Guardian: The Lonely and Great God

쓸쓸하고 찬란하神 - 도깨비 ‧ Drama ‧ 2016 - 2017
Completed
aki_min
2 people found this review helpful
May 21, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 10
Perhaps, The most popular drama these days .. Goblin is everything you'd want in a drama .. joy , sorrow , love and separation .. the cast is perfect and nothiing less ... Gong Yoo as Kim Shin will make you woe for him in each and every episode and Lee Dong wook is just the cutest thing you'll find one the face of the earth . Kim Go eun is kinda hated for this character and received a lot of mean comments saying "she's ugly " and all , and let me say this .. everyone who said are just envious idiots , that's all . Her character is really good and the chemistry between them is just awe-some! Lee dong wook and Yoo In Na's relationship is cute and yoo in na (sunny)'s character is kinda that lovable character but you wish she'd be better idk what to say about her :3 The story has a great flow and very very high re-watch value .. trust me every comedy , romantic scene can be watched everyday and you'd still not get bored .

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Completed
Coolia123
2 people found this review helpful
Jan 6, 2019
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
There was a period that I stopped watching because Eun Tak's personality was unbearable, or her relationship with Kim Shin felt really forced and unnatural. Only towards the end did I begin to truly feel the impact that the two had made on each other, but maybe that is because all the actors started to cry in, like, every scene lol.

The arc with Park Woo Joon was really scary, because I quite literally can't stand any thriller, horror, or any deceased makeup lmao and turned the humorous-lightheartedness of the drama immediately into something darker. There was much more action in the last 4-5 episodes than the long buildup in the first 12 episodes, but you eventually understand what all those little moments meant in the end, which I guess is sort of rewarding.

In the end, my thoughts were sort of jumbled because the world didn't seem to have order. Many things happened that just didn't make sense according to information given or revealed beforehand. The last episode, especially, was really unbelievable because of what Goblin said about having the same face.

Ultimately, I thought the acting, humor, and touching aspects of Goblin were well done (also every person in this drama --except Park Woo Joon ew-- was very beautiful) but the development and execution of the story was not very well done. I watched this show because 1) my friend recommended it as it was his first kdrama, 2) it received critical claim after its release, and 3) GONG YOO, and I'm glad I did for those reasons. There are some scenes that are very, very quick, but for some reason it pulled on my heart and began to cry. Those moments, though, were never central to the main plot line and that may have been the problem. Basically, this drama wasn't fantastic per say and keep that in mind if you decide to watch.

**One last thing: the soundtrack was alright, but not impressive to other OST music I've heard. My favorite was "I miss you" but the others didn't really draw any emotion from me? Perhaps that is because my favorite drama right now is Scarlet Heart Ryeo and I fell in love so hard with both the drama and the music that I came into Goblin with the bar raised too high.

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Completed
BelindaA
2 people found this review helpful
Mar 17, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

"The time I spent with you was all blindingly bright"

What I liked
- The OST
- Deok Hwa - he's hilarious
- The Intro - it's perfect
- The Bromance
- Yoo In Na
- The cinematography
- The grim reaper
- The ending

What I disliked
- The age gap - especially because she acts like a whiny, selfish, materialistic child and he seems like her father in the beginning. He even calls her child and says things like "an adult is talking". And in the end she's a school girl again?
- The boring episodes in the middle
- The goblin AND Eun Tak are super annoying in the first half.
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Completed
AthenaR
2 people found this review helpful
Apr 7, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0
This drama took me a while to finish because somewhere in the middle made me scared to finish it..(watch it if you want to know ;)) But overall, the creativity of this drama was unique and mesmerizing. Somewhere between all of the episodes made me realize how important life is, and how we should cherish it as if we are going to die tomorrow. (I know we are in quarantine, but there is still stuff we can do even if we are locked down) The actors and actresses really portrait their character significantly. The story is somewhat similar to the 'Hotel Del Luna' but things can't really be the same especially if it's different characters and settings. The cinematography was insane!!!!, the funny moments with Grim and Goblin were hilarious which is the reason why I started watching this drama. The ending kind of made me confused but I sorta understand where they are going at... but I wish Sunny and 'KIM WOO BIN' had more screen time and more "dates". I find their relationship very rom-com -idy than Eun Tak and Goblin. But I still like the romances that they have. The way they first met, first love, and first sadness....? This drama also showed me how dedicated he was to Eun Tak, he was patient to wait for her even if he is a 'LONELY GOD'
This quote; "There is no sadness that lasts for eternity. There is no love that lasts for eternity either." and Eun Tak voted for "Sad love"... This quote teared me up because the commitment she is doing is just sooo amazing and a life lesson. I wish that for anyone who is looking for love or is in love, I wish for yall to be dedicated as them... This is true love!!!
Overall, this made me cry!, laugh, smile, cringe, and made me jealous xD
After watching this, it inspired me to keep going and push on in life!
The comedy in this drama will stay with me forever! HAHAH!
I also loved how Deok-Hwa is the pabo person in the drama...evne though it's mostly Grim and Goblin.
After watching Sungjae in this drama, I began to miss 'WE GOT MARRIED' with JOY T.T
Anyways! This was a fun and memorable moment of me watching GOBLIN.
Watching this drama took me almost 4 MONTHS HAHAHAHAH.
THANK GOD I FINISHED IT THO!!!
AND THAnk you for the ending <3....teared me up but that was a ----- ending <3 <3
7:40pm 4/6/20

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Completed
WinonaVivian
2 people found this review helpful
Feb 2, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This drama now being my fav drama I ever watched.
The story is unique. You can't decide which ending will be served. I tried to figure out the ending at first with my own fantasy. But You have to watch it till the end to know the real ending. And it's full of surprises.
The musics are loveable. I can hear this soundtracks day by day without getting bored. And every soundtrack make me remember the scenes.
I highly recommend this drama for you.
If you trying to watch your first korean drama, this is perfect for you.
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Completed
cassey
2 people found this review helpful
Feb 2, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.5
If Goblin and I are in a facebook relationship, our status will say "it's complicated". I had a lot of fun watching this fantasy world Kim Eun Sook created, and I looked forward to it every week, but felt it lacked the deep emotional hook kdramas are so good at. After the premiere, the pacing was meandering (to pull the sword or not fiasco), Eun Tak felt too needy, and I was unable to connect with Sunny due to her limited screen time.

But the cast was so endearing, it's Gong Yoo's first drama back in so long, his chemistry with Lee Dong Wook was so on point, Shin & Grim Reaper were adorkable beta heroes kdramaland don't always get, and I'm a sucker for fantasy about gods so I stuck on.

It might have started with getting entertained only through Shin's first love squeeing, but gradually per episode, I was feeling more for the OTP. Once Eun Tak admitted her neediness came from a place of fear of being alone, it's truly wondrous to watch her settle down and mature. I've grown to appreciate how good their relationship is, finally not keeping secrets from each other and just a great support system for one another. They chose to fight their destiny together, and not go all noble idiotic on me (or rather noble idiocy I can get behind on).

Once the show finally got over the first pulling of the sword out of the way, the pacing improved and slowly built up. When most of kdramas lose their way at the end, Goblin is part of that 1% that saved the best for last and went out with a bang, leaving me with all the feels and tears that makes it all worth it after all. Faults and all, I'll always treasure the drama for what it has done for the kdrama fantasy romance genre (which I'm craving more of). And like the rest of Goblin fandom, I know I'll forever feel a little bit blue when the rain falls.

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Dropped 9/16
MOMI_PEIX
5 people found this review helpful
Feb 1, 2022
9 of 16 episodes seen
Dropped 3
Overall 1.0
Story 1.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
Very overrated. I am completely dissapointed, I expected a lot more from this title due to the great critics it has.
Althoug at first look the plot seems interesting and the first episode was good, it soon starts to get boring. The main character is a rather unbearable child. The love story is hardly credible, not because of the age difference but because of her personality or attitude.
I did quit watching it, which is something I've only done a couple of times.
The best thing of the show is the two leading males, and their relationship, very amusing.
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Dropped 8/16
theematchabun
7 people found this review helpful
Jun 10, 2021
8 of 16 episodes seen
Dropped 2
Overall 3.0
Story 3.0
Acting/Cast 4.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Even aesthetics can’t save this drama from dullness!

I was curious to see what the buzz is about since this drama garnered an international fanfare & the god/deity-human relationship seems to be popular in dramas in recent years although the storyline of ‘ancient man-being’ meets ‘pitiful young woman’ seems to be overwrought in Kdrama land.

The show definitely had a big budget as to why they were able to do many things from CGI visual effects, costumes, set production & film location. But money can only do you so much if your writing is stale as a burnt toast with bland & forced characterization. This show relies a lot on aesthetic. Gong Yoo is an excellent actor but his role here is so drab. He’s a 900 year old goblin but talks & acts like an insolent teen-man. First time watching Kim Go Eun. I’m not a fan of the childlike mannerism or kiddish voice. It’s a bit overdone & comes off unnatural.

The opening sequence of Kim Shin’s backstory is great. The only part worth watching. Fast-forward to the present, Kim Shin realizes his fate is tied to a poor teenager. Eun Tak’s financial woes is suddenly fixed by an ancient rich man & Kim Shin’s life problems is at the stakes of a teenage girl. This doesn’t make an interesting dynamic. I’m not buying KS & ET ‘fated’ relationship or romance. It’s ridiculous. There wasn’t any development to begin with for them to feel remotely attracted to each other romantically. It’s all too superficial given that they were complete strangers from the get go. The development is totally inorganic. No chemistry between the actors nor the characters. The dialogue is insufferable with repetitive & dull scenes with a cast of characters that does nothing interesting. Everyone is just walking around looking pretty & talking without any depth. The playback of the flashback scenes is redundant. The comedy is cringeworthy with unintentional laughable moments in a not-so-good way.

The only saving grace for the show is the stunning cinematography and great OST. The directing is overly melodramatic with a plot barely half-baked.

Also, the product placement is so apparent, the drama reads like an ad commercial.

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Dropped 10/16
doseii
4 people found this review helpful
Jun 12, 2025
10 of 16 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 3.0
Story 2.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 3.5
Rewatch Value 1.0

Why was it so boring

everything was guessable. main couple didnt had chemistry. that shitty BEAUTIFUL LOVE song kept ringing as they awkardly pat each other head for 30 SECONDS. I am having very hard time finishing this corny thing. its unnecessarily long. main girl is annoying with desperate phrases and idiotic smiles she is giving to 900+ years old man who is in 30s body. I do not like any characters in this series and I am extremely furious bc I heard so many good things about this show. non of my expectations were full filled
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Dropped 9/16
ChaotiChusion
6 people found this review helpful
Mar 24, 2021
9 of 16 episodes seen
Dropped 1
Overall 5.5
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 2.0

Those pedo vibes!!! Not worth the hype!

This is just another cliché rom com drama! By the way through out the drama( atleast till epidode 10 that i have watched ) the protagonist acts like a sugar daddy to lure that young lady to get his job done. The actors may be good (considering their previous works) but i just couldnt feel the romance, it was naseous at the very least. I really looked into their profiles after few episodes and I was proven right, their irl ages have a wide gap. Few may argue the story demands so nothin wrong in casting. To all those.....bruh seriously!! So I've decided to drop the drama since its problematic in every possible way.

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Completed
Olivia
3 people found this review helpful
Jan 23, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 10
I can say with 100% confidence this is hands down the best drama I've ever seen and I've seen at least 50 to 60 so far.

The cast are beyond amazing, the plot keeps you on your toes and makes you cry, laugh, cringe and smile like crazy. The story is beautiful and mysterious and it is the most unique storyline.

I am beyond heartbroken that the show is over.

EVERYONE watch Goblin!
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Completed
Elle
2 people found this review helpful
Feb 24, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
Goblin has nearly a perfect story and features superb acting talent. Kim Go Eun, Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook all have amazing performances. Though Kim Go Eun and Gong Yoo illustrate such chemistry through the series, it has to be said that Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook's bromance steal the show. Man, the fan service!! This drama has become one of my favorites.
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Guardian: The Lonely and Great God poster

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  • Score: 8.8 (scored by 159,829 users)
  • Ranked: #169
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