Alquimia das Almas (2022)

Surprising until the very end

SPOILERS ARE MARKED, READ WITH EASE

I've been waiting to write this review since somewhere around episode 10-12. Never seen such a well made drama in fantasy genre, so let me start to go into detail and be straight forward.

The story
Having a good plot doesn't mean viewers can't guess the ending, you can fully somewhat know the ending yet enjoy the show but having a plot and keeping the viewers at the edge of their seat until the very end is something else. At least I haven't encountered such show. The story was eye catching from the first episode. Characters were understandable since the very moment they were introduced. Their actions and way of logic was relatable. The story remained true to itself, clichés weren't involved, at least not to the point to ruin the unique story. I would say the story line kept getting better as time passed and the sub-plots were added smoothly. They all gracefully came together. Overall the story was unique and entertaining.

The characters
As I said before, characters were well made. They stayed true to themselves, their actions were based on the character NOT on the story. The character's choices made the story, there weren't out of character decisions just for the sake of plot.
For instance, (spoiler on this paragraph), Jung Uk's lack of motivation didn't magically disappear after Mu-Deok's entrance. As the love grew, we saw character development and it all made sense. Mu-Doek's character, unlike some opinions, was very well written and well used up until the end. (spoiler alert) For example the way she used Jung Uk to gain both of their powers, again, their love actually grew into them, it wasn't something to happen over night, yet I hope to see more of her own arc in the up coming season.

(spoiler ended.)

The action scenes were absolutely mind blowing, the casting was on point, the music was heartwarming, the only criticize I dare to make is the filler episodes, although it get back on track very soon.

I would say this drama was the best of 2022, probably be the best of 2023 if they maintain the same level of production in the next season, I keep my finger crossed and pray to have a well made 2nd season too.

Leia Mais

THIS SHOW IS EVERYTHING ❤️

i will just say that is show is a must watch!
the story, the characters, the chemistry everything is literally perfect.

the chemistry between jae wook and soo min is literally everything.
they made the cutest couple ever.

all the lines in this drama grow together perfectly. there is no boring details or unwanted characters. every character is there for a reason.

little sad that jung soo min wouldn't be our main lead the next season but i am sure the real naksu would do a great job.

+

the OST are magical ✨️

i hope su yeol find someone that he can love and end up happy also the crowned princes i really don't want him to turn bad.

Leia Mais

Typical Hong Sister's script problems

Although this drama has entertainment value and good actors in the roles, the Hong Sisters script is full of plot holes as usual. About Avery 15 min, I stop and say ' wait, that doesn't make sense". Yes, I understand it is a fantasy world, but fantasy's still need to make sense within the context of that fantasy. I think viewers willing suspend disbelief and brush aside these plot inconstancies and frankly dumb moments because of the entertaining pace of the story and likable characters. It could have been entertaining and well thought out if they had just thought the storyline through in detail. The Hong Sisters don't bother to do that, because they have a large fan base that is willing to go will the sloppy flow, so they don't make the effort. This could have been much better than it was.

Leia Mais

Probably my favorite historical-fantasy drama

I write this because I want to remember how this show affected me. I re watch this many times and only this moment I finally thought to write a review.

A wonderful show that's it.

Definitely recommended you to watch it and its getting better if you rewatch it with your friends and family... the feels idk.
Anyways the cast are great, the osts, ( oh I love "just watching you by jeong sewoon :((((<3 ) and the show itself is so good.

I just wish this will have more seasons and be consistent of the good writing and directing, for sure I will be there to watch it.

ps. Can not wait for december! :>>>>>

Leia Mais

Intricate world, great characters, unpredictable story, but pacing is inconsistent

WARNING: Don't watch this separately from part 2 if you can't handle sad endings, because it has a crazy angsty plot twist in the end akin to "red wedding" from GoT!

Other than that this drama has a great mix of genres - fantasy, drama, comedy, action. The world is intricately built, all characters are given enough time to introduce themselves and most lead characters have great character development. The plot is very complicated and twisted, with deliberate hints about late spoilers dropped for attentive watchers from early episodes. It will keep you hooked and guessing what will happen next without you actually being able to figure it out, so unpredictable it is.
However, in later half of the show for the sake of dragging it out to 20 episodes the plot started to stall and meander around the issues with no real resolutions until the last two episodes, where everything was dumped on the audience - a common problem of many kdramas that just have no sense of pace and don't know how to end themselves properly. Some sub-plots especially took an egregious amount of screen time, like that "fake Bu-Yeon" plot. The ending was shocking for sheer shock value with lots of unresolved dangling loose ends. The sins of FL, who's occupying the body of an innocent girl, finally caught up with her in the end, but said innocent girl was done dirty, she didn't deserve any of this. In any case, stay tuned for part 2 to see the real ending, they're not done yet.

The cast did a stellar job at portraying their characters. Special props for FL who played a difficult 3 in 1 role.

OST and production value of this drama are also through the roof.

Overall, an 8.5. A very solid and unique kind of drama. But I can't give it a higher score in good conscience because of the problems with the plot I highlighted above.

Leia Mais

Fantasy with a lot happening, but why?

This show is a strange beast, because a lot happens in it, but it seems like less would be more in this case.
First, THE STORY:
1. This is distinctly a fantasy show, and there is a lot of world-building that is happening -- maybe too much. Not sure if this is a translation issue (though I do not think that is the case), but a lot of elements are introduced that appear extraneous and distract from the main plot. The confusing bit is that the viewer does not know which part will be important; at first I tried to keep track of the terms and ideas, but after a few episodes I let go of that and just let the plot develop without really trying to follow it too closely; that helped.
The story tries to establish that the main character is "extraordinary" because he manages to learn skills faster than others; this may have been impressive, except it is not clear what those skills really are or how he actually mastered them (the whole catching the fish thing was so unclear -- was it cheating? what did he actually learn in order to do it?). It felt a little like someone telling you that a song was the most beautiful ever written and expecting you to absolutely love it without hearing it or any other song ever.
2. I know this is asking a lot (and I am not being facetious -- it really is asking a lot for a complicated story over 20 episodes), but the "reality" of actions and reactions is tenuous. E.g., the female of the Four Seasons virtually sends the female lead to her death, and yet not only are there no real consequences for her, but also the audience is made to quickly get over and forget it.
3. Finally, the romantic tension. Don't get me wrong: The actors do a very good job interacting, but (related to point #1), at some point I lost track of what the heroine said she would do once she regained her powers and why (and I kind of stopped caring about the specifics). There will need to be a decision? or something? that will force the characters to separate? But is that something they can decide to do? Or something they would absolutely need to do? Something like that. Right now, it just feels like it's some kind of internal struggle thing for the heroine, but it feels like nonsense.
Regarding the ACTING, as stated, it's generally good.
The MUSIC is OK.
There are only two episodes to go, and I will absolutely watch them, but I do not consider those 20 hours well spent and cannot in good conscience recommend that others watch the show. Which is a shame.

Leia Mais

An Epic Fantasy Romance for the Ages

Alchemy of Souls has been well-written, amazingly acted, wonderfully directed, gorgeously scored. The cinematography was beyond beautiful and the CGIs could be envied by Hollywood blockbusters with 200 million budgets.

The Hong sisters have shown the world how to write an epic tragic romance for the ages with a satisfying ending of season 1 - there is sadness and love and hope for the future that Wook and Naksu will find each other again with a second chance at love and life.

The story perfectly captures the meaning and message of trans-migratory stories - that true love sees past the trappings of one’s body and that the person who loves you will love you regardless of your appearance. The Hong Sisters understood the assignment. This is the opposite of the awful Mr. Queen final which ruined the whole drama and made no sense whatsoever.

It's been a complex, poignant story with multi-layered characters, a story about a love that overcomes death; the eternal struggle between good and evil; people overcoming their flaws and obstacles in life; about never giving up and trying even when everything seems lost; about friendship, hate, envy, happiness, loss; about finding one's purpose in life and place in the world; about losing it and finding it again,... and it's to be continued...
Episode 20 is, in fact, just an incredible mid-season finale, the story hasn't ended in any way. One stage of the characters' journey is over, another begins. The story continues.

Jung So Min has been sublime as Mu-deok/Naksu/Yeong/Bu-yeon, hers has been a legendary performance. It's so sad to see her go but Go Yoon-Jung has been incredible as Naksu in episode 1 so it will be exciting to watch her resume her role.

See you in December...

Leia Mais

Worthy of being one of the top Kdramas of the year! :)

WOW! What a ride! If you love historical romance, fantasy, and action, this is the PERFECT show for you!!

AoS is an incredible show that takes you through a series of thrilling action, good character development, great plot, and fantastic cinematography! (Plus, the OSTs are AMAZING!! And when the OSTs are good, that's when you know the show is good too 😏)

I took an interest in the show because of the strong, powerful Naksu that I was expecting. Although it doesn't quite turn out that way, her character development during the journey of the show has been incredible. Also, props to Jung So Min for her acting! She had to act two different characters who are in the same body, which cannot be easy. She did such a great job a portraying the emotions and actions of both Jin Bu Yeon and Naksu. In general, the cast of the show did a fantastic job at depicting their character's feelings, intentions, actions, and everything all with great chemistry. I will admit that there are some plot holes, but I did not feel like it took away from the story at all. The story was interesting (I mean we're talking about soul shifting here 👀) and took us on a great journey in Daeho. Thank you the director, writers, and cast for bringing this show to life!

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the show. Can't wait for Season 2!!

Leia Mais

After Hwayugi, the Hong sisters are back with another great fantasy drama…. Too bad i have to wait a few more months for its continuation. This drama was absolutely EPIC… great plot, directing, special effects, acting, although I am not the biggest fan of Jung so-Min because of her usually rather limited facial expressions (to me)… which is why I won’t be too bothered if she has another body swap in the next series… ;)
Lee Jae wook is just outstanding here. And compensâtes for her in my opinionThey have been so wise to cast him as the ML despite his limited experience at the time ….

Leia Mais

Power or Love In This Epic Fantasy Series!

First of all, I must say that Season 2 cannot get here fast enough! When the last episode ended, I literally groaned that I had to wait but was actually thrilled that this story was going to continue. Such a lush and beautiful story is too good to end here.

Once again, the Koreans continue to prove why they are the most proficient storytellers in the world in film and television. I’ve been trying to think of another fantasy series that was heartfelt and full of luscious characters like this one. The “Lord of the Rings” film series is the only other one that comes to mind. That tells me just how incredible this series has been. And what makes this series soar is that it is story and character-driven. While it has some incredible special effects, they only enhance the core, which is what is supposed to happen in high-quality story-telling.

In a fictional kingdom populated by mages, we have a power struggle going on to possess the “ice stone,” a stone of magic that can bring people back from the dead. Of course, anyone who seeks immortality would have a strong desire to possess such a relic. There is also a differentiation between magic and sorcery. Sorcery is forbidden magic that goes against nature itself. And one of the main devices of sorcery is soul-shifting. This means that a person dies but shifts their soul into another body. In some cases, soul-shifting can also mean trading bodies. This, of course, is forbidden magic.

At the center of the story is Naksu, an infamous soul assassin who was hunted down by the mages of the kingdom. Mortally wounded, she is able to soul-shift into another body and take her identity; the identity of Mu Deok. However, because of her new body, she has no access to her energy in order to perform magic. In short, she’s a regular person. However, her drive and desire to reacquire her energy and carry out her threat of killing those responsible for the deaths of her family members, is still very much at the forefront of her mind.

We then have Jang Uk, a somewhat spoiled and lazy young man who is supposed to be learning various forms of magic, despite also being cut off from his energy due to an edict from his father. He’s given no reason why, and so he spends much of his time lazing around and doing nothing until Mu Deok shows up and gets a job as his maid. However, it doesn’t take Jang Uk long to realize Mu Deok’s true identity, and he asks that she train him and become his master.

One of the central themes of this story is what is more important? Power or Love? It’s ironic that most people find love to be a weakness. What they fail to realize is that power without love IS weakness. Love is the most powerful force in the universe. This is something that Mu Deok must face and decide, which becomes an important factor when she is ultimately forced to decide what she wants: her power back or Jang Uk.

The settings created for this series are absolutely incredible. I have to believe that most of the fictional towns are sets, and they are elaborate enough to rival any major film project.

There are so many amazing performances in this series, that it is incredibly difficult to pick one that stands out from the rest. Lee Jae Wook (Jang Uk) and Jung So Min (Mu Deok) are absolutely fantastic and they have great chemistry together. One of my personal favorites was Kim Do Ju (Maidservant Kim) who was too exquisite for words. She is such a lovely woman, and her performance really stood out for me. However, the performance of Jo Jae Yoon as the villainous Jin Mu was captivating, to say the least. More often than not, a story is only as good as its villain. Imagine Star Wars without Darth Vader or Lord of the Rings without Sauron. They just don’t work nearly as well, and Jo Jae Yoon gives a stellar performance as the villain behind the throne; the man pulling all of the strings. I’ve seen Jo Jae Yoon once before in “Descendants of the Sun,” but this role feels like it was tailor-made for him. He’s deliciously evil and corrupt with little smirks that make you want to hit him. What makes his performance so grand is that he never plays Jin Mu in an over-the-top way. We have no angry outbursts or rage-filled speeches. He’s calm, level-headed, and far brighter than people give him credit for.

Of course, as with so many Korean series, we have moments of love, humor, inspiration, and even wisdom. Koreans are masters of character. They are always multi-leveled and multi-dimensional, much like real people.

The fight scenes are all well-choreographed. Some of which reminded me a little of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I also like that they explain the magic. Robert Jordan, who wrote one of the most epic fantasy series of all time in his “Wheel of Time” series, is considered to have explained the science of his magic better than any writer ever. But Alchemy of Souls comes really close as we learn how magic and energy are used.

This series is grand on an epic scale. Even a 20-episode series with each episode at an average of 75 minutes went by at a clip because I was so vested in the show. As I stated before, I cannot wait until the next series comes out. They ended things on a great cliffhanger that made me keep looking at the clock and going, “Oh, no! It’s almost over!” Yeah, I didn’t want it to end. For me, this is one of the best fantasy series I have ever seen, and frankly, it was the central theme of love and power that kept me coming back for more. And yes, I can’t wait for more!

Leia Mais

Ne pas me lire si vous avez aimé, ou si vous avez l'intention d'aimer ce drama...

Depuis quand suis-je une fan inconditionnelle des soeurs Hong? J'ai l'impression que ces rires et ces moments de plaisir datent seulement d'hier....Il y a 12 ans, je découvrais les dramas coréens, et par là même, les soeurs Hong avec "You're Beautiful". Depuis, je n'ai jamais, au grand jamais, raté un seul de leurs oeuvres, ayant comme beaucoup mes préférences et mes moins aimés. Si je devais dire que "Big" et "Warm and Cosy" font partis des moutons noirs da ma liste, je n'ai pourtant jamais été jusqu'à présent déçue de leurs oeuvres, de leur univers, de leur humour si caustique.... Il y a toujours une première fois à tout, me dira-t-on....

Si le thème et le scénario semblent alléchants, tous ces détails tels l'univers, le jeu des acteur, la superficialité de l'écriture des personnages et surtout cette facilité paresseuse scénaristique et de réalisation, dont je ne m'attendais pas de leur part, ont émaillé peu à peu mon intérêt pour ce drama, allant jusqu'à m'obliger à me faire force afin de le finir....plus que 3 petits épisodes avant de le considérer comme complet, jamais aussi peu d'épisodes ne m'auront paru aussi interminables.
Me voilà à devoir défendre maladroitement les soeurs Hong devant mon ado de 16 ans, qui sans aucune honte a décidé de laisser tomber le drama, et ne cesse de me taquiner «  alors, je croyais que les dramas des soeurs Hong étaient une tuerie?? ».

Premier point noir : L’histoire n'est pas mauvaise, bien au contraire, et avait vraiment du potentiel. Nous retrouvons l'univers fétiche des soeurs Hong. Mais il faut le dire, cet univers est bien plus « pauvre » que ce que j’ai pu voir dans « Korean Odyssey » par exemple. Si je devais le comparer à des oeuvres dont la richesse ont su ravir mes pupilles, je pourrais citer « Ever Night » qui reste une référence pour moi. Sinon, sans chercher aussi loin, « Arthdal Chronicles » fait tout aussi bien l’affaire. Ces deux oeuvres sont visuellement magnifiques et foisonnent de personnages aussi variés qu’intéressants. Ce qui est malheureusement loin d’être le cas du dernier né des soeurs Hong. Un univers de mages et d’assassins, pourquoi pas. Mais c’est tout. Rien d’autres. Il est dommage de ne pas avoir su créer de clans divers qui auraient apportés une immense dimension, ne cloisonnant pas ainsi cette histoire aux mages. Il aurait été intéressant de voir des paladins, des maîtres poisons, des arcanes, des prêtes, des moines soldats, bref, un univers plus riche aurait peut-être rendu le drama plus intéressant. Le visuel n’a rien d’extraordinaire et c’est regrettable, mais devenue monnaie courante chez les coréens où la plupart de leur réalisation sont de bonne facture. Ce n’est pas une mauvaise chose, mais il faut alors avouer que les attentes deviennent alors élevés. Ils ont déjà fait tellement mieux, j’ai encore en tête les magnifiques plans de « Mr Sunshine » dont la superbe photographie avait tellement su mettre le tragique du drama en valeur. Si nous prenons par exemple le dernier drama qui a chamboulé toute ma vie, « Love Like The Galaxy », je dirai que les coréens se contentent désormais de leur savoir faire. Ce qui au final leur porte préjudice. Mes yeux brillent encore de la beauté visuel de « Love Like The Galaxy » ou de « Love Between fairy and Devil » Difficile de ne pas tirer la moue face à « Alchemy of Souls »…

Deuxième point noir : Le jeu des acteurs/ l’écriture des personnages….Je ne dirai pas avoir été déçue, pour la simple et bonne raison : je n’ai jamais été impressionnée par Jung So Min, ni par Lee Jae Wook. Jung So Min n’est pas une mauvaise actrice, mais pas une seule fois, je n’ai été émue par ses yeux de chiens abattus, son regard faussement indigné ou énervé….C’est surement une question d’affinité, car j’ai cru comprendre que la communauté lui vouait une admiration sans borne. Ce n’est ni mon cas, ni celui de chéri, ni celui de mon ado. Son jeu nous a paru faux et forcé. Alors je sais que le personnage de Mu deok semble attirer toute la sympathie de la communauté, mais sincèrement, je n’ai pas du tout aimé ce personnage. Une femme sois-disante forte et badass??? Gosh, les soeurs Hong, qu’avez vous écrit? Elle passe le plus clair de son temps à courir après Jang Uk, à faire des tours pendables, histoire de le rendre plus fort, oubliant rapidement l’histoire de son père qui passe à la trappe. Go Ae SIn (Mr Sunshine) , Nian Nian (Love Like the Galaxy) ou Jang Man Wol (Hotel Del Luna) étaient des femmes fortes qui en jetaient! Mais sûrement pas Mu Deok.
Lee Jae Wook que j’avais découvert dans « Extraordinary You » n’est pas mauvais et a fait des progrès, mais je dois avouer que je n’ai pas réussi non plus à accrocher à son personnage…. Jang Uk aurait pu être intéressant mais son apprentissage ne m’a pas paru une seule fois crédible. Il n’y a pas assez d’emphase sur ses échecs, ses réflexions. Tout va trop vite et lors de ses progressions, et de ses victoires, nous restons de marbre. Dans « Side Story Of Fox Volant », les progressions de Hu Fei sont passionnantes et limite transcendantes, comme lorsque Miao Renfeng le guide lors de son combat contre Tian Gui Nong. J’avoue pourtant que Jang Uk a été un personnage agréable à suivre, taquin et charmeur à souhait. Malheureusement, son côté guerrier et mage n’ont pas été à la hauteur.
Le pire furent les « vilains » de l’histoire. Come on, Jo Jae Yoon, en vilain, je n’y ai pas cru une seule minute. C’est un rôle qui lui va mal. A la limite du risible, ce personnage n’est ni haïssable (rappelez vous des 3 vilains de « Vincenzo », horribles et méprisables à souhait!), ni féroce. Il ne nous fait ni peur, ni craindre une seule minute pour la vie des protagonistes (même lorsqu'ils furent pris au piège). Les antagonistes secondaires ne sont guère mieux, comme la reine, qui pourrait gagner la palme des méchantes inutiles et grotesques….
Je regrette par contre que des acteurs comme Park Jin que j’adore ou Im Chul Soo (inoubliable dans « Vincenzo »!!!) aient pu participer à cela. Bien que. Je l’avoue. Le rôle de Im Chul Soo a été le seul que j’ai aimé et qui m’aura fait rire plus d’une fois. Ah, il y’en a bien un autre qui a volé la vedette à Lee Jae Wook. Non, non pas Seo Yul. Le prince Go Won. Je l'aurai bien vu en protagoniste.

3ème point noir : La romance. Oui, il faut l’écrire. Ce drama se focalise beaucoup autour de la romance, difficile de ne pas devoir le juger. Je suis une mordue de romance et je fond facilement devant les pires clichés du monde. Mais alors ici, rien. Même pas un frémissement. Ce n’est certes pas la pire des romances. Elle reste tout de même bien fade et ennuyante. Il y a 0 alchimie entre nos protagonistes, 0 tension, 0 sensualité, 0 « kawai » attitude, 0 complicité. Bref, rien. Pour moi en tout cas.
Leur histoire prend d’ailleurs une place trop importante. Il aurait été judicieux d’apporter une touche de romance comme dans « Ever Night » qui possède aussi un peu cette relation particulière de maitre-serviteur. Mais si dans « Ever Night » la romance est astucieusement dosée (alors qu’elle est au final au coeur du drama ), ici, elle couvre bien 90% de la série, ne laissant que peu de place à l’intrigue, à l’action. Et je ne parle que de la romance principale, car il y a les autres romances (tout aussi ennuyante, voire pire).

4ème point noir : L’action. Heu….je ne dirai pas que c’est mauvais. Mais ce n’est pas de l’action, si je devais vous donner mon opinion. L’action pour moi c’est « Kenshin » (Impossible d’avoir pu passer à côté de cette saga, n’est ce pas?). C’est « Ip Man » ( la rapidité et la précision des gestes de Donnie Yuen sont quasi incomparables). C’est « Ever Night » (ne passez pas à côté des combats de l’épéiste expert, de la magnifique technique "Arc+pentacle" de Ning Qe, ou encore l’épique combat de la 3ème soeur!!!!)… ou le récent « Side Story of Fox Volant » (si vous voulez voir une héroïne se battre comme un as, virevoltant avec virtuose et botter le popotin des hommes avec classe! et surtout, surtout le duel incroyable et magique entre Miao Renfeng et Hu Fei, inoubliable!)….

Cela me désole d’avoir à autant dénigrer ce drama. Non que j’en avais envie. J’ai beaucoup hésité avant de venir l'écrire.
Les soeur Hong ont fait partie des scénaristes qui m’ont gagné à la cause des Kdramas 12 ans auparavant. Elles m’ont fait rêver. Rire. Je suis tombée amoureuse. Encore et encore. L’OST de « You’re the Beautiful » tourne encore en boucle chez moi.
Jang Man Wol (Hotel Del Luna) fait encore partie de mes personnages préférées!
Non, vraiment, cela me fend le coeur d’avoir autant détesté ce drama.
Et tout ce que je souhaite, c’est que la saison 2 me réconcilie avec leur oeuvre. Alors je croise les doigts.

(Je n'ai même pas le courage de regarder la saison 2...)

Leia Mais