Alquimia das Almas (2022)

A very neo take but the surge for the second season is what takes it to the doom

I just loved this drama so much from the very moment it began. My main reason to want to watch it would definitely be Jung So Min and Lee Jae Wook. I've seen them in their other dramas and is very much knowledgeable of their outstanding performances that they have already delivered. I was naturally drawn to it when I got to know the cast. Also, the hype around AoS was something that made me really curious.

I'll just cut to the chase about all that "I" felt.

It begins with an intriguing plot, with properly explaining what Alchemy of Souls as a spell actually is and how it differently affected both the male and female leads differently in their own stories. Now you are no more confused about the basic concept. Which I think is a great add on to this drama.

Soul shifting might get to become a very clumsy and messy thing when not shown properly but you won't have that problem here. It is very properly depicted.

The show starts off with a great chemistry. It is not your typical romance. Its a love that gradually grows till the point where they are ready to give all that it takes. I was just so happy how the chemistry just shone in the drama.

The comedy is ELITE! There is no dull episode. Even in the serious of the serious episodes it still makes you laugh. This brings out a very light and fresh air to the whole drama that has to happen in the drama, perfectly balancing out the spice.

Every character is a piece of art. Very very very well built as the person who they are and the core character doesn't change until the very end of the drama.

All of the links and relationships between the characters are perfectly woven and tied together. Not a single loose end.

All these perfect characters were given the justice they deserve by the actors who portrayed them. Props to the leads. Jung So Min's switches with her characters being Mu Deok and Naksu in a perfect cocktail..... she nailed it. Lee Jung Wook amazingly showed his naivity, innocence, valour and determination that the character required. All of the other actors aced their roles to a 100%.

The plot was intriguing. It seemed cliche' but wasn't. You'll think you know, but you won't. Yet you are still fully aware of what is actually going on. This explains the quality of the story and direction.

To a fantasy like this to come to life, it needs a solid made-up story which still makes sense. IT DOES! The Writers, Director, Cinematographer, Actors, all the people who did the CGI, the Singers all made their rightful efforts and brought it to life.

OSTs are BEAUTIFUL!

This is supposed to be your regular Wuxia but is not. It takes a modern take to it, which is very newly brought to the world of dramas.

And after all the happiness that I got from 19.7 episodes, I became utterly disappointed with that last 0.3 episode. All the things that should never ever happen, happen in the last few minutes to the end of the drama. Like whyyyyyyyyyyyyyy? The answer is to build the story to the next season which doesn't even make sense to me. I am sorry to say this, unlike others, I am not excited for the second season with the female lead change and all. How can Naksu get her original body when it was actually burnt in front of her eyes and not Mu Deok's body? However, its a personal preference. I don't like sequels with the change in leads. Utter Disappointment. This is the reason why my overall ratings fell down. I was devastated and I think it literally took away all the charm of the drama for me. I would've been happy with one season with a proper ending. So in my opinion, the last episode was rushed badly only to give the surge to want to watch the next season and that, for me, brings the doom upon a perfect drama. Again, it's my personal opinion.

If you are okay with this single thing, bro you need to watch this drama as soon as possible. It is a killer!

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The mix of romance, action, drama and comedy are excellent but slowly the plot bloats and pace slows . .

At the start, the romance with power games and the switching of who rescued who was a lot of fun. The main couple were fully fleshed out with clear motivations and back stories, and you bought the tension between them. In addition, who doesn't like the secret hero who is destined for greatness? By the end, though, the pacing seemed really off and bloated at 20 episodes. The older generation of mages got a lot of screen time and largely were boring and onenote. The villain also got a lot of screen time and was more annoying or slimy than compelling.

There were a few standout actors as the episodes went on. Both, Lee Jae Wook and Jung So Min were excellent at both the comedy and drama and had an endearing softer, buddy romance. In addition, there was a few standout side characters that did a lot with their roles mainly Seo Yul 'Autumn,' the Crown Prince, and Maidservant Kim. Shoutout to Master Lee as well.

The music was fine and worked well esp. with action scenes, there may be an occasional scene I'd rewatch esp. the more comedic or fun points.

I grade on other elements as well:

Complex themes: 7.5
Talented people can be motivated in different ways - don't hold talent back just because they can't learn steadily and linearly. No one is immune from greed - elders included. Being grounded in human relationships and human costs makes you less likely to succumb to fights of power.

Character Growth and Development: 8.5
By the end, the characters have to wrestle with whether they buy into the values they held at the beginning. Our main male character struggles with this the least, and fairly quickly realizes he cares much more for those who have helped and believed in him than any sort of ideological battle, but for most of the other characters it is a struggle.

Complex Women/Women centered plots: 6.5
This was abnormally bad for a show in 2022. While there were great women characters (indeed the female secondary villian was much more interesting than the male villian) none of them shared meaningful screen time with each other except to move plots forwards.

Cinematography/Production Values: 8.0
The fights scenes were thrilling and had an excellent musical score to them and were of high quality. There's a good amount of shooting outdoors by water or trees. The sets, costume etc. however were only average.

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Female lead Jung So Min ( Mu-Deok) will not return in season 2

The first season of this drama had everything right:
- good story,
- brilliant Female lead Jung So Min as Mu-deok/ Naksu
- sympathetic Male lead Lee Jae Wook as Jang Uk
- well written characters
- impressive villains

So watching Season 1 was a really pleasant experience ... until it became known that for season 2 they will replace female lead Jung So Min with Go Yoon Jung. She is the actress who appeared as Naksu for a few minutes in the first episode ( Lake scene ). To put it mildly I think her performance in that episode was expressionless and emotionless with no charisma.

Indeed I was not at all impressed of this drama before Naksu's soul shifted to Mu-Deok and Jung So Min game along. She is talented and charismatic actress who is also able to express all needed emotions.

I suppose that season 2 will be a big disappointment for me.

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Crying bleeding loosing SLAY and left no crumbles, be sure to watch this drama cause it’s like something beyond this universe🫕🥘🍛🍲🍜ㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄲㄱ

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hum não.....esperava mais

Eu sinceramente não entendi porque ás pessoas gostaram tanto desse dorama, tudo bem que eu mesma me enganei porque achei que seria naquele estilo de ação dos doramas chineses, estilo o tigre e o dragão mas ok, resolvi assisti inteiro achei que tem um excesso de personagens sem função que estão ali só para encher linguiça e são zero desenvolvidos além de ter vilões preguiçosos que não fazem nada a trama inteiro no melhor estilo pink e o cerebro e pior parece que todo mundo ali é descerebrado vários personagens, vulgos figurantes trocando de alma no mesmo lugar e ninguém desconfia de nada.
O motivo do pai do protagonista selar os seus poderes é risível o homem age no maior estilo ditador, intransigente sem nenhum motivo relevante e o mais bizarro ás pessoas seguem o que ele manda por que mesmo? acho que seria muito mais engolível se o personagem fosse filho de um demônio com uma humana e pudesse ficar instável no futuro, é clichê sim mas faria mais sentido.

Mu Deok, naksu, prometia mas ficou só na promessa mesmo no começo achei que veríamos várias cenas dela de luta, ação etc ficou só no querer mesmo o dorama inteiro ela fica no corpo da mulher frágil e é só, o papel dela se limitou a ser par romântico num casal que na minha opinião não tem muita quimica não me convenceu que são apaixonados.

Daí o uk ali num golpe de sorte consegue desbloquear os seus poderes, começa a se desenvolver mais rápido que os outros, mas chegou um determinado momento depois de muita encheção de linguiça e fofocas que ele ainda não seria mais forte que os outros magos daí sem mais nem menos ele resolve abdicar de seus poderes, esses que para variar são muito mal explicados.

A grande maioria dos coadjuvantes não tem muita função desenvolvimento e são em excesso tem uns com muito tempo de tela sem a menor necessidade, como o "mestre dos magos" o Lee.

tem outro personagem que poderia render e não rendeu nada que é outra decepção Seo Yul ele passa uns 9 episódios sabendo quem era a Naksu e nada falou, muita preguiã dos roteiristas.

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Wizards and Great Nonsense!

This show is so much fun, I'm a stickler for styling so the gratuitous K-pop hair made for a really entertaining watch in a Korean, and I use this word loosely, "historical" setting. Discovering tons of wacky terminology, following these decently fleshed out characters, and the queen that is Naksu... it's a great time!

Hell, it even reminds me vaguely (maybe more than vaguely) of Mo Dao.

Highly recommend to anyone curious, I looked forward to every week when they aired an episode and I am excited for the next season starting Dec.10th!

I'll keep it spoiler free, but I think my one issue is the joke they kept making about the prince and the main lead. It was kinda hurtful at times that they kept making fun of their interactions and how they could be perceived by others.

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A Most Watch

When this show was airing I started watching it then went to watch something else then came back and started watching it again after watching the first ep I became hooked. That is why this show, this K-drama is a must-watch.

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

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Alchemy of Souls (2022) - finished this after waiting every week for a new episode. This drama is good overall for me and the build up of the storyline with the revelations in between is also good. There are quite a large number of characters but its fine with me since I can still identify them. One thing that made me disappointed with the drama is the last parts. I think they drag the story to have a season 2. I can’t help but compare the ending of the drama to attorney woo as they are the ones I am watching together as they aired at almost the same time, and I prefer the ending of attorney woo than this one. I’m still gonna watch the season 2 since there are a lot of revelations and secrets that needs to be uncovered, but the excitement is not the same.

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Automatically Became my Top Drama

My confession: I started watching this drama because I had nothing else to watch after binging Vincenzo, and I couldn't find a drama to overcome my slump. Therefore, I had low expectations and thought I would drop it after the first episode. (I thought it would be another overhyped drama.)

However, it is NOT. I think I fell in love with everything about this drama. I enjoyed Jung So Min's acting in Because This is my First Life, and was surprised to see her in such a different role. However, she absolutely blew my mind. Watching the behind the scenes of her in fighting scenes was so cool because she moved so fluidly with the sword. No one could've been a better Mu Deok than JSM!! I also want to bring praise for Lee Jae Wook; this was my first drama with him as the lead. I think he suits Jang Uk so much, and he did a great job portraying sunshine Jang Uk, and in the second season with dark Jang Uk.

I honestly don't know why I doubted this drama. I love magic and fantasy dramas (like the Untamed and Who Rules the World; they're both C-Dramas). I am happy that Korea is starting to do more fantasy-related dramas that aren't in the modern setting. Daeho, being a fictional country gives more room for creativity rather than the Joseon era or a modern-day setting.

Additionally, the OSTs for this drama are so heartfelt. "Just Watching You" and "Scars Leave Beautiful Trace" are two of my personal favorite OSTs; they just add to the emotions.

If you are looking for a drama that will pull on your heartstrings, keep you on your toes, fascinate your soul, and make you laugh at the right time, then watch Alchemy of Souls!! And watch the second season as well. Although I will be watching the finale for it tomorrow, I am sure the ending will be fitting. Although, I am hoping for a happy one after all of Uk and Yeong's suffering... have hope :)

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Um dos melhores dramas de fantasia já lançados.

Que drama incrível foi esse. Fiquei receosa de começar esse drama já que não me agrada muito dos efeitos especiais que os dramas nos trazem, mas ESTE AQUI, é outro nível.

Além de ter uma história totalmente intrigante e inovadora, nós trás uma incrível cinematografia e original soundtrack. Todos os efeitos usados nesse drama foram muito bem feitos, e eu simplesmente não esperava isso, pra ser sincera, estava esperando uns efeitos meia boca que me lembram bastante os efeitos finais de Hwayugi.
Porém, me surpreendeu o trabalho bem feito que fizeram nesse drama, com certeza em questões de cinematográfia esse se tornou um do meu top 10, de tão incrível que esse dorama foi.

A história entre Naksu e Jung Uk, fez a história se tornar ainda mais intrigante e romântica. Afinal, uma assassina perdendo os poderes e se apaixonando pelo bonzinho engraçado? Só aqui mesmo.

O drama trás uma humor cômico para aliviar a tensão durante sua exibição, o que faz gostoso de se assistir afinal você não fica apenas intrigado, mas também se diverte assistindo.

Gostei muito do trabalho que fizeram com os vilões, principalmente a Xamã Choi e o Jin Mu, que estou preocupada ainda pois desconfio de tudo e todos em relação à essa magia das trevas deles.

Uma coisa que eu fiquei encantada também, foi a forma bonita que retrataram a amizade dos famosos "4 Estações", é uma das poucas amizades que você percebe um triângulo amoroso e no final ele continua bem, entendo o sentimento de cada um. Achei muito bonito como demonstraram o amor deles.

Estou bem ansiosa para assistir a segunda temporada para ver como será retratado esse final aberto que primeira temporada nos deixou.
Tenho até algumas dúvidas, como:,

1. Quando o Jin Mu irá morrer? (torcendo por isso)
2. O Master Lee irá encontrar um amor? (espero)
3. Quantos casamentos teremos na segunda temporada?
4. A So-I, o que acontecerá com ela? Ela irá voltar e ficar com o Seo Yul? (tô torcendo para esses dois)
5. Pelo o que parece a Naksu está em seu corpo original, então como ela conseguiu isso se ele foi queimado no início do drama?
6. O príncipe herdeiro irá se tornar mal? (Tenho esperanças que não, estou pensando que ele é um amor.)

Espero voltar aqui para responder todas esses perguntas quando terminar a segunda temporada.

Se você ainda não assistiu e está lendo isso, leia, com certeza você não irá se arrepender. Não é um drama só hypado, ele é, mas com motivo. É magnífico! 💕

Rj - 21:56

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un drama incroyable

Au début j’ai eu peur du côté fantastique que les coréens font h24 mais ne mettent pas en valeur.
Honnêtement ce drama est largement au dessus de mes attentes, de la saison 1 à la saison 2, chaque personnage est merveilleusement présenté, l’histoire nous tient devant l’écran toute la nuit!

Seo Yul c’est un Green flag total en passant, c’est trop une pépite.

Les cinématographies sont magnifiques, l’histoire aussi bien drôle que dramatique donne envie de passer à l’épisode suivant et que ça ne s’arrête jamais!
ps : prenez des mouchoirs si vous le regardez

un bon 10/10 largement mérité

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