Alquimia de Almas (2022)

You'll never get over it

There's only 2 episodes yet I'm already loving it. I love the visuals,cast and the plot. The idea of the FL being dominant than the ML and the FL being the ML's master/Teacher is so refreshing for me. The ML isn't cold and jerk unlike some typical Historical dramas Male leads (I'm talking about the majority of Cdramas ML🙄) This is currently my new favorite drama and it's killing me to wait a week for 2 episodes but at the same time I love the excitement. this is the first time that I watched an ongoing series since I hate waiting but I just can't get enough of it so I'm just rewatching the 2 episodes all over every time and can't get tired of it. definitely a great series for people who loves historical fantasy series with no exaggerated shi's happening

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Recensione stagione 1 e 2

Il fallimento di una possibile bellissima opera fantasy in una 30na di episodi. Da amante delle storie fantasy rom/com, avrei voluto veramente tanto amarlo ma ciò non è stato possibile a causa di molti momenti morti e alcune altre cose, tra cui la protagonista. Naksu poteva essere il personaggio più bello, la donna forte, la cercatrice di vendetta, colei che punisce, la combattente che veste alla marinara... Ah no, ho sbagliato. Invece viene lentamente e letteralmente messa da parte durante tutto il dramma per favoreggiare qualcun'altra. Viene messa in ombra nel peggior modo possibile, tutto quello che poteva far risaltare la storia scema in questo putrido modo. Perchè anche se l' "evoluzione" non ci stava troppo male con il contesto, non è così malamente che si fa.
Nulla di nuovo sul fronte occidentale per il protagonista maschile, qui stampo protagonista di un qualsiasi shonen in circolazione. Mi ha sorpreso nella seconda stagione e lì lo ho un po' amato perchè diverso. La sua storia con la protagonista non mi ha colpito ma qualche momento me l'ha fatto provare anche se su 30 ep potevate mettercene un po' di più, non briciole.
Gli altri maghetti sembrano tutti idol kpop sfuggiti ad un qualche concerto per finire catapultati in un mondo magico. Carini, ma nulla di veramente rilevante. Insomma, passabili. Il cattivone di turno non lo potevo vedere, ho trovato l'interpretazione dell'attore piatta e senza spina dorsale, non mi ha convinta per nulla.
Si salvano alla grande gli effetti speciali e i combattimenti, peccato che sono troppo pochi XD
In questo drama sembra prevalere l'elevata quantità di discorsi più che di fatti e la cosa mi ha decisamente alla lunga annoiata. Non ho droppato la visione perchè nonostante tutto volevo vedere come si concludeva l'opera, ma non vi nascondo che molte scene le ho skippate e nonostante ciò non mi sono persa nulla, giusto per farvi capire quanto lento e prevedibile sia.

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Give This a Chance

To be honest I almost dropped this after watching half of the first episode. I was having a very high expectation because the trope seemed interesting. But the introduction was not engaging and the characterization was weak. I was hoping for something deeper than this and I saw that potential on the past story line instead.

The problem was not on the quality of the drama. In fact the CGI was excellent. And I've enjoyed the characters more cringe and the story way cliche than this (this is not cliche imo). I just thought that I was not the right target audience for this. I might love this when I was younger. But later I found myself started to question many things and not just accepted things easily. Especially in this case, for a fantasy I needed to be assured and it had to be logical according to their culture universe. I understood that fantasy had its own structure and it wouldn't be the same as the reality but it's their job to make the world they built in the drama made sense for us to watch. And I felt that this drama was still working on it.

That being said the ending of the first episode was kind of a turning point. When I learned a little about the main lead characters I started to understand. Something I lately realized that it was made sense after all. It was just because of it poorly introduced that almost failed me. It gave me a hope that this was about to get interesting. I was relieved I didn't drop this right away when the episode two began to grow on me.

As I already dropped my expectation, I'm looking forward for whatever this drama has in store for me for the next episodes.

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Good show but meanders a lot

Update during the final episode.

As predicted, they ruined the show at the end. They gave themselves a little over 40 minutes to wrap up Nak-su/Mu-duk/Jin bu-yeon story thread. Nobody received any consequences of their actions including Lady Jin and her husband. How did Jin Mu escape and went missing when he was literally surrounded by the entire assembly of sorcerers? The prince just casually runs into Jin Mu in the “secret” room everyone knew about? Worst yet, the prince basically listens to Jin Mu and gets manipulated? Jin Mu had a bell that he can use to control Nak-Su? Now that Nak-Su resurfaces, everyone forgot what Jin -Mu did? What?

I haven’t see many Hong sisters’ work but I guess this is their MO and they couldn’t help themselves.

Update after Ep. 17.

I’m lowering this show to 7.

I’m a little shocked after the latest episode where the king wanted to kill a person just to see the ice stone’s power. What’s more shocking is that people actually went along with it. This is so nuts.

Basically, this episode is the culmination of how this show meandered the entire time. They knew who the bad guys were but they were busy doing stupid stuff to justify 20 episodes. Now, here we are…

Review after 15 episodes.

I’ve watched 15 episodes so far. I’m enjoying it quite a lot so far.

A few points.

1. It’s not as action packed as I thought it would be. Mostly just drama. Lots of talking but done fairly well.
2. It meanders quite a bit. We find out who the bad guys are fairly early on along with the main characters. But they don’t do a whole lot with it for a long time. They do mention it and do some digging around here and there. But the good guys spend a lot of time doing trivial stuff in between. I guess they need enough filler for 20 episodes.
3. Main character Jang Uk is pretty unlikeable. He had a chip on his shoulder for not having the power first. Then when he actually gets it, he wastes his time refusing to train. He knows that a lot depends on him getting strong including Nak-su getting her power back. It’s frustrating watching him wasting his time. But of course, him being the main character, he continues to get strong without putting a lot of effort. He’s also petty and cocky. Hard to like this guy.
4. Mu deuk is great. Love the character herself, her story and acting were all great. Jung So Min is great as usual.
5. Four heirs to the four great families were advertised to be the elites of the elites. But they mostly turned out to be major duds. Incompetent and goofy except Yul. Huge let down.
6. This show has no shortage of great supporting characters. Maid servant Kim, Master Lee, Songrim’s leader, and the prince. So much fun watching them. Love the prince!
7. Jin Mu, the main bad guy so far is done well. He seems sinister and dark. Well done.
8. Not a big fan of how the story unfolds. They show you something and then go back to show what really happened. It gets tiring after a while.
9. Looks like they spent a lot of money and effort creating the world. CG looks pretty good for the most part. Wire-fu… not so much.

I’m looking forward to see how this ends. Just found out that there will be a part 2. Interesting.

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This review is from the first episode and will be edited after the drama ends

Am changing my rating from 10 to 7.5
The drama started really strong - I love Naksu and her fighting scenes. It took a while to get used to her new body but the actress Somin did a great job in portraying Naksu and Mudeok.

I am mostly interested in the past and the mysteries of the other characters.
However, lately the story started to focus on romance and I feel like they started to neglect some of the plots. Almost everyone is having a romance and love triangle...
6 more episodes to go but it seems nothing is ever changing, except of course the romance part which I am not really interested in.

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