Episode 1 of *Genie, Make a Wish* opens with Iblis recounting his origins in a haunting narrative. He is a genie, forged by a Supreme Being from smokeless fire. Following their creation, a faction of genies rebelled against their maker, sparking a cataclysmic war between the celestial angels and the rebellious genies—a conflict that raged for three grueling centuries. Fortunately, Iblis was not among those who dared to challenge the divine order.
When peace finally settled, the Supreme Being shaped humanity from the earth's clay. The angels and genies were then commanded to bow in reverence before the first human. Iblis, however, defied this edict and was cast out of heaven in disgrace. As he tumbled from the celestial realm, he pleaded with the Supreme Being to grant him the power to lead humans astray, condemning them to the fiery depths of hell. His wish was reluctantly granted, but with a chilling caveat: should he ever encounter a truly righteous human, he himself would be banished to the darkest pits of hell.
For ages, Iblis's scheme unfolded with chilling precision, until he crossed paths with a singularly virtuous girl who wielded her wishes not for personal gain, but to rescue others. After her untimely death, Iblis claimed a piece of her remains as a macabre trophy. For centuries, he nursed his vendetta, vowing to exact his revenge the moment a new master set him free.
The scene then shifts to present-day Korea, where we meet Ka-young and her grandmother, Pan Geum. We quickly learn that Ka-young was abandoned by her mother and left in her grandmother's loving care. Now grown, Ka-young visits her mother in hopes of reconciling their fractured relationship. Yet, the truth is far harsher: her mother, though financially supportive, harbors no affection for Ka-young. She had relinquished her because she is a psychopath, devoid of emotions, choosing instead to focus on her other two daughters and husband, whom she took with her to Dubai.
Pan-geum devoted her entire life to instructing Ka-young on the art of recognizing and mimicking emotions. She established a set of rules to keep Ka-young on the right path and equipped her with coping strategies. Pan-geum made Ka-young swear an oath that she would never take another person's life.
Now a grown woman, Ka-young remains fiercely loyal to Pan-geum. She sternly warns her mother not to harm Pan-geum again and officially severs all ties with her. After the tense encounter with her mother, Ka-young is determined to make the most of her vacation.
The tour group ventures into the desert, where the guide cautions them about the perils of cloud dust, also known as the waltzing genie. As Ka-young explores the vast expanse, she stumbles upon a lamp. Frustration bubbles within her, and in a fit of anger, she smashes the lamp against the sand, imagining she is striking her mother's face. After venting her rage, she tosses the lamp aside, only to watch in astonishment as it repeatedly returns to her.
It turns out that in her moment of fury, she inadvertently freed Iblis from his confines. Iblis instantly recognizes her, but Ka-young is oblivious to their shared past. She brandishes her hairpin, threatening to harm him.
He hurriedly attempts to introduce himself, but his motion sickness gets the better of him. Ka-young, assuming he's a fool, pays him no heed. She returns to her hotel room, only to find him sprawled on the sofa, his long hair cascading in every direction.
Iblis is taken aback by Ka-young's lack of recollection of their previous encounter. Meanwhile, Ka-young couldn't be bothered by the fact that he had endured 983 years trapped in a lamp due to her actions centuries prior.
A flashback reveals Sade, Iblis's mythical servant, who had been entrusted with the task of tracking down Ka-young's reincarnations over the ages. With Iblis confined, Sade diligently kept him informed each time Ka-young perished and was reborn.
All Iblis could think about during his long imprisonment was exacting revenge on Ka-young. He even pleaded with the Supreme Being for another opportunity. Now that he is free, and Ka-young has become his new master, he sees the perfect chance to corrupt her.
To achieve this, he needs her to make three wishes. His eternal destiny hinges on the success of this mission. Once Ka-young grants her three wishes, if they are not virtuous, he emerges victorious. However, if she makes a single righteous wish, he will face beheading.
Ka-young stubbornly refuses to make a single wish, and for the remainder of her vacation, Iblis becomes her relentless shadow. He haunts her with ceaseless torment, while the rest of her travel companions grow increasingly concerned, suspecting that she's losing her grip on reality as she mutters to herself as if engaged in invisible conversations.
Meanwhile, back in Korea, Pan-geum's mind is consumed with worry that Arabic men might lead Ka-young astray. She picks up the phone, desperate to confirm that Ka-young is safe and sound, and adhering to her medication regimen.
The scene abruptly shifts to Ka-young, now in the midst of a YouTube interview. She's discussing how her grandmother's strict rules have served as a guiding light, helping her manage her psychopathic inclinations. It's during this interview that we also discover her hidden talent: she's a skilled mechanic.
Back in the bustling city of Dubai, Iblis continues his relentless pursuit, pressuring Ka-young to fulfill her destiny by making her three wishes. She frantically tries to rid herself of the lamp, but every attempt is thwarted. Iblis reappears with renewed determination each time. To win her over, he unleashes his supernatural powers, soaring through the air with her in tow.
It's comically absurd how no one seems to notice a woman suddenly ascending from the mall, as if by magic!
He whisks her away to the pinnacle of the city's tallest skyscraper, once again pleading with her to make a wish. To his surprise, Ka-young isn't the least bit intimidated by him; instead, she's captivated by his ability to fly. Seizing this as her golden opportunity to be rid of Iblis, she hurls him off the rooftop. He crashes onto another building, sustaining injuries in the fall. But he's not one to stay down for long; he rebounds with a vengeance, fueled by rage.
He wraps his hands around Ka-young's throat, but she remains unflinching. If anything, her curiosity only intensifies. She simply wants to know if the fall caused him any pain. Ka-young meets his furious gaze with a mirthful laugh, daring him to go through with it and end her life. In a sudden flashback, Iblis catches a glimpse of Ka-young's past life. She was just a child when she made her three fateful wishes. The episode concludes with Ka-young still suspended in Iblis's grip, her feet dangling helplessly in the air.
