Did Genie, Make A Wish Flop?

Spill the Tea: Breaking Down the Global and Korean Scorecard for the Hottest K-Drama of the Year!

1. The Hype Was LITERALLY Giving Us Everything

Before we even got to Episode 1, everyone was completely obsessed. And you know why? Because this wasn’t just any K-Drama; it was a total A-List moment. (https://www.netflix.com/kr/title/81748484)

First off, it was written by Kim Eun-sook, the iconic writer behind all our favorite dramas like Goblin (IYKYK) and Descendants of the Sun. Her name is basically a guarantee for a major hit, so we were already setting our alarms.  

But the real reason we were screaming? The leads! Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy are, like, K-Drama royalty, and they reunited for the first time in nine years. Their chemistry? Goals! Their visuals? Even more goals! They were totally the reason this premiere felt like a huge global event, dropping right on Netflix during the major Chuseok holiday in Korea.  

Plus, when you throw in queen Song Hye-kyo and The Bachelorette alum Daniel Henney for special cameos? You’ve got a recipe for viral content, period ! But sometimes, all that hype can actually set you up for disappointment… and Genie definitely had some awkward moments behind the scenes, including two directors switching out during production . Yikes!

2. Seoul Says: “We Love Them, But It’s Kinda Basic”

So, how did Korea react when the show finally dropped? It was a classic case of “Hate-Watching” meets “Star-Struck.”

The good news? It was a smash hit immediately! It shot straight to No. 1 on Netflix’s Top 10 Series in Korea basically overnight. Kim Eun-sook’s formula and the leads’ star power totally won the first round.  

But the reviews were super mixed, honestly. It was a total split:

💕 The “We’re Obsessed” Crowd:

• They were like, “This is PERFECT for killing time!” If you just want a fun, easy watch without thinking too hard, this is it.  
• Everyone was freaking out over Suzy’s visuals. Seriously, people were saying the drama was just a beautiful “Suzy photo book“. And they’re not wrong—she looks stunning!  
• They also loved the writer’s signature fantastical world and quirky, signature dialogue.  

💔 The “Major Flop” Crowd:

• This group thought the show was “too childish” and “super disappointing” compared to the hype.  
• The number one complaint was that the dialogue felt way too exaggerated and over-the-top. Some viewers were   literally so uncomfortable, they couldn’t even finish Episode 1.  

So, while the ratings were high, the critical reviews were definitely giving “awkward.” Basically, Korea watched it because of the actors, even if the script felt a little… been there, done that.

3. Global Scorecard: Top 5, But Not the Top

Okay, now let’s talk about the global results, because this is where the real drama is.

Globally, Genie, Make A Wish debuted at No. 5 on the Netflix Global Top 10 TV Show chart . That sounds good, but for a show with this much star power and budget, falling short of the top-tier rank felt kinda weak .

Also, get this: besides Korea, the show only managed to snag the No. 1 spot in just two other countries: Peru and the Dominican Republic . When you think about massive K-Drama markets like the US, Europe, or Southeast Asia, not dominating those charts right away is a huge sign that the show failed to connect with everyone.

What International Fans Were Saying:

• The Good Vibe: They agreed the show looked absolutely fire. The visuals were “marvellous,” the costumes were lavish, and the Dubai desert setting was total travel goals .
• The Bad Vibe: The consensus was that the plot was a “wild tonal cocktail.” It was trying to be too many things—fantasy, romance, comedy—all at once, and the balance was way off . Some fans even noticed a lack of chemistry between the main leads . Ugh, so awkward!

4. The Biggest Drama: The ‘Iblis’ Controversy 😱

Hold up, this part is CRITICAL. This show didn’t just face low ratings; it started a massive cultural firestorm because of the male lead’s name.

Kim Woo-bin plays the genie, and his character’s name is ‘Iblis.’ For many people, especially in Muslim communities worldwide, this name is a huge deal. Iblis is a deeply significant religious figure—it’s essentially the name for Satan or the Devil in Islamic tradition .

Using this name casually in a lighthearted rom-com? That’s what triggered the huge backlash. Viewers felt the show was being “culturally insensitive” and was making fun of (or “trivializing”) a serious religious concept . The internet was not having it. Hashtags like #CancelGenie started trending, with fans demanding an apology from Netflix and the producers .

This whole mess is a major wake-up call for K-Drama creators. As Hallyu goes global, they need to realize that what might be a fun fantasy plot device in Korea (like using demonic names, which Koreans sometimes do, just like Western shows use “Satan” ), can be deeply offensive to a massive global audience.  

5. The ‘Goblin’ Shadow: Is K-Fantasy Out of Ideas?

Finally, we have to talk about the inevitable comparison: the original Kim Eun-sook classic, Goblin.

A ton of viewers—both in Korea and internationally—felt like Genie, Make A Wish was basically “an alternative universe of Goblin”. You have an ancient, supernatural dude (Iblis/Genie) meeting an ordinary human girl (Ka-young/Suzy) , and their banter totally felt like the same vibe as the Goblin and the Grim Reaper’s bromance.  

Critics are saying the show relied too much on the formula that worked before, instead of trying something new. And when you rely on old tricks, it just makes the plot holes and the awkward dialogue stand out even more.  

The Final Grade: Pretty, But Problematic

So, what’s the final vibe? Genie, Make A Wish is definitely pretty to look at, thanks to its gorgeous leads and high production value. But all the star power in the world couldn’t stop the show from having a major identity crisis (the chaotic plot) and, more seriously, a huge cultural sensitivity failure (the Iblis controversy) .

If K-Dramas want to keep their crown as global entertainment kings, they need to stop reusing old formulas and do their homework on cultural and religious diversity. It’s time for new stories, guys!

Grade: B- (Points deducted for the Iblis drama and the unoriginal plot!)