A highly entertaining absolute mess

It is hard to write a review of this show, since it has elements that are really, really good, mixed with stuff that is really, really bad.

The most irritating part Alchemy of Souls 2 is the main female character. We fell in love with Mudeok/Naksu in the first part of this show because she was this fierce, amazingly powerful figure who had suddenly found herself in a completely powerless body. She adjusted to being completely helpless by using her brain instead of her sword, and by using the increasingly powerful Jang Uk as a tool to eventually get her magical and sword-fighting abilities back (it was never explained how exactly that was supposed to work, but whatever). So, going into part 2, we were led to expect that the reborn Naksu/Jin Buyeon would eventually get back to what we think of as her true self.
Instead, we got an almost completely different person. The new FL is still smart and not afraid of anything, but otherwise a complete blank, and her main, or only, goal is to gain Jang Uk's affection. This is understandable - she can only remember the last 3 years of her life, in which she interacted with about 3 people, so she never had time to really BECOME ANYONE - but it is hard to connect her to her previous incarnation as Mudeok. As the story progresses, she starts to gain some of her old qualities back, especially her old fierceness (the scene in which she confronts Jin Mu is amazing). But, she only becomes her old self for fleeting moments, after which she again turns into helpless Jin Buyeon, permanently in need of rescue.
The FL's transformation could have been explored in interesting ways. Naksu's transformation raises an interesting question - can you still claim to be yourself if you have no memories of your previous self? To what extent do your experiences and the people around you make you who you are? There are a few moments where this comes up (there is one scene in which the FL is asked which of her four names she wants to use, and another in which Buyeon/Naksu realizes she does not even know who she is), but otherwise completely ignored.
Other things that were problematic:
-The plot and consistency issues: People acted in a certain way in one scene and then completely different an episode or two later, without explanation. Or they appear in places with no logical reason to be there, only because they are needed to advance the plot.
-The pacing and ending: The last 2-3 episodes were absolutely rushed, and there was very little tension in the 'big showdown' at the end, because so much was crammed into the last episode.
- Characters become one-dimensional (especially the villains). I loved Jin Mu and his evil genius in part 1, but in this sequel he becomes a bit boring, to be honest.

Now to the things that were really good:
- The visual: stunning costumes and sets
-The OSTs! There is not a single one that is bad, and many will give you goosebumps (Scars leave a beautiful trace, Aching, Blue Flower, to name a few)
-The romance: Even as you want to scream at Naksu/Jin Buyeon not being Mudeok, you can't help but be are drawn in by the increasingly dramatic and painful love story between ML and FL. The actors playing both will absolutely make you believe that nothing in the world matters more to them than the other person.
-Acting: next to the LJW and JSM playing the leads, huge credit goes to the actor playing Jin Mu - SPOILER - after he shifts souls. He became a completely different person! You knew straight from looking at him who he was.
- The humour is great. Park Jin's cooking skills are the best running joke in this series ("If you want to die, I will cook you more noodles!")
- The characters will make you root for them. Jang Uk, who really was an annoying brat through most of season 1, now becomes much more likable as a traumatized but incredibly powerful hero. You will love Naksu/ Buyeon in the moments when you don't want to shake her to come back to her senses. Of the supporting characters, the Crown Prince is really likable (and I really enjoyed his interactions with the FL).
- I loved how the writers drew connections to the beginning of season 1. SPOILER: In the last episode, Park Jin finally has to face the door scenario; Jang Uk fights a powerful adversary on a frozen lake Gyeongcheondaeho, shooting from a bow, which brings you back to Naksu's fighting the mages right at the start of season 1.

Even with all its faults, Alchemy of Souls 2 has HUGE entertainment value. I was not bored for a single minute watching this! And even if you don't agree with the characters' choices a lot of the time, you'll find that they stay with you long after finishing the drama.

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