Genie, Make a Wish

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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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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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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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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Step onto the Genie’s magic carpet to enjoy a great ride

Genie, Make a Wish was an enjoyable romp. With its tongue firmly planted in its cheek, Suzy and the Woob delivered in spades. The world building of the past captured the spirit of Aladdin and the mythology associated with a genie paying penance was interesting. Then we have the issues of that mythology, along with human greed and dysfunctional characters trying to make the best of what they have in the present day.

So, what’s to like. Firstly, Suzy. You know, she rocks the roles she plays. Since Vagabond, she had never looked back. Her wardrobe was to die for. Her turnout as the psycho without empathy was very well done. I appreciated the humour she brought to the role.

Secondly, Woo Bin. He played Iblis to a tee and looked great while doing it. The way he showed both sides of a character wrestling with redemption, sorrow and human idiosyncrasies was absorbing. The cheekiness he had with Suzy was a delight. Her response was funny but I can appreciate some may say her violent reaction was too heavy handed.

Much has been said of the wigs, the visual effects and comical aspects. From my point of view, the wigs was very much a part of the cartoonish aspect of the show. I thought the visual effects were very good. My favourites included the Genie’s coming and going as desert sand and his mythical beast, Sade. As for the comedy, the physical interplay between Ki Ga Yeong and Iblis was reminiscent of Tom and Jerry.

My favourite other character was Sade. I think Ko Kyu Pil’s turn as the mythical jaguar is his best role for some time. That being said, the cast overall were great and delivered.

Genie was a bold departure from how kdramaland would normally do such a show. We have a person who has violent tendencies but a kind heart. Ki Ga Yeong puts herself last, she is selfless but this is only ever seen by the Genie. There is a serial killer in the show just so we get to appreciate the difference. Seeing grandma show Ki Ga Yeong how to be human, loving her all the while, refreshing.

Stepping onto the Genie’s magic carpet is well worth the ride regarding this show. Take a look, ignore the criticism here and help it reach a review score it truly deserves.

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Unpredictable events

I am saturated with K drama that is so predictable in its outcomes, that I found this story to be refreshing and full of surprises. I did not take one bit seriously. Afterall it is a fantasy.

I did not expect Suzy as an auto mechanic. Her acting is better than she seems to be getting credit for. Her subdued emotionless aura is authentic. Her psychopathic outbursts were comedic not scary (its a fantasy). For me seeing Suzy acting is a pleasure worth waiting for.

Ahn Eun Jin's (young grandma) appearance on the set was the best highlight of the series for me. Her positive energy and pure joy for her newfound life was wonderful . Thank you for your contribution.

Given the production and directorial challenges faced , Genie Make a Wish is worth viewing.

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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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One of my Favorite watch this Year!

I read quite a few negative reviews about this show on MDL, I’m here to refute the claims!

I’m still trying to figure out how this show raked up so many negative reviews on MDL, but then to each, their own. I’m not exactly a huge fan of the “Netflix” format where they drop all episodes on a single day. But I was intrigued by the concept and mostly invested in the main leads. I wanted to watch for myself what kind of chemistry they will bring to the table. And they do, Kim Woo Bin & Bae Suzy have the kind of chemistry that takes eons to establish. It might be because both are veteran actors, and they knew how well to deliver the premise. So, what happens when a socially awkward psychopath meets a quirky Genie who is also the Satan? Chaos ensues and all hell breaks loose, while these two circumnavigate their romance from Dubai to South Korea. Major portions of the show have been filmed in Dubai, so you can enjoy the risqué scenery. I was seated for this unusual love story from the first episode; mainly because the said psychopath doesn’t act like a serial killer. Instead, she spends her day toiling in her garage, trying to act as a normal person because that’s what makes her grandmother happy. Our Satanic Genie is even worse; he loathes humanity and yet keeps falling in love with the same human again & again. These two make a riveting pair and their story drives the narrative in the right direction!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2025/10/15/genie-make-a-wish-series-review/#more-2098

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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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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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