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Larger than life
Coming from the director and writer who brought us the critically-acclaimed series Descendants of the Sun, Goblin: The Lonely and Great God racked up much hype even before its launch. This director-writer drama reunion along with Goblin’s power casting were initially concerning. Is Goblin’s incipient hype merely from the fans’ loyalty to Lee Eung Bok and Kim Eun Sook’s previous hit dramas? Lo and behold, Goblin’s distinct and intriguing storyline proved to captivate the audiences’ hearts and continued to soar high in ratings throughout its run. Ultimately, Goblin took over the throne for being the highest rated tvN drama ever, leaving the viewers infected with its very own syndrome.
Goblin’s distinct and intriguing storyline proved to captivate the viewers’ hearts.
Folklore and legends sure are quite sensitive topics to touch, however, Goblin did a very fine job in translating the richness of these enduring Korean mythologies into something witty and sidesplitting rather than conventionally horrifying. The drama’s breathtaking aesthetics also offered us a grand cinematic experience, which truly complemented well with its comically romantic yet unorthodox narrative.
Episodes 1 – 3 Review
Confronting us with bold graphics, evocative soundtracks, and succinct character introductions, Goblin kicked off to a straightforward start and got us acquainted with the tone and theme of the drama. Our main hero Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) is an unbeatable general in the Goryeo era who died an unfair and dishonorable death due to the jealousy and fear of the young king he was serving. The premise of his characterization was fully explained without further ado through a tragic backstory, including how he was eventually resurrected as a Goblin set to live an immortal life as his equal part reward and punishment.
The drama’s onset also implied the Goblin’s quest to finding his bride — the sole person who could end his eternity by removing the sword pierced on his chest. She manifests as a sanguine high school student named Ji Eun Tak (Kim Go Eun). Eun Tak derives this fate after the Goblin resuscitated her dying mother who was pregnant with her at the time. This intervention left a mark on her neck and enabled her to see ghosts since childhood.
I have to say that Eun Tak’s depiction precisely qualifies her for the title. She must possess some distinguishing patience to be able to tolerate Kim Shin’s foul disposition as I find myself constantly hooked on her logical retorts. Although her claim of being the Goblin’s bride is still hard to buy at this moment, we can already notice how intuitively special she is to Kim Shin since the beginning.
Next, we’re acquainted with a nameless Grim Reaper (Lee Dong Wook), who guides dead souls to the afterlife from his odd-looking tea house. He’s the same grim reaper meant to fetch Eun Tak and her mother on that night when they were both expected to die. Since then, he has labeled Eun Tak as a “missing soul” and been in constant search of her. However, when the two meets years later, he spares her life upon learning her identity as the Goblin’s bride.
The contemporary revamp really made Grim Reaper a cool and interesting character to observe.
The contemporary revamp of the grim reaper in this drama (as opposed to the traditionally ominous escort of the dead) really made Grim Reaper a cool and interesting character to observe. Nevertheless, behind his goofy exterior there’s a shrouding mystery lying underneath; he was in oblivion for 300 years. He has no memory of his past, and is living a quasi-human life at present.
All along Grim Reaper is just steadfast in fulfilling his duties, but his encounter with a shrewd and attractive chicken restaurant owner named Sunny (Yoo In Na) brings a major turning point to his life. We can see that these two are specially connected when Grim Reaper unconsciously shed a tear on their first meeting.
The main characters’ awesome progressions are indeed a fast burn. Even side characters like the chaebol heir Yu Deok Hwa (Yook Sung Jae), whose ancestors traditionally looked after the Goblin generations after generations, also made their mark in the drama.
These pilot episodes do a spectacular job of building the mystery and action in equal measure. It seems that we’re already given the blueprint for everything the drama will become, yet it never fails to keep us mystified with its mind-blowing cliffhangers.
Episodes 4 – 7 Review
These subsequent episodes of Goblin continue to present its cinematically gorgeous sequences that further the tension, temperament, and pacing we had since the beginning. As the drama moves along, we can savor a glint of Kim Shin’s infatuation towards Eun Tak, and their budding romance starts to kindle my excitement.
To my dismay, our lead couple remains in a push-and-pull relationship due to Kim Shin’s apprehensions after he verifies that Eun Tak is really able to see the sword on his chest. Worse, he foresaw Eun Tak’s future on a spur of a moment and is wistfully brooding on the hunch that he’ll no longer be by her side by then. Kim Shin’s emotional inconsistencies confuses and intrigues our heroine, but are reasonable from the viewer’s perspective. For the very first time, he found a reason to live after his prolonged anxiousness for demise, but ironically in the person who also holds the key to his death.
Luckily for me, Grim Reaper and Sunny do a great job of counterbalancing the complicated status of our lead couple. It’s amusing to see how Sunny’s femme fatale aura flawlessly harmonizes with Grim Reaper’s offbeat personality. I find their bold love declarations for each other exceptionally romantic.
Sunny’s femme fatale aura flawlessly harmonizes with Grim Reaper’s offbeat personality.
A pleasant surprise of Goblin is Kim Shin and Grim Reaper’s insane chemistry as one of the best show-stealing bromances ever. I’m eager to trail the growth of their platonic friendship, and thoroughly bask in their childish insults, emotional camaraderie, and of course, implicit loyalties towards each other.
In addition, Deok Hwa slowly takes up my interest as the plot goes forth. He might be a happy-go-lucky guy on the surface, yet I love how he’s able to adjust to and handle the odd predicaments of Eun Tak and his peculiar “uncles” (Kim Shin and Grim Reaper). It’s fascinating to see how he’s outlined as an adorable mood-setter in the drama instead of being just an eye candy.
Furthermore, I find it riveting how Goblin is able to seamlessly switch moods between dead seriousness and comedic silliness on the turn of a dime. The mixing elements of thriller and comedy, accompanied by skillfully crafted script and convincing acting, help elevate the story to new heights and keep the audience captivated.
Episodes 8 – 10 Review
In these episodes of Goblin, more conflicts arise to formally shape the foundation of real romance between Kim Shin and Eun Tak and introduce more jaw-dropping mysteries. After Grim Reaper explains the true meaning of drawing Kim Shin’s sword, Eun Tak feels cheated by this tragic revelation and decides to leave Kim Shin. This entire scene is heartrending, but her disappearance marks the turning point of the lead couple’s love line.
Likewise, this event also triggers substantial plot developments in the drama, including Kim Shin and Sunny’s first encounter, as well as the unexpected enigma in Deok Hwa’s character.
The drama advances in a forthright pace and teases us with stirring discoveries about the antecedent events in the backstory. The dire connection between Grim Reaper, Sunny, and Kim Shin is intensively brought into light, which leaves me utterly stunned. Our characters are still unaware of this ill fate, but one thing is certain — its revelation will definitely raise a ruckus and taint the deepening rapport between Kim Shin and Grim Reaper.
Episodes 11 – 13 Review
During this chapter of Goblin, the intricate affairs officially culminate towards the drama’s thrilling climax. Death starts haunting Eun Tak due to her delays in pulling the sword, but the unstoppable chemistry between our leads strengthens despite this unfortunate destiny embroiling them.
Things aren’t smooth sailing for Grim Reaper and Sunny either, particularly after Sunny discovers his true nature and vividly recollects her previous life through the Grim Reaper’s kiss. I find myself gripping the edges of my seat as they desperately deal with the impossibilities and dilemmas cloaking their relationships.
The worst has come with the appearance of Park Joong Heon, the cunning eunuch who manipulated the young Goryeo king to order the death of Kim Shin and his sister in the ancient past. He’s been roaming around for 900 years as a missing soul and living off of humans’ dark emotions. His emergence propels forward the impending revelation of all the significant tidings entangling our four main characters.
Along with this, we’re also made aware of the real purpose of the sword on Kim Shin’s chest, with a heart aching and emotional consequence no one saw coming.
Episodes 14 – 16 Review
After the intense previous episodes, we’ve now arrived at Goblin’s bittersweet yet appropriated ending. Grim Reaper and Sunny ultimately obtains their happy ending as Grim Reaper gets absolved from his duties after years of repentance and is able to cross over to the afterlife with Sunny. Both of them reincarnate, and is able to savor a proper relationship with their new identities this time around.
However, in Kim Shin and Eun Tak’s case, the outcome of their fates are less than satisfactory. The drama simply leaves their relationship in a perpetual loop of uncertainty, leaving it up to the viewer to wonder if they’ll ever cross paths again.
Although the ending fell a bit short of our expectations, Goblin is a very commendable series all in all. No other drama in recent memory has constantly bewildered me through its sumptuous cinematography and wonderful delivery. The actors forged their roles tremendously well and were able to live up to their characterization all throughout the series. If you’re hungry for a drama with stunning visuals and out of this world storyline, then Goblin: The Lonely and Great God is the perfect feast for your eyes.
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