You can read all of our picks for “Underrated Scene Of The Week” here. This week’s underrated scene comes from one of the most highly anticipated fantasy romance dramas of 2022, “Alchemy of Souls”. With extraordinary ratings right from its premiere to entering Netflix’s global top 10 chart of the most-watched shows on the platform, “Alchemy of Souls” is off to an amazing start. Spoiler Alert! Starring Lee JaeWook, Jung SoMin, Hwang MinHyun, Yoo InSoo, OH MY GIRL’s Arin, Shin SeungHo, and more, “Alchemy of Souls” tells the story of Naksu (Go YoonJung), the shadow assassin feared by all the mages of Daeho, who performs the soul-shifting spell to escape from her enemies. However, something goes wrong in the process and her soul ends up in the body of a weak, blind girl named MuDeok (Jung SoMin) who is being sold off to a kisaeng house. There, she meets Jang Uk (Lee JaeWook), son of the influential Jang family, whose energy gate was sealed off by his father, Jang Kang (Joo SangWook). Together, they devise a mutually beneficial plan, whereby Jang Uk will help Naksu regain her energy and Naksu will accept Jang Uk as her student. In the latest episode of “Alchemy of Souls”, the Crown Prince Go Won, played by Shin SeungHo, approaches Jang Uk to take away the sword of Naksu. At the same time, he also aims to possess the sword that the King had bestowed upon Jang Uk’s father, Jang Kang, claiming that Jang Uk had no right to keep it. Go Won is not much of an antagonist but is largely driven by the ill intentions of Jin Mu (Jo JaeYoon), his master. Jang Uk refuses for he must hold on to the sword for the sake of his identity but the Crown Prince too, is adamant. Having reached a deadlock, the Prince proposes a duel and the winner shall take the sword. Go Won is rather benevolent and slightly smug as he offers a compromise. Jang Uk doesn’t have to defeat him, per se, but he must make him cross the line he has drawn for himself. Jang Uk realizes that the more he takes hits, the more the torrent of energy inside him surges. As such, he allows Go Won to have his go at him, taking his merciless attacks without a word. It isn’t surprising that Jang Uk is soon subdued but he is far from losing. MuDeok is quick to judge the situation and improvises a plan of her own. She brings out a tub of water from the chamber pots and spills it over the ground between the two opponents. Instinctively, the Prince steps back and over the line, in fear of tainting his royal self. Naturally, therefore, he loses by default, in keeping with his own rule. Jang Uk takes the chance to remind him of his word and suggests he go back home to change. The Prince is left baffled and certainly offended by the imprudence of a mere maid. However, he does, in fact, keep his promise, allowing Jang Uk to keep his father’s sword. His wrath then falls on MuDeok, who he decides to punish severely. Just as he picks up his sword to bring it down on her neck, Jang Uk intervenes, having unsheathed his father’s sword.
By this time, Jang Uk’s friends have arrived to check up on him after he got flogged a hundred times at Songrim. They’re too stunned to speak, witnessing Jang Uk channel his energy for the first time. However, it soon becomes clear that he can hardly control the energy, and that instead, the energy is controlling him. A life-threatening swordfight ensues, making Jang Uk almost commit treason. However, Seo Yul (Hwang MinHyun) interferes at the right moment, urging the Prince to give it up. In the meantime, DangGu approaches Jang Uk, trying to get him to stop attacking the Prince, only to get punched right in the face. Uk confesses that he has absolutely no control over his arm, which seems to have a mind of its own. After assessing the situation carefully, Jin ChoYeon (Arin) uses a binding bracelet on Uk to keep his arm from moving on its own. However, the crisis has not been averted. The Prince demands he pick up the sword once again but Yul insists that he is no match for Go Won. DangGu adds that he simply couldn’t control his energy and ChoYeon boldly asserts that the Crown Prince wielded his sword at him first. Instead of solving the problem at hand, it adds fuel to the fire as the Prince refuses to go back defeated. The Four Seasons now stand against royalty and neither side is confident. The Prince is advised to retreat, lest he angers the King and the heirs of Daeho contemplate their faults. Sensing an awkward tension, MuDeok steps up once more to take the blame, kneeling in front of the Prince to ask for forgiveness. As a self-inflicted punishment, she offers to drink the chamber pot water but is soon stopped by Uk, who takes over the punishment in her stead. Unable to see her precious Young Master drink the filthy liquid, Kim DoJoo (Oh NaRa) volunteers to drink it and the cycle of deferring punishment continues with DangGu as the final one in line. Seo Yul takes the chance to negotiate with Go Won and he finally withdraws.
“Alchemy of Souls” elegantly maintains a fine balance between suspense, action, and comedy, and this scene is the perfect example of the way it successfully blends the three. Just when you think that the tension is overwhelmingly palpable, the drama introduces an element of surprising humour that releases the stress. Not only is it cathartic but it also keeps the audience on their toes. “Alchemy of Souls” is peak fiction and we love to see it so well done. What makes the work even more impressive is the way the actors embody their characters with perfection. The fact that they’re also really good friends off-camera perhaps translates into their supremely entertaining dynamic on screen. We cannot wait to see where “Alchemy of Souls” takes us next. Are you watching “Alchemy of Souls”? What is your favorite scene so far? Tell us in the comments section down below!
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