First and foremost I loved Alchemy of Souls and was its biggest fan, after finishing the first season I had given this show a 9/10 if not a 10/10. The first season had plenty of fight scenes, great character dynamics, interesting plotlines surrounding magic and world building, CGI magic and monsters with no expense spared in production, and complex female characters with their own powers. It was truly a feast for the eyes. Unfortunately, season 2 had to happen, and that gets a 7/10, maybe.
Season 2 immediately changed the tone from happy to sad and emo, leaving many plot loopholes never fully answered. Additionally the plenteous fight scenes, world-building, soul shifters lore, and magical elements were all but gone.
The new season also changed the female lead completely under confusing and illogical circumstances that I won't get into... but watchers were left with no longer a strong female lead but only the teasing description of one with "untapped potential." That potential was disappointingly never reached throughout the end of the series, and I never was able to see a strong female character again after the first few episodes of Season 1.
Instead in Season 2 we were left with an all-powerful male character going through a depressive crisis, with some cute moments mixed in. Still, that story line and the confusing and unpredictable drama tied to it, was dragged out for way too long; especially considering this was a 30 episode drama. Simple issues ended up taking forever to resolve, and I was at the least hoping for a long and satisfying conclusion or maybe another season by the end of it. Wrong. They ended up dragging out that unfulfilling and overly-dramatic plot line-will they or won't they all die-until the very last episode. The happy ending was an afterthought, thrown in for possibly 10-15 minutes at the very end.
Don't get me wrong, I am a sucker for a GOOD drama that plays with my feelings the whole while and then gives a long, satisfying, and good conclusion (Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Vincenzo, Itaewon Class). But this drama didn't do that, instead everything about the second season seemed like an afterthought that wasn't properly planned out. At this rate, just give me one season and don't waste my time with a second.
I want to underline that this is no fault of the amazing cast of the show; I am still their biggest fan, but I am disappointed in the sloppy writing and production for what could've been so easily great. And furthermore, I am disappointed that certain characters were abandoned completely with no real reasoning.
This serves as a warning for anyone going into this show, maybe stop after Season 1.
Season 2 immediately changed the tone from happy to sad and emo, leaving many plot loopholes never fully answered. Additionally the plenteous fight scenes, world-building, soul shifters lore, and magical elements were all but gone.
The new season also changed the female lead completely under confusing and illogical circumstances that I won't get into... but watchers were left with no longer a strong female lead but only the teasing description of one with "untapped potential." That potential was disappointingly never reached throughout the end of the series, and I never was able to see a strong female character again after the first few episodes of Season 1.
Instead in Season 2 we were left with an all-powerful male character going through a depressive crisis, with some cute moments mixed in. Still, that story line and the confusing and unpredictable drama tied to it, was dragged out for way too long; especially considering this was a 30 episode drama. Simple issues ended up taking forever to resolve, and I was at the least hoping for a long and satisfying conclusion or maybe another season by the end of it. Wrong. They ended up dragging out that unfulfilling and overly-dramatic plot line-will they or won't they all die-until the very last episode. The happy ending was an afterthought, thrown in for possibly 10-15 minutes at the very end.
Don't get me wrong, I am a sucker for a GOOD drama that plays with my feelings the whole while and then gives a long, satisfying, and good conclusion (Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Vincenzo, Itaewon Class). But this drama didn't do that, instead everything about the second season seemed like an afterthought that wasn't properly planned out. At this rate, just give me one season and don't waste my time with a second.
I want to underline that this is no fault of the amazing cast of the show; I am still their biggest fan, but I am disappointed in the sloppy writing and production for what could've been so easily great. And furthermore, I am disappointed that certain characters were abandoned completely with no real reasoning.
This serves as a warning for anyone going into this show, maybe stop after Season 1.