TLDR: The story was great, the ending ok, amazing chemistry, would recommend
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I’ve been on drama slump lately (I’m into cdramas), so I thought I’d try this just to see how I go.
I ended up loving it a lot! 9/10 because there were just scenes I found too slow, dragging and repetitive. I’ve been listening to Stay With Me since 2016 because I liked it so I was surprised at how powerful the OST is. I’m the type who gets really emotional on OSTs, so OSTs are a big factor for me when watching dramas. Now, one of my favorites is Round and Round, gives me nostalgic feels.
Believe it or not, from 2016 I never knew what the story is about even if it’s so popular, I didn’t come across spoilers. Maybe because I just didn’t really pay attention haha!
Loved all the characters and all of their chemistry. Kim Shin is such a cutie!!
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I put off watching the final episodes 14 - 16 because I was reluctant for it to end. Now I've watched ep. 14 which is clearly sequel in nature. I have to say I found it a hard slog, the sparkle has gone, the interaction between Goblin, Grim Reaper and Deok Hwa sadly missing. If this continues I would have to say it was a mistake. They should have finished with ep.13 and maybe a brief "follow up" finish. Don't mean to be b*****, but the idea anyone or any supernatural entity would span the universe in eternal love to chase Kim Go Eun stretches credulity.
Taking the plunge again at Ep. 14 better but I find the central romance utterly unconvincing, partly because it just goes on far too long - there's a limit to the sweet endearments and exchanges you want to hear.
Finished at last! A suitably complex and, I'm glad to say, unpredictable ending. Ah, if only life - and death - were like that. Turned whimsical again at the end, but inevitable I expect. Isn't it wonderful also how time can pass in a camera shot in TV dramas? Preferred Grim Reaper and Sunny and Deok Hwa to Goblin and Eun Tak, though the latter did improve markedly towards the end when she stopped playing all "kittenish". Which reminds me, what happened to Deok Hwa amidst all the complex comings and goings at the end?? So annoying.
The production values, background scenery and camera work were excellent throughout and the fashion sense fabulous - but when my mind keeps going off the story to the clothes and background scenery, annoyingly missing the subtitles, desperately waiting for the next scene with Grim Reaper and/or Deok Hwa, it's clear that it's not entirely absorbing my admittedly volatile brain. Music almost entirely good. Re-watch value? well not any time soon, but the fashion, design and memory of the comic parts may tempt me. Still, there's nothing else for it, but to give it 10/10 for the overall achievement.
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This review may contain spoilers
Bromance takes it all
I wholeheartedly understand why people love this drama so much. It has many flaws, but it's still a ton of fun. In particular, the music of the main theme stays with you forever and adds a special element to the show that I haven't noticed in any show since.Everyone has written about the unstoppable bromance between Gong Yoo's Kim Shin, the tormented god, and Lee Dong Wook's Grim Reaper. And if you watch any behind the scenes footage of the show, you can see why. They were just having the time of their lives working together.
Unfortunately, there are a couple big flaws that prevent this show from being close to perfect. For one thing, we learn very little about our brave heroine Eun Tak, which diminishes our stake in her story. We don't get to see much of her past or her thoughts about the state of her life or the relationships she has with friends or family. And now that I think about it, I can't name any character that we get to truly know in depth. A few well placed monologues would have been useful to this end. I wanted to know about each character's history and past struggles, and how they feel now. Second, the main villain in the show is pretty absent until the very end. There was so much potential around exploring the heart of the issues faced by Eun Tak and Kim Shin and how they are trying to protect each other and deal with their own issues, but it wasn't harnessed.
One last thing I enjoyed was the filming in Quebec. I'm a Canadian and that was quite a surprising treat to behold!
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Binge Worthy && then just Re-Watch It
Don't hesitate just DO It!This entire series is my all-time favorite, my number one! I have been trying to refrain from watching this again because the first time around nothing really filled the void once this show was over. I digress, this show has everything you could ever want, comedy, romance, drama, excitement, evil, character development. It is a masterpiece.!
The OTS .... this OTS... IS PHENOMENAL. I can listen to the songs in my car while on my way to work. The songs just fit so well with the series and just provide a heightened viewing experience.
The cast as a whole cohesive was fantastic. They worked so well together and made sure the viewer hated, loved, and cried with them every time the experienced something new. Their craftsmanship just seemed so genuine and was quite entertaining to watch.
I never give any spoilers in my reviews and so I won't reveal the ending, but I will tell you that this show no matter the ending is worth watching. I appreciate the journey this show took me on and the emotional rollercoaster it was.
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NOTE: I can hardly wait for Deng Lun's remake of "Goblin". It seems like it has many remakes!
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An Absolute Classic!
Nowadays, when you talk about Kdramas, a humongous classic is always thrown into the conversation. Gobli, Guardian, whatever it may be called, this show has remained rent-free on so many people's heads for such a long amount o time that it makes you wonder. What is it really about?At a core level, Goblin is no better than your generic, corny, over-the-top Korean romance with all the blows and whistles, but with a few twists that really drive off an ever-lasting mystery.
The mystery doesn't really stick up at the forefront, but it's ever-present and slowly, but surely, gets revealed as you also get more and more attached to the characters and start paying more attention to the non-romance plot line, which in my opinion is a very underrated aspect in this series that's not talked about enough.
It also helps that the show is such a binge-able series, especially in portions, or as you may view as mini "arcs". Let alone, the rewatchability.
I won't say more for spoilers-sake, but give it a watch!
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Anyway, I always love a fantasy-themed drama, and Goblin also combined two narratives from the Goryeo period and the modern period and turned it into a beautiful love story. That was enough to make the story interesting and I really love how the writing flows beautifully to flawlessly integrate the three elements into a great story. That aside, I love how well the characters were written to be so endearing and well-loved. I especially love the secondary love story between the Grim Reaper and Sunny as well as the complicated relationship between Grim Reaper and the Goblin. Which made one can't help but keep tuning in to see how the three characters, whose relationships extended past several lifetimes could reconcile with each other once they realize each other's identities.
That aside, it was really endearing to see a shy and timid goblin being paired with an awkward and adorable drama-loving grim reaper as they try to figure out their places in the world and find out the purpose of their existence while paving their own 'happy endings'.
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Was it good?
Okay so Goblin has been sitting on my to watch list for a long time. I just, I dunno. It never grabbed me.I finally took the plunge to watch it. I loved the acting and humor they had in the series.
But to me, this wasn't the best KDrama I've seen. Story was good, but the first half was kinda boring minus all the funny bits of the Goblin, Reaper and "Nephew".
I would recommend to watch, but I doubt it will be a KDrama I'll ever watch again.
Good cast, great songs and good story line. But yet like i said, the first half was boring. I dunno why, but it was.
Comment on this if you watch it from my review :)
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First of all, the storyline is very unique and sweet. From the very first episode it pushes you to the edge of your seat and makes you feel with the characters. Although the episodes run up to 90 minutes, I never felt like they were trying to protract the story.
In addition, the actors’ excellent performance make a major contribution to this circumstance. It is inevitable to not feel any emotional attachment to the characters. I can’t even count how often they made me laugh out loud or shed litres of tears.
The chemistry of the two couples is so intense, sweet and tragic that it even made my heart flutter. The Goblin and Eun Tak as well as Sunny and The Grim Reaper are just so sweet together. You can’t get enough of them. Besides that, the bromance of the Grim Reaper and the Goblin is just spectacularly hilarious. In my opinion, it is definitely one of the best parts of this Drama. I replayed their scenes just way too often.
All in all, Goblin is definitely a must see drama. If you haven’t watch it yet… what are you waiting for? You won’t regret it and I’m sure you will love it as much as I do. I can’t even express the emptiness I felt in my heart after finishing this show.
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This review may contain spoilers
Great but not worth the hype
Are you looking for something that will stick you to the TV screen? Well, you found it! In my opinion scores 10/10 are totally inadequate because the series, although it is really good, does not deserve more than 7. The story is interesting and departs from typical dramas where love and an attempt to save the other person at all costs preside over them. Unfortunately, the execution did not go as well as the producers would like. Why? THE FEMALE LEAD. When it comes to the males - they ware amazing. The chemistry between them was flawless and this part I will never deny nor forget. but Ji Eun Tak played by Kim Go Eun was driving me nuts. Her character was annoying and I don't understand how Goblin would fell in love with her. She was a traumatised child who decided to something fun as help a goblin die.That's in short here but I speak more about this drama on my blog :) feel free and welcomed to check it out ^^ https://my-asian-dramas.blogspot.com/2021/05/goblin.html
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Not worth watching
I'll admit that I watched it recently, 5 years after it aired and I may have enjoyed it more had I watched it then, the beautiful scenery and production would've blinded me. But since it's not the case and kdrama since then have a better production so it's not the only high budget drama anymore, I'll say it really wasn't worth watching.The story didn't move at all, they spent so many episodes going back and forth, and they would go as much as 5 episodes without nothing substantial happening. The story could be condensed in a 1h30 movie, I'm not sure there was even a story worth telling to begin with.
The second leads helped me get through the show, their storyline was a little more interesting, but the second part of their story was a little boring to.
The bromance was on point though.
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