The story is certainly intriguing in that it keeps you wondering how all the conundrums could ever be rectified; the story portrays a veritable railing agains the Gods if you will. The characters are in a perpetual dance of push and pull with fate and destiny, while watching I always got the mental image of puppets dangling on strings pulled by a kind of sadistic puppet master; what makes the drama interesting is the gradual growth and self awareness of the characters which allows each one to make some decisions which do not appear to be orchestrated by the 'puppet master'.
There is a strong sense of doing good deeds and being kind, especially with regard to goblin, and also with goblin's bride when she makes the ultimate sacrifice. I got the sense that this 'goodness' eventually positively impacted their destiny.
I love the casting, especially with regard to the goblin, the grim reaper and Sunny. Whenever these three were on screen, together or individually, it was absolute magic!
I'm sure I don't need to expound on the genius that is Gong Yoo, he has an uncanny ability to portray his characters so sympathetically, realistically and humanly; he imbued goblin with such pathos, simultaneously making goblin vulnerable, eternally sad yet strong and hopeful all at the same time, he is truly gifted as an actor.
The grim reaper is an absolute revelation, Lee Dong Wook took this character to levels that I feel only he could take it, he seemed made for this role. His sadness is less hopeful than goblin's, he is always resigned to his unhappy fate, while being oblivious at the same time because of his lack of memories. He is the character that shows the most emotional growth in the drama.
Sunny has the appearance of someone without much depth, and yet she turns out to be very perceptive and emotionally intelligent. She seems to already have some knowledge deep down in her psyche even though she's not aware of it in the beginning. she is complex and many layered.
Eun Tak portrays her youth in a cute, bubbly manner and she is a ray of light for the other characters. she does portray some maturity at the end of the drama but I'm never really convinced as I keep seeing the school girl in her.
The story of the goblin and the goblin's bride is a beautiful concept, Gong Yoo plays his role to perfection but in my opinion the writing of the goblin's bride as a young girl really threw me off and I was never able to see the two of them as a convincing romantic pairing. I kept wondering why the goblin's bride couldn't be the same age group as Sunny, writing her as a young girl didn't serve any dramatic purpose and actually took away from the feeling of intense fated love that they were supposed to portray.
Sunny and the grim reaper on the other hand were very well matched, their trajectory was realistic, mature and deeply felt. The fact that their story was so slow in progressing actually added to the depth of their storyline and I found myself wishing they had more screen time.
The goblin and the grim reaper had one of the best bromances I've seen in a long time, their interactions were entertaining, usually goofy and yet still managed to convey their growing strong bond of friendship in a very believable way. I really enjoyed seeing them together, especially when they teamed up to achieve a common goal.
Special mention to Deok Hwa for his perfect comedic timing and refreshing 'irritating little brother vibe'
So overall, I highly recommend this drama, it might seem to drag and go around in circles in some places, but it is definitely well worth the watch.
PS: all the cast have a prodigious amount of beautiful coats!
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Great performance
Even though this drama came out some time ago I just recently watched it. I am new to Kdramas and when I saw Gong Yoo in Coffee Prince he became one of my favorites to watch. I loved Goblin and I am so glad that Gong Yoo decided to perform in this drama. I loved the storyline and the main actors were all great. I am also a fan of Kim Go Eun and in this drama she and Gong Yoo illustrated great chemistry. The kdrama had me laughing and I cried like a baby when Kim Go Eun's character was killed. As a viewer I am thankful for the positive ending. Thank you to all of the actors for their hard work, this drama was delightful and I will definitely watch again. Thank you for the "behind the scenes" clips provided. Seeing this allows viewers like me to view the actors as a real person. Enamored by Kdramas! I will keep watching.Was this review helpful to you?
What I liked about this show: Gong Yoo is my bias so whenever he is a drama I am blinded by this actor and his amazing talent. Even so, he did a really good job portraying a tortured, eccentric immortal that wants to end his existence once and for all. The entire cast did an amazing job and I do not believe that this drama was overhyped.
What I did not like: I don’t want to put a spoiler here, but there is something about Korean Dramas that have a similar ending that I just cannot enjoy. I give all drama props for not using this textbook like ending, unfortunately this drama ended in such a way that makes me sigh with disappointment...but overall it was still a good watch.
I did re-watch this...so it does have an amazing re-watch value, considering I never like to glance at dramas twice.
And the music is amazing and I had it on my place list for a couple years now.
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The perfect depiction of importance of life and death
With its interesting plot line and side stories, stellar acting, lovable characters, soulful OSTs, amazing cinematography and the evident hard work put into it by the staff and the writer, this drama deserves all the hype and high ratings it continues to get till this date.This drama has an eternal, ethereal beauty to it. The final scene was warm and happy and sweet. From the story to the cinematography, characters to their relationships everything had this unique, exquisite, attractive feel to it.
The characters were so well written, especially Ji Eun Tak/ Goblin's Bride (I know many people found her annoying but she is one of the best depicted mortal characters in here, I thought deeply about her character and she turns out to be the best out there) and of course, Kim Shin. The OSTs were exceptional and soulful. I literally know each and every soundtrack by heart.
This drama might have been slow paced, I don't know for this was my first drama, but the entire time was dedicated to the development of the characters and their stories.
The acting was extraordinary. The lead actors, along with supporting actors, were exceptional in portraying their role. I literally ship Gong Yoo and Kim Go Eun and Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na (Even Yook Sungjae and his credit card!!)
What I really loved in this drama was that the characters and their stories were interconnected for a relevant reason. The love stories were tragic yet beautiful. I personally adored Kim Shin and Eun Tak's chemistry and story and them. I was entranced by their story and chemistry. The story of Kim Sun and Wang Yeo was also sweet.
The bromance between Kim Shin, Wang Yeo and Yoo Deok Hwa (mostly the former two) was exceptionally funny.
This drama is perfect in its imperfections. The way it ended was the only way I know it could have ended. I expect myself re-watching it by the end of 2026 (I want it to be something special to me). All I know is that I wouldn't have got interested in K-dramas if not for this. It was The Perfect K-drama for me.
I hope you all shall try watching this drama without having any second thoughts (I doubted too if I should watch it but I nevertheless love it).
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Just wow
I genuinely don’t know why it took me this long to finally watch Goblin, but I finally did, and hoo boy, was it one heck of a ride. Despite a very small number of supporting characters, this drama kept me engaged the whole time through its vibrant cast of main leads. Each character’s personality seemed to bring something new and interesting to the table, and I was at the edge of my seat the entire time because of the suspense that the main conflict created. I didn’t see too much of a problem between the characters’ ages, unlike some reviews, and while I did find it a tad awkward at first, I quickly adjusted and was able to support the characters’ romance despite the age gap. The complexity of the plot sadly left me a tad confused at times because of the abrupt editing that happens in some scenes, however the timed comments on viki helped me piece the plot together a bit easier, so I would definitely recommend you turn those on from time to time. I think it’s safe to say that I was crying during every episode once we got closer and closer to the finale, and I could remember having the absolute worst headache after finishing the drama because of how emotional and stressed I was getting. Some reviews warned of the less-than-happy ending, so I was terrified to find out what happened to the leads. To my surprise, the ending actually turned out to be quite happy (though some may perceive it as a tad bittersweet, which I do kind of agree with), though it wasn’t without its fair share of emotional rollercoasters. Overall, I believe the production of this drama was absolutely fantastic, and while I would love to rewatch it to experience the characters’ relationships one more time (the bromance and the sismance though!!! Ahhh, I”m in love!!!), however I don’t think my poor, poor heart can handle this for the second time. The OST was one of the best I have ever listened to (though I still believe nothing tops Mr. Sunshine’s OST) and I would for sure recommend anyone and everyone to watch this drama as soon as they can. It’s pretty much a classic at this point, and it for sure deserves to be called that! Happy watching, and please have some tissues and some Ibuprofen nearby (if you get headaches from crying your eyes out like me!).Was this review helpful to you?
Brilliant - well, I think so
It took me some time to get to watch this, despite reading rave reviews elsewhere, partly due to doubts about the story-line and concern about a snot-and-tears drama with a tragic ending, which I dislike, and partly due to access (cannot afford multiple streaming subscriptions). But a family member finally signed me onto Netflix (thanks, sis!) and the wait was definitely worthwhile.It's more difficult to review something when you have enjoyed it as thoroughly as I have, than just venting about bad or irritating things, but there are a couple of reasons I found this excellent other than the other positive reviewers whose views I endorse - it manages to successfully blend, comedy, romance, the supernatural, and thriller aspects into a cohesive whole, without it being jarring. You can watch it superficially if you want, or it can get you thinking on various topics such as how the world has changed over history and what it must feel like to experience such change, and whether it makes you feel that everything is just on repeat, or whether you still experience change as fresh and new.
I like the way the 'not-normal-human' characters are fully-fledged people, with a range of emotions and growth during the series. For example - to those dissing the Reaper's acting - I felt the reserve sat well with the character and the emotions he displayed were well-conveyed. The way the ML and GR oscillate between staid old men and nervous teens was funny, illustrating how people can feel awkward and unsure of themselves no matter how old they are!
I will definitely rewatch in the not too distant future.
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Worth It
Loved it. From Acting to OST loved everything.Goblin is lonely, depressed, blunt, ill-tempered. Loved Gong Yoo as Goblin. Nobody would've done it better than him. His acting was phenomenal.
Ji Eun Tak is a bubbly, straightforward, strong, positive person. Despite her past, she turns out to be a happy-going girl, which is rare, because in most cases, girls who are bullied by their family always turn out to be a crybaby or timid. Kim Go Eun's acting was awesome. She played a bubby, fun-loving girl very easily.
Grim Reaper is competitive, funny, poor at communication. I thought he would be a serious, no-nonsense kind of GR because most are like that, but his personality is totally opposite. Lee Dong Wook played Grim Riper mind-blowingly.
Sunny is cool, sarcastic, beautiful, blunt. Liked Yoo In Na as Sunny.
My favorites CP is hands down Goblin & Grim Reaper. Loved their bromance, silly fights.
Things I liked :
Goblin & Grim Reaper first meet & the way Goblin said a vulgar hat to Grim Reaper.
Laughed when Yoo Deok Hwa said that Goblin isn’t that dashing.
Love Goblin & Grim Reaper silly fight, their back & forth arguments.
Goblin & Ji Eun Tak chemistry, the way she talks to him & straightforwardly asks if he is Goblin & she also wants to marry him.
I laughed so much at the scene where the Grim Reaper was going to sleep & suddenly Goblin barged into his room to ask if the outfit was better. Because he wanted to look smart & perfect when Ji Eun Tak summoned him. He keeps on cat walking, disturbing him. Goblin changing Grim Reaper bedsheet into a flower print one.
Grim Reaper sings Goblin’s underwear song to make him irritated. Their table fight, throwing stuff at each other.
Loved the shot where Goblin & Grim Reaper both walked to save Ji Eun Tak & the song playing in the background.
Goblin & Grim Reaper were talking telepathically & Goblin yelled at him to shut up, but Ji Eun Tak thought he yelled at her. Poor Goblin tried hard to explain to her.
Goblin was jealous because Ji Eun Tak called Grim Reaper handsome & him ordinary.
It is funny to watch Goblin doing magic to two strangers, a girl's hair tied with a man’s button, then she falls into his arms, things we see in K & C dramas.
Ji Eun Tak bluntly saying 'I Love You' to Goblin & proposing to have children quickly.
It’s funny when everyone in the restaurant, even Grim Reaper & Yoo Deok Hwa watches that drama with a lot of interest & Goblin being totally annoyed.
I laughed so hard when Goblin's expression changed after he realized whom he was with last night.
Grim Reaper expression when he starts seeing Sunny everywhere
It’s sweet when ghosts help Ji Eun Tak with bullies.
Goblin & Grim Reaper for the first time using a phone.
Goblin is anticipating what Ji Eun Tak will do next & is happy because he is right.
Love how, in between their argument, Goblin declares himself as Ji Eun Tak's boyfriend.
Loved the emotional talk between Goblin & Ji Eun Tak Ep 6..
Laughed when both Ji Eun Tak & Grim Reaper say 'I Love You' to Goblin so that he doesn’t take their stuff back.
It’s hilarious the way Goblin reacted in the movie theater after warning Ji Eun Tak not to embarrass him.
Goblin getting jealous is so cute.
I laughed my ass off when Ji Eun Tak friend thought Grim Reaper was her father.
Sweet moment Goblin sleeping on the floor & Ji Eun Tak keeping him company.
Loved scenery where Goblin back hug Ji Eun Tak. The background wasn’t anything awestrucking but the sky & sun shining on them. I loved the shot
Sweet & cute when Grim Reaper started to laugh wholeheartedly when Sunny started to sing.
Ji Eun Tak calls Goblin her man & he repeated it. Poor Grim Reaper hearing everything.
I find Grim Reaper & Sunny cute. Now I can't wait to watch Touch Your Heart.
Goblin way of starting conversations with white egg & egg yolk.
The Samshin Lady helps Ji Eun Tak every way possible.
That brother-sister reunion between Kim Shin & Kim Sun.
Goblin acts as a protective brother.
Love how Ji Eun Tak was jealous of herself.
I find Park Joong Hun's character irritating.
I thought Ji Eun Tak would see the thing on Goblin at the end of the drama. In the end, they'll be confirmed that she is his bride, but it's good that she can see it within a few episodes. The ending Goblin & Park Joong Hun was fated. She was supposed to die but was saved by him. Became his bride to fulfill her destiny, to bring peace to his life. But he chose her over everything & fought his way back to her.
Loved it. Lovedddddddddddddd the OST. Best OST. After Till the End of the Moon OST I finally found another OST which I'll be listening to on loop.
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This review may contain spoilers
If you're hesitating to watch this, don't. I didn't think I'd cry this much, but the first episode I was. I read a comment recently about a drama that left you emotional hungover and it said Goblin. I've heard it was one of the saddest dramas out there and they weren't lying.
It's sad when you watch a character die, but it's worse when you're expecting them to die. The entire time watching this, I was like, "I know, Kim Shin is going to have to die." But the way he did made it the most painful. This drama is one of my favorites now, of all time. The quote, "I heard we have four lives..." Ugh. That gets me every time. To me there was some predictability to this, but I loved being able to guess what was gonna happen to both of them. And the ending. I thought it was going to end with him dying, but what happened just made my life so much better. I loved this entire show and will rewatch this in the future.
I need to go cry some more. I don't know who I am after this.
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Since it's definitely one of the best K-Dramas to have ever been produced, if it turns out to be your first experience with them, you'll invariably enjoy it; and likely look for more that are equally as good. Unfortunately, if you're exposed to a K-Drama of this high quality, you may feel let-down by some of the other K-Dramas that you come across, despite how good they may actually be.
Let's be clear! While everyone has their favourite K-Dramas, that doesn't mean that you won't find others to be just as good, or very close, thereafter. Some K-Dramas just leap out from the screen and SCREAM high quality at your face. Some examples are:
- Goblin: The Lonely and Beautiful God
- Hotel Del Luna
- The Scholar Who Walks The Night
Yes! These are head and shoulders above anything that came before them; however, even K-Dramas that rank 10th, or 20th behind them (in their respective years) are still far superior than the crap that gets churned out in Hollywood.
With Goblin, you'll be enchanted by the actors (both lead and secondary); lulled in by the beauty of the musical scores (original music for most non-Koreans, for sure); and blown away at the originality of the stories. Keep in mind that Hollywood is struggling to find any original ideas; and even their television shows are essentially a remake, re-imagining, or blatant rip-off of something that has come before it. With K-Dramas, you might find that some were loosely based on Chinese, Japanese, or even Korean mythology, or historical fiction, it's done with a completely fresh mentality.
I've watched Goblin a few times; and each time, I've discovered something new. It's so beautiful to watch the story unfold. You'll find yourself falling in love with the characters; and wishing that you would dive in and intervene. It's so easy to be drawn into the story by the quality of acting, as well as the production values, that you'll be hard-pressed not to be emotionally invested in every scene.
Personally, I found myself falling in love with one character; wishing that I could help other characters; lusting for another character; loathing another character; pitying many characters; and generally feeling like so many other characters were my own personal friends and acquaintances. (That last is difficult for me to explain, further)
If you don't come away from Goblin without first being taken on an emotional roller coaster, then you're either not human, or you K-Dramas just might not be your thing. If that's the case, don't give up right away. Maybe the other two series that I've mentioned above, will blow smoke up your skirt. Then again, maybe you just need to consider a different genre of K-Drama. Keep in mind that they truly run the gambit of genres: Romance; Supernatural; Comedy; Thriller; Mystery; etc... you're literally guaranteed to find something that you like.
I'd like to add that regardless of the K-Drama genre, Korean directors/producers have discovered the formula for making average, or less than average looking actors/actresses look absolutely stunning... beautiful... cute... etc... Whatever it is, I like it. In fact, in retrospect, I've learned through K-Dramas that many of the girls from my past were more appealing to me than I realized at the time. (No! I'm not going to expound upon that. LOL! Suffice to say, as you get older, you get wiser... and hopefully, more realistic about life.)
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