Alchemy of Souls Season 2 Episode 2 Recap and Review: The Secret of Naksu’s Return and Jang Uk’s Bride

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 2 has a run time of 78 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 2 Recap contains spoilers-

Alchemy of Souls season 2 episode 2 begins with Jang Uk taking away his runaway bride to the Jang family house, unaware that an ominous creature is following the two. While Bu-yeon pries into his past, Cho-yeon and Ho-kyung as flustered after she goes missing as the former thinks it is Park Dang-gu who did this.

The two rush to Songrim while Dang-gu drinks away his sorrows with Seo Yul who tells him that Bu-yeon is getting married and not Cho-yeon. The two then run into Seo Yul’s uncle who tells them what happened and about the Jin family ladies rushing to Songrim.

At Songrim, Ho-kyung asks for Dang-gu who comes rushing behind and tells him that he isn’t the culprit as he would never sabotage the wedding even if it were Cho-yeon getting married. Dang-gu feels that he has angered Cho-yeon and later asks Seo Yul about it who tells him that he may have disappointed Cho-yeon.

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Elsewhere, Jang Uk brings Bu-yeon to his house and introduces her as his bride-to-be to Kim Do-ju which leaves her shocked. Bu-yeon is happy with this introduction but it isn’t long-lasting as Jang Uk clears it that he needs her which is why he brought her there.

Kim Do-ju then takes her to her room and helps her settle down, but is soon surprised when she finds out that Bu-yeon knows nothing about Jang Uk. Later, Bu-yeon leaves to meet Jang Uk and settles down with a wine cup and a bottle in front of them.

Taking a drink from the cup, she fills it and pushes it to him while letting him know that it is a substitute for their wedding wine; if he takes the drink then they will be wedded. Jang Uk does not drink it and instead confronts her with the truth of how she is unable to use her powers.

While this surprises Bu-yeon, she tells him that it is indeed true that she lost her powers along with her memories, but they would return along with her memories. Jang Uk does not believe her and asks her to leave.

She then shows him the tracking bracelet that gets her caught each time, which is broken off by Jang Uk after which she decides to leave right then.

Elsewhere, Ho-kyung visits master Lee and puts forth her worries when the latter reminds her of the events from three years back along with the warning he had given her. As master Lee questions her intentions about saving Mu-deok, the scene shifts to a flashback from three years back when Jinyowon retrieved the almost petrified Mu-deok from the lake.

Ho-kyung begged master Lee to save her daughter when he reveals that Naksu’s soul was trapped in this body by Bu-yeon when the alchemy of souls was performed. He tells her that the only way to save the body was by using Naksu’s energy inside the body to which Bu-yeon’s soul is clinging.

He tells her that her wish to save the body will result in removing Bu-yeon’s soul from the body while Naksu remains. The choice was made, and as Naksu’s energy saves Bu-yeon’s body, the petrified body took up Naksu’s face.

Master Lee also told Ho-kyung that saving her has made her lose both Bu-yeon’s powers and Naksu’s memories; so to ensure that Naksu’s memories never come back Ho-kyung decides to keep her confined forever. As she lives in the agony of seeing Naksu’s face, Jang Uk too should pay the price of loving Naksu by never finding out that she is alive.

The flashback ends and master Lee mocks her as she fails to keep Bu-yeon hidden while we see Bu-yeon leaving the Jang family house. However, she soon returns as she feels the ominous presence she felt on the way to the house once again.

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Following its traces, she reaches the bathing room, where the creature hides in the pool filled with water. She is soon dragged inside the water but is saved by Jang Uk who then puts her back to sleep while feeding her some strong wine to keep her warm. Later, using the same cup to drink some wine himself, he spends the night taking care of her.

The next day. Dang-gu puts up pictures of Bu-yeon all around Daeho while trying to find her which results in everyone finding out about the eldest daughter of the Jin family. Jin Mu too sees the picture and is unable to believe that Naksu is back.

Elsewhere, Bu-yeon realises that Jang Uk has allowed her to stay at his house for the next three days; however, she soon finds out that pictures of her have been spread throughout Daeho and assumes it to be Seo Yul’s doing.

She then rushes to the inn to find him, while waiting for news about him she sees a tea cup nearby and a memory from the previous night makes her realise that she has exchanged wine with Jang Uk. She then meets Seo Yul assuming that he is her betrothed and apologises for leaving in the middle of the wedding while conveying that she has already given her heart to someone else.

Seo Yul finds out about her misunderstanding and tells her that she was betrothed to his uncle which makes her happy as missing out on Seo Yul would have made her regretful. She then stands to leave but sees the priestesses from Jinyowon waiting for her.

They take her back to her room and soon Ho-kyung dashes in and slaps her. However, she soon regrets it and tells Bu-yeon to never leave the room again. Later, Ho-kyung meets Jin Mu who pushes her to bring Bu-yeon to the Unanimous Assembly to introduce Bu-yeon as her heir. If she fails then Jinyowon’s responsibility will be given to someone else.

Elsewhere, Jang Uk meets Park Jin who confronts him about his reason to bring Bu-yeon to his house so that he could get rid of the ice stone inside him. He then tells him that Ho-kyung will be introducing Bu-yeon at the assembly at night as her heir. Meanwhile, Ho-kyung sews the tracking thread on Bu-yeon’s back after finding out that it has been cut.

Alchemy of Souls Season 2 Episode 2 Ending

Alchemy of Souls season 2 episode 2 ends later that night at the assembly, Ho-kyung tells Bu-yeon that this will be the last time she will be leaving Jinyowon before bringing her in front of the assembly. However, a strong wind enters and blows out the light in the surroundings while Jang Uk carries the lantern from Jinyowon that doesn’t turn off.

Standing in front of Bu-yeon, he tells her that if she is able to turn off the lantern then he will take her away with him. However, aware that she is unable to use her powers, Bu-yeon is unable to do anything. But as he tries to leave, she holds the lantern which then turns itself off and bewilders her.

Confirming that she is able to use her powers, Jang Uk announces that the two have already married in secret and have exchanged their wedding wine. He announces that she cannot be the heiress to Jinyowon as she is now his wife and asks everyone to congratulate them.

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Alchemy of Souls Season 2 Episode 2 Review

The secret behind Naksu’s return is finally out and this was definitely needed to begin the unravelling of the mysteries in the show this season! This episode was definitely a pleasure to watch and we can finally see the sequel building up our excitement once again.

While Jang Uk’s charisma steals our hearts, Ho-kyung’s cruelty is angering us more than Jin Mu’s tactics have done till now. The episode brought in a lot of fun and exciting scenes today which is only making me eager for what is to come.

Finally, it is hard to say goodbye to our beloved Mudeok, but this episode has brought a clean end to her appearance and there is no other choice but to accept this fate. While Mu-deok was more of Naksu than Jin Bu-yeon last season which brought our her superiority, Naksu right now is a woman without her memories.

It is going to take some time for the Naksu/ Mu-deok aura to come back but it will be worth the wait.

What did you think about the episode? Let us know in the comments below!

Watch Alchemy of Souls season 2 on Netflix.

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