How to rate a drama where the first part had me at the edge of my seat, while the second part almost lulled me to sleep? Hence my dilemma with Alchemy of Souls. I wasn’t sure where part two went wrong, or was it because part one was so amazing, it was hard to replicate the same excitement when I watched it?

The bad of Part 2:

- Though the leads are physically attractive, Jang Uk and Bu Yeon didn’t have the same spark as Jang Uk and Mu Deok.

- The pacing in this one dragged endlessly despite its short length. They spent more time wallowing than fighting.

- All this soul-shifting back and forth, like jumping from one body to the next, that defies the laws of fictional logic? How can the drama just explain away why in this instance, it’s okay to shift, but in that instance it’s not? I can’t keep up anymore with whose body belongs to which soul and whose soul is now inside which body.

- As for the secondary characters, it looked like everyone was just there for the sake of being there and going through the motions. You know which character that caught my interest? The god-damn turtle!

- And all the reminiscing. What’s the point? Am I supposed to believe that Jang Uk grew fond of Bu Yeon, because she’s Bu Yeon, or because she exhibits Naksu’s mannerisms and thoughts?

Part 2 Verdict: A shadow of Part 1. (8 out of 10)

Combined score: 9 out of 10.

Overall impression: Should have stopped at Part 1.