Goblin (2016)

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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Irritating female lead!

I'm here for Lee Dong Wook, and even then, I couldn't bear to watch through the series despite wanting to watch him! The storyline itself is quite nice, actually. I love the fantasy element of it all, except....

The immature, childish, stubborn, reckless and irritating FL. I'm afraid this is a very unhealthy and toxic portrayal on how a woman should behave!

The fame of the show seems to agree that the FL needs to be "saved" all the time, that it's okay to be demanding and act cute towards a guy, because people think that's cute?

But, it just further promotes behavior of woman having to act cute, pretend to be weak, and to be spoilt, just because they are female.

My intolerance towards FL made me dropped the show. This means a lot, because I usually am very generous with rating. I easily give a rating of 8-10, in general. So, for me to give this rating means that's how underrated and disappointing this show is

Having said that, I really hope people still continue watching LDW, because he is an amazing actor! It's not his fault that the show turns out this way :P

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Amazing start but OMG it gets so slow

ok when i started it i was in shock how good it was. first 6 eps were AMAZING but the way the writers killed the vibe pissed me off so hard...the story is amazing dont get me wrong but the writers needa get fired for ruining a show with such high possibilities. every 2 mins there the 15 second slowmo music scene which enrages me so much...like its ok a couple of times but BRO stop it....it made me so angry that i no longer want to know if that damn blade comes out or not...i feel so bad for the writers cuz the base plot is so good but it just gets sooooooooo slowwwwwww. the actors are the best and they dont deserve such a bad director...i never drop shows and i think i will eventually finish it but that won't be happening in the next 2 yrs

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