Common Sense Media Review
By Stephanie Morgan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Campy and misogynistic saga has sorcery but fails to soar.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Alchemy of Souls
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 : Adventures , Fantasy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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