REVIEW: ‘Genie, Make A Wish’ Is A Magic Carpet Ride Of Comedic Chaos

From writer Kim Eun-sook (The Glory, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Mr. Sunshine) comes a new fantasy romantic comedy KDrama, Genie Make A Wish, which is arguably the most chaotic romantic KDrama I’ve watched this year. Drawing inspiration from Islamic mythology, this KDrama reunites Kim Woo-bin and Suzy in a mostly thought-provoking tale that transcends the ages. While its first episode polarizes with its heavy exposition and intriguingly off-kilter female love interest, it ultimately manages to pull everything together.

At the beginning of Genie Make A Wish, we are introduced to Iblis (Kim Woo-bin), a wish-granting genie who struck a deal with God to test a theory. Iblis believes all humans are greedy and selfish, but if any human wishes for something truly selfless, his life will be forfeit. Unfortunately, for the nihilistic genie, he is condemned to live 983 years inside a lamp after one human proves him wrong. This fosters a deep-seated revenge in Iblis, who is determined to locate the reincarnation of the one who led to his imprisonment.

The latest incarnation is the literal psychopath, Ki Ka-young (Suzy). Abandoned by her mother due to her violent nature, Ka-young is raised by her grandmother, Oh Pan-geum (Kim Mi-kyung), who instills in her a set of rules to follow, keeping her on the straight and narrow. The local villagers also assist in raising Ka-young to be somewhat decent despite her neurology. Needless to say, when Ka-young ventures out to Dubai and accidentally discovers Iblis’s lamp, it’s not necessarily a match made in heaven.

Kim Woo-bin fully embraces the sinister (and comedically ridiculous) scenarios thrown at him.

Genie Make A Wish fares better in its exploration of humanity and the great debate surrounding our greed versus our ability to be selfless if given the chance. A story told across 13 episodes, the great debate between Iblis and God is one as old as time, and writer Kim Eun-sook takes the opportunity to explore this theme through many of the characters introduced in the series.

Central to the debate is Ka-young, a psychopath who, quite frankly, would be assumed to prove Iblis’s point at every turn. Yet, with no desire and a strict adherence to the rules her grandmother has made for her, she has nothing to really wish for. This dilemma might have halted the momentum of Genie Make A Wish entirely, except that Eun-sook (through a bet made by Ka-young and Iblis) offers a chance to explore this debate via the wishes of five random individuals (and a lovely cameo appearance from Wheel of Time‘s Daniel Henney).

This allows the main plot surrounding Ka-young and Iblis a chance to breathe while also demonstrating both the predictability and subsequent unpredictability of human nature. An individual’s decisions are not an embodiment of a whole species.  Through these snapshot moments with these individuals – all of which inevitably weave into our central duo’s lives – Iblis’s generalization of humanity is brought into question. 

Similarly, people’s decisions influence how Ka-young interacts with the world. Despite the stigma she has received from some villagers over her psychopathy, the kindness and empathy of her grandmother while raising her, the influence of her friendship with Choi Min-ji (Lee Zoo-young), and the villagers around her have an impact. They could have rejected her (and some do through hurtful words and judgment); yet her grandmother’s love, determination, and Min-ji’s acceptance shape Ka-young into a person who defies expectations. 

Through interacting with Ka-young, her grandmother, and the villagers, Iblis softens. His transformation from a jaded, snarky genie to someone willing to concede that he might be wrong is handled naturally. Kim Woo-bin’s performance as Iblis shines, alternating between peak comedic goofball moments and grappling with Iblis’s rage and despair. As Iblis, he bears the weight of suffering and cynicism, which only starts to buckle when he meets his psychopathic match.

As a romance, Genie Make A Wish shouldn’t necessarily work. You have a sexy, immortal being up against a psychopath incapable of a wide range of emotions, something Suzy wholly leans into as Ka-young. And, for the most part, it almost hits the mark. Almost. Despite their best efforts, the chemistry between Kim Woo-bin and Suzy does not convey a romantic connection. Instead, it would have been more believable to consider Iblis and Ka-young as eventual friends based on the playfulness of their interactions. 

Part of why this romance also isn’t quite hitting the mark may be due to the limitations of Ka-young’s range. This isn’t a criticism of Suzy’s acting; as Ka-young, she embodies the scope of Ka-young’s neurology and lived experience, which has given her a general lack of emotion. It makes it more difficult to convey the natural progression of feelings, though, keeping an eye on the decisions Ka-young makes helps fill in some of the gaps. 

Rounding out our two lovebirds is the ensemble cast of characters, all of whom know exactly the chaotic energy Genie Make A Wish embodies by the series’ end. As the ultra-serious Angel of Death, Ejllael, actor Noh Sang-hyun radiates the constant buried rage that comes with his occupation, particularly when face-to-face with his rival, Iblis. However, Noh Sang-hyun has no problem being the butt of the joke, with Ejllael’s occasional tantrums, occasional wing theft, and more.

Genie Make A Wish is strongest when it explores the complexities of humanity.

As the sidekicks to the clashing rivals, Ko Kyu-phil’s Sade and Woo Hyu-jin’s Irem reflect their masters’ personalities and flaws. Leaning more into the comedic tones of Genie Make A Wish, Kyu-phil volleys back and forth with Kim Woo-bin, making for some fun moments. Hyu-jin’s Irem reflects the more serious side of the series, toeing the line of the rules her master sets while also being an accessory to his machinations. 

The two big standouts of Genie Make A Wish, though, are Ahn Eun-jin, who plays the younger version of Oh Pan-geum, and Kim Ye-gyeom, who plays Jung Hoon amid other roles. As Pan-geum, Ahn Eun-jin builds on the foundation Kim Mi-kyung left. The similarities in body language once Pan-geum is newly transformed are striking. However, the transition from Pan-geum’s more springy self into her “older” habits should have happened gradually over time. It comes across more suddenly after a pivotal conversation.

As for Kim Ye-gyeom, the depth and range he shows in Genie Make A Wish show what a bright future he has. Playing older than one’s actual age is always tricky, and how he nails the energy and body language required for the role is spot on. There’s also something to be said about the sheer level of confidence he embodies in his primary role, making his character’s actions all the more believable as we see everything unfold on screen.

The comedy is a real joy. The banter between Iblis and Ka-young showcases the comedic timing of Kim Woo-bin and Suzy. Jokes made at the expense of Iblis’s hair (with Kim Woo-bin rocking some rather awkward-looking wigs), the censoring of Disney and Marvel mentions, and jokes made at Aladdin‘s expense, give a meta vibe to the humor. There’s even a nod made regarding The Heirs, a project Woo-bin and Kim Eun-sook worked on more than a decade ago.

Genie Make A Wish is a lot to take in. Oscillating between humor, overt fantasy, and seriousness amidst its varying plot points, it is enough to give a viewer whiplash. Throw in some heady exposition, particularly in its first episode, and you almost have points where dialogue is almost akin to a lecture. Surprisingly, despite how much the series is juggling, it all somehow comes together, giving the series a definitive chaotic energy. However, not everyone will resonate with its quirky tone.

There is also the matter of some questionable CGI that, instead of selling the more fantastical elements of Genie Make A Wish, end up distracting. From incredibly jarring carpet rides, particularly one with our couple whipping over Dubai, to Sade’s animal form, and larger-than-life fights between angels and genies, there are many moments throughout where the CGI could have been tighter. 

What I can’t necessarily comment on is the heavy Middle Eastern influence of the show. Genie Make A Wish does draw from Islamic mythology, particularly surrounding Iblis, the creation of humanity, and the like. It’s clear that at least a bare minimum of research was done. However, I highly recommend that readers also seek reviews from those more familiar with the culture, and more specifically, the Arabic language, to gauge how the show handles the subject matter.

Once you get through the hurdle of its opening episode, Genie Make A Wish is a fun watch. It is incredibly chaotic, with the most fascinating character pairing at its center daring us to question not only the state of humanity but also whether a psychopath can actually fall in love.

All episodes of Genie Make A Wish are streaming now exclusively on Netflix.