The FL is honestly very annoying. The way she constantly pushing ML to do something he is not interested is frustrating to watch. None of it comes across as cute or endearing, it just feels forced, even though its obvious the director intended it to be charming.
And then there is the sleepwalking scene where she calls him thinking he is her mom…. it feels like it was added just to create sympathy in the ML’s heart so he would soften toward her. Thats such a cliche, "typical damsel in distress calling the knight in shining armor" behavior pushed by the director.
Also, whats with kdramas never showing normal parents for both leads?? Most of the time, the parents are either dead, absent, remarried, toxic or overly controlling. Its rare to see a stable, healthy family dynamic. It actually makes me wonder whether korean kids have normal parents or not.
Tbh I don't really understand what happened in the past when Kwon Siwon's mom suddenly attacked by some evil spirit?…
KSW was angry with her mother, went home and destroyed all the shamanism related setup. This provoked the evil spirit (or whatever it was) & that evil spirit nearly killed her. In desperation, her mother begged the spirit to spare KSW and offered herself to be punished instead. She then entrusted DHR with an talisman, asking her to deliver it to KSW secretly. However, DHR was caught and KSW ended up tearing the talisman, after which everything spiraled out of control.
If Wishes Could Kill was really engaging watch, there wasnt a single dull moment from start to finish. It leans heavily into the teen horror thriller genre, packed with ghosts, shamanism elements and a consistently eerie atmosphere. There is lots of violence, gore and blood, along with really creepy background atmosphere.
The production does feel somewhat low budget, giving off more of a TVING or Wavve style drama vibe rather than a high budget Netflix original but honestly, it works in its favor and doesnt take away from the impact.
All the rookie teen actors, whom i hadnt seen before, delivered solid performances. Even the ghost backstory, which takes up the entirety of E6, was very engaging. The drama is short and to the point, never letting you get bored.
Just finished last episode and honestly, it felt like such a long journey. It started off really strong and pulled me in right away but the middle portion dragged a lot. After E24, it became so filled with unnecessary filler that watching it started to feel exhausting, i genuinely wished they would just wrap it up sooner.
Thankfully, things picked up again toward the end. From E34-35 onward, the drama regained its momentum and the final stretch especially the express package episodes 36-40, felt much closer to the quality and energy of the beginning. E38 was my fav, it had the perfect mix of emotions, action and intensity.
The original ending in E40 was more of a sad, open conclusion but they added a short 6 min extra episode to give it a happier closure, where He Simu becomes mortal and lives peacefully with Duan Xu.
In terms of production, the drama was quite good. The visuals were beautiful, bgms and OSTs were very pleasing and the actors delivered good performances with great chemistry between the leads. However, the biggest issue was its length, it simply didnt need that many episodes. The excessive filler in the middle really hurt the pacing and made the experience feel dragged out.
Another major drawback was how the story kept jumping between different arcs. The initial mortal world arc was engaging and i found myself getting attached to several characters. But just as that connection started to build, the story abruptly shifted to the void world. While the fantasy visuals and action sequences there were interesting in void, i still found myself missing the earlier characters and storyline. Then, when Duan Xu returned to the mortal world, the narrative slowed down again and became less engaging, especially with the introduction of many new characters after E24. The constant shifting between arcs without properly developing or concluding them made the story feel disjointed.
Overall, the drama had a lot of potential and strong elements but it was weighed down by poor pacing and excessive filler. If it had been trimmed down to around 24 episodes, it could have been a much tighter and more engaging watch.
In the end, i would rate it 8/10 mainly because the final few episodes redeemed it to some extent. Otherwise, it would have easily been closer to a 7.5/10.
Oh man, i loved this series. I loved the main trash couple, i loved how both of them were equally bad and matched with main villain's freak. I usually dislike goody two shoes lead characters in thrillers, especially when the villains are extremely evil but here i really liked both leads because they were just as flawed. If anything, they felt more realistic compared to leads from other thrillers who always stick to a moral compass no matter how bad the situation gets.
I loved how both leads were ambitious and greedy for what they wanted. In the end, they achieved what they desired but not without suffering. Even after getting everything, they are still suffering so its not like their bad karma goes unnoticed.
Also, Sang Ah might be a lesbian and is in love with Jeong Won but ngl she and Tae Seop feel made for each other.
It ended on a cliffhanger and i really wish there is a second season.
Do I need to watch season 1 and 2? I don't wanna deal with breakups...
For S3, you dont need to watch the first 2 seasons because this one feels like an independent show. However S1 and 2 are closely connected, as they have the same cast and a continuous storyline. This season begins after 3 yr break and offers a fresh start with a completely new cast and story, while retaining the original FL and focusing on her next journey. That wasnt the case with S2, as it was directly connected to S1.
Guys, do I need to watch the first 2 seasons? Or I can just start with this?
For S3, you dont need to watch the first 2 seasons because this one feels like an independent show. However S1 and 2 are closely connected, as they have the same cast and a continuous storyline. This season begins after 3 yr break and offers a fresh start with a completely new cast and story, while retaining the original FL and focusing on her next journey. That wasnt the case with S2, as it was directly connected to S1.
I welcome this decision of the chinese govt. Tbh i hve often found the makeup in cdramas quite distracting, whether its on female or male characters. Its not that makeup itself is the issue but rather how excessive and unnatural it sometimes looks on screen especially the foundation, which can appear overly heavy and artificial.
A more minimal, natural and believable approach would greatly improve the viewing experience. And to those who are complaining, if your favorite actor is truly good looking, they will still look good with little to no makeup. There is really no need to overreact.
Personally, i would much prefer better executed, subtle makeup over something that feels overdone. This applies to most cdramas, including the ones im currently watching and enjoying. To some extent, similar issues can even be seen in kdramas, but thats a separate discussion.
E1 of Perfect Crown was nice, ok overall. I kind of expected more but it was still decent. The production quality is impressive, the sets are grand and the visuals are top notch. It also reminded me of Queen of Tears, not in terms of the story but the overall vibe feels quite similar. So if you enjoyed QOT, you will probably enjoy this one too.
There was limited interaction between ML and FL since its only the first episode, so thats understandable. However, the SFL, the queen is quite insufferable. It was hard to watch her scenes because she is so hateful and she was the main reason i didnt enjoy E1 as much as i expected. The family drama and politics also somewhat reminded me of QOT.
Since IU mentioned that E2 is better than E1, and E3 is even better than the first two, i will keep my hopes up.
Bro just bcz she sleeps with lot of girls, that doesn't mean it's GL show, primarily it's thriller/makjang at its core then secondarily she is lesbian nd even if u have to term it then it will come under queer umbrella not GL. Just read definition nd difference betn queer stories and BL/GL shows.
Just search the meaning of the korean slang “goose dad/ Gireogi appa” and you will understand whether this…
Well, both sides are probably cheating while living apart otherwise how would they fulfill their sexual needs?? However, the divorce rate in such cases maybe low, considering that the father stays behind in korea to financially support the family living abroad. So, the wife may not want a divorce if she doesnt have a stable income to support herself and raise the kids overseas. I think both sides are aware of the reality of living separately and the possibility of cheating but maybe they overlook it, since their main priority is providing best education for their children. Its fked up situation but it is what it is, one of the perks of living in a highly competitive society like SoKor.
The drama comes across as quite illogical and predictable. I understand its a fantasy legal drama but even within that genre, it should follow some internal logic and consistency.
What i find most unconvincing is the ML’s motivation. Why is he even taking on ghost cases?? He isnt earning money from them, nor is he being forced into it. So essentially, he is spending the most important phase of his career handling ghost cases purely out of sympathy. On top of that, he is constantly putting his life at risk. These cases involve people who were murdered, which means the culprits are clearly dangerous. If they were capable of killing once, they wouldnt hesitate to target him as well.
In comparison, a similar drama like Oh My Ghost Clients handled this much better. There, Jung Kyungho’s character was forced by god to take on such cases, with his life at stake if he refused. That gave his actions a clear justification. Here, however, the ML has no such compelling reason, which makes his choices hard to believe.
The legal aspect is another major letdown. The show is titled as a phantom lawyer and marketed as legal fantasy drama but there is barely any courtroom drama. In the second case, there isnt even a single proper hearing or argument, it feels more like a detective investigation than a legal case. Even for the first case, the courtroom elements were minimal and vaguely presented. If im watching a legal drama, i expect engaging trials, sharp arguments and some shocking plot twists, similar to something like pro bono. Instead, the cases here feel basic and lack originality.
The writing as well, especially in certain plot points, feels quite weak. For instance, that idol trainee committing murder out of jealousy was already a cliche setup but what made it worse was how easily she confessed. She practically revealed everything in front of the ML without any real pressure. Realistically, she could have denied everything and forced the matter into court, especially since the ML didnt have strong evidence against her. That entire scene felt rushed and poorly thought out.
Overall this drama really struggles with weak motivation, underdeveloped legal elements and convenient writing which makes it difficult to stay fully invested.
1 
And then there is the sleepwalking scene where she calls him thinking he is her mom…. it feels like it was added just to create sympathy in the ML’s heart so he would soften toward her. Thats such a cliche, "typical damsel in distress calling the knight in shining armor" behavior pushed by the director.
Also, whats with kdramas never showing normal parents for both leads?? Most of the time, the parents are either dead, absent, remarried, toxic or overly controlling. Its rare to see a stable, healthy family dynamic. It actually makes me wonder whether korean kids have normal parents or not.
The production does feel somewhat low budget, giving off more of a TVING or Wavve style drama vibe rather than a high budget Netflix original but honestly, it works in its favor and doesnt take away from the impact.
All the rookie teen actors, whom i hadnt seen before, delivered solid performances. Even the ghost backstory, which takes up the entirety of E6, was very engaging. The drama is short and to the point, never letting you get bored.
8.5/10
Thankfully, things picked up again toward the end. From E34-35 onward, the drama regained its momentum and the final stretch especially the express package episodes 36-40, felt much closer to the quality and energy of the beginning. E38 was my fav, it had the perfect mix of emotions, action and intensity.
The original ending in E40 was more of a sad, open conclusion but they added a short 6 min extra episode to give it a happier closure, where He Simu becomes mortal and lives peacefully with Duan Xu.
In terms of production, the drama was quite good. The visuals were beautiful, bgms and OSTs were very pleasing and the actors delivered good performances with great chemistry between the leads. However, the biggest issue was its length, it simply didnt need that many episodes. The excessive filler in the middle really hurt the pacing and made the experience feel dragged out.
Another major drawback was how the story kept jumping between different arcs. The initial mortal world arc was engaging and i found myself getting attached to several characters. But just as that connection started to build, the story abruptly shifted to the void world. While the fantasy visuals and action sequences there were interesting in void, i still found myself missing the earlier characters and storyline. Then, when Duan Xu returned to the mortal world, the narrative slowed down again and became less engaging, especially with the introduction of many new characters after E24. The constant shifting between arcs without properly developing or concluding them made the story feel disjointed.
Overall, the drama had a lot of potential and strong elements but it was weighed down by poor pacing and excessive filler. If it had been trimmed down to around 24 episodes, it could have been a much tighter and more engaging watch.
In the end, i would rate it 8/10 mainly because the final few episodes redeemed it to some extent. Otherwise, it would have easily been closer to a 7.5/10.
I loved how both leads were ambitious and greedy for what they wanted. In the end, they achieved what they desired but not without suffering. Even after getting everything, they are still suffering so its not like their bad karma goes unnoticed.
Also, Sang Ah might be a lesbian and is in love with Jeong Won but ngl she and Tae Seop feel made for each other.
It ended on a cliffhanger and i really wish there is a second season.
A more minimal, natural and believable approach would greatly improve the viewing experience. And to those who are complaining, if your favorite actor is truly good looking, they will still look good with little to no makeup. There is really no need to overreact.
Personally, i would much prefer better executed, subtle makeup over something that feels overdone. This applies to most cdramas, including the ones im currently watching and enjoying. To some extent, similar issues can even be seen in kdramas, but thats a separate discussion.
There was limited interaction between ML and FL since its only the first episode, so thats understandable. However, the SFL, the queen is quite insufferable. It was hard to watch her scenes because she is so hateful and she was the main reason i didnt enjoy E1 as much as i expected. The family drama and politics also somewhat reminded me of QOT.
Since IU mentioned that E2 is better than E1, and E3 is even better than the first two, i will keep my hopes up.
What i find most unconvincing is the ML’s motivation. Why is he even taking on ghost cases?? He isnt earning money from them, nor is he being forced into it. So essentially, he is spending the most important phase of his career handling ghost cases purely out of sympathy. On top of that, he is constantly putting his life at risk. These cases involve people who were murdered, which means the culprits are clearly dangerous. If they were capable of killing once, they wouldnt hesitate to target him as well.
In comparison, a similar drama like Oh My Ghost Clients handled this much better. There, Jung Kyungho’s character was forced by god to take on such cases, with his life at stake if he refused. That gave his actions a clear justification. Here, however, the ML has no such compelling reason, which makes his choices hard to believe.
The legal aspect is another major letdown. The show is titled as a phantom lawyer and marketed as legal fantasy drama but there is barely any courtroom drama. In the second case, there isnt even a single proper hearing or argument, it feels more like a detective investigation than a legal case. Even for the first case, the courtroom elements were minimal and vaguely presented. If im watching a legal drama, i expect engaging trials, sharp arguments and some shocking plot twists, similar to something like pro bono. Instead, the cases here feel basic and lack originality.
The writing as well, especially in certain plot points, feels quite weak. For instance, that idol trainee committing murder out of jealousy was already a cliche setup but what made it worse was how easily she confessed. She practically revealed everything in front of the ML without any real pressure. Realistically, she could have denied everything and forced the matter into court, especially since the ML didnt have strong evidence against her. That entire scene felt rushed and poorly thought out.
Overall this drama really struggles with weak motivation, underdeveloped legal elements and convenient writing which makes it difficult to stay fully invested.