Overview of Goblin
‘Goblin’ is a Korean fantasy romantic comedy-drama series starring Gong Yoo in the title role with Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook, Yoo In-na and Yook Sung-jae. It was aired on the cable network tvN from 2 December 2016 to 21 January 2017. There are a total number of 16 episodes in which each running for 60-90 minutes as well as with 3 additional special episodes. It was the fifth highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history. It was authored by the popular scriptwriter Kim Eun-sook.
It welcomed huge critical acclaim and was considered a cultural phenomenon at the time of its release. It took over several awards, such as a Grand Prize Daesang for the writer Kim Eun-sook as well as the Best Actor Daesang Arts Awards, which is a prominent award show in South Korea. It also became very popular in other countries among K-drama fanatics and is still watched by fans.
Profile
- Drama: Guardian: The Lonely and Great God / Goblin
- Director: Lee Eung-bok
- Screenwriter – Kim Eun-sook
- Network: tvN
- Episodes: 16
- Release date: December 2, 2016 – January 21, 2017
- Genre: Fantasy/Romance
- Language: Korean
- Country: South Korea
Casting
- Gong Yoo – Kim Shin
- Kim Go Eun – Ji Eun-tak
- Lee Dong Wook – Grim Reaper
- Yoo In Na – Sunny
- Yoo Sung Jae – Yoo Deok-hwa
Synopsis
Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), a decorated military officer from the Goryeo Dynasty who was betrayed by the king he diligently served, is made to witness the death of his family before being turned into a Goblin by the high powers.
Kim Shin spends the remainder of his lengthy life using his magical skills to save people after being cursed with loneliness and immortality. He continues to travel around looking for the fable Goblin bride. Only the bride has the ability to remove the blade from his body, freeing his soul to finally find peace in the afterlife.
Kim Shin prevented a pregnant woman from dying in a potentially fatal accident nineteen years ago. Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun), who turned out to be the woman’s daughter, develops a strange capacity to see strange spirits that no one else can see.
Despite these, she currently attends high school while working a part-time job at a chicken restaurant. Sunny (Yoon In-na), the proprietor of the eatery, finds herself falling for a grim reaper (Lee Dong-wook), who also happens to be the Goblin’s roommate. Unknowingly, the stories of these four people’s lives entwine to reveal a fated tale that is more intricate than anything the characters could have foreseen.
Will Kim Shin’s bride be the one to free him from his never-ending suffering?
‘Gaurdian: The Lonely and Great God’, often known as the ‘Lonely Shining God’ or ‘Goblin’, is written by fan favourite Kim Eun-sook, the author of other popular series including ‘Heirs’ (2013) and ‘Descendants of the Sun’ (2016).
This K-Drama is a must-watch if you enjoy a well-written romance series with a twist. Thus, the show’s multiple accolades, stellar ratings, and positive reviews speak for themselves.
Did Goblin K-Drama Have a Sad Ending?
Since this K-Drama closes on an open note, we can’t truly state that it has a depressing finish.
In reality, the K-drama contains several scenes that will leave you choking on your emotions and gasping for air. Among all the other Korean dramas, ‘Goblin: The Lonely and Great God’ came to a conclusion, notwithstanding his travelling from era to era and his efforts to assist everyone but himself. Unfortunately, Kim Shin’s promise of peace was never fulfilled.
What Happened to Kim Shin and Go Eun-tak at the End of ‘Guardian: The Lonely and Great God’?
Kim Shin and Eun-tak wed in the buckwheat flower field after all these years. They promised to remain in love with one another till death parted them. Everyone assumed that the two would live happily ever after at that point, but everything changed. The following day, Eun-tak starts their new life together by going to work. However, Wang Yeo and other grim reapers on the other side were given a number of cards they were to collect. But it was abandoned. However, how did it happen?
30 Years Later
Bromance
Bromance is a key component of the amazing variety of Korean drama mainstays. Every show makes an attempt to employ this cliche in any form, but not all of them are successful in making a lasting impression. Few, however, are successful such as ‘Goblin’, and ‘Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’.
Until a few years ago, K-dramas tended to have only a few recurring subplots. There will be a solid and dependable male second lead but a ruthless female counterpart, unbreakable friendships, a rich guy and a poor lady, a straight-talking hero and an excessively cheerful heroine and so on. Bromance is another major component of Korean dramas.
Let’s be honest: while the primary romance between the goblin and his bride is endearing, the best aspect of the show is the fondness between the enemies. This includes the Goblin and the grim reaper’s immature cutlery swordplay, one-upmanship antics, hilarious moments of self-absorbed melodrama, grudging affection and concern for one another, and the way they always work together to save Eun-tak and, of course, their sense of style is a huge plus.
Why is it So Popular?
‘Goblin’ gained its wide popularity because of the stellar cast, it presented. Male and female actors/actresses are well-known figures on Korean television. In actuality, the male character portrays a “God” who is looking for a bride. Only his bride is capable of removing the sword impaled in his chest and relieving him of the curse of his immortality.
The female protagonist is, as is customary, an orphan who hopes for a ‘Cinderella-like escape’ from her difficulties. Goblin is like the God who instantly intervenes to save her whenever she extinguishes a candle, match, or fire.
The K-drama has a magical fairy tale plot. It does hold the interest of you and makes you want to wait for the next episode to start more. Another plot element that enhances the drama is the story of the dashing Grim Reaper who is torn between his past transgressions and his love interest, whom he had inflicted unjust death upon in his previous life.
The owner of the chicken restaurant was both the Goblin’s sister and the Grim Reaper’s wife in their previous lives.
As a result, four distinct people’s lives are interrupted by fate, and each must overcome their fate in order to fulfill their destiny. ‘Guardian: The Lonely and Great God’ is the third-highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history. The plot is compelling and beckoning.
Awards
-
2017 (10th) Korea Drama Awards- October 2, 2017
-
Best Drama Award
-
Best New Actor (Yook Sung-jae)
-
Star Award (Yook Sung-jae)
-
Popular Character Award (Park Kyung-Hye) / (Kim Byung-chul)
-
2017 (53rd) BaekSang Arts Awards- May 3, 2017
-
Grand Prize (Daesang) (Kim Eun-sook)
-
Best Actor (Gong Yoo)
Interesting Facts about Goblin
- A major location of the drama ‘Goblin’, the breakwater area on Jumunjin Beach in Gangneung, once had vendors selling red scarves, umbrellas and flower bouquets for fans who would like to enact scenes in the drama.
- The drama is the second project of the scriptwriter, Kim Eun-sook with Lee Eung-bok after ‘Descendants’.
- The Lancôme lipstick used by Kim Go-eun in the drama saw a huge leap in sales.
- The crew of the drama went on a trip to Phuket, Thailand after wrapping up the filming.
- The final episode of ‘Goblin’ recorded an 18.68% nationwide audience share, making it the fifth highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history.
FAQs
-
Who is the director of the drama ‘Goblin’?
Lee Eung-bok is the director. -
How many episodes long is the drama ‘Goblin’?
The drama has a total number of 16 episodes. -
When was the drama ‘Goblin’ aired?
The drama aired on 2 December 2016. - What is the Instagram ID of Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun?
Gong Yoo’s Instagram ID is gongyoo_official and Kim Go-eun’s is ggonekim.
