A Fantasy Romantic Comedy by Kim Eun-sook — Between Expectation and Disappointment
Hello everyone, and welcome to Go K Wave, your global K-culture magazine.
Today, we’re diving into Netflix’s newest Korean fantasy drama, Genie, Make a Wish — a star-studded series that mixes magic, fate, and romance, penned by the legendary Kim Eun-sook.
① Overview
Title: Genie, Make a Wish (다 이루어질지니)
Release Date: October 3, 2025
Episodes: 13 (Total 763 minutes)
Directed by: Lee Byung-hun, Ahn Gil-ho
Written by: Kim Eun-sook
Starring: Kim Woo-bin, Suzy, Ahn Eun-jin, Song Hye-kyo, Daniel Henney
Rating: 15+
Platform: Netflix Exclusive
As a fantasy romantic comedy, the drama balances lighthearted humor with supernatural storytelling. However, many viewers felt that Kim Eun-sook’s signature emotional depth and dazzling dialogue were somewhat diluted this time.
While the trailer was criticized as “childish,” the actual series turned out to be surprisingly heavy and emotional.
② Plot Summary
For 983 years, the spirit Genie (Kim Woo-bin) has been sealed inside a lamp. Known as “Iblis,” he grants human wishes — but each fulfilled desire comes at a dark cost, corrupting the wisher’s soul.
One day, he appears before Gi Ga-young (Suzy), a brilliant but emotionally detached woman incapable of empathy — essentially, a cold-hearted rationalist with psychopathic traits.
Genie soon realizes that Ga-young is the reincarnation of the woman who sealed him a thousand years ago. He vows revenge, but Ga-young’s indifference and wit throw him off balance.
As memories from his past life resurface, Genie recalls that Ga-young once saved him — and his thirst for vengeance slowly transforms into confusion, compassion, and love.
In the middle episodes, the story shifts to the Goryeo Dynasty, revealing their tragic past. A young enslaved Ga-young frees the spirit Iblis, only to be betrayed and executed by humans’ greed. Enraged, Genie unleashes destruction and is punished with a millennium-long imprisonment — leading to his fateful reunion with Ga-young in the present day.
③ Ending Explained (Spoilers Ahead)
The climax unfolds with the arrival of Khalid, an immortal being seeking to erase the boundary between humans and spirits. His actions endanger Genie and Ga-young’s fragile love.
Both Saeid (Go Kyu-pil) and Lee Mi-joo (Ahn Eun-jin) sacrifice themselves — and Mi-joo’s true identity becomes the biggest twist: she is actually Ga-young’s grandmother, Oh Pan-geum, rejuvenated by her second wish.
In the final act, Ga-young makes her third and last wish:
“I want to feel emotions like an ordinary human, even if it’s just for one day.”
Her selfless wish spares her life, but Genie chooses to disappear instead. Devastated, Ga-young wanders into the desert and dies peacefully, clutching his lamp.
Yet the story doesn’t end in tragedy.
Ga-young reincarnates as a new female genie named “Jiniya” (cameo by Song Hye-kyo), and with Pan-geum’s enduring love and angel Izrael’s help, Genie is reborn as well.
Under falling cherry blossoms in the desert, the two finally reunite — their thousand-year connection fulfilled.
④ Review & Analysis
Genie, Make a Wish is best described as:
“A project too big to fail — yet somehow, it almost did.”
With Kim Eun-sook, Kim Woo-bin, Suzy, and director Lee Byung-hun all attached, expectations were sky-high. The result? A visually stunning but uneven fantasy romance that left audiences divided.
🌟 Strengths
- Kim Woo-bin’s performance perfectly embodied the mystical yet tormented Genie.
- Ahn Eun-jin’s shocking twist and cameos from Song Hye-kyo & Daniel Henney added star power.
- The Middle Eastern-inspired mythology and immortal themes offered fresh world-building.
- The final episode tied up its symbolic foreshadowing beautifully — a true Kim Eun-sook signature.
⚡ Weaknesses
- The romance arc lacked emotional depth and spark.
- Direction wavered between absurd comedy and dark melodrama.
- Overlong runtime (13 episodes, 763 minutes) and excessive product placement disrupted pacing.
- Subplots — including queer themes and side characters — felt scattered.
Ultimately, Genie, Make a Wish isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s an enjoyable binge for a long weekend — a visually rich, slightly eccentric fantasy drama with Suzy’s beauty and Kim Woo-bin’s presence at its core.
💭 Final Thoughts
“It’s neither truly romantic nor genuinely funny, yet strangely captivating until the very end.”
This series feels like Kim Eun-sook’s experiment — blending fantasy and sincerity in ways both awkward and endearing.
Even with its flaws, Genie, Make a Wish manages to linger in your thoughts long after the credits roll.
Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more insightful K-Drama reviews on Go K Wave — Your Global K-Culture Magazine.
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