Alchemy of Souls is a Korean fantasy-romance series written by the Hong sisters. The series is divided into two parts with the first comprising of 20 episodes and the second, 10 episodes. The first part is still under release, premiering every Saturday and Sunday by 3:00 pm on Netflix. The second part awaits the end of 2022 for its release.
The Korean TV series nurtures the idea of soul release to aid progression in a literal sense, bringing the abstract world and abstract travelling to focus. Each episode tries to navigate the mete between what can be referred to as absolute good or absolute evil, as determined by one’s conscience in regards to soul shifting.
Each episode is met with its conflict, driven and resolved by a squad of four mages, an assassin, a king and their guardians.The series promotes subjective ethical reasoning, healthy relationships, particularly amongst friends, effusive emotional connection between young adults in love and the virtue of discipline.
Despite the profundity and seriousness of the plot, it has comic relief doled out to dilute the intensity. While every episode closes with a powerful ending that leaves the viewers anticipating the next, the latest released episode 18 seems to have outshined the others with its resonating scenes.
This episode runs for more than an hour with Mu-deok/Naksu (the female protagonist) unsheathing her sword, something previously impossible and fighting a soul shifter. She also opts for love and friendship over the ultimate power and stoicism that accompanies being an assassin.
It ends with so much uncertainty as Seo Yul, one of the mages is on the verge of death, Mu-deok is in throes of death at the hands of her mother and there exists a pending discovery of Mu-deok as the child that had been missing for ages.
This episode seems to be the climax of the series and the expectation of a denouement would keep viewers eager for the next release. With its solid plot, action-packed scenes, round dynamic characters, heartwarming interactions, and plot-character chemistry, Alchemy of Souls is unarguably worth all the hype it is getting.
