This review may contain spoilers
The good things turned bad and the bad things turned worse
[SPOILER-FREE PART]I enjoyed watching the first part of the series (I wouldn't call it a masterpiece and it's not even a favorite, but definitely fun!) and I was hoping to see a somewhat worthy conclusion for this story in the second part.
Unfortunately, it looks like everything about the first part that I liked so much was nowhere to be found in the second part. On top of that, the writers somehow managed to worsen the aspects of the drama that were already bad to begin with. At some points while watching I started feeling like they were just making a fool of me.
For these simple reasons, this time around I don't have a list of things that I liked about the drama: the list of the things that I don't like just got horribly long.
[END OF SPOILER-FREE PART]
Starting with the things that were already bad that got even worse:
- The worldbuilding wasn't solid from the get-go, but I was at least hoping that things would stay relatively tame in that regard. Well, I was wrong! This Part 2 managed to produce a new magical artifact and create new magical powers at every turn, all while making the characters completely unable to use their magical means for no reason, all based on what the plot needed from them. The number of times I thought "wait, did that exist all along?!" and "why are you not using your powers/artifact?" might not be infinite, but it's still embarrassingly high.
- While P1 was not rich with fighting scenes, their number was still reasonably high. In P2 there's even less fighting. Also, while the FL used her sword in a couple of instances in P1, here in P2 she barely touches the sheath once and never again. I was looking forward to the rebirth of Naksu and hoping for some badass fights involving her, but I got nothing in the end.
- Introspection doesn't exist, which is amazing considering the amount of time that the characters spend talking about nothing in P2. Most dialogues are just a bunch of poetic lines thrown there for dramatic effect, which only made me feel more alienated. Even Naksu/Bu Yeon wasn't explored at all, which says a lot about how her potential was wasted entirely in the end. Overall, there was a lot of material that the writers could have used from P1, so I can't understand why they chose such a terrible plot for P2.
- I was hoping for the female characters to get better at the very least, but they didn't change for the most part; if they changed it was for the worse. Naksu/Bu Yeon turned from being mature, witty and a little grumpy to being the cardboard cutout of a sheltered princess who whines and pouts whenever things don't go her way: it was painful to watch because her character was actually the most interesting part of the entire series and P2 just ruined it completely. Jin Cho Yeon had the chance to grow from being a plain aspiring wife, but she didn't develop in the least. Heo Yoon Ok turned from being useless to just being annoying. So Yi also had the chance to be more interesting as a character, but her motives revolved entirely around Seo Yul and it got boring very quickly. There's no meaningful bond between women unless it's between a mother and her daughters or just pure hate, which was just sad.
- The love triangles made even less sense in P2. Seriously, WHY?!
- The writers seem not to have learned anything from the ending of P1, because the ending of P2 felt just as rushed and unsatisfying, other than being excessively over the top. I felt like I was watching an Alchemy of Souls parody of some kind.
I wish this was over, but no. The following are the good parts of P1 that were ruined in P2:
- Theme? What theme? This time around the plot is entirely about pointless romance and magic stuff being thrown here and there. If someone could put some fantasy and romance tropes in a blender to make a random plot, this would be the result.
- The dynamic between Bu Yeon and Jang Uk was terrible. Since their master/disciple relationship was nowhere to be found, it really felt like they stayed together all those episodes for the sake of the plot. Her moments with Jang Uk didn't catch my attention at all.
- Bu Yeon/Naksu's personality is nowhere to be found in P2. The fact that she's like that because she lost her memory made sense, but she felt like an entirely different character (a very frustrating and boring one!). The wit and the charm of her character are completely lost here, as well as her mature attitude that made a good contrast with Jang Uk. She turned into a spoiled lady who is obsessed with the idea of eloping for romance and it made me wish she just disappeared from the series for good multiple times.
- Jang Uk's training and rise to the top during P1 made his few fights and adventures very interesting, but in P2 he just became too OP and his fights became very boring. Even the final episodes weren't interesting, because I already knew he would win easily and save the world. The only result was that all the times he conveniently forgot about his powers for the sake of the plot were even more annoying.
- For some reason the props and the special effects looked worse this time around. I also hate how they decided to give Park Jin short hair out of nowhere.
In conclusion, I can't say that I was heartbroken over this (again, Alchemy of Souls isn't even a favorite), but I was definitely disappointed. I can't even recommend watching the series for fun at this point, because this Part 2 just ruined it all.
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I WILL MISS THIS SERIES
this is the seriously best series and and the first season now the second season both of them are just unforgettable there is so much entertainment and drama in this series are really loved it. Jung Uk and naksu both are my love . I really loved mu deoki character and the first season it will really never leave my head this year is really recommended to watch !!!... this series was really entertaining and enjoyable I really had a great time watching this series it was so comedy and romantic I wish I could forgot it and rewatch it again it is really worth itWas this review helpful to you?
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WATCH THIS MASTERPIECE
people are saying "this is misogyny!! we wanted naksu back!!" did we watched the same show? cho yeong is very much a badass as she is right now and doesn't need to change. naksu was her trauma, her pain and her suffering and y'all want her back? cho yeong never wanted to become an assassin,she just wanted to be happy and a normal kid but jin mu (glad he's dead) took that away from her. she loses her memory for three years and she is so bright and happy and no has worries. her past memories came back but she knew that she could be that happy (like she was before) if she chose to let naksu (her trauma, pain, angry, sadness, loneliness) go. cho yeong made that decision for her own good, for the little her that wanted that since the day 1. so I'm not gonna sit here and watch y'all ruining this drama just because of this reason. I don't mind for your other reason (like the plot was dragging, the amnesia plot was too long, for the rush ending or anything you didn't like). cho yeong is a badass right now (did y'all see her make up in the last few minutes???) with her divine powers and finding those relics!!Now that my point was made, I wanna say this one is my favourite kdrama. The plot, the humour, the acting, the script... everything was ???
i really enjoyed their story, their relationship (uk and cho yeong), the bromance, the friendship between seo yol, dang ug (?), jang uk, kim do-joo and park jin (my parents), the chemistry between all of them. everything was perfect. of course it had it's problem but that doesn't stop you from enjoying.
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A worthy sequel!
Wow, how can I express my words in this, I cant fathom how wonderful this show was!Surprisingly I love the the new actress of the FL. She is a brilliant actor that is for sure. Well, all cast did great too!
The magic is still in there. Nostalgic and memorable. Good denouement of the plot. Impressive storytelling. No questions left unanswered and that ending is a strawberry on the top of the cake! Yes, I like the ending. The girls that get it, get it.
And I for sure can not compare the two seasons because each of them have its owns weaknesses and strength. There are things that I love in season one that don't have in season 2 and things that I like in season two that don't have in season one.
Might rewatch this from the beginning. the 30 episodes is not a hindrance to start this series, yes 100% recommendable.
Oh love the music too but S1 music >>> S2 music. <3
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S2 was totally butchered
S1 was really good, loved the story and characters.S2 totally butchered. I just want to forget I ever watched it, unfortunately.
I´m sad to have watched S1 and now see everything completely destroyed.
Very sad about what they did to the characters.
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This review may contain spoilers
Middle school romance played by adults
After a few more episodes in, this show is rapidly turning into a major disappointment. Besides my initial concerns listed below, every characterization and plot decision has been childish and terrible. I am getting so tired of back and forth between Jang Uk and Jin Bu Yun. It’s like a middle school romance being played out by adults. So cringy. The infamous Hong sisters are famous for not knowing how to wrap up story threads and it was evident toward the end of the last season. They obviously gave themselves an out by doing a time skip without much explanations and we’re just supposed to go with whatever.Every episode, I see either Jin Mu or Lady Jin, I’m reminded of their crimes and how everyone knows about it. But they treat these two like some annoying neighbors instead of treasonous criminals. All they can do is take shots at them and make sarcastic remarks. So stupid.
Initial concerns:
What bothers me is how Jin Mu and the Lady Jin are still around even after all they’ve done. Like they kidnapped the queen and swapped her body??? Maybe they’ll explain later but that’s a big plot hole to start the new season with. But what I’m thinking is that by keeping the same villains intact, they’ll recycle the same plots and schemes? I hope not. I initially thought Jang Uk and Jin Bu Yun will take a while to meet but they met right away and ended up “getting married” right away. Anticlimactic, it was.
I also wish they just picked up where they ended. We shall see how this goes.
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This review may contain spoilers
No closure
I think the MAIN problem with the drama is that we had the same main character in name but 80% different personality for most of the drama (Naksu). We were given a damsel and crybaby version.Where's the lock?
Because it doesn't look like one, it's like Jang Uk meets a beautiful princess after getting over her supposed love of his life.
Which was very interchangeable, as we see from how quickly he changed in ep 4. It's just no closure, which is making me angry.
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Note: I was chewed out by a newcomer who said all I talk about is the actors and actresses and not the storyline. If I told you the storyline now would that be fair to those who watch it? That's like me telling you the ending. This drama is exceptionally good and for those who love fantasy dramas, this is for you.
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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I really enjoy this series.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Disappointed in FL and the story. Loved the actress.
I am very disappointed in what they did with the FL. I liked the actress though. All actors did a great job, and I loved the sets. I was super excited about the actress change, but it's just sad what they did to Naksu.The overall story had so much potential, but it nosedived. Uk became Neo from the Matrix. I haven't been this disappointed in a series since GoT.
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potential lost and totally overrated
This is going to be shortto start with, what kind of bombastic and annoying drama is this!! yes it had an originally good storyline but what happened?
poor execution and prolonged story, to let people know in case they think I'm being bias,I know not a single actor or actress in this dramas so consider this me being honest.
they should have wrapped this up at S1 cos S2 is just like looking in a mirror with utterly frustrating inconsistencies,the almighty naksu completely became powerless and the ML now became so powerful,I thought this drama would be more focused on soul shifting plus the horrible sidelines and the incomplete stories.
to wrap it up,the story with so much potential became completely unsatisfactory, and it has a 9 out of 10 rating!!! what!! without playing favorite this is over the rooftop overrated
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This review may contain spoilers
FATAL flaw in the story about the two main protagonists
S2 was an absolute disaster. It has MANY flaws.They should have ended up in S1, because S2 has a fatal flaw in the story about the two main protagonists, and I'm not talking about the actors, but the script created a few episodes after it started.
The script was changed about halfway through the story.
The story died very prematurely.
S2 It had a lot of potential but the sisters ruined it. I hope the actors have better scripts in the future.
It's sad, because the S2 could have had the epic romance.
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