Goblin (2016)

I also recently finished watching Goblin: The Lonely and Great God. This show is also by tvN. It was beautiful, poignant, lyrical (to borrow Christina Bertani's descriptor), and all around wonderful. It stars the always amazing Gong Yoo (who I first loved in my first K-drama, Coffee Prince) as the Goblin cursed with immortality and Kim Go Eun (who did her television debut in 2016 in Cheese in the Trap) as the Goblin's Bride, who can see ghosts and is the only one who can break his curse. It also stars Lee Dong Wook (who, I will be perfectly honest, I feel in love with while watching him on the variety show Roommates and have loved in everything I've seen him in) who plays a Grim Reaper and his love interest is played by the very beautiful Yoo In Na (who I've seen in several shows and I'm very glad she finally gets to play a character who is not an utter bitch). There is no one on this planet who is as good at the wounded, kicked puppy look as Lee Dong Wook. You just want to hug him and carry him around in your pocket. I give this drama 5 out of 5 on DramaFever (where I watched it) and 10 out of 10 on MyDramaLIst. I'd give it 1000 out of 1000, even. The bromance between the Goblin and the Grim Reaper is amazing and would make this drama a joy to watch even if everything else in it sucked. Luckily, nothing in it sucks. Except maybe the age difference between the Goblin and his bride. But given how chaste k-drama romance is, I am easily able to give that a pass. :)

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Goblin is a good drama, but even though I gave it a 9, it is not the best in other ways. I'll talk about what was good about the drama first, then I'll talk about what I disliked about the drama.

Characters

The characters were all great, especially the two male leads. Their interactions with each other were especially entertaining. I can't say for sure that I really disliked any of the characters, though I think I liked the second leads better than the male leads. They were more entertaining and they made a little more sense than the main leads, which I will get back to later.

Actors

I loved every one of the actors. Usually there's an actor I hate, but not in this drama. They were all enjoyable to watch and they all did a splendid job.

Plot

The story was interesting, especially with the grim reaper stuff. In the end I kind of wish that the way life and death work in the show would work similarly in real life too. The plot always kept me interested throughout the show and there were a lot of cliff hangers. Stupid plot devices were used sparingly and they partially made sense.

Visuals

The cinematography was fantastic. Even if you don't like everything else about this show, you will just like looking at it. It is beautiful and a sight for sore eyes.

Music

I love the majority of the music in this show and I've listened to many of the songs multiple times. The soundtrack really stood out and I don't think I really disliked any of the songs.

What I Disliked

I felt absolutely no chemistry between the male leads, personally. I thought they made great friends, but I always grimaced at any romantic moments. I just couldn't see them together romantically. I see them as inseparable friends, but no more than that.

Also, the main male lead kind of irritated me. He's supposed to be like 800+ years old but he acts like a child. Also, you cannot tell me that he never fell in love with anyone until he met the main female lead. I think it is an excuse to blame his childlike behavior on his personality. In You Who Came from the Stars, the main male lead had lead a similarly long life like the main lead of Goblin, but he was not childish in any name of the word. I felt that his personality was far more realistic for someone that had lived for a long time. As a character the main lead of Goblin is great, but when you realize how long he's lived he just doesn't make sense.

Overall

Of course I recommend that you watch Goblin. Overall it was a really good show and there are plenty of reasons to watch it despite my negative comments at the end. Give it a try and you'll probably like it.

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I had put off watching Goblin for a long time as I knew it's epic so I needed a devoted time to watch it till the end.
Goblins becomes the highest standard of my reviews on dramas I completed (mostly for Kdramas).
What I learned from this drama: forgiveness (past events of Goblin/Grim Reaper/Sunny) and that there is timing for everything you encounter in life (Goblin waits for 900+ years for a 19 year old bride to show up in her first life)

Tons of previous reviews posted already, so I will just point out what I like about this drama:
Story: No boring scene, no skipping for me who likes skipping scenes. Side stories of dead people and ghosts are also meaningful and touching.
Directing: Just perfect, won't say much, check out other Director Lee Eung Bok's cinematic work
Editing: Details are woven perfectly, and all related. Pieces of flashback are not boring.
Screenwriting: witty, deep, poetic. Follow Writer Kim Eun Sook for other high quality dramas.
CGI: Battle, fight, and snow scenes of Goblin are epic
Location: Quebec Canada, can't have other perfect location than fall season with French touch
Make up: Can transform one actor/actress to different roles. For examplem Kim Byung Chul as Emperor advisor, modern secretary, ghost, and cameo CEO.
Costume: Classy and stylish. For example: 19 year old Eun Tak does not look poor and childish. Personality symbols thru costumes, for example Shamsin Lady's red dress, Sunny's bright colored clothing, and Eun Tak's red scarf
Cast: Perfect selection for every main roles and supporting casts are not bad either. Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook supernatural roles don't need to talk much but their facial expression shows deep communications. Kim Go Eun's natural beauty fits for 19 year old girl, Yoo In Na's cheerfulness matches Sunny lively personality.
Acting: Lots of scenes with no dialogues just facial expression and physical movements speak louder than many dialogues
Music: songs are created and picked perfectly support the popularity of the drama and songs themselves
Rewatch: perfect, but I will wait for a while until I can spend a large portion of my time to watch it

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I thought a very long time about if I should watch this drama or not. And now I have to say I shouldn't have watch it. Not because it was bad but because I have a problem know. The drama results in a special interest in some of the Actors (especially one of them).

Story: After I have watched most of Kim Eunsooks dramas I was excited when Goblin was first announced. But then there was the casting. Although I liked the story from the beginning I didn't know If I should watch the drama. But then I read many positive about it and so I gave it a chance. The Story is about a goblin, but I was more interested in the story about the Grim Reaper. I love Grim Reapers. I don't know why but every time I think about fantasy stories, I think about the grim Reaper o.o.

Acting/Cast: When I heart of the Cast I wasn't very excited to watch Goblin. I will begin with Kim Goeun. I didn't know her very well, but I used to watch Cheese in the trap and dropped it after one episode, because of Kim Goeun. I don't know if it was her character or her acting, but I couldn't stand it. So her casting wasn't a reason for me to watch the drama. But in the End I have to admit that she is a very good actress. Her Character is one of those who grow from episode to episode. At first I didn't like her Euntak, but after a few episode I liked her. Kim Goeun plays the role very emotional and the role was sure very hard to play. But she made the best of it.
The last drama of Gong Yoo I have watched was Big...And I dropped it after a few episodes. It wasn't because of him but because of the story and the female lead. But he wasn't so good, that I've watched it for him. The role of an over 900 year old goblin who is tired to live but has no other choice suits him very well. The big age gap between Kim Goeun and him doesn't annoy. He doesn't look like his age and his character who sometimes can be cute and childish is funny and gives fresh wind. Gong Yoo is a very great Actor and I hope his future roles will suit him as well as this one.
Next up is Yoo Inna. I watched Queen Inhyun's Man and a little bit of One more Happy Ending. The first was very good, the latter was bad, so I dropped it. In Goblin she plays a Chicken restaurant owner. She remembered me a little bit of her role in Queen Inhyun's Man. Maybe I liked her role because of this so much. Her Scenes with Lee Dongwook were so intensive and the chemistry was the best. Her Acting is amazing in this drama, the most in the second half of the Drama.
Now I come to my favourite character and Actor in the whole Drama. Lee Dongwook...I watched him first in one of my first K-Dramas (My Girl) where I liked him (but there was also Lee Junki v.v). Then there was Scent of a woman, where he broke my heart into pieces because his acting was perfect. After that drama I lost him out of my eyes. I began this drama because I wanted to see him again, but I thought he would be the second Lead. Kim Eunsook is wonderful. After Descendants of the Sun, a second time she spares us with a second lead syndrome. Thank you so much! Lee Dongwook acts as a Grim Reaper who can't remember his past life. His Bromance with the Goblin is funny and excellent. The Chemistry between the two Actors is very very good. Lee Dongwooks acting skills in Goblin surpasses his skills in Scent of a Woman. I didn't know it would be poosible but the role of a Grim Reaper and his chemstry with Gong Yoo and of course Yoo Inna is amazing. I love this Oppa because he wakes up feelings. If he cries I want to cry, too. If he laughs, I want to laugh, too. But the most of the Time I wanted to give him a big hug.

Music: The Soundtrack is very good. I love the song Wish by Urban Zakapa the most. But Soyus OST is very good, too.

Rewatch value: Very high, but for now I want to watch Lee Dong wooks other dramas, I didn't watched.

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This drama is so amazing! I can't even express with my words how I feel about this drama. It has everything you could want, drama, romance, sorrow, happiness, plot twists, and so much more. The music was beautiful, it always fight perfectly with the scenes it was chosen for. I probably went though at leased 3 boxes of tissues from my happy and sad tears. If your not into historical dramas the only parts that are historical are at the beginning to set up the background of Kim Shin and etc. The cast all were perfect for their chosen parts. I found the acting superb. Personally my favorite character was the Grim Reaper. As you progress in the episodes you bond deeply with each character as their stories are laid out in front of you. Different obstacles arise for the characters and you get to see them get though it and it's dramatic all the way. The ending was well rounded and perfectly executed. It didn't leave me unsatisfied or confused at all. I only have good things to say about this drama and it will forever be my number one favorite. Highly recommend everyone to watch this because it, you won't regret it.

Thanks for reading my review this far, if you have! :)

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Cinematography - 10
Acting - 9
Plot - 8
The first episode was impressive -- the director was able to cover a large time frame and maintain the continuity of the story. That episode set the stage for the drama. Now, mind you, they are actors and adults, the couples' age gap should not deter your judgement of watching a spectacular drama. The actors/actresses were all amazing, I mean you can just really feel the sadness, the distress, the sorrow and then the sweetness (that does not go overboard to childishness), the happiness, the camaraderie...
Add to this, this was a great comeback of Gong Yoo to drama land and when he had his sad moments in teh drama you just want to tell him to not be sad because his face just makes you "aawww, don't be sad...".

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