Genie, Make a Wish

WISH GRANTED, CHAOS DELIVERED!

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS JUST MY OPINION. YOU DON’T HAVE TO AGREE AND I’M NOT HERE TO ARGUE WITH ANYONE.

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OVERVIEW:

Genie, Make A Wish is a fractured fairytale full of chaos, romance, comedy, and surprising emotional depth. It follows Ka Young, a young woman labeled a psychopath who appears emotionally void, whose life is disrupted when a 1000+ year-old genie, Iblis, appears and threatens her existence.

Ka Young, a human who struggles with emotion, and Iblis, a mischievous genie who believes humans are corrupt, get tangled in a messy journey of wishes, secrets, fate, and romance. Fans of My Demon will recognize the same blend of supernatural chaos, emotional pain, and morally grey characters. I came for the reunion pairing, stayed for the magic, and left wanting more.

Best way to describe it: Aladdin meets Lucifer, where wishes, divine rules, and forbidden love collide.

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COMMENTARY (SPOILERS AHEAD):
• Initial Thoughts

The first three episodes hooked me immediately. The pacing, tension, and setup were strong. The chemistry between Iblis and Ka Young was explosive, even with their painful backstory. They felt like ill-fated lovers, like their souls already knew each other.

Their dynamic is pure enemies to lovers. Ka Young constantly fights him and he actually enjoys it. Every slap, kick, or argument had me laughing. They are chaotic, silly, and honestly losers in love in the best way.

The show balances emotional heaviness with humor and fluff. Under the fantasy, it explores love, loss, and how fragile life is. It also shows choice, how even supernatural beings can change. Iblis evolves through loving Ka Young, learning to value human life. Their connection across lifetimes feels like real soulmatism.

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• Themes & Character Depth

The wishes concept is handled really well. Some people become greedy and lose themselves, others realize they already had enough, and some find redemption. The message is simple but strong: greed destroys, love redeems, and you can’t change the past, only your future.

Ka Young reflects this deeply. Her antisocial traits act like armor against abandonment and trauma. She is not “fixed,” but she is trying, learning emotions, routines, and how to exist beyond survival. Her bond with her grandmother is one of the most grounded parts of the drama.

Pan Geum’s love for Ka Young is unconditional. She accepts her completely, which is why she also accepts Iblis so quickly. She recognizes who will truly stay.

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• Love & Loss

Young Pan Geum and Mi Ju’s storyline was bittersweet and a bit odd, but more innocent than anything. It wasn’t really the focus, just a soft emotional layer.

Pan Geum’s death hit hard, even if Ka Young didn’t fully express it. It fits her character though. She processes grief through numbness, not tears. Her breakdown in the desert later felt like the real emotional release.

The reincarnation ending was the best outcome for Ka Young and Iblis, even if I wished Pan Geum somehow remained present.

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• Performance Highlights

Suzy absolutely owned this role. Ka Young’s cold, unreadable exterior never felt empty because she added subtle humanity underneath it. Those small emotional cracks made her performance even stronger.

Her comedic timing, deadpan threats, and physical humor were hilarious. She balanced stoicism and vulnerability perfectly without overdoing anything.

Woo Bin was equally fun, finally showing a playful and sarcastic side we don’t always see. His charm felt effortless, and his humor made Iblis more layered and engaging.

The outfit scene and Choi Young Do callback had me dying. Their chemistry in both comedy and romance felt natural and addictive.

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• Chemistry

Their chemistry was insane. Every interaction felt charged, whether it was tension, humor, or quiet vulnerability. Ka Young’s emotional restraint made every small affectionate moment hit harder.

When she finally shows softness, especially through touch or near tears, it becomes incredibly impactful. Woo Bin balances her perfectly, creating a dynamic that feels playful but deeply emotional underneath.

They elevate every scene they are in.

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• Past Lives & Sacrifice

Their past life storyline was heartbreaking. Woo Bin conveyed pain so well it physically hurt to watch at times.

The sacrifice of Min Ji was bittersweet. She gives up everything so Ka Young can live freely, even though it means losing her memories. I just wish there had been a way for her presence to linger emotionally in Ka Young’s life.

The final desert reunion scene, with them dancing in the sand, was beautiful and satisfying.

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• Highs and Lows

Around the middle, the drama lost focus. The Satan-like framing of Iblis felt a bit overdone. The heaven vs hell dynamic and Ejllael storyline reminded me of Lucifer in a way that sometimes distracted from the emotional core.

Some logic choices also felt inconsistent, especially who can enter the lamp and how it works. It wasn’t always clear or controlled.

Khalid’s storyline was intense but dragged. The body-swapping, immortality, and power obsession created chaos. Still, his downfall was satisfying and added darker themes of greed and control.

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• Flaws & Structure

The biggest issue is how much lore it tries to juggle at once. Angels, demons, shapeshifters, gods, wishes, it becomes a lot. Some elements like Sade and Irem had potential but got lost in the mix.

Wish logic also felt inconsistent at times, which made certain plot points harder to fully invest in.

You really had to pay attention or you would get confused.

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• Visuals & Sound

Visually, it was stunning. The village scenes, Dubai shots, and fantasy elements all looked beautiful. The cherry blossom and stargazing scenes were especially memorable.

Some CGI in fight scenes wasn’t perfect, but honestly it added charm more than anything.

The OST was amazing, especially Lover, Your Other Name, and Suzy’s track. It matched the emotional tone perfectly.

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• Controversy

I understand the concern around the name “Iblis” due to its religious meaning in Islam. I do think it could have been handled more thoughtfully. However, I personally viewed it within the fantasy framework, similar to other myth-inspired dramas.

I am not Muslim, so I watched it as a fantasy story and tried to separate personal beliefs from the narrative. Still, I think viewers sensitive to this should be aware going in.

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• Suggested Audience

If you enjoyed My Demon, you will likely enjoy this more, especially because the ending gives a more complete emotional resolution.

The romance, fantasy, and chaos make it entertaining, even if imperfect.

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FINAL THOUGHTS:

Overall, I give this drama a solid 8/10. Genie, Make a Wish is chaotic, flawed, and sometimes messy, but also emotional, entertaining, and surprisingly meaningful. It made me laugh, swoon, and tear up in equal measure.

By the end, it felt like Ka Young and I went through the full emotional journey together, grief, healing, and acceptance all wrapped into one.

Honestly, my younger self would never believe we finally got a reunion between the Uncontrollably Fond pairing and a proper happy ending. It felt like closure in a way I didn’t expect.

NB: This drama won’t be for everyone, so tread carefully. For me, it was right up my alley.

Once again, this is just my opinion. I never intend to offend anyone who thinks differently.

Thanks for reading & happy watching!

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

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The therapy we've been wishing for a long time.

Genie, Make a Wish is the drama that healed me after the heartbreak that Uncontrollably Fond (2016) has caused me. Kim Woo Bin and Suzy's chemistry is still the best! And now, with a lot of improvements.

Despite, the craziness of the plot. It greatly introduced the audience to a mythology, a take into angels vs demons (genies). It is also very entertaining and a nice salute to writer Kim Eun Sook and her past projects.

Kim Woo Bin showed his comedic chops, very different from his dominant persona from his past Kdramas. He still made us cry with his drama and crying but the highlight is his comedic take to Genie/Iblis. Suzy showed her improvement (comapared to Uncontrollably Fond). Her psychotic smile always gets me and makes me laugh. She also showed her acting prowess towards the end (dessert crying scene). Their chemistry is still undeniable and I'm very grateful for them reuniting in this project. Those kissing scenes were epic!

This kdrama looks like a collaboration that everyone has been waiting for. Despite some flaws on the story-telling, I would still recommend this drama, specially to those who watched Uncontrollably Fond. This is our therapy. This is the kdrama we've been wishing for. Let's enjoy this one!

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A chaotic mess, a surprising gem

The return of Suzy and Kim Woo Bin. A duo that once made headlines in uncontrollably fond and remains a fan favorite pairing even to this day. While that particular drama may have had it's issues, it evidently crafted a dynamic so popular it warranted a second go at it. Did the pair succeed in recapturing the same allure that justified their renewed pairing?

Well, to start with, the story is an absolute mess, but it's highly entertaining. Which means that according to any self proclaimed critic I've just committed the ultimate sin; subjective scoring.
I'm not just bringing that up in a vain attempt to sound witty but because this is one of those shows where it's very easy to grade it low and call it a day. I've learned over the past decade that a great show is not always one that tells the greatest story. Korean drama's in particular aim to invoke emotions in you. They do not (usually) aim to tell an oscar worthy story.
This doesn't necessarily mean criticism of the writing of any drama is unwarranted, but that I do not find it to be the most important aspect of a good drama.

This drama is elevated to something really quite special by just two things;

- The believable portrayal of a psychopathic main character.
- A charismatic duo that justified it's existence by strong acting chops, chemistry and camera charisma.

Let me get one thing straight; I absolutely have not and will not research psychopathic behavior to ascertain the accuracy of Genie's portrayal of one. We all know what a stereotypical psychopath is. Genie however aims to tell a different kind of story from the stereotypical. One that, in order to criticize or praise, one would need extensive knowledge about.
I only care about the believability of it. If it's managed to sell me on that then it's a good portrayal to me.
I'm sure a psychologist could analyze this show and find faults in the portrayal but that's not my job nor my desire to care about.

I found the idea that a whole village comes together to quote unquote raise a psychopath into a functioning adult to be highly compelling. Unfortunately the show doesn't go into too much detail about this, but we see the results. We see what it takes for Gayoung to live a life resembling normalcy and the struggle. She often remarks that life is boring. She engages in activities that place her in proximity of death as she's pretty much passively suicidal throughout the entire show. On top of that she actively enjoys the idea of getting hurt or dying as this seems to invoke a strong feeling in her.

I have to shout out Suzy's acting here. She really brought this character to life and she was perfectly cast for this role as it requires a specific type of acting. The way she changed the tone of her voice and articulation was a great touch as well.
This is one of those roles that on the surface might seem like anyone could do because of the lack of expressions required but in reality it's the micro expressions that sell the performance, and Suzy nails it.
I really only think someone like Seo Yea Ji could do a comparable, if not better job but Suzy delivers and shows everyone that she's far different from who she was in earlier works such as Uncontrollably Fond and Gu Family Book.

The whole drama is pure entertainment and especially the first two episodes were an incredible entry to the show. I'd give the combination of those two episodes a 10/10. The show didn't quite keep up that level of quality but it awkwardly weaved in scenes of people making wishes, the unraveling of multiple factions and the really fun scenes of Gayoung being herself or interacting with Genie. Not all of it was done all that well and many times I was a bit lost on what we were actually doing as the scene transitions are really awkward sometimes. That being said it all sort of comes together by the end of it and it has a couple fun and clever uses of foreshadowing, which is something I always appreciate.

I'd have to say the romance aspect was a bit off. It's going to be hard to write a believable romance involving a psychopath.
The show opted for a ''don't tell, don't show'' approach with this. No, seriously, we just don't know why Gayoung wants to be with Genie. She doesn't love Genie (she can't), she doesn't say she likes or loves him (she'd be lying) and she's still constantly trying to hurt him physically (it's played up for jokes but still). I figured what was presumably her first kiss was a new and different sensation that she latched on to, which is why she was so adamant about kissing him again but that's really all I have and the show has for us.

Ultimately Genie, make a wish is a technically flawed show that compensates for that with highly skilled acting and one of the more intriguing leads in recent drama history.
It probably doesn't deserve this high of a score, but I believe it warrants it for the experience it gave me, even if it was flawed.

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Its entertaining with great visuals!

Firstly, I am glad I watched it till the end, despite the toxic comment section spreading nonsense.

Negatives-The writing is bad in major parts. I really don't care about the religious stuff, but despite that the writing sucks in some portions, which is weird because the plot was amazing. The pacing, transitions, could all have been way better. But that's on the makers, writers, directors. Ahn Eun Jin was not utilized to her potential. The climax fight scene could have been better.

Positives- Its entertaining, if you pass through a few first episodes. There is humor, happiness, friendship, love, star crossed lovers, fantasy, mystery. The ost is nice. The visuals, vfx is amazing! I think that was the best part. The leads did well, looked good and had good chemistry. The others in the main cast did amazingly well. Steve Noh, was too good. The supporting cast, village people and their humor was good. I loved the ending. Also special mention for all the children casted- the young girl who played Suzy's childhood, made me fear her when she got angry, the main villain despite being just a child stood in front of experienced actors and gave such a fine display of emotions.

Not the kdrama of the year, but not as bad as the reviews suggests. Watch it and decide for yourself. Particularly loved the fact that Suzy and Kim Woo Bin could reunite for another drama, huhh, missed them so much!

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Really don't understand the hate!!!

I was really confused whether to start watching this or not seeing the hate it was getting.

But I always liked Bae Suzy's acting and I knew she wouldn't disappoint and decided to watch it just for her.

Surprisingly episodes finished one by one and I kept thinking it might be the next episodesm where things might get boring but that never came, atleast till the 10th episode where I am right now. And I am pretty sure in the pending 3 episodes as well it won't disappoint.

Hence to all the people who are confused seeing the reviews, just go ahead and watch.
It surely isn't something incredible but very much worth watching especially for their incredible chemistry.

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AN HONEST TAKE: Almost Perfect, Almost Problematic

༆ Genie, Make a Wish—Don’t be fooled by its calm beginning . The opening episodes feel like another typical Netflix drop, something you watch out of convenience rather than genuine interest. But somewhere around episode three, the story begins to find its rhythm and before I realized it, I was genuinely invested. The pacing tightens, the emotional beats start landing and the fantasy element blends naturally into the romance.


༄ The highlight of the drama for me was definitely the chemistry between the leads. Even as someone who’s watched countless Kdramas, I rarely find couples who genuinely feel romantically connected. Too often, they come across as overly vanilla or sibling like just to seem wholesome. And don’t even get me started on those awkward, boring kisses that I usually skip! But here, despite the playful banter, the romance felt real. The kissing scenes were beautifully directed and the chemistry between Kim Woo-bin and Suzy was undeniable,maybe because they’ve worked together before, their comfort showed on screen.

༄ When it comes to performance, Kim Woo-bin does exactly what he does best. Grounded, nuanced acting with a touch of charm. He transitions smoothly between intensity and softness, making even the lighter moments feel sincere.

༄ As for Suzy, this was my first time watching her, and honestly, the criticism she often receives feels unfair. There’s a bias against idol turned actors, especially those who fit a conventional beauty standard but she proves herself here. Her portrayal of a woman numb to emotion, someone learning how to feel and navigate moral boundaries, was subtle yet powerful. And yes, her styling deserves a mention.Even in simple mechanic outfits, she radiated confidence and allure.

༄ However, the one major flaw I can’t overlook is the decision to name the genie “Iblis.” It was unnecessary and culturally insensitive. They could have easily made him a traditional djinn or an original mythical being without touching something so sacred and controversial. The backlash was completely justified. I only continued watching because the name was barely mentioned after a few times but still, the creators should have known better.Honestly, I didn’t expect much because it was from Netflix but it’s disappointing all the same.

What disappoints me most is that after months of feeling burnt out on Kdramas, this was the first one I watched without skipping a single scene. It finally pulled me out of my slump. And yet, just when it had me fully invested, the show made such an avoidable blunder.

So despite the chemistry, visuals, and performances pulling me in, I can’t ignore the choice to name the genie “Iblis.” It was careless and disrespectful and that decision took away from what could’ve been an almost perfect drama. The show had the heart and spark to be a 9.5 but because of that one tone deaf choice, it’s not for me —a story that shines bright, yet stumbles where it should’ve shown sensitivity.
.............. ✶✶✶

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I almost never review dramas that I love purely because they are typically saturated with an over abundance of positive reviews. But this drama seems to have the opposite and I'm not understanding why. I loved this drama. The actors, the characters, the story. I loved it all. The comedy hit well, each episode felt exciting and did not drag, the cast had chemistry, the locations were great, and the story was original enough that I did not find myself constantly comparing it to others I have seen.

A story about a genie with a twist. They packed in quite a bit of information but for me the thread of thought was easy to comprehend and made enough sense. Then you have a psychopath finds his lamp and their story begins to unfold with secrets and dangers coming to the surface.

To knock some points off I'd say there were two things that were unexplored or bothered me. First is Ga Yeoung's mother and family and them telling her they died just to abandon her. There is a bit of a plot hole here for me as the grandmother's longing for her daughter that is obviously selfish and also abandoned her mother with Ga Yeoung was hard to relate to. Then the feelings that Choi Min Ji developed for the grandmother in her younger state felt uncomfortable to me as well and added nothing to the narrative.

Otherwise I really enjoyed binge watching this and found myself laughing often and crying there at the end. I definitely recommend it for a fun watch.

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Don't be fooled by the silly outrage, it's a good watch

I will preface this by saying that i haven't watched many K-dramas, so I review this show at face value.

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the drama. It was a captivating watch, I really enjoyed the storyline and the buildup of the story and characters. It is a silly and whimsical drama with some really nice visuals, beautiful music, funny comedy, and great acting and chemistry between the leads. I personally enjoy slow buildups and didn't at any point feel like the story dragged.

Some people might find the main roles abit jarring and not as traditionally romantic, as they are both morally gray, but I felt like it was played off well, apart from some inconsistencies in the writing of the genie.

I see alot of outrage in the reviews about "misappropriation" of islamic theology, but i find this ridiculous. Nowhere does this drama claim to be a religious drama and a representation of Islam, it is a fictional story. All stories created out there, are more or less inspired or based off religious theology, wether its the bible or the quoran or any other religious texts. There are many many examples of beloved movies created inspired from or based on biblical stories, so why Islam is treated as more sacrilegious by the critiquers in a completely fictional creation, i will never understand.

Religious texts are inherently telling stories of human lives and their relationships with eachother, the earth and greater purposes, so it is completely normal that writers take inspiration from these.

That was my little tangent.

All in all, really enjoyed the drama, and definitely recommend watching!

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Did Netflix's Most Anticipated KDrama of 2025 Live Up to the Hype? I think YES!

Since the announcement of Kim Eun Sook's new Netflix kdrama last year, there has been extreme anticipation that only grew with the addition of our leads Suzy and Kim Woo Bin, who were to reunite after their tearful kdrama many many years ago.
Before I get into some brief specifics, I just want to say that this drama was GREAT, and there will always be conflicting reviews over nitpicky details, so just watch it and make an opinion yourself 🙂
I tried to watch this slowly, since they blessed us by releasing all episodes at once, but I finished it all on day 3🥲.

First of all, the cinematography was breathtakingly beautiful. Netflix dramas usually are, and this one did not disappoint, the setting and use of vibrant colors✨ along with their CGI, really setting the bar high for high quality content. Without spoiling, the last episode has an incredibly simple yet beautiful scene with just our two leads🌸🌸 But overall, they filmed in real locations which adds on to the realistic vibe of the drama.

The chemistry of the two was also, amazing. Despite having worked together before in a very heartwarming yet saddening kdrama with an ending that left viewers disappointed, the fact that Suzy plays an apathetic psychopath in this drama really had me curious about how she would pair with Kim Woo Bin. If she had no emotions, how would she pair well with her male lead? BUT NO. Her acting was superb, and despite being a psychopath, she was raised by her grandma who integrated strict rules that helped her keep her morals in check and her apathy only added to the humor of her bickering-to-lovers relationship with our genie. Kim Woo Bin, our said genie🧞‍♂️, is also amazing in this. His character is "Satan" so technically he has no remorse or care for humans, but the gradual affection he forms for Suzy is witty yet admirable-- especially later on, when he really shows his versatility as an actor with his heartbreaking acting. Bravo!

The humor of our writer was also a key factor that had me entertained throughout. Kim Eun Sook is one of Korea's most famous drama screenwriters, and the drama references her past works like. Goblin, Secret Garden, Heirs and The Glory in such an amusing way you really don't realize what's happening until something pops up and makes you laugh out loud👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. She includes references to "brands" like "Disney, Marvel, Netflix" and hints at others like "Micky Mouse, Hyun Bin from Secret Garden" in subtle ways that are really fun to identify if you know. Definitely helped ease the tension from some of the harder topics the drama focuses on.

There's a great balance of happy, sad, love, heartbreak, etc. throughout. Obviously the last few episodes will have its devastating realization (I don't remember the last time I cried so hard in a kdrama, Suzy's acting is phenomenal) only to build up to the real ending. If you want to know whether it's a happy or sad ending... give it a watch! I'm so glad I did🥰

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You need to Watch This !

An anticipated drama that revealed a poster reminiscent of Aladdin, we couldn't help but think about it. Despite the extravagant ensemble, there are several points where I have mixed feelings.
What I like:

Original concept: The story of a genie forced to grant three wishes to a woman who feels nothing is intriguing and adds a modern fairytale dimension.
Direction: The sets, lighting, and scenes shot in exotic locations like Dubai create a visually stunning atmosphere!
Leading couple: The reunion of Suzy and Kim Woo-bin, which I wanted to see again, and screenwriter Kim Eun-sook is known for writing popular dramas.
The music!! Finally, an album for a Netflix production.
The kissing scenes!
The problems:

Uneven atmosphere: I found them alternating between romance, comedy, and fantasy in a somewhat awkward manner. Characters: The heroine, played by Bae Suzy, is deliberately distant and cold, which is unsettling.
Pacing: A somewhat long start that lacks fluidity.
Sensitive references: The use of terms related to religion or myths may bother some fans.
The numerous characters and underlying plots

This is a drama that plays on magic, love, and the fairytale side, but can be disconcerting due to its sometimes strange tone and irregular pacing.

It will especially appeal to those who enjoy fantasy K-dramas with a strong visual dimension and atypical characters, but it might be less suitable for those looking for a classic or very realistic plot. Overall, it's not perfect, but to attack the acting, as I've read in some places, I don't agree. For me, it was both a challenge and a reunion, like a gift for us (fans of this pairing), so I'm satisfied with the whole thing because there's still a huge amount of work in 13 episodes with lots of elements and special effects throughout!

I recommend it despite its imperfections.

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