Alchemy of Souls season 2 (Alchemy of Souls Part 2: Light and Shadow/ 환혼: 파트2) is the sequel of the Korean historical drama series of the same name. Directed by Park Joon-hwa and starring Lee Jae-wook, Go Yoon-jung, Hwang Min-hyun, Shin Seung-ho, Yoo Jun-sang, Oh Na-ra and Jo Jae-yoon, alongside other cast members, the show premiered on tvN on December 10, 2022.
The show will have 10 episodes and takes over tvN’s Saturday-Sunday 9:10 PM KST timeslot previously held by Under the Queen’s Umbrella. Alchemy of Souls season 2 episode 6 has a run time of 76 minutes.
tvN’s synopsis of the sequel reads:
JANG UK RETURNS FROM DEATH, AND THREE YEARS LATER, THE STORY OF THE MAGES UNFOLDS ANEW. JANG UK BECOMES A HUNTER OF THE SOUL-SHIFTERS WHEN A YOUNG WOMAN, A PRISONER IN HER OWN HOME, SEEKS HIS HELP TO RECLAIM HER FREEDOM.
-Alchemy of Souls Season 2 Episode 6 Recap contains spoilers-
Alchemy of Souls season 2 episode 6 begins with Bu-yeon telling Jang Uk about her dream of standing at the top of a tall tree where she is free from everything, reminding him of the tree in Danhyanggok which she promised to climb with Mu-deok. Looking at the confused and distressed Jang Uk, Bu-yeon reminds him that the one in front of him is her and asks him to see her for who she is.
Right then Jang Uk feels someone’s presence entering Jinyowon and sees Seo Yul who tells them that he has come to search for someone. The scene shifts to Jin Ho-kyung who is trying to get the name of the person who knows about Bu-yeon being Naksu from So Yi, but getting no answers from her she tries to feed her poison forcefully.
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However, a request from Jang Uk arrives as he asks to meet her which makes her leave So Yi. Jang Uk tells her that he needs to enter Jinyowon to confirm something and diverts her attention while Seo Yul and Bu-yeon save So Yi. After confirming the presence of the firebird in Jinyowon, Jang Uk leaves with Bu-yeon.
Meanwhile, Seo Yul confirms through So Yi that Bu-yeon is indeed Naksu as it is her soul is living inside the real Jin Bu-yeon’s body. This shocks him but he is determined to not let anyone else know about this and solve this matter himself. Later, he comes face to face with Bu-yeon and is overwhelmed with emotions as he sees the friend he lost years ago in her.
Later, Jang Uk asks Seo Yul his reason for helping So Yi to which he tells him that he is repaying her for her help when they were stuck in the barrier. Heo Yoon-ok assures them that she will soon get better and stay in Jeonjingak to take care of So Yi.
Bu-yeon thinks that Yoon-ok will be staying in Jeonjingak because of Jang Uk and announces that she will stay here too but Jang Uk tells her that he will be going back to the Jang household and takes her back. On their way back, Jang Uk asks about her friendship with Seo Yul and finds out that he doesn’t know much about him.
Meanwhile, Seo Yul tells So Yi to not reveal Bu-yeon’s truth to anyone including Jang Uk because he will be taking up the responsibility this time. Later, holding the whistle given to him by Naksu he has another nightmare about Naksu who kills him in the dream and confirms that the pain brought about by the bloodworm increases because of his pain and regrets.
The next day, Kim Do-ju informs Jang Uk of her engagement with Park Jin which leaves him stunned as he cannot hide his happiness for her. Elsewhere, Park Jin is also happy about this matter as everyone congratulates him after which he heightens the security measures and tells everyone to keep an eye on the firebird earthenware that master Lee found earlier.
Seo Yoon-o finds out about this and tells the people smuggling them to Daeho to throw away the firebird earthenware. Elsewhere, Jin Mu has a plan ready to send Jang Uk far away from Daeho as he requests the king to confer him the position of General of the North Fortress.
Meanwhile, Jang Uk tells master Lee about the people who are behind the real firebird inside Jinyowon and asks if he wishes for him to fight against them. However, master Lee reminds him that his fight would be seen as a revolt as he is also a rightful heir to the throne because of his birth father and being the real King’s star.
This brings about a memory of Jang Uk’s right after his revival when he wanted to create chaos because of what happened to Mu-deok but was stopped when Park Jin reminded him of the people who tried to save him in order to avoid the same chaos.
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Elsewhere, Bu-yeon is out to help Park Jin find all the firebird earthenware around Daeho so that they can stop the plans of the people behind this. He is amazed by her powers but she denies the praise by telling him that she is only able to see energy. Meanwhile, the queen calls Cho-yeon for tea but makes her uncomfortable and scared by her actions.
On the other hand, Bu-yeon feels deja vu while travelling through Daeho and leaves for Chwiseonru for a break where she comes across the crown prince. Speaking to him fills her with determination to find her own room that is filled with things that she likes while she fills him up with hope and courage to speak with Jang Uk.
He arrives at Jeonjingak and tells Jang Uk about the king’s idea of sending him to the North fortress but believes that Jang Uk will not accept this. Jang Uk asks him if he wants to keep him in Daeho to keep Jin Mu in check which disappoints Go Won.
Go Won then reveals that he is doing this because Jang Uk helped his turtle but then the latter reveals that he helped it because he thought it belonged to his eunuch. Go Won tells that the act helped him gain the courage and hope to talk to Jang Uk who only shows his reluctance to stop Jin Mu’s plans with the firebird.
This infuriates Go Won as he reminds him of the teachings of his master. Elsewhere, Seo Yul is in pain because of the bloodworm while Ho-kyung reveals to a priestess that the only way to get it out is with the help of a bird. Meanwhile, Park Jin and master Lee discuss Bu-yeon’s powers as the latter reveals that only when her powers return will her memories come back.
And as he leaves, he thinks about how Jin Bu-yeon’s body will repel Naksu’s soul once that happens because of the clash of her memories with the body. On the other hand, Jang Uk begins talking about his master to Bu-yeon after she receives Songrim’s spirit plaque which he had once earned with much difficulty.
Once again, Bu-yeon leaves him speechless with her words which remind him of Mu-deok as he is left confused. Bu-yeon then tells him that she will select a room in Jang’s house and fill it up with things that would represent her so that he could know more about her.
Elsewhere, Jin Mu is angered by Seo Yoon-o’s actions and demands to get So Yi back to help him smuggle the earthenware, unaware that Seo Yul has already made So Yi leave Daeho. Meanwhile, Park Jin and Kim Do-ju discuss their upcoming wedding while the latter continue to think about Jang Uk.
Jealous, Park Jin talks about the importance of Jang Uk in her heart while she lets him know that they are both important to her. However, she puts the question if Park Jin will help her get out of a dangerous room that is soon to shut and could cause chaos everywhere. But before she gets an answer, she assures him that she will not be angry if he doesn’t save her.
Alchemy of Souls Season 2 Episode 6 Ending
Alchemy of Souls season 2 episode 6 ends with the two talking of these matters as a joke and getting back to sharing a blissful time, while Seo Yul destroys the whistle that he had kept this whole time as a symbol of destroying his heart. Meanwhile, Bu-yeon talks about going to Danhyanggok and Seo Yul promises to accompany her there.
Jang Uk soon finds out about this, unaware that Seo Yul has other plans for the two of them. Determined to fulfil his responsibility this time and kills Naksu who is now Bu-yeon the next day at Danhyanggok, Seo Yul is ready to face death alongside her.
However, his plans don’t go ahead as he soon finds out that So Yi returned to the gambling den only to be caught by people whom Cheonbugwan who are asking her about the bloodworm. This is heard by Bu-yeon who reveals the truth about Seo Yul to Jang Uk while his friend rushes to save So Yi.
Seo Yul rushes in to save So Yi but soon the effects of the bloodworm are seen as he is unable to fight back, however, Jin Mu’s subordinate understands that the bloodworm is inside him. So Yi tries to help Seo Yul during this time but unfortunately breathes her last.
Seo Yul tries to continue fighting them but is unable to when Jang Uk enters and saves Seo Yul while declaring that no one will be leaving alive.
Alchemy of Souls Season 2 Episode 6 Review
This is the kind of episode that I had been waiting for all week long and today I got everything that I wanted. However, one thing that I did not want was the small hints about the tragic events that might take place in the upcoming episodes.
Coming back to this episode, this was definitely something that gave me some beautiful moments between Bu-yeon and the other three men while also shocking me with what Seo Yul has planned for her. A truly fulfilling episode that has marked the end of this season of our favourite historical fantasy of this year.
What did you think about today’s episode? Let us know in the comments below!
Watch Alchemy of Souls season 2 on Netflix.
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