Tearjerking is an understatement.
I postponed watching this for a while, everyone was talking so highly of it that I was scared it was not gonna reach my expectations, but oh boy. It was totally the opposite.This might be probably one of my favorites genres, but the fated trope didn't disappoint me.
I loved the speed it was going, the way emotions were portrayed, honestly a masterpiece.
I must say I'm sad we didn't get more of some side characters, but the two romances the story gives out are so well put, they made me cry more than once.
And honestly I didn't expect the happy ending, but I was so relieved.
This will probably end up taking a sweet spot in my heart cause it just got me so emotional.
The cast is amazing, they made me fall for each one of them. Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook and Yoo In-na made such a spectacular performance, their tears were my tears.
The ost was great, also there's not once I skipped the opening or the credit song cause they were SO good.
I'll probably rewatch it often cause it was just way too good to be forgotten.
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A charming modern fairy tale with a fresh love story
I refused to watch Goblin for a long time, kept skipping it until it finally ended up on my "Not Interested" list. A few days ago I came across an article about it, the topic was Korean fantasies on Netflix, and this time it piqued my curiosity and I decided to give it a chance. I didn't regret it.What did I like so much about this "Goblin"? It wasn't the main character by any means, though he was a nice guy. It wasn't the chemistry between the couples, which was teased in the story of a larger-than-life fate that brings two couples together over several lifetimes, because I didn't feel that chemistry.
I'm a fan of the fantasy genre, but I wouldn't prioritize this series as fantasy because I missed it driving the main thread of the story.
And the love story was kind of weird - no strong passion or heartwarming scenes.
Finally..... Without hesitation, I rated "Goblin" a 9/10.
I wonder, I really wonder, how this series won me over. Now, as I write it, it may crystallize for me. First of all, the two main female characters were just adorable - sweet, pure, sparkling, gentle, with a fragile feminine air, though not fragile characters. The "goblin bride" was such a fresh image - a woman-child oozing energy that floods you with good feeling. Actress Kim Go Eun (the second season of "Yumi's Cells" is currently running with her) is super cute. The other lead actress whose performance I liked is Yoo In Na, who later starred with the same partner in "Touch My Heart".
The men, aside from the sole villain, were gentlemen with a history of tragic bad guys - a king and a general who endure punishment while living the lives of a goblin and an angel of death. However, the viewer sees nothing wrong with them. They are so considerate, caring, sensitive, sacrificial - every woman's dream men. There was also a cute minor character - a young boy, a third generation heir, who added spice to the story without his character actually undergoing development.
Aside from the king's uncle and the main character's aunt, the typical spiteful, ugly, morally repugnant lost Korean souls that are so stifling in any series were absent. Two cursed enemies become good friends, outgrowing loathing and revenge.
There is no shortage of humor in the crisp dialogue between all the actors.
All in all, this is a drama of pure relationships and genuine people - like a brochure of life as we would like to live it, labeled "Feel good story". There's no intrigue, no attempts at someone wanting to take someone else's man/woman away, no parents opposing the relationship - well, there's no intrigue overall, but I didn't miss it. And the ending was nice - I won't spoil if anyone hasn't watched it.
Overall, I recommend anyone who hasn't seen it and likes romantic fantasies to give it a try. It leaves a nice feeling in the heart and is watchable in one breath.
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Rating should be 9.8 instead of 8.8
Rating should be 9.8 instead of 8.8Was this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
Engrossing (and sometimes gross) -- worth a view!
Obviously, a review a few years than useful to anybody, but here it is!I searched far and wide for the show since there are so many references to it in various reviews for other shows, and it seemed like a worthwhile effort. I ended up binge watching it (which I really try not to do) -- it sucked me in.
But, to start with, the negatives:
* The age gap thing. It was physically gross. As others have pointed out, the female lead acts very much like a teenager, a young and immature teenager, and the scenes in which the two leads are pushed together for romantic reasons were truly gross. Which is actually a credit to the acting, since in later part, when the female lead is supposedly 10 years older, the feeling disappeared. Still -- it really did make me feel gross to have the romantic scenes between a teenager and an adult.
* I may be the only one, but I did not like the secondary romance -- it made next to no sense. The two actors were wonderful -- but the internal logic of their history was nonsensical.
* The ending. There are a couple of components to my dissatisfaction with it, and they all involve lack of any actual resolution. For one -- the goblin "dies" or whatever it is he does, but then is called back -- and is still a goblin. Wasn't he supposed to die? Does this mean he never dies? And the whole thing repeats three more times?
* The "reveal" of who the grim reaper is was telegraphed so early that it was not a reveal at all.
The positives are what others have pointed out: Engaging story that, overall, holds together logically; good acting; excellent chemistry among all of the actors (not just the romantic leads) -- the wonderful bromance!; the beautiful music.
So, in the end, I am glad that I got to watch it, despite the occasional grossness.
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Not too good but also not bad
This drama is not such extraordinary kind but you won’t get disappointed for watching this because except how they executed the story everything is good enough to spend our valuable time like cinematography, background music and songs, chemistry and romance. Still why I am feeling unsatisfied is everything is easily predictable and also the ML who is 900+ years old acts like 10 years old child (may be to match the FL who is sooo bubbly), or may be because the ML is social outcast kind, if so it is still unacceptable because he was the general of his army and he was matured on that time.I must appreciate the cameraman, cinematography, choreography, music and songs, so many times I was stunned thinking that which special effect camera they are used in this drama and once again the music and songs with that situation is really heart-felting one. And one more thing what I felt disappointed is when ML disappears she went for some blind dates and she develops feelings to someone(even though he his her loved one but she didn’t knew on that time) even though she was unclear about her previous love and also she knew that she was the bride of some one whom she love very much or may be I interpreted it in a different or a wrong way may be the director intend to show that the love is that kind of magic even though you don’t have memory (about him) but you will have the same feeling with that right person.
In an over all I can only say this is good drama in all aspects but poorly executed.
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Don't lose patience and keep watching. It may kinda seem boring in first few episode
When I first started watching it was pretty boring. But I challenged myself and got through first few episodes. OMG it was so beautiful after that. When you can understand all the things it seems so awesome to you. Please if you're thinking about watching it then please watch it. It's so good. You won't regret it. And about the age difference i think it's cute. I laughed and cried with this show. There was no unwanted scene. Every episode always ends at cliffhanger. There is some awesome twists in the drama. That's all there is to say. Everyone praises the OST of this show. But I didn't found it that amazing. I mean it was okay.Was this review helpful to you?
I just can't get over the age gap
Okay, I want to start off with that this cast is amazing, everybody portraits there character beautifully and the writing, videography and music is done great.However I can't get myself to enjoy the mainleads storyline, it's weard. I don't think it's romantic and I can't imagine why you would think that it's okay for a 900 year something to fall for a child, A CHILD. It's inappropriate and nothing sexually happend with a minor but still.... Personally it was a complete dealbreaker. (I wanna say I don't think the girls crush or her perspective is weard I completely blame the old dude)
Again every character seems well thought out and portrait lovely, I love the side story's, but the main storyline is just weard and inappropriate. So even though I would probably recommend it because of the amazing cast and the videography, the plot is not okay....
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Highly recommended
This drama is my introduction to the genre, which was probably a bad idea.The first couple of drama's I watched after this one felt like I watched them to fill up the void that was left after Goblin ended.
The acting is great, I love how the romance is done, the story is interesting and unique and the OST is amazing. I am now a fan of all the main actors and when I see them in a different drama I keep thinking back to how great they where in Goblin.
I can definitely recommend this drama to anyone that is even slightly into fantasy.
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Excellent Mesmerizing
Goblin was my first kdrama and I regret not a second I gave to this drama . Everything is so perfect and it's amazing ..this drama.made me fall hard for kdramas but nothing can beat my goblin n grim.This drama is a must must must watch . If you haven't watched it , you are missing a big deal !
The acting and chemistry is par excellence. Everyone is a delight to our eyes ...
I have left not a single drama of Gong yoo after this drama ...and I have watched Goblin , God knows how many times ...I started this drama after my friend emotionally blackmailed me in watching a kdrama. I started this one for 5 minutes and man ..there was no going back since . I watched it in one day and night and then three times more lol 🤣 ...
It was 3 years ago but today I am.again watching it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Almost magical
A story unlike any I’ve watched before. Seeing the relationship grow between the Goblin and the Grim Reaper was the best part of the show for me - many funny moments and many touching ones as well.The acting was top notch and I was particularly touched by the overwhelming sadness conveyed by the Grim Reaper so I was glad he had a happy ending. His pale outlook fit his Grim Reaper look very well but I was happier to see him in his other character that had a moustache - so tormented but more handsome. The Goblin was a bit too quirky at times (drying his hair while acting like a teenager, singing a love song etc) which I found to be out of character. FL was spot on with her expressions and mannerisms which made for a believable high school student. Cinematography and story telling were well done, particularly how the Grim Reaper works.
But...
I was not comfortable seeing a romance between a student (19) and an older adult (39 for the last 900 years). Can’t be helped since the story relies on the age 9, 19, 29 explanation of when someone is the most vulnerable.
Thankfully, there was the romance of the second couple to pull me back into the show whenever I got a bit unsettled seeing the FL in her school uniform cozying up to the ML.
This drama’s theme song hit the right notes for me. It was haunting yet evoked a mystical aura which I feel really suited the show.
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In terms of the cast they picked and their acting, nothing else need be said as I don't find it lacking on any part.
What I also enjoyed about this series are the amazing production set they used in terms of the houses, rooms, etc of the characters.
If you are however not really that invested in minor details when watching then you may find the story quite confusing. For me, I found it really entertaining as I do appreciate the extra effort of really getting into more on the details.
In all honesty I'd rewatched this series usually on a cold and rainy weather as I feel that it will really compliment the feels and aesthetic of the series.
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