Big Big Mistake and Big Big Let Down

I don’t think I have ever been so angry or upset over a TV series, as I am with Part 2 of Alchemy of Souls. What on earth were the famous sisters’ writing team thinking?

I will say that the special effects were top notch as usual. Of course, Part 1 was splendid in every way. So, why get a new female lead in - out of nowhere? Why? Removing the main female character played by Jung So-min, who was incredibly essential through out the entire first part … and who stole the show again and again with her fabulous acting, was simply abominable. Jung So-min’s character had wit, energy, determination, and great humour. Because So-Min is a fabulous actor., she stole every scene along with her co-partner Lee Jae Wook - and they played off each other perfectly. He was wonderful, of course, as always. They clicked. Chemistry.

You could tell they were really enjoying their roles. It was fabulous. The acting (of most of the cast members) was extremely good in Part 1 as well; the story was strong; the magical effects were amazing, and it had everything that was needed to be greatly entertained, and yet involved and, also, often touched by the passions, horrors, hatred and love in every way. I loved every second of Part 1.

When I heard that Jung So-min “might” not be returning in Part 2, I was immediately upset and irritated. A whole lot of “maybe, maybe not” nonsense came out, that was offensive to viewers and which was pitched again and again. What kind of games were the writers and producers playing with avid watchers of Part 1? Surely Jung SO-Min would be back!

Not so. Apparently they had decided that Nasku (played by a younger actress, Go Woon Jung) would take over the lead female role. Why on earth would they totally drop Jung So-min? They removed a fantastic actress and a fabulously written character right out of the story? Why? Except for weak hints in Part 2 … which I will not go into, as it might be seen as leaking information, nothing is really offered. It is as if Mu Deok had never existed in Part 1. Either way the wonderful actress as a main lead was gone.

And who did they add?

They added a character who meanders around after Uk, sulking, mooning about, and being very very dull. This young actor’s facial expressions are set mainly into a pursed lip of “wondering” and “unhappiness” or something vague that was incredibly irritating. Again … what were the writers thinking? No strong actress here. I wanted Mu Deok back immediately! I missed her completely.

I felt NO passion between these two leads in Part 2. None. Zip. Nada. Even Lee Jae Wook couldn’t show a pretended “love with deep passion” connection with his co-actor. At the end when they are trying very hard to look in “love,” it was cringemaking. Like wooden puppets. It was as awful as the goofy bizarre ending with a cat as big as an elephant suddenly appearing. But that is something else. Seriously...was that a hint of a part 3? Was that supposed to be a promise for more action in a Part 3?

I will not be watching Part 3 if the amazing Jung So-Min does not return, that’s for sure. This unjustified replacement of the wonderful character Mu Deok is so so frustrating. They chose an actress that looked a wee bit like Jung So Min. And younger. But not strong at all in the part. No passion. No intelligence and quick thinking. Little or weak humour. Dull.

A Bad Bad decision. Big Big Let Down.

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The BEST!!!

One of the best series EVER. I have watched it many times since it first came out. And I am still seeing new things in it. I just finished it again last night. What a joy. I won't repeat what others have said in their reviews of celebration and deep pleasure about this top notch drama, as they said it so well. I have given this series 10 for every part of it. Clever. Moving. Funny. Sad. Intelligent. SUPERB. All acting is wonderful. . And the two lead characters are brilliant. The script is as good as it gets. I adore both Jung So Min and Lee Min Ki. ( I am still furious at the producers of Alchemy of Souls, who dropped Jung So Min out of the main cast in Part 2 of that series - and put a younger actress in her place. I won't comment on the "new" actress. But part 2 doesn't hold up at all for me. Not having JSM in Part 2 was a clumsy dumb move. Jung So Min was fabulous in part 1 of AOS. She pretty much "stole the show". ) However, JSM has clearly moved on with dignity and has two new series coming up. I look forward to anything she is in! I would love to see her team up with LMK again.

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This series is clichéd to the max .... waste of time for me...

This "Netflix Original" series is not even close to "original anything." It is stuffed full of clichés. To the brim. I watched the first four episodes, and also, the last episode and finally decided not to waste anymore of my time. I will not divulge the ending. Suffice it to say no surprise there. Although I am sure the writers thought it would be a different unique ending, it was not worth it. I know many people will probably like this series - but this is just MY own opinion.

The wife in the series is an actress of some note - and the husband is a rather dim goof who wants to be in politics. So they keep staying together. So tiresome. After the first episode, I was already in doubt, but decided to give it a chance to improve. No. The acting was not very good anyway.

The main characters are getting divorced in order to protect their "out there in the news" lives. You learn this immediately. They are both airheads with very little depth. I didn't see any change or growth in either of them at all - and if it WAS there, it must have been just pale drops of weak tea. So, basically, I quit the series halfway through.

I was hoping for something fresh and new - but I ended up thinking that this is just "romance genre trope". The fabric of the story had old stains all over it - taken from other much better series. Too bad.

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Should be called “Will they EVER Get Together” OR “Do I Really Care?”

I gave up on this series in episode 7. But THEN I ran out of good Korean series … and while I am waiting for some new series to load up; I decided to go back to this one and to see if it was improving. Not a good move. I spent last night struggling through the mud with a new “lack of interest for love” burgeoning in ep. 8

Nothing changes in this series, except for one dreary character breaking up with the lead female who, for some weird reason decided to "date" him in the first place. (NO idea what SHE was up to connecting with this gentle fellow who suffers very very low self esteem, and she should have left him alone in the first place. ) Clearly, she is attracted to the lead male character in her own blurry way . The lead male is deeply attracted to her also, but he missed a date with her, and that ended that. Punishment from the lead female, to the male lead, was a sulky droopy-eyed “put down”. For now. But it was all crushingly boring and frustrating to watch.

In episode 8, as a viewer, I once again felt like I was walking along a muddy path behind the leading twosome … and I just really wanted a big stick to hit them repeatedly. Especially her, who is wish washy and wide-eyed sulky, at best. No one knows her parents run a small restaurant near the bank. She has hidden this information and is embarrassed by them, so she pretends not to know her family and they let her do it. Why lay out this old old theme again? So tiresome.

No doubt some sort of resolution will happen between the leads, but do I really care? As for the relationship between the lead male and an eager wealthy girl from the bank (who won't leave him alone) - for some unknown reason, he gives into her in a lackluster way and agrees to date her. But any young woman would recognize this lack of interest immediately, unless they were spoiled or narcissistic like this one is. Again, so stereotypical. And so tedious.

I like the lead male actor, actually. He was in the series “Hospital Playlist” which is on my absolute favorites list. Hope he picks a better script next time.

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Is this going to be the next new view of women? Tell me it isn’t so.

I watched the first episode. My reaction was immediate. Tried second episode. Didn’t get better. Third. Gave up. Why is the main female lead so out of control from the get-go. After all she just beat the crap out of a thief. So she must be a tough female hero. Wow. “Love her, right?” Not. The premise of this character is pretty warped. Is this how women want to see themselves? Of course I assume she will somehow find her “way”to “true love.” Right?

The big question for me is this.

Why would ANY woman who cares about herself, and takes pride in herself, go out and have one night stands, and sex, with the kind of men she utterly utterly despises. How sad and pathetic is that? And WHY? Revenge? A turn on? Apparently not. What? Why? Getting even? How? Pathetic and ridiculous, really.

The lead script writer is a guy in his fifties. Think about that. Probably looking for a script that is “different, kookie and catchy.” If you think this is somehow a feminist “story” think again. Seriously. Not even close. The creation of a woman denigrating herself again and again, is about what, exactly? Changing the world of cheating men? Bizarre. lol.

You can tell me to lighten up a bit. You can tell me the movie is just a lot of fun. But the premise it begins with is a warped view of women in general and especially this “concocted” woman who, in the real world, should be hanging out a lot with a really good psychiatrist. Like I said, there is no doubt that a “happy” ending was created out of the mess, right? Right? Lol.

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