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 8 has a run time of 74 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 8 Recap contains spoilers-

Alchemy of Souls season 2 episode 8 begins with Jang Uk and Bu-yeon sharing a kiss after breaking down the walls that stood between them, while Park Jin, Kim Do-ju and Heo Yeom discuss their situation while reassuring themselves that separating them won’t be a problem.

Also Read: Lady Voyeur Review: Wannabe Cringe-Worthy Wattpad Lookalike Channels ‘The Voyeurs’ and ‘Fifty Shades’

Meanwhile, things are getting heated between them but stop when Bu-yeon feels the ice stone’s energy inside Jang Uk. This brings them back to the situation they are soon to face and begins thinking about how to deal with Jin Ho-kyung and break the promise. Jang Uk assures Bu-yeon that he will sincerely put forth his request to Ho-kyung and get them out of this situation.

As the two make plans to get Ho-kyung to accept their relationship, Seo Yul has ideas of his own prepared. Before separating their ways, Bu-yeon tells Jang Uk to take of himself and sneak into Jinyowon sometimes to meet her. She then remembers the time when they first met and asks him what he thought of her back then.

While he tells her that he found her to be an oddball, she tells him that she knew he was her husband the moment she saw him; this sentence brings back memories for Jang Uk as Bu-yeon too remembers something from the past. He tells her about the blue soul shifter mark that bloomed in Mu-deok’s eyes back then.

Elsewhere, Seo Yul tells everyone that he is ready to take responsibility for what has happened and will make it possible for the promise between Jang Uk and Ho-kyung to break. It doesn’t take long for this news to spread and Jang Uk is happy with what Seo Yul has promised while Bu-yeon goes to meet her.

However, Seo Yul’s behaviour surprises her when he tells her that staying with Jang Uk will only leave the two of them hurt. He tells her that going to Danhyanggok will bring back the memories she has forgotten and will make her realise why she needs to stay away from Jang Uk. Hearing this, Bu-yeon is determined to not go there or try to get her memories back.

Meanwhile, Jang Uk gets the crown prince’s message when he sends his gold plaque and conveys the message that he is aware of Jang Uk’s birth. As he prepares to go to the palace, Bu-yeon visits him and sees the scar that had killed him once. She understands that he wanted to know what was going on through Naksu’s mind when she gave him that scar, but looking at it makes Bu-yeon wish to never see that memory.

Seeing her mood falling, he asks her if she wants to go to Danhyanggok but she refuses; finally, he tells her to wait for him to come back which reassures her. Elsewhere, Heo Yoon-ok finds the medicine that can reveal the marks of a soul shifter and is ready to bring Bu-yeon face to face-with her truth.

On the other hand, Seo Yul confronts Ho-kyung and lets her know that he is aware of Bu-yeon’s real identity. He requests her to let Bu-yeon free for as long as possible because soon Naksu’s soul will disappear and the real Jin Bu-yeon will take over her body. This surprises Ho-kyung as master Lee had hidden this from her; having found out about this, she is now ready to comply with Seo Yul’s request.

Meanwhile, the crown prince confronts Jang Uk about his identity and asks him to go to the North fortress if he does not intend to fight him. Jang Uk accepts his request and decides to take over the position of general at the North fortress which surprises Jin Mu while leaving him impressed by the crown prince’s tactic.

Elsewhere, Yoon-ok asks Bu-yeon to meet her at the soul shifter’s grave where she throws the medicine at her and hopes to see the soul shifter’s mark on her shoulder. However, she finds nothing but during this, some of the medicine falls into her eyes and reveals a blue mark.

Also Read: The Way of the Househusband Season 2 Review: A Warm and Chaotic Start to the New Year!

But before Yoon-ok can see it, Seo Yul arrives and stops while telling Bu-yeon to go wash off the medicine. He then tells Yoon-ok to stay out of this matter as Naksu’s soul will disappear soon. Meanwhile, while washing the medicine out of her eyes, Bu-yeon sees her reflection in the water and sees the blue mark inside her eyes.

She remembers the words spoken by Jang Uk as a rush of memories appears which makes her realise her true identity and then makes her go to Danhyanggok. As her memories continue to come back, she soon reaches the tall tree she had always remembered and realises that all the memories she thought were someone else’s were hers this whole time.

Right then, the surrounding brightens and standing in front of her is none other than the real Jin Bu-yeon. Bu-yeon reveals to Naksu that she had used her powers this whole time to regain her divine powers as well as to stop her body from going wild. While she is thankful for her powers, Naksu will have to leave her body soon as it belongs to Jin Bu-yeon.

Finally remembering her identity as Naksu, she now has to face the brutal truth of the limited time that she has left in this world. As she sits in Chwiseonru while remembering the time when Jang Uk proposed to her three years back, Seo Yul sees her and asks Joo Wol to inform Jang Uk about this.

Jang Uk soon rushes to Chwiseonru and tells Naksu that he had been searching for her everywhere, however, he soon realises that something is wrong. Naksu tells him that she has regained her memories and will be going back to Jinyowon as she cannot be with him anymore.

Jang Uk is not ready to accept this change and tries to stop her, but it is of no use as she tells him that she had loved a man very much and cannot forget about him. While she may have been unable to confess her feeling to him, she will always love that man and cannot be with Jang Uk.

Naksu returns to Jinyowon which surprises Ho-kyung and Cho-yeon while Jang Uk the happenings between them from everyone. The two then drown in the sorrow of separation, however, Jang Uk is unable to understand why this happened while Naksu is unable to face him because of her past actions and knowing what her future holds.

The time for Jang Uk’s departure is soon to arrive, but Naksu is unable to say goodbye to him and refuses to see him even when he comes to Jinyowon’s doors. However, she sees him standing in her room when she returns and has to face his questions that show his despair caused by her decision.

Telling her that this time he will wait for her to miss and call him while he waits, he leaves Jinyowon while Naksu cannot stop her tears from flowing out. The next day, he leaves for the North fortress, while everyone sends him off.

Seo Yul wants to tell him the truth but remembers master Lee’s words as he told him that knowing the truth will only hurt Jang Uk as he holds the power to help Naksu’s soul to survive in Jin Bu-yeon’s body. However, he will not be able to use his powers to save her as this is forbidden sorcery.

After Jang Uk’s departure, Jin Mu is ready to begin his plans and he begins to involve the crown prince and has him help in smuggling the earthenwares inside Daeho. He then reveals that his real target is the firebird inside Jinyowon and will soon gain control over it with the help of the Unanimous Assembly.

Also Read: Alchemy of Souls Season 2 Episode 7 Reactions: Fans Are Going Crazy Over Jang Uk, Bu-yeon and the Preview!

Soon, Jin Mu faces Jin Ho-kyung and reveals to her that someone else will be dancing for the rites for the lake as there is no priestess strong enough in Jinyowon. Ho-kyung finds this unbelievable and announces that if this happens then Jinyowon will not provide any artefacts for the rites, but this only earns her a snicker from Jin Mu.

Alchemy of Souls Season 2 Episode 8 Ending

Alchemy of Souls season 2 episode 8 ends with Ho-kyung then telling him that Jinyowon has a plaque that gives them the right to refuse the royal family’s order, However, Jin Mu tells her that the plaque will soon be confiscated as she has put Jinyowon in danger due to personal reasons. Right then the crown prince arrives and reveals that he is witness to this statement as broadening the barrier of the firebird did put them all in danger.

Meanwhile, the message to bring the plaque to Cheonbugwan has already been sent to Jinyowon, however, Naksu takes over the duty to bring it there from Cho-yeon. She soon brings the plaque to Cheonbugwan and finds out what is happening there.

Seeing Jin Mu push Ho-kyung to the edge, she stands up and reminds him that Jinyowon still has a priestess who is strong enough to support them, but Jin Mu doesn’t take her seriously and instead poses a challenge to her to prove herself. Naksu accepts this and is brought to the place where wraiths are imprisoned in Cheonbugwan.

Jin Mu tells her that she will have to retrieve the plaque from this place to prove her divine powers. Ho-kyung is worried for her but Naksu tells her to believe in her daughter’s divine powers which makes her realise that the person in front of her is Naksu.

Naksu then enters the magical prison and finds herself at the shore with a forest standing in front of her. Surprised by the size of the place, she is worried but soon begins her search for the plaque. However, she soon comes across a plaque and tries to run away from it while subconsciously calling out for Jang Uk through the blue jade.

Jang Uk soon appears and saves her from the wraith, but soon notices that her eyes seem different and see the blue flower that is etched in his memory shine in her eyes.

Alchemy of Souls Season 2 Episode 8 Review

This episode has cleared it up that we are almost at the end of the show because of the excitement that it has left us all with which has made this week-long wait more painful than ever. Those scenes of Naksu finally finding out she was and Jang Uk finding out who she is really got me screaming and I cannot wait for what is to come.

The finale is all set to either bring us a happy or frustrating ending, but either way, it is sure to be unforgettable because that is how this show has left us this whole time. And now with Alchemy of Souls bringing to us a second ending, it is sure to be hard to say goodbye.

But coming back to this episode, I am happy with everything that it has given me today and has left me content. Also, does anyone else feel that Jang Uk and the crown prince have got something planned behind Jin Mu’s back?

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

Watch Alchemy of Souls season 2 on Netflix.

Also Read: 7 Worst Anime Of 2022 That Did Not Meet Our Expectations: The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2, Futsal Boys!!!!! and More