Netflix’s best original fantasy series, Alchemy of Souls, is a must-watch for fans of Merlin

polygon.com:

A fictional world where illegal magic allows people to switch bodies. A powerful sorceress, trained from a young age to be an assassin. A young man with untapped magical ability, kept from the truth of his great but dangerous destiny. Sounds like a good setup, right? It is. And it exists on Netflix in the form of Alchemy of Souls, a two-season Korean drama that concluded its epic tale in January. The fantasy romance was watched by millions across the planet, but never quite got the attention it warranted in the United States… until now. You’re welcome in advance for introducing you to your new favorite show.

In the modern media era, it’s rare to find a big-budget story that isn’t based on a preexisting IP. This is as true in the Korean TV industry as it is in American media, as many wonderful K-dramas are based on popular webtoons. Don’t get me wrong — the adaptation process has brought me some of my favorite fantasy TV shows of all time (The Magicians, Merlin, The Untamed), and some of the best K-dramas of the past few years (All of Us Are Dead, Hellbound, Yumi’s Cells). But there’s something to be said for a story that doesn’t follow an already established plot, setting, and cast of characters. At the very least, the creative team — from the writers and director to the cast and costume designer — has a full sense of ownership that allows them to make choices outside of the limitations of canon. And, from a viewer’s perspective, anything could happen, adding an extra layer of tension and excitement.

Alchemy of Souls comes from the minds of the Hong sisters, the iconic sibling writing team known for hits like Hotel del Luna (starring Broker’s IU) and My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox. The Netflix K-drama follows the