“Can Satan Be a Romantic Hero?” — How the Middle East Sees Netflix’s Genie: Make a Wish

Netflix’s latest Korean fantasy drama Genie: Make a Wish (다 이루어질지니, also stylized as Dajini) has become a cultural lightning rod across the Middle East. Blending Islamic mythology with K-drama-style romance, the series has climbed Netflix’s global rankings while sparking heated debates about religion, representation, and artistic freedom.

At the center of the controversy is Kim Woo-bin, who plays a dual role as a genie and Iblis — the Islamic figure commonly associated with Satan. In the story, he’s an immortal being trapped in a lamp for nearly a thousand years after falling in love with a girl from the Goryeo Dynasty. His complex portrayal of a figure often seen as purely evil has divided global audiences, particularly in Muslim-majority countries.

According to FlixPatrol, Genie: Make a Wish currently sits at #6 on Netflix’s global TV chart and maintains Top 10 positions in Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia — proof of its massive reach despite the growing controversy.

A Romantic Devil? Global Audiences React

The series’ depiction of Iblis as a misunderstood, even romantic character has drawn mixed responses. Some Muslim viewers argue that it trivializes a deeply symbolic religious figure, calling it insensitive. On English-language forums like Reddit, users described it as “a Westernized take that humanizes the devil,” while others praised it as “a bold reimagining that challenges traditional storytelling.”

Still, the debate reflects broader questions about cultural boundaries in a global entertainment landscape increasingly influenced by Korean media.

Experts: “Inspired by the Qur’an, But Not Religious”

Middle East scholars have pointed out that while the show borrows from Islamic mythology, its plot and characters are largely fictional. Professor Mona Farouk of Busan University of Foreign Studies explained, “In the Qur’an, jinn are spiritual beings separate from humans and angels — some good, some evil. Iblis is described as one of the evil ones, but figures like the Angel of Death ‘Izrael’ or the female genie ‘Jiniya’ do not appear in the Qur’an.”

Farouk noted that the drama uses these references symbolically rather than theologically. “The creators transformed religious imagery into an emotional fantasy about love, sin, and redemption,” she said.

Actress Song Hye-kyo also makes a special appearance as “Jiniya,” a female genie — a concept absent in the Qur’an but often found in later literature and folklore. Her role as a mystical counterpart to Kim Woo-bin’s Iblis adds another layer of tension and allure to the story.

Divided in the Middle East, Curious in Korea

According to Professor Lee Soo-jung of Sogang University’s Euro-MENA Research Institute, reactions in the Islamic world have been “sharply polarized.” “Devout Muslim viewers view Iblis’s romantic portrayal as inappropriate because he represents the greatest enemy of humankind,” Lee said. “Others, however, see it as creative fantasy — a metaphor rather than a statement on faith.”

Criticism has also been directed at the actors’ Arabic pronunciation, which many viewers found inauthentic. Yet despite these flaws, Lee emphasized the show’s broader cultural impact: “For Korean and global audiences, Genie: Make a Wish opens a window into Islamic-inspired storytelling and challenges stereotypes about the Middle East.”

Filmed partly in Dubai, the drama showcases breathtaking desert landscapes and city skylines, earning praise for its visual beauty. Many viewers say it sparked curiosity about Middle Eastern culture — an area often misrepresented in mainstream media.

Beyond Controversy: A Bridge Between Cultures

While Genie: Make a Wish walks a fine line between imagination and faith, its influence is undeniable. The series not only spotlights Korean storytelling’s global reach but also invites new dialogue on how entertainment can reframe sacred traditions without erasing their meaning.

As Professor Lee concluded, “It may be controversial, but if a single viewer walks away wanting to understand Islamic culture beyond stereotypes, then this drama has already achieved something significant.”

Through its mix of fantasy, romance, and cultural reinterpretation, Genie: Make a Wish proves that even the most mythical stories can spark very real conversations about faith, art, and identity in today’s global media landscape.

Editor’s Insights: ‘Genie: Make a Wish’

1. The “Creative Liberty vs. Sacred Tradition” Clash

The series has officially become 2025-2026’s most polarizing K-drama. By casting Kim Woo-bin as a romanticized version of Iblis, Netflix and writer Kim Eun-sook (The Glory, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) took a massive calculated risk.

• The Fallout: While it reached No. 6 globally on FlixPatrol, it also became one of the lowest-rated dramas on user-review platforms (earning a 5.9/10) due to heavy backlash from Muslim-majority regions.
• Editorial Angle: We are framing this as a pivotal moment in Hallyu’s global expansion—proving that as K-content moves deeper into localized mythologies, the “fantasy pass” usually given to K-dramas may no longer apply when it touches on core religious tenets.