Goblin (2016)

When Fairy Tales Meet Modern Media; Perfectly.

When fairy tales meet modern media perfectly. If that is not a good enough hook then I do not know what is, or if my words will persuade you in any manner more.

I highly recommend this show. Well-written, well-acted and well-produced, this show leaves you craving more. With episodes averaging 77 minutes long, it will not be over quickly. Once you get invested it will keep you on the hook, at least it did to me. This show holds dear to my heart and completely surpirsed me with the level of fantasy, drama, and romance that it encompasses. Not only did it do all that well, but it was all-around a brilliant piece of art produced by modern media. The show enlightens those of the fairy tales and history of the country whilst also encapsulating a sweet and melodramatic romance that leaves your heart aching for more.

'Goblin: The Lonely and Great God' is one of those shows that pop up once in a while that proves the mastery of crafting shows. With such a brilliant cast, story, and production in its belt, it is no surprise that this show was and is a masterpiece. The cinematography along with the soundtrack adds to the beauty of the show. Furthermore, it is no wonder the value and popularity of it, either. It proves the level of craftmanship media production involves and how fairy tales meet modern media in a manner that not only engrosses viewers but enlightens those ignorant of the history and tales of a country.

It proves that any old folktale can be reimagined and adapted to the screen for a wider audience. That with the right people with the right skills at the right time it can produce a work of magic.

The show centres around a girl, Ji Eun Tak, who can see ghosts and is the self-proclaimed 'Goblin's Bride' who can end his eternal existence on Earth. Kim Shin is the god/goblin that became immortal after his tragic demise in Goryeo (where he was an unbeatable general of the military). The Goblin's life remains a bleak existence as he watches all those he retains a relationship with - die, for that is his punishment. The simple task of returning the Goblin to ash by removing the sword turns convoluted and messy with the emotional bond the pair develop. Neither can comprehend the harsh reality that seeks them nor the involvement of past enemies that push them together and make the once-simple task an almost impossibility.

The development of the story and the characters intertwine in a manner that suits the title of a fairy tale. Neither production, writing, or casting of the show was skimped upon - everything was done to an extremely high standard. Along with the side characters, that can often get pushed so far to the side that there is no point in their being, in Golbin that is not the case. We meet three very emotionally empathetic characters that hook the viewer almost as tightly as the main two do; Sunny, Yoo Duk Hwa, and the Grim Reaper. It is the progression of all story beats, minor plots, and the development of the side characters that really step the show up a level.

This show when I first went to put it on was not something I thought was going to be brilliant. I thought it was going to be a bog-standard fantasy/drama/romance like most others you see. After the first episode, I still was not convinced - mainly due to the long length of the show and the slight information dump that it gave. But once I persevered I fell in love with it.

Golbin left me in tears of joy and sadness. It satiated a craving for a good quality romance that I had not been able to find in a long time. If any show deserves blind faith it is this one.

In one word this show is ART. It deserves to be seen even by those who wish to criticise it. I have many bits I could criticise and fault, as with anything. As a writer myself, I can see minor parts that should have been developed and whatnot, but even so, this show was one of the best-written pieces of work I have seen in a long time. It reminds me of why I began writing in the first place and what type of writer I want to be.

So if you have the time or the craving for a good show, give it go. It was the perfect piece of media for me. And it might just be for you as well. You never know until you try.

Tee.

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Overused tropes in fantasy genre

I have been watching Korean dramas since my early teens; it has been close to 20 years. I'm genuinely quite sick and tired of the same old plotlines where there are two leads that are bound to end up together, and two supporting actors who may or may not end up together. Writers continue to churn out these repetitive storylines for mindless entertainment to appeal to lonely, horny, swoony, young (and older) women. Goblin, is just another one of these dramas.

I absolutely hated this drama: I actually dropped it halfway around episode 8 and continued with my life for the next 6 months with little intention to return to it. I only forced myself to finish the series so it won't keep showing up in my "Continue Watching" list in my Netflix account.

Its redeeming qualities are the CGI stuff, and the performance of the supporting actors. I thought their love story was slightly more interesting and bittersweet. I was irked by the weird semblance to the awful Twilight series, where an undead male figure falls in love with a teenage girl. EEEWW. Sorry, no matter how dashing Gong Yoo is (I am one of the few who never found him charismatic), I shudder to think how anyone could find this romantic, even suspending all logic.

If you are a newbie into the Korean drama universe, this could be a sample drama for you to let your heartstrings be tugged. But for longtime K-drama watchers like me, I am always looking for something new and refreshing.

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Top Drama

I just finished watching the Goblin Special (lots of behind the scenes moments and bloopers) it reminded me how much I loved this drama so I felt compelled to write a review.
This drama was outstanding for me. It was directed by the talented Lee Eung Bok and it has a level of plot complexity that really appealed. I was hooked right from the start the music and cinematography brought the standard to a high level. In the early episodes the laugh out loud moments were wonderful and the ML's especially good at the deadpan, fast delivery and comic timing.
Special mention: Goblin has the most perfect OST ever!
The script writing is excellent apart from the humour there are also some esoteric ideas that are handled well.
I felt the pace of the episodes was steady, not too rushed and allowed me to care about what was happening. I felt for the characters and cried buckets over the painful parts.
Gong Yoo makes this drama outstanding (yes I am biased towards every role he has ever played) Kim Shin endures so much and does it with dignity (and a great wardrobe) he has lived over 900 years and never been in love so some of his reactions to the FL are quite clumsy and youthful. He has been focused on his plan without a thought for the 'goblin bride's involvement so initially comes across as very unfeeling.
Kim Go Eun is a brilliant actress and as Ji Eun Tak meets Kim Shin when she is a high school student studying to get into uni. She has led a very sad life with almost no support since aged 9 when her mother died. She is very believable playing this 19 year old who has been told repeatedly she is to become the goblin's bride so she latches onto him very strongly when they meet. Later she plays her own age of 29 and this transition is also well developed.
The Grim Reaper (Lee Dong Wook) builds a close friendship with Kim Shin and their antics as flatmates, together with Yoo Duk Hwa (Yook Sung Jae) add some of the cutest and lighter humorous elements and assist later when some of the darker history is revealed.
The rest of the cast are also stand-out for me.
I do think I will rewatch at a later time because there is so much to take in and I must make a special mention that the baddie Park Jung Hun is particularly scary.

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Breathtaking Love Story About Letting Go of the Past

Ever since I began really getting into K-Dramas, the one series that has eluded me is this one. It wasn’t in the US region, and I’d heard so many things about it that I kept trying to figure out a way to watch it. Fortunately, moving to Taiwan put me in a different Netflix region, and I almost missed it again, because it’s under the title, “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.”

My expectations for this series were surpassed in every way. I was slightly worried that the reputation of the series would somehow come up short. It didn’t. This is one of the most charming and transcendent love stories I have ever seen. It’s light, beautiful, and full of laughter and tears. In short, it’s full of Life. And perhaps that is why it has touched the hearts of so many.

The four leads of this series are all captivating and you scarcely want to blink for fear of missing something whenever any of them are on screen. Gong Yoo (Kim Shin) has the smoothest, most soft-spoken, and calming voice I think I have ever heard. He reminded me of Cary Grant, one of history's most romantic and effortless actors. He has such charm that he doesn’t have to do much to be in awe of his performance.

I haven’t seen Kim Go Eun in many things, but this is easily the most vivacious and endearing role that I have seen her in. She plays Ji Eun Tak to perfection. She has such a lovely smile and bubbly personality that you can easily see why Kim Shin is so taken with her. Despite her hardships, she simply oozes Life itself.

Lee Dong Wook, the grim reaper with a past, plays the very heartbroken and wounded soul who somehow senses that he’s done something terrible in his past. I’ve seen this talented actor in several series now. As good as Gong Yoo is at acting with his eyes, Lee Dong Wook shows us every ounce of pain that his character is going through. We feel it. We eventually know of the horrendous things he’s done, but in the end, all we want is for him to let go of the pain.

Finally, we have Yoo In Na, an actress I have only seen one other time in “Touch Your Heart.” She is such a charmer with that incredible smile of hers and her very youthful expressions. Only Yoo In Na can take a somewhat conceited character and make her likable and pleasing. She did the same in “Touch Your Heart” and it’s obviously something she’s a master at doing. In many ways, she’s a character who’s torn between the Goblin and the Reaper, and we somehow sense that she knows this. Perhaps that it also why, despite the pain of the past, she’s the strongest of the three because she’s actually able to let go.

While this is an absolutely endearing love story, the series’ power is its message of forgiveness. Everyone carries baggage around, holding on to the painful experiences of the past with the weights of guilt and shame for the things we’ve done. For the Goblin, this is represented by the sword. For Sunny, it’s the ring. And for the Grim Reaper, it’s his hat. And the glue that binds them, with the wisdom of living a free and carefree life, is Ji Eun Tak.

How long must people continue to suffer before we let ourselves and others off the hook? Punishment does not come from anyone or anything except for ourselves. So, how long will you continue to carry the burden? Release lies in the wisdom and power of forgiveness, which is the process of letting go. Leave all of your burdens behind.

The music of this series mirrors the series itself with light piano pieces and soft songs that always seem to mirror the story, the characters, and even the environment. I loved how part of the series was filmed in Quebec, obviously during the fall season when the scenery is at its most captivating.

The series doesn’t miss a beat with some outrageously hilarious moments. One of my favorites was when the Goblin and the Reaper are trying to figure out how to use a cell phone and the camera that goes with it. Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook had me laughing so hard during that scene! It was priceless.

Korean performers are masters of emotion. The tears that were shed were so powerful and convincing by all four actors, that it had you really feeling those moments of sadness and pain. That is what separates Korean actors from so many others: they make you FEEL it! When Ji Eun Tak loses the Goblin, and she begins to wail uncontrollably on the rooftop, you can’t help but feel her pain and despair. The same happens for the Goblin in the last episode. But alas, all is not lost. No one goes away forever, and that is another aspect of the story that is truly beautiful and what made that final scene so epic.

Goblin is easily one of the best series I’ve ever seen, and at some point, I will certainly wish to sit down and watch it again. Goblin is like sitting at home under a warm blanket, drinking a cup of hot coffee in front of a fireplace while the autumn leaves fall outside in the crisp air with the reminder to enjoy Life and each moment.

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What has already not been said about this show? I was expecting to be disappointed by it as there is too much hype around this drama and that always leads to a rise in expectations. However after completing it, I can say that I totally understand the hype but not without its issues.

I will start with the good:
-Honestly at the heart of the show is the bromance between the Goblin and the Grim Reaper. They have a definite backstory and a connection that we see blossom as the two rely on each other and grow fond of one another.
-Grim Reaper. Yes. That is it. With the most interesting character arc, all the plot lines surrounding him were the most engaging and I would always look forward to his scenes.
-The romance between Sunny and the Grim Reaper is heartbreaking and endearing. They have great chemistry and I could totally see why Touch your Heart was made after this show.
-Strong supporting cast that added to the drama instead of working as an unnecessary filler. Each character had something to add in their own way.
-The humorous parts were well-placed and would help bring a lighter tone after heavy scenes.
-OST. The show is known to have a great soundtrack and it honestly contributes in making this drama better.
-Spot on acting by each member of the cast.
-Last but not definitely not the least, its outstanding cinematography. The colors and locations are just super pleasing to the eye.

There were certain illogical points in the plotline but I won't include any plot-related point in my dislike area. Now coming to my share of problems:
-THE MAIN COUPLE. Just like a few others have mentioned, the age gap here is very hard to ignore. And no, I am not referring to the age gap between the actors; the fact that a 900+ year old Goblin falls for a high school student just did not sit well with me. Their relationship at many points seemed more like a father-daughter duo, with him patting her head, buying her gifts as she squeaks and gets excited, telling her to be back home early and on time, paying for her meals- the list just goes on. It certainly did not help that Eun Tak was written as an innocent, bubbly young teenager and the 'wise' Goblin too lost all his composure around her. The actors of course nailed their parts so this is not on them but just on how the central love story was written. Even till the end, the weakest link for me was their romance plot line. They did have their moments, but that left a very temporary smile on my face unlike the second couple.
-Repeated scenarios, too many flashbacks and heck lot of slow motion shots (particularly between the Goblin and Eun Tak). I know all dramas have these, but this one takes it to another level.
-Lack of screen time for Yoo Duk Hwa and Sunny. These were two very interesting characters which in spite of being a part of the main cast were underutilized in my opinion.
-A lot of the essential and heavy stuff was revealed and given light to after episode 10 (with earlier episodes having repeated scenarios and flashbacks as mentioned above).

One might wonder in spite of not enjoying the main romance how could the rating still be an 8? Well even with my personal problems with it, there were many factors that kept me going and I was invested in the show. I was also very pleased with how the show ended. If you want to watch, give it a try. But if the main couple's interactions bother you in the start, it does not get better. If you can get past it, then there is the epic bromance and the second lead's love story. If the romance fits your bill, then the show will be extremely enjoyable for you.

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I never thought that there would be another drama that could compare to The Healer or Heal Me, Kill Me

but oh my GOD here it is..The Goblin is freaking awesome..If you have not watch it yet I would suggest that you do asap.

The cast was flipping amazing. So much chemistry..

The story line was amazing..I love it from the beginning to the end..I laugh when they did. I cried when they did.

I want to say so much more but it would be consider spoilers..

The sound tracked was amazing..

Would I watch it again. Yes, several times over..

Story 10+
Acting/Cast 10+
Music 10+
Rewatch Value 10+
Overall 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10.....

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Goblin was massively hyped on multiple platforms across the internet, but failed to meet my high expectations.  It was a good series, no doubt, but somehow I just expected more out of it.  

Even though the story could have been improved at the beginning a lot as I was very close about giving up on Goblin, I am happy I managed to get through the first few episodes as this series improved a lot when it was nearing the end. Acting of the cast was up to standards, however I found the age difference between Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) and Ji Eun Tak (Kim Go Eun) bothersome and somehow found the secondary love couple more interesting; Grim Reaper (Lee Dong Wook) and Sunny (Yoo In Na). Goblin's Music was top notch. Enjoyed it very much with these beautiful songs out there.

Now you can disregard my rewatch value ranking as I am absolutely not fan of rewatching series, cause the story is spoiled once you know most of it already.

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i love the chemistry between the main leads sooooooo much
i hope they make another drama with same cast
specially dong wook & in na
all about the story was amazing the romance parts was brilliant i love it except
the religious part about god & angels i felt it was really disgracing my mind
and the END as usual

*if the writer was controlling destiny and God's behavior y he didn't make the goblin's bride immortal as him
*y he didn't make his friend & his sister remembered him
*y he insists till the end to torture & punish him for something wasn't his fault
ommo that's really bothered me alot

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Goblin. Goblin. Goblin. Everyones known drama Goblin. Bet there is no person who has not heard that title. Grew my curiosity as well, began it, and couldnt really see what people would brag about this drama so much. So i thought to myself its just me. The romance was a bit weird to me at first the age gap would make me kinda uncomfortable since Ji Eun Tak would act a bit childish even tho she was a 19 year old woman. She was so demanding and clingy and the way she would talk annoyed me a lot. And as a person who doesnt enjoy comedy dramas the first episodes were i guess i should say, boring. I found myself skipping scenes a lot . Yet i didnt drop it. Thankfully. Even tho i thought about it a lot. When the story began getting explained and when things finally got more serious i realised why people love this drama. Its way more deep than it seems in the first approximentally 8-9 episodes. And it turned out that even the funny awkward moments this couple went through, had a very huge impact on them once seperated. The music is obviously the best and it only makes things more emotional just how it should. The ending was kinda sad to me because Goblin doesnt age and hes still immortal which means hes gonna witness Eun Taks death again and again and if she actually has 4 lives there will be a moment where she wont be able to be born again and that is one hella sad thought i just had. I am happy i didnt drop it even tho I'll definitely never watch it again. It was a nice story considering I love historical dramas. If there weren't that many unnecessary scenes I would have had a better opinion on this drama.

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Personally, I was expecting to fall in love with this drama but that sadly didn't happen.

The production, score, and acting were SO well done and the backstory in the first episode made me very excited to watch this drama. But, I could not get behind the main couple. Firstly, the age gap b/w the ML + FL was so vast that it made it hard to believe their relationship would ever work. I felt like the FL lacked most appealing qualities - since she was young for most of the drama, she came off as very whiny + immature which was a weird contrast w/ the ML who is much older than her (not to say he was incredibly mature, but there's def a difference in how the FL + ML handle situations). I found the chemistry lacking and honestly just didn't care about their story line once I reached episode 8 (as far as the relationship goes; however, the background of the life of the ML and the lore was interesting). The secondary couple was MUCH more interesting and I really focused on their parts - the chemistry was there and it was much more believable that they would be together. I must say, the relationship between the two male leads was SO good - well acted + the friendship was incredible. Don't recommend beyond watching it for than the production.

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This was my first introduction to Gong Yoo and I can easily understand why he's so loved. He's gorgeous, emotive, and captivating in his scenes.

This series easily had one of the strongest openings I've ever watched. The first few episodes hooked me in with its OST, masterful cinematography, special effects, and script. I loved the backstory and how it explained the Goblin's origin in a way that made me think of old bedtime stories, or even a Guillermo del Toro opener. I was curious and enamored by Goblin right away.

The show isn't perfect. I wouldn't say it's "over-hyped" like some of the other reviews say, but I do feel like the show had some issues that even made me skip through a bit with the last couple of episodes.

The pacing was a huge issue. It became very obvious by episode 7 or 8 that the show lacked its main antagonist. That could have easily been remedied by introducing the evil spirit a lot sooner (and with less Halloween-y makeup) and less meandering with the "will she or won't she" pull the sword out. I also had an issue with the age gap. I had the same issue in My Roommate is a Gumiho. Why must the writers use a minor to captivate the heart of our 900+year-old protagonist? Ick, guys. Even making her college-age at their intro would have been a whole lot better (maybe mid-20s?). Her maturity level and the school uniform constantly gave me the creeps whenever he looked at her in a romantic way (although, I'll give the series credit that they waited until she was technically legal until he made any physical move on her...but still, ick! 900 vs just-legal. What is this, a Pornhub storyline?)

I was able to suspend disbelief a little bit ONLY because I knew the RL actress was actually 26 (to Gong's 38 - which is still a bit much, but still totally acceptable and not 19yr old vs 900+).

Kim Byung Chul bothered me a lot. His character, Park Joong Hun, was ultra campy in both appearance and behavior as an evil spirit. I assumed it was due to poor writing (which came as a surprise because the writing was excellent up until then). He was a lot more sinister in his introduction as he whispers into the king's ear. He seemed formidable and insidious.

I loved the bromance and the humor that the show inserted to give moments levity. I didn't really like the Cinderella syndrome our FL had with her constant need to summon Goblin to solve her problems instead of fight back and out of her own dilemmas (even though it was always fun watching him come to her rescue or show up disoriented and caught off guard).

The ending was bittersweet for me with respect to Goblin's fate, but knowing he's no longer existing purely because of his punishment tells me he'll leave with her once she's lived through her 4th life, so in that respect it was beautifully written.

Despite its issues, I was sad to finish the show. I'm having a hard time finding something else to watch that matches even close.

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"Every second in this Drama Shined" (areum-dabke-nan) Beautifully & Brilliantly"
Once in a very long while, the stars align to create truly transcendent art on screen. "Goblin" is an example of this, as the maturation of talented writer Kim Eun-Sook blends with nuanced directing, breathtaking cinematography and the formidable acting skills of Gong Yoo and the rest of the stellar cast.

This is great art and great television, regardless of the country of origin. That is not to minimize the South Korean expertise that created it, but simply to avoid the sometimes- backhanded compliment of "great...for a KDrama." It's just great TV, full stop.

I've watched KDramas for about a decade, and this one is the best I've seen. Highly recommended, not just for drama fans, but for all fans of quality cinematic art around the world.

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