Netflix's much-awaited fantasy rom-com "Genie, Make a Wish" has polarized audiences after its release over the Chuseok holiday weekend.
The series, which features Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy, has received both acclaim for its visual appeal and criticism for its "childish" dialogue and humor, The Korea Times reports.
Released in full on October 3, the 13-episode series tells the story of Genie, a lamp spirit who awakens after a thousand years, and Ga-young, a woman disconnected from her emotions.
The narrative follows their intertwined fates as they navigate three life-changing wishes, blending fantasy, romance, and comedy in equal measure.
Netflix had promoted the drama as its most expected Korean title of the year. Most of the hype came from the comeback of hit writer Kim Eun-sook — best known for "Goblin" and "Mr. Sunshine" — and the reunion of two leading stars.
The streaming giant had also released it strategically before Korea's weeklong Chuseok holiday to maximize its visibility to viewers.
The premiere of the show soon sparked controversy on internet forums. A more neutral paragraph before the quotations reported that views were "highly polarized."
One of the viewers said, "I expected more but quit halfway." Another stated, "I couldn't even finish episode one." Others called the show "unfunny" and "hard to watch."
Not all opinions were bad, though. ""It's perfect for killing time," one viewer commented. Another commented, "It's like a Suzy photo book — I can't stop watching." Despite these kinds of positive responses, social media opinion has been more critical overall.
Off camera, "Genie, Make a Wish" allegedly encountered production controversy that could have affected its reception.
As per Chosun Biz, the publication indicated that the show was originally headed by Lee Byung-hun before The Glory's Ahn Gil-ho came in to finish production.
In an impartial report prior to the statement, the publication stated that "no director attended the press conference," which is reportedly unusual for a big-budget Netflix drama.
Interestingly, neither Lee nor Ahn are credited as director in the finale sequence of the show. Only Kim Eun-sook is credited as the screenwriter, hinting at creative tensions behind the scenes.
In spite of the divided reviews and controversy during production, "Genie, Make a Wish" remains to generate a lot of buzz thanks to its A-list celebrity cast, renowned writer, and festive timing. Whether it manages to convert initial skepticism into sustainable success is to be seen.
