Guardian: The Lonely and Great God

쓸쓸하고 찬란하神 - 도깨비 ‧ Drama ‧ 2016 - 2017
Completed
b2uty
1 people found this review helpful
Aug 18, 2018
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
Words cannot express how good this drama is. Goblin goes above and beyond any drama I have ever seen. The acting, the story, the music; everything is just so superb. I cried my eyes out, and I laughed even harder. When I finished this drama (the first time) I immediately watched it all over again. The music is so good that I'm still listening to the OST on Spotify a year and a half later. I fell in love with each and every character like they were real people in my life. If I could recommend any drama, it would be Goblin. The only flaw this drama has is that it didn't have even more episodes. We can only hope one day they make a sequel.

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Completed
aindi
1 people found this review helpful
Apr 23, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
Should you? Would you? Could you?

You should watch this one (YES! )
You would recommend this to others. (YES!)
You could watch this again. (YES)

I just can’t believe what I saw. What a story! What direction! What acting! If one gets down to analyze this drama, you will end up confusing yourself so just go with the flow. This is a perfect combination of a good story that is executed by great direction and brought to such good life thanks to these amazing actors. If anyone of these elements would go wrong, then you would have a mishmash of a drama. I cannot credit any single department for the success of this one but all in a whole.
I cannot imagine anyone writing such a concept of a grim reaper and a goblin cohabiting with the potential goblin's bride! It’s too bizarre yet so beautifully executed. The concepts of divinity and reincarnation are so well explored in this.
The actors are amazing in their respective roles. The interaction between the goblin and the grim reaper is just too hilarious. Each one of them brings their character to life with such conviction. I can go on and on raving about Goblin but would love for you to see it.

An eleven on ten for this one.

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Completed
mewi
1 people found this review helpful
May 1, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
The second Korean show I watched, after CLOY.
Goblin is a masterpiece. A show with amazing direction, cast and beautiful music. Was a bit off about the crazy age difference between the leads, but oh well.
Loved the bromance, they shared amazing chemistry. Would love to see them in another show. The leading lady is a very talented actress. Loved her expressions. I loved the guy in Train to Busan, and this show made me a fan of him!
Definitely a worth watch, a bit of a drag for 2-3 episodes from 8 or so, but overall a good watch!
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Completed
Dollphxne
1 people found this review helpful
Apr 4, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
After watching Goblin, I find that the thing I love the most about it is the chemistry between the cast members, and not just the main couple but, for example, between Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook. I think that the OST is very very nice, and at times when I heard it in the background, I felt that it was suitable and made the scene even better. I feel that the story is quite unique and the uniqueness of it was handled well. Although I didn't love the ending all that much, I really loved the general story and the process to which the ending ws reached, thus I would definitely recommend this drama to anyone who wants to watch it.

TLDR: The story was great, the ending ok, amazing chemistry, would recommend

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Completed
caliluni
1 people found this review helpful
Jul 2, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
My first kdrama as an adult (not counting the ones I watched as a kid when I didn’t really have a choice). I’m was not into kdramas so I wasn’t part of the Goblin hype when this was released.
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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Completed
Daisuke
1 people found this review helpful
Jul 12, 2018
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 7.0
After 6 episodes the attraction of this program imho is in inverse proportion to the volume of the romance scenes between Kim Shin and Kim Go Eun - and it seems to be increasing………ep 8 excellent, if a bit heavy - even kim go eun was good…..getting up to episode 13 I shared the consensus that this was a top-flight drama.

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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Completed
Sban
1 people found this review helpful
Feb 24, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 7.0
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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Completed
Koya0912
1 people found this review helpful
Jun 21, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

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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Completed
Dar Jae
1 people found this review helpful
Oct 20, 2019
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
Goblin, I have been anxious to see this but couldn't find it but they have it under another name "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God". I researched both the two main leads, Gong Yoo and Kim Go Eun. I must say Gong Yoo is NOT BAD at all. I can understand why everything that they say about you being one of Korea's best actors. Well, here is my 4th best kisser! I can understand why you said you were tired after doing this movie, you put your heart into this one. For a minute I thought Kim Go Eun might've been too young for you but I was surely shocked to know this actress was 28 years old. She is aging well, she looks like a teenager. She did very well in this as well. The other 3 main leads, in - Yoo In Na who played Sunny, Yook Sung Jae who played Yoo Deok Hwa, and Lee Dong Wook who played the Grim Reaper; this TVDrama couldn't be done without all of you. You all were fantastic and great acting! The visual effects were well done but I would have loved to have seen more. I still gave it a 10 rating because of the storyline and the acting performance. The music was also very good on the ears.

NOTE: I can hardly wait for Deng Lun's remake of "Goblin". It seems like it has many remakes!

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Completed
eoussama
1 people found this review helpful
Jun 21, 2024
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

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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Completed
Izzu162
1 people found this review helpful
Apr 26, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.5
Been wanting to watch this drama for a while and finally managed to finish marathon it now. Since I'm the type to get easily put off over a series if there's way too much hype over a series by fandom to the point that it dampens one's mood to keep watching. So I'm glad that I finally able to enjoy this drama properly. It's great to be able to enjoy the series without having the pressure to have to like it just because a lot of people also love the drama.

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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Completed
Insfire
1 people found this review helpful
Feb 7, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

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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Guardian: The Lonely and Great God poster

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  • Score: 8.8 (scored by 163,408 users)
  • Ranked: #177
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