@missvictrix Good plan to open a space to discuss this as things are blowing up and with a week of no episodes it’s the ideal time. I am not watching this drama but was tempted to start when I saw the recap chat 2 comments away from 400 this week!

Frankly, I'm not bothered with the actress replacement. What I'm bothered with is the question 'So what happens to Naksu? How will they resolve the soul mixing?' The thought that this replacement spells impending volatile rollercoaster endings for our characters...I'm invested in the characters and I just don't want to think about it, and just enjoy the ride.
If they introduced us to how great Buyeon is and all that daebak! moments and just off her, just like that...damn! I will be pissed.

But why won't Jung So-min be returning? Season 2 better has something extremely solid planned for Naksu, and Naksu to be back as Naksu. It's also going to get really serious and solemn. It's going to be hard seeing Go Yoon-jung carry that sarcastic Mu-deokie look Jung So-min gave us for 20 episodes.

I'm really going to miss her banters with the characters...and her banters with CP Won. It's been a while we had such a relationship between different social classes...but oh!, it's gonna be snuffed out as well.

Perhaps as I read more comments, more rantings will come into my head. But I just want to enjoy AoS without the news🙈.

Go Yoon-jung was in Law School right?
Then easy done, just replace the rest of the current Alchemy of Souls cast with that of the Law School cast. Now I would definitely watch that!

Personally, I don't really care 😅

Naksu is the female lead, not Jin Bu Yeon. Even it it's her body, she didn't really intervene in the present story except to save Uk from the soul exchange. But nobody looks to know it was her (if it was her). They don't really seem to share the body, it looks more like she was in a realm of souls and not in the body too, and acts only at some moments.

So I think it would be great for Naksu if she can get back her body, now how? They burned it.

I'm not so invested in the characters or the actors. I don't find the chemistry between JSM and LJW great, so the change won't affect me. But for people who are invested in the couple by these actors, it's a big change to accept and not sure it's a good idea. The actors will get only 10 episodes to make the public forget about JSM...

I'm trying to make peace with changes I cannot control while cultivating a sense of calm, anticipation of an ending that falls somewhere in between amazing epicness and crash landing, and a willingness to go with the flow and enjoy whatever parts I can.

Ah, who am I kidding? This will be a flaming wreck. I will yell and throw popcorn at the screen and rant all over the comments here. The best I can hope for is a coherent tragic ending to Part 1 that leaves no temptation to watch Part 2 if it turns out to be some dumb melo spinoff.

Everytime there is a Hong Sister project, there is always something dramatic happening behind the scenes.

I avoid their work because there has not been one series where I have made it past episode 2 of.

🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

The Hong Sisters have had a history of casting lesser known talent in their shows. Jung So-min herself was a replacement for the original cast actress, Park Hye-eun, who only had two credits before joining the show's pre-production. When she withdrew, it was said she did so because she felt she could not handle the burden of being the lead actress in high profile series.

But with the later reveal that the show is actually 20 + 10 episodes, an actress could be offended that she would not play the lead to the very end (i.e. killing her off in part one). I suspect JSM accepted that her character Mu-deok would not be in part two. I am not bothered by that if that is what the actor signed up for.

What may be more baffling is why the writers did not give JSM more to do with her character. It may seem to some that Mu deok was merely a placeholder until the return of Naksu. The foreshadowing implies that Mu deok and Naksu cannot act together in the same scenes. But I do look forward to Naksu's epic fight scenes.

I love Jung So-Min in general and in this role in particular, but my understanding is that season 2 is side/back stories. As such it makes perfect sense that we would see Naksu in her original body. I'm more concerned that Season 2 is just going to filler, randomness than about the actress change.

I mostly hope that they reach a satisfying end with this one. I'm disappointed that they haven't let this Naksu consciously channel any power this deep into the season.

As a longtime drama watcher, I have learned to be wary of dramas with body-switching as a plot device. Things always get weird at the end. If two actors had amazing chemistry, and then one half of the couple is replaced with a totally different actor, it just feels icky. I'm thinking of 49 Days and Big. I actually quite like JSM in this role, but I am trying to keep an open mind.

It's an interesting one. I can't see how a prequel/side drama about Naksu would be planned so far ahead, was everyone so certain they had a hit on their hands? Well done if they did, I would have thought it was far from certain. My only conclusion is that they resurrect Naksu for the final 10 episodes and that's it's a continuation of the story. They need to be very confident about their drama though to dispatch with the female lead. We can think about how they conjure up a body for Naksu on another thread, but I don't necessarily want to see BY/MD meet a bad end either.
It isn't filling me with confidence that they are taking a hiatus for a week either, it reeks of 'I'm stuck and don't know which way to go with this...'

In terms of the story, it may well make sense and I’m fine with that. But I’m worried changing actresses will lose all the momentum we’ve gained.
Also it might lack coherence - it’s so hard to play a character who someone else has already set up. Go Yoon-Jung is going to have to work really hard to get the expressions, style, slyness and banter of JSM’s Naksu - and I don’t know if she’s got the talent / experience…

I wanted to keep Go Yoon-jung from the start, so I'm totally okay with it. I don't really care for Jung So-min in the role or think she has much chem with LJW. I don't know if GYJ will either, but I'm hoping they focus more on action than romance in Part 2.

I love Jung Somin BUT I hate it when movies/dramas change the story to have a famous or your fave actor to appear on the screen again when you know that their parts ended (FOR EXAMPLE: Big's ending ruined the whole drama for me cuz the PD insisted to have Gong Yoo in the last scene instead of a lesser known rookie actor).

So I'm all for it. I'm curious as to how the story will play out since Naksu's body supposedly was burnt. And I'm looking forward to Go Yoon Jung playing a lead role for the first time.

WAIT ITS BEEN CONFIRMED??????? no way where was I when it dropped????

Personally, I would have to see how they handle the change in the story. As it is a HUGE factor in the show, they could nail it or fk it up badly.
For the context of the story, it would make sense if the FL is changed as initially it was about Naksu, who is played by an entirely diff actress (no hate she looks awesome as shit) but due to the soul shifting, ended up as MD yet it is still Naksu who is inside her. Naksu who is the skilled assassin who mastered magic, Naksu who fell for Uk, Naksu who is going through everything rn.
Throughout my time watching the show, I always wondered if we would get to see Naksu again as she looked amazing at the start and I wanted more of her. There is the matter of her burnt body and the question, who Uk fell for, MD or Naksu.

There are so many factors to this and I'm just hoping they would be executed well.

I started watching Alchemy because I like JSM as an actress, and I like her in this role. That said, I was hooked after the second episode because the development of the story looked like this drama could be epic, and LJW is hilarious and extremely likeable as JU. As for the story, up to and including episode 14, I think it’s flawless. I feel uneasy about the change in FL, which probably fuelled my need to get to the end ASAP (the hiatus is a little frustrating but no choice), however, I’d really like to see the drama as the writers intended, for both seasons. My end game though, if I’m not convinced by the ending of Season 1, whether or not they keep JSM and she ends up in Season 2 (they have publicised that they can’t reveal if she’s in S2 as it will ruin the plot for S1 - I can respect that), I won’t continue watching. The story has to make sense with all the plot and subplots, the innuendo, the character development and developing relationships – all of it has to be cohesive. I’m interested to see how they bring back GYJ as Naksu since her body was burned but if S2 is a prequel, then why reveal the background in this series? Further, I agree with those that the chemistry between LJW and JSM comes off as awkward sometimes but how does he consciously switch his affections from MD/Master to Naksu? He barely acknowledges Naksu, except to tell MD that she used to be a skilled assassin. And what happens to BY? Is she really just a body full of energy that Naksu can access unconsciously, and that the soul of BY doesn’t exist? [NOTE: even that’s contentious – two souls sharing one body…hmmmm]. I’m confident all the subplots will culminate to a satisfying ending but…we’ll see.

I'm really bummed unless part 2 is a prequel or a romance-less story. I know Cho Yeong (Naksu's birth name) is Cho Yeong no matter what body...it would have worked for me if it was a book or webtoon, but visually on tv, I can't see Wook romancing someone with a different body and having the exact same dynamic. I hope the main story - take down Jin Mu and ice stone and avenge Cho Yeong- finishes at episode 20 and the 10 episodes.

Maybe Cho Yeong dies a heroic death after avenging her father (my guess is that kdramas won't let assassins live a happily ever for some awkward moral reasons; her victims were not straight-cut bad guys), and part 2 is of Bu-yeon who managed to revive and take over Naksu's body and destroy the ice stone. This would prevent Go Yoon-jung from having to replicate JSM's performance. It seems unfair to set up a new actress like that.

Isn't it ironic that in body-swapping dramas, people are always unhappy because the hero/heroine ends up with the body despite the fact that he/she loves the soul (Big, Oh My Ghostess, Mr. Queen), and now Alchemy of Souls is giving us that ending, yet people are still unhappy?

I hate mid-season actor replacements, including ones who were kicked out for committing a crime, because it ruins the immersion for me. I'm attached to Jung So-min's Mu-deok, who is the only Mu-deok that we know, but if there is one pro of this change, Jung So-min has no romantic chemistry with Wook, so hopefully Go Youn-jung will. She does have romantic chemistry with Yul, and I can see her character following him to Seoho Fortress, but I would riot if Yul were also written off the show. Even if Jung So-min plays Bu-yeon, it wouldn't be the same.

Personally, I don't think this drama needs to be 30 episodes. It didn't even need to be 20 episodes.

I like Jung so min and I like what we saw with OG Naksu. It will be awkward sure but we will see. I have one thing to say though. This transition would have been better if Naksu had a lot of flashbacks. We have only seen about five minutes of her OG BODY in total. How are we supposed to get used to her?

Storywise, it makes sense. I don't mind that Jung So Min will not be back. I love the actress so I say that wth all good will. In terms of the story its a spoiler on what will happen with Naksu and Mudeok/BuYeon. I just want the writers to resolve the FL's story well.

Personally I hope we get to see the OG Naksu WITH Uk in the next season. JSM's performance just doesn't work for me, and it is glaringly obvious she doesn't have chemistry with LJW. The kissing scene was not it. It felt like we were propelled back to the old dead fish kiss days. That was the last straw for me.

I really hope if we get GYJ in season 2 she has chemistry with LJW because that guy is trying his best to romance his female lead but there is nothing for now.

Naksu needs to be back in her body. Right now Naksu is pretending to be someone else to avoid detection and be killed again!

Jin Buyeon needs her body back and she needs justice to the great injustice that half-brother of her mother has done to her.

Also I hope Jung Somin is still is AOS. Coz she need to be Jin Buyeon!

If all that I'm speculating is actually intentional then this is a good strategy. By that I mean the lack of romantic chemistry between the leads(not the acting compatibility JSM is great with everyone) and the leak of the FL changing earlier.

I wasn't happy with the news at first but now wherever the story is going, it does make sense. I'm more prepared for the change now. Leaving crumbs before rather than exploding the news, may have worked for some but still spoils the show. Plus, the lack of romantic chemistry could be totally intentional so that we can see Uk with another FL.

I'm siding with the script and the writers. Many elemnts have been unpredictable in the show so I'm hoping the HS are prepared.

Personally I am rolling with it. I remember being disappointed during the first episode when she switched bodies, but I learnt to love our mu doek. I'm sure the ending will not be good though. I cannot for the life of me list five korean dramas with good endings.

I can think of a lot of levels to be concerned about a change in any lead actor part way through a story. It's not an easy thing but it is also not wholly unexpected in a story about soul-switching. (And a story that seems to acknowledge that both the body and the soul involved have an impact on the overall power and person's experience)
- Some might be concerned because they really really enjoy JSM's performance or feel a great deal of loyalty to her because they are fans. I will miss her version of MuDeokie and even if you don't like every part of it any change is going to feel jarring. But shouldn't both the audience and characters feel jarred by a soul-swap? We get used to things one way, we think our eyes are telling us what is real and then they aren't...
- It means something complicated plot wise. How does a burned body come back? What huge things are going to happen at the end of these 20 eps? (I am not super worried because the Ice Stone already brought BuYeon to life after being in the womb for over a year and her mother was pretty sure she was dead. I can't imagine having to be pregnant for that long, 2 weeks overdue was long enough! We haven't seen anything as dramatic as a totally burned body being brought back but considering the news has been rumoured for awhile I think it's been part of the plan.)
- My biggest worry is that no matter the actors, playing the same character as another actor in the same story is incredibly HARD (this is not just playing your version of Hamlet and not getting bogged down in another actor's style, this is sharing a role in a continuous story, you have to mimic each other. Hard stuff, I've tried.) So much about communication and acting are about those little facial ticks, the body language, the way you walk, use your eyes and mouth.... And Naksu has changed as a person (even if people miss the badass from first eps, I really hope no character stays exactly the same as the first time we see them) so I hope some of the mannerisms and interplay that have been built in many episodes of interaction are preserved. It can certainly be done. I wonder if any of you are old enough or dorky enough to remember Face Off with John Travola and Nicolas Cage? The two actors did a remarkable job in moving and talking in totally different ways, basically doing and impression of each other, to show which person was which even when they swapped. It's tough but I will remain open minded that it can be done. And we've seen how the body language changed when the old King swapped with Jang Gang or that elderly conspirator stole his apprentice's body. They showed that a new soul was in town by the way they used their face and voice.
A change in actor shouldn't mean a totally different set of mannerisms and ways of moving or subconsciously it will not feel continuous. (Please please don't let there be some dramatic time jump too....) And chemistry is so hard to quantify and reproduce...

I get attached to characters and so I am sad if Jung so min is not in season 2. But, the story belongs to the writers, it's their baby, not mine. I am curious to see how their imaginations wrap this drama up. I guess I would be pleased if Jang uk accepts the physical change in Naksu/MuDuek no matter which woman plays the character. The thing I do not want is for Jang uk to put his powers to evil. So even if Jung So min is gone from season 2, I will accept it (sadly).

K-dramas, with the exception of weekend soap operas, weren't traditionally designed to be multi-season. Multi-season attempts have ranged from lackluster (Hospital Playlist, Yumi's Cells 2) to disastrous (Mystery Queen, Vampire Detective). I expect actor schedules are also not typically set up for multi-seasons, either. Jung So-min has a movie coming out in September!

I would have really hoped to see So-Min playing Bu-yeon in S2. Imagine the hijinks where Mu-deok is no longer the same person we, and the main characters, have spent most of season 1 with. I refuse to think of the story implications behind JSM not being cast for S2. She was too precious and played a huge part behind the cast's amazing chemistry. Though tbh, one possibility I can imagine is Bu-yeon sa sacrificing herself. But that would mean Cho-yeon and Dang-gu not getting their happy ending! Ugh. Why did ever announce the casting for S2 way ahead of time? Dunno if this is working for them or against them. 😅😔

thank you for this space...this is the only show i have been watching regularly as it airs but this news was so weird...at this moment, i'm invested into this show, but didn't really know there was second season planned or a different FL later will take lead....i just hope i still continue to enjoy else what a waste for me since my drama completion rate is already so low, but what i watch till the end are shows that were enjoyable to watch for me.

This hasn't been officially confirmed though? There were just rumours like a month ago that Go Yoon Jung is the lead in season 2 and then they officially made a statement saying they can't comment on the second season because that would spoil the first season's finale.
So I don't get how you can say it has been confirmed.
What am I missing?

Hmmm...seems my gut-feeling to drop this one early was correct - at least for me, personally. Meanwhile, I will heed the advice of those who say to always check who the writers are before deciding to invest time and emotion into a show.

Bruh, first, I wanna say that I was never planning on watching another romancy k-drama. It's all thanks to ya'll beanies obsessing over this drama that I caved (plus, the cast); so THANKS. Or maybe it was when I saw the next season's announcement that my resolve broke and I rushed to binge it.

I may be in the minority but I love Go Yoon-Jung. She's a lesser known actress but I have been looking forward to seeing her in a bigger role. I really liked her small role in He is Psychometric. Something about it showcased her genuine acting talent. So as much as I love Jung So-min, I am looking forward to Yoon-Jung reprising her role as Naksu. It's just fitting.

I just wish that Jung So-min would continue to be Jin Bu-Yeon! It would be insane to not see her in the next season after Jin Bu-Yeon's epicness was so hyped this season. Jung So-Min's presence would appease our sorrows in a sense by providing a seamless transition into where and why she changed roles. Gahhh

I have yet to watch it but if the show is interesting and the replacement is happening with a logical reason (the body swap in this case), I will not mind it. As much as I like Jung So Min, I watch a Hong Sister Drama for Hong Sisters. (Whatever they chose to do with this faith in each show is a different matter)