Reviews

cute, angsty, adorable

This will go down in history as one of my all-time favorites. I regret not watching this sooner.

This may not have been my ji Chang Wook awakening, but I love him all the more for it. He is best boyfriend material.

I have to admit: it does take a second to get used to the old style of filming, but I LOVED IT. I wasn’t sure about it at first, BUT IT IS SO GOOD. THIS IS 100% A CLASSIC.

The romance was just everything. It was so good, and I love the Superman hidden identity of Healer. He’s so charismatic. It was just SO GOOD. I got addicted to the OST, and it brings an onslaught of feelings everytime I hear it.

“ITS A BEAUTIFUL FEELING ~”

I will be rewatching this drama every December because it was just so good. It was kind of(?) a slow burn, but that made the angst feel so much more angsty.

Park Min Young was absolutely adorable in this drama. I’ve only been used to her as a kept-together woman, but she was so cute in this. Her acting is so versatile, and I loved her in this. ONE THING THOUGH. They did her bad with the haircut in the second half. Her hair at the beginning was perfect, but they cut it too short later. It’s okay though, because she still rocks it.

Overall, I will keep this drama in my heart as a classic.

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wholesome, heartwarming, tear jerking, adorable

I will never stop saying good things about this drama. I started on a whim and fell in love. Just one more episode turned into let’s binge all of this. Waiting every week for it gave it a certain charm that just made it all the more enjoyable.

The best thing about this drama for me was the characters. They made everyone so damn likeable (except Cheungi, Eun Bi, and Yong Pil dad). Like genuinely, I would’ve watched a whole drama based on anyone of the characters. They’re all so wholesome, and the entire town is so cute. It’s such a close knit family, and they may be nosey at times but it’s because they care.

This was my Ji Chang Wook awakening. I have missed out. Then, I went to watch his other dramas, and I LOVE HIM EVEN MORE. He is so golden retriever coded. Lord bless me with a Cho Yong Pil.

The sisters were all so spectacular in each of their own way. I wish they gave more screen time for the other two sisters because their story was so worth it. THEYRE SO CUTE I SWEAR. The rich guy is such a puppy. He never did anything wrong. Hae-dal and Ha-yul are absolutely adorable. Hayul is a national treasure, and I can’t wait to see how the actress grows up.

The love story. IM DYINGGGGG. I thought I would be annoyed, but they did it so well. They’re very mature about it, and I love them so much. The Power Rangers are iconic, and I wish everyone could have friends like that.

THE MOM. Let me tell you, I love this woman. I love this actress too. I’ve seen here everywhere, and she ATEEEEEE.

This drama made me go through all the feels, and I feel so full from it.

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Suffering from withdrawal after binge watching both seasons

STORY 9.5/10
Alchemy of Souls takes place in the fictional world of Daeho and it blends fantasy, action, drama, political intrigue, comedy, and romance, achieving an amazing balance. The central plot focuses on the male lead's journey in the mage world and as well as how the female lead and male lead become entangled in the political intrigue of Daeho. The male lead's underdog narrative was so compelling to watch and I was rooting for him and the female lead's success the entire way. There were other interesting subplots that intertwined with the central plot well. I loved that romance wasn't the focus, but I also thought it was the weakest aspect of this season. With all the other things going on in the story, the romance felt relatively underdeveloped and I didn't feel any romantic chemistry between the leads.

Pacing was slow at some parts of the story with heavy dialogue, melodrama, and not much story progression. I remedied that by watching at increased speed. Some details felt unexplained or missed. I believe the 20 episode count could've been reduced for better pacing and tighter storytelling.

ACTING/CAST 9/10
While I enjoyed the male and female leads' fun and chaotic dynamic as servant/master and master/pupil, I had a hard time seeing them as potential lovers in this season. I enjoyed Jung So Min playing Mu-deok, but because of how she portrayed her character with her snark and constant annoyance at the male lead as well as her character's attempts to distance herself from him emotionally, it hindered any perceived romantic connection between them. I just didn't feel any romantic chemistry between the lead actors.

I was impressed with the male lead actor, Lee Jae Wook, in this series. Among his cast of young peers, he stood out with his versatile acting, deftly switching between humor and seriousness. He held his ground next to his more veteran peers, including his lead actress, Jung So Min. Lee Jae Wook's performance elevated the series and converted me into his fan.

The leads have a great supporting cast. I especially loved the relationships the male lead had with his father figure, Park Jin, and mother figure, Maidservant Kim. Master Lee Cheol, the deceptively young but sage mage, unexpectedly became my favorite side character.

MUSIC 10/10
The soundtrack complements the series well, offering appropriate and enjoyable music.

REWATCH VALUE 8.5/10
Given the 20 episode count and some pacing and storytelling issues, the rewatch value is slightly lower for me. However, with engaging plots, an entertaining cast, and great production, it could still be a fun rewatch.

OVERALL 9.5/10
This series had great production quality with a stellar cast amid gorgeous sets and landscapes. While it succumbed to some typical tropes and pacing issues, they remain tolerable due to compelling storylines and an entertaining ensemble cast. I binge watched both seasons consecutively and will dearly miss the world of Daeho and this cast.

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Started strong. But didn't finish that way.

The first few episodes I really enjoyed, there was a lot of whimsy with the four cupids and how they went about their job. And I liked the storyline of a Cupid who falls in love with a mortal.

But the serial killer murder mystery attached to it felt a little too serious and dark for how it started. I hadn't seen the FL in any main roles before, I found if she was doing something that required emotion, her eyes go dead, especially when she smiles. I don't know if she has Botox or filler or something but there is no expression happening on that part of her face

And her character made so many bad decisions that it was hard to watch, at one point when she gets beaten up and I didn't feel sorry for her. Every time someone tells her to stay safe and not go outside she continues to go outside. Until the point they want her to evacuate a car, and then she won't and almost dies again. I found that part of the storyline so frustrating.

Maybe because I disliked her character and the way that she portrayed it so much I didn't feel that there was much chemistry between the two of them. At one point he asked to spend the night and I went into it thinking it was platonic until the moment that it obviously wasn't. And even then it seemed odd to see them together.

The ML is easy to like, I think he was cast well. I would have enjoyed it more if they didn't have such a sinister murder storyline tied to it and would have kept it whimsical the way it started. Either that or start it a lot less whimsically and make it have more thriller vibes.

Also the little girls bedroom at the end, that sheep in the teepee is super creepy. And that might have been the strangest thing that has rhymed that I've ever written.

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A lovely, wholesome watch

I really enjoyed this drama. It wasn't perfect, but wholesomeness of the characters, and the superb acting (perfect casting) had me coming back every week for more. I seem to have gotten a lot pickier over the years and it's become hard for me to stick to a drama as it's airing unless I'm enjoying each episode.

There were definitely things that we got too much of - literally no one cared about the second-lead? (I feel like he doesn't even deserve that title) weird one-sided love that lasted wayyyy too long. And then there were things that we wanted way more of like the youngest and oldest sister's stories (past, present, and future).

This drama had some beautifully written characters and development though, and that's what had me crying at some parts when their love and humanity shines through.

Plus, I understand the Korean dramas tend to be focused on the female perspective since that's their audience, but I would have loved to get some more focus on our male lead, Cho Yong-pil, too and see his life and perspectives fleshed out a bit more so that we could see why he fell Sam-dal and why he loves what he loves. I will say that the way Ji Chang-wook was constantly staring with so much love in his eyes, I had no trouble believing it (I just wanted some more backstory about his life).

The chemistry our main couple had was great, and I even wish we had some more scenes with kisses and other gestures of affection, although they are great at staring into each other's eyes affectionately.

The small town ensemble cast was wonderful and they all brought so much energy and fun to the screen, which makes you understand why small towns where everyone knows everyone can be a bit exhausting or frustrating when everyone knows your business, but also that it's a home you can always turn to for support.

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I swear people will give anything that’s sad and flashy a high rating

I feel like I’m reading The Emperor’s New Clothes whenever I read glowing reviews for this drama. Oh, the director is a famous movie director who doesn’t typically make those silly dramas for the plebs! It must be good!
Yes the leads are tremendous actors. But their characters and the story they’re in are crap.
I finally gave up after episode 7, when I realized the intrigue suggested early on wasn’t actually producing anything of interest. I never for one second thought anything would happen in that motel, but it was nothing to the point of providing no real development either.
And I know from reading recaps of later episodes that still 11 episodes in people weren’t clear on what exactly happened with the FL.

There were some comments on Dramabeans about episodes and they sum up issues with this drama perfectly. For example:

“ I don't mind slow pace but I don't like 10 minutes of decent moments between the leads and 50 minutes of random tedious secondary characters. If the plot is only about BJ and KJ becoming friends there is not much development, it's been 7 eps and they don't even really like each other.
What is the plot? Get two sad, mildly interesting people and have them become sort of friends while having a ton of boring filler characters annoy them?”

And also this:

“That leads to one more reason this drama has become questionable, after this week, the eps are seeming more like sadness porn than any intimate construction about a relationship between two troubled people. This is what ep 1 promised, but instead we get about 50 min per episode of repetitive boring secondary characters in random sad moments. We don't need more of the MIL being selfish, the husband trying to be nice but distant at the same time, the ex-girlfriend being sorry for herself, the girl that tags along showing interest in KJ and ignoring Just while Just basically ignores everything but her. Those are the same scenes being replayed over and over but not adding anything to the plot.”

The show was a meandering, pointless mess. It is certainly not on the level of My Mister, which truly is a masterpiece.

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Welcome to Kdramal-ri--stay awhile, you will enjoy this!

This is what good Kdramas are all about. A well-written story full of delightful characters, all with their own stories to tell who take the viewer on an amazing experience. The main word I would use to describe it is heartwarming. As the main character returns to her hometown due to a scandal, she must confront a past tragedy and grief that influenced her decision to walk away from her one and only love. He too has to confront the past, the pain of losing her, and the influence his father's grief has had on his life. The two main leads did an exceptional job portraying the simultaneous emotions of heartache with attraction, and walking on eggshells with their parents. I don't think they could've gotten better actors than these two. They were so genuine with their roles and characters, with each other, and with family and friends. It was like two best friends who actually grew up together said to each other one day, "Hey let's make a movie!" Well done Ji Chang Wook and Shin Hye Sun!! And who could not help but fall in love with the Haenyeos?!! Set and filmed in both Seoul and Jeju Island, the cinematography will stir the traveler in you to get on a plane and visit these beautiful areas of South Korea. All of this wrapped in a good soundtrack and you've got the makings of viewer nirvana, which is actually what it was. Great story, good subplots, great acting, great locations, music, and a good ending. All that's left is to grab the popcorn, curl up on the couch, and watch!

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A healing story taking place in Jeju-do, a haven for the exhausted dragons.

“I’m going to become a dragon that rises from a small stream.” – Cho Samdal

A hometown (고향) is not just a place, it's a root, an identity, an experience, an memory. A hometown allows somebody to feel a sense of community and belonging. The story primarily unfolds in a hometown called Samdalri, nestled in the enchanting destination of Jeju-do.

“Yong-pil once told me no dragon can rise from a small stream by themselves. They get help from the loaches, mandarin fish, and frogs in the streams.” – Cho Samdal

This drama is about healing, forgiveness, family, friendship, love, and selflessness. Cho Samdal left behind her thriving career as a photographer in Seoul and moved back to Samdalri after 8 years of vacancy. By doing that, she also left behind her identity as Cho Eunhye, the workaholic tsundere, to find her true self as Cho Samdal.

“The migratory birds pursued their youthful dreams, but they eventually flew back to Jeju, their home.” – Cho Samdal

However, this drama doesn't only follow her path, but showcases the healing journey of all Samdalri's people.

- Ko Mija: A mainland lady who became the leader of the Haenyeo (해녀) mourns the loss of her old friend, Bu Mija.
- Cho Sangtae: A fool in love who saw his world shattered after the loss of his soulmate, Bu Mija. Since then, he is blinded by hatred towards Ko Mija, thinking everyone forgot the memory of his wife.
- Cho Haedal & Cha Hayul: Haedal was pregnant with Hayul at a young age and put a hold on her promising swimming career. She is also a widow. Hayul is a thoughtful and mature child who wants to protect her mother. The dynamics between them was my personal favourite.
- Cho Jindal: The eldest out of the three sisters. She married into a rich family and was mistreated. She always stands against unfairness and persecution, never failing to protect those weaker than her. At the price of her career, she denounced her family in law and their heinous actions.
- Cho Yongpil: The embodiment of selflessness. He always had a knack for helping and saving people. From decorating Ko Mija's buoy with a floral pattern, to pushing away his dream of joining the WMO in Switzerland, he always thought of his loved ones before himself.

“Your dream doesn’t always have to be a job. You two are my dream.” – Young Cho Yongpil

I mainly loved this drama because it tackles a topic that has rarely been addressed: Haenyeos.
Inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List since 2016, Haenyeos belong to the heritage of South Korea. The soaring Hallyu (한류) Wave is a great opportunity to showcase the culture of Haenyeos to the world through media like Korean Drama.

You won't see vengeance. The female lead is not a proactive character hungry for revenge. She is passive and doesn't want to retaliate against those people who wronged her. Whenever Bang Eunju looks for more ways to stain Samdal's reputation, Samdal chooses not to react. She tried to tell everyone that it's not true when she was in Seoul, but everyone turned their back on her already. Her friends and family, however, can't stand seeing Samdal be wronged when she didn't do anything and will do everything to free her from the dungeon of malicious articles and comments.

Throughout her journey in Samdalri, Cho Samdal realized that there are people who loved her. This is why it is important to go back to our roots, to remember where we came from and who we were before. Dwelling in the past isn't a good thing for sure, but it's unhealthy to completely erase it from our memory. Nostalgia isn't a toxic feeling when moderately consumed; it is a proof that we have accomplished beautiful things in the past that should inspire us to accomplish beautiful things in the future.

This story moves us, much like the azure waves of Jeju Island, and reminds us that it's okay to not be okay.

“The sea is the best place to be when you’re troubled. It’s peaceful and no one bothers you there.” – Ko Mija

“As always, we’re going for only as long as our breath allows without being greedy. And whenever we’re out of breath, we’ll come back to that place. Our small stream, Samdal-ri. Having a place to return to is an incredible relief.” - Cho Yongpil and Cho Samdal.

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One of the best blends of fantasy and romance K-Dramas.

Story:
Enthralling story that is well-paced throughout the entire show. A visually pleasing background with the story is one of the main things that you'll see in the show.
The story is one that I find to be captivating, but it does feel a little confusing at moments.
Perfect for people who are interested in a simple, gentle romance alongside a fantasy story.

Acting/Cast:
Amazing acting by the main cast, nothing to complain about here.

Music:
10/10 OST playlist. Anything by Punch is guaranteed a 99% chance to be a banger.

Rewatch Value:
This is one of the shows that I may rewatch for the funny scenes, but not much of a re-watcher myself.

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One word: Very bad!

I did not had any expectaction from this series, because in the past one year, Taiwanese BL become more and more boring. It is like the Directors don’t have any ideas how to mantain a good BL series, with a good plot and story in general.
It is very surprising for me to see so much “innocence” in Taiwanese Bl, since Taiwan is very liberal and open to LGBTQ+. When I compare Korean Bl with Taiwanese BL, definitely Koreans are taking a first place. Koreans, as very limited in undesrstanding LGBTQ+, they are more surprisingly opened in bl series and their “Innocence’ is totally legit.
Well, about this series…I don’t want to spill bad words or to offend the fans of Taiwanese bl, but definitely this series is waste of time. Bad acting, bad chemiistry, bad story…simply BAD!
I gave high rate 6.5/10 only because I respect Taiwan and I adore Taiwanese people. Otherwise, I could give barely 1 point.The Boss is really good looking and that’s why I watched all 10 episodes, even I had pain in my stomach while I was watching. Even though he is good looking, still with no expression on his face, body language zero, even their kiss was so fake and with bad acting. On other hand, Liu Li presented as very naive guy, in that sense that he was stupid.
Anyway, this is only my own opinion from my own perspective, hopefully I will see some good and quality Taiwanese bl in the near future…

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sheer joy

It was such a nice drama, i loved it.
Refreshing, satisfying and so lovely
made me laugh so much and some time it made me cry
every actors were amazing
Shin hye sun and ji chang wook is my all time favorite actors so i have a special love for this drama.
As a person who watched most of the completed k dramas out there i am really amused by recent dramas.
There was a time i thought i want be able to find nice dramas anymore but dramas i watched recently were all amazing.
I am such a simp for feel good dramas
anyone who want to have a peaceful and refreshing time amidst this tiresome life ,i assure you that this series will be a great choice.
And the ost guyzzzz it was the bestt....
the song brings a nostalgic and happy feel to the whole drama that fills our heart with sheer bliss. This drama introduced me to this great song which is going to be one of my all time favorite korean song.

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Worth Getting Past The First Few Episodes

I really felt like the story picked up much more around halfway through, and it has been the most enjoyable ride ever since. Incredible acting and just a great comfort watch in general. all the characters are so cute, I don’t feel the need to skip through anything. It was hard for me to like the female lead in the beginning but once the story starting picking up pace, and we got to see her motivations and empathetic character come forward more it was a lot easier to enjoy the FL story and plight more. All of the characters are adorable in this show, and it was very cathartic with a wholesome & happy ending.

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A review coming from a sincere heart.

"Having a place to return to is an incredible relief". What a beautiful reminder. This kdrama has reached the depth of my heart in a way that I didn't think was possible. It reminded me that love is everywhere as long as you are willing to see it.
Home is place that heals your heart and gives you the power to keep going. Remember to stop once in a while and look around. When cho samdal finally realized how much her people loves her and started staring at them with a wide smile, the following phrase accured to my mind : it's everything you ever want, it's everything you ever need, and it's here right in front of you, this is where you wanna be. (from the greatest showman)
This kdrama has brought a lot of joy to my month, I hope you guys watch it heartfuly .

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