Letter #42: Alchemy of Souls (Part 1)

Good morning, Erin.
 
So, the last several times I’ve hit random on my K-drama playlist, the first song to pop up is the main track/motif from My Liberation Notes. I’m trying very hard not to take that as a sign. Or a personal attack. (Yes, iPod, I know the stress of the last couple of months has made my beard whiter. I’m already sad about it. You don’t have to rub it in.)
 
ANYWAY…I’m going to spend a little time talking about Alchemy of Souls—which, sure, we’ve already established you’re not gonna watch for a while (if ever), but this is about tradition: I watch a show; I write you a letter about the show. That’s our thing.
 
Yes, this is entirely about that and definitely not about my stupidly hardcore crush on Jung So-min I don’t even know why you’d suggest such a thing what a kidder you are Erin ha ha ha ha ha. 
 
…look, we both know these shows are mostly just excuses to coo over actors we think are cute so that the abyssal loneliness deep within us abates for a moment or two. We don’t have to lie. This is a safe place. 
 
Now, I think you don’t usually read the letters for shows you haven’t yet watched, but, hey—maybe because I know you’re not going to read this, I’ll hide some deeply revealing personal secret somewhere in the middle of it. Or not. Or maybe. Who knows? You’ll just have to read on to find out. 
 
So, let’s talk about Alchemy of Souls (in appropriately non-specific terms, of course):
 
1. Overall, I really enjoyed this series. I can’t confidently say that it was especially great, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that, whatever its flaws, every second I was not watching Alchemy of Souls was spent wishing I was watching Alchemy of Souls. Which is pretty special. 
 
2. The set design for this series is rad as f***. I mean, the throne room has a frikkin’ river in it. Which, for story reasons, makes total sense, but it didn’t need to look that cool for it to still be a logical design choice. But it does. 
 
3. While the greenscreen work can sometimes, um, leave something to be desired, there’s some stellar CGI, here. I mean, maybe I’m just easy to please, but…I liked it. (And I’m sure some of the rad set designs are really CGI, but…I dunno, I was fooled by a lot of it, if that turns out to be the case.)
 
4. This is another series written by the sisters who wrote Hotel Del Luna, and it has a bunch of recognizable elements that make that relatively obvious (…though, perhaps just in hindsight). There are certain subplots that feel right out of Hotel Del Luna or even Korean Odyssey, and there’s at least one very specific character dynamic that is—structurally—definitely very Hotel Del Luna. 
 
4A. That said, while the plot stuff stands on its own and is quite enjoyable, the character stuff doesn’t hold up quite as well. It’s mostly good, don’t get me wrong, but it’s missing a key element that the ones in Hotel Del Luna had, which sort of undermines—for a nitpicky jerkface like me—one of the cornerstones of the relationships. So, I’d place Alchemy of Souls well above A Korean Odyssey but also safely below Hotel Del Luna. 
 
4B. Relatedly, I feel like 20 episodes may have been more than the writing could handle for a single season (which I think was also the case with A Korean Odyssey). Like, the first two or three episodes are kinda fantastic, then there’s a dip for another three-ish episodes, and then things get back on track after that and are a lot of fun. But for those three-ish episodes…hoo-boy. Basically, it’s just a lot of treading the same narrative ground, as though the same single episode was repeated in treble. So, after a fast start, things slow considerably. It’s totally worth sticking out, but I would not be shocked to hear that people might have fallen off in that period, if they were watching week to week. 
 
4C. …which is not to say that the good episodes don’t sometimes have their fair share of treading water or contriving things just so that some plot point or other can happen, of course. There’s plenty of filler to be had throughout, some of the narratively significant character stuff is utterly inconsistent, and many of the more serious scenes go on for just a biiiiiiiit too long. But I don’t think any of it tipped things too far. 
 
4D. Actually, since I brought up certain things going on a little too long and that period of narrative back-and-forthing, there are sections of narrative significance that get sort of handwaved into existence for expediency that should have been given more room to develop. Maybe that stuff could have replaced a lot of the “we’re leaving and won’t ever come back…except, wait, I guess we can go back just this once…right, now let’s leave again…except, wait, they have those good pastries there, so maybe just one more time…” stuff. At least, it seems that way to me. 
 
4E. And I know I’m the world’s greatest detective and all, but…I’m a little confused about how poorly camouflaged a couple of the “twists” are. Like, they’re either hinted at far too heavily or aren’t being hidden at all (which, in the case of the latter, makes me wonder why they didn’t do more with the dramatic irony of the audience knowing things the characters don’t (and you already know I have my qualms with dramatic irony)). Just an odd writing choice, in my mind.
 
5. This show is absolutely packed to the gills with folks I recognize—and, in so doing, it’s practically a reunion party for both Because This is My First Life and The Uncanny Counter (and, to a slightly lesser extent, Sweet Home and True Beauty):

• Ji-ho from First Life as our main girl, Mu-deok

• Dan-oh’s jerk boyfriend from Extraordinary You as our main guy, Uk

• The bar owner lady from My Mister/fashion friend from Man x Man as Maidservant Kim

• Mo-tak from The Uncanny Counter as the mage in charge of the main magic place. 

• Mr. An, the goofy investigator from Vincenzo, as a hermit

• Chae-ran as pretty much an unnamed kisaeng but who cares I love her she’s the best

• Excessive English Girl (“I have no chingu!”) as Mu-deok’s old acquaintance

• CEO Ma from First Life as the old king

• Evil Mayor from The Uncanny Counter as the new king

• The girl who was a caretaker(?) in Sweet Home as the assassin

• The jerkwad old man store owner guy in Sweet Home as one of the mage leaders

• Ms. Chu from The Uncanny Counter as an unnamed older woman

• The dopey old man patient from It’s Okay… as a shaman

 
6. Speaking of actors I know, it’s great to see jerkface boyfriend from Extraordinary You allowed to be light and charming. I mean, he gets to smile and everything. It’s nice. Whether he and/or his character will make your heart swoon is something else altogether, but—objectively—he does get to smile. 
 
7. That said, if we’re talking about a fellah making your heart swoon, let’s talk about one of my favorite characters, Uk’s buddy Yul, and how he is not just unnecessarily good looking (I saw the actor who played Uk describe Yul as having the face he’d always wished he could have) but also probably the absolute best-written character on the show. He’s supposed to be very intelligent and very intuitive, and he’s actually allowed to be both. Consistently. He cottons on to LOTS of things pretty quickly, and the dramatic elements that arise from this are always a matter of what he chooses to act on and what he chooses to pretend not to know. It’s really great to see. (And in one instance—if you catch it—used to great comedic effect.)
8. Actually, overall, most of the characters are allowed to act like real people, in this. They typically don’t just remain silent or ignorant for the sake of the plot and respond to questionable situations appropriately, often resulting in really tense or dramatic scenes. You don’t get away with many instances of “thank goodness she bought that excuse!” on this show, nor do arguments or bad consequences get avoided for the sake of niceties. Which, as with Yul’s consistent characterization, is really great to see. 
 
9. Less consistent, though, is Mu-deok’s physical capabilities. She tends to be as strong or agile or weak or clumsy as the plot demands. And, I mean, there’s only so far that my crush on Jung So-min will let me forgive these things. 
 
9A. Speaking of this: I’m not sure I buy the show’s explanation for Mu-deok’s whole deal. Or, like, one very specific part of her whole deal. Which I won’t mention in any more detail, just…just know I have questions and that, to me, the show didn’t feel the need to answer them. 
 
10. This show wastes absolutely no time letting you know all the romance subplots and introducing love triangles, and I love it. 
 
11. Is that the tree from My Sassy Girl? Or am I tree-racist, now?
 
12. The show does some overt red oni/blue oni stuff, here, but the pair it predominantly tries to do it with is our main couple, Mu-deok and Uk…but I don’t think they balance in quite the way that you’d think they would for this kind of comparison. They just don’t have the typical fire/ice personas that would go along with this kind of thing. Yul and the other friend are a good fit, as are Uk and [mystery other character] to a certain degree, but the balance between Mu-deok and Uk just isn’t as fitting, in my opinion. Though they are certainly a pair that balances, which is the foremost aspect the story wants to emphasize, so I guess it’s fine. 
 
12A. By the way: the relationship between Uk and [mystery other character] is pretty terrific. It’s really well written and (here’s that word again) consistent. 
 
12B. Actually, now that I’m thinking about it…this red oni/blue oni thing was very much in A Korean Odyssey. Was it also in Hotel Del Luna? Did I miss something obvious with that? Well, I guess this means I’ll just have to watch it again. Drat. Well, can’t be helped.
 
13. Speaking of Hotel Del Luna, I thought the music in this series sounded a lot like the music in that one, but my research tells me the composer is actually the same one from Goblin. Which is funny—because I thought the music in Goblin sounded like the music in Hotel Del Luna. 
 
14. There’s some fantastic use of umbrellas as symbols of romantic interest, in this series. Just sayin’.
 
15. Mr. An (from Vincenzo) plays very much a not-comedic character, here, and it’s surprising how none of his natural humor bleeds into that performance. BUT…past a certain point, he’s given a running gag, and—in a fantastically understated way—he absolutely nails it. He should be the star of something, he’s just so good.
 
16. Fawning over Jung So-min #1: Mu-deok’s hurried little walk-run is absolutely adorable, and I love it. 
 
17. Oh, here’s a fun detail: there are a few instances where a character thinks back to something she witnessed—but, rather than just replaying the scene as the audience saw it, the flashback is shown from her perspective as she witnessed it! Totally didn’t need to do that, but…it was great to see.
18. Maidservant Kim is #BestGirl. Which, I know, with Chae-ran and Excessive English Girl and Jung So-min in this show, you’d never have guessed would be possible. But she was just so great. Genuine, fun, heartfelt—and the only character in my notes for whom I wrote, in big block letters, “IF YOU HURT HER, SHOW, SO HELP ME GOD….” I just adored her character. Very much my favorite. 
 
18A. And…did she get, like, prettier since I saw her last? Or am I just fickle? Maybe the old-timey style just really works for her. I dunno. But she looks great. Which isn’t what made her my pick, but I thought it only fair to say. 
 
19. There are so many delicious romance moments on this show. Please watch it so we can squee like schoolgirls together over them. Please. 
 
20. Fawning over Jung So-min #2: Mu-deok in full tsundere mode is absolutely adorable, and I love it. 
 
21. There’s some discussion about whether cinnamon smells nice or not, in the course of the show, and I…how is this even a discussion? Who doesn’t like cinnamon?
 
21A. Like, aside from my sister. And my mom. Who are obviously weirdos.
 
21B. …actually, my other sister doesn’t like chocolate cake.
 
21C. I think my family needs to be sent to the moon.
 
22. Unlike Glitch, which totally nailed this, the actors cast to play the younger versions of our characters look absolutely nothing like the major cast. Which isn’t all that big a deal, in general, but, when it comes to this show, the young versions aren’t little-kid versions but versions from five or six years ago. I know adults don’t look totally like themselves as teens, but these are some pretty dramatic changes. 
 
23. Okay, so…if you recall, I promised to reveal a deeply personal secret within this letter, if you chose to read it (um, or skim for the word secret, I guess…oh, you savvy little minx you—you’ve outwitted me!), despite not having yet watched Alchemy of Souls, and I suppose I’ll make good on that promise right now. And…I mean, look, I’m guessing this might not be as much of a secret as I’d like to think it is. Like, I was trying to be really subtle about it, but, honestly, I’m pretty sure I wasn’t fooling you or anyone else. So…oh God, I’m really going to do this…it’s been about year, and…okay, I’ll just say it: I really like scented soaps. A lot. Which makes me sound a bit like a dandy, maybe, but…I dunno, it’s just something I’m into, now. Like, I’ve gotten a fancy bar of soap for Christmas from my mother or grandmother for years, at this point, but buying them on my own? Trying out different scents from different sources? That’s new. And unexpected. But…I just really, really enjoy the pleasant smells, when I take my morning shower. Helps me wake up. Puts me in a more upbeat or relaxed mood. And now you know. And I don’t have to pretend, anymore. 
 
24. Fawning over Jung So-min #3: the show thought I wouldn’t notice how it tried to subtly reshape Mu-deok’s eyes with makeup, about halfway through the season, but I was not fooled! Sure, she looked really pretty—but her droopy eyes are part of her charm! 
 
25. There are several moments where one character or another will be in these sort of in-between realms, and every single instance of these is a better Multiverse of Madness than Multiverse of Madness was. 
 
26. I don’t think I ever knew the character’s name, but…Old Man Healer Guy has a great voice. It’s an affectation by the actor, but it’s great. 
 
27. Suffice it to say…I’m very, very, very glad the end wasn’t the end—and that there’s another batch of episodes on the way. (In December! So, not a bad time for me to have watched this series, given that I won’t have to wait nearly as long as everyone else for the next part. See? If it weren’t for you suggesting Because This is My First Life to me, I’d never have started crushing on Jung So-min, and I’d never have watched Alchemy of Souls in time to not have to wait all that long for the second part to come out. Even without knowing it, you’re always steering me in the right direction!)
 
And we’ll leave it there.
 
‘Cus, look, if I can spill onto a fifth page without getting into details about anything, just imagine how long this would have been if I’d gone full spoilers mode. That’s how much I liked it. 
 
“But Daryl, you garrulous purveyor of heedless blatherskite,” I hear you say, “aren’t you likely to be just as verbose with shows you liked even half as much as this?”
 
To which, dear Erin, I say: “...shh.”
 
Anyway, I hope you’ve given this letter a whirl—but hope twice as hard that you’re reading this after having just binged Alchemy of Souls. It’s totally worth it. And I think you’d like it.
 
…and I want us to squee like schoolgirls together over the romance stuff. Which requires you having watched it. So. Do that.
 
Anyway.
 
More soon.
 
—Daryl