Genie, Make a Wish

Such a disappointing show - can not recommend little enough

I am surprised by the love of this Show. Yes, the writer has some great hits behind her, but if you didn't know who wrote the show would you love it as much? No.

The leads have great visuals and charisma, but did they have chemistry? No.

Was it funny at times? Yes, absolutely, but only in parts. This was not a comedy only comedic moments.

Was the acting good? Suzy is gorgeous, but in no world can you claim that this is an artistic tour de force from her. Her expressions tend to be on the colder side (see Start Up) and with limited range. She has star quality, but doesn't get under the skin.

The best acting came from the side characters, Ahn Eun-Jin and Lee Joo-Young and their pseudo lesbian relationship.

A big part of the problem is that fantastical storylines kill the real magic of the show. They exchange true feelings for flash and imagery. You can watch fireworks and ooh and aah, but it doesn't stay with you. GMaW is exactly that.

The division of opinions on this show might have to do with age (let me wander into stereotype territory...) where spectacle trumps over feeling.

Ultimately I was bored by the overly stretched out drama (can anyone defend the 13 episode length?) Can you imagine the impact if this was 8 episodes?

This show will not age well. What a mess overall.

Read More

No idea why these two actors choose this unless it was purely for money

No idea why these two actors chose this unless it was purely for money.
Sorry, very poor.
Acting was above average but no more than expected for the actors' experience. Kim Woo Bin is probably 6.5/10 in this, and that's generous. Bae Suzy is better (8/10), but not at her best, though. The rest of the cast are on autopilot.
The screenplay is between awful and passable, depending on the episode, though overall bad.
Rewatch seriously; it took a lot to force myself to finish the 13 episodes – no chance it's forgettable, hopefully.
Compare this to Uncontrollably Fond, with the same two actors, which is very good in all departments, a 9-10/10. This, oh my, my wish would be to save yourself and give it a miss unless you are a complete fanboy/girl of either or both of the actors.
Its my opinion watched over 900 dramas in my time

Read More

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.

Read More

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 ...

Read More

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…….

Read More

From the very first episode, this drama captivated me with its stunning cinematography and atmosphere. Every frame looked like a painting, and the color palette reflected the tone of the story perfectly. The production team clearly poured their heart into every detail — costumes, music, lighting — everything felt cohesive and intentional.
The performances were equally impressive. The lead actor delivered a nuanced portrayal filled with quiet strength, while the female lead balanced grace and intensity. Even the supporting cast shone in their moments.
What I appreciated most was how the story wasn’t afraid to take its time. It allowed viewers to breathe, think, and feel. By the end, I didn’t just watch a drama — I experienced one. Truly one of the finest pieces of television I’ve seen in years

Read More

Kim Woo Bin carries this drama & brings his A game

Kim Woo Bin has the arduous task of carrying the bulk of this drama as the plotline requires Bae Suzy to be emotionally disconnected throughout. It makes it incredibly hard to like her character & the romance between her &
Kim Woo Bin's character is problematic at best. This is a rewatchable drama that has alot of tragedy and sober plotlines that balance out the quirky amusing parts. [By the way-There is a happy ending, but it's not the kind you think you will get.]
what kept this from being a solid 10/10 is :
1) many times it seemed like a travel commercial for Dubai.
2) they muddied the story with gay characters (only)revealed later in the drama & it presented unspoken speculations that naturally come with such a reveal-such as the motivation of the steadfast loyalty of an important side character,
****************
Spoilers ahead
***************
it was also very weird that the grandmother (with no indication of having been dissatisfied in her marriage) seems to be gay once she's made young. The whole dynamic of grandmother to grandchild's best friend changing into an attraction doesn't play out well.

Read More

"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

Read More

Finally A Good Deity Romance; Crazy and Fun

My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.

Uncontrollably Fond was the first K-drama I began watching (Not the first I'd completed though). I was stoked to see that Kim Woo Bin [김우빈] and Bae Suzy [배수지] would star together in another drama.

Acting/Cast: Suzy isn't the strongest actor but this role was perfect for her. She and her co-star Kim Woo Bin both did a great job. The side characters were good. I liked the casting all around. I would say that Steve Noh [스티브 노], who played the angel character, had the weakest acting (apart from very minor characters). Suzy and Kim Woo Bin had great chemistry together, as expected. 8/10

Writing: I haven't liked a deity romance since Goblin. Genie, Make A Wish really surprised me. It reminded me of Hwayugi except it was actually good—a unique female lead, well-written characters, and an engaging plot. Both this drama and Hwayugi are very chaotic dramas with random shenanigans happening throughout, but this drama managed to keep it all engaging and fun as well as maintain a solid overall plot. Regarding the romance between the leads, I do think the first kiss happened a little to soon (I prefer slow burns). Although the focus of the drama is mostly on the two leads, there are some side stories. However, they are fairly insignificant and, unfortunately, don't get much screen time. The side romances in particular seem thrown in. Also, the ending is a little strange, but it made far more sense than the ending of Bon Appetit, Your Majesty, so I can’t complain too much. 5.5/10

Direction/SFX/Music: The pacing is good. The SFX looks nice. I like the music—it has a fitting Arabian vibe to it. There are a couple songs on the OST that I really like. The song GAME by SOYEON and YUQI, in particular, is awesome. It reminds me of the Doona! OST (which is one of my favorites). 7.5/10

Entertainment Value: This drama was just fun. I didn't expect to like it so much. Especially with a lead being a "psychopath"—I usually don't like plots like that, but this drama does it different. I like that this drama didn't take itself too seriously, broke the 4th wall, and made callbacks to older dramas. 7.5/10

Overall, I gave this drama a 7/10. A score of a 6 or higher is in my ‘would recommend’ zone. This made for a brilliant Bae Suzy and Kim Woo Bin reunion drama. It was zany, unique, and entertaining. However, I wouldn't recommend this drama to those who haven't seen many K-dramas, since it does have a lot of inside jokes. If you do watch, be prepared for some grade A chaos.

Read More

Two Wishes, One Destiny — Suzy and Woo Bin’s Magical Comeback

Okay guys, Genie, Make a Wish brings back one of my all-time favorite on-screen couples — Bae Suzy and Kim Woo Bin! If you’ve loved their chemistry here, please go watch Uncontrollably Fond too (just keep tissues nearby 😭).

Now, about this drama — I absolutely loved how they mixed Arabic culture and language with a Korean storyline. It’s such a refreshing touch because genies do come from Middle Eastern tales, and seeing that represented here was honestly so cool.

The show gives you everything — magical vibes, strong acting, heartwarming friendships, unforgettable cameos, and yes… two love stories from the same couple (you’ll get what I mean when you watch). 💫

On the flip side, I wish the ending (especially episode 12) hit a little harder — it felt slightly rushed for such a beautiful buildup. But still, if you’re a fan of supernatural dramas, magical love stories, and Bae Suzy’s charm, this one is definitely worth your time.

P.S. – I truly admire how Suzy picks her roles — she never shies away from experimenting. And if you want to see her range, check out Vagabond (for the action junkies), While You Were Sleeping (for the romantics), and Start-Up (for the dreamers).

Read More