A poignant and philosophical take on the end of the world
"Together today, tomorrow, till the end."The Fool of the End was such a powerful title, but I'm not surprised they changed it in English. Thankfully, the few scenes removed from Yoo Ah In didn’t hurt the drama, since I think I know what was removed and it's not much (maybe some less important scenes too, no idea tbh). Like one of the top reviews said, it allowed for a stronger focus on the protagonist played by Ahn Eun Jin. Yoo Ah In was amazing as everyone else, and I hope he is doing okay. South Korea absolutely needs to change, but that's not the topic here.
It’s definitely not a drama for everyone, but it reminded me of recent real-world events like the covid lockdown, Korea’s sudden martial law, and, on a more personal level, the sense of community my grandma shares at the church. The timelines were handled well (so I was quite confused about the criticism, because the drama was giving you clear hints like showing the date and changing the color), and it was satisfying to learn about each character and connect everything together. I loved the unsettling but also calm atmosphere despite the chaos, how it kept my mind engaged, and how it moved me. It can sometimes feel ambiguous and require thinking and patience, but to me, it was in a (very) good way. I genuinely think this drama is a timeless masterpiece and it holds a very special place in my heart. Popularity and ratings are meaningless in front of such unconventional stories. What Goodbye Earth offers is a deeply human story with a portrayal of hope and despair. I was hit so deeply in some of the scenes, even if it wasn't loud. That's why this drama is haunting.
The drama focused on the perspective of ordinary people whose lives suddenly became extraordinary, and on what the catastrophe meant to the protagonist. The script wasn’t bad—the worldbuilding and storytelling were fascinating, and the introduction was great. Hae Chan (one of the kids) narrating the story to the audience as if you just opened a book? Perfect. I've read that the pilot was bad (pilot = first episode), but I couldn't disagree more. I got chills right away and was more hooked than with most dramas. This, to me, is a great thriller. This is far beyond a simple slice-of-life, as suggested by others. Anyone looking for raw intensity and complexity should definitely give it a chance. Every character has a meaningful place in the story and is given truly beautiful development. (That's not to say everyone is likeable, obviously... I however loved that one female villain, she had an amazing presence.) Despite the vast cast of characters, that was also handled well as I felt closer to them along the way.
The directing was amazing, and in terms of cinematography, it was the best. So much meaning in every frame and every scene. From the start, I loved how the lyrics matched the ending scene of episode one, and how the flashbacks used black and white along with other cool effects. The soundtrack was also a masterpiece, and the performances were incredibly raw and compelling. Revolution by Hwang Sang Jun and Pre-holiday is not just an OST, it's an hymn. Gloomy Day is my second favorite. Pray is also a great song, and the BGMs fit perfectly.
On top of all this, the drama was also progressive in more than one way, and I salute the screenwriter for that.
One flaw for me was the fact that I didn't understand In Ha's military storyline... I felt a bit lost with some of the military stuff. Maybe it was just me and hopefully I understand it better upon a rewatch. It definitely looked cool.
Side note: As stated in the opening, Goodbye Earth is the adaptation of a Japanese mini-bus novel, which is a first.
I will comment about the ending below.
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Watch the full episodes than you vote
Finish like that!!!!? 👀Since it is Netflix, tell me there yet like a part 2 coming like a episode 13!!!!!!!
The drama was interesting, you have to watch all, not only ep 1 or 2. Don't pay attention to the ratings, also only around 554 people who votes!!!
But for me like I don't consider it like an end. Like ending like that, like that. And I remember also it says 10 days left soo.
I don't know if it is because of Yoo Ah. Yeah I know what he has done, but nevermind.
A bit of hopes, as on the information above it did not mention when it is ending only a ?.
Also I love the energy and friendships between the children, always here always together for helps.
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Well, It Lives Up to Its Korean Title
If you're ever trying to guess what a show is about from just the title, in this one the Korean title "The Fool of the End" gives you a very accurate summary, and even more than what you bargained for at that, which I'll explain more later.Its collection of pretty well-known cast kept me going throughout the entire 12 episodes. The acting was great, just as what you would expect. The story, however, is another matter. Two thirds of the way through I still only had questions about what it is that I'm watching, because the entire time nothing of essence was ever revealed. Instead the whole show just feels like a collection of moments of everyone involved that only shows surface level happenings instead of delving deep into character or motivation. After you finish this you'll probably relate to me saying: "uhh,, okay." which is deflating given the time I've just wasted on 12 episodes.
Its Korean title which I understand to actually mean Doomsday Fool pretty much summarizes the show, and extends the description to the viewers. One thing It does a great job at is making a point of how when faced with the reality of the world ending, people become fools and all the things they do, foolish. It even goes so far as making me feel like a fool for watching it, since in the middle of watching this I felt like I had been taken along for a ride without any clue what exactly is going on. Lucky I don't easily take offense to being taken as a fool for the whole duration of the show.
At least I do get they were trying to make us think that, given the limited life you have and seeing the end is near, in the situation you're in, what will you do, and is there any meaning to any of it, or is everything just a fool's errand? If it's nothing but futility, does anything even matter? Dare I say, is it as pointless as watching this show? Then again that may be the only genius of it- making the viewers feel exactly like what they intend to show.
My layman's opinion is that this lacks the depth needed to make me relate to any of the characters. Their backgrounds and what little was revealed do very little to justify the things they do, and in most cases they were not thoroughly explained and so at the end nothing and no one really gets any closure. I guess in other words, all rather pointless; Foolish people doing foolish things, making me feel like a fool for watching this.
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Not much happens in this show
Unlike the show, I won’t waste your time: after the first few episodes, it just drags on. It gets bogged down by (approximately) one thousand characters and long, pointless dialogue.This meandering storytelling is in service of a weak, trope-laden narrative. Elites betraying the common people? Corruption in trusted institutions? Groundbreaking.
All this is set in a world that doesn’t make much sense. It is incredibly dangerous, except when it’s not. Goods are scarce and infrastructure is in disrepair, except when they’re not.
Save yourself: skip this.
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A Puzzle Missing Pieces
"Goodbye Earth" is a drama that leaves mixed feelings behind. On one hand, it excellently conveys the atmosphere of an impending catastrophe where people destroy themselves. On the other hand, this drama feels like a puzzle missing several important pieces. The events and characters are intriguing, but their stories seem cut off and unfinished.For example, the priest turned out to be an incredible character—so kind, strong, and genuine. But we never got to learn his full story, his thoughts, or his inner struggles. He was a character I wanted to understand more deeply.
The same goes for the main heroine. She acted decisively, and her actions can be explained, but what truly drove her until the very end remained vague. Her emotions and thoughts felt hidden, making it difficult to fully grasp her character.
As for the ending, I expected more—something dramatic that would leave a lasting impression. Yes, they tried to create an emotional moment—the scene with flowers and plush toys looked beautiful. But the ending was more symbolic than dramatic, and it also felt rather rushed. It seemed like the story hadn’t yet reached its true climax, as if there should have been something more, yet instead, it just suddenly stopped. It wasn’t the kind of ending that evokes strong emotions or leaves a sense of closure.
Despite these flaws, the drama cannot be called bad. It has an excellent atmosphere, raises important themes, and makes you think about how people would behave before the end of the world. However, due to cut scenes and unfinished storylines, it feels incomplete.
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good show
I really enjoyed this series. It pulls you in right away and makes you think about how people might actually react if they knew the world was ending,some try to hold on, others look for meaning, and a few just want to spend their last days with the people they love. The cast felt believable and the small, personal stories gave the whole thing a lot of heart.Sometimes it got a little more dramatic than I felt it needed, but that didn’t take away from how moving it was overall. It’s a show that makes you pause and think about what really matters when time feels short.
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What could've been
I hate to say the only smart people in this drama were the bad guys using container ships to escape. What could've been a great drama turned into a soap box drama showing the bad side of humanity. No one used their resources to escape or try a way to survive. Everything was hopeless. This is not the disaster drama I was hoping to watch. The hot air balloons filled with children didn't make sense wouldn't the asteroid destroy those before impacting Earth?Was this review helpful to you?
Absolutely Worth It
If you’re like me and tend to find the gems in the dramas that aren’t hyped to death, Goodbye Earth is absolutely worth your time. Don’t let the lower ratings fool you — this show is underrated in a very specific way: it’s actually good, just not “mainstream formula” good.It takes on the end-of-the-world premise in a way I’ve never quite seen before — not through spectacle or overexposure, but through grounded, human-scale storytelling. It’s intimate, unsettling, and emotionally complex.
The cast is truly all-star — not just in name, but in how seamlessly they work together. You’ll spot big names taking on even the smallest side roles, and that commitment elevates the entire series. Every single performance hits.
The cinematography isn’t about flashy, breathtaking shots — it’s about atmosphere. And it nails that. The sound design, too, is remarkably well done — so much so that I actually noticed it, which says a lot.
I will say this: it’s a shame Netflix produced it as they tend to condense the Korean format, in this case into 12 episodes. The character development clearly had more room to grow, and in a 16- or 22-episode format, I think we would’ve seen it all bloom. But even within the limited scope, the show manages to move you.
One detail I especially appreciated was the artistic direction — things like showing imperfect skin, wind-worn and raw, added such grainy realism and emotional weight. It’s subtle, but powerful.
This one lingers. And if you’re the kind of viewer who loves layered, atmospheric storytelling — even when it’s a little off the beaten track — you’ll probably love it too.
If you’re tired of overproduced shows with no emotional weight — or if you, like me, suspect that low ratings often hide real gems — this one’s for you.
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Daily Life Before Armageddon
If you're looking for an exciting "action/disaster" drama, this isn't it. It's not about a cast of characters attempting to save Earth from an imminent asteroid strike that is certain to occur within 200 days nor is it about surviving the aftermath of that strike. The asteroid cannot be diverted from its path and Armageddon is certain. Rather, this drama is about how a group of people live their lives knowing that their time is limited. The first three episodes have many flashbacks and flashforwards from "real time," that are confusing. But if you can get past that, the series can be lovely, violent, disheartening, hopeful, sad, funny, and filled with joy. Just don't expect any superheroes to soar in and save the day! This story of how ordinary people face extraordinary challenges is most satisfying and the acting is marvelous.Was this review helpful to you?
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The World Was Ending, and I Felt Nothing
I wanted this one to gut me. The setup had everything — a ticking clock, mass uncertainty, the kind of existential dread that should seep into every corner of the frame. A planet 200 days from extinction. No last-minute miracle. No sci-fi twist. Just humanity on a slow, irreversible countdown. That premise alone should’ve been enough to stir something — fear, grief, anger, anything. But instead, what it left behind was a strange, persistent numbness.From the start, Goodbye Earth felt… quiet. Not in a meditative, introspective way — more like a conversation where no one looks you in the eye. The detachment was immediate, and it never lifted. Scenes unfolded with this floaty, disconnected energy, like everyone was underwater, moving through syrup. I kept waiting for something to hit — a breakdown, a raw confession, a moment where the chaos broke through the composure. But it never came. Just more stillness that didn’t say much.
Ahn Eun-jin tried. You could see it in her eyes — the weariness, the desperate attempt to inject warmth and weight into a role that rarely gave her space to fully feel. There were brief moments, especially in the smallest interactions, where it felt like the show might finally shift — let its characters scream, crack, breathe. But the pacing suffocated everything. Every emotional beat was held so long it evaporated.
There’s a difference between restraint and disconnection. This didn’t feel like a slow burn — it felt like watching shadows on a wall and hoping one of them would suddenly turn around and notice the world crumbling. The silences weren’t heavy. They were hollow. And that made the show’s darkness feel unearned.
Even the chaos, when it finally trickled in — the breakdown of order, the inevitability of violence and desperation — felt clinical. Observed, not experienced. I never felt the weight of time running out. Just a clock in the background that everyone had kind of agreed to ignore.
It wasn’t the darkness that failed. I’m fine sitting in despair if it has something to say. But this felt more like a summary of grief than a confrontation with it. No catharsis. No connection. Just a long, slow unraveling that didn’t seem to know what thread it was pulling.
Maybe that’s the worst kind of disappointment — not when a story tries something and fails, but when it forgets to reach for anything at all.
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Haphazard at times
June 2024Google's "in a nutshell" description for this drama reads, "Unsettling, hopeless and cynical", which pretty much sums it up!
Whilst the cast and their acting, is really good, the script is all over the place.
The story keeps haphazardly jumping between the recent past (pre-asteroid) and present, with no warning and little reason for doing so, quite often. This can be confusing and at times I wasn't sure where we were, so to speak.
As news of the asteroid strike breaks and the subsequent countdown to impact begins, we of course see the worst coming out in many people.
From the wealthy and powerful leeching off the ordinary citizens in communities, to secure a way out of Korea (ground zero), to criminal gangs who see ways to make money and exploit the fact law and order has broken down, and it's swiftly become every man for themselves. They seem oblivious to the fact they'll never be able to spend it!
The reactions of some characters to decisions they make, are often inappropriate and/or baffling, given circumstances, reasons and situations. I found this frustrating and irritating.
It does also show a close knit community as well, however, and that stops it being dismal, although it's by no means upbeat.
It is a very weak script, with several plot arcs being speedily concluded, at the cost of the story. Disappointing.
It's a huge shame, because I liked many of the characters, but the build up and the conclusion were incredibly mismatched, even though it made sense.
As is often the case with a good cast who give it their all, they carried this drama and made it watchable. Even though I'd never bother watching it again, I can't say I disliked it, but I was very disappointed.
I've said it before and will say it again; if Netflix are going to make K-dramas, they need to stick to the format that is one of the reasons many of us fell in love with them in the first place. A story told completely, in usually 16 to 20eps.
Not 6-12 eps, with no conclusion and a possible S2, but that being dependent on ratings. Or as in this drama, a complete ('Limited') series, but with an inadequate number of episodes in which to give any depth to the story or coherent conclusions.
Great OST and I loved the acting, from all the cast. One would never have known how much YAI must already have been suffering, at this point.
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