Alchemy of Souls Season 2 Review – A tale about a land inhabited by mages who protect the citizens from hideous looking dangerous soul sucking monsters anyone? Today we have for you the Alchemy of Souls Season 2 Review. Is Alchemy of Souls light and shadow watch watching? Let’s get right into it and find out.
Alchemy of Souls Season 2 Trailer
Alchemy of Souls is an action-fantasy, romance, period kdrama. Alchemy of Souls season 1 first premiered on 18th June 2022 with 20 episodes, followed by the season 2 on 10th December 2022 having 10 episodes. Season 2, Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow continues the story of Season 1. It is written by the Hong sisters of Hotel Del Luna fame.
Alchemy of Souls Review: Plot
Alchemy of Souls narrates the story of mages in a fictional country of Daeho. Legend has it that one of the great mages saved the country from destruction which also led to the birth of one of the most powerful objects in Daeho called the ice stone. The ice stone contains in itself enormous and unlimited power. It is also the only way that the forbidden magic of Alchemy of Souls can be fulfilled without petrifying the soul shifter.
Nak-su, a powerful assassin, while escaping the mages shifts her soul into a weak body of an orphan Mu-deok. While she tries to stay hidden and she must find a way to survive only Jang-uk, one of the descendants of the mages figures out who she really is.
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Alchemy of Souls Season 1 Ending Recap
[season 1 ending spoiler ahead]
In the last episode of season 1, Jin-Mu tests shaman Choi’s potion on Mu-deok. The potion has the power to hypnotize soul shifter upon the ringing of bells. Jin-mu proceeds to hyponotise Mu-deok, who under the influence of the potion, goes on a rampage killing whoever stands in her way. In such a state, Jin-mu orders Mu-deok to kill Cho Yeon’s father. Park Jin and Songrim chase a hypnotised Mu-deok into the forest where Mu-deok ends up killing Jang-uk and drowns in Gyeongchangdaeho lake as she petrifies. Two unknown figures drag the petrified Mu-deok out of the lake while Jang-uk reborns with the help of the ice stone inside him.
Alchemy of Souls Season 2 follows Jang-uk’s responsibility as the wielder of the ice stone, slaying soul shifters and protecting the people while mourning Mu-deok’s death. Jinyowon and Jin Ho-gyeong’s lost daughter, Jin Bu-yeon returns.
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Alchemy of Souls Season 2 Review
Alchemy of Souls Season 2 can be described in one word: underwhelming. Considering the expectations of season 1, season 2 performed quite disappointingly regarding the character arcs and storyline. Considering how anticipated this season was, it did not perform up to expectation. The pacing and tempo of the season 2 is definitely narratively better since season 1 began with a bang, ended with a bang, but it was quite bland most of the times.
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However, season 2 lacked in the providing the action and thrill of season 1 until the very end. Firstly because season 2’s emphasis on romance and reconciliation of the two leads, in a way, overpowered the fantasy and action of the show until the climax. Further, Nak-su’s powerful female character in season 2 was also subdued. In season 1 Nak-su, even as Mu-deok, still echoed her strength, power and knowledge which seemed lost in her season 2 version.
Many of the off-shoot character plots of season 1 seemed hurriedly put together by the end of season 2, not to forget that many of the important characters of season 1 such as, Park Jin, did not have much of a role in the second season and only appeared to facilitate the main story arc.
Despite this, the cinematography and special effects remained at par with season one. Alchemy of Souls is an extremely visually appealing kdrama, with great CGI and special effects. The acting skills of the cast is great especially Lee Jae-wook who plays the character of Jang-uk. Jang-uk’s personality change in season 2, post the events of season 1, is quite well-portrayed by Lee Jae-wook, who changes into a completely different version of the bubbly, cheerful, child-like Jang-uk that viewers are familiar with in season 1.
Alchemy of Souls Light and Shadow – JAL Rating
All in all, JAL gives Alchemy of Souls season 2 a 3.5 out of 5. Even though the tempo of the show and the unravelling of events is better than season 1, the romance overpowers the show many times. It also feels awkward how fast a mourning and trauma ridden Jang-uk accepts Jin Bu-yeon. Similarly, how the show handles the downfall of the antagonist Jin-mu seems quite anticlimactic.
Let us know how you feel about Alchemy of Souls season 2 in the comments and catch the show on Netflix.
