Alchimia Sufletelor (2022)

FYI: There are two seasons to this show!

I have lots of mixed feelings about this show after just watching the finale. I don’t typically watch period dramas but decided to check this out after one of my favourite authors mentioned it on their blog and was hooked! This isn't your typical period drama, and takes place in a fictional land named Daeho where there are mages. The trailer definitely doesn’t explain much and the premise is quite confusing, so you have to pay attention to all the details. I think it's one of those shows where you just have to go along with the flow and figure things out as you go.

Sometimes the plot is really ridiculous and dramatic, and Naksu had some pretty extreme training methods. In Jang Uk's place I don't think I would like her very much, but I think the romance progressed well and was believable. The advantage of the first season being 20 episodes is that it didn't feel like instalove and you could see their relationship grow as they go through experiences together.

The plot is quite complicated and does get heavy, but the comedy really helps to break it up. The show has a star studded cast, and they are all very good at comedic timing and breaking up the tension so that despite the sometimes heavy plot, it's still entertaining and easy to watch. Some things were a bit predictable/obvious like finding out who Naksu's body belongs to, while others came out of left field for me.

I didn't realize that there were going to be two seasons, so I was expecting a happy ending in the last episode and was super unprepared for what actually happened. I get why they are going in this direction but at the same time, I really liked Jung So Min as Mu Deok and I don’t know how season two is going to work. I feel like it’s not going to be the same.

They did a good job of wrapping up some of the plotlines in season one, like the backstory behind the Choi siblings, but at the same time there were some things that happened that didn't make sense to me. For example, how was So-i able to just dig out the worm just like that when it was supposed to be a threat to keep her under Jin Mu's control? And why would everyone die if Naksu used the ice stone? I also found Jang Gang's ending to be quite abrupt and not very satisfying. I feel like there could have been more closure for Jang Uk.

Season two airs in December, so the good thing is we only have to wait a few months to see what happens next! Hoping that season two will be as good, although I'm really going to miss Jung So Min and I wonder how the chemistry will be between Go Yoon Jung and Lee Jae Wook.

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The best drama i've ever watched

I write this review while still crying my eyes out.
I watch dramas since i was a child but after a few years all of them stopped giving me a certain feeling i always missed. After more than 7 years i got back that feeling while watching this. Since the first episode i knew that this was going to be one of my favorite dramas. Everything is just so special and unique, the plot is fantastic and they chose the best actors to tell the story. Every little detail behind their actions, the chemistry, the ost, this drama is just beautiful. Everything about it is perfect and so well done.

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Love it!

This was such a good drama!!! The chemistry of every couple was soooo freaking amazing!!! The plot and the cinematography were so good. Also the ending was perfectly timed to make the watcher excited for season 2!!! The side characters were also so good and the villians had such good storys! Overall just everything was so well coming togehter! And also all of the actors were doing their job soooo incredible that you can’t really describe it with words. For me this is a 10/10!!!!!! I also had so much fun while watching it and enjoyed the romance mixed with fantasy and action :) This was one of my favourite 2022 dramas!

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Excellent...until the end.

It can be difficult to hold the audience's attention for 20 episodes, and this show definitely did that for most of those 20 episodes. The story was interesting, not boring, a little funny and flirty but also serious and sad, there was action, there was romance, et al. Essentially, everything we love about k-dramas.

UNTIL the end/beginning of the next season...so idk if this is even the right place for this review😅The writers did such a beautiful job building the relationship between the ML and FL, and even though I knew that it wasn't going to be a typical "happy ending" for the two, I still feel like the ending was gimmicky asl. The path of resolution that we were on felt so right and like a really good setup for a season 2 story, and then we took a couple paths that really felt like a "but wait...there's MORE" moment that left me exhausted and definitely not motivated to watch season 2.

And, full disclosure, this could 100% be a me issue....but I HATE time gaps and also actor/actress changes. And once I found out season 2 occurs like 3 YEARS later and that my favorite character has a new/old face that we spent so long trying to forget about, the show immediately lost my attention. Am I so offended that I'm not going to watch season 2? No, I'm definitely a little sadistic like that 😅But I also hope that I'm not still left thinking about how great season 1 *could* have been.

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Alchemy of Greed

I have mixed emotions about its finale last night. I think the last two episodes that were aired this week were mostly fillers, only to get salvaged by the last few minutes of the finale.

It is very evident that the production value is massive. I am greatly impressed with the CGI and special effects; and actors delivered very well.

What the show’s failure for me is that the writers have become greedy and introduced so many plots and subplots. They failed to maintain balance by at least giving closure to a few points. There were moments the writing’s juxtaposition is off-beat, and I am very sensitive to this when there’s body switching involved.

Jang Uk and Mu Deok’s love story, surprisingly did not make my heart flutter. Surprisingly, it was Park Jin and Maidservant Kim’s love story I find most entertaining and lovely.

I have a lot of questions left unanswered. This is why I felt betrayed and annoyed than happy and excited.

1. In the trailer preview for S2, the OG Naksu’s body is back. How is this possible when we all saw how they burned her dead body in EP2.

2. Where is Jin Bu Yeon/Mu Deok’s soul? Did a soul switch happen? If not, why did Mu Deok’s body get petrified if she was indeed a powerful priestess?

3. Who is Jin Bu Yeon’s real father? Is it really Choi U Tak or Jang Gang?

I also think the writers (Hong Sisters) were fans of Game of Thrones since I found a striking similarity with the Red Wedding and The Unburnt Queen.

I understand cliffhangers but this one’s became a bit greedy that it made me feel annoyed and unsatisfied. They could’ve pulled off an Atty Woo kind of closure to keep the viewers happy while waiting. I will still watch Season 2 as it airs in December and see if I get the closure I need.

I find the drama still enjoyable and decent to watch. Let’s see how it goes in total when the series ends.

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A Thrilling Fantasy Tale

Normally I'm not drawn to a fantasy genre, but this had such good reviews, and I'm a fan of actress Jung So Min so I thought I would give it a few episodes. I was caught up in the story from the first episode. The strength of this drama are the visuals, from costumes, to sets, to the actors, to the CGI magical effects, it has been done with great quality and attention to detail. I also enjoy period pieces that mix some modern-day touches in with the historical. The production transports you into the fictitious Daeho and makes you feel this is a real place. The ending surprised me, that is all I will say about it. However, it did end in a way to set up Season 2 and I'm thrilled there will be a second season. It is well worth the 20 episodes.

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Watched because Somin was in it

Somin is the reason I decided to finally watch this series and I enjoyed her role, which to me was that of the main/central character. I would imagine that when this series ended in 2022 that the last few scenes, especially the one where Mu Deok / Naksu is seemingly being lifted up from the depths of the lake, offered the hope of a continued role for Somin. How disappointing it must of been (and is to me now, having just finished Episode 20 a few minutes ago) to learn that Somin wasn't going to be a main character in Part 2. While Part 1 of the series was entertaining, I doubt I'll be watching Part 2.

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Absolutely amazing series. I enjoyed every episode. No need to skip. Each cast member played their roles well. The acting was amazing, music and wardrobe were amazing. I truly enjoyed how the history of some were revealed. As the series progressed we had an opportunity to see the potential and background of some characters. I like the leads together. They also did an amazing job. The chemistry between the leads was sweet and you could really sense their bond.

FL was consistent throughout the series. She had a major character growth but her determination always 🔥. Even in her weakness she managed to display such strength. ML was fun to watched. He grew as a man, character and skilled person. I liked his character so much. He was such a kind person.

One thing that stood out to me was that 95% of the cast were good people with only 5% being being somewhat wicked.
No misunderstandings. No missing elements. I actually rewatched a few scene’s.

The negative: which may or may not be a negative. The ending was a cliffhanger. There was no closure. It was like a commercial break. Apparently there’s a season 2 coming, but after my “princess agent” let down, I’m anxious.

Aside from the cliffhanger ending I can’t find anything I didn’t enjoy about the series.

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What a show!!

Alchemy of souls was an amazing watch. I had been postponing watching this show for a long time. Now that I've binged watched the first season, I am regretting not watching it sooner.

Story- Script of the show is very well rounded bringing some of the most amazing characters to life. The MLs story arc in parallel to FLs is very well juxtaposed. I thoroughly enjoyed their growth as main characters. This has good romance, heart fluttering moments, humor & emotional scenes. The story was fast paced, loved that things moved quickly even for a 20 episodes show, which made binging this even more enjoyable. The chemistry of the cast is top notch.

Cast- Couldn't have had more amazing cast than this. I've been a fan of LJW from Extraordinary you. He is such a talented actor who comes off so natural. His portrayal of Jung Uk is splendid. Jung So Min is also a favourite of mine, she was amazing here to watch. They have such a good chemistry , really liked their scenes together, even of just talking. I also liked the actor portraying Master Lee, such a fun guy. Other supporting cast also were phenomenal.

OST - the background music added the flavour which makes this show unique in fantasy- historical Kdrama space. OSTs were really good and matched the tone of the show.

Special effects- Production team really did the effects well, which made the scenes even more fantastic.

Ending scene of this season was so epic that knowing there is next season available to watch, I could sleep in peace. I plan to watch season 2 now, thought to write this review while season 1 is fresh in my mind.

Give this show a chance if you haven't yet, you'll not be disappointed. This deserves the classic tag already.

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Oh, how I wish they'd ended the drama with episode 19!

A complicated, convoluted, interesting, fast-paced story with lots of characters, CGI, stunts and color. It was beautifully filmed. I loved the color palettes used, the juxtaposition of the lights and darks to represent good and evil. The scenery was beautiful, the stunts and CGI were really good and I was all in until the end of episode 19. I will come clean and say that I’m not a historical drama lover and I don’t go out of my way to watch action/fantasy. Give me a good romance and we’ll call it a day. I loved how we got a bit of 21st century in the way they talked at times, as well as with the hair and makeup for the cast. THANK YOU for not putting all the men in the giant, ridiculous hats. The hairstyles were pretty much current, without all the extra, complicated ornamentation that they tend to use in historicals.
THE CAST was really good overall, but the standouts for me were:
Lee Jae Wook as Uk. Played immature very well, and I really liked watching him grow into his powers. He’s gorgeous to watch and he’s subtle. I am fascinated by him for some reason, I've liked him in everything I've seen of his. PLEASE make him a ML in a true, honest-to-goodness 21st century romance!
Jung So Min as MuDeok. She did amazing things using only her eyes and facial expressions. I could totally buy into her role, and becoming more human as she went along. She was able to change from being the master to the servant in such a way that you weren’t pulled out of the drama. I have liked her in all the roles I've seen her in, she's very natural.
Hwang Min Hyun as Seo Yul. For the first few episodes, all I could think of was Che Eun Woo every time he was on screen. That eventually went away, and I loved his acting. This was another part that required subtlety, using eyes and micro expressions. My heart hurt for his character. Strangely, I cried for him.
Shin Seung Ho as Go Won. Initially, he was kind of a caricature, larger than life, obvious makeup, stiff hair that looked like a football helmet. I thought, “Oh, I’m going to hate him.” His character was wonderful, and I liked the bromance between him and Uk.
Jo Jae Yoon as Jin Mu. I think I’ve only ever seen him as a bad guy, but boy, does he do it well! With that silver hair and that ice stare of his, he was creepy.

Characters/writing: There was a lot to keep track of, but I didn’t really feel like anyone was a throwaway. The writing was necessarily confusing, with all that was going on and I felt like I needed a flow chart for the towns, the characters, and the convoluted love stories (past and present). I loved how the characters called each other by their first names.
Chemistry: I can see why romance is third on the list of tags. If asked, romance wouldn’t be the first word I would use to describe Alchemy of Souls. However, the romance was wonderful from the standpoint that the leads had absolutely no idea how to go about being in a relationship. Their foreplay was arguing, and they did it well. Kisses – just wow. I also really liked the chemistry between MuDeok and Seo Yul, and MuDeok and Go Won.
Music: Fabulous OST. From the haunting opening song, the powerful instrumentals that sound like they are making use of Taiko drums, to the vocal tracks, the music fit perfectly. BIG Naughty’s Love Letter, is beautiful and dreamy. Gummy whispers her way through Raindrops. Car, the Garden’s Scars Leave Beautiful Trace fit perfectly with the Joseon feel of the drama. Jeong Sewoon, Just Watching You – I think he could sing the dictionary and I would be enthralled.
Rewatch value: This is low for me, because romance wasn’t the driving force.
Ending: RANT and SPOILER!! From a romance standpoint, episode 19 was wonderful, because after all the darkness, bloodshed and evil, we got an episode full of sweetness and light. This drama could have ended on episode 19 and I would have been perfectly happy. But noooo, you had to go there, you couldn’t let people be happy! The ending was set up specifically for a second season, which really irritated me. I hate open endings, I hate cliffhangers, and I hate being forced to watch another season of a drama that pretty much tied things up. So, I’m thinking season two will create more of the same problems that our main characters have already gone through. Of course, I have to watch it just to see what happens, and I’ll try to reserve judgment.
Should you watch it or not? I’d say definitely, especially if you are into historical dramas, fantasy and action.

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Iconic, expressive, complex and full of well-written plot twists

If you're looking for a well-written story, with the perfect cast plus plot, then here we are! Alchemy of Souls is unexpected in a sense that it surprises you just around the corner when you don't expect it at all. And that's part of the magic. But, let's deepen the analysis based on some aspects:

1. Story: quite simple at a first glance, however, as the plot thickens, there are many aspects of human behavior and profound desires being depicted and they're all relatable and even questionable. I mean, who doesn't want to live forever? That's the pretty basic premise of the series and it's been skillfully developed through 20 episodes. If you're looking for loopholes, let me tell you: there are next to none as everything in the plot is explained in details and hinted during the whole drama.

2. Characters (and cast): Do you crave for chemistry AND comedy? Well, come aboard, little one! The main characters are basically Naksu/Mu-Deok and Jang Wook, but there are many others as they are crucial for the story. Naksu/Mu-Deok goes far from what is expected of a woman in historical drama. She was an assassin and now possessed a body as Jang Wook's servant. I won't give any spoilers of the plot itself, but it's wonderful and refreshing to watch their interactions. They're fun, manipulative, and capable of anything as you'll see on screen. The other characters are also interesting and intriguing as there are lots of secrets and hidden things between the three great organizations and the royal palace. You are going to bite your nails and be on the verge of a collapse at the end of every episode after watching half of the drama. The acting skills of every actor in well constructed and alligns with their roles pretty well. The highlight is the shades of comedy and drama as the characters drive between them.

3. Soundtrack: just listen to the whole soundtrack on Youtube and blow your mind. Every chosen song fits perfectly the scenes, and the lyrics are fantastic!

4. What to expect on second season? The main plot of Alchemy of Souls is yet to be completely understood by both the characters and us. Are there things to be said and done in second season? Of course! And I'm down to binge-watch it as soon as possible.

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What an masterpiece..Jang uk is a legendary character in K drama history. I cannot even think anyone else replacing this character. I feel like fan girl from Korean old dramas. Where you cannon skip a single scene but rewind it again to understand every detail.This drama is like a brain puzzle you need to solve with amazing acting and CGI. Every kind of emotion is there. Truly mesmerising one kind of K drama. This genre is new

Lee Jae wook acting is top class. Also perfect body and voice for the role. So handsome above anything. As a drama student I wonder how he act so real like that. He is calm but you can feel fire. He is sad but you feel motivation in there. He is so playful and adorable like spoiled brat but you cannot hate but love him. And audience do. That's why he is so talented.

So min she is the other one in this drama. Eventhough she is older than main cast we didn't recognize it at all. She blended well. As her body and soul is different she has demonstrate that so well.

The chemistry of main couple is out class. I have to give that to Jae wook he is 24 and So min is 33 years old. But so matching chemistry both. I know Jae wook called as Noona killer. But even I wondered will this work out or not.

Then most important part ancient F4 Jang uk,seo yul,Dong gu and crown prince Go that's so funny and so delightful to see. Specifically uk and go couple those two are actually a couple 🤭🤪.

And scenes and OST blend so well. I cried once hearing OST but that scene was not sad.

Overall for the first time in history I felt likI am watching a fairy tale . I didn't do anything but stare at the TV whole time .Just lived in drama.

Fun fact my whole family watched the series and this is their first Korea drama ever.

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