Kathryn_51

You are not alone by any stretch but there is a strong co-hort of AoS viewers here on MDL that feels threatened if other viewers don't share the same passion for the story, the characters, or - in particular - the actors. I don't like star-crossed lover stories and that's what Part 2 has become. That's why I'm having a hard time connecting with the main romance.

Back in June, we were told that they decided to add 10 episodes because they wanted more time to explore each individual character in detail. I'm very disappointed in how Park Jin, Dang-gu and Cho-yeon have become one-dimensional caricatures. Maidservant Kim is the only main character that has become stronger. I keep watching because I know that ChoDang have a happy ending. 🥰

This is so cool that HMH is one of the OST artists for Part 2! He is a very multi-talented person.

The twins belong to ChoDang. Foreshadowed in Part 1 by Maidservant Kim. The End. 🥰🥰

Regardless, both Park Eun Hye (Mama Jin) and Shim So Young (the Queen) are creating memorable, complex characters - and they make it look so easy.

Haha - I'm probably wrong, but since I have boy/girl twins I'm VERY biased. 🥰

Boy/girl twins will be ChoDang - foreshadowed in Part 1 by Park Jin and Mama Jin.😇😇😇

Here's a few more:

HONG SEO HUI (Heo Yun Ok) https://www.instagram.com/seohui_hong/

Park eunhye (Mama Jin) https://www.instagram.com/eunhye.p/

Sojin (Ju Wol) https://www.instagram.com/ssozi_sojin/

Yoon Hae-vin (young JBY) https://www.instagram.com/yoonhaevin/

Seo Hye-won (so-i) https://www.instagram.com/s_wisdom_1/

Jung so Min (Mu-deok/Naksu/JBY) https://www.instagram.com/somin_jj/

I'm don't use Instagram to follow celebrities, but when I want to check, I go to this web site which includes Instagram addresses for cast.

https://asianwiki.com/Alchemy_of_Souls

In one scene in one of the previews, Park Jin is shown with long hair (therefor presumably a flashback) talking to Uk - who is rejecting his role in the world, if I recall correctly. The box with the old King's medallion and scroll are in the background - it's possible that Park Jin tells him his fate at that moment.

Iti was one of the later location shoots (late September?), but that doesn't necessarily mean much.

If I recall correctly, when Maidservant Kim handed the box to Park Jin, it contained both the medallion AND a scroll and Park Jin said something like it revealing Uk's "birth secret". Not clear what the scroll says but I always assumed it was the document written by the old king claiming to be father of Do Wha's child.

My poor ChoDang. 😢 Another reason I am having a hard time keeping interested - they get about 60 seconds (if they are lucky) screen time together and then apparently other conversations are OFF screen. Very disappointed. Arin gave a "crumb" apparently about this weekend - a "blushing" emoji. Thankfully I am so busy with Christmas so AoS is low priority for me this time around.

Remember - if not for the leak, viewers wouldn't have known that JSM wasn't returning for Part 2. After the leak, many viewers who were fascinated with the character of JBY were thinking that the two souls might separate late in Part 1, JBY would reunite with family and then die destroying the ice stone or whatever. Could have worked but writers chose a different path.

I don't have links to everything but in September, young JBY actress (1) posted something on IG thanking LJW for a beverage when they were in studio and (2) posted on IG that she was traveling to a location shoot on the same day that GYJ was going to Buyeo Garimseong Fortress. (Location of the '"love tree".) Might mean anything or nothing.

What her MOM wants is irrelevant to my wish that Jin Bu-yeon would be able to reunite with her family. How her MOM treats Cho-yeon is irrelevant to my wish. All through Part 1, viewers wanted Naksu to separate from JBY so that each one could live their individual lives. Jin Bu-yeon's soul deserved to survive as much as Naksu or Jang Uk.

And that is why viewers like me are not enjoying Part 2 as much as Part 1.

Writers intentionally downplayed the sexual chemistry in Part 1. Jang Uk loved Mu-deok deeply and devotedly - they were a true team/partnership, each relying upon the other. It's the whole meaning of "Scars Leave a Beautiful Trace" (according to the lyricist and music director). That's the romance genre that I enjoy watching. Other viewers enjoy something different.

Jin Bu-yeon deserved to reunite with her mother and sister. Killing her off is one of the primary reasons I'm not enjoying Part 2 as much as I enjoyed Part 1.

It's possible that Uk already knows. In the long teaser released a couple of weeks ago, there was scene with Jin Park w/long hair talking to Uk. It's apparently a flashback and Uk is saying he doesn't care about the world or something like that. And the long box with the King's medalion and scroll (left by Jang Kang) is in the background. On the other hand, perhaps Park Jin never gave him the box and he still has it?

wormblood? uh, no - it didnt' work for so-i to open the door and it doesn't change his DNA. But. . . .nice try. 😀

"Also, has anyone noticed that the only people who knew Mudeok's body was Jin Buyeon's are Mother Jin, Master Lee and Soyi?"

Cho-yeon also knows it is her sister's body. She never saw original Naksu so she doesn't realize that "Jin Bu-yeon" looks like Cho Yeong/Naksu.

I teared up as well - first time in Part 2.

No opinion is right or wrong. If you are watching only for chemistry, you will have one view. If you watch for the story and character development, you might have a different view. If you watch primarily because of an actor (LJW, JSM, HMH, GYJ, etc.) then your viewpoint will be different.