Fresh out of prison, Yoon Kyeo Re is involved in a car accident.  In place of a cash settlement, he is offered community service at a hospice center.  While working there, he meets the members of Team Genie; a group of volunteers who grant the final wishes of their terminally ill patients.  For the first time in his life, Kyeo Re begins to understand what it is like to have a caring family and friends.  As his role in the team grows, his life finally finds purpose.  And as he settles in to his new life, he finds some curious connections between the health care center and his own troubled past.  

Choi Soo Young as Seo Yeon Joo

Seo Yeon Joo works as a nurse at the hospice center. She is in the ambulance when it is involved in the crash caused by Kyeo Re.  After almost causing another accident on his way into the hospital, her impression of him is not at all good.  She considers him a thug who shouldn’t be trusted with the important work they are doing.  But as she works alongside him, she soon finds out that his tough exterior hides his own wounds and insecurities. And as they begin working as a team, her feelings of love and respect for him and all he has been through continue to grow.  

Seo Yoon Joo became a hospice nurse after watching her own mother struggle and ultimately die of cancer.  Because of her personal experience, she is incredibly empathetic and caring toward her patients.  She believes that no one should be forced to silently suffer through pain and discomfort, so she often tells her patients to speak out when they hurt.  Choi Soo Young is establishing herself as more than just an “idol” actress and I thoroughly enjoyed her in this role.  Her strength and passion are contagious and seem to resonate from the screen.  

Won Ji An as Ha Joon Kyung

Ha Joon Kyung grew up with Kyeo Re in the orphanage.  They agreed to be family when they were young, and Kyeo Re considers her his sister.  But she is obsessive and self-destructive, and Kyeo Re recognizes that she makes him anxious and unhappy.  Every time Kyeo Re tries to get away from her, she threatens to kill herself or both of them.  

 ♥ Kang Tae Shik

Sung Dong Il is one of those immediately familiar faces in kdrama.  I couldn’t count how many shows I have watched him in, and I always love him.  But he was so perfect in the role of Kang Tae Shik.  His portrayal of this character as at once content with his life and yet slightly melancholy in nature made him incredibly realistic and lovable.   As the father figure and glue that held their team together, his presence in every scene was dynamic.  

 ♥ Hogeweyk

I found the idea of the Dementia Village in Amsterdam to be fascinating.  I had never heard of such a place before and I was touched to learn about it.  I also loved that for this drama, they ended up building their own little village right on the property, for Deok Ja and others like her.  Keeping her in the environment she is used to, and letting all her friends watch over her, was a wonderful way to end her story.  

Son

I understand that Son needed to die at some point in the show as a turning point for Kyeo Re.  But I wish they would have kept him around a bit longer.  I think there was some good work the dog could have done at the hospice center as a therapy dog.  And that could have helped show Kyeo Re the way.  There just seemed like an obvious way to give the dog purpose within the story that went beyond Kyeo Re, and I wish they had explored that a bit more.  

 New Volunteers

Bringing in a new volunteer at the end of the drama was a great way to bring the story full-circle and show Kyeo Re’s maturity.  But was I the only one who thought it would be Joon Kyung and Seok Joon?  Now that Joon Kyung and Kyeo Re had come to an understanding about their relationship, it would have been nice to see the gang back together.  Obviously, Joon Kyung and Seok Joon could learn a lot from volunteering there, and for Joon Kyung to see people who treat life and death with the reverence they deserve could give her a fresh and healthier perspective.  

“If You Wish Upon Me” tied up all their loose ends and brought the focus back around to life and healing in a fitting way.  First, we see our last wish granted to Tae Shik, who holds a surprise birthday party for Kyeo Re.  Lots of familiar faces show up to join the celebration.  Tae Shik hands over the watch to Kyeo Re to symbolize the changing of the guard and calls him “son” for the first time.  One year later, Tae Shik has passed away, leaving all his money to Team Genie for their work.  A big chunk of that money went to building their own version of Hogeweyk for dementia patients.  The dating bug has bitten the workers at the center, with both Mr. Koo and Dr. Yang in new relationships.  And of course, Kyeo Re and Yeon Joo are still together and doing well.  The final scene has a new volunteer showing up on a motorcycle, looking rough around the edges and complete with a pet turtle.  Life does go on, even in a hospice center!