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AN HONEST TAKE: Almost Perfect, Almost Problematic
༆ Genie, Make a Wish—Don’t be fooled by its calm beginning . The opening episodes feel like another typical Netflix drop, something you watch out of convenience rather than genuine interest. But somewhere around episode three, the story begins to find its rhythm and before I realized it, I was genuinely invested. The pacing tightens, the emotional beats start landing and the fantasy element blends naturally into the romance.
༄ The highlight of the drama for me was definitely the chemistry between the leads. Even as someone who’s watched countless Kdramas, I rarely find couples who genuinely feel romantically connected. Too often, they come across as overly vanilla or sibling like just to seem wholesome. And don’t even get me started on those awkward, boring kisses that I usually skip! But here, despite the playful banter, the romance felt real. The kissing scenes were beautifully directed and the chemistry between Kim Woo-bin and Suzy was undeniable,maybe because they’ve worked together before, their comfort showed on screen.
༄ When it comes to performance, Kim Woo-bin does exactly what he does best. Grounded, nuanced acting with a touch of charm. He transitions smoothly between intensity and softness, making even the lighter moments feel sincere.
༄ As for Suzy, this was my first time watching her, and honestly, the criticism she often receives feels unfair. There’s a bias against idol turned actors, especially those who fit a conventional beauty standard but she proves herself here. Her portrayal of a woman numb to emotion, someone learning how to feel and navigate moral boundaries, was subtle yet powerful. And yes, her styling deserves a mention.Even in simple mechanic outfits, she radiated confidence and allure.
༄ However, the one major flaw I can’t overlook is the decision to name the genie “Iblis.” It was unnecessary and culturally insensitive. They could have easily made him a traditional djinn or an original mythical being without touching something so sacred and controversial. The backlash was completely justified. I only continued watching because the name was barely mentioned after a few times but still, the creators should have known better.Honestly, I didn’t expect much because it was from Netflix but it’s disappointing all the same.
What disappoints me most is that after months of feeling burnt out on Kdramas, this was the first one I watched without skipping a single scene. It finally pulled me out of my slump. And yet, just when it had me fully invested, the show made such an avoidable blunder.
So despite the chemistry, visuals, and performances pulling me in, I can’t ignore the choice to name the genie “Iblis.” It was careless and disrespectful and that decision took away from what could’ve been an almost perfect drama. The show had the heart and spark to be a 9.5 but because of that one tone deaf choice, it’s not for me —a story that shines bright, yet stumbles where it should’ve shown sensitivity.
.............. ✶✶✶
༄ The highlight of the drama for me was definitely the chemistry between the leads. Even as someone who’s watched countless Kdramas, I rarely find couples who genuinely feel romantically connected. Too often, they come across as overly vanilla or sibling like just to seem wholesome. And don’t even get me started on those awkward, boring kisses that I usually skip! But here, despite the playful banter, the romance felt real. The kissing scenes were beautifully directed and the chemistry between Kim Woo-bin and Suzy was undeniable,maybe because they’ve worked together before, their comfort showed on screen.
༄ When it comes to performance, Kim Woo-bin does exactly what he does best. Grounded, nuanced acting with a touch of charm. He transitions smoothly between intensity and softness, making even the lighter moments feel sincere.
༄ As for Suzy, this was my first time watching her, and honestly, the criticism she often receives feels unfair. There’s a bias against idol turned actors, especially those who fit a conventional beauty standard but she proves herself here. Her portrayal of a woman numb to emotion, someone learning how to feel and navigate moral boundaries, was subtle yet powerful. And yes, her styling deserves a mention.Even in simple mechanic outfits, she radiated confidence and allure.
༄ However, the one major flaw I can’t overlook is the decision to name the genie “Iblis.” It was unnecessary and culturally insensitive. They could have easily made him a traditional djinn or an original mythical being without touching something so sacred and controversial. The backlash was completely justified. I only continued watching because the name was barely mentioned after a few times but still, the creators should have known better.Honestly, I didn’t expect much because it was from Netflix but it’s disappointing all the same.
What disappoints me most is that after months of feeling burnt out on Kdramas, this was the first one I watched without skipping a single scene. It finally pulled me out of my slump. And yet, just when it had me fully invested, the show made such an avoidable blunder.
So despite the chemistry, visuals, and performances pulling me in, I can’t ignore the choice to name the genie “Iblis.” It was careless and disrespectful and that decision took away from what could’ve been an almost perfect drama. The show had the heart and spark to be a 9.5 but because of that one tone deaf choice, it’s not for me —a story that shines bright, yet stumbles where it should’ve shown sensitivity.
.............. ✶✶✶
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