“Genie, Make a Wish” is such an enjoyable and bingeable drama. Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy were absolutely hilarious together — especially Kim Woo-bin! I don’t think I’ve ever seen him play such a funny and mischievous character before, and he had me in literal tears of laughter 🤣🤣🤣.
This drama truly healed all the emotional wounds I had from Uncontrollably Fond. I’m so glad it turned out to be lighthearted and simple, without any tragic or heartbreaking ending this time. A drama always feels perfect when the ending leaves you smiling, and this one definitely did.
I just wish we got a little more of Genie and Ga-yeong’s sweet moments ❤️ They were so adorable together — pure magic on screen!
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Very Much Worth the Watch
This story starts out in the Joseon era and moves to modern day with a little back and forth. Not one episode dragged. Lots of twists, laughs and beautiful love. Bae In-Hyuk, as usual does not disappoint. If anything, it is the best acting I have seen from him. Superb. Lee SeYoung is so convincing and cute. All of the support cast was extremely fantastic! My only very minor complaint would be I wanted see more for them at the end. It was easy to fall in love with them as a couple. The older adult cast was riveting in both eras. I really enjoyed the OST for this one as well.Was this review helpful to you?
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Awesome FL
I provide high marks on this series due to the FL and the overarching plot. It's somewhat diminished by the ML though.The story takes real events from Japanese colonial rule and experimentation and turns them into a supernatural-thriller. It's an intriguing twist on history which leaves you on the edge of your seat. The villains are truly evil which helps to raise the stakes.
The FL is awesome in every sense of the word. She is a good fighter, she is brave, she has believable motivations, and overall she is just easy to root for. The show in general provides her with the level of agency that you would expect from such a character. Han So Hee was amazing in My Name, and she delivers another great performance here.
The ancillary characters also have their moments. It's clear that they are not the focus, but the story shows that everyone has their part to play.
The weakest part of the story was the ML. I wouldn't go as far to say that he was bad, but his motivations and abilities seemed the least grounded. The story sets him up with a particular persona that is almost immediately subverted with what I can only describe as "love at first sight". Fortunately, there are aspects of his character that do make him interesting, but I came away thinking that the writers realized that they had this awesome FL with justified abilities and they needed a way to balance out her romantic interest.
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So much drama!
Ever watch one of those medical dramas and wonder how everything bad seems to happen to this one hospital? Descendants of the Sun is kind of like that, and it just kind of works.These characters seem to face some once in a lifetime event every couple of episodes. This level of forced drama should have been a show stopper, but it just kind of works here. By the end you will even see that the show makes fun of itself for all of these major catastrophes.
The reason it all works is because the story is never really about just the events themselves. The story is about these individual characters and their relationships, and these events just provide opportunities to highlight each character. Fortunately, every single of these characters are great, as are the actors playing them. For every dramatic event that occurs, there is an equally charming event to go along with it.
The series manages a level of silliness while still feeling authentic. This was another reason why all of the cheesy drama never felt like it went over board. The silliness offered a necessary contract to the high frequency of insane drama.
As should be evident, there is a lot that happens over the course of this series. Because of that it's almost impossible to talk about without providing some kind of spoiler, and this is why some of this review sounds repetitive. Just know that Descendants of the Sun is a highly entertaining series with one of the most likeable cast of characters that you will find.
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A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE K-DRAMA
Quick VerdictA wildly ambitious fantasy-romance that has strong moments and beautiful visuals, carried by charismatic leads (Kim Woo-bin & Bae Suzy), but marred by tonal whiplash, controversial religious elements, and uneven execution. If you like K-dramas with magic, high stakes, and emotional highs, it’s worth checking out — just go in knowing it isn’t perfect.
What’s Good
Lead Performances & Chemistry
The reunion of Kim Woo-bin and Suzy is one of the biggest draws. Their acting—especially in emotional moments—is very strong. Many viewers feel their scenes together are the high points of the show.
Original & High Concept Premise
A genie (named Iblis) who awakens after a millennium, a woman born without empathy, and the challenge of granting three wishes that test human nature. The idea of exploring human flaws via wishes is intriguing. The mythology, stakes, and fantasy elements set it apart from more typical rom-coms.
Emotional Stakes & Dramatic Moments
There are scenes that hit hard, particularly in the later episodes. The relationship arcs, memories from past lives, loss, and sacrifice give the story emotional weight. Fans report being moved by the ending.
Visually Ambitious and Some Strong Fantasy Elements
The fantasy setting, special effects, and overall visual style have been praised at times. Some settings—especially the more magical or mythic ones—are lush and immersive.
Despite that, many viewers found the ending bittersweet yet satisfying, praising its emotional impact.
⭐ Overall Rating: 9/10
Worth watching for fans of fantasy romance and emotional stories, but expect a few rough edges.
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Amazing
I really can't say enough great things about this series.Starting with the cast. All of the individual characters were well written, and the actors were even better. Both the FL and ML did great in their roles, and they showed a lot of chemistry. Kim So Hyun has been phenomenal in everything that I have ever seen her in. All of the side characters were also great in their roles. Probably the weakest character overall was the villain, but even he was not bad.
The story is sometimes cute, sometimes suspenseful, at times funny, and it is always charming. Any of these themes can play out at any given time. In this way the viewing experience is always fresh and never really gets bogged down.
The story's focus is on the relationship between the two leads, which is the best part of the series. Both characters are individually interesting, and the bond that they form is really fun to follow. The show does a good job at developing this relationship while also slowly building to a larger plotline and an exciting climax.
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1Revenge is a Dish Best Served by Two Attractive, Intelligent People
It's blissful to view a drama with two intelligent, loving leads. It took them awhile to get to that point, but that was understandable considering they seemed to be on opposing sides in the beginning. And they did have a rather violent introduction to one another. Their slow journey toward each another was rewarding to watch. Great chemistry between the leads.During their romance, there was revenge and political court intrigue all about them, which gave many opportunities for individual stories of love and betrayal. Dou Ming's story arc gutted me; Miao An Su's surprised me; and Wang Ge's infuriated, then pleased me.
Fun fact: both leads had twin guards. ML had two males; the actors are twin brothers in real life. FL had two females; the actresses are twin sisters in real life.
Thanks to no 1 dou zhao defender for the recommendation! I truly enjoyed this.
An extra half star is awarded for bright characters, a refreshing change from the insipid FLs I've endured lately.
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Incredibly Fun
This was an incredibly fun action/revenge story with realistic and combat.The FL is on a mission, and it's fun to watch. The overall narrative is pretty simple, and dialogue remains succinct throughout. The movie clearly knows what it is, and it is all the better for it.
One of the highlights of this project was how it remained grounded. There are certainly some spectacular feats performed, but it all feels authentic rather than intentionally over-the-top.
Just a really fun film.
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The Assassin and the Mother: Two Worlds of Boksoon
It was refreshing to see a female protagonist in an action film portrayed as a ruthless and nonchalant killer, in a way that usually reserved for male lead characters in this genre.By juxtaposing the two distinct worlds in Boksoon's life, the viewers are shown a powerful look at her divided life; from seeing her confidence and comfort in life threatening scenarios organized by a cut-throat assassin organization, to her struggles to truly understand and connect with her teenage daughter.
This journey to discover one's true identity added level of complexity to the narrative which elevated the action-packed story and made the overall viewing experience more engaging. This is a great watch for any fans of this genre.
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Awesome FL
Azumi is a story that has all the action that you could want while also providing an intriguing political backdrop.The fight choreography is all really well done. There are some cheesy effects that I'm not sure if they were intended to be stylistic choices or done this way for budget purposes, but they never really diminish the experience.
The titular character is presented to be very strong and talented, and the story stays consistent to this characterization throughout which is something that I appreciated.
Underneath the story's main plot is a story of friendship and comradery. All of the characters were likable in different ways, and it was easy to cheer for them.
The weakest part of the story was the dialogue. Some of the writing was a bit cheesy, but fortunately it never crossed over any lines.
A thoroughly enjoyable film about a strong FL with good action, pacing, and story elements.
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Damsel for convenience
The first few minutes presents some intriguing lore, and a potentially interesting character in the FL. Unfortunately this is one of those stories that promises a really fun and strong FL only to cripple her shortly after. This plot device provides a convenient way for the love story to happen, but it also left me wanting the original character that was promised to me. It's the classic "here is a strong FL, but we're going to make her a damsel in distress at convenient times so that their can be forced romance".The ML is very tropey, and I had a hard time connecting with him. Part of this is likely due to the contrived "damsel" that the FL was made out to be, but his characterization also just fell flat. The other male characters also being a bit 1-dimensional (and equally tropey), but I did find them to be slightly more engaging.
All of this is quite unfortunate because I think the actors all did a good job in their given roles, and the story's lore is also quite interesting with its fantasy and politics.
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Delightful Surprise
I’m discovering this series two years late… and honestly, I really regret not watching it when it first came out! I absolutely loved it from start to finish. The romance between Gu Won and Sa Rang is just adorable.Yes, it’s a pretty typical romantic K-drama, but it was so well done.
I also really liked Sa Rang’s group of friends you get attached to each of them and their personal stories as the show goes on. The drama also touches on some interesting themes, like how the wealthy treat those below them, and how important a parent’s love can be I thought those parts were handled beautifully.
Even though the business side of the story didn’t really interest me, it wasn’t boring enough to make me stop watching.
And the love story between Gu Won and Sa Rang… oh my, their chemistry! If only men were like that in real life — damn
Honestly, this drama is the one that’s going to make me start watching romantic dramas again. Thank you for that
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Dropped at ep9
I had been eagerly waiting for this drama, but it is not for me, AT LEAST.I expected a magical, Aladdin-style fantasy, but that’s not what it turned out to be.
I tried to separate the story from religion and treat it as pure fiction but I am not sure what the motive was behind portraying Iblis as a sympathetic victim especially in episode 9 when the script goes like "This is how far you'd go to avoid bowing to a human". The writer could have easily used a different name instead of referencing sacred figures (Izrael the angel of death and Iblis the disobedient jinn).
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Underwhelming finale to a spectacular show
PROS: Good games (especially the last one), very good acting, higher budget, Usagi and Arisu are endgame, small reunion with other beloved characters.CONS: This could've been an email. AIB could have ended in 2 seasons, without the Joker addition, and it would have been excellent. Heartbreaking, yes, but excellent. This unnecessary season undermined the series' legacy as a dystopian masterpiece. The alternative borderline between life and death (not the same level as the original) was not properly explored or explained, due to the pathetically small number of episodes. Usagi and Arisu ending up married with a child is the only positive outcome. It was great to see Ann and a small glimpse of other characters, but they were obviously added to please the audience with nostalgia boosts and not for any plot-significant reason. We didn't need to see Niragi again. The last scene hinting towards an American spinoff is even more unnecessary than the 3rd season altogether.
PLOT COMMENTARY: No sympathy for Ryuji, at least he managed to develop conscience at the end. Not only did he ruin one girl's life but he just had to destroy another woman in his path with no remorse or care for her personal wishes and life. Niragi should've died and I'm still mad he didn't.
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Combustible chemistry in this romance heavy drama between two rivals
I am preparing a reddit post on Han Jia Hui's dramas so last night I decided to watch this drama. This is the third time Han Jia Hui and Wang Zi Lin worked together so I had some expectations since I enjoyed Love is Never Too Late. I was right - I enjoyed this drama a lot!What I liked:
1. Romance - Steamy scenes were short but sexy. There were plenty of kissing. touching, hugging - physical touch is their love language. I also liked that they flirted at different stages of their relationship.
2. ML characterisation - I was surprised when he knew about FL's hidden identity. I thought he would sulk. ML was patient, caring and also sensitive. He was very sincere in his love for FL. I understood why he chose to separate from FL when the secret was officially out.
3. FL characterisation - She had two personas (true self - the heiress, and fake self - timid, weak wife). I saw her fake self as a shield to stay guarded and avoid getting hurt. She was flawed but her character grew as the drama progressed.
4. Rival arc - I liked that both FL and ML were rivals even though it was caused by a rumour. FL's brothers were business rivals to ML - their rivalry wasn't as ferocious as Capulet vs Montague.
5. Supporting characters - FL's brothers were entertaining. Second brother provided comic relief while first brother was the more rational one. I also liked ML's assistant.
6. Acting - Great performance from Han Jia Hui and Wang Zi Lin. He looked spellbound by FL throughout the drama - I loved this soft side of Wang Zi Lin. Their chemistry was electric and this duo was visually stunning.
7. Styling - I loved FL's outfits from the biker chic to the caramel top & pants. ML's outfits were beautiful too - I liked WZL in his blue-green suit. Plus their hair was beautifully styled too.
What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - ML's mother was controlling - she was reluctant to let the company be led by ML. I thought her plans to have ML married to his childhood friend was her way of keeping the company within her control. I also disliked ML's childhood friend. She was totally out of line but can't blame her because ML's mother enabled that behaviour. Glad that antagonists didn't get much screentime.
2. FL's action - I disliked that she self-sabotaged her relationship with ML especially when she told his childhood friend the reason for her marriage. ML overheard and of course he was hurt.
Favourite scene
When ML started smoking during a meeting with FL and her second brother
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