Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow

Hong Sisters' greatest ambition that turns into their greatest masterpiece.

Alchemy of Souls is Hong Sisters greatest ambition that turns into their greatest masterpiece. Not only their ambition to create a completely new fantasy world, but also their ambition to finnaly create a happy and satisfying ending, as well as their ambition to finally create a proper romance that everyone roots for.

When part 1 focuses on the world building and character development, part 2 focuses on the relationship & redemption. It may lack of plot excitement from part 1, but the way part 2 put all answers and resolutions for all AoS characters is so damn good and satisfying.

I must say that the love story created for part 2 is really one of the best in the whole KDrama history. This is what I call perfect redemption of Hong Sisters romance writing skill. I find their romance writing is somehow lacking in their previous works, I don't find such strong chemistry and relationship development in HDL or Korean Odyssey (both romance seems quite forced). But AoS is clearly the whole different level, and Hong Sis ambition to create the most beautiful love story finally comes true.

Just like Master Lee said, I've seen plenty of drama couple, but Jang Uk and Cho Yeong are the dearest. You can't find love so deep, so meaningful and so desperate in any other drama.

I bet that's also in Hong Sisters mind, Ukyeong is their dearest couple that's why they give them happy ending. 😁😁

Thank you Lee Jae Wook and Go Youn Jung for potraying Uk and Yeong so perfectly. You guys really deserves all appreciation.

Other characters too, finally they find their true meaning of life. One of my favorite character development is Seo Yul, the one who finally dare to move beyond his boundary, taking a role to bring better change to the world just like what his predecessor did in the past. Something that Jang Uk might never did, because his life is basically all about Cho Yeong 😂. Also for Go Won, I can't say anything else, he deserves what he gets and for his kind heart, I trust Daeho will be peaceful for a long long time. I couldn't be more happy for Jinni and Yeonni. Even I put lots of respect for Jin Hogyeong. Can't forget about how sad and beautiful So'i stroy too. I can't forget about how cool Park Danggu, Choyeon, and also Sangho, even Juwol. All I can say is that I root for almost all characters in AoS. That's how amazing it is. The last time I feel like that is only in Scarlet Heart.

The acting is superb and top notch (all characters acting skill is improved a lot in part 2 compared to part 1), the music and OSTs are so amazing. I will miss all AoS background music, especially the intro and jinyowon theme, and also Jang Uk theme.
The happy ending also makes the rewatch value increases.

In conclusion, AoS part 2 is in the same tier as part 1 even tho they have different charms. Both are among best fantasy KDrama of all time. Currently it is my #1 fantasy Kdrama. I definitely recommend it for anyone who loves fantasy because this drama really set the standard so high.

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naksu

The best fantasy historical drama in my opinion that I have ever watched, Actually, I don't really like historical dramas, I'm always picky when I want to watch historical dramas. and this is the best drama.. Starting from season 1 and 2, each episode doesn't make you bored at all.
At first I was confused when I saw scane clip reviews from other, between Naksu, Mudeok, Jin Buyeon, Choyoung, but after watching it is not confusing at all.
There's comedy, there's romance, let alone action, everything is perfect.
Even though the female lead was replaced, Go Younjung managed to build chemistry with the male lead

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just legendary

I don't even know where to start with this one. "Alchemy of Souls" totally blew my expectations out of the water and basically set a whole new standard for K-dramas. Honestly, I'm worried I won't be able to enjoy any other drama now without comparing it to this gem.

I stumbled upon Season 1 of "Alchemy of Souls" when it popped up on my Netflix recommended list, and let me tell you, Go Yoon Jung as "Naksu" had me hooked right away with her killer looks.

What really got me was how the creators of the show introduced this whole magical world in a made-up country called Daeho. Every episode left me hanging on the edge of my seat with those epic cliffhangers. I actually felt a bit bummed every time an episode ended. I mean, it was a blast watching Naksu (played by Jung So-Min) teach all those different magical skills in Season 1, from Jipsu to Ryusu, Chisu, and finally Hwansu.

Now, let's talk Season 2. I bumped up my rating for it because the chemistry between the main characters was off the charts. Idk... the chemistry between Jae Wook and Yoon Jung just seemed a lot closer to me than Jae Wook with So Min. I get it, Naksu's character evolved a lot and leaned more towards Bu Yeon's style, but I was all for this new, assertive version of her. It was such a breath of fresh air seeing a character who wasn't afraid to speak up and go after what she wanted. Something a lot of K-dramas are missing these days – good ol' communication!

I'm not kidding when I say this is the only drama that's left me in withdrawal mode for weeks on end. Solid 10/10 in my book.

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The season was way too short, otherwise it's perfect

I was nervous when I realized the MFL was replaced due to the story progression. I wouldn't say the FL was "recast" since this actress also played the same character in the first season, but she comes back in season 2 to take center stage.
First, the lead actress here is an absolute delight. I LOVED the main actress from the first season, she's one of my favorites, and I missed her funny facial expressions and sass in this season, but I didn't feel overall upset or like I missed out. In the end, and given the direction of the story, the new actress (who, I guess, isn't technically new) was phenomenal and brought her own color to the character which was neither better or worse than the original, just different.
The ML was awesome, as expected, and a bit darker in this season, which I loved. It was great to see his character mature and struggle in new ways.
The lovestory and overall story arc felt rushed, however, and that's why I had to take off a half star. If this had been 2-4 more episodes, where they spent more time building the narrative, it would've been an easy 10.

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Lee Jae Wook & Go Youn Jung has a great chemistry.

I liked it. But my biggest complaint is they should've shown Jang Uk & Jin Bu Yeon more screen time in the last few minutes. I wanted more stories about them in the end & also how they cured Jin Bu Yeon getting wild.

At first, I thought they'd not show flashbacks of Mu Doek with Jang Uk whenever he was heartbroken or missing him. Thank God they started showing Mu Deok flashbacks from Season 1.

Jang Uk is a lot more mature this season he still has humor, but also has arrogance, which is for those who deserve it. He has a lot of grief, hate & rage within himself. His looks changed this season. He wears black & has short hair. He looks smoking hot. I just loved seeing him using power & going into killer mode.

Jang Uk never forgot about Mu Deok. He always remembered her. In a review someone said that he forgot about her & quickly fell in love with Jin Bu Yeon but that’s not true. Firstly, it’s a 10-episode series. They need to show his heartbreak as well as falling for her in a short period of time. Maybe that is why people think he forgot about her & fell in love quickly.

Jin Bu Yeon is changed because you need to remember that she was captivated in a room for 3 years. She is bound to be depressed & thinks that no one loves her, which may lead to her change. If she also starts acting the same way the FL of S1 did, then you will all be blaming her for copying. I think it was refreshing. She didn't try to do the same thing which the S1 FL did. I liked how the memory loss part when so long. It would've been better if she remembered evrything in the first few episodes.

The horrible faces of Jang Uk, Park Dang Gu & Seo Yul after tasting Park Jin’s cooking. Please someone stop this man from cooking. The boys are suffering.

The sudden hug Jin Bu Yeon gave to Jang Uk.

Jang Uk’s reaction after hearing Jin Bu Yeon saying that she is pregnant.

It's sweet how Jang Uk was following Jin Bu Yeon in the middle of the night without her knowledge.

The way Jin Bu Yeon ate all the honey biscuits at once due to being jealous of Mu Deok. Jang Uk is also jealous of Jin Bin Yeon love for someone.

History repeats itself of not being able to climb the bridge. 🤣🤣

Laughed when Park Jin is jealous of Jang Uk because he is always the first priority of Maidservant Kim.

Loved it when Jang Uk said that “Not a single person will be able to walk out of here alive”. Uff The way he killed everyone, made everyone fear him.

I think I'm the only one who didn't like Crown Price. He is a kind-hearted person but foolish. He got easily manipulated by Jin Mu. He is someone craving power, but in the end, he realizes that he is wrong.

Jang Uk, Jin Bu Yeon & Crown Price turtle story. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Love Master Lee. How he always helps Jang Uk & Jin Bu Yeon.

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Disappointed and hurt

This is not the same alchemy of souls that i’ve watched !! Certainly doesn’t feel like the same drama. The whole plot is strange in an odd way. The problem is not because of a new actress as female lead but the whole drama has turned into lame marriage of convenience story . What happened to the badass shadow assassin!!

It would’ve been much better if the new character was buyeon instead of naksu. Naksu’s amnesia ruined the entire story. The whole “naksu’s soul and moduk’s body together” made no sense at all. The writers could’ve easily gotten out of this by an simple explanation. But 2 souls on one body was absurd and too hard to comprehend. They negated their own rules of alchemy of souls. The whole drama turned into a joke.

Nothing seem to change much for the crown prince and yul either. And Uk keeps getting special treatment as buyeon falls right into his lap. I am soo disappointed, i can’t watch it further and ruin the memories of season 1.

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um amor para além da carne: um amor de almas.

essa é uma história que vai além dos romances tradicionais. a segunda temporada aprofundou muito a personalidade do protagonista masculino, e de maneira geral foi melhor que a primeira. é impressionante também como a Naksu modifica sua atuação antes/depois dela descobrir quem ela é.
Para aqueles resistentes em assistir esse drama devido a mudança da atriz, digo uma coisa: Naksu na primeira temporada estava em um corpo que não era dela. nesta temporada, ela agora está em um corpo que tem sua aparência. fico feliz até, pois ela merece se sentir bem dentro do corpo que está.
claro, Jang Uk um perfeito apaixonado: consegue amar repetidamente a mesma mulher, independente de sua aparência ou de mudanças de personalidade.
de fato, um amor para além da carne um amor dr almas.

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Inferior to Season 1, but an ending quite a worth

Set 3 years later after the finale of Season 1, Season 2 starts slowly and brings all the characters back to the game. There are very few fantasy shows which make you invest in characters, and season 2 fits this description.

Although the second season starts sluggish with everything that kinda replicates the first season, the last 3-4 episodes bring the real excitement and closure, with which I am pretty much satisfied. What still works for this fantasy drama is the star cast, the chemistry between characters and how magic is used to weave a tale of ambition, dreams, love and kingdom. What perhaps could have been better was a climax full of action. But again, the makers opted for a rather happy ending. Personally, the latter is inferior when compared to its predecessor, but all ends that ends well.

My Rating : 8.5/10

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storia fantasy molto bella!

Vista subito dopo la prima parte che mi è piaciuta molto.Ho in un certo senso preferito questa alla prima parte forse perché la chimica tra i due protagonisti era maggiore e la storia anche se più esagerata e molto carina.
La storia e più fantasy ancora della prima.La protagonista é un miscuglio di personalità una più forte del altra ma alla fine prevale quella del assassina Nasku.
Lui è più freddo,un uomo tormentato dagli spiriti e il mago più forte che esiste.Quando si riconoscono scatta anche un po' di passione.
Sono 10 puntate che scorrono velocemente.
Nel complesso fantastico drama.

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Pay attention

In the 1 st series we have a female warrior/master who pretends to be a maidservant. Her pupil is besotted and through great effort gains sufficient skills to be praised by her and along the way falls in love.
In this 2nd season our two lovers (due to plot contrivance) do not recognise each other for the majority of the 10 sessions. ML is now a bad ass with unlimited power and FL is a weakened female locked away by her self-serving mother.

Characters from 1st series abound and there is a thread of humour peppered throughout that was not part of the 1st series. Special mention of the black turtle and Park Jin's cooking. Lots of CGI special effects and a great many characters all acting in their own best interests to the extent that from a Wuxia drama it became a melodrama.

What also stood out for me was how the modern element crept in. From short hair to some language idioms, and the Fl was was definitely channeling a modern woman at times.

I found this entertaining and if I ever rewatch the 1st series I will probably rewatch this as well.
Actors all did a great job and production was very elaborate but I feel the Hong sisters needed to keep the themes and flavour of their brilliant 1st series.

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