Ok… I’ll check out the episode tonight, @Cleopatra.
MrsRJH1
Ooof such a cliffhanger, tomorrow can’t come soon enough for me. And lots of revelations.
Spoilers below if you haven’t watched it yet….
Uk sharing the real meaning of the poem was deeply moving, especially as it was cut with MD’s inner monologue.
That eommoni at the end was heart wrenching. Will really miss JSM and her incredible acting in part 2 if that rumor turns out to be true.
I’m a little surprised at Jin Mu revealing his real reasons for wanting the ice stone to the CP already. Seemed a bit premature. But seems like Jin Mu is overestimating his influence on his pupil. And probably feeling less careful now that he thinks his victory is so close.
Loved Ukideokie’s date and them laughing and teasing each other. Then bickering was just such a perfect date for them- it’s exactly how they are. Her trying on lipstick and all her blushing was beyond endearing.
I don’t get people saying she’s had no character development. She’s changed a ton since she was able to get out of survival mode and without the burning desire of rEvenge. She’s learning about the softness and fun in life, she’s discovering her femininity, what’s it like to love a boy and want to look good for him. I have loved seeing her growth.
It’s the perfect yin and Yang. She who led a lifetime of training, studying, mastering magic, never having experienced a moment of leisure or indulgence. And he who only had leisure and indulgence, but never learned magic or to fight. Now each is discovering their missing pieces through each other. That’s their growth trajectory and it’s beautiful.
Now she has to step up and fight, as does he. We’ll see their power together more and more now.
PS why the heck hasn’t Jang Gang stepped in yet I wonder.
Cleopatra
@Packmule3,
Kalimera. I hope that you enjoyed it!
I will write my comments shortly!
Cleopatra
Kalimera Everyone!
I want to say this first because we need to say the important things first. I am very pleased that the Hong Sisters are introducing things / artifacts / tidbits that they are using in the process.
The “Words of Heart” is pivotal for using the Ice Stone. This is not something I expected to be honest.
I knew that it was important because it gave us information about Master Seo and the first Priestess Jin, but this revelation made me happy indeed.
Did you all see in the last scene when Bu Yeon took control of the Avatar MuDeok had the blue marks in her eyes? *grins*
or the parallel when Jang Uk was explaining what Master Lee told him to the Crown Prince and Cho Yeong was about to die?
I was certain that their story resembles Master Seo and Priestess Jin’s love story.
Btw, @Packmule3 should I post the poem in a next comment for reference? OR are you going to ping the actual thread from Episode 10 Part 1?
Let’s start from the beginning though…
I have written somewhere in the thread for episodes 3-4 that Mage Cho killed his Family and the reason was “temporary madness” .
Although, it was told from Episode 16, yet I didn’t pay attention but when it was repeated again yesterday, I made the connection.
Shaman Choi performed sorcery that confused the soul on Mage Cho.
That’s why on 5th of May 20 years ago there was an entry on Cheonbugwan’s records and Jang Uk showed that to the Crown Prince.
Jang Kang went on Gaema Village and looked for her. Did he go there after Mage Cho was dead? Because if that is the case the only thing that is missing is WHO ordered Mage Cho to be a target.
Did Jin Mu ask for it? And now we know why the Choi brother married into Jin’s. He initiated it under Shaman Choi’s commands…
If that is the case WHO is Jin BuYeon’s father? And WHERE is he exactly?
What we have learned in Episode 17:
Jang Kang has regrets and lives as a madman in Gaema Village.
He didn’t say anything to Jang Uk about his identity. Since, UK doesn’t know how he looks like, UK thought he was someone who knew his family.
I am also glad how Jang Uk answered to his father about Do-Hwa. He protects his mother’s name, way better than his father did.
Their encounter will make Jang Kang return to the Capital and yes, he will read what Master Lee wrote for him to do.
Jang Uk is building his resistance against the New Order – Chaos the baddies want to create. He informed Park Dang Gu first, as the future leader of Songrim and Yul was there to confirm his suspicions. Jang Uk also wants the help of The Crown Prince and he asked for it.
It is obvious that Jang Uk talked with Master Lee when they went fishing and he was well informed. I am glad Jang Uk entered into the Unanimous Committee and stopped them from fighting.
We now know what was the baddies plan and So-I is a sacrificial lamp. Shaman Choi wants to become the next Jin Matriarch, but they didn’t expect the real Jin BuYeon to be alive.
As for the current King he is a fool. He wanted to kill a person in order, to see the Alchemy of Souls. He is a joke and not a true ruler. His son would be a better King.
Last but not the least, the Jin Matriarch. I really cannot stand her at all. Especially the way she wanted to kill MuDeok with a painful death, shows how blind she is.
Jin BuYeon will teach her a lesson. The sky changed because she commanded the elements and from what I have seen BY will block everyone from channeling the energies. That’s why MuDeok will fight with the resurrected soul shifter Master kang.
Cho Yeong has come a long way from when she was the assassin Naksu. She said her silent goodbyes to Jang Uk and was ready to die…
She indeed loves him dearly.
That’s all for now!
Cleopatra
@MrsRJH1,
I really liked your points about Cho Yeong. Yes, she is the yin to Jang Uk’s yan and I agree with you. As I have written above she has come a long way indeed. 🙂
I only watched the opening scene with Jang Gang and Uk before I shut down and went to bed.
🤦♀️ Jang Gang made my blood boil. What a useless mage! What a coward! What the heck!
After 20 years of absence, all he did was to mope around the village of Gaema, drink himself to madness, and wallow in self-recrimination and pity for DoHwa.
Can I kick his rear end? This is NOT the repentance and atonement I expected from him. I thought he’d do something better, like some sort of reparation for the harm he caused, something that entailed doing a visible and physical ACTION to make the world a better place. I wanted a redemptive ACT, instead of this useless self-pity.
Ugh. He reminds me that Capt Firefly from “Hotel Del Luna” who threatened to hang around Manwol, watching her like the vengeful moon. Lol. He ended up cursing himself.
His son, Uk, turned out a lot better. Despite knowing that his Gate of Energy was blocked by his own “father,” he fought to find a way to thwart his fate. Remember Episode 4 when Naksu admired Ukfor his GISEYA — or “vigor” according to Netflix sub. 😂 I wrote a whole thread about this because I knew that GISEYA was important concept/theme in the plot. To have GISEYA means to have passion, motivation, determination, boldness, mojo, spunk, relentless striving, persistence, mettle.
In Ep 4, Naksu told Uk to “stay strong.” So I was disappointed that his father Jang Gang failed to stay strong himself. He looked like a broken man. Tsk tsk tsk.
Also, wasn’t Jang Gang supposed to be searching for the missing daughter of Mage Cho, Cho Yeong? 🤦♀️
Will try to continue where I left off.
Cleopatra
@Packmule3,
You are right Jang Kang is a broken man. Still, you will enjoy what happens afterwards with Jang Uk and his vigor aka Giseya.
I was so proud of him. You have to watch the scene though.
I think that we get to see Jang Kang tonight as well, I pray that he will do what Master Lee advised him to do. We don’t know what he wrote to him, he used the same trick with the “Words of Heart.”
I think you will be also furious with the Jin Matriach…
I don’t want to keep tabs on who is MOST evil in this drama. We have plenty to choose from.
There’s Shaman Choi, Jin Mu, Lady Jin.
But there’s also the lesser evil ones like —
Jin ChoYeong (I haven’t forgotten that she locked Naksu inside the vault, knowing full well that Naksu could die)
SoYi
The King because of his paranoia. If he could cheat with the concubines out of fear of being dethroned, then I’ve a measure of his code of conduct.
But I don’t have to worry much about the King because the Crown Prince is turning out to be a decent one. I expect the King to be killed off sooner or later. He’s just a temporary nuisance. 🙂
Cleopatra
@Packmule3,
I didn’t get an email alert on your comment and I missed that… 🙄
If you watched Episode 17 you will know…
I agree about the most unethical ones…I also have a list!
Cleopatra
Episode 18
The (last) temptation of Naksu.
Who is going to win in this internal battle? The notorious assassin Naksu or Cho Yeong?
That’s okay, @Cleopatra. I was having problems too on my end. My notification was down a few hours ago. I was alerted of incoming new posts/comments but when I went to read them, they were either comments from two days ago or there was a blank space in the comment box with the username “anonymous.”
Who knows what’s going on with WordPress? 🤷♀️
I’m about to continue watching Ep 17 now…. ⏳
Cleopatra
@Packmule3,
Are they updating the code maybe? I saw it when I checked the thread.
Enjoy the episode! You will like it!
I also enjoyed Episode 18 and tomorrow I will write more. We are in a mini climax, until the cliffhanger…
Kalinixta from my part of the world… 🌺
MrsRJH1
Thanks @cleopatra! And really looking fwd to reading your interpretations tomorrow.
@packmule if you hated Jang Gang in ep 17, his foolish decision making in ep 18 (flash back scene) is going to irk you to no end. But CP and the deep mature convo he has with Cho Yeong is a good antidote.
Still processing from the episode, will write more tomorrow.
I don’t know if they’re updating codes. I was also notified that there were unsuccessful attempts to login as me from dubious countries like Turkey and Indonesia. Okay…..😒
She’ll kiss Uk. Or he’ll kiss her and she won’t push him away in disgust (unless he kisses her in front of everybody else).
She’ll betray Uk at first, then have an attack of conscience and change her mind. (But if this is a makjang story, it’ll be too late for her.)
I seriously doubt she’d turn into an assassin again *willingly* — she was horrified when she killed Eunuch Kim by sucking his energy. She thought she’d turn wild. So, I don’t see her changing her position on assassination… unless of course, Uk was in danger — like that time she thought Gilju soul-switched with Uk.
She won’t use her sword to kill Uk. Or she will raise it, but then she’ll yield, and withdraw the sword because Uk told her that he’d make “another promise.” This time the promise would be something that she was looking forward to, like a promise to marry her instead of somebody else chosen by Maiden Kim for him.
But I’m off now.
Eureka
You have guessed it exactly right @pm3! Your post about what Naksu will do with the sword and with “another promise”.
What an exciting episodes of revelation and actions, Naksu’s mindset is changing, her conscience is thorn from being an assasin now that her power is back, or to be Uk’s lover.
Cleopatra
Kalimera Everyone!
Naksu got her chance with the Ice Stone. She got her power back and she could do whatever she liked with it… OR maybe not?
From her dialogue with Jin Bu Yeon (who Cho Yeong didn’t realize who she was talking to) :
CY: What is going on ? Where am I?
BY(young): We are inside the ice stone.
CY: This is the ice stone?
BY: The ice stone is not limited by shape, size or form.
It can be water, fire, and wind.
CY: (smiling) Does this mean I have the ice stone now?
BY (adult): No one can truly own the ice stone.
You can only use its power.
Pull and get pushed.
Earn one, and lose the other.
That is the burden you have to carry.
CY: I can gladly endure that.
BY: Then try it.
Overflowing power means you will not be able to control how much of it you use. Desire rain, and you will get a flood.
Desire wind and you will get a typhoon.
Try to endure it.
CY: A relic of Jinyowon?
BY: How dare a soul living off my body call me a relic?
(fades away)
Bu Yeon was testing Naksu.
Naksu thought she could go back easily to who she was before she met Jang Uk, but as we were watching the episode, we saw that she couldn’t let go of her “friends”.
She realized herself that in order to soul shift she had to take everyone’s vitality force and they would die.
Throught the episode, she had three encounters. The first one was with the Crown Prince, the second one with Seo Yul that shook her even more and the last one with Jang Uk.
Indeed she could have it all. When she realized that Jang Uk could die from the soul shifter Master Kang, she ran to find him and asked the Crown Prince to let her go.
So, yes @Packmule3, you were right. She did exactly what you said but before that, their dialogue is of utter importance.
After she unleathed her sword and killed Master Kang with Tansu-bam. She was crying because she thought that Uk had died. When she realized he had lured the soul shifter inside, she was relieved.
She continued to be very emotional until the end of the scene.
For the first time, she had her guard down and was very vulnerable to someone else. That’s why she also answered truthfully to Uk’s questions:
CY You are still alive, my pupil.
JU: Why did you hide it?
CY: Because…I wanted you to die.
JU: Then…why did you come for me?
CY: Because…I thought you would die.
JU: Since you have unleathed the sword, make your decision.
I know you have been avoiding me.
I also know that everyone’s lives are in your hands.
Like you promised, point to your sword at me first.
CY: (she does that)
We have the voiceover from the day when he gave her, the sword:
If you stab me, then I will die as the one who released the assassin. If you withdraw your sword, I will make you another promise.
They were both very emotional. Jang Uk was waiting to see if he will betray him or not. She was looking at him shaken as well. She withdraw her sword.
CY: Fine. Make me another promise just like you said you would.
And with that decision, Cho Yeong will get her body back. Because she decided to follow her heart and not just kill Jang Uk and everyone else.
Jin Bu Yeon will grant that wish. After all, Yeong is living in her body as she said.
Now we know, WHY and HOW this will happen most likely in Episode 20. As I have said they will close it on a cliffanger.
So voila, both Jin Bu Yeon and Cho Yeong will be on Part 2. I was saying so, for some time now…
What else was revealed? Who made Mage Cho a soul shifter and that was Jin Mu… I was pretty sure that he did that. His excuse was lame though.
Which part? What did I get right, @Cleopatra? The kiss, betrayal or the sword?
I couldn’t continue Ep 17. I stopped after the scene in Jinyowon with Jin Mu and Lady Jin inside the family vault. I became frustrated again. But I’ll slog through it so I can do my write-up today.
Cleopatra
@Packmule3,
She was thinking to betray him, afterwards the sword and lastly the kiss.
Episode 19 was about her internal fight. I wrote my thoughts and trascribed some scenes as well above.
I will be waiting for your thoughts as well. Yes, there are some parts you get frustrated with the Jin Matriarch…Not happy about her either…
I’ll continue watching Ep 17. I guess I was frustrated bec I was expecting more development but so far, what I’ve seen is just a confirmation of what we already know.
1. Jang Gang is weak. I thought his much p-awaited return would have been like “The Return of the King” in “Lord of the Rings.” It was a dud.
2. Jin Mu is evil. Just pile it on, Hong sisters, willya?
3. Lady Jin is dumb. Jin Mu played her like a fiddle.
Cleopatra
@Packmule3,
We get more development regarding our Hero and his Team.
The Adults for the most part are infuriating, with the exception of Park Jin… He stands by his ethics.
Cleopatra
@MrsRJH1
You are welcome. I am waiting for your thoughts as well…
Park Jin can be annoying too with his rigidity, but at least, his moral compass is working properly.
The Crown Prince isn’t bad either. Of anybody there, he can be an asshole and push his weight around but he isn’t and he doesn’t.
Okay, I’m at the scene of the convocation of the mages. Soyi is bringing in a box. Let me finish this episode before I start getting ready for work.
This way, I can dictate my notes for this episode while in the car and get it out by this afternoon.
Cleopatra
@Packmule3
Enjoy the rest of the episode!
I agree about the CP. For me, he is along the Team with Jang Uk.
Welmaris
It seems the Hong sisters do not have respect for most of the denizens of the world they’ve created in Alchemy of Souls, especially the adults in charge of the institutions of Daeho.
The king is supposed to protect his subjects–all of them, even the weak–but he blithely orders Mu Deok to be killed to satisfy his curiosity about the ice stone. And did he really think anyone would admit to having witnessed the ice stone’s power, since its use had been forbidden since the Great Chaos 200 years prior?
Songrim is the institution that trains mages. It also creates a stratum of Daeho society separate from the general populace and even the ruling class. The mages operate in their own bubble, affecting the lives of others with the use and misuse of their powers, but not taking the other people into consideration. A war among the mages hurts everyone in Daeho, not just the mages.
Sejukwon is the part of Songrim that specializes in healing. That’s generally good. But the way the soul shifter Kang was handled was downright sloppy. He was supposed to be under strict guard, so how did his mother get into the room with him? The people of Songrim and Sejukwon were aware of the danger a soul shifter poses, and they tried to revive him anyway, hoping to get a statement from him to implicate Jin Mu. But as @Packmule3 has said, it is ethically questionable to bring someone back from the dead…and I would add that their plan to kill him off after they’d gotten what they wanted from him is contrary to the role of a healer.
Cheonbugwan is tasked with recording and reading the constellations nightly, so why were they policing the shamans in the village? Why did the Gwanju, Jang Kang, himself secretly practice forbidden magic for a year? That is hypocritical, to say the least. During that year between when he got his hands on the ice stone to revive Madame Jin’s dead baby, and his Alchemy of Souls with the king, he set in motion things that caused others harm. (For instance, the young man turned into a soul shifter whose mother brought unsuspecting people for him to feed off their energy.) Jang Kang demonstrated time and again his willingness to set aside wisdom, not the least of which was knowing Jin Mu had done an unauthorized alchemy of souls on Mage Cho, yet still left him in charge of Cheonbugwan for twenty years. And why didn’t Jang Kang return the ice stone to Jinyowon after using it to help Madame Jin? She didn’t authorize him to keep it indefinitely, or use it for other purposes, and he should never have walked away from his post with such a dangerous object unsealed. Dang it, I also think Jang Kang was a jerk for ignoring his wife a full year, staying away from home while experimenting with forbidden magic. (The king must’ve known Do Hwa hadn’t had relations with her husband, giving him confidence that a baby she bore would definitely be his. The king’s spies even supplied him with information on Do Hwa’s cycle, so he knew which week she’d most likely be ovulating. Ick!) As for Assistant Gwanju Jin Mu, he’s been showing his nature for a long time. Maidservant Kim mentioned his anger when he felt wronged. She also knew he stole honey biscuits. When Jin Mu admitted he’d done the soul shifting on Mage Cho, leading not only to the death of Cho but the massacre of his household, Jang Kang let him off with only the promise to never do soul ejecting again. Jin Mu’s promises are empty words.
Jinyowon is the repository of Daeho’s magical relics, and the Jin clan’s hereditary role is to keep the relics safe, and Daeho safe from the relics. In secret, Madame Jin asked Jang Kang to perform forbidden magic to restore life to her baby, dead in utero. Bringing the ice stone into such use, after it had been sealed 200 years earlier at the end of the Great Chaos, was dangerously selfish. Losing possession of the ice stone to Jang Kang was a dereliction of her duty. Marrying the brother of Shaman Choi, known for harmful spells, was unwise. Demonstrating obvious favoritism of one daughter over another was cruel parenting. Allying herself with Jin Mu, the half-brother she detested, shows she can abandon her convictions. Being so dense that she can’t recognize her own daughter is unbelievable, but it is unforgiveable that her pettiness and prejudices would lead her to physically harm anyone in retribution, even if it weren’t her own child. Painless death for Mu Deok? Madame Jin broke that promise, and seemed to relish inflicting pain.
The Unanimous Assembly is comprised of the leading mages of twelve Daeho clans. The appearance of the ice stone revealed their self-centeredness. They had no concern for what was best for Daeho society as a whole, just what they could do to grasp it for themselves.
It’s a wonder DaeHo hasn’t imploded long ago, with these kind of people in positions of leadership. If it weren’t for the Hong sisters creating sympathetic characters in the younger generation, I wouldn’t care about the future of DaeHo.
And here is the pre-release video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChdrvtmJ7eb/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Their short and cute date 🙂
Kalimera @Packmule3!
Thank you for the thread! Let us enjoy the episodes!
What an episode! Super excited…😁
Tomorrow more!
Ok… I’ll check out the episode tonight, @Cleopatra.
Ooof such a cliffhanger, tomorrow can’t come soon enough for me. And lots of revelations.
Spoilers below if you haven’t watched it yet….
Uk sharing the real meaning of the poem was deeply moving, especially as it was cut with MD’s inner monologue.
That eommoni at the end was heart wrenching. Will really miss JSM and her incredible acting in part 2 if that rumor turns out to be true.
I’m a little surprised at Jin Mu revealing his real reasons for wanting the ice stone to the CP already. Seemed a bit premature. But seems like Jin Mu is overestimating his influence on his pupil. And probably feeling less careful now that he thinks his victory is so close.
Loved Ukideokie’s date and them laughing and teasing each other. Then bickering was just such a perfect date for them- it’s exactly how they are. Her trying on lipstick and all her blushing was beyond endearing.
I don’t get people saying she’s had no character development. She’s changed a ton since she was able to get out of survival mode and without the burning desire of rEvenge. She’s learning about the softness and fun in life, she’s discovering her femininity, what’s it like to love a boy and want to look good for him. I have loved seeing her growth.
It’s the perfect yin and Yang. She who led a lifetime of training, studying, mastering magic, never having experienced a moment of leisure or indulgence. And he who only had leisure and indulgence, but never learned magic or to fight. Now each is discovering their missing pieces through each other. That’s their growth trajectory and it’s beautiful.
Now she has to step up and fight, as does he. We’ll see their power together more and more now.
PS why the heck hasn’t Jang Gang stepped in yet I wonder.
@Packmule3,
Kalimera. I hope that you enjoyed it!
I will write my comments shortly!
Kalimera Everyone!
I want to say this first because we need to say the important things first. I am very pleased that the Hong Sisters are introducing things / artifacts / tidbits that they are using in the process.
The “Words of Heart” is pivotal for using the Ice Stone. This is not something I expected to be honest.
I knew that it was important because it gave us information about Master Seo and the first Priestess Jin, but this revelation made me happy indeed.
Did you all see in the last scene when Bu Yeon took control of the Avatar MuDeok had the blue marks in her eyes? *grins*
or the parallel when Jang Uk was explaining what Master Lee told him to the Crown Prince and Cho Yeong was about to die?
I was certain that their story resembles Master Seo and Priestess Jin’s love story.
Btw, @Packmule3 should I post the poem in a next comment for reference? OR are you going to ping the actual thread from Episode 10 Part 1?
Let’s start from the beginning though…
I have written somewhere in the thread for episodes 3-4 that Mage Cho killed his Family and the reason was “temporary madness” .
Although, it was told from Episode 16, yet I didn’t pay attention but when it was repeated again yesterday, I made the connection.
Shaman Choi performed sorcery that confused the soul on Mage Cho.
That’s why on 5th of May 20 years ago there was an entry on Cheonbugwan’s records and Jang Uk showed that to the Crown Prince.
Jang Kang went on Gaema Village and looked for her. Did he go there after Mage Cho was dead? Because if that is the case the only thing that is missing is WHO ordered Mage Cho to be a target.
Did Jin Mu ask for it? And now we know why the Choi brother married into Jin’s. He initiated it under Shaman Choi’s commands…
If that is the case WHO is Jin BuYeon’s father? And WHERE is he exactly?
What we have learned in Episode 17:
Jang Kang has regrets and lives as a madman in Gaema Village.
He didn’t say anything to Jang Uk about his identity. Since, UK doesn’t know how he looks like, UK thought he was someone who knew his family.
I am also glad how Jang Uk answered to his father about Do-Hwa. He protects his mother’s name, way better than his father did.
Their encounter will make Jang Kang return to the Capital and yes, he will read what Master Lee wrote for him to do.
Jang Uk is building his resistance against the New Order – Chaos the baddies want to create. He informed Park Dang Gu first, as the future leader of Songrim and Yul was there to confirm his suspicions. Jang Uk also wants the help of The Crown Prince and he asked for it.
It is obvious that Jang Uk talked with Master Lee when they went fishing and he was well informed. I am glad Jang Uk entered into the Unanimous Committee and stopped them from fighting.
We now know what was the baddies plan and So-I is a sacrificial lamp. Shaman Choi wants to become the next Jin Matriarch, but they didn’t expect the real Jin BuYeon to be alive.
As for the current King he is a fool. He wanted to kill a person in order, to see the Alchemy of Souls. He is a joke and not a true ruler. His son would be a better King.
Last but not the least, the Jin Matriarch. I really cannot stand her at all. Especially the way she wanted to kill MuDeok with a painful death, shows how blind she is.
Jin BuYeon will teach her a lesson. The sky changed because she commanded the elements and from what I have seen BY will block everyone from channeling the energies. That’s why MuDeok will fight with the resurrected soul shifter Master kang.
Cho Yeong has come a long way from when she was the assassin Naksu. She said her silent goodbyes to Jang Uk and was ready to die…
She indeed loves him dearly.
That’s all for now!
@MrsRJH1,
I really liked your points about Cho Yeong. Yes, she is the yin to Jang Uk’s yan and I agree with you. As I have written above she has come a long way indeed. 🙂
I only watched the opening scene with Jang Gang and Uk before I shut down and went to bed.
🤦♀️ Jang Gang made my blood boil. What a useless mage! What a coward! What the heck!
After 20 years of absence, all he did was to mope around the village of Gaema, drink himself to madness, and wallow in self-recrimination and pity for DoHwa.
Can I kick his rear end? This is NOT the repentance and atonement I expected from him. I thought he’d do something better, like some sort of reparation for the harm he caused, something that entailed doing a visible and physical ACTION to make the world a better place. I wanted a redemptive ACT, instead of this useless self-pity.
Ugh. He reminds me that Capt Firefly from “Hotel Del Luna” who threatened to hang around Manwol, watching her like the vengeful moon. Lol. He ended up cursing himself.
His son, Uk, turned out a lot better. Despite knowing that his Gate of Energy was blocked by his own “father,” he fought to find a way to thwart his fate. Remember Episode 4 when Naksu admired Ukfor his GISEYA — or “vigor” according to Netflix sub. 😂 I wrote a whole thread about this because I knew that GISEYA was important concept/theme in the plot. To have GISEYA means to have passion, motivation, determination, boldness, mojo, spunk, relentless striving, persistence, mettle.
In Ep 4, Naksu told Uk to “stay strong.” So I was disappointed that his father Jang Gang failed to stay strong himself. He looked like a broken man. Tsk tsk tsk.
Also, wasn’t Jang Gang supposed to be searching for the missing daughter of Mage Cho, Cho Yeong? 🤦♀️
Will try to continue where I left off.
@Packmule3,
You are right Jang Kang is a broken man. Still, you will enjoy what happens afterwards with Jang Uk and his vigor aka Giseya.
I was so proud of him. You have to watch the scene though.
I think that we get to see Jang Kang tonight as well, I pray that he will do what Master Lee advised him to do. We don’t know what he wrote to him, he used the same trick with the “Words of Heart.”
I think you will be also furious with the Jin Matriach…
Where is it? Midway through Ep 17 or in today’s Ep 18?
I’ve about a half hour before heading out for my morning jog. I ate too much boardwalk fries yesterday.
@Packmule3,
Check the mark 37 and onwards… Enjoy your morning jog!
Oh bummer, I crave fries myself. But maybe tomorrow…
Lady Jin?
What did she do now?
Should I hate her more than Shaman Choi?
I don’t want to keep tabs on who is MOST evil in this drama. We have plenty to choose from.
There’s Shaman Choi, Jin Mu, Lady Jin.
But there’s also the lesser evil ones like —
Jin ChoYeong (I haven’t forgotten that she locked Naksu inside the vault, knowing full well that Naksu could die)
SoYi
The King because of his paranoia. If he could cheat with the concubines out of fear of being dethroned, then I’ve a measure of his code of conduct.
But I don’t have to worry much about the King because the Crown Prince is turning out to be a decent one. I expect the King to be killed off sooner or later. He’s just a temporary nuisance. 🙂
@Packmule3,
I didn’t get an email alert on your comment and I missed that… 🙄
If you watched Episode 17 you will know…
I agree about the most unethical ones…I also have a list!
Episode 18
The (last) temptation of Naksu.
Who is going to win in this internal battle? The notorious assassin Naksu or Cho Yeong?
Place your bets. *Wink*
More tomorrow…
That’s okay, @Cleopatra. I was having problems too on my end. My notification was down a few hours ago. I was alerted of incoming new posts/comments but when I went to read them, they were either comments from two days ago or there was a blank space in the comment box with the username “anonymous.”
Who knows what’s going on with WordPress? 🤷♀️
I’m about to continue watching Ep 17 now…. ⏳
@Packmule3,
Are they updating the code maybe? I saw it when I checked the thread.
Enjoy the episode! You will like it!
I also enjoyed Episode 18 and tomorrow I will write more. We are in a mini climax, until the cliffhanger…
Kalinixta from my part of the world… 🌺
Thanks @cleopatra! And really looking fwd to reading your interpretations tomorrow.
@packmule if you hated Jang Gang in ep 17, his foolish decision making in ep 18 (flash back scene) is going to irk you to no end. But CP and the deep mature convo he has with Cho Yeong is a good antidote.
Still processing from the episode, will write more tomorrow.
I don’t know if they’re updating codes. I was also notified that there were unsuccessful attempts to login as me from dubious countries like Turkey and Indonesia. Okay…..😒
Temptation to what, @Cleopatra?
To kiss Uk? To betray Uk? To use her sword?
My guesses are:
She’ll kiss Uk. Or he’ll kiss her and she won’t push him away in disgust (unless he kisses her in front of everybody else).
She’ll betray Uk at first, then have an attack of conscience and change her mind. (But if this is a makjang story, it’ll be too late for her.)
I seriously doubt she’d turn into an assassin again *willingly* — she was horrified when she killed Eunuch Kim by sucking his energy. She thought she’d turn wild. So, I don’t see her changing her position on assassination… unless of course, Uk was in danger — like that time she thought Gilju soul-switched with Uk.
She won’t use her sword to kill Uk. Or she will raise it, but then she’ll yield, and withdraw the sword because Uk told her that he’d make “another promise.” This time the promise would be something that she was looking forward to, like a promise to marry her instead of somebody else chosen by Maiden Kim for him.
But I’m off now.
You have guessed it exactly right @pm3! Your post about what Naksu will do with the sword and with “another promise”.
What an exciting episodes of revelation and actions, Naksu’s mindset is changing, her conscience is thorn from being an assasin now that her power is back, or to be Uk’s lover.
Kalimera Everyone!
Naksu got her chance with the Ice Stone. She got her power back and she could do whatever she liked with it… OR maybe not?
From her dialogue with Jin Bu Yeon (who Cho Yeong didn’t realize who she was talking to) :
CY: What is going on ? Where am I?
BY(young): We are inside the ice stone.
CY: This is the ice stone?
BY: The ice stone is not limited by shape, size or form.
It can be water, fire, and wind.
CY: (smiling) Does this mean I have the ice stone now?
BY (adult): No one can truly own the ice stone.
You can only use its power.
Pull and get pushed.
Earn one, and lose the other.
That is the burden you have to carry.
CY: I can gladly endure that.
BY: Then try it.
Overflowing power means you will not be able to control how much of it you use. Desire rain, and you will get a flood.
Desire wind and you will get a typhoon.
Try to endure it.
CY: A relic of Jinyowon?
BY: How dare a soul living off my body call me a relic?
(fades away)
Bu Yeon was testing Naksu.
Naksu thought she could go back easily to who she was before she met Jang Uk, but as we were watching the episode, we saw that she couldn’t let go of her “friends”.
She realized herself that in order to soul shift she had to take everyone’s vitality force and they would die.
Throught the episode, she had three encounters. The first one was with the Crown Prince, the second one with Seo Yul that shook her even more and the last one with Jang Uk.
Indeed she could have it all. When she realized that Jang Uk could die from the soul shifter Master Kang, she ran to find him and asked the Crown Prince to let her go.
So, yes @Packmule3, you were right. She did exactly what you said but before that, their dialogue is of utter importance.
After she unleathed her sword and killed Master Kang with Tansu-bam. She was crying because she thought that Uk had died. When she realized he had lured the soul shifter inside, she was relieved.
She continued to be very emotional until the end of the scene.
For the first time, she had her guard down and was very vulnerable to someone else. That’s why she also answered truthfully to Uk’s questions:
CY You are still alive, my pupil.
JU: Why did you hide it?
CY: Because…I wanted you to die.
JU: Then…why did you come for me?
CY: Because…I thought you would die.
JU: Since you have unleathed the sword, make your decision.
I know you have been avoiding me.
I also know that everyone’s lives are in your hands.
Like you promised, point to your sword at me first.
CY: (she does that)
We have the voiceover from the day when he gave her, the sword:
If you stab me, then I will die as the one who released the assassin. If you withdraw your sword, I will make you another promise.
They were both very emotional. Jang Uk was waiting to see if he will betray him or not. She was looking at him shaken as well. She withdraw her sword.
CY: Fine. Make me another promise just like you said you would.
And with that decision, Cho Yeong will get her body back. Because she decided to follow her heart and not just kill Jang Uk and everyone else.
Jin Bu Yeon will grant that wish. After all, Yeong is living in her body as she said.
Now we know, WHY and HOW this will happen most likely in Episode 20. As I have said they will close it on a cliffanger.
So voila, both Jin Bu Yeon and Cho Yeong will be on Part 2. I was saying so, for some time now…
What else was revealed? Who made Mage Cho a soul shifter and that was Jin Mu… I was pretty sure that he did that. His excuse was lame though.
Now, I have to read your comments…
Ella posted a brilliant FMV on AoS.
I think you will love this:
https://youtu.be/aHk3At_tFR4
Enjoy!
@Packmule3,
As @Eureka wrote above, you’ve got it right!
Which part? What did I get right, @Cleopatra? The kiss, betrayal or the sword?
I couldn’t continue Ep 17. I stopped after the scene in Jinyowon with Jin Mu and Lady Jin inside the family vault. I became frustrated again. But I’ll slog through it so I can do my write-up today.
@Packmule3,
She was thinking to betray him, afterwards the sword and lastly the kiss.
Episode 19 was about her internal fight. I wrote my thoughts and trascribed some scenes as well above.
I will be waiting for your thoughts as well. Yes, there are some parts you get frustrated with the Jin Matriarch…Not happy about her either…
👍 Ok.
I’ll continue watching Ep 17. I guess I was frustrated bec I was expecting more development but so far, what I’ve seen is just a confirmation of what we already know.
1. Jang Gang is weak. I thought his much p-awaited return would have been like “The Return of the King” in “Lord of the Rings.” It was a dud.
2. Jin Mu is evil. Just pile it on, Hong sisters, willya?
3. Lady Jin is dumb. Jin Mu played her like a fiddle.
@Packmule3,
We get more development regarding our Hero and his Team.
The Adults for the most part are infuriating, with the exception of Park Jin… He stands by his ethics.
@MrsRJH1
You are welcome. I am waiting for your thoughts as well…
Park Jin can be annoying too with his rigidity, but at least, his moral compass is working properly.
The Crown Prince isn’t bad either. Of anybody there, he can be an asshole and push his weight around but he isn’t and he doesn’t.
Okay, I’m at the scene of the convocation of the mages. Soyi is bringing in a box. Let me finish this episode before I start getting ready for work.
This way, I can dictate my notes for this episode while in the car and get it out by this afternoon.
@Packmule3
Enjoy the rest of the episode!
I agree about the CP. For me, he is along the Team with Jang Uk.
It seems the Hong sisters do not have respect for most of the denizens of the world they’ve created in Alchemy of Souls, especially the adults in charge of the institutions of Daeho.
The king is supposed to protect his subjects–all of them, even the weak–but he blithely orders Mu Deok to be killed to satisfy his curiosity about the ice stone. And did he really think anyone would admit to having witnessed the ice stone’s power, since its use had been forbidden since the Great Chaos 200 years prior?
Songrim is the institution that trains mages. It also creates a stratum of Daeho society separate from the general populace and even the ruling class. The mages operate in their own bubble, affecting the lives of others with the use and misuse of their powers, but not taking the other people into consideration. A war among the mages hurts everyone in Daeho, not just the mages.
Sejukwon is the part of Songrim that specializes in healing. That’s generally good. But the way the soul shifter Kang was handled was downright sloppy. He was supposed to be under strict guard, so how did his mother get into the room with him? The people of Songrim and Sejukwon were aware of the danger a soul shifter poses, and they tried to revive him anyway, hoping to get a statement from him to implicate Jin Mu. But as @Packmule3 has said, it is ethically questionable to bring someone back from the dead…and I would add that their plan to kill him off after they’d gotten what they wanted from him is contrary to the role of a healer.
Cheonbugwan is tasked with recording and reading the constellations nightly, so why were they policing the shamans in the village? Why did the Gwanju, Jang Kang, himself secretly practice forbidden magic for a year? That is hypocritical, to say the least. During that year between when he got his hands on the ice stone to revive Madame Jin’s dead baby, and his Alchemy of Souls with the king, he set in motion things that caused others harm. (For instance, the young man turned into a soul shifter whose mother brought unsuspecting people for him to feed off their energy.) Jang Kang demonstrated time and again his willingness to set aside wisdom, not the least of which was knowing Jin Mu had done an unauthorized alchemy of souls on Mage Cho, yet still left him in charge of Cheonbugwan for twenty years. And why didn’t Jang Kang return the ice stone to Jinyowon after using it to help Madame Jin? She didn’t authorize him to keep it indefinitely, or use it for other purposes, and he should never have walked away from his post with such a dangerous object unsealed. Dang it, I also think Jang Kang was a jerk for ignoring his wife a full year, staying away from home while experimenting with forbidden magic. (The king must’ve known Do Hwa hadn’t had relations with her husband, giving him confidence that a baby she bore would definitely be his. The king’s spies even supplied him with information on Do Hwa’s cycle, so he knew which week she’d most likely be ovulating. Ick!) As for Assistant Gwanju Jin Mu, he’s been showing his nature for a long time. Maidservant Kim mentioned his anger when he felt wronged. She also knew he stole honey biscuits. When Jin Mu admitted he’d done the soul shifting on Mage Cho, leading not only to the death of Cho but the massacre of his household, Jang Kang let him off with only the promise to never do soul ejecting again. Jin Mu’s promises are empty words.
Jinyowon is the repository of Daeho’s magical relics, and the Jin clan’s hereditary role is to keep the relics safe, and Daeho safe from the relics. In secret, Madame Jin asked Jang Kang to perform forbidden magic to restore life to her baby, dead in utero. Bringing the ice stone into such use, after it had been sealed 200 years earlier at the end of the Great Chaos, was dangerously selfish. Losing possession of the ice stone to Jang Kang was a dereliction of her duty. Marrying the brother of Shaman Choi, known for harmful spells, was unwise. Demonstrating obvious favoritism of one daughter over another was cruel parenting. Allying herself with Jin Mu, the half-brother she detested, shows she can abandon her convictions. Being so dense that she can’t recognize her own daughter is unbelievable, but it is unforgiveable that her pettiness and prejudices would lead her to physically harm anyone in retribution, even if it weren’t her own child. Painless death for Mu Deok? Madame Jin broke that promise, and seemed to relish inflicting pain.
The Unanimous Assembly is comprised of the leading mages of twelve Daeho clans. The appearance of the ice stone revealed their self-centeredness. They had no concern for what was best for Daeho society as a whole, just what they could do to grasp it for themselves.
It’s a wonder DaeHo hasn’t imploded long ago, with these kind of people in positions of leadership. If it weren’t for the Hong sisters creating sympathetic characters in the younger generation, I wouldn’t care about the future of DaeHo.