For Whom The Bell Tolls
What happens between Park Jin and Maidservant Kim?
In this season finale, Park Jin and Maidservant Kim walk hand in hand. Park Jin reveals that he will look for an exact house for her on her wedding day and will gift it to her on that day. He brings up how Master Lee is clearly her suitor but Kim is incredulous over how foolish the leader is being.
“You’re the one I have feelings for!” She blurts out, as Park Jin is shocked that he missed this. Park Jin tries to right these wrongs but Kim rushes away, the word “lovingly” echoing in his mind.
Jang-Uk tells Kim that he has found a new wife and she is shocked. He then reveals that his bride will be Mu-Deok, who is also a famous singer. As they discuss their future, Kim is in shock and bites her handkerchief to stop from crying.
Lady Heo has made peace with the idea that Jang-Uk is with Mu-Deok, believing she never really had a chance next to her.
What does Jin-Mu intend to do next?
Meanwhile, Jin-Mu continues to scheme, trying to convince the Crown Prince to team up with him. The Prince is quick to point out that Jang-Uk has lost all of his power and that, coupled with public opinion swinging toward him being the one to conjure the King’s Star, means he’ll politely decline. That is, until the slippery mage tells him that Jang-Uk could well be hiding his power. ..
Jin-Mu has tasked those in Cheonbugwan with bringing him the Queen’s soul potions and the divination bells. Now, the latter actually belonged to Shaman Choi and could well be instrumental in Jin-Mu’s final gamble. He intends to make the soul shifters go on a rampage by ringing the bells. In doing so, this would essentially make Jang-Uk’s power with the ice stone come forth.
Woo-Tak waits for Ho-Gyeong to awaken, who’s actually still alive after stabbing himself in the gut last episode. She’s not exactly in the forgiving mood and tells him she hopes he’s in agony after what he’s done to their family. Tears silently fall from Woo-Tak’s face.
Does Jin-Mu learn the truth about Mu-Deok’s identity?
Yul is still experiencing pain, even though the root cause has been identified. The blood parasite that So-I put inside him is to blame. So-I is worried about Yul and decides to talk to him about taking the medicine in Jinyowon to relieve his pain. ..
Meanwhile, Park Jin stops by to see Maidservant Kim before she leaves, offering his hand – and some seeds – as a gesture that he’s willing to wait with her. Kim gladly holds his hand and decides to “walk at his pace” going forward, solidifying the pair’s blossoming romance. Master Lee watches from afar and decides to leave them be. Unfortunately, he ends up crying his eyes out as a result, heartbroken over these turn of events.
Park Jin realizes that Jin-Mu knows all about Jang Gang’s past and decides the only solution is to have him killed. Of course, we know that he’s about to launch a diabolical plan to thwart the upcoming wedding. Not only that but Jin-Mu starts to put all the pieces together and realizes that Mu-Deok is actually Naksu. Will Mu-Deok succumb to the bells and run wild? ..
Meanwhile, Ho-Gyeong confronts So-I after her lies. So-I contemplates killing her but Ho-Gyeong uses the blindfold as a way of keeping herself alive, refusing to tell her where Bu-Yeon is until she’s guaranteed her own safety. For now, she gets away. So-I eventually smuggles the medicine to Yul to help him with his pain. ..
Does the Crown Prince work with Jin-Mu?
On the eve of Dang-Gu’s big wedding, the Crown Prince tells Mu-Deok exactly what he thinks of her, leaving things on a rather sour note after hoping that she and Jang-Uk leave far away so he can’t manifest his ill feelings toward them. Unfortunately, Jin-Mu uses this to his advantage and encourages the Crown Prince to make Jang-Uk hit rock bottom.
The wedding goes ahead, but there are still hostilities between Ho-Gyeong and Park Jin. Mu-Deok is nowhere to be found either, given she’s fallen under the influence of Jin-Mu’s sorcery. Unfortunately, she kills a number of sorcerers guarding Woo-Tak before going after the main man.
Cho-yeon arrives at the wedding dressed for the occasion, but she can’t stop Mu-Deok from killing Woo-Tak. The assassin is too powerful. Dang-Gu tries to intervene, but it’s too late - Mu-Deok kills Woo-Tak, this time properly. ..
Does Mu-Deok go on a murderous rampage?
Jin-Mu, a mage who has the power to speak to the dead, warns Mu-Deok that Naksu, a powerful mage, is on the rampage and that she must stop him. Naksu effortlessly takes out a number of mages with his magic, demonstrating his immense power. ..
Park Jin shows with his bow and fires a magical arrow her way. Jang Uk steps up and stop the blow. Park Jin moves it at the last second but Jang Uk opens himself up for Mu-Deok stabbing him through the gut.
Does Jang-Uk die?
Jang-Uk begs Mu-Deok to snap out of her trance, but it seems to do nothing. She’s shocked when she realizes what’s happened. This was foreshadowed in the last episode, but it still feels heartbreaking to see it play out in real life.
Jang-Uk is brought to the secret room where Jin-mu uses it to his advantage, pleading with the king to punish Songrim for this.
As the police are trying to figure out who killed Mu-Deok, and as the other gangs are after Ho-Gyeong, she decides to try and find him herself. However, the police are also after her too, so it really is coming right down to the wire.
How does Alchemy of Souls season 1 end?
As we know, Jang-Uk is the King’s Star and as the pyre burns in the courtyard, the fire suddenly turns blue and rages on. Out from the fire steps Jang-Uk! He’s okay after all! Master Lee is there to watch this too as he knows that this isn’t Jang-Uk’s time to die. Our protagonist walks purposefully out from the smouldering ruins.
Jin-Mu is convinced that she’s going to die jumping off the cliff, but her hands are grabbed and pulled back up. She realizes that this is her chance to meet her death and decides to take it.
This show is returning later this year, and we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
The Episode Review
The finale of “Jin-Mu” largely wraps up the show’s main plotline from last episode, with a new threat emerging in the form of Mu-Deok being influenced by the bells and being controlled by Jin-Mu. This development could set up an exciting second season for the series. ..
Speaking of which, if Bu-Yeon is supposed to be this powerful sorceress, shouldn’t she have interfered with the whole bells malarkey? For me, it’s a little contrived and works to basically set up a second season. To be fair though, the story could have been wrapped up in episode 19, which felt like a natural conclusion. In many ways, this chapter is basically like the opening chapter to season 2! ..
The issue with Jin-Mu and the royal family is that he’s managed to weasel his way into the throne room and is influencing them. That’s a little contrived, because shouldn’t the queen absolutely despise Jin-Mu by this point? Why is she accepting of what he’s saying? Now, it could well be that the king punishes Songrim for what’s happened and this plays right into the hands of Jin-Mu.
The cliffhanger ending to “Running Man” left many fans on the edge of their seats. We know that there’s going to be another season and all the drama that will happen in between will make for a great show.
This first season of Netflix’s hit series “House of Cards” has been a great watch and the mix of romance, fantasy and drama has certainly made it another hit. Will the follow-up be as good? We’ll have to wait and see.
