Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow

O que mais me vidrou nesse dorama é que ele consegue tá prender rapidamente na história.

Um dorama muito bom e muito bem feito em todos os sentidos, te faz sofrer juntos com os personagens e no final seu coração fica quentinho, recomendo esse dorama.
Você pensa que vai dar tudo errado e dá e depois não dá mais fica tudo bem, o que mais me prendeu era saber o que ia acontecer com o Jang Uk com a pedra de gelo, o que o Jin Mu ia fazer pra ficar no poder e quando iam descobrir a patifaria que ele tava fazendo, e se a Bu-yeon ia expulsar a Naksu do corpo dela.
Você não sabe quem é o vilão e quem não é, a história tem um plot muito bom e o Jin Mu parece imortal, não posso falar mais se não vou contar toda a história.

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I loved it

Kept me on edge. I loved the ending it was worth waiting for and watching. Thank you and well done :) xxx
Kept me on edge. I loved the ending it was worth waiting for and watching. Thank you and well done :) xxx
Kept me on edge. I loved the ending it was worth waiting for and watching. Thank you and well done :) xxx
Kept me on edge. I loved the ending it was worth waiting for and watching. Thank you and well done :) xxx
Kept me on edge. I loved the ending it was worth waiting for and watching. Thank you and well done :) xxx
Kept me on edge. I loved the ending it was worth waiting for and watching. Thank you and well done :) xxx

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Shows How You Can Love Someone for their Soul <3

If I loved season 1, I adored season 2 even more. There is absolutely nothing I would change about their beautiful story. Uk and Yeong's story is not one for the emotionally weak. They both have suffered so much and still are completely selfless. They do not need fate; fate needs them.

I love Go Yoon Jung as Naksu/Yeong. This season was so different from the previous but in a good way. Alchemy of Souls brought all the genres I love and combined them into one show. I also loved Lee Jae Wook's powerful character which fed into my love for anti-hero characters. Despite this, Uk was very levelheaded, and although he would have loved to just stay in paradise with Yeong, he knew he had to let her go. This feeling was not one-sided as Yeong also knew they both have to take the role of saving the world from chaos. However, it hurt my heart to see them suffer even more because of this. Sacrifices always have to be made.

This is a tear-evoking show. I watched episodes 9 and 10 bawling my eyes out. I expected an inevitable sad ending because nothing was going in UkYeong's favor. However, I ended up crying in relief in the end; I could not have hoped for a better ending. I am so glad everyone good in the drama survived. This drama evoked every single emotion out of me, but it is what makes it so good.

The dialogue was beautiful. The relationship between Uk and Yeong was even more so. I never thought kissing an eye would be so romantic. He was basically kissing and loving her soul. It was a beautiful scene. This drama just shows how a person can love another person for their soul, not their looks. Whether Yeong was Naksu, Mu Deok, Bu Yeon, or herself, Uk continues to love her unconditionally. If that is not pure love, I don't know what is.

Please watch this drama. I'm afraid it will be very hard for another drama to top this one on my list. It was a beautiful watch <3

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Stop comparing to S1!

So much criticism from comparison to S1. Seriously, both seasons are great for different reasons. S2 is the perfect closure and the progression of the S1 plot.

First of all, though I miss Jung So Min, Go Youn Jung is perfect as soul-shifted Jin Bu Yeon. I had to double check if it's the same actress who played Naksu in S1 because she really looks/acts like a different person as JBY (as she should be). She cannot be Mu Deok again because Mu Deok's memories and servant's identity are gone already. She cannot be sword-wielding Naksu again because she's no longer in the original Naksu's strong body. To me, the female lead character is the combination of Cho Yeong/Naksu/Mu Deok/Jin Bu Yeon. Wanting her to go back to the assassin Naksu phase is not fair to the original Jin Bu Yeon whose body and powers the female lead has 'inherited' (so to speak). Both in S1 and S2, Jang Uk loves... this combined essence of the female lead,... not separate Naksu nor Mu Deok. One nice subtlety is... though JBY also develops friendships with the crown prince and Seo Yul, this time it's more on equal footing.... compared to Mu Deok's friendships as a servant.

Also, why are people questioning Uk's loyalty. He admits to his feelings for JBY only in Ep 7. Before that, it's all angst (which I love for S2). If you accept that JBY is the natural progression of the female lead character, you'll more than welcome Uk and JBY relationship. Uk in S2 is no longer flamboyant; he is now kinda typical brooding hero with a massive chip on his shoulders.

I do agree that the moment Uk realized the truth about JBY was a bit underwhelming. But I understand the direction. At that point, he already loves that woman, his love is not gonna change, but this revelation will only hinder their future together. Hence, Uk would feel more conflicted than happy about the truth at the moment.

I do want to see more on the display of JBY's divine powers. She could call the rain after the defeat of the fire bird etc. All in all, I felt 10 episodes is too short. Acting 10/10! Chemistry 10/10! They could just fill it with more fluff, make it 16 episodes, and I'd happily watch.

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The fantasy-period drama we didn't think we needed but enjoyed (for the most part?)

By far one of the most enticing fantasy-historical dramas I've ever finished! (keyword "finished" as in finished BOTH seasons because I NEVER watch second seasons, it's like a recurring trend for me, up until now), Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow provided a substantial sequel to the hyper-loved season 1. I was afraid the sudden change in female leads would affect the plot and inherently make it messier to watch, but needless to say, I'm super satisfied by how they went around it!

The switch between light and shadow in the two seasons was so apparent and I loved every aspect of that! The constant push and pull kept me on my feet and on the edge of my seat throughout the 30-hour-watch of Alchemy of Souls as a whole! There are some plot-holes that I hoped they would resolve by the end of the show, and they didn't; which disappointed me but never mind that, i actually still enjoyed the great deal (It would be a 10/10 from me otherwise!)

My personal disappointment mainly revolved around how some of my favorite characters didn't get their deserved justice even up until the very end LMFAO!! Like Go Won?? That man has gone through SO MUCH, even at the end, when he wished someone would find him a wife and we don't even get to see him happy with one!! And Seo Yul.. SEO YUL.. okay that dude got an incredulous amount of screentime somewhere in the middle because of So-i and that bothered me so much because (even though she was a bitch for more than a few minutes in the show, her love for him was pure and I'm just sad that even if he didn't love her back, she never got to tell him that) :"( But then again, it's something I would have liked better. I'm glad with the closure, but it was just a bit TOO quick..

Is it too much to ask that we get more than half an episode (ATLEAST) to show us how they've changed in post-apocalyptic Daeho, and to show us a bit more for each person??? But if i'm being fair, I'm just glad the Hong Sisters didn't present us with another tear-jerking parting-ways ending and gave us the closure we most definitely needed and deserved after going through that roller coaster EVERY SINGLE EPISODE.. It was so mean making me believe that Maidservant Kim and Park Jin were BOTH dead.. I had the ugliest cry of my LIFE because????? BECAUSE I BELIEVED THAT WAS A POSSIBILITY!!

Anyways!! If we ignore our best characters ending up with no bitches and how we have no idea where Jinmu is lmfao... This was actually a solid drama!!!!! I enjoyed (almost) every second of it, and I would definitely watch again in a few years when I've completely forgotten the plot!!

If you haven't watched it yet and you like a good thrilling fantasy-historical drama with TONS of cute romance and a 100/100 cast, this is the one for you!!

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Shadow of Part 1

I believe this drama ranks high because of the magic of Part 1. The main fantasy romantic plot worked out perfectly just like the Hong sisters usually deliver. Alchemy of souls has a very intriguing concept of magic and mages, also great cinematography and soundtrack. I loved the concept of 4 seasons, representing the respectable mage families. Season 1 is dense with intricate plot and amazing characterisation. Jang Uk, Seo Yul, Jang Gang’s trio was so uplifting and when combined with crown prince and Mu Deok, the group was my absolute favourite. They shared such pleasant bonding and chemistry. Jang UK’s character development as a mage and his sweet relationship with Mu deok really is heartwarming to watch. They fit together just right and I loved the master/pupil twist to their relationship. Whilst sometimes Mu Deok seemed crazy to me, I respected her bold/nonchalant way of loving Jang Uk.

The above could be labelled as a review for Part 1, I guess. Flash forward to the outburst of events by the end of S1 and bearing with the brunt of it in S2, it went haywire. The plot started making lesser sense. I still don’t understand how they can justify Mu Deok’s face changing, despite having the same body. She starts living as Jin Byo Yun and whilst I liked that, I don’t think the actress fit well into the real naksu’s characterisation. Sure, she forgets all her memories and awakes a completely diff person, but Naksu’s feistiness and determination is shoved under the rug this season. It’s like a completely different person. I don’t think it’s necessarily Youn Jung’s fault, but the writers and director who completely forget Mu Deok/Naksu from S1. It’s like a re imagination of the main lead.

The romance is stronger this season and whilst I enjoyed that, I still missed Jung Somin’s character. The revelation of Naksu was so underwhelming. They build it up so much, dragging it all the way to the ninth episode and yet it felt so… oh, alright, ok lol. The dangers Jin Mu wanted to ensue onto the world seemed petty and annoying. The way they dragged Naksu’s reveal was already frustrating enough for viewers and so distasteful. Jang UK longed for his lover so much, only to find out she’s been alive and well.

How could they have just revealed it in such a chaotic, strange way? What about the conversations they were supposed to have after the big reveal? All gone wrong because they had to give jin mu’s plan screen time.

Season 2 was chaotic. Merely a shadow of Part 1. I still rated it high because season 1 is special and jae wook was absolutely brilliant.

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Answers all the questions and beautifully continues and nicely ends the story

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2022/2023 South Korean Action, Fantasy romance drama with 10, 69-87 minute episodes

First I provide a Unique Synopsis then review

Synopsis

If you watched the first season and experienced the cliff hanger and tragedy that was the ending, be reassured season two will resolve all that. One could just let things end where they did but why? This continues the story. Jang uk (Lee Jae wook) survived but is now dressed and acts in a very dark manner (shadow). As the most powerful mage in Daeho, he is charged with hunting down and executing soul shifters. Doing so takes an additional emotional tax on him as he is able to see who that person was before going “wild” and erects rock cairns to honor the departed. His nights are spent being “haunted” by wraiths and the memories of his love he lost. When chasing a soul shifter into Jinyowon leads to a chance encounter with Jin Bu yeon (Go Youn Jung) the recently found daughter of Jin Ho Gyeong (Park Eun Hye), the two form an unlikely alliance. Bu Yeon has spent the last 3 years locked in Jinyowon to hide her true identity from the other mages. Jang uk knows that if he can get rid of the ice stone his life will end and he believes Jin Bu yeon will be able to do that. Jin Bu yeon wants freedom as her mother’s plan is to keep her locked away yet have her marry and produce offspring to continue the Jinyowon.

Season two continues the story with all the characters and you find out what happened with them in the three years since the events that happened at the end of Season 1.

Review

I loved this series. I highly recommend it and will watch it again. I am a huge fan of Star Wars and Star Trek and other such otherwordly shows so the complete other world built in this seres greatly appealed to me. I was concerned that the main actress in this second season was different than the primary actress in the first but in the context of this show it makes perfect sense. It did not disrupt my like or feeling for that character at all i just found myself waiting for the aspects that were Naksu like to emerge.

Spoilers

I seriously liked the complexity of the soul shifters in this series. In Season 1, Mu deok (Jung so min) is a character unlike either her original self, Cho Yeong, the assassin Naksu (Go Youn Jung) nor the soul from the body she inhabits, Jin Bu yeon. It was so skillful both in the script and in the way the actresses portrayed these characters how you could, at times, see aspects of each of those souls and, other times, see a individual that was all of them and none of them. Finding out, towards the end, that because Jin Bu yeon lived and didn’t die as a stillbirth only because Seol ran, the original and very powerful priestess actually controlled a lot of what happened with those souls. It is why Bu yeon was born blind as Seol ran was blind, and also why she was more powerful than any of the priestesses in her blood line.

It was my fond wish that others would learn the truth about Naksu and I was very happy that it was revealed that she was tricked into being an assassin and then used as a murder weapon through sorcery by Jin Mu (Jo jae yoon). There was so much hatred toward even her memory that I found that incredibly tragic. I was sad that Seo Yul (Hwang Min-hyun) had planned to kill Bu yeon when he discovered she had the soul of Naksu as his view on the situation was so cut and dry. It made sense for his character to thin that way and actually was the reason I felt less sad he never got to be with the girl he loved. He was one of the few loose ends in the story as it would have been even better if he would have found someone who loved him enough he would get over Cho Yeong (young Naksu).

I have to commend Do Sang-woo the actor who played the soul shifted Jin Mu. The expressions on his face and even his voice transformed to Jin mu and that took a lot of acting skill to carry that off so well. He was an annoying side character as Seo Yun oh that was power hungry and arrogant and was able to kick that up to the level of Jin mu’s evil sorcerer level in a very believable way.

The friendships that developed were such a wonderful part of this series. Jang uk was already close with his childhood friends Seo Yul and Park Dang-gu (Yoo In-soo). But, as the series develops his relationship with Crown Prince, Go Won (Shin Seung ho) becomes closer and friend/family like (and he is sort of the cousin of the Crown Prince depending on whether you consider the father the soul or the body. Go Won seems destined to befriend Naksu as he is intrigued by, and befriends her, in her many forms.

I really liked that he became the King and that Jang uk wanted him to be the king and fully supported him. The writers and creators had an well executed twist when they led viewers to think that Go won had joined Jin Mu’s dark plans.

There are a lot of flashbacks that seem unnecessary and disrupt the flow of the show but that is just Netflix. When these shows are created or sponsored on any of the streaming platforms I expect there will be certain deviations from the formula that has made Asian dramas so successful. There will be flashbacks galore (that does happen in the Asian shows but it is an order of magnitude), the scenes with kissing or skin contract will be a degree more risque and it will end with question if there will be additional seasons or not. I read that the Hong Sisters themselves indicated they did not plan beyond Season 2 so I think any indicators of a Season 3 are likely rumors. There is so much they could do with Daeho, prequels and side stories, but I hope they let the main story remain completed as it is.

I could continue on about this excellent series but will stop there. I just finished Season 2 and miss Daeho already.

#LeeJaeWook

#GoYounJung

#AlchemyofSouls2

#ShinSeungHo

#DoSangWoo

#JungSoMin

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A Must Watch

a sided from the much anticipated anxiety of waiting for the next episode to resume
chapter 2 of alchemy of souls has been magnificent every episode had left you grasping for more and wondering what will happen next.

The ending was great the chemistry between not only the main role but others as well were outstanding.

Normally a continuation of any kdrama in my opinion leaves you with dissatisfaction or an ending you weren't expecting
but with alchemy it filled all the voids and gave you an immense satisfaction.
enjoyed watching it my Saturdays And Sundays will not be the same.

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Could've done better

I didn't want to write a review cause I loved the drama but I had a lot to say still.
Everything is good. Everything was going well until Ep7. That's when everyone on the set of AOS 2 understood that they had only three more episodes and they still haven't revealed anything.
10 episodes were more than enough with the run time but it still made us feel that the ending was rushed. In the last three eps, things were revealed in a magnitude of seconds. And the ending? the climax? lasted barely minutes that we couldn't even remember. It wasn't a nice gift with a Tiffany's & Co. bow tied to it but an express gift card that your uncle bought last minute cause he forget to get you a present on New Year's.
And the actress switch.
I understand that you want JSM back cause yall love her but i really don't understand why GYJ received hate. It's not like her acting is bad. You've got to give chances to new actresses.
But then some of you ask, "Was the switch necessary?"
Yes. It was and it is. It showed that they were destined to be with each other even if they can't recognize each other. And also the fact that it was Mu-doek's face that he was seeing, not her face. he never saw her before. Now he sees her completely.

Even tho the ending was rushed, the drama delivered what it was supposed to deliver. Mid-way I lost hope and was gearing up for another Scarlet Heart Ryeo. But the heavens heard the viewers. So no complaints.
Except for this one, thats all I promise.
I got Seo Yul's face and all my issues are gone.

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Alchemy of Souls: The ill-planned side story.

(Please note that there was no way that I could possibly review this season separately from season one as this drama is a continuation of it).

This season was a roller coaster, that’s for sure, and writing this review was certainly challenging for me. From forcing myself to get into the slow start of season 1 to absolutely adoring it and excitedly waiting for season 2, I must say that my expectations were high, yet realistic for this season. All in all, I found that season 2 was well rounded for the little time they had, and they managed to pack the season to the brim where up until the eighth episode, we were still guessing where things would go or how they could possibly resolve everything in time.

For starters, the Hong sisters did an exceptional job at building the Alchemy of Souls world and I was rather sad to see that they were only making 10 episodes for this season. They introduced so many aspects, possible spin offs and unique storylines that could have easily taken this season, to a follow up of a 20 episode season like its predecessor.

There was also a major shift in terms of the story from the first season, and was even pointed out by some, that the posters clearly indicated this by giving an illusion of being action packed in the first season to a more wispy romance for the second. However, as we are introduced to these new and different issues, and seeing the shift in focus from where the story ended in season one, I can’t help but feel they may have missed the mark on certain aspects.

As much as I love a good mushy romance and although we got a happy ending where EVERY character found some form of happiness, the transition into the new season felt messy and ill planned. From the amnesia trope lasting much longer than anyone would have hoped, to the representation of our ever confident and mentally strong FL being downgraded to a helpless damsel in distress. Let’s not forget the anticlimactic reveals of important plot points in the story and the over-dramatisation of the “three deaths” which felt wrongly placed and unnecessary considering it didn’t do much for the story, except shock the audience.

In saying that, I absolutely loved the chemistry between the cast members and thought everyone did a marvellous job at portraying their characters, and the emotions that came with them! Both Jo Jae Yoon and Go Yoon Jung did an outstanding job in terms of their ability to continue the performance of their characters from their original actors, Do Sang Woo and Jung So Min, as well as Oh Na Ra and Yoo Joon Sang making us swoon over their romance, heartbreak and reconciliation.

Another incredible performance to acknowledge and possibly the best character growth throughout this entire drama (season one and two), has to be the growth and development of Jang Uk played by Lee Jae Wook. His performance throughout was fantastic where, as the audience, we were able to feel each emotion felt throughout the story. It’s almost as if the Hong sisters wrote this character especially for him!

All that aside, I enjoyed watching this season with its highs and lows, despite the inconsistencies and questionable moments. The cast, along with the production crew, the CGI used and even the OST were done exceptionally well! One small wish I do have is that we will get to see Go Yoon Jung and Lee Jae Wook working alongside together in another project soon - their chemistry simply oozes out of your screen like warm honey!

x dramafoxx

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ONE OF THE BEST HISTORICAL KDRAMAS I'VE EVER WATCHED

For those who keep giving this film negative reviews, sorry to say but you are biased and bitter. Because this drama is so far one of the best kdramas I've watched, this is coming from someone who has watched over 200 kdramas. You're a fan of the actress from the first season and not the storyline if you hate this drama.
I've rewatched this drama over 30 times and what amazes me it's I've never gotten bored of it. Every time I rewatch it feels like a new drama. I don't know why anyone who claim the plot is bad when it's literally just a continuation of the story which was split into two parts. Without part 2 I would never had understood the storyline. I also love the message the writers were conveying "LOVE SOMEONE BASED ON THEIR SOUL NOT APPEARANCE".
In conclusion Awesome and Amazing. Well written and amazing chemistry and cinematography

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