So…..despite all all the self-warning and repeated burning from summer tvN drama Alchemy of Souls, I did come back at least for the first episode of season 2 called Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow. The female lead switched from Jung So Min‘s Jin Bu Yeon physical form with Naksu’s soul to Go Yoon Jung so I figured she’s playing Naksu back in her own body. To my surprise her character (at least at the outset) is actually Jin Bu Yeon’s soul in Naksu’s body, so what the what doesn’t even begin to describe it. Especially seeing Naksu’s body burned in the first episode of the first season, but what does logic have any meaning in this drama, right? The first episode isn’t bad if one is not watching in constant wariness for the other show to drop – Lee Jae Wook is back as angry warrior Wook who himself is resurrected and has the ice stone in him, and all the rest of the other characters seem to go about their usual business including the worst mom ever Bu Yeon and Cho Yeon’s mom who locks up her beloved daughter and then marries her off as a brood mare to procreate the next high priestess. I liked Go Yoon Jung way more in her short but impactful cameo in the first season, her acting here is rather bland but she has a cute charm in her Jin Bu Yeon-ness I can’t explain. Overall I think fans of AoS will love this but others may still want to check in to see how the unresolved threads may be wrapped up (or not).
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I watched Forbidden Marriage and AoS 2. Personally I like FM more. Maybe because I like funny drama more than angsty drama. And honestly I'm tired seeing the same tropes again. Jang Uk and Naksu meet but doesn't recognise each other. I'm dreading the same flow like S1, when the story went slooow and only peaked up at the last 15 minutes.
they always fight and kill the zombies, no new things
It is crazy how much I adore it. I guess I really like Hong sister style of writing.I really like Gu Yoon Jung she is really pretty, as Buyeon she's gonna melt his heart. I just wonder as Naksu she was an assassin , lived alone for a really long time, life goal was revenge. But how come now she is soo childlike ,innocent. People won't guess she is Naksu.
Or she really is Bu yeon???
It's the other way around: Naksu soul in Bu Yeon's body. The soul is shaping the body to look like the OG Naksu.
Thank you for correcting this misunderstanding! It is explained, but still confusing. Whatever. I'm rolling with whatever will let them fall in love again.
This^^
I’ve been patiently waiting for the return of AoS and now I’m heart broken wishing Uk would notice that the priestess is actually Naksu. I love the chemistry they have and I really hope Dan-gu persuades his uncle to return to as the leader of Songrim since he hasn’t married Maidservant Kim yet, he’s one of the best and funniest character of the show.
I.... I enjoyed it. Seems like the directing is better and the CGI too, the shots look gorgeous and the leads have great acting!
With JSM the chemistry was more "friendly" one... I'm enjoying it a lot tbh
I’m here for Naksu and JangUk’s closure and the romance are so on point for me.
I like the first two episodes of AoS2 - dispensing with the teenage style drama that was the first few episodes of AoS1 and getting into the juicy parts straight away. Jury still out on the recasting of Naksu though - on one side, GYJ is doing a pretty good job in somewhat emulating JSM's Mudeok's features and mannerism to her, on the other hand, the explanation of how she came to be is a bit.... what the what. I wonder if the script adjusted to the change of cast (e.g. JSM didnt want to continue), or the change of cast followed the script (in which case, it was a pretty out there writing).
I guess JSM just agreed to film season one. And the other actress was already cast for season 2.
I think JSM had to reject filming season 2, because of time conflict with other projects.
She is going to act for the first time in a play, so I guess she really had no time to film season 2, the Upcoming play “Shakespeare in Love” will start this january.
Go Yoon Jung is so beautiful and she is killing it! I hope it is longer than 10 eps with her now as the FL.
^ It wont be longer than 10 eps. I think even 10 eps is abit too long for this unnecessary season.
Hong Sisters alw start off strong so im expecting it to dwindle in quality pretty soon lol. The first 2 eps were okay-ish, but still huh??? at how shes jin buyeon in a naksu lookalike body. GYJ and LJW have okay chemistry, I'm not mindblown by their dynamic or by her beauty (she is kinda like moon ka young for me, looks really good at first and then it fades n they look bland).
Also not a fan at how the FLs in both seasons 1 and 2 are just reduced to plot devices - their motivations all revolve around Jang Uk and the other male characters.