Genie, Make a Wish

It Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect To Be Good..

This was quite the watch honestly.. It was an entertaining experience filled with a good cast.. I found the storyline to be interesting even though it's not unique.. At first glance I thought this drama would tread the familiar path of fantasy and romance.. But no, it pulled me into a story more captivating than I expected.. And It came with a well defined theme and had effective visuals.. The drama never felt lagging yet not overly frenetic either..

It’s honestly hard to believe that some people called this boring or even called it a copy of Goblin, Doom at Your Service and whatnot.. No offense, but how can anyone seriously say it resembles those dramas?? other than sharing the same fantasy genre?? What exactly is it similar to?? It really feels like people judged this one before even giving it a proper chance.. The hate it’s getting has nothing to do with the actors, their performances or the drama itself..

The breaking of the fourth wall and the mention of Marvel and Disney were a nice touch.. I liked it.. It was funny..

The acting in this show is pretty great, that much is obvious.. The most captivating part of the drama was easily Suzy.. Her performance as what many called her, a psychopath was nothing short of brilliant.. Not only is she so pretty, she also carries the emotional weight of the protagonist effortlessly.. She portrays the many facets of Ki Ga Yeong’s complex personality while making her so likable.. Kim Woo Bin, on the other hand has a slightly easier role as the witty mythical character Genie.. Still, he manages to add depth and nuance to his portrayal.. They both share an effortless chemistry and for a fantasy based drama, their romance feels nothing short of sublime..

The cameo cast was absolutely dreamy, but their potential wasn’t fully utilized.. I especially wish the costume for Song Hye Kyo had been better.. Something about it just felt off.. With how beautiful she is, they could have made her look even more stunning but instead went for a rather dull look.. Honestly a bit disappointing..

The supporting cast was good too.. Steve Noh as Ejlael was exceptional.. I really hope he gets more opportunities as a male lead in the future.. He definitely doesn’t deserve to be stuck playing second lead roles.. He is clearly underutilized in the KDrama industry.. I understood why Ahn Eun Jin was cast in that particular role the moment she appeared, she was genuinely convincing.. Sade and I Rem deserve special mentions as well.. As for Choi Min Ji, I understood her importance to Ki Ga Yeong and her emotional connection but her character arc included elements that felt unnecessary.. Her feelings for the younger version of the grandma were honestly uncomfortable to watch, that part added nothing meaningful to the story..

Some parts of the CGI were definitely weak, but that Jaguar sequence in ep12 was just superb.. The fight between Ejlael and Genie felt a bit underwhelming at first, maybe because of all the CGI, but then I rewatched it on my not so small TV and realized, ah, this is how it was meant to be watched.. Nothing extraordinary but still pretty good overall..

Overall, it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but for me, it certainly was.. Even if all the mythical and fantastical layers were stripped away, the drama would still remain a visual treasure.. It’s not exactly the drama I wanted it to be, but that doesn’t make it bad.. It’s a fine piece of work with beautiful filmmaking and at its peaks, it truly soars.. In the end what remains in my view is not a perfect drama, but an imperfectly beautiful one.. I am glad my Uncontrollably Fond couple got a happy ending, even if it’s in another story, another life..

P.S. KDrama writers really need to start being more cautious when dealing with sensitive topics and characters.. They are becoming a bit too casual with things that can easily hurt sentiments..

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Best Drama Of 2025

I can't say enough good things about this drama. The ML and FL are both fantastic, as is all the actors in this drama. The humor had me LOL in each episode. It is a quirky take on The Bible story about Satan and the story of Aladdin. It is not yet revealed if the ML is truly Shaytan ((Satan) or if the guy with wings will actually be the bad guy. That is purely my thoughts and not the actual facts of this drama. The 3 immortal brothers have been revealed, but Christ, the Archangel and the Genie seem pretty evident. I think surprises will have us all go "aha"! This drama will keep your attention throughout this series. So many fun and funny exchanges between characters without being slapstick that keeps you watching. You can watch this on Netflix in English, but I prefer to hear their actual voices and read subtitles.

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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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Great Performances, Confusing Storytelling

The actors in “Genie, Make a Wish” were truly outstanding. Each performance felt sincere and full of emotion. The main story itself was also quite strong and had a lot of potential. However, the way it was told often made it hard to follow. Some scenes jumped too quickly from one event to another, and the transitions between fantasy and reality were sometimes unclear.

Even though the concept was interesting, the confusing storytelling made it difficult to stay fully engaged. With better structure and clearer direction, it could have been an amazing series instead of a slightly frustrating one.

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The Charming Chaos of an Immortal Genie

Genie, Make a Wish is the highly anticipated reunion of Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy, penned by the acclaimed writer Kim Eun-sook. The premise is a twist on the classic tale: a Genie (Kim Woo-bin) who has been trapped for over a thousand years is awakened by Ga-young (Bae Suzy), a woman who lacks emotions. Together, they must navigate the modern world while the Genie attempts to grant her three wishes.

The series set out to tackle profound themes such as human greed and the moral consequences of wishes, all wrapped in a layer of absurd fantasy and sometimes childish comedy.

The Positive: Unique Chemistry and Performances

The undeniable strength of this drama is the chemistry between Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy. Both protagonists demonstrate a palpable connection that drives the romantic plot. Suzy’s portrayal of Ga-young, a character who operates with an almost total absence of emotion, is particularly fascinating and feels like a refreshing take on the female archetype.

Furthermore, the episodes that focus on the side stories of humans who make wishes and become corrupted by their ambition are often moving and effective, serving as an impactful meditation on human morality. The production has also been a commercial success in Korea, proving its ability to capture the public's attention.

The Negative: Confusing Tone and Irregular Pacing

The drama's reception has been notoriously mixed, primarily due to a conflict of tones. The narrative abruptly oscillates between moments of very serious existential drama and sequences of clumsy or slapstick comedy that feel out of place. This tonal confusion, combined with some special effects (CGI) that don't always measure up, can make immersion difficult, especially in the early episodes.

Many critics and viewers felt that the narrative was stretched out more than necessary, making the plot feel protracted and dense over its 13 episodes, leading to a drop in interest midway through the series. Some also felt that the writing of Kim Eun-sook, known for her polished wit, was diluted into more superficial humor.

Conclusion and Verdict

Genie, Make a Wish is not a perfect drama, but it is a chaotic and bold project that is worthwhile for certain viewers.

Recommended if:

You are an unwavering fan of Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy, and you enjoy their dynamic together.
You are looking for a wild fantasy romantic comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously.
You are interested in stories with themes of morality and the consequences of greed.

Best to avoid if:

You expect the polished, emotionally nuanced narrative of Kim Eun-sook's other works (such as Goblin).
You prefer dramas with a consistent tone and swift pacing.

In summary, if you can tolerate a somewhat slow start and an uneven tone, and if you let yourself be swept away by the leads' chemistry and the absurd fantasy elements, the drama eventually finds its emotional balance in the later episodes, offering an entertaining, albeit irregular, viewing experience.

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Genie, Make a Wish – A Disappointing Misfire

Anticipation was high for *Genie, Make a Wish* due to the reunion of Suzy and Kim Woo-bin; however, the outcome was disappointing. The pacing of the series was excruciatingly slow, with entire episodes lacking any meaningful development. What began as a promising story unraveled because of weak writing and lackluster performances.

The fantasy elements were misused, diminishing their potential impact. Presenting wishful concepts without a proper understanding of one of the world's most important religions reduces spirituality to mere aesthetics. This approach trivializes cultural beliefs, making the experience uncomfortable for many viewers.

By the end, I had lost interest entirely, merely hoping for it to conclude. The OST, visuals, and talented cast deserved far better than this misstep.

For fans of Suzy and Woo-bin, I recommend rewatching *Uncontrollably Fond* instead.

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

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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...

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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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odd and mediocre - but visually stunning

Honestly, this drama won't be leaving a lasting impression unlike ,uncontrollably fond' or ,goblin'. It's pretty evident, that production costs were immense - a lot was poured into cast, costumes, and CGI, which makes this drama visually stunning.
However, this comes at the expenses of the plot and dialogue, which no amount of pretty faces or effects can hide.

The conversations, especially between the leads, felt odd and confusing. Initially I thought the subtitles were messed up, but even changing the language settings and trying out dubbed versions didn't help, making it clear that the dialogues themselves were incoherent at times. Some scenes even felt like they were misplaced during editing. This didn't help the already controllable fondness and lukewarm chemistry between the leads.

The plot itself was somehow decent, though it felt strange seeing (non-native) Koreans speak so much Arabic - and I mean a lot. Since I don't speak the language, I can't judge its accuracy, but it didn't feel authentic. The same goes for the use of Arabic/biblical names and references. It's always risky to adapt elements from another culture without thorough research, and this show might have fallen into that trap. Why not draw from Korean folklore instead? There must be so much to work with there.

That said, the cast did a solid job, even if some characters didn't get enough screen time to shine. I especially liked Halmeoni, Ejlael, the side-kicks Sade and Iream and the villagers - I wish we had seen more of them and their interaction with one another. They should have made it into a 16-episode series and given more depth and scenes to the side characters as well, since they were undoubtedly more interesting than the main couple.
Also, along his journey with the character played by Suzy, the genie grants wishes to various beings - but instead of integrating these scenes meaningfully, they were randomly thrown into the main plot. It would have been better, if they had made it the other way around, focusing one episode on each of these stories and weaving the main plot in gradually
- especially since the earlier episodes mainly focus on the female lead trashing the male one...

There were repeated scenes of Ki Ga Young (Bae Suzy) physically abusing the genie - actually BEATING him UP - and above all, seemingly enjoying it. Genie, disregarding his unearthly powers, just takes it in. Those scenes are supposed to be funny, but the only joke here is that the writer's previous work, The Glory, condemns violence and bullying - yet here, flogging and deadly strikes are played off casually. Maybe there is supposed to be a distinction as the victim isn't human, but it still felt wrong. It was very uncomfortable to watch and I did skip some scenes.

Another letdown was the soundtrack. The writer's previous works are known for memorable OSTs, but this series didn't have a single catchy or emotional track that stood out.

All in all, the series was alright. The ending was fitting and satisfying, and the characters, costumes and CGI were impressive. Some flashback scenes, however, looked suspiciously AI-generated.

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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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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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