This review may contain spoilers
Better than I expected it to be
I really had no expectations for this drama, and it turned out to be pretty good.The origin story on how the app was made was probably my favourite part and the highlight of the drama. The whole cast did amazing, but I want to applaud the actresses who played Kwon Siwon & Do Hyeryung, they did a phenomenal job and have a bright future. I actually started this drama mainly because of Kang Mina (Nari), so I was a bit disappointed with how her storyline wrapped up. It didn’t feel fully explained or resolved, which sucks because her character had a lot of emotional weight.
Another thing I couldn’t fully get behind was the love triangle. Like, I understand why Geonwoo likes Seah that one felt natural and built up, but Hajoon being in love with her? That kinda came out of left field. They didn’t really explore his feelings enough for it to feel believable, so it just ended up raising more questions than adding depth.
This drama would've benefited heavily if it had more episodes though. Like imagine a more in-depth story, could've been a top 5 drama for me this year but that's not the case. That said, despite all my confusion and unanswered questions, I still recommend this, especially if you like horror. The acting was solid, the pacing made it super bingeable, and it definitely kept me hooked. And that post credits scene?? Yeah, they’re clearly setting something up, so I really hope we get a season 2 to fill in all these gaps.
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great if you like thoughtful over fast-paced.
Just finished If Wishes Could Kill and honestly it’s such a slow burn but kinda worth it.The acting really carries it, especially the lead — super intense vibes.
Story’s interesting with the whole choices/consequences thing, though parts feel a bit cliché.
Not perfect, but I’d still recommend if you’re into darker, moody dramas.
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Kinda strange.
Overall, the show starts strong but towards the end its boring. Nothing great. 6/10
The backstory was interesting and good acting by the young actors.
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1Sometimes we don’t need answers to all questions - the unknown is what’s scary.
Peaked in episode 2, when it was all about survival. Started to dig a hole to die in in episode 5, crossed the path to the afterlife in episode 8, just to have an unnecessary resurrection comeback with after credits scene. Some things should stay dead, and this drama is one of them.I'm disappointed that I‘m disappointed. I loved the first four episodes when I knew nothing, the characters knew nothing, people were dying and almost dying and the fear of the unknown and unexplained was the horror of it all. But then they slowly started to explain the lore and the motivation of the ghosts and the supernatural and the origin of the app - it all became boring, leading to many illogical choices done by the characters. Making mistakes and making dumb decisions when you don’t know anything is passable. Making dumb decisions when you have a grasp of what is dumb and what is not is inexcusable.
And I’m not one to get annoyed by dumb characters in horror movies - this is literally the feature of the genre. If they were smart the plot would not happen. But there are limits to how dumb you can make the characters before it turns into comedy.
I found the truth of the app's origin underwhelming and ridiculous and not strong enough to have such a big impact in terms of supernatural consequences. Similarly they failed to give a proper motivation to one of the main antagonists of the drama - why were they doing what they were doing? Why does their reasoning change every few minutes? We all know - the plot needed it, so it happened.
Yoo Se A? One of the most boring characters in any horror. Matched with no personality Kim Geon U. They worked in their rom-com moments, I adored these, but anything outside of that was not quite delivered in terms of writing. I kept wishing they would switch the focus on literally any other character.
Preferably to Kang Ha Jun, Bang Ul and Haetsal - this is the trio I actually enjoyed the most. Do I want a second season? No. Do I want a spinoff of their supernatural investigations? Yes. Any scenes with these three were the best aspect of the whole plot and the show. They literally had the best dynamic and relationships. The skeptic that has a bad relationship with his sister who is a shaman, and her boyfriend that tries to make it all work.
And can we talk about Roh Jae Won as Bang Ul? The whole drama I more or less did not care about anyone’s safety, but his. The way Roh Jae Won was able to deliver solid comedy without breaking the tension of the horror - amazing performance.
What’s good? I guess the production. While the design of the ghosts and supernatural was not innovative at all and had that “catch a ghost” app vibe to it, it was delivered in a decent manner. The gore was good, the blood looked like blood and they did not shy from using a lot of it. What’s more, we did not see unreasonable fountains of blood from any wound that happened - yes, there was a lot, but in the realm of reality and possibility.
Overall, they overexplained it all. The best part of the horror genre is leaving some questions unanswered. With thrillers you want the mystery to be solved, with horrors you want to leave the ambiguity of explanation, because the unknown is what's scary.
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Binged and Entertained
When I watched this I didn't know what this was.My metric on how good a show is basically comes down to whether I binge it or not and this I binged. It ticks a lot of categories for me as a guy
1. Cute female actors
2. Not a focus on love and smooches
3. Action, Action and ACTION
4. Supernatural
5. Good ending
Now when I started watching this I thought the concept of an app called Girigo was stupid because well it's an app. I would have preferred maybe a Jumanji concept where they find some artifact but also the story isn't really about wishes to be frank like it starts off that way but it doesn't keep the wish notion throughout but the core is about the app so I guess it works out.
I found some parts with some plot holes but overall enjoyable series that wasn't keeping me on the edge of my seat but definitely was something I wanted to finish because I was entertained. I wish they actually killed way more people off in more gruesome ways and just went crazy.
The shaman stuff is what captivated me so my favourite is the adult actors because I would love a spinoff on just watching them do shaman stuff. I wanted way more of this too like Korean Shaman is awesome and I'm really into series like that which is why I loved Supernatural like I found it funny Korean Shaman's used salt which I think Chinese Toaist uses rice instead.
My only wish is a spinoff focused on the adult actors like whoever she is, she is BADASS and great looking.
In terms of character development I will say this and that is all the female characters were written so well like every female character I saw was captivating in their own ways. Even the annoying girls I knew their characters were written to be annoying which is why I was smiling at some points... won't spoil but yea take that b***hhhh.
The male characters just the adult one was written well like you can remove all the male actors and I won't miss a thing in this show.
Thus acting wise females dominated males and I can tell the direction or the way writers are these days that lean heavily towards female empowerment shows in their work because well they wrote the males so poorly.
Music, sound effects, ambience all well done like Korean cinematography is always on point with these.
I will end this and say if you can't step over some minor plot holes and one is a major logical flaw then skip it but if you into supernatural stuff this is a very fun watch. I'll also say not a bone in me was scared but then again I've never been scared of these things like I was binging this last night to 3AM all lights off and it was just good vibes.
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1A Wish For A Life : Would You Still Press The Button?
I honestly didn’t expect to finish this in one sitting, but I got so sucked into the mystery that I ended up binge watching it. "If Wishes Could Kill (Girigo)" is one of the best supernatural thrillers I’ve seen in a long time. If you’re looking for a drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you question human nature, this is the one.The plot is so unique and creepy. It’s about a group of high schoolers who find an app called "Girigo" that grants any wish you want. The catch? Once your wish comes true, you only have 24 hours left to live. It sounds simple, but the way the story unfolds is so intense. It’s not just about the horror; it’s about the secrets between friends, the desperation, and how far people will go when they’re pushed to a corner. The mystery behind who created the app and why it exists kept me guessing until the very last second.
The cast did an incredible job! Jeon So-young as Se-ah was so powerful, you can really feel her determination to save her friends. Kang Mi-na was also a standout; she played the popular girl Na-ri with so much depth, making her more than just a "pretty face." Even the guys, Baek Sun-ho and Hyun Woo-seok, were amazing. Their chemistry felt so real, which made it even more heartbreaking to watch them struggle against the clock. You can really feel their fear through the screen.
I planned to watch just one episode before bed, but the cliffhangers didn't let me! I ended up binging all 8 episodes in one go because I literally could not stop. The pacing is perfect, it doesn't drag at all and every episode adds something new to the mystery.
If you like dramas like All of Us Are Dead, Night Has Come, or Death's Game, you need to watch this immediately. It has that same high-stakes energy where you never know who is going to make it out alive It’s dark, emotional, and very psychological. It makes you think: Is your greatest desire worth your life? Do yourself a favor and go watch it right now. Just don’t blame me if you stay up all night like I did!
Overall if you are a fan of supernatural, horror genre with thrill, this one is a must watch!!!
[Note : This is just my personal opinion and rating. Everyone has different tastes, so if this isn't your type of drama, that's totally fine we don't all have to agree!]
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will there be a s2
The ending of the series was undeniably a cliffhanger, and I must say it left me both intrigued and frustrated. I absolutely loved the journey throughout the series, but the final moments raised so many questions that I just can't shake. The way the plot unfolded, with its intricate character arcs and thrilling twists, kept me on the edge of my seat. However, what was that ending all about? It felt like a rollercoaster ride that suddenly stopped right before the big finale.One detail that particularly caught my attention was the red in the guy's eyes. This seems to imply that the story is far from over. It has me wondering whether the threat posed by the girigo is still looming large. If there was ever a moment that screamed for a continuation, this was it! The tension built throughout the season suggests that the creators have left things purposefully unresolved, which can be quite maddening for viewers who are invested in the characters and their fates.
The series had done an excellent job of building its world and characters, each with their struggles and complexities. I found myself genuinely caring about what happened to them, and now the uncertainty about their future is almost unbearable. The unresolved issues and the potential for further conflict make it seem like there's no way the creators would leave it at this cliffhanger without planning for a second season.
I believe it's safe to say that fans like myself are eagerly awaiting news about Season 2. The promise of more twists, character development, and resolutions to the many open threads in the plot is something that I can’t wait for. It’s clear that there’s so much more to explore, and I truly hope the creators recognize that their audience is hungry for more. After such an intense build-up, it would be a disservice to leave the storyline hanging like this. Here’s hoping for a continuation that elaborates on these lingering questions!
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Be Careful What You Wish For!
this was an interesting watch!I feel like the drama had a killer concept (pun intended 🤣) and had the potential to be amazing, but it couldn’t really live up to its potential. it started off really strong, but somehow fell flat towards the middle/end.
I liked the underlying message of the drama, “your wishes have consequences, no matter how stupid or insignificant they may seem”. the mix of shamanism with modern technology was a great idea.
the acting was incredible. unfortunately, the same can’t be said about the characters. some of the characters were so one dimensional that you couldn’t care less if they died.
there were some things i found stupid or didnt like, but I didn’t find the drama as bad as some of these reviews made it out to be. overall, I think it was an interesting drama to binge on a Saturday night. I will probably be tuning in if they make a second season!
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The acting was good, but we can see the difference between the actings when the drama starts to tell the first 2 girls history, the diference in acting was massive, they nailed it. The best part of the drama for me.
I don't think i'm up for a S2 of this drama, because the ending teases, maybe, a loop of the original history... So probably people will get tired of it, but let's hope for the best.
7/10 ⭐
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This review may contain spoilers
This should be talked about more!
I watched the trailer for this and thought it looked interesting, but omg this blew my expectations out of the water! Absolutely loved it! It was so different than I thought it was going to be in the best way. The characters were actually smart and enjoyable to watch, no time was wasted with things being dragged out, everything was answered...I just loved it. The actors all did an amazing job as well!The show is super violent and could definitely be triggering for some. If Selfh*rm is one of your triggers, I would not recommend watching this. The show doesn't hold back on its gore aspect.
Characters:
Se A-An absolute baddie of a main character. She was so cool. She was caring, lovable, and so brave. I loved watching her. Her relationship with her friends showed how much she cares about them all. Her relationship with Geon U was so sweet. You could really feel how much they truly loved each other. I loved her chemistry with Ha Jun too I can't lie.
Geon U-Again you could see just how much he truly loved Se A and cared for his friends. He was such an adorable guy! Just had the cutest and sweetest personality. I was very happy he didn't die in the beginning of the season after he made his wish lol
Ha Jun-I think he was my favorite character to be honest. He was so smart, sweet, caring, and I just loved whenever he was on screen. I love that even though he liked Se A and had many opportunities to try to make a move on her (like when they were really close to each other in the circle) he still didn't. He didn't push any boundaries, didn't cross the line, and stayed as just a caring friend the entire time. I thought that was so respectful and quite different for a series since they were kind of a love triangle. Depends on who you ask really. I loved seeing his relationship with his brother-in-law develop too.
Na Ri-I didn't trust her from the very beginning to be honest. Her vibes were just off, and I wasn't shocked when she started shit talking her friends and even tried stealing Geon U. She was just a bad person through and through. I've seen some theories that people think she could be the next person to haunt the phone and I wouldn't be shocked at that at all.
Hyeong Uk-Even though we barely saw his character, I felt so bad for him! He didn't deserve what happened to him at all. I'm glad him and Se A were able to talk at his house before he died because I felt like it cleared up some insecurities about his friends for him. Man needed a big hug!
Bang Ui-Loved him!!! He was so funny and really brought some good comedic moments to the show. I absolutely adored him trying to get close to Ha Jun! So cute! Very glad he didn't die either because I was so worried he would. I would love another season to see more of how his power works but it's cool either way.
Ha Yeong-A true baddie! I loved her! She was so brave and was the true GOAT of the season!! I do wish they expanded a bit more on why her and brother didn't seem super close, but that's ok.
Si Won-This mf. An awful friend and an even worse person. You could tell she was shady right away and it just got worse and worse. She deserved an awful fate and I'm glad she got one. I wasn't shocked when she was the one haunting the phone rather than Hye Ryeong just because of the type of person she was.
Hye Ryeong-This poor girl!! Someone give her a hug too! I felt so bad for her over and over again. By the end I couldn't even blame her for her wish at all. Everyone was so awful to her, especially Si Won who was supposed to be her best friend. I was so angry for her. Sweet girl didn't deserve any of that.
I just loved this show so much. The plot was so well thought out. It was creepy and horrifying. I really had no issues with it all. Very easy to binge as well. I don't know if it's getting a season two, I don't think it is, but whether it does or not I loved it. I think it ended in a way that's fine to leave it where it is or could continue on. Highly recommend!
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dud
it started off with a good shock factor then went downhill. the main fl was consistently irritating from start to finish. i was naturally pessimistic they weren't going to accomplish a lot before the end, and as soon as main fl started doing everything her guide said not to, i completely lost faith in her. plus the 'my friend's still in there' vibes and calling friend's name when she clearly checked out got on my nerves. writing didn't do a lot to help you get attached to the rest of the main group on top of that, but i did appreciate geon woo not being dumb when it counted. it took everyone else way too long to shift gears for me.... entire drama gave me anxiety just from wanting it to be over sooner. only people ready to do their job was the big sister and her right hand man. 2/10 if i'm being honest. for an occult type drama, it didn't really do anything refreshing or new. you won't miss out if you skip it.Was this review helpful to you?
Started strong, then just dropped completely.
Alright, I went into If Wishes Could Kill with the kind of optimism you reserve for a fresh mango at peak ripeness. You know the feeling. You’re already mentally tasting it before you even cut it open. Eight episodes? Easy binge. Supernatural horror? My nonsense tolerance is high. I am ready to forgive things if the vibe hits. This drama looked me straight in the eye and said, “I will waste your time efficiently.” And to its credit, it absolutely delivered on that promise. We finished it in a day. Not because it was good. Because it felt like ripping off a bandage you accidentally glued to your skin.The first couple of episodes? Not bad. There was a setup. There was intrigue. There was even a faint whisper of atmosphere trying to form, like the show briefly remembered what good Asian horror feels like. You know the kind, where dread creeps in through silence, where negative space does the heavy lifting, where your brain fills in the horror before the screen even shows it. That delicate tension? Gone by episode three. Fully evicted. What replaced it was a chaotic parade of “boo!” moments like the show discovered jump scares and decided to build an entire identity around them.
And look, jump scares are fine. They’re seasoning, not the whole meal. This show took the salt shaker, unscrewed the cap, and dumped it directly into your mouth. Every time tension tried to build, it got interrupted by another loud noise and a ghost popping into frame like it missed its cue in a haunted house attraction. At some point, I stopped reacting. I wasn’t scared. I wasn’t tense. I was mildly annoyed, like someone repeatedly tapping my shoulder while I’m trying to watch something better.
What hurts more is the wasted potential. There are ideas here that could have worked. The premise has teeth. The early tone hinted at something unsettling, something that could linger. Instead, the story starts unraveling at an impressive speed, like it actively resents coherence. Characters make decisions that feel less like human behavior and more like the writer throwing darts at a board labeled “plot progression.” Emotional beats land with the impact of a wet paper towel. You can see where the story wants you to feel something, but it never earns it.
And the horror logic. Oh, the horror logic. I give supernatural stories a wide pass. You want to bend rules? Fine. You want ghosts operating on vibes instead of physics? Sure. But at least stay consistent within your own nonsense. This drama treats its own rules like optional suggestions. Things happen because the script needs them to happen, not because they make sense within the world. It turns tension into confusion, and confusion into apathy. Once you stop trying to understand, the show becomes background noise with occasional loud interruptions.
By the second half, it stops even pretending. Plot threads get dropped, character motivations evaporate, and what’s left feels like a speedrun to the ending. Not a satisfying sprint, more like someone tripping over the finish line and calling it a victory. You sit there thinking, “Wait, that’s it?” Not in a shocked way. In a “you’ve got to be kidding me” way.
And the biggest crime? It completely ignores what makes Asian horror shine. The genre thrives on restraint. On what you don’t see. On that slow, creeping unease that settles into your bones. This show replaces all of that with noise and cheap tricks. It’s like watching someone try to recreate a haunting melody using only a car horn.
So yeah, if you need a quick horror fix and your standards are currently on vacation, this will fill the time. It’s short. It moves fast. It ends before you have too much time to process how little it gave you. But if you were hoping for something atmospheric, something smart, something that respects your brain even a little bit, this ain’t it.
I went in expecting a carefully ripened mango. I got one that looked perfect on the outside and turned out mushy and overripe the second I cut into it. Technically edible. Deeply disappointing. If your alternative is staring at a wall or scheduling a root canal, sure, queue it up. Otherwise, your time deserves better.
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