Completed
Dew_dew
29 people found this review helpful
Aug 28, 2022
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Just wow!! One of a kind show! Great acting Great story!! Keeps you on the edge..

Completed watching Season 1. To be honest, I was anxious to watch ep 20. It was like waiting for a verdict. The expectation was huge and therefore I was afraid I would be left with disappointment. Thankfully none of these anxieties came true. I am feeling relieved, happy and satisfied with the ending. Couldn't be any perfect.

I posted this comment elsewhere too. I am recording this here again.

How was the season finale? A cliffhanger yes... but a good enough one. They gave us hope in the end (Jang Uk coming back alive and someone pulling Mudeok up as she drowns to the bottom). Finally got to see Jung So Min in action. Was waiting forever!!

This is just my theory for Season 2. They are projecting Crown Prince as being jealous and wavering but I believe he will be the one who will bring the truth about Jin Mu's schemes into the world. After all he is the only one aware of Jun Mu's hiding place and his schemes to destroy Uk! CP will also prove Naksu's innocence. Nobody else knows right? (About how she ran wild and was used by Jin Mu as a murder weapon). I also think that both Naksu and Mudeok (as priestess) will survive. That is because it is not yet come to light that Mudeok is none other than the eldest daughter of the Jin family. Also the youngest Jin daughter has a mission to find her and bring her back alive. Jang Uk will never let Mudeok (Naksu) die. And also we have Master Lee and the favor that Uk asked Master Lee by the lake if ever Naksu runs wild. Also, remember the poetry behind leaving the ice stone unharmed? Uk keeps on saying that the ice stone will be used to bring back the lover? Considering all this I believe at least 99.99% that Jung So Min will be back in season 2 even if Go Yoon Jung comes back as Naksu. Can't wait.

Jung Uk's body burning reminded me of Naksu's body which was burned. Hmmmm...

If Go Yoon Jung is back as Naksu and Jung So Min as Bu Yeon, then who will be the love interest of Jung Uk?

And imagine how powerful it will be if Naksu and Bu Yeon team up!! A powerful soul shifter and a powerful priestess!! Just wow!

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Completed
tangsyoons
21 people found this review helpful
Aug 28, 2022
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

THE BEST FANTASY KDRAMA OUT THERE


Firstly, I’m not really good at writing reviews but this drama compelled me to write one. I don’t even know from where should I start praising this drama? The plot, the acting/cast, the production, the music, where? Everything was just so PERFECT that it really makes this drama flawless. Yeah, there might be a few cliffhangers towards the end but we’ll have to wait for part two for that.
To begin with, I really really loved Jung So-min and Lee Jae wook’s chemistry. Trust me they’re one of those few on-screen couples who rule the viewer’s hearts. Totally loved watching them together. I hope we’ll get to see Jung So min in the part two as well, but i’m very much rooting for Go Yoon jung too!
Loved the whole cast especially Minhyun as Seo Yul and Shin Seung ho as the Crown Prince. Arin too did pretty good as a rookie. Everyone else too were very flawless with their acting.
‘Scars leave beautiful trace’ has to be the best OST in 2022. Been listening to it on loop since it’s release!! All the other OSTs too blend perfectly with this drama.
As for the story, it is something different from what we usually watch. This is not your usual historical or fantasy kdrama. The fictional approach to it totally does it the justice it deserves. Yeah it did end with some twists and turns and cliffhangers but the way the story developed was AMAZING. Every episode had me hooked and I couldn’t control my excitement for the next episode.
Overall Alchemy of souls has to be the best drama in 2022. It is the compilation of an excellent storyline, an outstanding acting/cast, marvellous cinematography and the melodious OSTs. And if you’re a fan of fantasy, adventure, romance, comedy, sageuk dramas then what are you waiting for? This drama is for you.. THIS IS THE ONE, ALCHEMY OF SOULS!

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Completed
AlchemyOfKDrama
9 people found this review helpful
Sep 5, 2022
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

My all time favourite drama!

My favourite genres for Kdrama are fantasy and rom-com and I absolutely love Lee Jae Wook. So when I found out that my favourite actor was starring in a show with my favourite genres, I knew that I had to watch it. I started Alchemy of Souls with high expectations from both LJW and the story. And I was NOT DISAPPOINTED! This show has been fantastic to watch.

The actors:

Lee Jae Wook: I had no doubt that LJW would excel as Jang Uk. I have been a fan of him since Extraordinary You and I loved him in Move to Heaven as well. I knew that he would be able to do Jang Uk and Alchemy of Souls justice. LJW does an amazing job at showing all shades of Jang Uk. Whether it's a charming Young Master, a willing pupil or a passionate lover - he was able to do justice to Jang Uk's character. He is expressive and knows how to set the tone and atmosphere of the scene. His chemistry with the other leads and support characters was a treat to watch. #UkkieDoekie and #GoJung are my OTP.

Jung So Min: I hadn't watched JSM's other shows so this was my first time watching her. And my god! She surprised me with her convincing acting - she was able to perfectly embody Mu Deok, Bu Yeon, and of course Naksu! Each character has it's own presence and I was never confused as to which character she was playing at a given moment or scene. After watching her in Alchemy of Souls, I am a true JSM fan! She, just like LJW, was able to form an amazing chemistry with the other characters - Jang Uk, Seo Yul, and Go Won being the mains ones. All with different stories and bonds.

Go Youn Jung: She was absolutely a delight to watch as Naksu at the beginning of Alchemy of Souls. I'm excited to see her reprise her role in part 2 of Alchemy of Souls aka Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow.

The story:

The story in my opinion is nearly perfect. I'd say it's impossible for a show to have a perfect story/script. Personally, the minor 1 or 2 imperfections in Alchemy of Souls are dismissable. The timing in Alchemy of Souls is impeccable, whether it's the comedy, romance, or intense fight scenes. They all come together perfectly.

I love how the story evolves for the leads from being strangers to Young Master and servant to Master and Pupil and finally lovers. The light and shadow brought together by faith, the character growth of the two is unmissable.

Jang Uk goes from being an childish unwilling, careless, and unbothered Young Master to a mature strong willed, benevolent, and passionate Pupil and lover to Mu Deok/Naksu. He isn't greedy for power and he isn't spiteful towards the world even after being subject to horrible rumour all his life. Instead, he is emotional, forgiving, and likes to believe in the good of people. He, throughout the whole show, the only person that believes in Naksu. The person that was misjudged all his life dares not to judge others. The Jang Uk that said that if he dies, so does Naksu in the beginning is willing to die for Naksu in the end. Literally.

Naksu on the other hand, may have started out as a merciless assassin, but as the story progresses we find out that it's far from the truth. She has been manipulated and lied to all of her life. Seeing her go from someone who is willing to kill anyone (even herself) so that she can regain her powers to someone that puts Jang Uk above anyone and anything else - even her powers - says a lot. The Naksu that threatened to kill Jang Uk at every turn in the beginning was willing to do anything to be by his side and save his life by the end. If you haven't figured it out yet, she's a do or die type of a person. Literally.

Special shout out to Seo Yul and Go Won (or CP/Crown Prince) for being well written characters that are smart, clever, and being able to question and figure out what's going on around them and when they're being manipulated.

The pace is perfect considering the tragic back stories of our leads. There is A LOT of foreshadowing and hidden meanings (both during what is shown and said by characters). If you're attentive, you'll be able to catch many of them.

Watching Alchemy of Souls while it was airing was a special experience of it's own. Everyday, people would come up with theories based on the episodes and it's previews. It was a pleasure reading fellow Alchemists theories and sharing some of my own.

Other things that make Alchemy of Souls my favourite drama of all time is the directing, the visuals and CGI, and of course the OST. The fight scenes and the visuals are some of the best I've seen in Kdrama. Naksu's fight with Park Jin right at the beginning was what, in my opinion, drew is some of the viewers. It was quite epic to watch Go Youn Jung as Naksu the wicked merciless assassin. Scars Leave a Beautiful Trace, Aching, and With You are my favourite OST from not only Alchemy of Souls but from KDramas overall. All of the OSTs hold special meanings to the characters and the story and if you listen carefully, they reveal a lot about the story (and part 1's ending).

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Completed
RemmyB
16 people found this review helpful
Aug 28, 2022
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 7.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

Starts with a bang, grinds to a whimper.

A series with so much promise that flaunts its brilliance throughout the first 8 episodes, before immediately falling flat in a so tangibly abrupt shift in pace, tone, focus and cohesion by the 9th episode and never truly recovering until the season finale, at which point the damage is done, and the great things about the show are not enough to fully sustain the level of intrigue it held from the starting gun.

A positive note is always good to start on. The cast and the acting, for the most part, ranges from satisfactorily well executed to brilliant and multifaceted. There's one major character (not the leads) who is either by design or by actor interpretation acted out so comically wooden it sticks out like a sore thumb because the rest of the cast is so much more vibrant in comparison. But the leads both do a fantastic job and the breadth of acting required is no light load either - the female lead in particular is challenged with the Herculean task of portrayed 3 different characters in one, many times one after another, many times in the same scene, and by the end I felt greatly moved; she did a fantastic and mostly believable job with all the characters, motions, and genres she's given. Oh, and the OST is great. No complaints from me, the main theme and all the schmaltzy lovey dovey songs are all captivating or exhilarating in equal measure. Aching I shall single out in particular; it will remain on my playlists for quite some time.

Unfortunately for me acting and a scorching soundtrack are very rarely the most critical factors in elevating a great show. Bad acting can kill a show's immersion but good acting can't salvage serious flaws in writing and direction. As the title of this review alludes to I was blown away by the execution on both fronts from the getgo, namely those 8 episodes that are so jarringly different in quality from the remaining 12 you can consider them separate seasons. Just as well too because there's a tight and plot driven narrative force to the first 8 episodes: from the jump there are deadly high stakes for both of our main characters, and for those 8 episodes our protagonists are sprinting toward the event horizon of these stakes and they build a deliciously simmering chemistry in the process of doing so. And then they reach this critical juncture of the story, leap the hurdle(s) in a moving and very complete sequence in essentially the season finale for that self contained first 8... and then the jet engines switch off.

From 9 onwards, the high stakes that are so pivotal to both help the narrative expedite onwards AND enable the outstanding, unique chemistry of the leads to shine just fades to nothingness. They're there, vaguely floating in the background but the show does a poor job thereonout of reminding the audience of their existence, most chiefly since the characters are barely aware of any stakes themselves. The tonal shift swaps to a romance lean heavy with an extra large helping of slice on life - which is not a problem in itself, had the show not packaged itself early on as something largely adjacent yet fundamentally different - a fantasy action epic with subtle romance. From thereonout the show bludgeons you with the romance like a hammer and if you've already bought deep enough into the love line of the leads, good, it's still more than an entertaining watch and plenty of fluff is presented on a silver platter to chew on. And chew on, and chew on some more because that's the half of the crux of the series for the next 12 episodes. The other crux is the interjection of some much less compelling side storylines (a notorious 'false identity' narrative perhaps the most reviled one - watch out for this one because it comes, it makes itself home and it doesn't budge until the season is done), the problems of which are exacerbated in no small part due to the visibly slowed pacing overall. Oh my god, the pacing, what happens? So it turns out this was never meant to be a 2 part, 30 episode stretch. From day 1 it was a 20 episode series - but corporate intrusion makes it mark and of course, such a fruitful series MUST have its pockets eked out of every last penny because no good thing can be left untouched. So 20 becomes 30, but 20 was never meant to BE 30 so it really ends up not being a 30 episode deal, but a 20 episode deal with some air blown into it to pad out the hours. But dripfeed the episodes with just enough romantic and comedy that from a light entertainment standpoint, it's still a fair watch, but underneath the surface the complexity of the storyline begins to buckle and wear out as needless lovelines and take center stage in their stead.

Character development is perhaps one of the biggest casualties of it all. Here's a fun challenge to undertake for anybody planning to finish this season - take note of every single major (read as: named) character in the series. Mark down every character that makes you stop to think, 'oh boy, what an intriguing idea and set up for a character. I can't wait for the show to start unwrapping this character and realising what they can do.' And then by the end of the finale, walk through your list and figure out for yourself how many characters actually had a chance over the course of 20 1.5 hour episodes to actually meet the promise they clearly have. Of the four major young protagonists only our lead has a chance to showcase any change at all (though thankfully his arc IS a phenomenal one - making it all the most bewildering that the other 3 could not be extended the same courtesy within this first season). Most underwhelming is a certain looming figure established so early on, telegraphed over and over to be a gamechanger of a figure who meets a drab end so puzzlingly anticlimactic that is sure to leave one scratching their head thinking: that's it? Huh. No emotional heft, no fully routed character arc, no lightning in a bottle revelation to up the narrative to that next level that feels just out of reach but never comes.

This is a case of producer interference turning a great thing into a under-realised one. What could have been a cogent condensed epic got milked into a still exciting and occasionally brilliant serial, so choked with so many bells and whistles in the name of financial greed that this gorgeously loaded premise somehow manages to overstay its welcome. Goddammit, corporate greed. There's a lofty, sweeping narrative contained in here and it's so overwhelmingly great when you get to see it.
But that just makes it all the more underwhelming when you don't.

7/10. Outstanding, inconsistent, sublime, disappointing, explosive, misfired. Let's pray Part 2 will be vastly more focused; there's plenty more underneath the surface to do some real justice with.

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Completed
ryoato
6 people found this review helpful
Jun 30, 2022
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.0

Headliner of 2022

Alchemy of Souls was one of those show that I at first was hesitant to watch. At first it looked confusing and something that I wouldn’t be too invested in, that it would just use its budget to entertain and not put much more effort into itself. But I was wrong and I’m so glad I was.

I’ve been looking for a new show to watch and just feel that I’d never be able to find anything like it. Alchemy of Souls is that show and it couldn’t have came at a more perfect time.

The story is easy to follow and I pick up on all the names of the characters because they are all interesting. So far I’m really liking the dynamics and relationships between the characters. There’s not a single one that I find written poorly and they all have a lot of potential.

As for the main characters it’s amazing how they are the best part of the show for me (as a lot of the times I watch more for a side character or the antagonist ) Jang Uk is so likable and a bit naive at times, but he is determined for very compelling reasons. He’s realistic and not over the top with his decisions, I find them charming because of his motivations and overall he’s my favorite characters. As for Lee Jae Wook who plays him, I’ve never a have saw a drama with him but now I really like the actor and an definetely going to keep up to date with his projects. None of the rolls seem out of place and the designs for the characters are stunning.

Mu Deok and Jang Uk are so good together in terms of the master-servant relationship and the the student-pupil. Mu Deok could’ve been one sided and flat, just wanting her powers alone. Instead she grows to care about others and realizes her actions have concequences. She’s not all evil but she’s not all good, I love anti-hero’s and to see a strong female lead come out of that trope is amazing.

I’m looking forward to each weekend for new episodes and for each one I just wish they only lasted longer. This drama isn’t perfect as none are, but it’s so good. It’s really really good. The idea of getting powerful and strong and being an underdog is always so entertaining. I can see how amazing this drama could be in the end and am positive about where it will go.

The slow burn is really amazing. To the last episode from the start it just gets better and better. And the finale episode was SO good. It was traumatizing and heartbreaking and tragic, I’m so excited for the second part !

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Completed
justjacky
6 people found this review helpful
Jun 25, 2023
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 5.5
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Overhyped. Quite disappointing. Mostly boring.

I was excited to watch this drama because of the high praise and rating on here. However I was quite disappointed. The story had great potential but fell flat for me. Most of the episodes felt like fillers as nothing much happened to advance the plot. You could probably condense the story into 10 episodes and still get the whole plot. In fact, that would have probably made me enjoy it a lot more.

ML story is the best part of the drama and I enjoyed seeing his journey. Unfortunately I can't say the same for the FL. Known as the greatest assassin, we spend all episodes watching her be a maid - clean, cook and run errands. She does have a sharp mind which she occasionally uses well but even that wasn't enough to make her an exciting character to watch. Their love story is sadly not convincing as I felt little chemistry and most of their romantic scenes were cringy. I actually loved the FL with the SML more and the fact that they had a connection since childhood made their relationship more real, sweet and wholesome. Even the older couple's love story was more enjoyable to watch than the main lead's.

Acting was good. Settings looked awesome. Fight & magic scenes were done nice but not enough. Overall, I would personally not recommend this drama to a fantasy lover. Cdramas (xianxia) are a much better choice in my personal opinion.

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Completed
ImpMarkona
7 people found this review helpful
Aug 28, 2022
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Amazing!

This show is just so amazing. From the unique characters, to the interwoven stories, and even the complex politics within. That grey area between good and evil is walked just wnough to really make you wonder who is really on what side. The fight sequences are amazing. The romances are beautiful. Everything just makes it such an immersive experience to draw you in. It is just so beyond phenomenal. I haven't had this much fun watching a drama (Korean or otherwise) in a long time. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new drama to get sucked into.
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Completed
Ukie_Rina_Charm
7 people found this review helpful
Aug 29, 2022
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

The Fantasy World That You Will Never Forget

The story of Alchemy of Souls is built on a strong foundation of imaginary world. It took times to understand the magic world of Daeho, but once you understand how everything works, you're gonna immerse in the story. If you like reading fantasy novel and watching fantasy tv show (both western or asian), Alchemy of Souls is a must watch. The story & characters are so well written, and you're gonna miss them so much once the story ends. People complains about the length of the story, but if you already in love with the world and the characters, you will hope that AoS will be made in 5 seasons at least. There are so many potential side stories, so many potential plot development. I like it how the writer's style of storytelling is so detailed.

There are lots of rookie actors in AoS, but their acting are really good. Even supporting characters are giving their best. Some part of the acting might annoys you, but overall, more than 90% of times, every characters gives a believable acting.

AoS Music is really good because each OST really tells the story of main characters' point of view. You can only listen to the lyric and you already know what happen in the scene. The list of singers are also fantastic. There's no bad OST in this drama, the album is no-skip album.

Overall, I can say that this is one of my favorite K-Dramas of all time. As a kid who grew up watching Wuxia and reading Harry Potter books, Alchemy of Souls brings plenty of nostalgic elements to me.

Sorcery stone mystery + Martial Arts action + Magic World + Wuxia Styling + Korean Romcom= Perfect

Thank you Hong Sisters for another masterpiece! Glad to know that I only have to wait until December for part 2. Gonna rewatching the series for 141627635th times.

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Completed
Dramaaddicts
12 people found this review helpful
Aug 28, 2022
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Don't miss this Masterpiece....

The best i mean the best which i seen this year. What an ending. 1 will give hundred out of hundred. Most of the dramas are lacking in their ending part. But Hong Sisters (writers) are different. They made a complete wholesome ending experience for viewers. This is a weird feeling, i don't know why . because may be after so many dramas i got an experience which i always desperate. Don't miss this guys...

I always had this hope before i started this, knew this is going to be the best because it's from the writer of masterpiece Hotel DelLuna. Even though there is a 20 long episode in the first season, still i didn't have any compliant, because every week the progress of the story is very interesting to watch. The script is stand tall all the time. Never have any compramise when coming to that. Hat's off to the writers for that.

Screenplay is also keeping that curiosity factor alive for the next episode. You will definitely fall in love with almost all the characters. Because it was lovely written. Making also wonderful. The story is big and for that reason they can't conclude everything with just 20. So it's renewing with a season 2. Which is coming this December.

Acting also top class. All the actors who done their role perfectly. They said it was a fantasy romance. But at first am not so interested in the romantic part also not bothered about the love triangle. But actually it's clean. I mean the triangle part is not boring. As i said after few episodes i had that curiosity how will they end up. And when coming to the finale episode the chemistry is amazing.

Alchemy of Souls is a must watch. Never miss this masterpiece. and lastly i want say something... All the writers of kdrams should learn from hong sisters. Not only the beginning but also the ending matters. Give me something which i can cherish for a long time..but not the crap forced ending... I want a complete satisfaction because i invested 16 or 20 hours for ur writing... thanks a lot. Hong Sisters, eagerly waiting what your going to make in season 2...

Don't miss... Must Must Must watch................

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Completed
OneAjhussi
8 people found this review helpful
Aug 29, 2022
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Ambitious fantasy kdrama which delivers

1/ STORY: Let's be honest, this drama is more a romance drama rather than a fantasy action drama. It is the story of two persons who have opposite backgrounds and they form an alliance to reach their own respective goal but they start to develop feelings for each other while they are embroiled in a conspiracy.

1.1/ The conspiracy (SPOILERS):
200 years ago, the power of the sky materialized into a stone that brought the ability for humans to shift soul, switch bodies, absorb the energy of souls or even bring back the dead to life by summoning his soul back. These spells called "Alchemy of Souls" created chaos since one mage used them for the first time. The chaos was then solved by a Master who had the power to destroy the stone but did not.

200 years after, an elite assassin is chasing and killing mages who have banned the Alchemy of Soul. But among them, conspirators are using the forbidden spells for their own specific objective.

The conspiracy is not complex but it is not explained in the clearest way. It is unveiled bit by bit through different events and characters like the pieces of a puzzle which slowly unveils the picture. It is not easy to handle as many elements are important but they need to be understood and "digested" quickly. It needs attention and this was sometime prejudicial to how I enjoyed the story. Plus the conspiracy is unveiled and "resolved" slowly over 20 episodes.

1.2/ The romance:
The elite assassin is forced into soul shifting to save herself an ends up in the body of a weak girl and she looses her powers. She is taken as a maid in a family of mages where the rogue son is trying to become the most powerful mage. He takes her as his master to train him. But slowly romance starts to develop between a guy who is very focused and plain on what he wants and who he likes and a young woman former assassin who tries to do her part of the deal but slowly falls for her pupil as she navigates between the blurred lines of caring as a master and caring as a lover. Their story is really cute with emotions and good action when they need to protect each other. In the end ... they can finally live happily ever after. Nope. It's a joke. But the way the two of them slowly come together as an item was nice.

Beside this, there are some sub romances and plenty of love triangles. They are rather cute and not annoying. The side couples have cute scenes and cute stories. The love triangles are not too intense, not confusing for the leads or for the viewers. In fact, they mainly underline the background and personalities of the characters rather than they create angst or opposition or dirty rivalry.

All these romances and love triangles accounts for a huge part of the drama to the point it feels like a romance drama but it is not annoying because most characters involved are good people who are endearing and I could not throw stones at them.

2/ CHARACTERS - ACTORS:
- Jang Uk: a lout with a sad background story but he is a fun person, a good and loyal friend, He keeps his cool demeanor and manages to develop his powers but he also has to face difficult choices. I liked the character. Lee Jae Wook perfect.
- Mudeok : Naksu in the body of a maid. I liked her evolution from cold blooded assassin to smart maid doing her best to improve her pupil and fighting her own feelings. She is scheming and strong but also really fun to watch. Jung So Min nailed the role.
- Supporting leads: Yul, Dong Gu, Cho Yeon : All form a nice company of friends with their qualities and flaws. Underused at times but important in the build up of the story especially towards the end.
- Supporting characters: Park Jin, Master Lee, Maidservant Kim, Master Heo: Good hearted and caring for the leads and friends. I like their personality, actions and the funny moments they delivered.
- Other likeable characters: Crown Prince, a man of his duty and position, benevolent but can be ruthless. Heo Yoon Ok, nice niece, helpful and understanding. Joo Wol intelligence service, a good friend and helpful hand
- Annoying character: The big evil guy. His schemes are bigger than he is impressing himself. At times he looked lost and funny but overall does the job as the villain. Mama Jin weak mum who redeems herself. Papa Jin also in a different way. Jang Kang unworthy father who goes wandering around the world and comes back home not wiser. So-i, terrible person but necessary evil.

3/ OST: Very good.

4/ REWACH VALUE: 20 eps is very long and the story unfolds slowly due to many cute fun moments of humor. Rewatchable it you have time.

5/ OVERALL: Honestly I expected more action and fantasy and I was served more romance and love triangles. Still I am not disappointed. I enjoyed the story the conspiration and the romances and the characters that I found interesting and endearing and fun. Of course, it is no secret this is a part I. I thought the ending was very good with great pace to build-up the climax and deliver the intense final. It sets up perfectly the part II which will probably have a different tone. Very enjoyable drama if you take time to assimilate the details of the plot and if you like cute fun characters. 10/10.

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Completed
Kim Sontoya
18 people found this review helpful
Aug 28, 2022
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 5.5

I'm unsatisfied with the ending

Too many loopholes. Too many fillers. Although I was entertained, I won't recommend this series to anyone as this will annoy them because of the plot twist - typical Hong sisters.

The only thing that I do appreciate a lot in this series is Jung So Min. She nailed her roles 20/10. I will be watching her other shows as I am intrigued by her acting.

As for season 2, Nah. I don't want to get annoyed again. There are too many other great dramas to watch.

The male lead, sorry to say this, has a lot to learn when it comes to acting. He's still young, though, and can still polish his craft.

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Completed
Dramaboy2709
10 people found this review helpful
Aug 28, 2022
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Just PERFECT DRAMA with great and unique story

At first I was sceptical about this drama because I am not a big fan of historical dramas, it's just not my thing, BUT....
I AM SO GLAD that I gave it a chance. It is PERFECT. From the cast, to the story and the OST, everything is just really good.
The tension at the end of every episode keeps you hooked like CRAZY. I almost couldn't wait for the last episodes to come out.
The chemistry between the leads and the acting as well is just on point. All the actors did an amazing job. And don't even get me started with the plot. I mean it is just UNIQUE, even though I've watched hundreds of dramas and most of the time I find myself not impressed with the story or by the "plot twists", but damn I was SHOOKED by this one. And I can't wait for the second part of the story to air. If you are looking for a sign, if you should watch this, there it is, I am your sign PLEASE, PLEASE go watch it.

It is just PERFECT!!!!

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Alchemy of Souls (2022) poster

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