Gong Yoo as Kim Shin/Goblin was captivating. I loved every scene that he was in and the feeling that Gong Yoo brought to the character made the show for me.
I was a little unsure about Ji Eun Tak at first since she acted so young but I feel like her character was everything Kim Shin needed. She matured quite a lot as the show went on as well as keeping some endearing childish qualities about her. So, although there is a lot of controversy surrounding her age, I think that it was fitting for how the show developed.
The Grim Reaper was perfect, his awkwardness and dead-pan personality. The relationship between him and Kim Shin was one of the reasons l loved the show so much.
I had so many emotions watching Goblin. I laughed and I cried and I loved the characters endlessly. A few episodes in the middle were slower than the rest, but it didn't phase me. I hadn't watched a fantasy drama before this one and I found I really loved the elements. I'm checking out more fantasy dramas as we speak.
The music blew me away, I've been listening to the soundtrack ever since. The best songs, in my opinion, are round and round, beautiful, and I'm here, stay with me and heaven. If I listen to and I'm here there is a 99% chance I will start crying again.
I felt the need to go back and rewatch it the moment I finished it, so it is no doubt a drama I will be watching again countless times.
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My favourite show of all time!
I don’t even know where to begin with the series, I ADORE this series, it is my favourite K-Drama ever! From the minute I started the first episode to the end of this series.. it had hooked itself into my heart. The acting is some of the greatest I’ve seen, at times comedic but it shows the true character the actor is portraying. I love the different roles that each character plays and the dream team duo. It is one I have prayed for another series since! This series had me laughing and crying all at the same time, it had me feeling all emotions. It was a rollercoaster ride for sure, one I’d gladly go on time and time again. I’ve even managed to convert over friends to K-Dramas with this series ❤️ Goblin stole my heart and will definitely never be returning it to meWas this review helpful to you?
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However, Goblin is my favorite Kim Eun Sook's drama and there are a lot of reasons. Firstly, here we find a really strong mystical atmosphere and an interesting world with its own rules (I cannot appreciate the perfect musical choice witch makes you really submerge into the fictional world). Also the humor side here is one of the best in the Korean area. Another wonderful thing is, obviously, an incredible cast and the diversity of original characters. It's really nice to see such a charming character as Lee Dong Wook's Grim Reaper, the main lead is also very good, then Kim Go Eun, Yook Sung Jae... And there are so many moments you can watch for a thousand of times and so few moments you prefer to skip... So, undoubtedly 10 ;)
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This review may contain spoilers
"My sister, my friend, my bride, have all left. As always I'm left alone" I'd say, this was one of the most unique stories I've seen yet, with the most gorgeous cinematography.
One of the best thing about it were the actors, especially the male lead and the second male lead, they were totally mesmerizing (No Homo), one could actually feel their sorrow and grief.
Another thing about this show were it's OSTs, each track perfectly fits with whatever situation was given, and that track that played during the goblin and reaper walk <3.
Fav track from the show: Lasse Lindh - Hush/Stay With Me - Chanyeol & Punch
There's one thing I agree with those who bitch about it... that cringe, the age gap... Ig 19 and 39(By his looks) (938 if you consider his real age) isn't much of a difference in Pakistan xD. At sometimes he looked like her father, especially that moment when he pats her head. If compared with the second couple, I'd definitely choose the latter.
Was Goblin: The Lonely and Great god good?.. yes. Was is it great?... definitely yesss. Should I recommend it?.. yes if you can bear with its slow pace
Personal Ratings: 9/10
Sauce: Goblin: The Lonely and Great god
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Iconic...flawed but lovable characters grapple with what is means to live and die and be reborn
This is just the total package: well-developed storyline and character development, iconic cinematography and set/fashion design, flawed but lovable characters who find reconciliation and redemption, funny and touching dialogue, and deep themes of what it means to live and die and be reborn. Chemistry and cuteness of leads is off the chart. And the soundtrack is also A . Buckwheat :)Was this review helpful to you?
My all-time favorite korean drama
I'm just confused how my fave korean drama got 8.6 and I saw several reviews gave this awesome show a low rating. I just don't understand it. I lost count on how many times I rewatched this show because it is SO GOOD. The story, the characters, the soundtrack, the acting were all perfect so I wonder SOME gave this a low rating or maybe they are so perfectionist. For those who are new to korean drama, don't mind those who gave a low rating because they are party-poopers, don't rely on their reviews and just enjoy the show.Was this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
I wanted to give this a 10 after finishing it but now that I thought about it a bit I just couldn't. Goblin left me with so many weird feelings... the last couple of episodes are very emotional and it's just a bit too much to process right away. The fact that the show ends with the Goblin being immortal for real without any means to eventually die made me incredibly sad. Yeah, the girl gets reborn and finds him again and has four lives left...but what happens after that? Everyone else is either dead or alive without any memory of him - this thought left me absolutely depressed after finishing the last episode. There are also lots of other things that don't really get explained well or at all so that was pretty dissatisfying, too. What makes this show great is the beautiful cinematography, the great acting and awesome mix of drama, intensity, comedy, supernatural and historical and even philosophical elements and of course the bromance. However, the romance was kind of weird...at first there were a lot of fake 'I love yous' which somehow turned into real ones yet this process of falling in love is only comprehensible considering the Goblin because Eun Tak brings so much light and joy and variety into his so far loooooong and kind of dull immortal life, plus she's his destiny and only chance of finally dying (which is why it's even more sad that he had to become immortal for real in order to be with her again). From her point of view...well, he's tall and handsome and basically invincible, sweet and funny and oh, rich... however, there's no real visible or emotionally tangible development of her romantic feelings for him. The kissing scenes are cute but there is no real chemistry, however, things change after he comes back to life and she is 10 years older and obviously more mature. Up from that point the romance becomes tangible, realistic and beautiful and, sadly, also heartbreaking. It's too bad that that period is very short and Eun Tak actually returns to him as a high school student....
As mentioned before, the bromance was amazing and I absolutely loved the dynamic between the Goblin and the Grim Reaper and the development of their friendship as well as the story of their shared fate. Deok Hwa (what happened to him in the end? I was a very frustrated that he kind of got left behind in the last couple of episodes) was also great and there were so many funny moments between those guys that lightened up the otherwise kind of heavy mood this drama mostly conveyed.
As for the secondary couple Sunny and the Grim Reaper...I think their story was a much more relatable and deep love story but for some reason I did not really like Sunny as a character and also felt that there was no real chemistry between them which made their love story kind of a wasted potential.
Overall, as for the acting, I really loved how the Goblin was portrayed although I found it strange how he behaved like a silly love-struck teenager when he began falling for Eun Tak but maybe that was to emphasize that it truly was his first love in over 900 years? I mostly loved how human and how (emotionally) well connected to humanity the Goblin seemed despite being a sort of demi god. I'm not sure what exactly it is but he kind of gives off this calm and serene aura that just makes you feel comfortable just looking at him.
The Grim Reaper was also great and became more lively and loveable with every episode despite his past mistakes.
Looking at Eun Tak not as a part of the main couple but as a character by herself, I thought the acting was brilliant especially the difference between her bubbly high school personality (ok, it is debatable how realistic this is in her situation but it seems a typical thing in k-dramas that poor girls beaten by life remain cheerful and optimistic...), after the Goblin died and she became depressed and after he came back and she seemed way more mature and down to earth even in her 'bubbly moments'.
Soooo, all in all, despite the huge plot holes, actually tragic ending and plain weird romance, this was still one of the best dramas I have ever watched because it made me become so extremely emotionally invested (seriously, I actually had to write this review in order to be able to process my emotions about this!). It's a bit sad that it stayed so much on the surface of philosophical aspects like the whole fate question, death/immortality, true worth of life in itself etc. because in the end, it makes kind of hard to summarize what Goblin was all about. But still, even this weird mix was great and very enjoyable to watch so I can recomment it without any doubts!
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This review may contain spoilers
You get drawn in, so have the boxes of tissues ready, this one's a tear jerker
Have you all read the synopsis and you're feeling uncomfortable because of the age gap? Don't let that cause you to miss on a truly amazing series with excellent acting from the cast, hard work from everyone clearly seen in every scene, and a story that is well written. Also with mature/seasoned (lol very funny bro moments/interactions) male leads! I only gave it a 9, story wise, because of the unfortunate and uncomfortable part of the age gap of the primary couple in the story - 18 going on 19 and 939 (30s-40s male in appearance). The age gap makes it uncomfortable, but I won't give a horrible rating just because it makes me uncomfortable, especially when everyone worked hard to produce such a fantastic series. You see that, as you get to know the characters, there's nothing disturbing or corrupted going on between them. The lead characters Kim Shin (Gong Yoo/Gong Ji Cheol) & Ji Eun Tak (Kim Go Eun) are very respectful of each other, with adorable moments that make you fall in love with them. With this series, I'm pleased to see that although the secondary couple of the Grim Reaper/Kim Woo Bin/Adult Wang Yeo (Lee Dong Wook) & Sunny aka Kim Seon/Kim Sun (Yoo In Na) meet with tragedy, they are not forgotten.At the start of watching this I had to keep reminding myself I was still on episode 1 or 2 as the story got deeper, the characters more real/solid and the drama intensified. Be prepared to be taken on an emotional roller coaster where just as soon as you find yourself crying, you're laughing in the next moment. These actors are incredible! I was hoping there was a season 2 before the end of episode 1. It's so enjoyable, I didn't even realize each episode is 70+ mins long, which I'm grateful for because I just don't want it to end. Also, did anyone see the goblin & reaper design on the pillows/rolled towels in episode 4? Nuggets like that make watching so fun. I'm in love <3 Also actors
Kim Byung Chul (Park Joong Hun [Goryeo eunuch]) and Jo Woo Jin(Kim Do Young [Yoo Shin Woo's secretary] ) favor each other so much I thought there was one actor playing both roles!
Episode 6 when Grim said I love you & Goblin's reaction as well as in episode 7 with the scary movie, those are unforgettable scenes lol Then Episode 11... man all of them!! I cried nearly every episode... The ending brought everything full circle, with all that wonderful, heart-wrenching, tear jerking, suspense filled moments coming to a cheesy but sweet end for the secondary couple and solid start for the primary couple. Though with the primary couple this, unfortunately, brought back the issue of the age gap. I was so happy to see them together but disappointed that the school girl with the a much older man concept came back. Why couldn't they have arranged for them to meet after she finished college? Also, it left us wondering about how things turned out for Yoo Deok Hwa (Yook Sung Jae).
So try not to let the age gap cause you to miss out on a great series!
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