Alchemy of Souls has all the makings of a significant, enduring K-Drama: complexity, richness, and committed world-building. However, the Hong sisters' most recent endeavor occasionally suffered from a plot that was circular at times or a pace that was visibly laborious, slowing the ascent to the season's effortlessly unforgettable finish.
The show's plot centers on the lives of those who dwell in Daeho, a location unknown to most people. There, wizards, sorcerers, assassins, maids, and all other kinds of imagined individuals go about their daily business, assisting the many parts of this confined realm.
It's understandable if it sounds complicated, but Alchemy of Souls takes it a step further by focusing on a small group of characters and their daily lives in Daeho. The main character is Jang Uk, a budding wizard who, once his gate of energy is opened, travels from being a clumsy no-hoper to a sophisticated, self-assured man. Mu-deok, who is home to the soul of the previous assassin Naksu, is a major help to him. The two share an unusual relationship that develops into something much more and enables both of them to become fundamentally better persons.
Jin Mu is the main adversary on the other side of the equation. He is a cynical aide to Gwanju who aims to manipulate everyone around him while using forbidden wizardry to dominate Daeho. He is the metaphorical good guys' generally cunning, hard-to-beat foe. Alchemy of Souls is multifaceted, and when you add in a strong supporting cast that includes everything from con artists to soul-shifting Queens, it becomes even more apparent.
This amount of exquisite detail is both a big strength and a recurring weakness, as was already mentioned. In terms of the show's resoundingly good aspects, it's really simple to get sucked into this fantastical universe, one that is so captivating in its myriad threads that it genuinely gives the impression of being a sort of escapism. Stories about a charismatic, developing wizard like Jang Uk, who is devoted to following the correct route in life despite having inherent flaws, include an investable emotion that is typically hard to find. Similar to this, Mu-gradual deok's transformation from a tough, steely assassin to a kind, loving lover is endearing in how it transpires, especially considering the fact that she never completely loses touch with the feisty individual she once was.
Having saying that, there were annoying aspects to how gradually some of these story components were developed. Sometimes, stories about important connections or choices were repeated or carried on to the point where the result was completely obvious or lost some of its significance. It wasn't at all bad, in fact quite the opposite, but in December's part two, a quicker pacing might increase the entertainment value and lengthen the episodes' already indubitably long minutes.
The shortcomings, however, are really minor gripes in the great scheme of things, especially in light of all the positive aspects. For starters, Jung So-min does a great job portraying Mu-deok. She injects depth into her portrayal as her character struggles to transition from vengeful killer to selfless guardian. The performances of Lee Jae-wook and Jo Jae-yun, who respectively portray Daeho's potential savior and the community's impending doom, are equally excellent.
Further, the visual quality of the entire series is superb. Director Park Joon-hwa gives this made-up universe life by emphasizing the large amount of space he has to work with and drawing the audience into each scene. The program has an undeniable chic appeal, complete with some really good CGI, visual effects, and usage of sad fallacy.
Overall, Alchemy of Souls on Netflix was a captivating, consistently excellent introduction to (and travel through) the intricate universe of Daeho. There is enough here for anybody to get their teeth into, as well as enough content for those searching for something thorough to enjoy, even though it wasn't perfect—nothing is—and nothing ever is.
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