K-drama industry should leave Netflix network first, unnecessary LGBTQ concept, that's how the story could come…
fr they include it in every series for no reason. K-drama industry is starting to get american values. For those who don’t get it: when we watch these series, we’re here for straight romance. It’s unnecessary to force a predictable gay subplot just for the sake of representation.
I think the drama answered all your concerns, though?They wanted to show that a being - genie - is universal and…
This drama explicitly claims that Iblis originated from Arabic mythology, was found in Dubai, and has lived there for centuries. That’s not vague—it’s cultural. So if he’s been there for a thousand years, then he should reflect that in how he thinks, behaves, and expresses himself—not just toss in a nose-rubbing gag and call it depth.
And the vampire comparison doesn’t work. Vampires are reimagined across cultures, but they’re not tied to a single origin story the way Iblis is. This is an origin story, and it’s a big deal. The drama keeps referencing it throughout the series, so don’t pretend it’s irrelevant. If you’re going to anchor him in Arabic mythology, then show us how living there shaped him.
Being “universal” means you adapt your face, your language, and your culture to the context. So why didn’t he do that in Dubai? And if he can adapt, why did he keep doing the nose-rubbing thing in Korea when he knows it’s not done there?
This dude isn’t universal—he’s a one-sided, Korean demon who lets the female lead beat him up for laughs, even when it’s clearly abuse. So let’s break it down. If Iblis doesn’t know every culture, then he should reflect the one he’s supposedly lived in for a thousand years And if he can adapt to every culture, then why didn’t he act Arabic in Dubai? And why did he do the nose-rubbing thing in Korea
I think the drama answered all your concerns, though?They wanted to show that a being - genie - is universal and…
He acts Korean—and I don’t just mean the language or the face. I’m talking about cultural behavior.. I already mentioned the nose-rubbing being the only cultural trace thing in my original comment, and if you mean that’s enough to represent Arabic culture, then there is point talking with a person who is easy to convince. It’s not just illogical—it’s lazy writing. He doesn’t act, behave, or show any knowledge that is NOT Korean. None of the mystical being reflects Arabic origin. It’s not enough to say he came from Dubai or slap the name “Iblis” on him. If he truly lived and originated from Arabic culture, then he should REFLECT IT. If Iblis is truly a universal being who knows every culture and language, then the nose-rubbing gesture makes zero sense BECAUSE he knows its not done in Korea. And lets say he doesnt know: if he’s been in Korea long enough to observe people, then he’d know nobody there does that.
I think the drama answered all your concerns, though?They wanted to show that a being - genie - is universal and…
If Iblis is truly a shape shifter who adapts to each person, then why did he say he chose a Korean face because it would be “popular for the next thousand years”? That implies it’s his real face—not an adaptation. He behaves like a Korean person, even when interacting with non-Korean characters in Dubai. If he’s truly universal, why do all the mystical beings default to Korean appearances and culture, regardless of location. And about him speaking Arabic—those scenes were weak. The pronunciation was off, the delivery forced, and it didn’t carry any cultural weight. Language is deeply rooted in culture. If you anchor your story in a specific cultural setting, Its not enough to just say it, show us the the cultural trace.
HOPEFULLY IT WILL GET BETTER. Just because K-dramas are popular, they’re now focused on producing as many as possible with popular actors. The quality has dropped.
Yeah, this drama goes in derection of 50s Hollywood productions. Allthough I was entertained, I am sure in a few…
I cringed too hahaha. This is one of those shows where you have to turn off ‘logic’ and just watch without trying to piece anything together. I just skip scenes
The whole Arabic mythology thing in this drama makes zero sense. It’s supposed to be Arabic mythology, yet every mystical being looks Korean, speaks Korean, and acts Korean. The genie is supposed to come from Arabic mythology—she even finds the lamp in Dubai. But he’s Korean, speaks Korean, and doesn’t carry a single trace of Arabic culture. Not even the language. Instead of any authentic cultural gestures, they just give him this random nose-touch greeting that’s overused because it’s supposed to be “funny.” Even his subject has a Korean face in Dubai??
This show has no red-thread direction, no depth, and is just a completely inconsistent mess. It tries to do way too much and ends up doing almost nothing well. The plot feels like it was written by a first grader—childish, chaotic, and totally lacking emotional depth or any clear structure. It’s like they threw every random idea into a pot and tried to make a good soup: genies, Satan, immortals, wish-making dogs. The soup tastes so bad I have no idea how the recipe got approved.
The production feels cheap, the effects look low-budget, and the tone switches so fast it’s dizzying.
The worst thing he did is playing with a mentally unstable person. His actions are unforgivable: he is rich and…
Shen Hao Ming played into Fang Lei’s delusions, deliberately pretending to BE INTO IT. His body language, long gazes, and constant presence in her space weren’t accidental—they were calculated. It’s appalling and disgusting to exploit someone who’s mentally unstable. He’s cruel, not at all like the female lead, who has good intentions, a conscience, and never deliberately hurts others. He didn’t have to pursue the FL set up her expectations by pretending to love her, then discard her whenever he feelings like it, and training her like a puppet—rewarding her with gifts only when she behaves the way he wants. If he wanted a submissive woman, he could’ve found one without manipulating and faking emotions. He’s rich, powerful, and part of the 1%. He has endless opportunities for his career. There was absolutely no need to use people like this.
Shen Hao Ming made a mentally unstable woman even worse. It’s disgusting how he toys with people’s emotions. The way he treats Xu Yan is appalling: he pretends to love her just to get her to marry him, then discards her like she’s disposable, and pays attention whenever he needs something. He only gives her gifts when she behaves like a puppet—so manipulative and controlling. He is rich and has plenty of opportunities for his career. What he did wasn’t out of desperation or good intentions. He has no regard for people’s feelings.
ML is ruthless and a gray character, but he's not evil. So far, all the people we've seen him trapped aren't perfect…
The worst thing he did is playing with a mentally unstable person. His actions are unforgivable: he is rich and has everything he wants, yet he uses people for his own benefits.
I'm convinced that the second part will be less interesting than the first. Generally, when there are jumps in…
Agree with you are saying. I even felt the same way in the popular drama when life gives you tangerines. It was amazing when they were young, but the adult version ruined it.
Kim Young Kwan is such a good actor...his micro expressions. Like you understand what he is thinking and feeling by just looking at his face. I hope he gets ML in a romance drama
If you know it's rude why say it? Literally you say I know it's rude then proceed to be rude. If you know it's…
I would never criticize someone's appearance just for the sake of it. I genuinely appreciate the feedback. it helped me see how I could’ve expressed myself more respectfully, like not USE ALL CAPS. Thanks. I love that MDL allows us to disagree and have meaningful discussions. I just wish more people understood that differing opinions are what make this space valuable. If everyone agreed on everything, like what would be the point?
If you know it's rude why say it? Literally you say I know it's rude then proceed to be rude. If you know it's…
I understand that commenting on someone's appearance can come off as rude that was why I said it, even though I think that its okay to do related to a show since casting on romance dramas is about visual appeal. I tried to express it in a way that wasn’t offensive. But yeah I shouldnt have put it in caps. I chose to say “not good looking” rather than using harsher words like “ugly” or commenting on specific features that I dont like. From what I’ve seen on MDL, even if I phrased things more gently, A LOT OF PEOPLE would still react strongly. It seems like any negative opinion about a show they love or an actor they admire triggers them:)
And the vampire comparison doesn’t work. Vampires are reimagined across cultures, but they’re not tied to a single origin story the way Iblis is. This is an origin story, and it’s a big deal. The drama keeps referencing it throughout the series, so don’t pretend it’s irrelevant. If you’re going to anchor him in Arabic mythology, then show us how living there shaped him.
Being “universal” means you adapt your face, your language, and your culture to the context. So why didn’t he do that in Dubai? And if he can adapt, why did he keep doing the nose-rubbing thing in Korea when he knows it’s not done there?
This dude isn’t universal—he’s a one-sided, Korean demon who lets the female lead beat him up for laughs, even when it’s clearly abuse. So let’s break it down. If Iblis doesn’t know every culture, then he should reflect the one he’s supposedly lived in for a thousand years And if he can adapt to every culture, then why didn’t he act Arabic in Dubai? And why did he do the nose-rubbing thing in Korea
And about him speaking Arabic—those scenes were weak. The pronunciation was off, the delivery forced, and it didn’t carry any cultural weight. Language is deeply rooted in culture. If you anchor your story in a specific cultural setting, Its not enough to just say it, show us the the cultural trace.
This show has no red-thread direction, no depth, and is just a completely inconsistent mess. It tries to do way too much and ends up doing almost nothing well. The plot feels like it was written by a first grader—childish, chaotic, and totally lacking emotional depth or any clear structure. It’s like they threw every random idea into a pot and tried to make a good soup: genies, Satan, immortals, wish-making dogs. The soup tastes so bad I have no idea how the recipe got approved.
The production feels cheap, the effects look low-budget, and the tone switches so fast it’s dizzying.
He’s cruel, not at all like the female lead, who has good intentions, a conscience, and never deliberately hurts others. He didn’t have to pursue the FL set up her expectations by pretending to love her, then discard her whenever he feelings like it, and training her like a puppet—rewarding her with gifts only when she behaves the way he wants.
If he wanted a submissive woman, he could’ve found one without manipulating and faking emotions. He’s rich, powerful, and part of the 1%. He has endless opportunities for his career. There was absolutely no need to use people like this.