Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow (2022)

January 15, 2023

Our Take: While still entertaining, the new season doesn't quite live up to Season 1's storytelling and appeal.

The Premise

The highly anticipated sequel to Alchemy of Souls takes place 3 years from where Season 1 left off. In the messy aftermath of Mu Deok (Jung So Min) running wild as a soul shifter due to Gwanju Jin Mu's (Jo Jae Yoon) treachery, a new era in Daeho has unfolded.

Jang Uk (Lee Jae Wook) was resurrected with the help of the Ice Stone, which is now inside of him. The Ice Stone keeps him alive and gives him unrivaled powers. But, as punishment for coveting the Ice Stone, he is tasked with hunting soul-shifters while dealing with the darkness from wraiths that the Ice Stone attracts.

Songrim leader Park Jin (Yoo Joon Sang) was forced to assume responsibility for the Ice Stone incident and stepped down from his leadership position, giving space for Park Dang Gu (Yoo In Soo) to take over. Seo Yul (Hwang Min Hyun) has been hiding away while dealing with the blood parasite inside him and guilt from Mu Deok running wild. Crown Prince Go Won (Shin Seung Ho) has seemingly sided with Jin Mu as he grapples with the knowledge that Jang Uk was born under the King's star.

Meanwhile, Jinyowon leader Jin Ho Kyung (Park Eun Hye) and her daughter Jin Cho Yeon (Arin) secretly imprison Jin Bu Yeon (Go Yoon Jung), a powerful priestess who seeks Jang Uk's help to escape from her family's clutches.

Transformations

In season 1, Jang Uk was a bright and bubbly mage who was determined to master his craft and live up to his father's legacy. But, 3 years later, he's now a changed man. Although he has become the most powerful mage in Daeho, having lost his soulmate, his only goals are to slay soul-shifters and find someone powerful enough to remove the Ice Stone from his body. He's become isolated from most of his friends due to his cold demeanor and broodiness. His darkness is also reflected in his dark attire and the cold atmosphere that engulfs his presence.

On the other hand, Park Dang Gu has developed into a mage worthy of leading Songrim, a refreshing change from his former immature self. Seo Yul returns to Daeho, intent on no longer hiding from his guilt and shame while also attempting to conceal his health issue from everyone.

A Princess in the Tower

Suffering from amnesia, Jin Bu Yeon spends much of her time locked up in her room in Jinyowon without her powers. Whenever she tries to run away, she fatefully meets Jang Uk, who later begrudgingly aids her escape. In a desperate plea for freedom, Bu Yeon convinces Jang Uk to marry her. In exchange, she would remove the Ice Stone from his body after she regained her priestess powers.

Their unusual relationship becomes the focal point for much of the season as Jang Uk clings to his memories of Mu Deok while slowly falling for Bu Yeon. Compared to his relationship with Mu Deok, Jang Uk and Bu Yeon's bond didn't quite have the same romantic chemistry. With Mu Deok, the pair endured life and death together as master and pupil, overcoming countless obstacles as a team.

With Bu Yeon, it feels as if we spend most of our time waiting for them to recognize each other, even as other characters slowly learn the truth. When Bu Yeon and Jang Uk finally realize whose soul is buried in Bu Yeon, the reveal felt anti-climatic compared to the anticipation of that moment.

But that is not to say they didn't have chemistry or there was anything wrong with their relationship. It was nice to see how they lightened each other's lives up and embraced each other in their darkest moments. When Bu Yeon needed someone to rescue her, Jang Uk was always there. Similarly, when Jang Uk wanted to end his life, Bu Yeon gave him a reason to keep living and a warm and comforting place to call home.

Overcoming Your Past

Seeing Naksu live as Jin Bu Yeon/Cho Yeong this season was an interesting change of pace to her vengeful past. Her complete personality change was a stark reminder that her life as Naksu was not one she willingly chose. Instead, she was manipulated by Jin Mu at a young age to become an assassin and ended up getting used as a pawn and discarded when she was no longer useful.

As Jin Bu Yeon, we see glimpses of what her life could have been like and how much happier she is. By choosing a different path forward, she can finally let go of all the suffering, trauma, anger, and sadness she's lived with since childhood and start fresh.

However, at the same time, it would have been great to see her train and use her powers as a mage as part of her redemption arc. While she is no longer an assassin, it doesn't erase her past and all the crimes she committed, even if she was exploited by Jin Mu.

Life is Unpredictable, But You Choose Your Own Destiny

One of my favorite lines gets delivered by Park Jin, who tells Jang Uk, Dang Gu, and Seo Yul over breakfast, "Life is unpredictable, but you choose your own destiny. No matter how sweet or bitter it may be, you must taste it yourself and swallow it."

Life often throws all sorts of curveballs at us. What matters most is how we deal with and overcome them. As the story progresses, we see a lot of rules get broken and each character's destiny altered by the decisions they make, whether good or bad.

Practicing Gratitude

Feeling threatened by Jang Uk, Crown Prince Go Won spends much of the season plotting against him and using Jin Mu to keep him in check. But, he eventually comes full circle and lets go of his fears and pride with Jang Uk's reassurance.

When the Crown Prince asks Jang Uk if he's really never dreamed of becoming the most powerful person in the world, Jang Uk replies, "I have already climbed to the very peak of this world with the person I made that promise with. That is more than enough for me."

His response reminds us to practice gratitude always and focus on what's important to us. Knowing when we have enough can give us peace of mind and allow us to feel at ease with what we have.

Final Thoughts

Compared to Season 1, the plot and character development in Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow did not have the same gravitational pull that kept us so invested in the original storyline.

While everyone mostly had a happy ending, the tensions and stakes were much lower this time around, particularly with the decision to use Jin Mu as the villain again. While Jin Mu pulled off a great performance, the story may have been more compelling if a new villain was introduced as it felt as if Jin Mu's arc should have ended when his evil got exposed at the end of the 1st season.

Still, Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow neatly wraps up the drama, and it was worth watching to see what happens to everyone.