1
A philosophical and poignant take on the end of the world. Together today, tomorrow, till the end.
This was a difficult and unusual production—difficult in part because the screenwriter persevered through illness, and unusual due to its setting, which is not typical for science fiction. It was adapted from a Japanese omnibus novel, but unfortunately, it was hate-bombed online. A major reason was that Netflix initially refused to release it, which delayed the premiere and forced the team to cut a few of Yoo Ah In’s scenes. Personally, I found it to be a great drama despite its flaws. I know they did the best they could.
I think it could’ve benefited from a longer runtime and perhaps a more refined translation. Editing less might have helped too. Still, it’s a complex, philosophical drama that’s more than worth watching. At times, I felt I lacked some cultural context that being Korean might have provided, but most things eventually became clear, except for one storyline I didn’t fully grasp on first viewing. That said, I was never truly lost—this was nothing like The Untamed for me in terms of confusion. Goodbye Earth is one of the most emotionally real and thought-provoking fictions I’ve seen. If you enjoy something raw, emotionally resonant and intellectually layered, it's a must-watch. Just because it’s not like the movie Deep Impact or an action drama, some people assume it’s not epic—but it absolutely is, just in a different way. It's frustrating to see viewers focusing on flaws and exaggerating them, misunderstanding the whole thing because they found it boring, but I accept it is more of a niche drama. However, for example, the main complaint people started in the first episodes barely made sense to me, as I did not have their issues at all, so I wonder if they simply wanted to criticize it. I personally loved the way it was done.
On a personal level, it reminded me of my grandmother’s church and the strong sense of community they share—how people supported one another during hard times. The drama also made me reflect on Korea’s recent martial law declaration and the covid era, both of which made our world feel fragile and uncertain, much like in the drama. There is something deeply familiar in how Goodbye Earth captures collective anxiety, quiet resilience, and the small acts of connection that keep people going.
Besides, the vast supporting cast was impressive as well as their characters, especially considering the short runtime.
I found myself replaying scenes, especially the endings, and even pausing to reflect. The script made me patient. Yes, it had flaws—it was chaotic and at times ambiguous—but overall it was amazing and one of my favorite dramas. I believe some of its choices were intentional. The execution itself was stunning—take the ending of the first episode, for example, and how perfectly it aligns with the lyrics of the OST. Moments like that show the level of thought behind the production.
More about the criticism:
“Tensionless”? For me, it was incredibly immersive and they clearly nailed the unsettling atmosphere (the cinematography was outstanding, even symbolic). The tension was often in the quiet moments, which make up much of the drama.
“Directionless”? Not at all. The focus is clearly on Ahn Eun Jin’s character—how she experiences the catastrophe and what it represents for her and the people around her. The story follows ordinary people whose lives have become extraordinary. Some viewers criticized the way it began and ended, but for me, both made sense and proved those critiques unfounded. The editing wasn’t bad either—it just required patience to get to know the characters and connect the dots, which I found rewarding.
Yoo Ah In's scenes that were cut didn’t heavily affect the story, and you can tell what was removed. People who claim there is nothing redeeming about the drama except for his performance likely didn’t watch it properly, if not only a few scenes of his shared on Twitter.
This is not the kind of drama you can speedwatch through. Every scene holds subtle meaning. It's frustrating to see people give it a 1/10 on MDL and criticize the ending when it’s clear they didn’t actually engage with it (not to mention that many logged on MDL as soon as it was released and gave it a 1). If it's not your style, that’s fine—but the negativity this drama received even before its release was unwarranted.
Lastly, the English title Goodbye Earth doesn’t quite capture the original title, which more accurately translates to The Fool of the End. The drama is eye-opening and progressive. In my view, it’s one of the most powerful depictions of humanity—offering hope amid hopeless chaos—and an insightful take on religion. Critics can focus on its flaws, but that won’t change what it meant to me.
~ Ending note in the comments
I think it could’ve benefited from a longer runtime and perhaps a more refined translation. Editing less might have helped too. Still, it’s a complex, philosophical drama that’s more than worth watching. At times, I felt I lacked some cultural context that being Korean might have provided, but most things eventually became clear, except for one storyline I didn’t fully grasp on first viewing. That said, I was never truly lost—this was nothing like The Untamed for me in terms of confusion. Goodbye Earth is one of the most emotionally real and thought-provoking fictions I’ve seen. If you enjoy something raw, emotionally resonant and intellectually layered, it's a must-watch. Just because it’s not like the movie Deep Impact or an action drama, some people assume it’s not epic—but it absolutely is, just in a different way. It's frustrating to see viewers focusing on flaws and exaggerating them, misunderstanding the whole thing because they found it boring, but I accept it is more of a niche drama. However, for example, the main complaint people started in the first episodes barely made sense to me, as I did not have their issues at all, so I wonder if they simply wanted to criticize it. I personally loved the way it was done.
On a personal level, it reminded me of my grandmother’s church and the strong sense of community they share—how people supported one another during hard times. The drama also made me reflect on Korea’s recent martial law declaration and the covid era, both of which made our world feel fragile and uncertain, much like in the drama. There is something deeply familiar in how Goodbye Earth captures collective anxiety, quiet resilience, and the small acts of connection that keep people going.
Besides, the vast supporting cast was impressive as well as their characters, especially considering the short runtime.
I found myself replaying scenes, especially the endings, and even pausing to reflect. The script made me patient. Yes, it had flaws—it was chaotic and at times ambiguous—but overall it was amazing and one of my favorite dramas. I believe some of its choices were intentional. The execution itself was stunning—take the ending of the first episode, for example, and how perfectly it aligns with the lyrics of the OST. Moments like that show the level of thought behind the production.
More about the criticism:
“Tensionless”? For me, it was incredibly immersive and they clearly nailed the unsettling atmosphere (the cinematography was outstanding, even symbolic). The tension was often in the quiet moments, which make up much of the drama.
“Directionless”? Not at all. The focus is clearly on Ahn Eun Jin’s character—how she experiences the catastrophe and what it represents for her and the people around her. The story follows ordinary people whose lives have become extraordinary. Some viewers criticized the way it began and ended, but for me, both made sense and proved those critiques unfounded. The editing wasn’t bad either—it just required patience to get to know the characters and connect the dots, which I found rewarding.
Yoo Ah In's scenes that were cut didn’t heavily affect the story, and you can tell what was removed. People who claim there is nothing redeeming about the drama except for his performance likely didn’t watch it properly, if not only a few scenes of his shared on Twitter.
This is not the kind of drama you can speedwatch through. Every scene holds subtle meaning. It's frustrating to see people give it a 1/10 on MDL and criticize the ending when it’s clear they didn’t actually engage with it (not to mention that many logged on MDL as soon as it was released and gave it a 1). If it's not your style, that’s fine—but the negativity this drama received even before its release was unwarranted.
Lastly, the English title Goodbye Earth doesn’t quite capture the original title, which more accurately translates to The Fool of the End. The drama is eye-opening and progressive. In my view, it’s one of the most powerful depictions of humanity—offering hope amid hopeless chaos—and an insightful take on religion. Critics can focus on its flaws, but that won’t change what it meant to me.
~ Ending note in the comments
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