A Must Watch
a sided from the much anticipated anxiety of waiting for the next episode to resumechapter 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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This review may contain spoilers
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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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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ONLY A SHADOW OF S1
I really tried to give this season a fair chance. I came into it with no expectations, yet it still failed to keep me interested in so many ways.First of all, while I understand the soul-shifting concept, I still think replacing the main FL (JSM) with GYJ was a huge mistake. I know GYJ is technically the real Naksu from the beginning of Season 1, and I understand what the writers were trying to do. What I don't understand is how Bu Yeon's body suddenly transformed into Naksu's physical appearance. Throughout the series, soul shifters retained the appearance of the body they inhabited. That was one of the established rules. Then suddenly, for this season, the body itself changes to match the soul? Even for a fantasy drama, that was a stretch beyond a stretch. Soul shifting was already confusing enough from a viewer's perspective, but now we're adding body transformation into the mix? It just made the whole explanation even harder to accept.
What disappointed me the most, however, was the chemistry. Everyone kept talking about how amazing it was, but... where exactly? I genuinely could not feel it. No offense to GYJ, but her performance felt too restrained for my taste. She came across as emotionally detached, making it difficult for me to connect with her character. Every time she was on screen, I found myself more confused than she was supposed to be. 😭
It genuinely felt like ten years had passed between Season 1 and Season 2. I watched Season 1 and immediately started Season 2, yet I still felt so disconnected from the story. Everything suddenly felt unfamiliar and confusing. The warmth, humor, lively cast dynamics, and emotional spark that made me fall in love with Season 1 were gone, replaced by a much gloomier tone. I understand that the title is Light and Shadow, but for me, all I could see was the shadow. It honestly felt like I was watching an entirely different drama.
I am very picky about the dramas I watch. I look for emotional value, engaging characters, and a story that hooks me from the very first episode. Season 1 did exactly that. It immediately pulled me in and never let go. Unfortunately, Season 2 failed to capture that same magic.
Of course, I understand that many viewers loved this season, and I completely respect that. This is simply my personal experience. Because Season 1 set such a high standard, I could not help but compare the two, and for me, Season 2 fell short in almost every aspect. Hence, I dropped it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Wow. No wonder they needed two seasons to get through everything.The beginning of season two starts three years after the end of the first season and a lot has changed. As everything unfolds, you learn about how the aftermath of what happened three years ago affected all the main characters. Park Dang Gu is now the leader of Songrim, and his engagement with Jin Cho Yeon was broken off. Seo Yul is suffering from the aftereffects of the blood parasite entering his body, and Jang Uk has completely changed. He's now in possession of the ice stone and hunts soul shifters and is surrounded by wraiths. It's a pretty gloomy start to the season, where it's obvious everyone is suffering although I love that Jang Uk is a total badass now who doesn't care what other people think.
I feel like I should have rewatched the last episode of season one before watching the second season, because I definitely forgot some very key details - like Jang Uk having the ice stone. *face palm* I had a lot of questions and things that I was wondering about in the first few episodes of the show, but maybe that's their intention because as the story progresses you do learn more about what happened and why. I was curious about how they would explain Naksu having her original appearance when her body got burned up in season one, but it does get explained in a way that I (sort of) understand. It does get pretty complicated though. I'm glad they go into the details of the blood parasite in depth in this season, because it was definitely one of the things I had questions about from the last season.
If the beginning of the show is dark and gloomy, then the middle is more romance oriented, with Jang Uk and Naksu getting to know each other, with the usual kdrama shenanigans where they misunderstand each other and start falling in love. Things are extra complicated because Jang Uk is still traumatized/waiting for Naksu meanwhile Bu Yeon (who is actually Naksu) is getting her memory back in bits and pieces as flashbacks but she thinks its actually someone else's memory.
The last third of the season (from episode 7 onwards) is where the plot starts to really pick up and it gets good. There's epic fights and showdowns, dramatic rescues, double crossing, and not one but TWO absolutely crazy plot twists / reveals that I did not see coming.
In the midst of all the excitement, it's nice that there is still some comedy to break up the tension. I love the interactions between Jang Uk and the crown prince. The whole season I was just rooting for them to be friends again. And the crown prince's turtle! I love how the writers of the show made the turtle so pivotal to the plot when I thought that it was just a cute thing that brought the crown prince and Bu Yeon together. 🐢🐢🐢
”He got rid of my turtle” - a truly iconic quote
Overall I really enjoyed the show, but there were still a few things that didn't quite make sense to me. In the beginning it seems like Park Dang Gu and Jin Cho Yeon's relationship is broken and that she resents him for not saving her father three years ago, but then a few episodes later it seems like they are back to being in love. I wish that the show had given the couple more screentime and shown how they were able to get past that.
I also thought that Jang Uk wasn't aware that Naksu's soul was going to disappear, but then it seemed like he did know when he went to go find her and they got married. And did the crown prince actually turn his back on Jang Uk at the end of season one? Maybe I just need to rewatch the show to catch more details but because of how long it is and how complicated the plot gets I do think things slip through the cracks.
I hate it when you get super invested in a show and then it's a sad ending so I'm happy to say that this is not one of those cases.
Yay for happy endings!
I can't end this review with a special mention to Lee Jae Wook for his phenomenal acting with how much his character did a 180 compared to the last season. It was so rewarding seeing his new persona and what a badass he is now. I had also seen Go Youn Joon previously in Law School but she gave off such different vibes in Alchemy of Souls that it made me completely forget about her past character. I was hesitant about how this season would turn out because of a change in the female lead, but the two of them had good chemistry together and made it work! I also have a soft spot for So-i. She wasn't a main character but I still think she shone in this show. Her character was really well-written and although she made a lot of mistakes, I think she really did her best in her own way and Seo Hye Won did such a good job portraying her.
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MUST WATCH! JUST WOW!
I enjoyed the first season. But this second season with 10 episodes, just WOW!ML (Lee Jae Wook) & FL (Go Youn Jung) BRAVO!
The supporting cast, OST, production... This is how you finish off a series with a bang! The funniest part to me was that they kept the villain from the 1st season all through the 2nd season. I'm sure that it was to drive the fans crazy. I found myself yelling at the screen for someone to 'take him out'. I love verbal and nonverbal acting. The ML gave it to us in spades! The ML was so impressive in showing strength, torment and even growing love which draws you in. The chemistry between the leads YES!!! The way so many things were weaved together to come to the ending, I must say that the writers got it right. Beautifully done.
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Daeho's Legendary Couple
Continuing from Season 1, this drama took on a rather darker vibe, dimmer lighting, a more somber ambiance, and a less exaggerated acting. Every characters in Season 1 is living under a shadow on what is happening three years ago. In the middle of all this brooding, we have our FL.Bright-eyed, innocent, bubbly, harmless, and amnesiac, FL barreled her way into Jang Uk's life and turned it upside down with her randomness and out of the blue-actions. While her beauty is unmatched, FL is quite literally a bit dumb, indeed. But it was endearing to me, because in most scenes, her dumbness came in handy when facing a difficult situation. This is GYJ's first lead project, I believe, and she nailed all her characters and give each one of them a different characterization and a whole different aura. She's very good. Her chemistry with Jang Uk was my favorite, quite literally the sunshine and sunshine protector. It's very refreshing to see their moments on screen.
Jang Uk, three years later, is no longer an innocent puppy. He's older, wiser, with heavy burden on his shoulders and he's mainly just very sad, albeit powerful. LJW nailed the acting and give us a more mature vibe, even when he laughs or smiles, it's softer in the edge, like it's more microexpressions now. But there were times when he lost control of his emotions and threw a tantrum, and I went, "there he is, our puppy." It felt nice.
As with the previous seasons, the characters are very well fleshed out, everyone matured and became wiser, story arcs are expanding and getting closer to entangling with each other. In here, more worldbuilding are happening, more backstories are unfolding as it's necessary to solve some of the drama's mysteries. The plot is quite fast paced, as it only has 10 episodes.
Most of the story arcs are wrapped up nicely, plot holes are covered and solved, and everyone get the endings they deserve. I am very satisfied and content with this season and I don't know whether there will be a third season but even if it is, it's going to be good as well, I think.
Overall, I recommend this for those who like historical fantasy, or industrial grade angst with one sided, mutual pining.
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People who didn't like it, just didn't understand the story. It's just as great as season 1
I would start by saying that Alchemy of Souls season 2 has the same elements as season 1. If you liked the first season, you will like this in the second:- the humour
- the photography
- the acting (better than in the first season)
- the environment, the setting
- the epic scenes (less but better than in season 1)
- the friendships, romances and arguments
I honestly think that the people who left bad reviews just didn't understand the story.
Two souls confront each other in the same body, one of which is better than the other (hence the fact that it's not the naksu we were introduced to in season 1, she can't be entirely herself). And you seem to have forgotten at the end of season 1, how tender she was with her husband.
Also, I've read that some people find this season "mysoginous" which is absolutely not true!
I think you forgot all the female characters who play a CRUCIAL ROLE in the story :
- Kim Do Ju: She has the most impact on Jang Uk's decisions. Without her, he would never have made so many good decisions.
- So Yi: She is really bad-ass. Luckily she is there to give real information!!!!! Without her, there was no sequel after episode 5.
- Naksu: I won't say more for spoilers but without her, the world would fall apart.
- Jin Bu Yeon: main character, one of the most powerful. Same as Naksu, without her the world will end.
- Jin Ho Kyung: Charismatic character that everyone fears. I won't develop more for fear of spoilers.
..so please, there is no point in using such words
My feeling about this season:
I lost hours of sleep again because I love this show. The story and setting are gripping. Still as good as the first season.
Not to mention the acting is really better than the first season.
Let the story carry you along, it's great.
Only negative element:
Yes, there are a couple of inconsistencies, but frankly, it's not a big deal.
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UKYEONG COUPLE!!
I was so sad about jung somin not being the main lead this season, I thought the chemistry was not as great but I was wrong! Their chemistry is immaculate. I didn't expect those steamy kissing scene🫢. This gives me Xianxia drama vibes. I really like this cause i like fantasy dramas. The story was so good and the acting was nice, every episode was so worth watching there's no boring part. The editing skill is so sick, I like the visual effects.What i dislike about this is the ending it could have been better , it was rushed like wth. I know jang uk was super strong but it was the fire bird his fighting!, the fighting scene could've been so epic.
Also the episodes should've been more, they should've shown what jang uk and cho yeong's story after all those events, like how they start they're new life.
STILL this drama was 10 out of 10 💯
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Pretty good but not as good as 1st part
First of all, it was an extremely beautiful show, and the cgi were crafted masterfully, Change of the female lead was a bit shocking at first but after watching this I have no complaint at all, The new girl did an amazing job, and the chemistry between both the of the main leads was pretty amazing, a tad bit different than the first season cz they had this master student thing going on between them and I liked that more, Kinda makes it a guilty pleasure I guess but still they had pretty good chemistry between them,Now the reason I said it's not as good as the first part of bcz this season had less story telling and more padding the run time, I am not a fan of amnesia trope cz it makes no sense to me in any scenario, also UK became so OP that nobody could beat him so that became a bit bothersome, I mean by a technical stand point I do understand it's a bit difficult to make mages fight each other without making it boring, usually it seems like they're just throwing colorful wind at each other with their hands but at least they should've given the main hero a worthy memorable last fight, even that last dragon didn't posed much of a threat to him so all those things became pretty convinient and dull,
Last thing that makes it lesser than season 1 was it's predictable ending, I knew that bu Yeon would sacrifice and give her body to naksu from the very moment they mentioned this plot point so there goes any tension that might've built up,
I see people complaining about misogyny or weak female or all that woke bullshit, they are just blinded by their own complexes and absence of knowledge of storytelling and skills, Anybody who wants to have good time and watch a fantasy drama rather than some political or social agenda should watch this show, it's highly recommended for fun lovers
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GIVE IT A CHANCE
If u don't like the new actress, I cant blame u. But just give it a chance. I was gonna watch it anyway, but i got really found of her . We were already familiar to her and we already knew she is the real Naksu. We also have so many paralels in part 2 so it is easy to see her as Naksu.I was a little afraid in the begining because i really liked part 1 so I thought that if i dont enjoy part 2 i would feel like a traitor :))). But I am in lovee with the first two eps. There were a lot of unanswered questions in the first ep, the the second ep answered a lot of my curiosities. I can't wait for the next week for new episodes, i am already hooked. As always I hate JinMu , but I hope he won't turn our crown prince into a bad guy. On the other hand I believe Jin Mu will try something bad, but that will end up making Naksu remembering the past .
I am constantly watching edits and replaying my favourite parts.
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