Exceptional
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God aka Goblin is exceptional in all aspects. Be it writing, directing, atmosphere, acting, ambiance, and even wardrobe. Nothing was left to chance and with a story this fantastical and emotional, it could easily have been careened into fluff and cliche, however, the actors all brought their A-game which made every second captivating and beautiful.Special shout out to Gong Yoo who gave a brilliant performance; likewise, his wardrobe director who made his character stunningly gorgeous. Also, whoever styled his hair deserves an award.
If you're looking for an emotional and heartrending series then do not miss this. I absolutely recommend it to those looking for a mature and beautiful story.
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Unexpectedly good
So this is a drama that's been hyped up for so long that I went in thinking I was bound to be disappointed. So I'm glad that I wasn't. I've been doing an immortal-beings-falling-in-love binge, and this is where I arrived at after a sequence of DAYS, Del Luna, A Korean Odyssey, and Destined With You. Unfortunately, I'm not the kind of person who can watch something that's almost purely romance, so the first 9 episodes were bit of a drag for me. The peak of the show for me was 12-13-14 where most of the important things happen, and I enjoyed those episodes enough for me to look past the sweet albeit boring beginning, so I suppose I ended up being more forgiving with ratings. And while I was satisfied with the ending, I wasn't quite happy with it. It was good, but had had potential to be great. Also, I'm fundamentally not made for age-difference, and I could never fully enjoy the fluff either because that thought was constantly on my mind. Maybe why my favorite part of their romance was 14-15-16 (minus the ending).Was this review helpful to you?
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Overrated and most of all, a failed ending.
I watched it because it had so much good ratings. What a disappointment.The story begins with a plot that is classical and plain. There is the overused trope of fate and as soon as Eun Tak meets the Goblin the love story is forebode. But that's okay, it's well done and their firts encounters with both of them searching any interest in a potential relation is interesting ( she wants to use him to escape her life while he wants to use her to die ).
However, it does not get better.
The rythm is too slow, and the side love story between the Gream Reaper and the shop owner is boring and useless.
Even the bromance is not that good. The transition between being ennemies to friends is not smooth.
The whole stuff of reincarnations is so bad as well. Kim shin is shown as a bright man ( he won a lot of battles because of physical strengh but also by strategical means ) yet he does not make the difference between his sister and her new life ??
Furthermore at the end every reincarnated people have the same face as their previous life body, yet it had been specified that people randomly reincarnate into different bodies and having the same is rare.
The backstory of the medieval plot is thin as well and the characters are not fully developped.
The final fight with the main ennemy is failed as it is teased for some episodes ( and visually he is scary and charismatic, his dark tongue gives goosebumps ). But why is he killed with almost no fight ?? Kim Shin awaited more than 1000 years for 30min of dodging ??
And the 3 last episodes, a disaster.
Kim shin finally dying wassad but actually it was a logical ending : he was released from his suffering and allowed to live happily by embracing love at the very end of his existance. Eun Tak would cherish her memories of him and mourn him knowing that he left peacefully.
Making her die at his place is such a nonsense. First she embodied the future as the younger character. Second, it means that Kim Shin will never die, and that it was a punishment of god ( rather than a way to relieve him from his pains ). Not only did he suffer for years because of the betrayal of the King, but now he has to eternally suffer from the lost of his wife. What is the moral of that ? "No matter what you do to repent you will suffer ?" It does not make sense since we know that the sinner is the Grim Reaper and not Kim Shin.
On the whole it is not the worse drama ever, but it lacks in many points. It is still fully watchable, the characters are attaching, and the fate of the Goblin is touching : we want to know how he will find some happiness.
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Story:
I liked the story. It was actually pretty interesting and different in a way. Some would say that the age gap between the 2 main character is hard to overlook but it was okay for me. What I mean is I wasn't really paying attention to that part as the drama is based around something fictional, the age gap is just a part of that. I like the relation between the two main characters but also with the second couple. The bromance was also a very good part of that drama. I just wish Deok Hwa played a bigger part of the drama. Usually, there are some characters that I don't like in a drama, like a big villain but I just liked every characters here. And also, I enjoyed everything regarding the Grim Reapers organization and especially the Grim Reaper (Lee Dong Wook).
Acting/Cast:
They all did a great job and I think they all suited their role. Gong Yu as always is a very good actor. I was also very surprised by Lee Dong Wook, if was just perfect as the Grim Reaper. Also, Kim Go Eun is a good actress (that I saw in Cheese in the Trap before) but rather than feeling sad with her when she cried (near the end) I was just impressed. I usually don't like the cryings in dramas also so seeing Lee Dong Wook always with teary eyes/crying was kind of hard for me but he did a good job! I also often find the main female lead annoying but she was okay.
Music:
I think Goblin wouldn't have been that great without this OST. Seriously, the music in the drama was just perfect. All the songs were just beautiful. If the music wasn't that good, I think I would have rated the drama 7.5 instead of 8.5.
Rewatch value:
I would probably not rewatch it, or I would skip some parts. The episodes are unnecessarily long.
So why do I think Goblin is overrated?
- There are tons of flashbacks and they are ALWAYS the SAME!!! That was SOOOO annoying! I hate when they do that in dramas. Like they would put the same flashback twice in the same episode and in almost episode... And for what? We didn't forget that happened so why? This is why the episodes are long but it is just long of flashback I think... It could have been maybe 10 minutes shorter if it wasn't for that...
- Then, that wouldn't really affect the rating but it kind of annoyed me to some point.. The product placement here it just too strong. So we can see it everywhere and in every drama but usually it's more subtle than that. They were literally saying: eat SUBWAY and your life will be better. (or something like that). I understand that they needed money to have that good quality in the scenes but come on...
- Then I feel like the story/plot could have been better used... It is kind of a waste of the characters I think. And I wanted to know more about the deities.
So yeah, I'm happy I watched it but I wished the realization of the drama and the use of the characters would have been better handled. When I finished the drama I had a bitter feeling. I enjoyed it and really liked it but I felt like the potential was a bit wasted. So I think there are many more stuff to talk about regarding that drama but I'll just stop here :)
Anyways, Goblin is a drama that need to be seen ! :)
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It's a good drama, but I personally think they failed the female main character
Goblin was my first Korean drama and the plot caught my attention. It was very well produced, detail oriented I may say. I think Gong Yoo, Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In-Na did a really great job. The spotlights, to me at least, were on the relationship between the goblin and the grim reaper. Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In-Na were a great couple full of chemistry. I like the story, I think it was well developed, except for one thing only: they could have explored Kim Go-eun better. Her character was way too childish for the age (I don't know if it has any difference in Korea, but here in the Eastern 19 yo girls are more mature than that). The childish behaviour turned the love story a little weird. Besides that, I think it's a good production and deserves to be watched and appreciated. I had lots of fun.Was this review helpful to you?
The theme of the story is great like applause to the writers, but the actors age gap made a bit uncomfortable but i could understand why they chose them ... their chemistry was GREAT,
and i was so into them i cried oceans i laughed hysterically.
have you watched a drama that made you weep laugh get confused then butterflies in your stomach then again cry, yes complicated i know but thats what i loved so much about it .
Personally i liked the bromance between the male leads :D and i shipped it so hard it was so cute, if you are hesitating to watch the drama .. dont! you will miss out so much bromance ;D, the grims sense of humor and goblin's hot smile you dont wanna miss it.
The scenery of the drama was 10/10 believe me you will be amazed ...
My absolute fav was the music it was SO GOOD SO GOOD from the first ep till the last .. and that one song for kim kyung hee , ill keep it with me
overall DONT MISS OUT ON THIS DRAMA you will lose a lot
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What I love most about this drama is their comedic antics especially between goblin and the grim reaper. Their chemistry is on point, even much better than the chemistry between goblin and his bride. Sadly, for me, GY and Kim Go Eun didn't have that much chemistry. But don't get me wrong, their acting is good. It's just that they don't have that vibrant chemistry. Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na's chemistry is even better than them! So love their love story.<3
Some say, the series went downhill after ep 14 and the ending was forced and I somewhat, quite agree. But I also don't know how to end it any other way that would satisfy the viewers, so I have accepted the ending as good enough.
Rewatch Value - If I will watch this again, I will only watch this because of goblin and grim reaper. And Sung Jae, too! lol
P.S. This drama has one of the best soundtracks ever! I Will Go to You Like the First Snow lyrics is so heartbreaking.
I also love how the writer added a poetic touch to the script.:)
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Watch this show!
My first k-drama, and one I revisit periodically. The storyline is original - a man destined to continue living to atone for crimes in his past. I'd like to address the age difference - I can see why some people really had a problem with it, especially since she spent so much time in a high school uniform. However, the chemistry between Gong Yoo and Kim Go Eun was amazing. When watching Gong Yoo - his loneliness was almost palpable and was heartbreaking to see. Kim Go Eun was able to vacillate back and forth between her pitiful life and her vivacity as she gets to know Kim Shin (Yoo) better. The secondary love story between Lee Dong Wook and Eu In Na was lovely as well. There was a lot of humor (like when he told her his name was Kim Woo Bin!), but such sadness as well. The scenery is just beautiful when they are in Canada. The music is absolutely perfect. Each song fit perfectly where it was used and there was a haunting quality about a number of the songs. These songs are easily recognizable when you hear them outside of the show. But I think the thing that I love best about this show is the friendships between the characters, especially between Goblin and Reaper. If you look up the word Bromance in the dictionary, you should find their pictures there - what started out as hate, moved to grudging respect, and then finally brotherly love. Their scenes never failed to make me laugh. This is one of the few shows that I have watched multiple times, and have enjoyed it just as much each time.Was this review helpful to you?
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GOBLIN the MASTERPIECE of Kdrama
Goblin - 10/10It brings the turning point of Kdrama. You will never regret to watch it.
Goblin is my first ever Kdrama. Till then I almost watched 350+ K&Cdrama. But no one can suppress this masterpiece. I am glad that this is my first drama. It's highly recommended. If you wanted to watch it, but hesitate, I will tell you that just go for it . You will never disappoint after watching this.
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Those pedo vibes!!! Not worth the hype!
This is just another cliché rom com drama! By the way through out the drama( atleast till epidode 10 that i have watched ) the protagonist acts like a sugar daddy to lure that young lady to get his job done. The actors may be good (considering their previous works) but i just couldnt feel the romance, it was naseous at the very least. I really looked into their profiles after few episodes and I was proven right, their irl ages have a wide gap. Few may argue the story demands so nothin wrong in casting. To all those.....bruh seriously!! So I've decided to drop the drama since its problematic in every possible way.Was this review helpful to you?
