Alchemy of Souls
Parents say
Based on 3 reviews
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Alchemy of Souls
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Alchemy of Souls is a South Korean fantasy series that revolves around "soul shifters" who can switch bodies, sometimes by killing others or by using already dead bodies. Assassins have no problem threatening others or committing murder. There are many battle scenes involving magical swords, arrows, etc. Warriors and assassins are both male and female. The violence is mystical and not as gory as regular sword fighting but characters are shown bleeding after being injured. At the beginning of the series, the king switches bodies with his mage and tricks his wife into sleeping with him to produce an heir. They are shown beginning to have sex but there is no nudity. In another storyline, a blind girl is sold to a brothel and characters threaten to sell her again as a punishment. Many of the characters are self-centered and/or have violent intentions towards others, including the main warrior and "master" in the show, who's also a strong, fearless, powerful woman.
Community Reviews
What's the Story?
In ALCHEMY OF SOULS powerful sorcery allows a few gifted "soul shifters" to jump from body to body. One such sorceress, who is currently in a blind women's body, encounters a man from a prestigious family who wants her help to change his destiny.
Is It Any Good?
This larger-than-life tale has elaborate fight scenes, deadly villains, and plenty of impressive special effects but the characters lack chemistry, due largely to how unlikeable they all are. The idea behind Alchemy of Souls, to blend the genres of fantasy, romance, and comedy in a historical setting, is a good one. Unfortunately, the storyline is utter silliness and doesn't leave anyone for the audience to root for -- kids will especially be confused about whether the main character is good or bad. This could all still work if the show was simply seeking to subvert the fantasy genre. But juxtaposed with the snarky and powerful female main character is the series' reinforcement of archaic gender and class roles. Her romance with an entitled male lead is also deeply un-swoonworthy. The result is a series confused about a lot of things, including which emotions it seeks to evoke in its viewers as well as its message about morality and female power.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way the mage treats his wife and son. Why does he cast a spell on his son? Is it because he's afraid of continuing the king's bloodline? Does he want to spite the king? Does he want to punish his wife? Is that fair?
What types of power do the women in this show have and not have? What happens to them if the men in their life do something wrong? Point out instances where consent isn't present, e.g., the brothel and when the king is occupying the mage's body.
Do the special effects during the fighting scenes add to your enjoyment of the show? Or would you prefer they be more realistic? What else makes this show unique from other action series you've seen?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 18, 2022
- Cast: Jung So-Min, Jae-Wook Lee
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Action
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts, Adventures, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: July 8, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Magical, award-winning martial-arts fairy tale.
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Memoirs of a Geisha
Gorgeous, but slow-moving and not meant for kids.
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