Not sure whether to give it 3 stars or 4. The first half was great. I thought the filmmaking and storytelling of Idris Elbas character was mesmerizing (just like him physically) and even some of the dialog of the Djinn and Alithea were fun to witness. I wouldn't say the casting is bad, they're just an unlikely match in my opinion and I can't elaborate why, something just felt a little weird.
Additionally though Aamito Lagum (Queen of Sheba) is absolutely beautiful, it was amazing to admire her.
-Spoilers-
(1)Towards the end, when Djinn tells his story of Zefir, there is little to no explanation as to how Alithea has changed her mind about expressing her desire to be loved by Djinn the same way he loved the women before her. It felt very sudden from her saying that she's content in her solitude to now wanting to be in love with, and be loved equally, by this Djinn she barely knows.
(2)Multiple characters are brought up and then left unexplained like Sarah Houbolt as the person talking to her at the airport in the beginning, or the person she sees in the audience that's later in a scene next-ish to Shebas throne. Also the man in the second airport scene that seems very suspicious of her and her salt shaker, giving her this glance, but nothing comes of it.
(3)As a woman I have to say it, no matter how many people preach "historical accuracy" - I'm very tired of watching women on screen being violated. Surely there can be a way around actually showing it.
(4)Maybe this was intentional, but could've been explored more, when they arrived in Alitheas home it felt off. I'm sure that London doesn't have that many more electromagnetic frequencies compared to Türkiye, so for Djinn to be so overwhelmed by the new location didn't feel right.
-Spoilers end-
All in all it was a good watch and I'll probably watch it again.