Alchemy of Souls is a Korean drama that was aired on tvN and Netflix. They aired weeekly episodes on Saturday begging June and ending in August. The series has 30 episodes in it with each episode being over an hour long.You’re day will flyby watching this show.

I initially found out about this show because one of my favorite k-pop idols was one of the main characters. Hwang Minhyun from NU’EST, (Yeo Sul). I definitely just wanted to watch it because he was in it. However, i was very surprised at how good the storylines and the characters were that I needed up loving the show. With romance, sorcery, family drama and soul shifting, alchemy of souls has everything you are looking for in a K-Drama.

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Characters

I thought that all the characters were well thought out and the way they changed throughout the season was good and really makes you grow fond of the characters. This made the weekly airings better because you couldn’t;t wait till next week to see what happen with the characters. Additionally, the chemistry between the characters and actors seemed great which made everything work well.

The main plot revolves around the two main characters Jang Un and Mudeok/Naksu. I’m explain about Naksu/Mudeok because I was confused at first when the whole alchemy of souls thing happened. So Naksu and Mudeok are two different people at the begging of the show.

However, when Naksu does the alchemy of souls spell, her soul goes into Mudeoks body, however; Mudeoks soul does not go in to Naksu’s body and hence, why Naksu is pronounced “dead”. (Two characters become one in a sense.[makes even more sense when you watch.])

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Synopsis

To keep it short and simple… the show is about two misunderstood individual that by fates weird plan makes them cross paths and make them help each other in getting what they each want.

However, the full synopsis is that this is a story that is set in a land where magic exists. Mages, sorceress, priestess, are known and respected. This magical situation is where the alchemy of the souls comes in. This is a type of forbidden sorcery where one mage can switch bodies with another persons. One person that comes across this is Naksu who had dealt with this in her troubled youth. She then becomes a very dangerous and skilled assassin.

Because of that she was on the hunt. She knew how to perform the alchemy of souls, so she does it in order to save her self. But, when doing so; the bodie she chooses, Mudeok, is too weak and she cannot use her magic. So in order to survive she becomes a maid for the son of one of her enemies; whom is Jang Uk. However, all changes when feelings start arising in both characters.

This further becomes complicated when more of Mudeok and Naksu past becomes revealed. Add in sword fights,family drama, and love stories while the characters wear historical costumes,; you have a show that will keep you in your seat (or bed; wherever you’re watching.)

Additionally, I usually am not someone who is into live action shows that have magic (wizards of waverly place is an exception) because it can not be portrayed the same as cartoons or anime obvi, but you know what I mean.

This show had an element that reminded me of Avatar the Last Airbender, as the could also control the elements of air, water and fire, and each also had a representative family as well. And this was actually not shown bad. I’m saying this because if you saw the live action avatar the last airbender movie, you know what I mean. (By that i mean it was bad like…) So I liked that this piece if n media made the manipulation of elements look cool irl and give it justice.

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DRAMA!

One thing k-drama’s are gonna give is the drama and this did not disappoint. It had family drama, political drama, romance drama, like you name it it had it. I was yelling like a madman because I could not believe some of the scenes. I don’t want to give anything away because this show is toooooo good and everyone needs to go see it to experience this themselves. JUST KNOW YOU’RE IN FOR A RIDE. WHEN I TELL YOU… like the amount of times that i was gagged and shook to my core because of the actions that part took in this show… LIKE YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND. I love myself a drama and this show had plenty and more to offer the viewers. I don’t want to write about anything because it is better to watch it with your own two yes.

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ROMANCE!

This show has good love story lines. I find them cute. They probably are your typical love story lines, the unrequited love, he fake couple to real couple, enemies to lovers. However, they were used in goood ways to advance not only the stouryline, but the characters storylines as well.

As in Jang Uk’s case, it was another form of representing of him growing up and finding his place in the world. As before he would always avoid love and only lie about love to try and. Get what he wanted. But with Mudeok he had no alterier motives. So love stories in this show are used as a form of showing the person growing.

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MIXED EMOTIONS!

Your emotions are in for one with this show. You wll experience many emotions while watching this series. From anger to sadness to happiness and second hand embarassment. This show is great at getting the viewer impressed in the show that their emotions will surely be present as well. So have the tissue next to you for when you wanna cry and a pillow ready for when you get really mad at some of the actions the characters are doing/ going through so you can wither yell or hit it. (I personally yelled, because IM SORRY I HAD TO GET MY FRUSTRATIONS OUT.)

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I’m keeping this blog post short and simple because thee show definitely speaks. For itself no it is way better watching it; than reading about it, as I do not do it justice. Also the second season of this show will come out sometime in December according to Netflix. So you have time to catch up with the story and then if they do weekly releases watch them and honestly it is better than binging. Like the whole wait to find out more in a week, really leaves you thinking.

Let me know if you’ve watched this or will watch this in the comments. What show’s should I review next? Let me know.