Alchemy of Souls – the best K-drama ever!
Alchemy of Souls was the very first K-drama I ever watched. I finished both seasons about a month ago and finally decided to share my thoughts.I chose to comment on both seasons here, under the first one, hoping it might help someone decide whether or not to watch the series. Honestly, I would recommend it to everyone.
Maybe I loved it because it was my first series of this kind, or maybe it’s just genuinely a great show, I’m not sure which it is, but it completely captivated me.
When I first started watching it, based on the first 15 minutes of the first episode, I thought it was going to be a completely different genre.
I didn’t like that first episode at all. I even considered stopping right there.
But I decided to give it just one more episode and that led to me binge-watching the entire series in a very short time.
The overall concept of the show is completely different from what you might expect based on those first 15 minutes.
It has sweet romantic scenes, magic, and comedy.
The comedy surprised me the most, I didn’t expect to laugh out loud in almost every episode.
I quickly grew attached to all the characters (except, of course, the villains), and even an episode lasting an hour and twenty minutes didn’t feel like enough. I wanted more.
I also loved how the side characters were given a lot of screen time and development. There were even a few episodes where their stories were more prominent than the main plot, which gave us the chance to really get to know them.
And the ending of season one… I did not see that coming. I was honestly in shock for a few days and couldn’t start season two right away.
Once I recovered, I finally decided to continue.
However, I didn’t enjoy season two as much as the first.
And no, it’s not for the same reason most people dislike it (I really can’t say more without spoilers), but because of the story itself.
Season one felt more exciting, mysterious, and packed with action, and I didn’t get that same feeling from season two.
The personality of the main character completely changed and although there’s a logical explanation for that, and it does make sense after what happened in season one, I still preferred who he was before.
Also, season two didn’t give nearly as much attention to the side characters, and the comedy that added so much charm to the series was mostly gone.
Even the storyline felt a bit slower and less engaging. All of that combined made me enjoy it less than the first.
And the ending… again… I feel like they really enjoy messing with us. That’s all I’ll say.
The endings of both seasons felt a bit rushed, but I think that’s just because the pace of the rest of the show is much slower, with most of the action packed into the final episodes.
Especially in season two, everything happened so quickly at the end.
I feel like I’m criticizing season two too much now, but compared to the first one, it just didn’t impress me as much, even though it’s still a good season.
All in all, I highly recommend watching this series.
It won’t disappoint you, I promise!
And remember: don’t give up after the first episode!
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