Genie, Make a Wish

i dont know how to react for this serial

I’ve watched every episode of this series, especially since there are characters I like, but

The screenwriter (Kim Eun-sook) seems to have taken too many liberties mixing Islamic theology, Middle Eastern mythology, and K-drama fantasy logic, resulting in the following problematic points:

1. The Romanticization of the “Devil” (The Ultimate Evil)

This series uses “Devil” as the main character’s name (played by Kim Woo-bin) and frames it within a love arc, where viewers are led to sympathize, get emotionally invested, and support his love story with a human.

2. The Depiction of the Angel of Death (Izrail) as Evil

In its fantasy plot, the character Izrail is positioned as the antagonist or the “evil side,” serving as the enemy and fighting against the Devil. This reversal of theological logic is deemed highly inappropriate and disrespectful to religious beliefs.

3. The Concept of Humans Becoming Jinn and the Interplay of Two Realms

This drama crosses that line by creating a two-realm romance plot, even introducing concepts of reincarnation and destiny where humans can transform into jinn (or vice versa) for the sake of love. This logic borrows from Korean mythological tropes (such as the fox spirit/Gumiho) but forces them onto Islamic theological beings.

4. The Misuse of the Historical Name “Muthalib” for an Antagonist

The name “Muthalib” (which is highly revered as it refers to Abdul Muthalib, the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), known for his wisdom and generosity) is also misused in this series.

This sacred/historical name is carelessly used to name a fictional character with a villainous nature (even associated with a villain). This demonstrates the production team’s extremely superficial cultural research.

5. Repetition of Negative Stereotypes Against Arab Society

In the early episodes set in Dubai, local characters are portrayed with outdated stereotypes (as aggressive figures or criminals) solely to serve as plot devices so the main character appears as a “hero” who defeats them.


This is why the international Muslim community has been voicing criticism en masse as the series airs; not to spoil the viewing experience, but to provide education and “guidelines” so that the general audience does not blindly accept that what is depicted on screen is part of actual Islamic culture or beliefs.


For viewers who are “naive”—meaning they are unfamiliar with Islamic history, do not understand the religion’s theology, or are simply non-Muslim viewers consuming this series purely for entertainment—the impact can be quite concerning from the perspective of information distortion and cultural bias.

1. Trapped in “Normalization” and Sympathy for the Devil

Uninformed viewers will see the character played by Kim Woo-bin as a handsome, humorous, tragic man willing to sacrifice everything for love (a hopeless romantic). Because it’s packaged with a polished Korean rom-com formula, viewers will begin to sympathize, feel sorry for, and even get emotionally invested in this character named Iblis. As a result, the original meaning of the word “Devil”—a symbol of absolute evil—shifts in their minds to merely an “endearing anti-hero.”

2. Distortion of Historical and Theological Information (Misinformation)

Since this drama uses real names like Muthalib or Izrail, unsuspecting viewers will assume these names belong to mere fictional fairy-tale or mythological figures, on par with Zeus, Thor, or Goblin. They will never realize that for billions of people, these names hold real, revered, and sacred historical significance. If they ever hear the name “Muthalib” in the real world, their first association will be the fictional character from that K-drama.

3. Assuming Islam/Middle Eastern Culture Is the Same as Korean Mythology

The general audience will uncritically absorb the idea that the concept of Jinn in Islam is exactly the same as Gumiho (the nine-tailed fox) or Dokkaebi (the Korean goblin)—capable of falling in love with humans, capable of shape-shifting, and whose fate can be manipulated through romance. This creates massive cultural distortion, where the theology of a religion is equated with local Korean folklore.

4. Swallowing Negative Stereotypes About Arabs/Middle Easterners

In the early episodes set in Dubai, if the local population is portrayed with negative stereotypes (aggressive, rude, or criminal), unsuspecting viewers will take this as a true representation of the people there. This reinforces existing biases and prejudices (xenophobia) in Western media, which are now being reproduced by Korean media.

Read More

A drama with an identity crisis

Finished this tonight and it was definitely one of the weirdest dramas I have ever watched! It was not terrible. There were some scenes and episodes that were fine and actually the side characters literally saved this show (old and young grandma, and the bestie Minji). There was also some hugeeeee character development towards the end. Especially Suzy crying in the dessert was pretty sad and showed topnotch acting. As well as the genie from the past when he was holding her dead body. Also very heartbreaking. The very end was a bit strange tho. Also the unnecessary violence felt a bit off and added to the identity crisis this drama had been having since the beginning: is it Fantasy? Comedy? Drama? Romance? Action? Historical? Crime thriller? It was trying to be all of that at once!!! It was too much!

Some messages of the drama were really nice tho: being greedy is sth that will come and bite you back, being helpful and kind but not to put other before yourself was kind of the message to live by that this drama was trying to convey.
I liked the different themes of mental illness and lgbtq+ visibility. It was very refreshing and sth that is rarely shown openly in KDrama like this.

For me the drama was a bit of a rollercoaster.
The first episode was quite messy. I didn’t know what to think of the main leads at the beginning. Genie’s hair freaked me out a bit as well 😅 Also, the grandma slicing up Ka-young’s hand to teach her a lesson was a bit too much imo. Luckily their relationship has improved over the years and Ka-young has grown into a good person.
After the first episode it gradually got better. Some things that happened on the way towards the end were a bit too much like the unnecessary use of violence and gory got me questioning whether that was needed for the style and genre this drama was going for 🤔
The old guy reflected in the mirror in khalid’s body also creeped me out a lot!!! Again, what is this drama trying to be???

One of the highlights was Song Hye Kyo as Jinniya 😍😍😍How frigging gorgeous can someone be??? She is my absolute favorite actress!!!

All in all I can recommend this drama only if you dont mind messy concepts and are in for sth on the lighter side that is easy to watch.

Read More

‘Genie, Make a Wish’ — Luxury That Cheats You.

Let’s start with appearances—because let’s be real, in most of Asia, that’s half the reason people even watch K-dramas. Both leads look great throughout: Woo Bin is handsome, and Suzy is undeniably pretty. (Though seriously, how do people spend hours watching expressionless faces just because they’re “pretty”? It’s hilarious. Just scroll through their Instagram—it’s faster and cheaper, it exists for a reason. Anyway, rant over.)

Now onto the main part.

Did Woo Bin and Suzy do an exceptional job with their roles? The answer is *not really.*

Woo Bin’s acting felt inconsistent. His “happy” and “playful” expressions looked identical, and his comic timing was often off. His emotional scenes, though, were handled well—but I still can’t get past the earlier flaws.

Suzy, on the other hand, continues her trademark “lost and soulless” look. It worked here only because the character demanded it, but truthfully, that’s been her expression in almost every role she’s taken. So I just admired her outfits and moved on.

Their chemistry? If you’re nostalgic for their 2016 pairing, you might feel something. I didn’t.

Now, the real problem is "the story and character development." The plot is scattered and lacks direction. It doesn’t feel like the work of a credible or experienced writer. The show attempts to accomplish a lot but ultimately fails to achieve anything meaningful. The characters lack structure or depth, and the pacing constantly disrupts the flow, leaving the whole experience frustrating and detached.

By the end, it’s pretty clear: the creators wanted a money-making hit, not a well-crafted drama. The entire thing screams "greed for profit". Everyone involved seems to have taken their share without putting in genuine creative effort. The outcome? A shallow, messy product.

Would I recommend it? No. There are better dramas that actually value your time and intelligence. But of course, the final call is yours.

Read More

The origin of the Genie is explained in the beginning.

I watched this rom com series between 18 and 21 February 2026. All of us know the famous Arabian Nights story of Aladdin from childhood, either through books, movies, or animation. This series feels inspired by that core idea, but it creates a completely different romantic story.

The origin of the Genie is explained in the beginning. You see how he came into existence, why there are only three wishes, and how he got trapped inside the lamp. It is not very similar to Aladdin, but it will remind you of it.

The first one or two episodes feel slow and slightly confusing. The plot takes some time to settle.

My personal opinion: The finale has mixed reactions. Some people call it a sweet reunion, while others think it feels messy and rushed. Even though the ending is happy, I personally felt it was a bit weak in writing. It could have been done better. I was planning to give it 6, but because the concept is creative, I give it 7 out of 10.

Content Type: Web Series, K-drama
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Fantasy, Drama
Writer/Director: Written by Kim Eun-sook. Directed by Lee Sang-yeob. Produced for Netflix.

Read More

How to Waste Three Wishes and Still Be Sad

So… why didn’t she just use her last wish to go back in time and save her grandma or stop that kid before the soul swap?? Like girl, you literally time traveled before to stop a serial killer and saved that other girl. You had the blueprint! What changed?? 😭 They didn’t even have to kill the kid, just tell his dad “hey maybe teach your son not to play god with souls.” Boom. Problem solved. The Genie literally time traveled for Ki Ga Yeong but suddenly he got amnesia??

And that ending had me losing it. Why did they think it was a good idea to end with Ga Yeong’s deadbeat mom insulting her and leaving her in the rain like it’s a discount K-drama? I wanted that woman to get hit with at least one emotional tax bill. Something. Also what happened to the dog?? Did he just disappear into the plot hole abyss? Why did nobody ever look under the lamp and see the date?? That was right there!

And don’t even get me started on that nosy old lady who got hit by a car. Did she just die like that?? No follow-up, no hospital scene, just “oops guess she’s gone.” 💀

So Ji Ni can throw hands with literal angels in a battle against God himself but can’t handle one bratty kid and his dollar store goons?? Be serious 😭😭 Bro fought celestial armies but lost to middle school drama.

Anyway Suzy’s still a baddie. 10/10 for her, 0/10 for the logic.

Read More

Memorable. Completely psychotic. Somehow perfect.

If you like intense, high-budget fantasy romances with insane chemistry, unpredictable storytelling, and a love that feels a little unhinged (in the best way), then you will probably love this drama. I went into this one very hesitant because fantasy can easily cross into territory I don’t enjoy, but surprisingly, this drama pulled me in and never let go. It was beautiful, funny, emotionally heavy, and completely captivating. This is one of those dramas where you finish it and it still lives in your head long after.
That said, this is also the only drama where I will ever accept an afterlife happy ending — and that alone says a lot.

LIKES
-Stunning production, costuming, and cinematography — everything looked expensive and intentional
-BOTH main leads killed thier rolls. They did so well.
-Chemistry between the leads; their love felt intense, obsessive, and deeply emotional
-Completely unpredictable plot — I never knew what was coming next
-Surprisingly funny; the comedy landed without undercutting the emotions
-The love story was wild, dramatic, and unforgettable
-Emotional moments hit HARD (some scenes still live in my head)
-Explored pain, depression, and healing in a way that felt meaningful
-One line alone — “There is only one God” — genuinely mattered to me
-The only drama where an afterlife ending felt earned and fitting

DISLIKES
-Casual and inaccurate handling of spiritual themes (angels, hell, afterlife hierarchy). A few moments leaned into blasphemous or misleading ideas that I didn’t love.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I shocked myself by how much I loved this drama. It’s bold, chaotic, emotional, and strangely beautiful. While I still have reservations about certain themes, the love story, performances, and execution were so strong that I couldn’t deny how powerful it was. This drama made me laugh, cry, think, and feel — and that’s rare.
I’m giving this a 9.5/10 (honestly a 9.9 in my heart). If they had ended up alive together, it would have been a perfect 10. Still, this was almost flawless in execution and left me completely satisfied.
Highly memorable. Completely psychotic. Somehow perfect.

Read More

A Wish Worth Making

I don't usually watch fantasy dramas, so I started *Genie, Make a Wish* without expecting it to leave such a lasting impression. But by the end, I realized the fantasy was never really the point, it was simply the perfect way to tell a deeply human story.

This drama is about love, healing, sacrifice, and the choices we make for the people we care about. It explores what it truly means to put someone else's happiness before your own, and it does so with so much heart that every emotional moment feels earned. Rather than relying on its fantasy premise, it uses it to ask questions about selflessness, fate, and what we're willing to give up for the people we love.

Every episode was beautiful. The cinematography is stunning, the scenery is breathtaking, and every frame feels carefully crafted. Combined with a beautiful soundtrack, the drama creates such a warm and comforting atmosphere that I found myself completely immersed in every episode.

The chemistry between Kim Woo-bin and Suzy is one of the strongest I've seen in a long time. Their relationship feels effortless, built on trust, understanding, and quiet moments that say more than words ever could. They made me laugh, they made me cry, and they made me root for them from beginning to end.

What surprised me the most is that this drama changed my perspective on fantasy as a genre. I always thought it wasn't for me, but Genie, Make a Wish proved that when a story is written with this much care, the genre becomes secondary. What stays with you it's the emotions, the sacrifices, and the characters.

By the time I finished the final episode, I wasn't thinking about wishes or magic. I was thinking about love in its purest form: the kind that asks for nothing in return, the kind that sacrifices, heals, and changes people for the better.

This is one of the most heartfelt and comforting dramas I've watched, and I know I'll be thinking about it for a very long time.

Read More

Not bad for one time watch but not good as well

The start of the show was really good. At first I didn’t like it but after few episodes it actually became interesting
Unfortunately what I didn’t like about the show was how they ended up the story
The show start with a funny, romance story. Goes into some mystery and more romance scenes. But right before the end they add some drama, and finish it with happy ending. To me it feels like they wanted to force that drama and happy ending together at a same time which I really didn’t like
The show is fun to watch but also super forgettable. Didn’t found anything in the show worth remembering or rewatching
P.S: I enjoyed my time watching the show but didn’t like that last 3 episodes. They could finish it better

Read More