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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

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Tag Archives: Alchemy of Souls

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Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow Piles on More Nonsense to a Happy Ending Meaningful to the Fans Who Have Stuck with the Drama

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 8, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 8, 2023
Couple in traditional clothing by the river.

If there was ever a negative bell curve this drama would be it. Alchemy of Souls managed to start strong for about 15 minutes and end strong for the final 15 minutes and everything in between was the slow descent into pure drivel with an eventual attempt to climb back out. The nadir was the ending to season 1 and … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alchemy of Souls, Go Yoon Jung, Lee Jae Wook

Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow Heads into Final Weekend Previewing Reunited Romance Between the Leads and Final Showdown with the Baddies

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 6, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 7, 2023
Two figures in traditional attire sharing a moment.

The long dream/nightmare (depending on your perspective) is almost over for Alchemy of Souls, with the second short season Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow ending this weekend with episodes 9 and 10. The preview stills hint at the leads Wook and Bu Yeon/Naksu recognizing each other by Naksu’s tree that she dreamed of one day going to the top … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alchemy of Souls, Go Yoon Jung, Lee Jae Wook

Audience Divided with Alchemy of Souls Season 2 as it Heads to Final Weekend Still Unable to Answer Basic World Building Questions

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 2, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 3, 2023
Couple sharing intimate moments in historical setting.

I checked out of Alchemy of Souls after the first season but continued to watch season 2 as a casual bystander. Nothing that happens will upset me but I am curious to see what the Hong Sisters have in store and also whether the still loyal cadre of viewer fans are enjoying this season with the switched up female lead … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alchemy of Souls, Go Yoon Jung, Lee Jae Wook

Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow Increases to 8.458% in Episode 4 as the Drama Speeds its Way to OTP Skinship

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 19, 2022 by ockoalaDecember 19, 2022
Couple embracing in a warmly lit setting.

I’m sure if I had time I could do a drama case study on Alchemy of Souls – the great start, the petering out, the frustrating lack of clarity and answers in the massive world building, and the headdesk inducing ending. The case study now extends to the second truncated season of Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow which is … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alchemy of Souls, Go Yoon Jung, Lee Jae Wook

Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow Episode 2 Rises to 7.743% as the Narrative Shows Hand on the Resurrected Bu Yeon’s True Form and Writes the Central Conundrum Back to the Story

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 12, 2022 by ockoalaDecember 12, 2022
Two characters in a dramatic setting.

Man, watching the second episode of Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow was alternating between these two are cute and headdesking. It’s clear the Hong Sisters had a concept (soul switching! In sageuk fantasy times!) and then wrote the story around it, hence the complete and utter moral quandries they gloss over in attempts to give the female lead a … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alchemy of Souls, Go Yoon Jung, Lee Jae Wook

Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow Returns as Season 2 with Swapped Premise of Bu Yeon Now in Naksu’s Physical Body and First Episode Ratings of 6.719%

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 10, 2022 by ockoalaDecember 10, 2022
Romantic poster featuring two couples.

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alchemy of Souls, Go Yoon Jung, Lee Jae Wook

New Poster for Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow a Direct Refraction of Earlier OTP Poster From Season 1

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 30, 2022 by ockoalaNovember 29, 2022
Romantic moment between a couple gazing.

I had so many problems with season 1 of Alchemy of Souls that even without the female lead change I would be starting off already so mad at the mess left behind when the first season ended. So perhaps the change of female lead is a good thing, which effectively returns Naksu’s soul back to her own body which is … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alchemy of Souls

Go Yoon Jung and Lee Jae Wook Meet as Naksu and Wook in New Stills for Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 23, 2022 by ockoalaNovember 22, 2022
Romantic scenes in historical setting with sword.

There is a lot to unpack in the new stills for the upcoming short season 2 of Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow. The female lead role got recast as Go Yoon Jung who returns as the physical form of Naksu, whose soul was in Jung So Min‘s body prior as Mu Deok. Whereas she was a cold assassin prior, … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alchemy of Souls, Go Yoon Jung, Lee Jae Wook

tvN Releases Set of Three Official Drama Stills of New Leading Lady Go Yoon Jung in Upcoming Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 14, 2022 by ockoalaNovember 15, 2022
Historical drama poster with a sword.

Her short guest appearance in summer 2022 fantasy K-drama Alchemy of Souls was definitely Go Yoon Jung‘s breakout. There were three near same age female leads in Sweet Home and Park Kyu Young has the better character and Go Min Si had the more interesting arc so it wasn’t Go Yoon Jung’s breakout vehicle. She was okay in Law School … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alchemy of Souls, Go Yoon Jung

tvN Drama Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow Releases First Teaser Posters

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 12, 2022 by ockoalaNovember 12, 2022
Collage of diverse characters with watery effects.

I……am heartbroken to see this stuff. It’s like when an author of a novel confuses oneself with the producer of a show. When a story is merely words on a page then it’s fine to change forms, create new identities, as the reader just forms new visions as a reader is required to do. But when it start off solely … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alchemy of Souls

Alchemy of Souls Ends Season 1 in a Complete Shitshow of No Answers, Last Minute Deus ex Machina, and a Waste of 20 Episodes of Character Building

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 28, 2022 by ockoalaAugust 29, 2022
Romantic scene with two characters together.

tvN Sat-Sun drama Alchemy of Souls season 1 ended with 9.218% ratings in the final episode 20 and that’s 9.218% more ratings than it deserved. The drama ending on a flaming turd even worse that I could have imagined and I was prepared for total disappointment already once I heard the Hong Sisters had a 10-episode season 2 ready and … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alchemy of Souls, Jung So Min, Lee Jae Wook

Alchemy of Souls Remains Opaque in Answers in Episode 19 Heading into Finale With Much Still Unsaid But Delivers Standalone Scene Gems

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 27, 2022 by ockoalaAugust 27, 2022
Historical drama characters in various scenes.

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alchemy of Souls

tvN Confirms Season 2 of Alchemy of Souls for Dec 2022 Airing at 10-episodes with Full Cast Returning Other than Jung So Min with Go Yoon Jung Taking Over as Female Lead

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 26, 2022 by ockoalaAugust 26, 2022
Two characters with a sword in foreground.

Gosh, hearing this confirmed news still gives me a visceral reaction and it’s not a positive one. But then again, the Hong Sisters could have their grand plan mapped out from the beginning for Alchemy of Souls, what with the soul swapping and the multiple seasons. On the cusp of the finale of the drama billed as season 1 with … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alchemy of Souls, Jung So Min, Lee Jae Wook

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