Why "Genie, Make a Wish" Became the Worst-Rated K-Drama of 2025 With Just 5.5 on IMDb: Explained!
- Disha Paul
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Genie, Make a Wish, arrived with huge excitement in 2025. Fans were thrilled to see Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy back in a new fantasy romance after their chemistry in Uncontrollably Fond. The big names, fancy visuals, and a mythic story promised a memorable show.
Instead, the drama has a rating of about 5.5 on IMDb. The reaction was fast and fierce. Viewers complained about the plot, editing, tone, and a controversy surrounding religious content. The Chuseok release choice made things worse by letting criticism spread all at once. We delve into what led to this highly anticipated drama's sudden decline in popularity.
Genie, Make a Wish Plot Summary
Genie, Make a Wish follows Iblis, a supernatural being who wakes after ages and sees humanity as flawed. He meets Ka Young, played by Bae Suzy, and an odd bond forms between them. She gets wishes, and he watches how people use them.
The show jumps between the present and ancient times, and it mixes fantasy, romance, and comedy. It tries to tell a big story about desire, guilt, and change. But the many time jumps and tone shifts made the plot hard to follow for many viewers.
Where to Watch Genie, Make a Wish, and the Chuseok Drop
Netflix released all 13 episodes of Genie, Make a Wish at once during Chuseok. Chuseok is a seven-day holiday when many people have time to binge-watch shows, and it is the longest holiday for many Koreans this year.
The makers likely hoped the holiday would bring big viewership. Instead, because every episode was available from day one, weak moments were exposed immediately. Fans and critics had everything to react to right away. That made negative reviews spread faster.
Genie, Make a Wish Review: What Fans Are Complaining About
A top complaint is how the drama uses religious and mythic themes. Some viewers felt that certain religious ideas and texts were used in a way that showed little respect for real beliefs. This upset many people, especially Muslim viewers, and led to strong backlash online.
Another issue is the story flow. The show jumps from modern scenes to a very old backstory without clear transitions. Viewers felt baffled about when events happened and why a scene mattered. This choppy editing makes the drama hard to enjoy.
Fans also say the tone is uneven. One moment, the show is playful; the next, it is dark. The mix of genres often feels shaky. Jokes sometimes do not land. Heavy scenes do not always have the emotional weight they need.
Genie, Make a Wish Review: What Failed Creatively
The direction and editing often feel rushed or uneven. Scenes cut quickly to new places or new time periods. That creates confusion rather than mystery.
The script has weak points. Dialogue at times feels flat. Some jokes are forced. The emotional beats do not connect clearly. For a show mixing fantasy and romance, the balance is off.
The cast is talented but underused. Kim Woo-bin gives strong moments, but his Genie changes tone from cruel to childlike in a short time. That inconsistency makes the character feel unclear.
Bae Suzy looks great and acts well. But some fans said her role felt familiar and not fully written. Many supporting roles are thin and stay close to stereotypes.
Genie, Make a Wish: What We Liked About It
Even with the flaws, the show has positives. The main cast gave scenes life. Their acting saved many weak moments.
Cameos from well-known stars created buzz. Reports mentioned surprise appearances that delighted fans and added small highlights. These moments gave viewers something to talk about.
The visual design is strong. Costumes, makeup, and settings are eye-catching. Bae Suzy’s fashion got special praise online. Her looks became a talking point and one of the show’s few steady wins.
Genie, Make a Wish Cameos That Surprised Fans
Genie, Make a Wish included several memorable cameos that added excitement to the series. The drama featured some big cameo names. Song Hye-kyo appears as Jinniya, an ex-girlfriend of Iblis with past connections to Ka-young.
Daniel Henney makes a curious cameo as a dog who wants to become human, interacting with Genie. Kim Ji-hoon also appears as a well-dressed, loyal character connected to the cameo dog.
These cameos raised expectations, but many felt they were underused or just splashy additions, not enough to fix the weak script or confusing plot.
Why the Chuseok Binge Drop Might Have Hurt Genie, Make a Wish
Dropping all episodes during a big holiday means there is no slow build. If the first episodes are shaky, viewers can see all the problem areas at once. With episodes available immediately, social media was filled with negative takes, and many people dropped the show fast.
If the episodes had been spread out, the team might have had time to manage feedback, or viewers might have given it more patience as the plot developed. The all-at-once release removed that chance.
Our Thoughts on Genie, Make a Wish
Genie, Make a Wish had everything it needed to be a hit. Instead, a mix of controversy, confusing pacing, and uneven tone made many viewers unhappy. The cast and visual style show what the drama could have been. But the script and editing did not match that promise.
For curious viewers, it is still worth a watch for the performances and the cameos. For others, the flaws are too big and the 5.5 rating feels understandable.
What do you think about Genie, Make a Wish? Did the Chuseok binge drop make the reaction worse? Tell us what you think in the comments.