Alchemy of Souls: The Final Test (Season 1, Episode 17)

Featuring the talents of Lee Jae-wook, Jung So-min, Go Yoon-jung, and Hwang Min-hyun, Alchemy of Souls is a popular South Korean TV series. The Hong sisters penned this book about young sorcerers navigating the world.

The show takes place in Daeho, a made-up country that doesn’t exist in real life or on any maps. A strong and noble mage named Jang Uk’s servant, Mu Deok, has his spirit mistakenly trapped inside the frail body of an expert assassin named Naksu. Jang Uk, the young master of the Jang Family, is hiding a scandalous fact about his origins. He hopes the dangerous killer can help him alter his fate.Naksu is pressured into using the taboo yet powerful magical technique of soul transference known as the Alchemy of Souls.

This article is a review of “The Final Test,” the 17th episode of Season 1. This is the final episode of the first season, and it concludes Naksu and Jang Uk’s arc as master and servant.

Summary

Jang Uk and Naksu first appear as they make their way to Sejukwon, a hidden academy for mage training and education. Heo Yeom, the leader of Sejukwon, greets them and admits that he is aware of who they are and that they have been using the Alchemy of Souls. He informs them there is one more thing they must do to earn his trust and prove their worth to him.

The exam consists of three parts: facing one’s fears in a forested area, finding one’s way through a maze, and finally engaging in mortal combat with one’s peers in an open arena. If they don’t succeed or give up, Heo Yeom says they’ll all perish.

Despite the dangers, Jang Uk and Naksu decide to take the test. They venture into the woods, where they are met with numerous tricks designed to frighten or hurt them. They push through their anxiety and make it to the centre of the maze.

They eventually locate a stone tablet in the maze that contains a puzzle. To solve the puzzle, they must identify a person who is both living and dead. They figure out that Jang Uk, who Jin Mu killed three years ago but the Ice Stone brought back to life, is the key. The gate to the arena is unlocked after his name is entered on the tablet.

They draw their swords and square up in the arena. They are reluctant to fight at first, but Heo Yeom convinces them that they must either kill each other or perish in the process. He also admits that he is aware of Go Soon, the king of Daeho, being the real father of Jang Uk. According to him, Jang Uk is destined to succeed Go Soon as king.

For the sake of their love and their lives, Jang Uk and Naksu have decided to fight. They both get hurt and hit each other, but neither one can land the killing blow. The two of them embrace after making their feelings known to one another. They make a pact to not kill one other or end their lives together, but to instead live in harmony.

Heo Yeom admires their bravery and dedication. He declares their efforts successful and gives them his stamp of approval. He also gives them a clue as to how to undo the Alchemy of Souls, instructing them to seek for a person whose soul contains both light and shade.

Jang Uk and Naksu leave Sejukwon with Heo Yeom’s approval at the end of the episode. They promise to discover a way to get their old bodies back and to be together forever.

Analysis

The characters and the audience went through a range of emotions during this episode. It demonstrated the growth and depth of affection between Jang Uk and Naksu from their first meeting. Some key truths and hints regarding their history and future were also disclosed.

Jang Uk and Naksu’s final test in the arena was one of the episode’s most exciting moments. Having to choose between one’s life and one’s love made for a dramatic and emotionally draining situation. The actors did a fantastic job of conveying their inner turmoil and anguish.

The true identity of Jang Uk’s father, the king of Daeho, was also a major turning point. This unexpected development raised the stakes and heightened the drama of the story. It also made people wonder what would become of Jang Uk and his place in the political structure of the country.

The episode also provided some information that could help Jang Uk and Naksu achieve their ultimate aim of undoing the Alchemy of Souls. Someone they know or someone they have yet to meet must be found who possesses both light and shadow in their soul.

Conclusion

Alchemy of Souls’ season one finale, episode 17, was an exciting and emotional conclusion to the show. Jang Uk and Naksu’s love, development, and the hardships they face were all on display.

 

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