I am done with 4 episodes of Netflix’s new presentation, Genie, Make a Wish (Da Irueojiljini), and it is turning out to be as exciting as I had expected from its trailer. The show takes a story as old as millennia, twists it into a modern saga, and delivers it perfectly for fans who love a little magic and a little chaos in their Korean dramas. When you mix Bae Suzy with a lamp, a psychopath’s charm, and Dubai’s skyline, you get something only Netflix could conjure.
If you’re planning to give it a shot, let me share my Genie, Make a Wish Review with you.
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But Before, What Genie, Make a Wish Reviews are Saying
Well, you might have seen low scores on IMDB and even Google. That’s not because the drama is bad; some folks are offended. I don’t want to dive deep into this chaos, but when you read comments, you will know.
Personally, I enjoyed the drama. It uses some characters from mythologies and blends them into a fictional story that is well-driven through writing, cinematography, as well as storytelling.
Those who loved it enjoyed the drama for Bae Suzy’s Wednesday-styled psychopath acting and the goofy genie who made the story magical. Visuals are also appreciated, with tons of shooting done in Dubai’s beautiful landscapes.
Trailer
Genie, Make a Wish Avoids Making One Big Mistake
The show made its reputation as one of the best October K-dramas by avoiding one mistake that September K-dramas like Twelve made; it didn’t sacrifice the story despite having a blast of a cast. The show was written by Kim Eun-sook, who you might know for writing one of the best K-dramas in existence, Descendants of the Sun. She also wrote Heirs and Secret Garden.
Therefore, her magical charm can be felt throughout this story, which is as funny as it is emotional. There’s a strong foundation for the tale of Bae Suzy’s Ka-young.
Genie, Make a Wish Cast – The Stars Behind the Magic
Bae Suzy plays Ka-young, a seemingly antisocial woman with a mysterious past, whose stoic expressions and psychopathic undertones keep you glued. Kim Woo-bin, as the charming yet tormented Genie, perfectly balances humor and tragedy — easily one of his most memorable roles. Go Gyu-pil brings laughs as the Genie’s assistant and old friend, Sayyid, a talking black jaguar who lightens the darker themes with witty timing.
Kim Mi-kyung, as Ka-young’s grandmother, grounds the story emotionally. Her scenes offer warmth and heartbreak in equal measure. There are also angels, shapeshifters, and mythical beings played by Lee Sung-kyung, Choi Woo-shik, and Jung Hae-in in surprise appearances — adding layers of intrigue and fantasy depth that fans of myth-driven K-dramas will love.
In short: every actor here fits like a puzzle piece — with chemistry, chaos, and charm all firing at once.
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Let Me Tell You About the Genie, Make a Wish Plot Now (Without Spoilers)
So, Ka-young is basically someone with an anti-social disorder. She was a kid who enjoyed dissecting frogs, making her Grandma, played by Kim Mi-kyung, worried about her. As Ka-young grows, she receives all the love from not only her grandma, but from her best friend, as well as from the community she grows in (that revelation kind of made me sob!).
Meanwhile, for almost a thousand years, the genie called Kim Woo-bin remains trapped in a lamp until Ka-young crosses his destiny. But there’s a reason why they meet, why things happen the way they happen, and why this new master of the genie is not the one he has ever met before.
But as you explore, wrapping up these layers of the story is the exciting part. Beware, though, the first episode, as usual, gets a little slow after setting up the character backgrounds. But then it picks up, but at enough speed so you can keep up.
Go Gyu-pil is Genie’s assistant and an old friend, Sayyid (the black jaguar). He is basically keeping the genie up with the world while he is entrapped. Funny enough, Sayyid has tons of comical moments with the genie that will tickle you.
There are other mythical characters as well, like angels and their shapeshifter assistants. But I won’t reveal their identities, so there’s some twist remaining for you to explore.
Genie, Make a Wish Has a Great Director As Well
Does the name ‘Ahn Gil-ho’ ring a bell? Yes, he is the same guy who directed Memories of the Alhambra, Stranger, Only Love, and The Glory, among tons of other titles. With this new Netflix presentation, he certainly made it clear that he can pick any story and turn it into a literal gem.
So, I will say it again, ignore negative reviews and give this show a shot yourself. It’s a great show if you watch it as a fiction made purely for entertainment, the way tons of retellings of the story already exist.
My Final Genie, Make a Wish Review
You might have guessed, I am enjoying the show and highly recommend you check it out. It’s funny, chaotic, emotional, visually beautiful, and offers a fairy tale that even Disney can’t. But yes, I am not quite happy with the VFX. There are some flying scenes that turned me off a little, but hey, as long as everything else remains interesting, I can let a couple of things slip past my mind. But I can’t hide that from the rating I give to Genie, Make a Wish.
That’s my share of yapping — now go rub that lamp and see what Netflix’s Genie grants you!
Watch Genie, Make a Wish on Netflix
FAQs
Is Genie, Make a Wish worth watching?
Absolutely. If you love fantasy K-dramas with mythological elements, this one’s a solid watch with great performances and visuals.
Who plays the Genie in Genie, Make a Wish?
Kim Woo-bin plays the Genie, balancing humor and tragedy with flawless charm.
How many episodes are in Genie, Make a Wish?
The series currently has 12 episodes, streaming on Netflix.
Is Genie, Make a Wish, based on mythology?
It borrows inspiration from ancient myths but tells an original fictional story meant purely for entertainment.
Who directed Genie, Make a Wish?
The series is directed by Ahn Gil-ho, known for Memories of the Alhambra and The Glory.
Who is in the cast of Genie, Make a Wish?
The cast of Genie, Make a Wish includes Bae Suzy as Ka-young, a mysteriously antisocial woman who becomes the Genie’s master, and Kim Woo-bin as the witty yet tragic Genie.
Go Gyu-pil plays Sayyid, the Genie’s assistant and comedic relief, while Kim Mi-kyung delivers heartfelt depth as Ka-young’s grandmother.
The show also features Lee Sung-kyung, Choi Woo-shik, and Jung Hae-in in surprising mythical roles that enrich the story’s fantasy world.
