Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
REVIEW Despite rocky start, ‘Genie, Make a Wish’ finally hits its stride
Actors Kim Woo-bin, left, and Suzy in Netflix series "Genie, Make A Wish." Courtesy of Netflix
By Park Jin-hai
Clumsy humor dilutes emotional depth, hinders immersion
“Genie, Make a Wish” stepped onto Netflix’s global stage in October as one of the most buzzed-about Korean dramas of 2025.
Penned by genre-defying screenwriter Kim Eun-sook, best known for a series of megahits including “The Glory” (2022), “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” (2016) and “Mr. Sunshine” (2018), and featuring K-drama icons Kim Woo-bin and Suzy, the series is a glittering cocktail of mythology, moral dilemmas and rom-com chaos.
Actor Kim transforms into Genie, a mythical being also known as Iblis, who has long abandoned his magic — until fate entangles him with Ka-young (Suzy), a woman with an antisocial disorder, incapable of ordinary human emotions.
However, even before its release, the drama had already been embroiled in controversy among Muslim viewers over its use of Iblis — a pivotal figure in Islamic tradition representing ultimate evil — who is romanticized as the series’ central character.
Setting aside the religious controversy, the question remains: Is Kim Eun-sook’s latest fable a dazzling wish come true or an experiment that loses its way in a fantastical fog?
Actors Kim Woo-bin, left, and Suzy in the Netflix series "Genie, Make A Wish." Courtesy of Netflix
Despite the blend of fantasy, comedy and moral themes, the writer’s trademark dialogue and narrative magic feel diluted in this drama. While her previous successes were marked by piercing wit and layered emotional insight, “Genie: Make a Wish” resorts to clumsy humor, underdeveloped characters and a tonal confusion that hinders immersion.
Early episodes, in particular, have been panned for childish fantasy elements and forced comedic sequences. The drama’s cartoonish humor — delivered through exaggerated computer graphics — often feels superficial, with punchlines and comedic situations that clash with the tone expected of a contemporary fantasy series.
The long narrative traversing past and present lives, life-or-death wagers and weighty themes of human corruption stand in stark contrast to its light, absurd comedic style. As a result, those who anticipated smart and witty storytelling from a celebrated writer known for nuanced, emotionally rich dramas may find themselves disappointed.
However, the later episodes recover some emotional depth. If viewers can endure the early episodes, they’ll find that intriguing developments emerge, making it almost impossible not to watch through to the last episode.
In this drama, the theme of love is explored through the story of Ka-young, who is born with psychopathic tendencies and is unable to control her anger from a young age.
The one who remains by her side is her grandmother, who wraps her granddaughter’s impulsive nature in an even warmer love, patiently teaching her the language of emotion one lesson at a time.
Actor Suzy in Netflix series "Genie, Make A Wish." Courtesy of Netflix
Through this process, the villagers also change and grow. At first, they are fearful of Ka-young, but over time, they come to understand her, patiently teaching and supporting her whenever she acts out. If Ka-young grabs a sickle, they place it on the ground and teach her to read Hangeul (the Korean alphabet); if she wields a hammer, they teach her carpentry.
Believing that her true nature is evil, she trains herself and strives for a lifetime of “good choices” because she has learned from her grandmother and the villagers how deeply she is loved.
She makes her three wishes not for herself, but for others — a striking contrast to the many wishers whose desires are self-serving. The answer to how someone seemingly incapable of feeling emotions can wish for others lies in the strength of her family and the village community.
Writer Kim said in a recent interview, “Is Ka-young a good person or a bad person? Through this question, I wanted to explore how it’s not so much about how a person is born, but which choices they make in life that really matter. What defines our humanity is this series of choices, and the story aims to affirm the essential goodness within us. Ultimately, it’s the love between people that helps us make better choices.”
The drama also offers a fascinating meditation on human depravity through wish-making and the banality of evil. Ka-young’s wager with the genie — to prove human corruption — ends up revealing the moral weakness not in Ka-young, but in the supposedly “normal” villagers. Watching them become corrupted by their wishes is one of the drama’s most compelling aspects and an irresistible pull that keeps audiences watching all the way to the finale.
Fans of the star writer’s acclaimed dramas may find that this one leaves much to be desired, but for those seeking an old-school rom-com with absurd fantasy flourishes, it offers breezy, easy-to-watch entertainment.