Goblin (2016)

Goblin... I fell in love hard in this drama. I was so captivated by Gong Yoo's(Goblin) pain and Kim Go Eun's(Ji Eun Tak as Goblin's Bride) emptiness and hardships.

The great thing about this drama is that even if you knew where the plot is going, you still enjoy the acting. I can feel Gong Yoo's(Goblin) anxiety on how to tell Kim Go Eun(Goblin's bride) that he liked her and that he wants to be with her constantly, that he worries every time for Kim Go Eun(Goblin's bride), when she's not anywhere near his sight and he's always there for her to save her and go anywhere with her.

The setting of this drama... I can never ever say anything bad about it. You're in the maple country, you can see the beautiful maple trees, the sign of autumn, how can I forget how beautiful that was? Add the beautiful OSTS this drama have, as well as the 2nd male lead(Lee Dong-wook as Grim Reapear) and 2nd female lead Yoo In-na(Sunny/Sun Hee). How can something go wrong?

I felt like I was watching this live, and I was there on the set with them especially when the episode 13 came up where in I cried so hard as Kim Go Eun(Goblin's bride) cried her heart out. I was really caught up with the scene and I salute Kim Go Eun's cries in there. It felt so real that you can really think she's crying for her real life love.

This will be one of the drama's I will never ever forget.
I don't expect less from Gong Yoo's acting since Coffee Prince.
He's one of the most sought after actor and I always look forward to his works.

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It took me a while to watch this because of my busy schedule.
Usually I would feel tired and stressed, and seriously this has kept me up and about!
I always looked forward to the next episode. It entails all kinds of emotions.
Comedic, really uplifted my day. Heart wrenching as well, every moment was well connected.
I really loved it, and I thought that they made a good match despite the age difference!
Don't hesitate guys, just watch it! I didn't even watch the trailer, nor know anything about it,
I just went on and watched it! and I really loved it! Kuddos to the writer, which has the same one as "Descendants of the sun" and "The Heirs". It's really nice

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This drama was one of the most beautiful pieces of art I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. If you are at all hesitating to watch this drama due to overhype or worry about the genre I beg you watch it. It changed my entire perspective on what a kdrama could be. I am sad I can't go back to rewatch it for the first time, to experience it anew, again and again. That first watching is truly magic. To allow yourself to experience this drama is a gift.

Allow me to expand on some of the specifics of why Goblin was life changing. If you know me you know that I am obsessed with character and character development. This drama is chock-full of amazingly written characters and all go through massive transformations. The stagnation in the Goblin and Grim Reaper's lives disappears when they meet their soul mates. As a plot device this use of love and lovers is refreshing as it is definitely the men who change for their love (instead of the usual over-accommodating woman who plagues dramaland). Aside from character there is the aesthetic. Goblin had a massive budget and it is clearly seen in every facet of the drama. The cinematography deserves unending praise, the acting is of the highest quality, the plotline is refreshingly unique. Their sets, wardrobes, worlds are immersive in the utmost. The atmosphere these minor details create lends itself perfectly to the story and makes the mood created by the actors and writers to be all the more real. Goblin's melancholy, something that so many dramas try and fail to achieve, was breathtaking. As I have said before I love sad dramas. This drama made me cry every episode, and not because it was ridiculously melodramatic. Most of the time it was the side stories I cried over (the Grim Reaper's side plots). These stories, so superfluous to the main plot, show the exacting attention to detail that was used in this drama. They were moving, beautiful, heartbreaking stories and they left you feeling both empty and full. Full of life and a love for humanity. Goblin's greatest achievement, in my opinion, is empathy. Every character (or at least every character we don't necessarily hate) can be empathized with. Every episode you can change who you most identify with and yet never feel disconnected from any other character. This is a feat so difficult to accomplish that I have only ever encountered it in Anna Karenina before.

I know this review wasn't the most informative but I feel that the emotional response to Goblin that I and so many others felt is the best possible recommendation and review I can give.

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It's hard not being able to talk about what happened in this drama because it's all I really want to do. And of course, I know I'm not allowed to spoil anything, as I understand that there are still some people who haven't watched this yet. But what could be more important than this?! Actually, don't answer that. I'm well aware of the fact that there are far more important things to take care of.

But anyway, I think this drama definitely deserves all of the attention it's been garnering. With a storyline as unique as this one, it's no wonder people find it so refreshing.  Plus, the cinematography is just beyond amazing, making me especially envious of the fact that I don't get to live in their so-called reality. The villain, however, was introduced a little too late in my opinion. I would've loved to see him earlier on in the series.

On the other hand, the chemistry on this set was absolutely incredible. I'm super thankful because it was for this reason that these actors were able to grace us with so many fantastic ad-libs to look back on in the first place. All of the actors/actresses had their fair share of memorable moments but ultimately, I don't think anything will ever compare to the bromance between the Goblin and the Grim Reaper.

Even though the original soundtracks did a fine job at capturing its overall theme, there are only a few that I could actually see myself listening to outside of this drama. That isn't to say that the music was bad. It just didn't fall under my preferences. The soft ballads, however, felt like whispers of the heart: soft yet powerful. And for those, I loved every second of it.

Overall, I had an interesting time being taken on this emotional rollercoaster. Unfortunately, I wasn't nearly as satisfied with the ending as I was with the rest of this drama. At first, it seemed like a happy ending but the more I seemed to think about it, the sadder it truly was. It's sort of like the feeling you get when you receive a delicious-looking cookie, but the taste just doesn't turn out as good as it looks. As far as recommendations go, I would still encourage people to give this drama a try. And although I wish I was given a better ending, it's not bad enough to the point where I wouldn't rewatch it. 

With that said,
Llama out.

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One day I wanted to watch a romance but this isn't just a romance you don't just watch it you feel it. It steals your heart. In the beginning you watch their feelings grow normally like in any normal show but this isn't a normal show which you can see during the first scene, the whole sword thing, and flash backs. This show has more. You'll laugh, You'll smile, You'll feel your heartbeat, but most of all you'll cry. It's not a sad show it's just everything. The cast was great. The Story was great. The production was great. I can't bash a single moment. Just as I was getting bored with it It spun me around and stole all my focus again. No this isn't just a show it's a art piece for ages to come. I highly highly recommend it.

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I don't write many reviews, but I cut and pasted this from my own comments on a YouTube video of the Ailee song. I started writing just a brief comment but got a little emotional as my love for this drama came pouring out.

When watching K dramas without knowing their year of release, you can often sense if a drama comes before/after Goblin. This masterpiece ushered in new standards of storytelling scope, production values and cinematography to Korean dramas and everyone else scrambled to keep up. From the first frame to last it feels like you're watching a top-drawer movie with every scene perfectly composed, framed and lit. The Goblin's house itself (a character all in it's own right) is a masterpiece of endlessly interesting set-design and dressing, but the exteriors also, whether they be the many fantasy/historical sequences or more mundane Seoul streets are all realised with loving care and attention to detail. And don't get me started on the Canadian scenes...
The casting too is utterly perfect; Kim Go Eun is the ultimate girl-next-door type (옆집 소녀 ha!), Gong Yoo with his masterful ability to go from hard-as-nails-hero to tender suitor, right down to Yook Sung Jae's fragile naivety. And that's before we get to Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na's perfect "second couple" - so successful they spawned a spin-off industry that's been going ever since.
The OSTs are easily a match for the high standard of the visuals. I own the double-CD pack of this and still play it nearly every day 2 years after first watching. Everyone has their favourite OST song from Goblin, but the Ailee classic remains one of the absolute high water marks of Korean drama OSTs.

Goblin remains an utter game changer in K-drama and the first few seconds of this video (Kim Go Eun's crying scene) are part of the reason why. I stumbled upon this video in a bored moment and the emotions instantly came flooding back and I welled up with tears, not just from the raw moment shown here (a Kim Go Eun acting masterclass), but from the lifelong memories given to me by this wonderful wonderful drama.

I know it will sound ridiculously over the top, but for me at least, television was never the same again.

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First of all, I would like to say thank you for making this Korean Drama.

Let me say the good things first:
1. I love their acting on the sad scenes, I mean, they made me moved and cry.
2. The music is PERFECT because it really fits in specific scenes. The background music adds that tension, depressed and happy feelings. If the scenes made me cry, the added background music made me cry more.
3. I think the plot is good :) The bromance is good too.

Now the not-so-good things:
1. There are some parts that I don't feel the romantic connection between the Goblin and the High School Girl. I don't know why, but I just don't feel it (I even love the connection between the Grim Reaper and the Chicken Restaurant Owner than the 2 leads), but during the middle till the end (especially when the lead girl character is 29 y/o), I am feeling their connection and I liked it.
2. I don't like the thing where they add something (like a recap) on some episodes that makes it damn long, I even have to skip it, sorry but I'm an impatient person.
3. I love the sad scenes more than some scenes, because in some scenes, I got bored a little bit (I used my phone during the boring scenes, which means that I really got bored). I was not interested (a bit) on the flashbacks (idk why, sorry D: )

My rewatch value is 7 because I could watch it again, but I'm that type of person who doesn't want to watch depressing scenes again because I don't want to cry a lot.

Overall, I think the drama is great! I cannot count how many times I cried in just this drama.. Probably 30 or 40 LOL. Because most of the scenes really made me cry.

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It's gonna be worthit and watchable

Goblin: The Lonely and Great God - Review

Goblin: The Lonely and Great God (2016) is one of South Korea's most iconic and beloved dramas, written by Kim Eun-sook and directed by Lee Eung-bok. With its unique premise, breathtaking visuals, and a star-studded cast, the show effortlessly blends fantasy, romance, and heart-wrenching drama into a timeless masterpiece.

Story and Themes

The drama revolves around Kim Shin (played by Gong Yoo), a goblin cursed with immortality, who longs to find his bride to end his eternal life. The story takes a turn when he meets Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun), a cheerful high school girl who claims to be the "Goblin's Bride." Intertwined with their love story is the mysterious Grim Reaper (Lee Dong-wook), who shares an unexpectedly hilarious and touching bromance with Kim Shin. Themes of life, death, fate, and redemption are explored in poignant ways, leaving a lasting emotional impact.

Performances

Gong Yoo delivers a masterful performance, portraying the centuries-old goblin with depth, charisma, and vulnerability. Kim Go-eun's portrayal of the optimistic and resilient Eun-tak complements Gong Yoo's character perfectly, adding warmth to their chemistry. Lee Dong-wook and Yoo In-na (as Sunny) steal the show with their subplot, a bittersweet love story that captivates viewers. The bromance between Gong Yoo and Lee Dong-wook provides much-needed comic relief while also tugging at heartstrings.

Visuals and Cinematography

The cinematography of Goblin is nothing short of stunning. From the sweeping landscapes to the intricate details of historical flashbacks, every frame feels like a piece of art. The use of lighting and symbolism enhances the show's ethereal quality, creating an immersive experience.

Music and OST

The OST is a standout feature of Goblin, with tracks like "Stay With Me" by Chanyeol and Punch, and "Beautiful" by Crush becoming instant classics. The music not only enhances the emotional depth of scenes but also adds to the drama's iconic status.

Strengths

A richly layered story that balances humor, romance, and tragedy.

Stellar performances by a talented cast.

Exceptional cinematography and production design.

A memorable and emotionally resonant soundtrack.


Weaknesses

While Goblin is widely acclaimed, some viewers might find the pacing in the middle episodes slightly slow. Additionally, the show's heavy focus on fate and destiny may feel overly dramatic to certain audiences.

Final Thoughts

Goblin: The Lonely and Great God is a must-watch for fans of fantasy and romance. Its unique story, unforgettable characters, and emotional depth make it a benchmark in K-drama history. Whether you are drawn to its supernatural elements, heartwarming relationships, or philosophical reflections on life and death, Goblin has something for everyone.

Rating: 9.5/10
A near-perfect blend of fantasy and reality, Goblin is a show that will linger in your heart long after the credits roll.

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My only reason for not putting a 10/10 rating is that no show is perfect, though as far as kdramas go, this one is very well-conceived and well-executed. I agree with criticisms regarding the slow pacing of the plot (particularly from episodes 5-7) and excessive product placements, but besides all of that, "Goblin" was able to deliver a refreshing plot backed up by A+ acting, masterful directing and cinematography, and wonderful OSTs, that these shortcomings barely became bothersome at all. Congratulations to Kim Eun Sook for finally writing something that deserves all the hype (contrary to popular opinion, I didn't find her previous hits as compelling and deserving, but that's just me). The plot needed some more polishing but overall is cohesive, profound and compelling. A show that you will definitely watch more than once, just to catch the subtle clues and foreshadowing that you missed when you saw it for the first time.

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If you're wondering whether you should watch it or not, you definitely SHOULD. The Plot is all over the place and could've been much better. I still don't quite get why Gong Yoo should be a Goblin. The main Antagonist feels very weak and kind of unnecessary the show could've done without him altogether. They seem to complicate things far more than they should for no reason. The age gap between the two main couple annoyed me at first since both of them are great actors but they do much better when they have a partner with sizzling chemistry but I chose to ignore it and just enjoy it. The acting and the comedy makes up for some of the plot holes. I sometimes wished they would've gotten the fantasy genre out of the drama altogether because they seemed like they couldn't commit much to it. They wanted the Goblin and the Grim reaper's powers without all the complicated background.However, despite all this I finished it yesterday and I felt so sad I couldn't sleep. The soundtrack is really beautiful and all the character's acting is top notch. It felt like I've been watching this for a lot longer than just 16 episodes, which makes sense, since one episode is an hour and a half basically. I think the best way to enjoy this kind of Drama is to not get too worked up about what's going to happen at the end but to fully enjoy the scenes in every episode and treat it as a single movie. The two main male characters are my favorite thing in the drama. They even have more friendly/brotherly chemistry than the main couple. Gong Yoo is amazing as usual, I can't get over how well he can really portray every single emotion with just his eyes. Lee Dong Wook was adorable here. I love the two female leads as well they did a great job. I loved every character presented here Mr. Kim the secratary, Yu Chairman and Deok Hwa were so adorable and such scene stealers. This is probably my favorite ensemble cast for 2017.

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