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Guardian: The Lonely and Great God

쓸쓸하고 찬란하神 - 도깨비 ‧ Drama ‧ 2016 - 2017
Completed
JanuaryWonder
3 people found this review helpful
Feb 3, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.5
Ah, Goblin. The drama with the most insane summary I'd read up to that point. Amnesiac Grim Reaper? Goblin with an invisible sword through his chest? Goblin's bride who is... a high school student, which is kinda creepy when you think about it? Ghosts? Deities? Reincarnation?

Yeap, all there. But damn, this was better than I ever could've expected. "Every moment shined." In deed. Ok, so maybe not *every* moment, but 89% of them for sure. I cried. I laughed. I wanted to group-hug the Goblin and the Grim Reaper and have a beer with them. They were friendship goals, level: immortals. Sometimes I actually wished there'd been more short arks with those two alone, because their interactions were both hilarious and heartwarming. The smartphone scene kills me every time, as does the one where they coolly go out of the tunnel with leeks and grocery bags. Bromance for the ages. Gong Yoo and Lee Dong-wook had the best chemistry out of all male actors I've seen so far. A+.

About the love stories.. though it was pretty hard for me to get with the program and support the Goblin and Eun-tak relationship at first because it was, frankly, wrong, to my great surprise (and maybe, a bit of disdain as well), I did like how they were written by the end and how their interactions were dealt with. I don't want to be hypocritical, I've enjoyed many a vampire romance in which the differences in terms of age were probably greater, but Gong Yoo was just so obviously older and the way they dressed him (op.ed. wonderfully) made him seem super serious. On the other hand, Eun-tak was.. a girl - this characterization is something I struggle with the most, because it both prevented me from rooting for them from the start, but was also a pretty realistic portrayal of the character, which I appreciated. By the time we got through the age gap though, I was totally on board. Well, a bit before that as well, just in time to bawl my eyes out to the rooftop scene. Her character really struck a chord with me in the end and I wish they'd done the jump a bit sooner and shuffled the stuff a bit so we could see more of older-Eun-tak's moments with Shin.

The story between the Reaper and Sunny was hilarious, I loved them together and I'm super happy that they got the ending they did, both of them. Eye-bawling moment #2. I especially loved Sunny's confidence which maybe made her come over as shallow at the start, but when you later realize how much she cares about him, and the history they share, it breaks your heart. The Grim Reaper was definitely my favorite character and that didn't change throughout the series. The deadpan comedic delivery, the whining, his brotherly love for Eun-tak and his "clients"... some of the short scenes in the tea-room were my favorite parts of certain episodes, especially the one with the soldier and his sweetheart who was waiting for him for 70+ years.

Overall, the series was wonderfully imaginative, poetic, with beautiful photography and lovable characters. It did seem to drag at certain times, but never enough to even consider dropping it or putting it on hold. The fantasy world created in the show was rich and magical. Love, love, LOVE. A must-see.

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Completed
Scriptedbetter
3 people found this review helpful
Feb 18, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 3.5
Story 2.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 1.0

Cringe

I am a person who usually watches shows without bias and I usually just enjoy the story. The first time I read the synopsis I was like "sure why not" with the mindset that the female lead will be much older when she and male lead fall in love.

I particularly did not enjoy how she and the male started their whole love thing when she still wore uniform 80% of the time. I have no problem with dramas where there is an age gap between the characters but I have a huge issue when one of them is a minor and the other sees and views them in a romantic way. So if that ticks you off too, I suggest you don't watch it but if not then go ahead.

The casting was great however, both actors and supporting cast were amazing.

The story is very comedic and keeps you entertained (save for the part where the 1000 year old man falls for a 19 year old).

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Completed
Vanished
3 people found this review helpful
Sep 20, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 10
“Goblin: The Lonely and Great God” which aired from December 02, 2016 to January 21, 2017, stars a very wide range of actors and actresses in its cast lineup. From the Original Soundtrack to the cast, to the way this drama was filmed, I could tell that this was going to be a hit from the moment I sat down to watch it. From the very first 5 minutes of this drama, I was already hooked and ready to ride it out. I remember I watched the first 9 episodes in 1 night. An addicting and emotional story of the Goblin, his bride, his friend, his enemy, his sister, and his family is an amazing drama that I really enjoyed with all my heart.

The story, the tragic story at that, of Goblin, is really compelling. Kim Eun Sook is really a master storyteller. She writes characters and situations that make your heart skip a beat or even break. I found myself extremely emotionally invested in the love and friendship of the characters in this drama. However, I will be honest, I didn’t know if I actually liked our main female lead until about episode 11, I was on the fence about her, but in the end, I did really enjoy her. There were no characters that I thought were poorly written or not worth the emotional investment, I found each of them to be extremely well thought out and very realistic. Well, as realistic as you can get for a fantasy drama that is.

This drama had so much going for it. It was literally the most aesthetically pleasing drama I have ever watched. The cinematography, the lighting, the color correction, just everything was so beautiful. The way they made this drama look fit the fantasy aesthetic of the drama as well, everything seemed so dream and wonderland like. The original soundtrack for this drama did have me on the fence for a while as well. I was wondering if I really enjoyed the music for the drama or not, but in the end, I found myself humming and singing along to all the songs. They all fit the drama well and put a certain tone and mood to each scene which is what I always say I want. I love OSTs that can give me songs to sing later in life and that make the scene more impactful, and it gave me both.

The acting in this drama was fantastic for the most part, there was one part where I was iffy about it, but it was a really minor character crying so I will let that slide. Gong Yoo was fantastic, it is great to see him in another drama, not just movies, since BIG which was a total flop for me. I have always thought we were a great actor and that BIG was a bad choice on his part. Perhaps that is why he has strayed away from dramas for a few years, but I am glad to see him back in action. His sad smile and his eyes always filled with pain were really convincing and I hope I see him in more and more drama now that he is back in the drama game. It was my first time encountering Kim Go Eun, I know that her first drama was Cheese in the Trap which I know a lot of people loved, but I also heard the ending to the drama was pretty lame, so I have yet to go and see it. She is a young woman, my age (I’m trying to say I’m young at 26 lol). I did have questions about my liking for her character at times, but I thought she did a fantastic job either way. Lee Dong Wook never lets me down, he always brings his A game, and I was happy to see him again after my long drama hiatus. His character was possibly my favorite, I felt his pain and I loved the way his character developed throughout the entire drama itself. He was just great and there really isn’t more to say about that. Yoo In Na surprised me, I really liked her. The last drama I watched her in was You Who Came From The Stars which I actually don’t remember her in, so I don’t know what that says about her role. All I can remember is Queen In Hyun’s Man which I was really not that impressed with, so I’m kind of happy to be discovering her like she is fresh and new in my mind. Overall, the acting was just fantastic and everyone portrayed their characters well.

This drama was an emotional roller coaster. From laughs to tears within the same episode, this drama really had a way with playing with your emotions. You can get extremely invested in the characters of this drama and you hope and pray for a happy ending for them all, and I found myself truly infatuated with it. From the scenery to the story itself, and the music that will forever be ingrained in my mind, the drama was just plain old fantastic. This time, the hype train didn’t let me down, and I am proud of it for that. There is drama out there that are truly worth the hype. I would assume that everyone has already seen this drama. But, if you haven’t I hope that you will settle down for 16 episodes of pure fantasy, magic, and beauty that this drama has to offer. It is worth the watch and worth a re-watch while you are at it.

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Completed
Mara
3 people found this review helpful
Jan 21, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
It's just a drama every Korean drama should watch... great cast, great story line, different from the usual kdrama ish. It was just a fresh drama I will highly recommend.
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Completed
BAsfaw
3 people found this review helpful
Jan 22, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.5
I can't lie I started watching this drama for the cast and didn't really know what the story was going to about but I am so happy I watched it. The chemistry betythe actors was amazing and the story had me hooked from the first episode all the way to the end. This is a story about love but not just romantic love but love of friendship and family. This drama has moments that will have you laughing and moments when it will have you in tears. This is over all one of the best dramas I've watched in a while.
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Completed
yeongjinchae
3 people found this review helpful
Sep 13, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

Overused tropes in fantasy genre

I have been watching Korean dramas since my early teens; it has been close to 20 years. I'm genuinely quite sick and tired of the same old plotlines where there are two leads that are bound to end up together, and two supporting actors who may or may not end up together. Writers continue to churn out these repetitive storylines for mindless entertainment to appeal to lonely, horny, swoony, young (and older) women. Goblin, is just another one of these dramas.

I absolutely hated this drama: I actually dropped it halfway around episode 8 and continued with my life for the next 6 months with little intention to return to it. I only forced myself to finish the series so it won't keep showing up in my "Continue Watching" list in my Netflix account.

Its redeeming qualities are the CGI stuff, and the performance of the supporting actors. I thought their love story was slightly more interesting and bittersweet. I was irked by the weird semblance to the awful Twilight series, where an undead male figure falls in love with a teenage girl. EEEWW. Sorry, no matter how dashing Gong Yoo is (I am one of the few who never found him charismatic), I shudder to think how anyone could find this romantic, even suspending all logic.

If you are a newbie into the Korean drama universe, this could be a sample drama for you to let your heartstrings be tugged. But for longtime K-drama watchers like me, I am always looking for something new and refreshing.

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Completed
Anca
3 people found this review helpful
Jun 15, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers
If you want to watch this drama, be ready for an emotional rollercoaster! This is the first drama that makes me cry a lot, but also laugh a lot. It combines both dramatic and funny elements wonderfully.

Spoilers ahead:

The cast and acting were A+!! I was really happy to see Sungjae in a drama and I'm so happy he was such a great actor! I usually am a little skeptical when I see idol actors because I've seen some who weren't that good, but he was really great and I'm happy for him!
Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook were exceptional! While I wasn't that impressed with Lee Dong Wook's acting in Hotel King, I found it to be exceptional in this drama and I feel like he improved a lot! His friendship with the goblin was hilarious and wonderful, I loved it!
This is the first drama with Kim Go Eun I watch and she was great, I think she did a good job and I will surely watch other dramas in which she played!
Before Goblin, I knew Gong Yoo from Coffee Prince and I can't say I had any opinion on him, but after this, I'm in love! His ability of conveying emotion is fantastic!
I know Yoo In Na from 'My Love From Another Star' and I couldn't really form an opinion on her, especially since I can't say I was impressed with her acting, but I really liked her in this drama!
The subject was a new an interesting one for me, but I couldn't really understand why he was cursed even after she pulled the sword out and summoned him back. I would have expected him to age again, but idk. And if you think about the fact that he's cursed to lose her in all of her 4 lives and then never meet her again, it makes it even sadder!
Overall, it was a wonderful drama and I wholeheartedly recommend it!

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Completed
nature456
3 people found this review helpful
Jan 24, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 10
This first time I'm ever writing a review on here for a drama, that's how amazing this drama was! Wish I could give it more than a 10/10! The cinematography was amazing, the plot was consistent, and their love story beautiful and heart wrenching at the same time. I loved all the characters and their character development and importance towards to the plot as a whole. This drama as officially stolen the number one spot for me!
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Completed
Assina Rana
3 people found this review helpful
Mar 1, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
Now i had decided to watch this drama just because of the cast at first because when i first heard it was coming out i had no idea what it was going to be about. i mean even the trailers were very vague and i actually didn't try to find out what the storyline was going to be like lol

So as soon as i started watching this i got sucked into it the world because the cinematography is amazing in this just like most korean dramas but the execution was amazing for this. as i got to the end of the first episode i just fell in love with every character in the drama. the way the cast portrait the characters is just amazing and i highly doubt any other actors would have been able to do any better than this!

the story gets confusing a bit at times i mean they don't get in depth on some subjects but still it doesn't ruin it for you although it would have been a nice touch if they had elaborated. they are hilarious moments, extremely sad and some freaky moments. they just know how to make you feel a mix range of emotions and that's what made me love this drama even more. the bromance was amazing! i mean one of the best i have seen so far, and the actual romance was sweet and i'll be honest i usually don't like it when the main leads have such a huge age gap but it actually didn't seem weird in this drama, and i'm actually not being biased lol

the soundtrack. one word...AMAZING. I usually like a lot of ost but this one was so good i had to download them and listened to them on repeat for a good 2 weeks after i finished the whole drama!

all in all this is a drama you will not regret watching honestly. the best drama of the year so far and i'll be honest i don't think anything will top this for a while for me personally!

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Completed
Christelou
3 people found this review helpful
Jan 31, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
Love this Drama!
Every things were perfects, characters, actings skill, feelings, music. I'm just sad that it has already finished, i just want to watch it again. The romance is like a smooth poetry.
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Completed
keona
4 people found this review helpful
Jan 22, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This drama is now my number 1 favourite out of all I have watched. I've got to say, it's going to be pretty hard to top this one. I finished watching the last wo episodes on Viki and I LOVED it. The characters, the music (my favourite is I Miss You and Round and Round) and the the plot was PHENOMENAL! I had a hard time not crying when the sad parts were on (not going to spoil) and had a hard time not smiling when they were happy. The ending was good, some people think it could've been better but I think it was sweet and everything was perfect!! My favourite was Kill Me Heal Me and Angry Mom but Goblin takes the lead!!

I will definitely rewatch this because I miss the characters so much, even after 15 minutes from seeing them lol. I recommend this to ANYONE who likes dramas as is is funny, romantic and have some action! It also teachers a lot of lessons and puts other people's lives into perspective. Thank you so much to the writers as this is my favourite and now I have high expectations XD

10/10

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Ongoing 16/16
Khushiii_
4 people found this review helpful
Aug 1, 2024
16 of 16 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 6.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Overrated ...it was just too boring to watch ..

i was not able to met any kond of expectations that i had with the hype of this kseries..I can't deny that cast is perfect .Story line is just nice but it could have been less boring if the portray was improved..ppl hyping over this drama got me excited to give it a try but i was disappointed in the very first episode although i forced myself to ep 4 but it was totally not worth it .Honestly this was boring .lg this kind of drama is not for me .All are loving this but i can't help myself to hate this thing .. its just my opinion , idk the reason why ppl love this but if you feel this drama is for you just go ahead and watch this hyped drama who knows you will end up liking it...

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  • Score: 8.8 (scored by 174,347 users)
  • Ranked: #178
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