If you're hesitant to start it please have faith and take the plunge. I can almost guarantee you won't be disappointed. The hype around it is well deserved. Everything from the intricate and complex storyline, to the breathtaking acting, the superb score, the setting, the beautiful cinematography interweave to tell a heart-aching story about fate, love that can transcend time, karma, the power to change one's own destiny and the strong bond of friendship. Everything in this drama is intentional and everything serves a purpose. Every scene helps set the tone of the overarching story and helps develop the characters in meaningful ways. You will find yourself holding your breath more than once!
I will however warn that this drama is not for the weak of heart. The story is heavy with emotion and you will find yourself crying almost every episode. So if you are not looking for an emotionally heavy drama, this might not be for you. But in my opinion every tear is worth it. You will be sucked into a world that you will never want to get out of.
Truly a masterpiece! I think I will be hard pressed to find another drama that can evoke the kind of feelings this one made me experience.
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Goblin. Goblin. Goblin. Everyones known drama Goblin. Bet there is no person who has not heard that title. Grew my curiosity as well, began it, and couldnt really see what people would brag about this drama so much. So i thought to myself its just me. The romance was a bit weird to me at first the age gap would make me kinda uncomfortable since Ji Eun Tak would act a bit childish even tho she was a 19 year old woman. She was so demanding and clingy and the way she would talk annoyed me a lot. And as a person who doesnt enjoy comedy dramas the first episodes were i guess i should say, boring. I found myself skipping scenes a lot . Yet i didnt drop it. Thankfully. Even tho i thought about it a lot. When the story began getting explained and when things finally got more serious i realised why people love this drama. Its way more deep than it seems in the first approximentally 8-9 episodes. And it turned out that even the funny awkward moments this couple went through, had a very huge impact on them once seperated. The music is obviously the best and it only makes things more emotional just how it should. The ending was kinda sad to me because Goblin doesnt age and hes still immortal which means hes gonna witness Eun Taks death again and again and if she actually has 4 lives there will be a moment where she wont be able to be born again and that is one hella sad thought i just had. I am happy i didnt drop it even tho I'll definitely never watch it again. It was a nice story considering I love historical dramas. If there weren't that many unnecessary scenes I would have had a better opinion on this drama. 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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best k-drama
this is one of the best k-dramas that i’ve watched !! the acting is just perfect, the storyline?? is amazing,and i know people have trouble watching this drama because of the age difference but before watching it you just need to know this is a fantastic drama.I mean he’s a goblin, so it makes sense that he lived for years and years (his soul is old). Anyway the amount of tears and laughers i had with this drama!!! you need to watch it it’s so so so good ! the actors are the best too, this casting is amazing.
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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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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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First, and most importantly: I love one (1) doomed, socially awkward, trouty mouth, puppy dog-eyed grim reaper.The mix of genres (fantasy, horror, romcom) were very seamless, creating a precarious world of the living and the dead. With the length of the episodes, the series could develop and redevelop relationships again and again in a way that felt natural--the best example being the Goblin and the Grim Reaper who move from enemies to begrudging roommates to friends.
My only nitpick was that while most of the soundtrack was gorgeous and cinematic, there were a few songs that were pretty saccharine to the point that it was distracting. Not enough to keep me from frantically trying to explain the premise of this series to every person with ears, though.
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Goblin is a very well crafted show. For most of the series it is a perfect 10. I have to say the highlights of this series is the cinematography, acting, and the witty dialogue. The two male lead actors their bromance is incredible and is my favorite part of the series. The weakest part of the series is the last few episodes. It felt like that the Goblin came back too easily and literally every main character died at one point in the last few episodes. I wished the made the main girl a bit older. It felt weird that she was with the Goblin in high school. Other than those complaints, this show is very well made and very enjoyable. Was this review helpful to you?
The story is by far one of the most unique and amazing! The way the director makes the romance/supernatural genre work and unfold is different and introduces many interesting ideas. The pacing of the story is set at a great pace to where every episode keeps you fully engaged and has something truly important to add to the puzzle piece of the story.
Not to mention, the cinematography!! The shots, angles, lighting, and location all combined make the show mesmerizing and pleasing to view! Cannot emphasize how aesthetically pleasing this show is!
You are also taken on a rollercoaster of emotions from one end of the spectrum to the other end, beginning from the 1st to the last episode, so be ready! I don't wanna say too much here!
The characteristic of the story that stood out the most to me was the character development. How the main characters are developed are nearly perfect. The story continuously reminds you of each characters values and their personal struggles to really emphasize each character's morals, motivations, and feelings. Because of this emphasis, you are able to gain a deep understanding of where the characters are coming from.
Another thing I enjoyed about this story is the distinct persepctives it has to offer about the meaning of life and a higher being. It makes you question the bigger picture of life and the paths that life can direct you.
The only thing I disliked about the story was the age of characfer, Ji Eun Tak. I felt that, that age was a bit too young and made me feel somewhat uncomfortable watching the show. It kept me questioning myself if i could continue watching this show (which i'm glad I did), but i could understand why the director chose that age.
-Actors/Actresses
I really enjoyed the actors and actresses they chose! Everyone played their script incredibly and did an outstanding job in displaying emotion, body language, etc. , but i have to say that Lee Dong-wook's acting stood out to me the most!
-Music
The music in this show is definitely one of the top! The soundtracks are super catchy and fit perfectly into this show. The timing of each soundtrack is beautifully placed in the show, bringing out so much more emotion in the scenes; especially in the scenes where it really matters! There were only a few songs I disliked but If i were to highlight a few songs, i'd say "Beautiful", "Hush", "I Miss You", and "Heaven".
-Rewatch Value
The only reason why I placed the rewatch value at an 8 is more of personal thing. For me, once I find out the entire story, I won't be suprised as much anymore, meaning the emotions and connections are not as strong as when I first saw the show. But there still is value in re-watching because there is so much content (as in most kdramas). You might be able o catch a lot of subtle things you might've missed, pick up on a new life lessons, and/or simply re-live the emotional moments! But would I still re-watch the show? Definitely!
So, overall, I give this show a 9/10!
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I kept seeing this show pop up whenever I was looking for a new show to watch. However, I kept disregarding it because the synopsis did not grab my attention at all. However, I stumbled upon the soundtrack of this show and I fell in love and decided to watch it. One of my greatest decision I made. The story is far more intricate then what the synopsis states.
1) Love Story: Both the primary and secondary love story is great. I almost like the secondary love story better than the primary
2) The deeper meaning of living and death is nicely portrayed
3) The way the director and screenwriter wrote the story was amazing. There is so much happening and even the fluff between stories have meaning to it that you don't think of it as fluff
4) The the small amount of humour added is a nice touch
5) Amazing SOUNDTRACK
6) Bonus, the Actors are super cute and the Actress played her role very well
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Mereka bener bener kocak bgt, berharap mereka bakalan main bareng lagi buat drama di masa dpn. Kalo bs genrenya fantasy juga.
Soalnya aku suka bgt drama, apalagi genre fantasy, mystery, detective, kalo yg romance gitu agak kurang ya. Thank u?
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Tp rada ga suka nya, peran main cewenya.. Entah knp saat jd anak sekolahan cantik, tp pas cerita dewasa berambut pendek, keliatan jelek. Kyk lbh tua dr s goblin nya.
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Juga sayang bgt, cerita tentang Sunny n Wangyi aka Kim Woobin nya rada sedikit.
Pas endingnya itu lohh,, yg bikin rada gimana gitu..
Uri Sungjaenya kemana? Yg mana? Kok ga ada.
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