s a 10/10 for me ❤️
IDGAF about what yall say, this shit was fire and the couple had SUCH a good chemistry. It was stronger than with Mu Deok, may I say.I’m horrible at judging stories and plots and stuff, so this “review” isn’t based on that. It’s more about what I felt while watching and how it filled my hear with joy. I cried and laughed and smiled like a goof while watching this!
If I like it, I like it… And I absolutely loved it! This is by far one of my favorite dramas, if not THE NUMBER ONE.
The relationships between the characters and the problem solving involved… It was so good! The Heir Prince (idk if that’s the name in english) was my faaavorite character. His relationship with Jang Uk was so hilarious and wholesome
I’ll miss them ❤️❤️
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Unpopular Opinion: Better than Part One.
I know this is an incredibly unpopular opinion, but I preferred this season to the last. LET ME EXPLAIN!One thing I will say is that I loved Jung So Min's portrayal of Naksu/Mudeok in Season 1, but I also really enjoyed the Season 2 portrayal, which reminded me of a Rapunzel-esque character who is locked away with no memories and thus kept childlike/innocent. I think the new female lead portrayed that pretty well. So this was not a major point of contention for me.
Regarding the other actors, I think Arin improved a lot, especially in portraying Jin Cho Yeon's forced maturing and JinYoWon's closing to outsiders. Jang Uk's portrayal was also really great, describing how Naksu's death impacted him and guided his character growth.
Personally, I prefer shorter drama, and the 20 episodes to me felt like it dragged on for a bit, so I for sure preferred the 10 episodes instead.
However, I will also argue that I am mildly put off and confused by the explanation of Jin BuYeon and Naksu's identity. Like from my understanding:
Bodies - Mudeok, Jin BuYeon
Souls - Mudeok, Naksu, Jin BuYeon
I am confused about whether Jin Buyeon's body was already inhabited by Naksu from the beginning or whether Naksu is JinBuyeon.
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The best drama ever
if l could recommend a 1000/10 drama with chemistry, physics and all the romance and not to talk of a badass sexy ml it will be AOS season 2 cause Uk was serving shame,jae wook and younjung gave their all and l loved it hence can't count how many times I've rewatched ssn2 it is the best there is and crossing my fingers on another drama with jae wook and go younjung they just make the cutest tv couple period! and glad wookie said so himself that he wishes to work with her on another project cause he loved their on screen chemistry ❤️ and ssn1 was good but it looked more of like a sibling relationship between uk and mudoek, like she was the big sister pushing her little brother to be strong and find himselfWas this review helpful to you?
Give it a chance!
Look... I know many of you think it's really bad the way they changed the female lead, we all loved Mudeok and it's kinda disappointing at first knowing that we won't see her again as the protagonist, we have a new female lead in this season and I swear I was disappointed too at first. I stopped watching it after 3 episodes and didn't continue it for almost 2 years.I decided to continue watching this year and I was so wrong! It's really good, give it an opportunity!
The new female lead is really good and she's getting hate for no reason, I'm telling you because I've been there, I also hated the idea of having a new female lead instead of Mudeok, but it's totally worth it.
Yes, it will feel different from season 1, things have changed. 2 years ago, I was mad at how different it was too. But I continued watching and I can confirm it's so well written and so good!
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NGL This is one of the best BEST EPIC K-DRAMA I have watched till now!!! 👍 From the story and the characters (initial to finish) was just a wonderful adventure for me. The story is just that great with the background settings and visual effects. The fighting scenes are epic 🔥🔥🔥 The dialogue and the characters are truly magical. The stunning leads and their love chemistry was just mouth watering 😌 The various obstacles they faced together from start to finish was the epic. Loved the bromance and the friendship between the characters and the love story of the side characters was also a delight to watch. Overall 10/10 for me. This K-Drama is an epic blockbuster. Loved it ❤️❤️❤️ Was this review helpful to you?
