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This review may contain spoilers
Good, Almost Great
I was really excited for this drama and started watching as soon as it hit Netflix. It hooked me from the start with its unique premise, but by the end I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing—though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what.
The acting was phenomenal across the board, and the concept itself was both original and intriguing. A psychopath bound to a genie through three wishes is unlike anything I’ve seen in K-drama storytelling. I also want to acknowledge the discourse around the incorporation of Arabic culture and religious elements. Personally, I think it’s important to keep in mind that this is fiction. Just as countless works draw on biblical themes for inspiration without being seen as disrespectful, this show used mythology and belief as a creative backdrop. For me, it didn’t feel offensive but rather inventive.
The way the immortal kid's story was revealed was handled brilliantly. We meet him early on, but it’s only later that the pieces fall into place, which made the payoff that much stronger. And the third wish, her choice to gain humanity for just one day was beautiful in concept. Watching her finally feel emotions she’d been numb to all her life created a striking, poignant scene.
That said, the emotional execution didn’t fully land for me. While the one-day wish should have been the ultimate cathartic moment, it somehow felt flat in the larger scheme of things. She dies of sadness, only to return as a genie granting wishes, which didn't give me the closure I think it was attempting to give.
The supporting storylines also left me unsatisfied. Her mother never showed guilt for abandoning her. Aside from a few moments of grief, the world seemed to move on from her death too quickly. And the ending where she’s back with the male lead who is once again working at a cabbage farm, and she is still showing little emotion, just didn’t fit the dramatic build-up of everything that came before. It was anticlimactic compared to the weighty themes the show had explored.
Despite its flaws, I still think this drama deserves praise. It told a story outside the usual K-drama tropes, and the cast delivered fantastic performances that carried the script. The originality alone sets it apart, even if the final execution didn’t quite deliver the emotional punch I was expecting.
Overall, I’d give it an 8.5/10—a bold, creative drama with standout moments, but one that doesn’t quite live up to its full potential.
The acting was phenomenal across the board, and the concept itself was both original and intriguing. A psychopath bound to a genie through three wishes is unlike anything I’ve seen in K-drama storytelling. I also want to acknowledge the discourse around the incorporation of Arabic culture and religious elements. Personally, I think it’s important to keep in mind that this is fiction. Just as countless works draw on biblical themes for inspiration without being seen as disrespectful, this show used mythology and belief as a creative backdrop. For me, it didn’t feel offensive but rather inventive.
The way the immortal kid's story was revealed was handled brilliantly. We meet him early on, but it’s only later that the pieces fall into place, which made the payoff that much stronger. And the third wish, her choice to gain humanity for just one day was beautiful in concept. Watching her finally feel emotions she’d been numb to all her life created a striking, poignant scene.
That said, the emotional execution didn’t fully land for me. While the one-day wish should have been the ultimate cathartic moment, it somehow felt flat in the larger scheme of things. She dies of sadness, only to return as a genie granting wishes, which didn't give me the closure I think it was attempting to give.
The supporting storylines also left me unsatisfied. Her mother never showed guilt for abandoning her. Aside from a few moments of grief, the world seemed to move on from her death too quickly. And the ending where she’s back with the male lead who is once again working at a cabbage farm, and she is still showing little emotion, just didn’t fit the dramatic build-up of everything that came before. It was anticlimactic compared to the weighty themes the show had explored.
Despite its flaws, I still think this drama deserves praise. It told a story outside the usual K-drama tropes, and the cast delivered fantastic performances that carried the script. The originality alone sets it apart, even if the final execution didn’t quite deliver the emotional punch I was expecting.
Overall, I’d give it an 8.5/10—a bold, creative drama with standout moments, but one that doesn’t quite live up to its full potential.
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