Alchemy of Souls Remains Opaque in Answers in Episode 19 Heading into Finale With Much Still Unsaid But Delivers Standalone Scene Gems
The more you love something the more you grow angry when it disappointments you, and Alchemy of Souls is not the first K-drama to render me this frustrated and also won’t be the last. The drama went into this weekend with 2 episodes to deliver some answers, and yes I know there is a season 2 but a good writer would answer all the questions its posed and present new ones to set up for the next season. But akas the Hong Sisters have not done so and I don’t know what having questions answered in the last episode like place filler would make me feel. A lot of episode 19 as a standalone one was actually great, baddies like Cho Yeon’s dad got his penance and shaman Choi pretending to be the Queen stole the show with her acting I was mesmerized and it made that whole arc work.
I loved loved loved Yul and Mu Deok/Naksu and their closure, such a lovely scene as filmed and scored and made me remember those two actually had a compelling but unfulfilled backstory. I also swooned over the episode ender, with Mu Deok in a wedding dress and Jang Wook proposing to her and two just being normal and happy together in such a hard won moment. But ultimately seeing Zaddy Jang Gang waltz back in and JUST DIE AS DUST without giving any explanation other than harping that he was the cause of this whole mess and Jang Wook is not his son had me headdesking and then realizing this terribly written drama is not worth my self immolation. The Hong Sister once again set up interesting ideas, had it presenting beautifully at the beginning, and then did nothing more with it then dribs and drabs. I am so ready for this to be over and not sure if I have the appetite for season 2 in December.
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Last night episode was mostly boring😑😑😑. Except for mu deok and jang uk. Both willing to lose power rather than losing one another. I also mu deok/ Naksu acknowledege Yul’s feeling and sacrifices for her.for him, it made everything worthwhile.
agreed with you ! exactly my thoughts .. not really looking forward to season 2. jang gang was a joke indeed .. came back to die .. was expecting that he would at least correct the wrong deeds done and redeems himself .. to die just like that after all the suspense.. of him following jang uk in geema village .. well, at least the liquor bottle was important and connected.. earn itself a place in doh hwa’s memorial hall.
Yes I agree too. Koala is right about Yul and Naksu/Mu Deok. I hope both MinHyun and Jung So Min get more deserving roles in the future.
I also agree with you, what jang gang did it was totally not fair for a person who disappeared for years and comes back to die without giving his son an explanation or to spend a day with him …..am also disappointed
The writing become really messy. I don’t know what was their problem in second half. I don’t need season 2 now. It’s a waste of talents of the casts, especially Lee Jae Wook. Lee Jae Wook deserves many better roles/dramas. I would like to see in great modern romcom next time.
I agree with you. I don’t want season 2 at all. It’s already a hot mess. I want Jae Wook to run away from this mess. He really deserves much better dramas. He is still very young and talented.
I’ve been following this drama and watch you tube videos predictions and thoughts. i waited for Koalas thoughts on it too. Episode 19 indeed disappoint.
I don’t understand the death of the Shaman:s brother, just like that he gave up and didn’t defend his sister. Also the drama put a lot of suspense on the Gwanju’s return and then just died. How did he become a soul shifter if he returned on his own body? That was confusing. So was he soul feeding also for 10 years?
Is this a Cdrama, why are they wearing Chinese costumes
@Jo here to stir up trouble again?
Why?
Jo: “In Chinese we call it…”
So, Jo is obviously Chinese or of Chinese heritage.
Also Jo: “I have no interest in her blog or reviews”
Both quotes from her lengthy and multiple comments for her favorite drama on
Ms. Koala’s post ” Xu Kai and Jing Tian in First Stills for Tang Dynasty Romance Drama wonderland of Love”
(which had nothing to do with Jo’s favorite drama to begin with).
If she has no interest in this blog, why is she still commenting? Again quite negativly.
Therefore, I ask myself is Jo a water army’s member?
this is very common problem with kdrama. very good beginning, good first half, but then 2nd half losing its steam, then fail to conclude. very rare to find kdrama with good ending these days.
I think this problem isnt only in kdrama but also in cdrama, thai drama or other countries’ dramas. Very typical issue when it reaches 2nd half of the drama. Draggy storyline, boring plot, not to mention unfinished problems or rushed ending.
Agree with Koala and now im so ready for the open ending. Im just too tired to watch the 2nd season.
But applause for our main leads. They did a great job carrying this whole 20 episodes. Give them a massage tho!!!
Last time I watched a Kdrama that can go strong till the end: Kairos. Luckily I still have Love Between Fairy and Devil to fall back. That’s a relatively well-rounded series throughout. Each ep brings on new emotional height and plot developments. Highly recommend that one!
As for AoS season 2, no thanks! Ep. 20 is a joke! If you can die and lose your body and still come back, then what’s the point of watching you going through any trials and tribulations 😫 completely makes no sense to me
I don’t care what any of you may say or say about this movie it is incredible! The actors are incredible the script is incredible the sceneries incredible I love the entire movie from A to z.
Ahaha..same to me.
Very entertaining no matter how much critisms it gets,I’m looking forward for December.
Me too I loved every inch of that drama every episode and it’s cast …..looking forward to season2☺️
This drama was truly mediocre. It didn`t deliver anything perfectly.
Was this good fantasy? No. Had too much filler scenes, revelations just ended up not surprising or mehhh.
Was this good romance? No. Mains leads didn`t have enough chemistry, even characters felt like they are not sure if they are in love, and there were hardly any swoony moments
Was this good action? No
Was there comedy? Hardly No
i probably won`t see S2, I am logging out of this drama with Jung So min and Writers (as writers seemed to log out since the second half anyways)
What a waste of talent for ML though,
I too feel like the end is a letdown. Don’t understand how Jang Gang run wild when his soul was in his own body..and how Jin Mu can control Mudeok/Naksu using Shaman Choi cursed divination soul ej3ctions when Naksu herself did her soul transfer not Shaman Choi..so many plotholes.And how will real Naksu come back in S2 when body was destroyed..hmm..
Shaman Choi put curse onto the soul ejectors. Therefore altough Naksu did soul transfer herself but the soul ejector was from the queen/Shaman Choi.
All the soul ejectors made by Shaman Choi. That’s why Jin Mu hasn’t soul swapped yet because he knew the soul ejectors were cursed.
I loved it. I loved the actors, the clothing, the time periods. Even tho the plot was shaky at the end. Love prevails with all of them. I hate to see the Prince get caught up with that nasty evil man, but their may be purpose. It’s all a cultural thing but I immediately bought the series an will watch an buy season 2. It gives me joy to watch it. You all are too critical.