Genie, Make a Wish

Lots of Mystery, Fantasy and Fun

A messy start, a heartfelt middle, and a slightly flat ending but overall, Genie, Make a Wish is an oddly addictive, emotionally layered fantasy drama worth giving a chance.




It felt like a colossal misfire in the first two episodes mostly because of how much information they tried to pack in right away. But once the pacing settled, I started to warm up to the characters, and that’s when the show became genuinely enjoyable. The humor shines through more subtly than expected, so some viewers might miss it and dismiss the drama as “bloated,” but it actually balances lighthearted and dark moments quite well.

Personally, I could really relate to the female lead her emotional depth and inner conflicts felt authentic. The side characters were all adorable, adding warmth and personality to the story. The side romance between the second female lead and the grandma did feel forced (and a bit odd because of the age gap), but I appreciated how the show explored the many facets of psychopathy rather than reducing it to a lack of empathy.

There was mystery & comedy and both in a more than enough manner.

There was some unnecessary repetition the female lead constantly hitting the male lead got old after a while but overall, it was binge-worthy. Despite the uneven acting and a slightly unsatisfying ending, the storyline remained surprisingly solid throughout.

Pros:
- Strong character development once pacing improves
- Thoughtful psychological elements
- Subtle comedy and emotional balance
- Relatable female lead

Cons:
- Overloaded first episodes
- Uneven acting
- Forced side romance
- Repetitive slapstick moments

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Good, Almost Great

I was really excited for this drama and started watching as soon as it hit Netflix. It hooked me from the start with its unique premise, but by the end I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing—though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what.

The acting was phenomenal across the board, and the concept itself was both original and intriguing. A psychopath bound to a genie through three wishes is unlike anything I’ve seen in K-drama storytelling. I also want to acknowledge the discourse around the incorporation of Arabic culture and religious elements. Personally, I think it’s important to keep in mind that this is fiction. Just as countless works draw on biblical themes for inspiration without being seen as disrespectful, this show used mythology and belief as a creative backdrop. For me, it didn’t feel offensive but rather inventive.

The way the immortal kid's story was revealed was handled brilliantly. We meet him early on, but it’s only later that the pieces fall into place, which made the payoff that much stronger. And the third wish, her choice to gain humanity for just one day was beautiful in concept. Watching her finally feel emotions she’d been numb to all her life created a striking, poignant scene.

That said, the emotional execution didn’t fully land for me. While the one-day wish should have been the ultimate cathartic moment, it somehow felt flat in the larger scheme of things. She dies of sadness, only to return as a genie granting wishes, which didn't give me the closure I think it was attempting to give.

The supporting storylines also left me unsatisfied. Her mother never showed guilt for abandoning her. Aside from a few moments of grief, the world seemed to move on from her death too quickly. And the ending where she’s back with the male lead who is once again working at a cabbage farm, and she is still showing little emotion, just didn’t fit the dramatic build-up of everything that came before. It was anticlimactic compared to the weighty themes the show had explored.

Despite its flaws, I still think this drama deserves praise. It told a story outside the usual K-drama tropes, and the cast delivered fantastic performances that carried the script. The originality alone sets it apart, even if the final execution didn’t quite deliver the emotional punch I was expecting.

Overall, I’d give it an 8.5/10—a bold, creative drama with standout moments, but one that doesn’t quite live up to its full potential.

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Very wacky but in a good way. I had a blast watching it and it made me cry real tears. Also, fell in love again with Kim Woo Bin's acting. His comedic timing really carried a huge part of the show. Chemistry with Suzy was amazing. Suzy's acting really surprised me. She was so good. All supporting cast across the board were spot on. Especially the Haelmonis. The cameos were chaotic , hilarious, moving, unexpected, the meta references felt perfect. Also, I feel they really landed the ending, which most dramas struggle with.
Overall I experienced the whole gamut of emotions the show was selling. I laughed hard, felt giddy with joy, and was moved to tears. One of the best shows for me this year in terms of pure entertainment value. Chaotic, hilarious and moving are the keywords for this drama.
P.S: Even though I don't speak Arabic, I could tell the accents were not great. Wish they dubbed the Arabic for authenticity. But since my untrained ears could easily tune them out, it did not reduce my enjoyment of the show. They attempted something novel and unique, how successful that is will be a very subjective experience for each viewer.

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The magic that happens when a psychopath meets a genie :-)

Let's clear the negative first there is a lot of hate seen everywhere for the series but if can just watch this series as pure fantasy entertainment and can ignore the religious spark, you'd definitely love this series.

~~Here is my short review~~

The series starts a bit slow but soon becomes a colorful and fun fantasy love story. It is about Iblis, a moody genie played by Kim Woo-bin, who gets freedom after many years, and Ka-young, a quiet woman who doesn’t show much emotion, played by Suzy. Their connection slowly grows as they learn about love, kindness, and what it means to care for someone.

The best part of this show is the amazing chemistry between Kim Woo-bin and Suzy. They fit their roles so well, and when they are together, the story feels warm and real. The show also looks very beautiful - from the shiny Dubai scenes to the magical lights and special effects, everything feels like a dream. The side actors also did a great job, bringing laughter and emotion to the story, the child artists were great as well, and a very special cameo of Jinniya [Genie's ex-girlfriend] .

At first, the story moves slowly, but after a few episodes, it becomes very interesting. It mixes love and comedy nicely, and there are many fun and touching moments. It also has some light jokes and surprise cameos that make it enjoyable for drama fans.

It also shows a nice slice of life hidden inside all the fantasy. Reminds us that every person has two sides i,e. one that loves, hopes, and dreams, and another that can be selfish or lost. The story quietly teaches how greed can destroy happiness, while kindness and understanding can heal even the darkest hearts. It’s not just about magic and wishes, but about being human and learning to choose good over greed.

In the end, Genie, Make a Wish is full of heart, beauty, and imagination. The acting was great, and the story stays with you like a soft, sweet dream. Definetly the best K-drama of 2025 for me.

*****Special Mention for Suzy******
She was outstanding py playing the quiet and cold character that doesnt show much emotion, which makes her seem strange but interesting. Even with a calm face and soft voice, she makes you feel something. Her acting is simple but strong, and it fits the story perfectly

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Heavenly cast but weird story :(

Short fantasy series starring Kim Woo-Bin and Suzy

PLOT: The Satan-angels war has killed almost all the angels. The FL [psychopath, raised in a village by her grandmother] accidentally awakens the fallen angel / genie /Satan (ML), imprisoned in the lamp for 983 years. He must grant her three wishes for her to forget him and return to her life. The angel of Heaven (rather morally gray) is waiting for this moment to kill the ML. Both angels have spirit animals that assist them.

+++ Very strange plot (dreamlike? philosophical?). You have to stick with it in the first few episodes to keep watching.
+++ A killer cast, with angels as beautiful as gods and a gorgeous (and very well-dressed!) FL
+++ The director did a great job with the cinematography: sets, costumes, effects (I love the "evaporation" of the ML), lighting... Everything is top-notch!
+++ Superb OSTs

### A very Orientalist (in the 19th-century sense) reinterpretation of the Aladdin myth and the Arab world (lots and lots of clichés).
### Too much Dubai advertising (ノ°益°)ノ (ノ°益°)ノ
### High-quality CGI (except for the panther, which isn't convincing).

=> Good series, with brilliant actors, but the story (super weird) won't make it a masterpiece...

**************************************
Série fantastique courte avec Kim Woo-Bin & Suzy

PLOT: La guerre Satan - anges, a tué presque tous les anges. La FL [psychopathe, élevée ds 1 village par sa gd-mère ] réveille par hasard (?) le génie - ange déchu - Satan (ML) prisonnier ds la lampe depuis 983 ans. Il doit exaucer 3 de ses vœux pr qu'elle l'oublie et revienne à sa vie. L'ange du Paradis (plutôt gris) attend ce moment pr tuer le ML. Les 2 anges ont des animaux spirituels qui les assistent.

+++ Plot très chelou (onirique ? philosophique ?). Il faut s'accrocher ds les 1ers épisodes pr poursuivre.
+++ Un cast d'enfer, avec des anges beaux comme des dieux et une FL magnifique (et très bien habillée :)
+++ Le réalisateur a bien travaillé la cinématographie : décors, costumes, effets (j'adore "l'évaporation" du ML) , lumières, ... Tout est au top !
+++ Super OSTs

### CGI de qualité (sauf la panthère, qui n'est pas convaincante).
### Révision très orientaliste (au sens du 19e siècle) du mythe d'Aladin et du monde arabe (bcp, bcp de clichés).
### Trop de pub pour Dubai (ノ°益°)ノ (ノ°益°)ノ

=> Bonne série, avec des acteurs géniaux, mais la story (super weird) n'en fera pas un masterpiece ...

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suzy steals the show!

if I were scoring based on the plot, I would have given 7.5. because to be frank, the plot was a bit haphazard. but my overall score goes to a 9 because of Susie Bae. wow, not only was her acting fantastic whether comedy or tragedy, whether speaking or not, but she was absolutely gorgeous. from innocent pretty to sexy hot. easily the best performance I have seen from her. anyway back to the show. the side characters were great. The locations were also excellent. in most kdramas I fast forward quite a bit, but in this one I did not. also, the cameo by Song Hye- Kyu was fantastic. You want chemistry? her and Suzy's scenes together were brilliant. more please.

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iconic story

tbh at first i was afraid to watch this as a muslim but i dealed with it since they didnt change basics .
story:
i loved the story vibe so much it felt just like a fairytale and with that arabic vibe made it even real i adore it i only didnt like how it’s showing the angel “ ejlail” badly since it’s known that angels has no feelings they only obey god directly anyways apart of that i liked evth else especially the side comedy between main characters
acting:
it was cool tho main characters lack some chemistry but it’s shown wild in some kiss scenes i can also admit that it is shown how much efforts actors put to speack arabic it was awsome to hear them pronounce some arabic letters which is known that it is hard to pronounce.
music :
the arabic old music vibe was just perfect but it’s not something to stick on head yk
finally i would like to say it was enjoyable to watch this it will brings u back to old arabic vibes

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choppy in the storyline

As a Bae Suzy and Kim Woo Bin fan, this movie can only be described as a comical watch and a redemption to “Uncontrollably Fond” ending. it is what it is - not a deep drama that’s got too much in it but a comical relief. this is my opinion. I’ve seen them both in much better roles but felt the whole production crew needed to bring a redeeming storyline for the pairing after killing off KWB in “Uncontrollably Fond”
would I rewatch it? can’t say I’d be too drawn to do that but if my daughter asked me to, I most definitely would.
to all the KWB fans - he is still an amazingly good looking actor whomhams the role up so very well.
To all the Suzy fans - she portrayed her part extremely well and deserves an award for the part she played…….

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One of the best kdramas of 2025 but at a huge cost

So we finally got the return of Woobin and Suzy and get to see their chemistry again after the booring 2016 show they were together in.
However at what cost? At the cost of misuse of the religion of Islam and another plot with negative characters.
Woobin and Suzy slayed their roles, the acting top notch the outfits on fire and their kissing and chemistry amaaazing.
And the comedy omg I laughed my heart out. This show is actually so funny.
BUT
what a cringe plot and also overly complicated and weird and extremely wrong usage of things from the religion of Islam.
They could've just created a Korean version of the story of Aladdin's genie with a twist of something but nope for some reason they took the real Islamic backstories of Satan and mixed Satan with a genie like wth even. And then making up the story ahead as they wish. Worst move ever by the kdrama writers.
Anyways props to the cast for being able to slay such a weird show and such a fabulous cast was involved in this wow.

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