Okay, let’s talk about the big reunion we’ve all been waiting for: Kim Woo Bin and Suzy in Genie, Make a Wish (also known as It Will Come True)! Seriously, after the heartbreak that was Uncontrollably Fond (2016) , this drama felt like our therapy. Their chemistry is still undeniable , and honestly, with some noticeable improvements , it’s still the best.
We all hoped this would be the next big thing in fantasy storytelling , but unfortunately, it wasn’t the magic carpet ride we were dreaming of. It had incredible potential—suspense, emotional depth, and some beautiful storytelling that kept me hooked.
The Plot: A Lot of… Stuff
This story is wild. The plot is pretty crazy , kicking off with our female lead (FL), who everyone calls a “psychopath” because, well, she just can’t feel emotions. She takes a trip to Dubai to basically cut ties with her mom , stumbles upon a magic lamp in the desert, and then the whole mess begins.
The show ambitiously introduces us to a whole new mythology of angels and genies/demons. The issue? The story is divvied up into so many subplots, it feels disjointed. We have the leads’ main story and past , the ML and the angel of death , the “immortal child” , the 2FL and her grandmother , and five separate mini-stories involving four random people and a dog connected to the FL’s first wish. Whew. You feel all that while watching. It was a mix of the main leads’ story, and then all this other…stuf. Honestly, it’s hard to keep up.
The Characters: Goofy and One-Note
The good news is that both leads showed great acting chops. Suzy really showed her improvement , and her “psychotic smile” always cracked me up. Her acting prowess really shined in the end (that desert crying scene!). Kim Woo Bin was great, too, showing off a comedic side that was a huge departure from his usual dominant persona.
The direction, though, was too over the top, which meant basically no character development.
- The ML: One minute, he’s murdering everyone and being all god-like and ruthless, and the next, he’s totally goofy and over the top at times. Was it to play off the FL’s bluntness? Who knows!
- The FL: Her emotionless state was fine until the end when she finally showed feelings. That moment just made me disappointed about what the drama could have been if they had let her act with emotions all along. She was pretty much one note for the entire run. Plus, they never shied away from her being relentlessly mean to the ML, which totally took me out of the romance by a long shot.
Final Wish & Verdict
I was hoping this drama would be a more magically captivating romance , focusing on the core idea that the ML thinks all mortals are corrupt until he meets the FL. Their past could have been the key to their uniting without all the BS of the other characters.
The show held a magical quality right up until the end. Unfortunately, the final episode felt totally unnecessary. Instead of keeping that supernatural beauty and mystery alive, it wrapped everything up way too neatly , leaving the ending feeling flat instead of haunting and memorable.
Still, even with all the flaws on the story-teling , this K-drama remains a beautiful fantasy romance , and it was still entertaining. The five “mini” stories around the four people and one dog in the beginning felt strong , and I actually liked where it was going before it got too dark.
Why 7.5/10? It was disjointed in many ways, but it was still fun to watch. It had its truly great moments that weren’t always overshadowed by the weak direction. I’d still recommend this, especially if you watched Uncontrollably Fond.
Synopsis: Cold, impassive Ga Yeong has spent her life under her grandmother’s care, whose watchful eye and tough-love approach have helped keep Ga Yeong’s psychopathic tendencies in check. When Ga Yeong unexpectedly stumbles upon a magical lamp, she awakens the mysterious spirit Genie from his thousand-year slumber — and yes, he promises the young woman three life-changing wishes. Unleashed into a new millennium, Genie’s mischievous magic shakes up Ga Yeong’s quiet life, and as he navigates the unfamiliar realities of the modern world, the two find themselves in a surprising whirlwind romance.
But just when things couldn’t get any less predictable, Ga Yeong learns her wish-granting sidekick is actually Iblis, better known as Satan, who is hell-bent on proving that humans are corruptible. It’s a whole new twist on the genie-in-a-lamp story, and when Ga Yeong’s intractability and tightly controlled routines meet Genie’s trickster energy and clueless charm, it sets the stage for a romance that will be anything but ordinary.
Cast & Credits: Kim Woo Bin, Bae Suzy, Ahn Eun Jin, Steve Noh, Ko Kyu Pil
Episodes: 13
Air Date: Oct 3, 2025 – Oct 3, 2025
Where to Watch: Netflix
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