Big Disappointment Despite a Strong Cast
What am I even supposed to say after finishing this?? I went in with such high hopes — Suzy and Kim Woo-bin back together, a big-name writer, a fantasy premise that should’ve been magical. Instead, it honestly turned into one of the most boring dramas I’ve sat through in a while. 😞
The pacing… oh boy. Entire episodes where nothing really happens, just stretched-out filler. You sit there waiting for that “wow” moment but it never comes. Episode 5 and 6 especially — I felt like I was just watching the same mood swings and empty conversations on repeat. By the middle, I was forcing myself through episodes, and that’s never a good sign. 🥱
Now, about the characters. Suzy’s role was supposed to be intriguing — detached, emotionless — but it never evolved. Instead of pulling me in, it just felt flat, almost robotic. Kim Woo-bin had flashes of brilliance, but his genie/Iblis character was all over the place. One second playful, the next scary, but not in a way that felt layered… more like inconsistent writing. The supporting cast? Honestly, barely mattered. Their scenes were just… there.
And then there’s the elephant in the room: naming the genie “Iblis.” I couldn’t wrap my head around that choice. For anyone who knows the meaning, it just felt wrong. I saw so many viewers online calling it insensitive, and I totally agree. Instead of making the story dark or cool, it just left a weird taste and made it harder to connect with the character.
The visuals and OST were nice at times, I’ll give it that. But you can’t cover up weak storytelling with pretty shots. Every time I thought the story was about to take off, it just dragged right back into nothingness. By the end, I wasn’t even excited for the conclusion, I was just glad it was over. 😩
And here’s the most disappointing part for me: Suzy and Kim Woo-bin already proved their chemistry back in Uncontrollably Fond (2016), which I loved ❤️. That drama had heart, emotion, and moments that truly hit hard. But in this new one, all that spark and magic just… vanished. Same leads, but completely different results.
Overall? Huge wasted potential. Beautiful cast, decent music, but painfully boring execution. I don’t hate it — I just don’t see myself ever rewatching or even recommending it. If you’re only watching for the leads, fine, but don’t expect much else. 🙃
The pacing… oh boy. Entire episodes where nothing really happens, just stretched-out filler. You sit there waiting for that “wow” moment but it never comes. Episode 5 and 6 especially — I felt like I was just watching the same mood swings and empty conversations on repeat. By the middle, I was forcing myself through episodes, and that’s never a good sign. 🥱
Now, about the characters. Suzy’s role was supposed to be intriguing — detached, emotionless — but it never evolved. Instead of pulling me in, it just felt flat, almost robotic. Kim Woo-bin had flashes of brilliance, but his genie/Iblis character was all over the place. One second playful, the next scary, but not in a way that felt layered… more like inconsistent writing. The supporting cast? Honestly, barely mattered. Their scenes were just… there.
And then there’s the elephant in the room: naming the genie “Iblis.” I couldn’t wrap my head around that choice. For anyone who knows the meaning, it just felt wrong. I saw so many viewers online calling it insensitive, and I totally agree. Instead of making the story dark or cool, it just left a weird taste and made it harder to connect with the character.
The visuals and OST were nice at times, I’ll give it that. But you can’t cover up weak storytelling with pretty shots. Every time I thought the story was about to take off, it just dragged right back into nothingness. By the end, I wasn’t even excited for the conclusion, I was just glad it was over. 😩
And here’s the most disappointing part for me: Suzy and Kim Woo-bin already proved their chemistry back in Uncontrollably Fond (2016), which I loved ❤️. That drama had heart, emotion, and moments that truly hit hard. But in this new one, all that spark and magic just… vanished. Same leads, but completely different results.
Overall? Huge wasted potential. Beautiful cast, decent music, but painfully boring execution. I don’t hate it — I just don’t see myself ever rewatching or even recommending it. If you’re only watching for the leads, fine, but don’t expect much else. 🙃
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