Tell Me Your Wish (2022)

When the mystery (almost) ruins the show.

I’m just frustrated, because the good parts were really good, but the bad parts made it close to impossible for me to enjoy them.

What seemed like a bitter-sweet slice of life, that will move you to tears and make you appreciate the small things in your life, changed into a ridiculous no brain mystery about a character no one truly cared about and mobs. There was truly no reason to give them so much attention, and I highly doubt anyone would complain much, if they were used just as backstory devices and nothing more.

You know when a heartwarming slice of life shows work? When they are relatable. When the stories told in them hit close to home, since you either experience these things yourself, or you know someone who experienced them. It’s meaningful, because it’s a daily life we all have to deal with at some point. So why ruin the best aspect of slice of life, by adding borderline makjang plot lines and then focusing the majority of screen time on them as the drama gets closer to the end?

You can probably feel my frustration, but it’s because I truly adored a lot of the elements of this show, just for my joy to be cut short by things that were not even necessary.

Everything that was related to the Genie team? Amazing. I loved Gyeo Re and how raw the character was. The complexity of the emotions presented - perfection. Ji Chang Wook made a good choice picking this role and it’s nice to see him back on track with some more challenging projects. He managed to show vulnerability, but also emotional strength. The gradual development of the character was impeccable. Not to mention how his story clearly shows men can be victims of abuse too, and psychological abuse is as much of an important issue as physical abuse.

While I was not amazed with the writing of Seo Yeon Joo, Choi Soo Young did a great job with the role. The character was just slightly too perfect for me. The impulsivity at the beginning was gone after maybe 2 episodes, and from that point, it was close to impossible to find any real flaw in her.

Sung Dong Il is Sung Dong Il - he always delivers. Kang Tae Shik won my heart. Must say though, I liked his (sadly limited) interactions with Ha Joon Kyung the most. She was also one of my favorite characters - such a troubled person with so much pain. I wish the writers gave her a little bit more screen time, so we could truly dive deeper into who she was. That said, she might be a character many people fail to sympathize with. Girl had issues and she created a lot of issues for other characters.

The compliments go to the whole Genie cast - all actors did an amazing job, and the characters felt like real people. Most of them got enough screen time to make them an important part of the team and the plot, and flesh them out a bit.

The stories of the patients and their last wishes were tears-inducing and I welcomed the pain, but also the warm feeling they brought. Some I enjoyed more than the others, but all had meaningful messages and presented cohesive stories that many could relate to.

And then we have two side plots that I could truly not stand - the mystery of room 403, and the mob/mafia. When I started the show, I did not exactly sign up for soft makjang plot lines, but that’s what was delivered. Compared to the rest of the stories told in the drama, these two just felt cheap. Technically it wasn’t a massive part of the plot, but I found these scenes unnecessary, and that influenced how the whole episodes affected me emotionally (or rather did not, since I could not shake off the frustration caused by these two plotlines).

Still, the drama offers more good than bad. The production value was top notch - screenshotable for sure. Soundtrack, while not exactly memorable, fitted the scenes and overall atmosphere of the show. The songs I personally enjoyed the most were: I Can't Forget You by Kim Feel; I'll Protect You by Choi Yu Ree.

Overall, If You Wish Upon Me is similar to a protagonist from any well written drama - great spirit, depth, complexity that makes you emotionally invested in them, but also having a major flaw needing a major character development. Sadly, dramas don’t get character developments so the flaws stay as part of it forever.

Bonus: I want a short 2nd season with Lee Yoo Mi. She can deliver anything. Just don’t add mobs please ;)

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Death is a sensitive topic done carefully

●“Sunrise is pretty but sunsets are prettier” I read this quote somewhere, where I had a debate about life and death. Sunrise represents life and hope to start fresh. Whereas Sunsets represent Death, where life fades away in the darkness. After living life to the fullest in the day making beautiful memories, when sunsets and all those beautiful memories shine bright with the dusky hue of the sun, making death peaceful.

●I cry easily, not just to my pain but seeing others in pain too so I knew I signed up for a melancholic drama but it would be these tears of happiness and satisfaction I didn’t expect that I would use my whole box of tissue.
The melancholic death was sad but the drama with the help of team Genie put beautiful colors and send people with a smile.

●The pain, misery, suffering, and fear of losing someone we love, this K Drama series reminds us all of the fragility of life. The drama felt episodic as every patient's wish was granted in 1 or 2 episodes. But it also helped in healing the sufferings of others, who are relatives, hospital staff, team GENIE or strangers who became part of the wishes. I loved the healing storyline overall., where ML is the core, he is broken and while fulfilling all the wishes, gets healed himself slowly.

●ML, Yoon Gyeo Rye Played by Ji Chang Wook portraying an ex-convict, abused in childhood, lonely as an adult, no ambitions left, is heartbreaking. On Skin, he has tattoos, ready to physically fight, but inside he is all broken, that mental health contrast is shown superbly. His eyes just penetrate the heart, the sparkles when he cries, his cheeky curiosity, his genuine feelings were brilliant. Though I didn’t like the wardrobe, it determines he was trying to live while wearing vibrant colors. JCW can show the simpler and down-to-earth character with ease
Seo Yeon Joo played by Choi Soo Young is showing toughness outside by lifting weights, has a warm heart, and becomes ML healing genie. CSY looks innocent and tough at the same time. That nurse outfit looked adorable and I felt happy seeing her trying hard to ease out others pain.
Kang Tae Shik played by Sung Dong Il is one of my favorite senior actors. Whenever he plays positive characters I just love it, because in negative characters he is very scary.

●OST’s are healing and soft.
Part 1 “Loner” by Kim Sung Kyu is soft vibed and the lyrics are healing.
Part 5 “Halo” by Park Jinjoo is upbeat and has a warm touch of morning sunshine.
Part 9 “You and me” by TAEYEON has a soft heartwarming vibe just like when two lovers hold hands in winter.

●I would rewatch this when I would like to shed some tears.

●If you want like healing, heartwarming dramas, watch If You Wish Upon Me
If you don’t like sad and tearful dramas or want some amazing avoid this. Because it is a sad drama and has an average story.

●My favorite scene is Yoon Gyo Rye with Sonny at the beach in the first episode. It was a sad scene but it was aesthetic.

●If You Wish Upon Me is pleasant and sentimental; whether its emotions are manufactured or sincere will be in the eye of the beholder.

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Touching and heartfelt

Ji Chang Wook shines once again and his portrayal of a broken person healing with people who care about him was very touching. His acting blew me away especially since this wasn’t the usual romantic persona that he embodies so well in the past.

The rest of the cast were superb as well. Seeing the person who started off looking normal then worsened as her dementia progressed brought back sad memories for me. Another standout character was the brash captain and how his character evolved from the time he started his own business to when he lost his family, realised the wrong path he took and succumbed to his illness. All nicely told in flash back format and brilliantly acted by Sung Dong Il.

You need to be in the right mood to watch this as this drama raises a lot of questions about how we should live our lives as we experience the different deaths that occur throughout this drama. Not for binging as the heart can only take much heartache.

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A Watchable Slice of Life Drama

Definitely its unlike for a kbs drama. They must followed tvn's style, but somehow they made it, but to ve honest u can't beat the best in this business, so i can't label it as a best but overall it was a good watchable drama in the end.

I liked the story and the way they narrated the screenplay. It was perfect for this genre, even for a small scene can change the whole mood of the drama. So many good episodes. There were some lagging and slowness but actually everything all together looks super interesting after every Episodes. The important thing was i didn't get bore even after 12th episode, u can feel the emotions in every episode and it look so refreshing.

Performance is amazing. Especially this side of Ji Chang Wook i always love to see more. Finale Episode is also heartwarming and beautiful. I Liked the way they ended everything..also romance was good as well. If you like slice of life feel good dramas then you can definitely try this out..

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A drama for our souls

Laughed, Cried (a lot) and the whole drama gave a warm closure.
One of the best drama of JCW. He aced this role. His versatility in character/drama selection is awesome.

The whole premise of fulfilling the last wish of terminally ill patients' is refreshing and the story doesn't shy away from dark topics which is commendable.
The scenes with the dog were adorable and rewarding.

The things I felt, could have improved a bit were, the spark between the main couple and the number of episodes could have been around 12.

In short, a heart-warming 16 hours from JCW to binge on.

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As much as JCW is my favorite actor, and as much as I anticipated this drama, I'm sorry to say it was a letdown for me. I feel like the writing was bad and the direction/production was lacking. JCW of course did justice to his character. The FL was okay. I know a lot of people have a problem with her, and I don't think she's the best but I don't mind her. Mostly it was the writing. It was not a well-developed story IMO, and there was cheesy dialogue and scenes at times. I found it very slow and boring until it finally started to pick up in episode 8...but that only lasted 2 episodes.

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sometimes, wishes come true to cherish till the end...

this drama was supposed to be my dropped dramas even if I've never started watching it but it seems the title makes it more interesting to look forward into. Up until I decided to watch this drama until the end, it seems this would be another kdrama I'll watch again due to its very comforting concepts and plot. It always starts with "how life is possible when things happen unexpectedly in your life, you'll might not know where you're life would make it till the end..."

First and foremost, I love the way they made "their last wishes would be granted" even if others does'nt believe what they were doing but in fact they want to feel their patients in an hospice that they had the chance to live for the last time. This drama was something very different from the beginning, to their happiest last moments to cherish, until the pity and sadness comes to the end because they got to grant their last wishes until they enter a new life. I'll say, even if others would say "sometimes wishes are not granted" but we can't deny that we cannot say when is the right time to have that wish to be granted. But what the drama says, make it possible to cherish it till the end.
The plot seems very promising from the beginning until the end. Turning cold hearted to soft hearted, as well as character developments as well. I was not expecting the oldest team captain would end his life that way, and as well as I really love how they really treat the cast from this drama as if they are also really important to be part of the plot since it proved me how the story relates to the other experiences from the other characters having short time duration as well.

For the cast, Ji Chan-wook made me ask "Why he was casted from this drama? it's too far from his previews roles from other dramas" but then I realized until the end how he was a promising actor from me, proving that he can do more roles like this. Sooyoung was also a promising actress for me even if this was just the 3rd drama that I've watched but she was really a good actress from this drama. The other cast were soooo gooood! The other supporting cast, especially the familiar faces I saw, they actually improved a lot as well!

Overall, I think for me this drama would be better if it would have 12-14 episodes since it quite made it more longer, lots of twists as well. But what I love about this drama is how they would give you advices especially to people having a hard time rn atm. It feels like their lines made you think about how life would be precious for you to be thankful for. But again, this would be also one of my favs of how it gave me so much comfort. My tears and happiness from this drama was worth it till the end <33. Very recommended, good for binge watch, life-lesson drama, and good for beginners as well!
Rooting for the whole casts!!!!

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Heart Warming and Satisfying

Brilliant Concept and lovely execution . I won't say that its the best of the series , but its very satisfying and the loop holes get covered by the brilliant performances by the cast . The ending was just amazing ! I gave it a 10 on 10 coz I really enjoyed it a lot.

All the 4 main characters were phenomenal !
Song Dong ll - What a lovely portrayal of his character . He is an amazing character and the favourite ahjusshi of K-dramas !

Ji Chang Wook - Haven't seen a K-drama actor better than him ! He is just absolutely amazing , he can act only with his eyes . Every damn expression is so readable.

Choi Soo young - This is my first time watching her and she was a treat . This is called a strong female lead , not the annoying ones K-dramas usually have. She was a very loveable characters.

Won Ji An - She has a great reach as a performer , just like JCW . She acted crazy , emotional , broken and happy and was amazing with all her scenes.

So far the series I have seen , I can say that this series in one of the best in this genre !! Highly recommended .

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Steady decline with heartfelt feeling

While this drama tackles the topic of dying and death carefully and gently, the overall plot seemed all over the place. I would appreciate more focus on the stories of the patients. However, as the drama progressed, the focus shifted to the main cast and that is when it (in my opinion) went downhill.

There were multiple couples and side characters, whose storylines were introduced but felt incomplete at the end of the show. I personally did not feel much chemistry between the FL and ML.

The script was also weak and it did not allow actors to shine properly. The acting was great, the actors did not disappoint but neither showed anything out of the ordinary.

It is a nice watch but nothing revolutionary or with many plots and twists that would keep the viewer entertained. It is rather a typical slice-of-life drama without much plot going on overall.

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