‘Alchemy of Souls’ Dubbed As Best Fantasy Series of 2022— Here’s Why
For 15 amazing weeks, tvN's "Alchemy of Souls" painted the small screen with romance and magic. Fans from both domestic and overseas channels were hooked from beginning to end.
The alchemists' fever is still burning, even after the drama closed its curtains. With that, "Alchemy of Souls" is now dubbed as the best fantasy series of the year. Here are four reasons why!
1. Intricate World Building and Storytelling
Besides its magical plot that involves mages and sorcerers, "Alchemy of Souls" also boasted its perfectly curated realm.
The series was set in the fictional country of Daeho that houses the four major families with divine powers, as well as the four powerful mages that are compared to the four seasons.
Songrim, the place that trains mages, is run by the Park family; Park Dang Gu (Yoo In Soo), its heir, symbolizes the beautiful season of summer.
Meanwhile, Jinyowon, the place where relics and magical artifacts are stored, is guarded by the Jin family; Jin Cho Yeon (Oh My Girl Arin), the second-born daughter, possesses great beauty like the spring.
Seo Yul (Hwang Minhyun) and Jang Uk (Lee Jae Wook) are Songrim's most powerful mages, and they symbolize autumn and winter, respectively, completing Daeho's four seasons.
What makes the drama even more interesting is how magic and martial arts are incorporated together, which is not often seen in most K-dramas.
2. Impressive Cast Lineup and Synergy Between Characters
Interestingly, every character in the series maximized the narrative and charms of one another.
Lee Jae Wook, who took on the role of Jang Uk, expressed the changes in his character from Part 1 to Part 2 spectacularly, boasting his stable acting.
In addition to that, Go Yoon Jung, who played four roles in the drama, successfully showcased the subtle differences of each of her characters in "Alchemy of Souls."
She was also praised for her adorable expressions and body languages, which gave her performance an added touch.
READ MORE: 'Alchemy of Souls Part 2' Concludes Blissfully With Highest Rating
Moreover, Hwang Minhyun, Shin Seung Ho, Yoo Jun Sang, Oh Na Ra, Jo Jae Yoon and more, who all appeared in the show, also displayed great performances.
The cast depicted their enhanced immersion and growth by complementing one's performance with their own, which is encompassed with charisma and synchronization.
3. The Hong Sisters' Unbeatable Writing Prowess
On the night of the drama's conclusion, "Thank you, Hong Sisters" trended worldwide after "Alchemy of Souls" concluded on a good note.
This was because the Hong Sisters, who wrote the script for the series, are known for their melancholic endings and heartbreaking scenes.
Moreover, director Park Joon Hwa was also able to display his sensuous directing skills that embodied all genres of fantasy, romance and action.
With the producers' teamwork, "Alchemy of Souls" was so loved in all parts of the world that many scenes became fan-favorites as well, like how Jang Uk recognized Naksu's blue eyes and kissing scenes between the lead stars.
4. Jang Uk and Naksu's Love That Transcends Soul and Body
Rather controversial, "Alchemy of Souls" portrayed a romance story that has never been seen in other works before.
Since the series focuses on the sorcery that shifts souls from one person to another, the changing of lead stars from Jung So Min to Go Yoon Jung baffled fans from all over the world.
However, the tvN series succeeded in delivering a fateful romance that transcends the soul and body through Jang Uk and Naksu's story.
The characters, which were played by Lee Jae Wook, Go Yoon Jung and Jung So Min, gave the viewers a deeper understanding of love and feelings.
While it's romance, it didn't necessarily focus on love; the series also prioritized the characters' emotional and physical growth, especially in Part 2.
How Jang Uk and Naksu fall in love with each other over and over again-despite changing appearances-just showed how strong the bond and foundation of their relationship are.
ALSO READ: 'Alchemy of Souls' Episode 30: Lee Jae Wook Finally Marries Go Yoon Jung
In particular, the line that stated "the light and shadow that appeared in each other's lives as the moment they were most desperate for one another" resonated with every viewer, raising the tension and excitement to a new high.
KDramaStars owns this article.
Written by Elijah Mully.
