Genie, Make a Wish

"Good intentions don't always lead to good outcomes"

Genie Make a Wish was a fantastical and chaotic carpet ride that at times required a dose of Dramamine. Yet as weird and wild as it got, I wasn’t able to stop watching. Genies, angels, mythical creatures, immortals, unconventional friendships, greed, love, loss, murder, sacrifice, and forgiveness, Genie Make a Wish ran the bases and the bleachers trying to hit as many plot points as it could. (Seriously mixing my metaphors! Lol)

Ki Ka Young leads a rigidly scheduled life with rules largely set down by her grandmother. Her mother abandoned her because she was “difficult.” “Difficult” in this sense was having “anti-social personality disorder.” Ki’s life is boring to her but she maintains it to keep her grandmother happy. On a trip to Dubai, she visits the desert on a tour and literally stumbles across a lamp. A genie appears saying he will grant her three wishes. Unimpressed she leaves the genie with his mouth agape and his hair flowing about. Ki finds it’s not so easy to be rid of a magical being intent on not only granting her wishes but killing her as well. What the genie doesn’t know is that their connection is deeper than he realizes and other forces are at work against him.

What worked for me:

I loved the female relationships. Though Ki wasn’t able to feel the same way, her bestie-Min Ji, and her grandmother were devoted to her even when she could be trying. She was also devoted to them, her love strong enough as she would say to kill for them. There were villagers ready to accuse her of every crime committed in the area and yet others ready and willing to come to her aid when needed.

Characters were complex, comprising the best and worst of human nature. Some leaning in one direction more than the other. The question was also asked, “Is evil innate or a choice?”

Iblis and Ejlael were not confined to their job descriptions. Iblis, much like the original accuser/adversary from my book was capable of more than just corrupting people. Ejlael had spent too much time on Earth accumulating wealth after having discovered the hell of poverty. Both would learn that winning was not the point and both were in need of redemption.

For a television drama, the CGI and cinematography were unexpectedly good. The night tour of Dubai was especially beautiful.

Writer Kim Eun Sook dropped Easter eggs from her other dramas such as Goblin, Mr. Sunshine, and The Heirs.

I enjoyed the adversarial relationship between Iblis and Ki. It had a slightly different flavor than many Kdrama romances. Sade, the mythical beast was a nice touch as well.

Daniel Henney and Kim Ji Hoon’s microplot was strange and sadly heartwarming.

I enjoyed the comedy and actually laughed out loud several times.

What was more problematic:

I was uncomfortable with Ki’s abuse of Iblis. Had the roles been reversed it would not have been filmed. At the same time my first thought was that there was a lot of feminine repressed rage at the male dominated society being given a safe space to spew out. Kdramas do like their barely in check “psychopaths”.

The story was uneven and as could be as chaotic as Iblis with numerous micro black holes where plot elements disappeared. The whole choice about the grandmother was not well thought out for someone who was supposed to be smart.

This was one of those dramas where the essential story wrapped too early and the last episode dragged on too long.

To sum up:
Humans are unpredictable when offered anything they want, with the exception of raising the dead or going to the future, of course. There are those who make wise choices and those who choose selfishly. Wishes like choices often come with a price and unexpected consequences. Love can involve both growth and sacrifice, joy and heartache. GMaW was addictive and I devoured it easily, though like a third wish I may forget it soon after.

16 November 2025

Trigger warning: A few decapitations

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It's still a good time - Farrr from perfect

I liked the drama. It wasn't 100% in everything but what worked really well for me was the acting. Suzy and Woo Bin had a really good chemistry, I liked their banter. It worked for the drama.
The essence of the drama is good, it's similar to the other dramas the writer has done. It kept reminding me of Goblin, in terms of the mystic aspects and the lore and the way the storyline unfolded.
I understand why a lot of people might not like it. The storyline is quite clunky with the 5 different people's wishes and the implications of them. I understand what they were trying to do but it didn't really work well. It felt like it was very separate from the overall drama.
There were too many characters, too many things happening at the same time. And the writer always does this where the plot is so convoluted, there's too many things going on. First he hates her, then he lost 20 years and in those years he loved her but she died because of so many stupid reasons. I just felt like it didn't need to be so complicated.
Also, the way they fell for each other was also fast for me but whatever.
The big reason why I think a lot of people might not like it is the 'culture appropriation' of it and the whole Satan of it all. To be honest, I don't know if it is the right way of thinking about it but this drama was sponsored by Dubai/Emirates. It's so obvious in the drama so with the way the country is, I don't think they would allow something that put their culture/religion in a bad light. That's why I cannot really think about it.
There are a lot of subtle messages happening in the drama anyways and you can chose to focus on it or just focus on enjoying the drama and moving on.
That ending was actually just poor. It's like they gave up at the end and just said 'let's make it a happy ending'. The reasons for it working out just didn't work for me. Her becoming a genie and then the wishes her friend made - what just confused me.
But ultimately what I really liked about the drama was it gave me that drama feeling. I didn't really know what would happen next, it was intriguing and exciting. It made me laugh and believe in love again. The chemistry honestly saved it, if it was any other main characters, it would not have worked.
What really made the romance work for me was their chemistry. It had that playful banter dynamic I love. Even though he’s a genie with all this power, someone who could technically kill anyone without effort. He’s completely “scared” of her in the funniest way. She 'beats' him up, and instead of defending himself, he just lets her. He looks at her with so much love in his eyes, always protecting and saving her. But she also protects him in her own way. Even with her anti-social personality, you can see how much she feels for him. Together, it gave the drama those sweet, cute romance vibes that kept me hooked.

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Genie, Make a Wish – A Painful Waste of Talent

What started as one of the most anticipated dramas of 2025 turned out to be one of the most disappointing. With Suzy and Kim Woo-bin reuniting, I expected emotion, chemistry, and magic — but all I got was boredom and confusion.

The pacing was painfully slow, whole episodes passed with nothing meaningful happening. The story had potential but collapsed under weak writing, emotionless performances, and pointless subplots. Even the fantasy elements, which could’ve made this special, were misused and poorly executed.

And using the name Iblis for a genie? Completely tone-deaf. It wasn’t edgy — it was disrespectful and unnecessary. Instead of creating depth, it made the drama uncomfortable to watch.

By the end, I didn’t care what happened. I just wanted it to end. The OST, visuals, and actors deserved better than this disaster.

If you love Suzy and Woo-bin, go rewatch Uncontrollably Fond. This drama? Skip it.

Final Verdict: 1/10 – A waste of talent, story, and time.

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Wasted opportunity

Genie, Make a Wish had all the makings of a captivating K-drama: a star-studded cast featuring Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy, a script by acclaimed writer Kim Eun-sook, and a premise that promised magic, mystery, and romance. I personally had very high expectations. I watched a new K-drama after long time. However, the series ultimately falls short of expectations.

The storyline revolves around Iblis (Kim Woo-bin), a Satanic genie, and Ki Ka-young (Bae Suzy), a woman devoid of emotions. Their interactions are meant to explore themes of love, humanity, and redemption. Yet, the narrative often feels disjointed, with scenes that seem randomly placed and a pacing that struggles to maintain engagement.

Iblis's character is particularly problematic. Initially portrayed as a cynical and mischievous genie, his personality fluctuates erratically throughout the series. This inconsistency makes it challenging for viewers to connect with him or understand his motivations.

Despite the script's shortcomings, the lead actors deliver commendable performances. Kim Woo-bin brings depth to Iblis's complex character, and Bae Suzy effectively portrays Ka-young's emotional journey. However, even their strong performances can't fully compensate for the narrative's flaws.

Fans of fantasy romances may find some enjoyment, but the series ultimately doesn't live up to its promising premise.

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Big Disappointment Despite a Strong Cast

What am I even supposed to say after finishing this?? I went in with such high hopes — Suzy and Kim Woo-bin back together, a big-name writer, a fantasy premise that should’ve been magical. Instead, it honestly turned into one of the most boring dramas I’ve sat through in a while. 😞

The pacing… oh boy. Entire episodes where nothing really happens, just stretched-out filler. You sit there waiting for that “wow” moment but it never comes. Episode 5 and 6 especially — I felt like I was just watching the same mood swings and empty conversations on repeat. By the middle, I was forcing myself through episodes, and that’s never a good sign. 🥱

Now, about the characters. Suzy’s role was supposed to be intriguing — detached, emotionless — but it never evolved. Instead of pulling me in, it just felt flat, almost robotic. Kim Woo-bin had flashes of brilliance, but his genie/Iblis character was all over the place. One second playful, the next scary, but not in a way that felt layered… more like inconsistent writing. The supporting cast? Honestly, barely mattered. Their scenes were just… there.

And then there’s the elephant in the room: naming the genie “Iblis.” I couldn’t wrap my head around that choice. For anyone who knows the meaning, it just felt wrong. I saw so many viewers online calling it insensitive, and I totally agree. Instead of making the story dark or cool, it just left a weird taste and made it harder to connect with the character.

The visuals and OST were nice at times, I’ll give it that. But you can’t cover up weak storytelling with pretty shots. Every time I thought the story was about to take off, it just dragged right back into nothingness. By the end, I wasn’t even excited for the conclusion, I was just glad it was over. 😩

And here’s the most disappointing part for me: Suzy and Kim Woo-bin already proved their chemistry back in Uncontrollably Fond (2016), which I loved ❤️. That drama had heart, emotion, and moments that truly hit hard. But in this new one, all that spark and magic just… vanished. Same leads, but completely different results.

Overall? Huge wasted potential. Beautiful cast, decent music, but painfully boring execution. I don’t hate it — I just don’t see myself ever rewatching or even recommending it. If you’re only watching for the leads, fine, but don’t expect much else. 🙃

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i too, would love to beat my husband black and blue

comedy is funny and well placed.
lore is surpisingly interesting despite its comedy
im not arab or arabic, but it didnt feel like it was directly yoinking arabian culture which is honestly surpising given south koreas reputation
fl was interesting, flawed, but still made the viewer want to root for her

the ending (at the very end) was kinda eh but, if youre looking for a romance filled with comedy and actually enticing lore the watch this. i really cant tell you what to do tho


really liked how the fl didnt spare ml. i thought the fl in spirit fingers was violent, until i saw ki ka-young

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"Arabic vibes, killer chemistry, and tears—Genie nailed it ?

It’s been a while since I truly enjoyed a K-drama, but Genie, Make a Wish pulled me right back in. After being surrounded by the usual K-culture themes for so long, this one felt refreshingly different with its unique Arabic-inspired vibes.
At first, I wasn’t too sure about the male lead — I honestly thought he wouldn’t fit the role of a genie. But wow, he completely proved me wrong. His performance was captivating, and the chemistry between him and the female lead was unexpectedly beautiful, even though her character was meant to be emotionless. Somehow, it worked perfectly.
The flashback scene absolutely wrecked me — I didn’t expect to cry that much, but I did. Both leads delivered such raw emotion that I can’t imagine anyone else doing justice to these roles. The ending tied everything together so well; it left me with that warm, satisfied feeling that only a good drama can give.
After wandering for a while without finding something binge-worthy, this drama reignited my spark for K-dramas. Truly, a refreshing and emotional watch.

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My wish is that this was Just a Story about Genies

Overall Review

7/10 is my rating. Just not my thing.

I really wanted to like this show. I find genies interesting and expected a light, fictional dive into that magical genre. The characters are vivid and the leads, Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy, have undeniable chemistry, but the show’s irreverence toward sacred concepts makes it unsettling. There was a dark twist on principles that felt like an insult to Christianity. Those with strong religious beliefs, such as Christians or Muslims, may find this show deeply disturbing due to its flippant handling of good and evil. The main character and romantic interest, Iblis, is explicitly Satan, punished by God and still called by that name, despite being a genie. With all of this, the plot, while unique, simply crosses too many moral lines in my opinion. I wouldn’t watch it again—it made me uncomfortable the first time (pretty clear to me rooting for any entity called Satan is a strict no), and I can’t recommend it to others who avoid anything that might violate religious principles .

Spoilers

The main character, Satan/Iblis, isn’t all bad—he’s kind to Ka-young, shows empathy, and plays tricks to “help” people. Not very Satan-like, right? And we’re supposed to root for him. Rooting for Satan is a problem if you’re religious. Some gloss over this and say but it is fictional. But this isn't even a gray area in religious doctrine - you simply do not root for any entity that is entitled Satan. Then there’s Ejllael, the angel with black wings and zero empathy, who tortures his assistant Irem for mistakes. So, evil acts good, and good acts evil. Ka-young, the main girl, is a psychopath trained by her grandmother Pan-geum to avoid murder, channeling her urges into skydiving or rock climbing. That’s fine—not all psychopaths are killers—but she’s abusive to Iblis, pushing him off buildings and beating him with bars, which he fears. We’re supposed to find this funny? I didn't. I don’t root for abusers. The creation myth—God making genies on Wednesday, angels on Thursday, humans on Friday—mimics religious stories but twists them in a way that feels disrespectful to both Christianity and Islam. Ka-young’s a “good” person because she doesn’t kill, but her violent streak undermines that. When she wishes her grandmother to be her age so they’ll die closer together, Pan-geum becomes a young, reckless version of herself, losing all grandmotherly wisdom. Ka-young bets Iblis that random people’s wishes will be good, but most are selfish and greedy, suggesting humans are inherently evil. I was glad the bank teller Bu-gyeong got caught for stealing from Ka-young out of apparent jealousy—ridiculous. Then, Pan-geum flirts with Min-ji, Ka-young’s childhood friend, in a gay subplot that feels forced and creepy, since Pan-geum knew Min-ji as a child. I’m tired of obligatory gay couples, especially when they add morally questionable elements like this. The show’s attempt to humanize “villains” doesn’t justify its disregard for sacred values, and it left me completely turned off of anything else this show had to offer. Which wasn't much. The back story, origin story, became the main focus in the last few episodes to the further detriment of the show. It was no longer about a genie and a romantic interest now it was just a continuation of a battle between the Angels and Genies. That was better as just a back story.

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Watch it without any expectations then it’s entertaining!

Geo-politics is always interesting to decipher in pop culture. I begin with this statement purely because of the extreme difference in opinions regarding the ‘supposed controversy’.
One of my biggest take-aways from the first few episodes was, “damn! Korea and UAE are really amping up their collaboration game!” First with BTS’ JK performance, a steady rise in good quality influencers on either side of the planet, PSJ-CWS-PHS ad campaign and now a massive Netflix production with top stars (even the ones in cameo roles)!
Next few episodes I realized I should not look for plot holes or be disappointed by what was unfolding, cause it really felt like the scriptwriters didn't want it to be a very serious work of art either. With that out of the way, I started enjoying the Drama with all it’s comic punches.
They promised a Genie who was bumbling around in 2025 and Kim Woo Bin rolled with the character quite chaotically, all the while looking very fetching. ✅ They promised an unfeeling psychopathic female lead and Bae Suzy seemed like a perfect cast (Doona/Anna have already shown us she’s capable of playing such characters). And she delivers in style! ✅
Mythology is a very fav subject and genre of mine and I loved how they fused two very different cultural backgrounds into an entertaining story that’s completely believable as a kdramaland product - the feels, the vibes, the glam, a tasty bibimbap with lots of different things thrown in!
Personally, a tighter plot with less side stories would have been great along with more development in the original connection between the two nations. But that wasn’t the agenda, hence i’m not complaining at all.
If people accepted a sparkling Robert Pattinson vampire in Twilight, I'm absolutely not questioning a Genie called Iblis who makes you question why we are all rooting for ‘Satan’ who is clearly a very grey zone entity.
Let’s not turn everything in a religious battle OR expect commercial hits to win any critics awards.
Entertainment is sometimes, just for entertaining the masses. And that, I think, this drama managed to achieve in an acceptable capacity.

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A bumpy ride that eventually charms

When I first started watching Genie, Make a Wish, I wasn’t impressed. The opening episodes felt slow and oddly disjointed — I couldn’t tell whether it wanted to be dark fantasy, romantic comedy, or something else entirely. But as the show went on, it actually grew on me. Once you push past the rough start, it settles into a strange, entertaining mix of drama, humor, and heart.

What Works
A surprisingly layered concept: The idea of a genie returning after a thousand years, bound by rules and human emotion, gives the story some philosophical weight. Critics have noted that the drama “flirts with fantasy and romance, but behind its sparkle lies a story about loneliness, morality, and the messy nature of desire.”
Strong visuals and acting: The production quality is high, and Kim Woo-bin’s performance as the genie has been widely praised for balancing intensity and charm. Bae Suzy’s character develops more slowly, but their chemistry eventually shines through.
Dark yet quirky tone: The mix of melancholy themes with random humor, lighthearted music, and “fluffy” editing choices gives the show an oddball identity. It’s sometimes jarring but also endearing — the kind of weird that starts to grow on you.
Visual appeal: The magical world is portrayed beautifully, even if the story occasionally struggles to fill it with logic.

What Doesn’t Quite Land
A rocky start: The first few episodes drag. There’s too much exposition and not enough connection between tone and story.
Inconsistent tone: The constant swing between heavy moral questioning and slapstick humor can feel uneven — as if two shows were spliced together.
Religious undertones feel forced: The inclusion of Iblis and overt religious symbolism felt out of place in a drama that otherwise plays like a fantasy romance. It adds an unnecessary layer of seriousness to what could have been a lighter, more universal story about wishes and redemption. The mythical and moral elements could have stood strong without invoking religious archetypes that distract more than they deepen.
Uneven script and pacing: Critics have pointed out that while the premise is rich, the narrative sometimes loses focus, weighed down by too many side plots and shifts in tone.

Final Verdict
If I were to give it a grade, it’s a 7/10. The show is far from perfect. The tone is all over the place, and the religious elements don’t quite fit but it’s strangely memorable. There’s genuine creativity and emotional resonance underneath the mess.

If you’re patient with slow starts and tonal whiplash, Genie, Make a Wish rewards you with humor, warmth, and a bit of magic, even if it occasionally forgets what kind of story it wants to be.

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Peak Guilty Pleasure!

Satan who's a Genie, and a Psychopath falling in love?

Put aside your agenda, this is a BRAINLESS FUN!

Asking this from people is pretty much impossible, like eating sand, and thinking you're not thirsty anymore.

Anyway, the story doesn't really offer much, it's your average fantasy drama, but it's a LOT OF FUN! Isn't that most Kdrama fans want? The plot couldn't be more basic, you know what's gonna happen even before you start watching it. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy the ride, tho, because not only the two main lead, Suzy and Woobin are great, but every other actors as well. They deserve the praise.

To be honest, I expected some lazy writing, and a typical ending, and we can say the finale was kind of similar to many fantasy drama, I still think they did a good job. I have to admit, they surprised me with that one twist in the end with our lovely grandma. For me, SHE IS THE MVP! Both Kim Mi Kyung and Ahn Eun Jin, not to mention, Lee Joo Young (as Minji) were amazing! Almost everyone deserve a friend like her!

My biggest complaint is the writer missed a good opportunity with the wishes, they could've delved into that part deeper, because the so called villains of the story were bland at best. The love story was good, but it's not something you can't see in any other drama. The one thing that actually made it more interesting is that the male lead is Satan, and a female lead is a psychopath. The duo was insanely good together in every possible way, and even tho it might be not obvious for many, but Kayeong's last wish was also surprising, and it was obvious she didn't realize what her wish actually meant.

The way they broke the 4th wall was unnecessary, but in some cases it was funny, especially that one cameo.

So, in general, this is a pretty good drama if you only need a fun ride, but don't expect too much seriousness. It had its moments with some deeper meaning, but that was mostly about family.

Don't believe everything you read online, this show doesn't deserve the ridiculous hate, because it's not about the story, and everyone knows that.

If you want a good guilty pleasure drama, this is for you!

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