This review may contain spoilers
The sequel that shouldn’t be made
The first season established solid chemistry and relationships, especially between the lead, which is one of the most engaging element of the show. Although changing the female lead fits the narrative of the story, it also inevitably forced the audience to reacquaint with a new character. The personality of the new female lead is so vastly different from the first season that it no longer feels like a continuation but seems to be a completely different person. And because Jang Uk’s attraction to this new Naksu was not clearly explained, it doesn’t feel like he is drawn to elements of Mu Deok that he finds in her but appears more like he is simply attracted to the comfort she offers. Their rekindling feels more like a betrayal of Mu Deok than a reunion and is extremely unsatisfying to watch. The general writing is sloppy and the scenes are mostly unnecessary and does not add value to the narrative.They should have extended 1 or 2 more episodes to season one and wrap up the show. Watching season 2 took away so much of my enjoyment of season 1 that I wish I could unwatch it.
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Shouldn't have existed
I initially dropped it b/c I thought the problem was the switch of actresses, but after death's game and moving I grew to love the actress. So I started it again,turns out the problem wasn't the actress nor the chemistry, the writing was just unbearably soap-level bad:
- They dragged out the amnesia until the last 2 episodes, and they had no reaction to it, b/c he was already in love with the new Naksu and didn't care about the old one that much apparently.
- Naksu had a personnality transplant and lost all brain, they turned our smart lead into a damsel, she never got her powers back.
- The secondary characters were just there,
- there was no solid plot just milking a soapy story
- I couldn't follow the characters logic in anything...
Anyway a total waste of my time, fortunately the FL did other projects and won't be remembered for this flop
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I was so disappointed.
DISCLAIMER- THIS REVIEW MIGHT BE BIASEDIt's 2 am now, and I WAS UTTERLY DISAPPOINTED THAT I EVEN MADE AN ACCOUNT JUST TO REVIEW IT
I don't usually get this fed up, but I had high expectations for this one. After finishing season 1, which was goated, this just felt like "eh." Honestly, this cannot even be compared to the first season. And yeah, as a Jung So Min fan, I was crying over the fact they changed the actress; the new actress didn't really convey the potential. I didn't understand the whole "amnesia" drama and felt like it dragged way too long.
It totally ruined the essence and vibe of season 1. I just wish they had never made this, and feel as if a drama that could've stayed with me for so long just left me brokenhearted.
Therefore, call me biased, but I'm going to feign ignorance and forget the existence of this season all together.
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Butchered
Season 1 was not perfect. I skipped parts and rolled my eyes more than I care to admit. However, the actors, scenographers and CGI department did a good job, even the montage was adequate. But why, by god, did the writers and the director need to butcher the series as they did in the second season?Having an amnesiac as a main character in the last third of the series (30 episodes in total) is never a good idea. It drastically halted the progression of the story and, in general, Bu-Yeon (who was supposed to be the fearsome Naksu) did nothing of her own volition to propel the plot forward. She was always a maiden in distress.
As a series written by two women, it sadly also had only two human-like and relatable female characters: Ju-Wol and Mu-Deok. All the other women were over the top jealous, over-subserviant, conniving or borderline crazy.
It would have been more satisfying if, at the end of the first season, everyone died and Jin-Mu took the body of a king. Sad, utterly tragic, but what a story it would have been.
If, in the first season, the writers would sometimes forget some of the character traits and made them act against their nature, then in the second season they decided to butcher almost all the characters, which was most evident in Mu-Deok / Bu-Yeon / Naksu. Pardon my French, but frikin Naksu / Mu-Deok could not have been contained for three years in that captivity.
Perhaps, it was too great to expect to see an interesting sword battle between Naksu and Jang Uk in the second season, but to once again be mainly subjected to the drawn-out "love triangle" and to witness the "back and forth" between main lovebirds (as well as the side lovebirds) was extremely, extremely dull.
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The Shadow made the Light disappear
LIKED:The Naksu who fought Park Jin as the original Mage leader S1, in very beginning who we saw soul shift into Mu-deok, is same face as FL in S2.
The animal trainers did well: Loved the turtle moments, especially with Prince Go Won and the dog that could see soul shifters also was perfect.
FX good but not as awesome as in S1.
Costumes for the most part were good.
Acting by actors and actresses well done for most of them. Lee Jae Wook was great in both S1 & 2. Season 2 Jin mu mage (Jo Jae Yoon) wasn’t as compelling, but he always gives a good performance, especially when playing the bad/evil guy.
Music was for the most part appropriate, scene building and well executed.
DISLIKED:
A lot of the issues/dislikes from S1 were continued in S2, for example: Shaking camera moments and Fx green screen noticeable.
Using same actor (Im Chul Soo) to play different, non related characters; Mage Master Lee and one of the guys delivering alcohol, that Jang Uk saves by killing soul shifter [that went into son’s body].
Pacing issues, a lot of boring parts due to bogged down by too much politics and showcasing human greed
Directing: too much staring and inactive moments, extended scenes that didn't help in any way.
Writing:
Plot issues throughout, dragging on moments that were unnecessary, forcing chemistry that had nothing solid to back up the instant connection. Confusing choices for changing the character of FL that was so well developed in first season, to a character that was lacking in all aspects and then claiming she was this all along. The mess they created for the main storyline for the supporting characters of the Royalty, Unanimous Assembly and Jin mu w/ his mages, was very lame. The body swap and soul change explanation for Naksu/Bu-yeon was badly executed. Yes they used the same body for FL S2, as the opening scenes of Naksu in S1, but that didn’t help. Too many anti-climatic or low impact moments of important characters in S2, that were so evolved and developed in season 1. The character development and especially growth even for the FL, ML and other dominant characters was non-existent.
Wardrobe: the crowns of the King & Queen, all looked like those paper things you get from a fast food burger place. Also the jewelry mostly became heavy and clunky looking (like the hair pins). I understood why the colour palette changed to be more somber for literal execution of the SHADOW concept of S2, but the effort seemed lacking.
OVERALL: Most of the reviews cover all the crappy parts of the plot and their actor/actress character preferences. With a decent budget and good FX and getting a S2 to explain the concept of the plot, why did the Hong sisters give up on their plot and create a cliche and trope driven mass of garbage? Also I am sure they could’ve afforded the best camera production crew, so no excuse for zooming in way too close (I hate seeing up actor noses, cut off faces) and no film stabilizer! To give a proper review I did watch everything again, after watching it the first time. But I did use fast forward often in S2. As seems to be the trend lately with Korean Dramas, S1 is exceptional and S2 disappoints. I hope in 2023 that changes and we get consistency. I would recommend this show overall, and I will rewatch certain moments, but not the whole thing.
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A mess
I loved Season 1 - the story, characters, setting, music. I believe it all slowly became the mess that was season 2 because of the change in actress. I'm not a fan of Jung So Min (I found her irritating in Playful kiss) but she did wonderful as Mu Deok. Now she's one of my all time favorite female characters in dramaland. I don't know what exactly happened BTS that led to her not being in season 2 but as a foreboding the last 5 episodes of season 1 had a different feel to them. The first episodes were just amazing. I couldn't stop watching and rooting for Naksu and then Jang Uk. Lee Jae Wook is great - cool and adorable. Gave me feels similar to Gong Yoo in Coffee Prince. A male lead who's vulnerable with emotive eyes.As I said, despite not knowing what happened and why JSM was replaced, I think we fans deserved a better story that was on par with season 1. Not something that leaves a distaste as an aftermath. This season was a classic example of "love the characters, hate the story". So much potential wasted. It would have been better if they hadn't made a season 2 just because. My fave quote from the drama "It is better to die than to do nothing" doesn't work here. By the end of last episode I felt "It is better to leave it alone if you can't do it justice". They should have atleast tried to bring JSM back or used a better actress than GYJ. Don't know if it was the way she was written or her acting is just only okay.
Overall, I'm so sad and disappointed that I want to rewatch season 1 and see Daeho at its gloriest.
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This review may contain spoilers
Season 1 was way much BETTERR!!
Comparing to season 1 it was nothing like i was expecting something good but it didn't turn out what i was expecting and i think almost every viewer have the same opinion. Whatever let's review it.ACTING/CASTING: The acting of every crew member was very good even though the storyline was not good but the acting was , can't deny the fact. The casting was also very good that bringing back Lee jae wook as Jang uk obviously because in the last ep of season 1 he was alive. Naksu is also back but...leave it i will tell you in the end(i think some readers understood).
OST: I don't much notice the OSTs but i bet that this season's OSTs was much better than the previous season.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
STORYLINE: Jang uk is alive again and this season is showing about their village after 2 yrs.
As lady jin was finding her oldest daughter jin byeon and jin mu promised her that he will find her. He did and for three years she is been in prison under her mother's control.
Do you remember Dangu? Yes so he was back from his practice and all so he didn't see jin cha yeon for three years. Now finally he was back in songrim and gone to see jin cha yeon while he was talking to jin cha yeon jang uk went in jineyeon(i don't know their palace name) there was a soul shifter he killed him plus he free jin byeon from the prison.
Then jin byeon was naksu so she wanted to recover her memories and there was only one person who can help her do that that is seo yul. So she was searching for Seo yul but god has other plan one day songrim people and jineyeon(don't the name)people fixes jin byeon marriage with Jang uk without asking them but then they got married. Jin byeon loves him but he doesn't but then how he fell for mu-deok earlier he fell for jin byeon this time. After this you just have to watch the drama.
FINAL REVIEW: I was expecting that mu-deok will be back and i want her back because i literally cried day and night. The chemistry Jang uk and mu-deok have jang uk and jin byeon doesn't from my POV. The biggest thing is jang uk is a biggest red flag (i know it seems like it is modern dating or something but i am just sharing my opinion in my style) yeah so i was saying that jang uk is the biggest red flag because how can you move on from someone that easily like broo are u serious?! But what can we do.
From my side it's up to you that you want to watch the s2 or not i am not saying anything.
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An engaging sequel, but not a necessary one
Even though I’ve marked my review as a spoiler, I really don’t think I’ve given out anything you didn’t anyway expect. But still read at your own risk.Let’s start with the good. But before that, a very special shout-out to whoever has styled Lee Jae Wook this season, my man is always charming but he looks drop dead gorgeous here. Moving on:
-This part is as engaging as its former; there are times when I’m mad annoyed, but I never skip seeing the episode on time. Even when an episode feels like a filler, I’m invested.
-Most of the cast is just great as we know, but I’m mentioning it again just for Go Yoon Jung who possessed the seamless ability to switch between Naksu and Bu Yeon (basically memory-less Naksu) perfectly.
-GYJ and LJW had electric chemistry, weirdly I felt it more in the parts where Naksu had lost her memory and Jang Uk thought of her as Bu Yeon. The push and pull and the tension was just WOW. They were so natural together, and the show really utilised their chemistry well with all those kissing scenes lol.
-The word building for part 2 was also great, a new world where the ice stone was exposed to all seemed colder, darker and more hopeless (the rules like in first part, were very convenient though, even more so here)
-The show as a whole never loses its humour; there are so many things I can complain about, but they always manage their tone of serious with good laughes in between.
The bad:
-The show has since season 1, been way too obvious about the bad guys. Jinmu’s evil smirks, the unanimous assembly and the King being dumb power-hungry idiots, Seo Yul’s cousin having hidden intentions, the queen only caring about soul-swapping for a more beautiful body - it’s all so panifully obvious about whose intentions are evil and we know above all somehow it is Jinmu heading them all.
-Some characters have just been around and not done much when needed. Seo Yul has a good amount of screen time but has never added anything substantial to the big moments. Jin Cho Yeon being the younger daughter of the Jin family could have brought chaos in her own ways, but she comes and goes when needed. Master Lee is ofcourse a must mention, he gives his speeches, does not reveal what he knows to the right people, and vanishes away as he pleases.
-One thing this show is consistent in, is keeping the love story at its core and centre (much at the expense of all the other plot lines). As much as I like seeing Naksu and Jang UK’s love story, it’s pointless to have these many dedicated one sided love lines. Crown Prince and Yul for Naksu, a very useless Lady Yun Ok for Jang Uk, Sol-i for Seo Yul (this at least made sense plot-wise so I’ll let it go). Like just get some of them together, what’s the harm? I was convinced in part 1 that towards the end Yun Ok and Seo Yul could have a romance but they somehow made her very annoying and mean for no reason in part 2. Dan Gu and Cho Yeon love story also came with very little build up, they were cute, but that’s it. There could have been a lot more to their love story, but I guess they had to save screen time for Jin Mu’s smirks. I’m very glad though that Kim Do Jo and Park Jin got their fair share of romance in this part.
-Naksu’s reveal, in episode 9 (very concerning and stupid by the way how Jang Uk did not realise it was Naksu inspite of NUMEROUS hints and a similar way of talking), was pretty underwhelming. I enjoyed their scenes before it too, but it felt like a different love story all together so at this point I expected passion, drama, something? They were like let us feign ignorance. I was like okay. That’s it? It felt a little too underwhelming. I was atleast expecting a typical moment compilation.
-I am not someone who complains about logic and stuff a lot in a kdrama, especially one of fantasy genre, but all in all there was a lot of stuff that could have been solved easily. Crown Prince could have just sided with Jang Uk earlier and the show could have wrapped up sooner. There were these filler romance episodes in between too, that were fun to see, but added nothing to the overall plot line. As usual again, we never saw Naksu in full form. This part has and will always annoy me. This show actually teases us since the beginning that this is a Naksu show, but part 1 ends up being more about Jang Uk’s journey. That is why I walked in part 2 with lower expectations.
All in all, what bothers me is when a show has all the right elements and can easily be one of the best ones out there, but screws itself up by underutilising some of the characters and messing up the storyline in the dumbest ways imaginable, I felt this was a problem in part 1 as well, but even more so here.
I assume if you’re reading all this you’ve obviously seen part 1 and are wondering if you want to see part 2 as well. In spite of all my complains, I won’t say I didn’t enjoy it, which is why the rating is still that high. This part is as I said, very engaging. I’m annoyed, but I’m somehow always entertained. And if you are someone whose main interest is the romantic aspect, this part precisely serves that, and very well until the first 8 episodes. The chemistry is great in both parts, but I felt it is even better in this part.
The show absolutely did not need the part 2, a lot of this could have been wrapped up in S1 if the show had lesser filler episodes, but since we are here, and we are invested, your core reasons to watch can be to follow all our beloved characters storylines and seeing most of the cast look even better in their new get-ups. It’s best to keep your expectations at rock bottom, storyline wise, and actually watch for the romance.
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Huge letdown compared to season 1
With S1 of Alchemy of Souls, you had a legit really good drama. The story was so interesting and intense right from the first episode. Like it had everything Suspense, action, amazing music, amazing romance, and phenomenal cinematography. Even the ending was so incredible and satisfying.S2 of Alchemy of Souls though, was nothing but disappointment. The feelings which we left from S1 were simply not there anymore, no excitement, no attachment nothing. The Female lead for S2 couldn't captivate. I mean she was all looks no acting. Jung So-min was sooo much better and she kept the show going. I couldn't find an ounce of Naksu in Go Yoon-Jung.
Now I don't think a season 2 was needed, because the screenwriter for Alchemy of Souls just extended the show with no intentions of giving it a superb ending. Nothing significant happened, and it felt like it was a good show with a bad ending, keeping it precise would've been better. I'm being super generous with my ratings because of how much I loved the first season, which I highly recommend. The second season not so much.
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Way too dragged out
This part felt twice as long as it needed to be, and it was very hard to feel any stakes compared to the first part.The plot was really dragged out. It got even more annoying when side characters had information and just didn't share it because "it would happen anyways." It really made the plot move way more slowly than it needed.
Second, after the serious note we ended the first part on, the second part really needed to match the high stakes in the first one. Instead, the drama tried to repeat the funny and light-hearted vibe we started the first drama in, relying on parallel scenes and humor. It felt out-of-place and doesn't really move the story forwards.
Aside from this, it was very romance-focused, giving us a push-and-pull between the leads that got very repetitive when I would've much preferred for the story to move forwards faster, especially since it felt like the antagonists had stayed exactly where they were in season 1.
Honestly, I just didn't really buy into the romance. After the epic love story we got in part 1, the one in here felt watered down and I didn't really see a reason for the main lead to fall for them again.
I generally found it very difficult to connect the female lead we saw in this one with the Naksu from part 1. While I think it's fine for her, having gotten amnesia, to be brighter and more innocent, I wish we still saw more moments of sassiness and less scenes that just referenced part 1 to be clever.
Overall, it really just feels like they spent too much time on the romance and humor and ended up cramming the plot in the last 2 episodes. I'm glad about how the story ended up, but really didn't like how we got there or how it was paced.
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Let's try to save season 2 of AOS
As many have already said, season 1 of Alchemy of Souls was a 10/10. There was not a character that wasn't well characterised, there was not a moment of dullness despite the length of each episode, the chemistry between characters (all characters, friends just as much as lovers) was peak perfect.... but then season 2 came and ruined it all.My personal opinion is that there are contingent mistakes to it, but that the main mistake is that JBY and JUK shouldn't have fallen in love. This could have easily been done and the plot would have carried itself just as well: instead of him saving her because he "missed her like crazy" when having literally no real connection to her (there was no proper build up to this, Maidservant Kim called this out herself), he could have saved her out of 1) the fact he needed her for the reasonable reason that is wanting to take the ice stone out 2) pity. Secondly, their relationship should have been built up as JUST a good friendship (at least from JUK's side), just like it did when Mu-deok and JUK first got to know each other. This would have been much more endearing to watch, especially because the audience knows who JBY actually is: instead of having the audience watch JUK basically move on from Mu-Deok, it would have been much better to have us glued to the screen seeing JUK rejecting his true love because of his ignorance. Then, the moment of truth would have felt MUCH more impactful (here it is dutiful to note that there was also a directional issue with the way the show handled this plot point: the scene in which JBY and JUK make out is much much longer than the scene in which the two characters make-out after the realisation, which makes it seem as if for JUK Mu-deok is not that special after all) - The realisation should have come as a shock for JUK, he should have fallen to his knees crying like a baby, instead we got some stoic looks and a mere hug from him.
That was the main mistake in my opinion, because it broke the most important plot point of the show: the two being an inseparable match.
About the contingent mistakes, I think there is a very evident one: when Jin Mu shifts bodies, it is immediately clear that it is him even if it's another person acting him out because his appearance but especially his facial expressions make it very clear. That is not the case with JBY and Mu-deok: I get that having lost her memory, JBY won't act as tough as Mu-deok did, but their facial expressions or at least their aesthetic should have been resembling for the whole thing to come out as it should have (the way they kept their hair for instance), instead JBY felt like a whole new person (hence, a whole new love interest).
This issue could have been resolved without having to cast a different actress? I think so, because in the very last ten minutes of the show we see a JBY that finally feels like Mu-deok.
I could probably keep going, because there are other issues with this second season (such as the way JBY's gaining her memory back was handled, or the fact that the final battle felt like slicing a piece of cake - literally), but I will end my review here and go mourn the potential this show had.
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Disappointing
I liked the first fighting scenes with Naksu in Part 1, she looked impressive so when she got burned and Mudeok became FL, it was jarring but I soon fell in love with Mudeok as Naksu. Then found out Mudeok won’t be Naksu in Part 2 -again that was jarring.Really wanted to give new FL a chance because of the fighting scenes in Part 1. Happy with new Naksu with no memory acting more like Buyeon. But when Naksu’s memory came back, waited for Naksu to appear but she didn’t, just felt like she was always Buyeon still. Was it bad acting? Don’t think so because Naksu in those fight scenes was bad ass. Bad directing? Did directors sleep through those scenes? Even a scene where she dresses herself like assassin Naksu, trying to regain her physical strength (like when she was Mudeok) to get revenge for her death and soon-to-be death and Yul sees her and warns her to not do this in case people recognises her as Naksu, and she’d be hunted, then she decides to continue to dress as Buyeon. But even dressed as Buyeon, Naksu can’t hide her personality.
So Naksu didn’t act like Naksu so the interactions with ML didn’t feel right. The whole romance with ML didn’t feel right. It was unclear who he actually snogged, that long kiss between them was when he thought she was Buyeon - the confusion to the audience or maybe just me,made him not very likeable as a ML, like he was cheating on Mudeok/Naksu so made the kissing scenes very uncomfortable to watch. And if Naksu was Naksu, she would have been furious that he made out with Buyeon. That would have been a good scene to show Naksu was back, her throwing a few knives at his face!
It would have been better to end AOS at Part 1 and Part 2 was a totally different story altogether, that way I could have enjoyed the romance in Part 2 without the characters acting out of character bothering me so much.
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