Historical fantasy Korean dramas are well-known for their stunning visuals and spectacular cinematography. Some of the titles that come to mind include Bulgasal: Immortal Souls, Scarlet Heart: Goryeo, and the heart of the topic, Alchemy of Souls. To everyone's dismay, Alchemy of Souls just scraped the surface of the drama's complexities, leaving fans eagerly waiting for the second season.
The tv series, written by Hong Sisters, tells the story of two young mages who fall in love and attempt to overcome their twisted fates linked to forbidden magic. The series did exceptionally well in Korea, with a high rating of 7.600%, and gained tremendous popularity overseas. With the announcement of the second season, fans are more enthusiastic than ever to unveil the further mysteries of this fantasy drama.
The second season, titled Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow, is directed by Park Joon Hwa and co-written by Hong Jung Eun and Hong Mi Ran, also known as Hong Sisters. Although the first season ended on a cliffhanger and gave us reason to lament indefinitely, the good news is that season 2 is only a few weeks away from its release. While we're at it, here's everything we know about Season 2 of Alchemy of Souls.
Alchemy of Souls Season 2: The Plot
The events of the second season, according to the teaser released by the tvN drama's YouTube channel, take place three years after the happenings of the first season. Following Jang Uk's heartbreaking death at the hands of his beloved Nak Su, who happens to be possessing Mu-deok's body as a vessel, we see him grasping the Ice Stone while burning in the blue flame and evading death due to his status as the King's Star.
Also, Mu-deok jumps off the cliff into the lake after wreaking such devastation. Although the finale is intended to make viewers believe she's gone for good, we see two strangers rescue Mu-deok at the end of the episode.
The teaser shows Jang Uk mercilessly slaughtering the soul-shifters with Nak-su's sword. The best part of the teaser is Nak-su's brief entrance in her exquisite white dress. The first season provided little insight into Mu-deok's character, leaving us with much to look forward to in the second season.
As a result, the next season will tie up all the loose ends left by the previous one, such as Cho-Yeon's vengeance for her father's murder, Nak-su's return, and the much-awaited Mu-deok's past and origin.
Alchemy of Souls Season 2: The Cast & Crew
Almost all the existing characters from the first season will return to much better roles for the second season. Lee Jae Wook and Go Yoon Jung, who play Jang Uk and Naksu, will also reprise their roles. The former is well-known for his roles in Alchemy of Souls Part 1, True Beauty, and Extraordinary You, while the latter is most recognized for her work on Sweet Home and Law School.
The other main roles in the drama include Hwang Min Hyun as Seo Yul, Shin Seung Ho as Go Won, Yoo Joon Sang as Park Jin, and Oh Na Ra as Kim Do Ju. Yoon In Soo, Arin, Do Sang Woo, Jo Jae Yoon, Park Eun Hye, Im Chul Sool, Hong Seo Hee, Lee Do Kyung, Lee Ha Yul, Seo Hye Won, Choi Kwang II, Kim Yong Jin, Jung Ji Ahn, Shim So Young, Park So Jin, Lee Ji Ho, and Moon Sook are among the supporting cast.
Park Joon Hwa, who directed several hit television dramas, including Ok Taec-Yoon's Bring It On Ghost, What's Wrong with Secretary Kim, and Lee Dong Wook's Touch Your Heart, will return as director, as well as screenwriters Hong Jung Eun and Hong Mi Ran.
The story for the hit dramas Hotel Del Luna and A Korean Odyssey was penned by Hong Sisters Jung Eun and Mi Ran. Yong Kim, well known for his work on Netflix Originals A Crash Landing on You and Mr. Sunshine, will return as the music composer for season 2.
Release Date
As officially announced by tvN drama to Naver TV, Alchemy of Souls season 2, titled Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow, will be available to stream on its platform in Korea and worldwide on Netflix on December 10, 2022.
Everything Else We Know
The series will stream for a total of five weeks, with two episodes released each week, making Alchemy of Souls season 2 a short ten-episodic series. Although there have been no changes to the episode release dates, there may be delays, and the dates may alter. For your convenience, the release dates for each episode, beginning with the first, are listed below.
The first two episodes will air on Netflix during the first week of its release on December 10 (Saturday) and 11 (Sunday). The episodes will be released every weekend until season 2 concludes on January 10, 2023, according to the schedule.
Furthermore, previous reports stated that the first season's main female lead, Jung So-min (Mu-deok), would not be cast in the second season. The production team informed Soompi that Go Yoon Jung would replace So-min as the female lead. Given how the first season concluded with Mu-deok's near-death experience, Go Yoon Jung reprising her role as Naksu may be a more reasonable decision.
However, it has yet to be confirmed and is only speculation. Since Alchemy of Souls season 1 leaves us with a lot to look forward to in the second season, we should expect more plot twists and, hopefully, another season if it's not too much to ask.