Alchemy of Souls (환혼) is an epic adventure of friendship, self-discovery, magic, and love. This high fantasy TV drama recently concluded its first season and dropped a very enticing season two plot.
Season 01 started and ended strong. Alchemy of Souls (환혼) was a story about two very powerful mages who can make or break the world. Two souls who tried to run away from their fate only for destiny to catch up with them. The first season was not only about magic and dark sorcery, it is a love story. A love story about ourselves, the people we care about, self-discovery, life, and yes, people we want to spend the rest of our lives with.
Alchemy of Souls (환혼) is a Korean pantasya (ᜉᜈ᜔ᜆᜐ᜔ᜌ) about magic, love, politics, and martial arts. It was penned by the popular duo, the Hong (홍) sisters. It tells the story about two souls who were wronged in their childhood and is looking for justice and revenge. Yet there are forces greater than them that may spell doom to the nation of Dae Ho (대호), and possibly the magic users and magic itself.
Mu Deok is played by Jung So Min (정소민), a personal maid of Jang Uk. She is actually Nak Su, the most feared mage assassin and who is seeking revenge for the murder of her clan. However, after performing the alchemy of souls, she inadvertedly taken over the body of Mu Deok, who is weak and seemingly have no pathways to magic.
Meanwhile her master, Jang Uk (played by Lee Jae Wook (이재욱)) is the son of the most powerful mage in Dae Ho (대호). His magic was sealed by his father for his lineage has a dark secret. He is training under his personal maid Mu Deok—whose soul is Nak Su the assassin.
The story of Alchemy of Souls (환혼) was well written and thought of. The world was also well crafted including the rules behind the magic in this universe. From a worldbuilding and writing perspective, Alchemy of Souls (환혼) is a very good setting for Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game sessions.
I only have two feedback:
Overall I am impressed with the flow of the story. They jumped right into the story while they carefully introduced the characters and the world of Alchemy of Souls (환혼). Each episode was packed with important key details about the story which made audiences wanting more. Speculations and theories were written and majority, if not all, were proven incorrect by the show itself.
They all did well in their performances, however, there are four actors who deserve recognition for bringing their characters to life.
Jung So Min (정소민) as Mu Deok (무덕). Jung So Min (정소민)’s role in the show was unique, she not only had to play as Mu Deok (무덕) but also as Jin Bu Yeon (진부연) and Nak Su (낙수).
As Jin Bu Yeon (진부연), Jung So Min (정소민) had to change forget everything about being Mu Deok (무덕). These two characters are total opposites. Jin Bu Yeon (진부연) was a blind priestess and heir to the Jin clan. She is stiff, wise beyond her years, and meant business.
As Nak Su (낙수), Jung So Min (정소민) had to show fierceness. An female assassin who would kill anyone she was ordered to. The most powerful and feared mage. A living weapon.
But as Mu Deok (무덕), Jung So Min (정소민) had to bring to life a female assassin who was absorbed into the physically weak body of Jin Bu Yeon (진부연) which also sealed her magic as Nak Su (낙수). She had to live as a servant while keeping her dangerous secret. She also had to show the changing nature of Mu Deok (무덕) as she discovers herself and the wonderful people and world she shunned.
These three contrasting characters, and one going through self-discovery and building social connections she never had, is no easy task to take on. A good actor internalizes their character, and shifting to two other different characters when needed during filming can be a challenge. Yet actress Jung So Min (정소민) superbly played all three characters. She turned into a totally different character without any hint that her main character was Mu Deok (무덕).
Jung So Min (정소민) deserves a major award for her roles and for the amazing sword fight scenes in the season finale.
The best way to explain this is: Alchemy of Souls (환혼) is the Lord of the Rings of Korea. The locations were beautiful and if those are real, I want to visit it and feel what it is like to live in the universe of Alchemy of Souls (환혼). They did not hold back spending on the special effects, they paid attention to the differences between magic and sorcery instead of simply creating generic or one-size-fits-all special effects.
Each scene in the entire drama were perfect, there were no exaggerations yet were not lacking. The focus of the audience stays with the characters and the unfolding story instead of being distracted by the background. It was like watching a Christopher Nolan film.
Alchemy of Souls (환혼) is hands-down 10 out of 10 stars. No. I am giving it 20 out of 10 stars. It is a TV drama that any fantasy genre fan must watch at least once in their life. Not much to say, it was that awesome!
Here is a short rundown and quick feedback about the premier of this live-action Korean pantasya (ᜉᜈ᜔ᜆᜐ᜔ᜌ).
]]>Alchemy of Souls (환혼) premiered last week on tvN and Netflix. This is the latest project by the renowned Hong sisters («Hotel del Luna» review, My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho, Hong Gil Dong).
Here is a short rundown and quick feedback about the premier of this live-action Korean pantasya (ᜉᜈ᜔ᜆᜐ᜔ᜌ).
Daeho is a country of magic users hidden from the world. There are four powerful clans of mages—the Jang, Seo/Heo, Park, and Jin. It is a country not in any historical records nor in any maps.
Jang Uk grew up with his magic sealed by his father. He continually searches for a master powerful enough to break the seal and teach him magic, magic that is rightfully his, until his path crossed with Mu Deok.
Mu Deok is Jang Uk’s new personal maid who has a deep secret, her body was taken over by Nak Su, the most feared mage assassin, after performing the alchemy of souls—the most forbidden of all dark art spells.
Together, they embark on a fantastical journey of magic, romance, and survival in a country filled with politics, dark magic, and martial arts.
Alchemy of Souls (환혼) is a Korean pantasya (ᜉᜈ᜔ᜆᜐ᜔ᜌ) about magic, love, politics, and martial arts. It was penned by the popular duo, the Hong sisters. It tells the story about two souls who were wronged in their childhood and is looking for justice and revenge. Yet there are forces greater than them that may spell doom to the nation of Daeho, and possibly the magic users and magic itself.
Mu Deok is played by Jung So Min (정소민), a personal maid of Jang Uk. She is actually Nak Su, the most feared mage assassin and who is seeking revenge for the murder of her clan. However, after performing the alchemy of souls, she inadvertently taken over the body of Mu Deok, who is weak and seemingly have no pathways to magic.
Meanwhile her master, Jang Uk (played by Lee Jae Wook (이재욱)) is the son of the most powerful mage in Daeho. His magic was sealed by his father for his lineage has a dark secret. He is training under his personal maid Mu Deok—whose soul is Nak Su the assassin.
There are four powerful mage clans in Daeho. Each have promising young mages who may one day become very powerful and rule the nation, they are also known as the Four Seasons of Daeho for their unmatched beauty.
In the first two episodes, the production team and the cast has proven that Alchemy of Souls (환혼) is not an ordinary East Asian fantasy live-action show. The performance of the actors was above and beyond, surpassing all fantasy and period dramas in any country. The background music was chosen perfectly to bring in the spirit of a fantasy adventure usually seen only in video games. The set is also amazing. They brought out the best of East Asian art without sacrificing the feeling of how grand and majestic this secret nation of magic users.
Alchemy of Souls (환혼) is Dungeons & Dragons meets East Asian high fantasy. What is a grand city with huge walls, busy scenes, and CGI effects if the characters are shallow and the story is all over the place? This Asian high fantasy is a live-action show with depth of story, character development, solid background/history, simplicity in design yet with strong visuals, qualities missing in many Western high fantasy live-action films and TV series.
Looking for a true live-action high fantasy? Look no further, Alchemy of Souls (환혼) is what fans all over the world are waiting for.