[Confession] The Lonely Shining Goblin
Before anything else, I would like to define my drama reviewing:
First, I won't be posting episode recaps for dramas because i don't trust my character - I tend to get lazy when I have routines to accomplish and
Second, sometimes when I decide to watch a drama, I depend my continuance on the first episode. So if ever I am interested in a drama, I will watch the first episode and I will review it just to see how it goes. If I liked it, I'll have a continuation review after I finished the whole thing.
Kke, let's go! :D
*major spoiler alert*
Because of unexpected circumstances, I wasn't able to review Goblin after finishing it. I've been contemplating for days on how to find a stable connection without interruption and regrettably, I only got the chance now. I don't know how I will be able to express my feels; now that these feels isn't as fresh as it was before. But whatevs, still reviewing!
This will be a continuation review on a drama that I reviewed in the past! Do read my first impression on the First episode of Goblin if you like to know! Now, I will try to deduce my prior expectations, feelings and note significant changes after watching the now concluded drama of Goblin!
Slow clap. I have so much to say about the show but what can I say? Goblin swept the whole world with
its unparalleled fantasy story line, unexpected twists, powerhouse casts and eye for cinematography! No one could ever deny the immense popularity of the drama that even non k-drama folks became instant followers after watching the first episode. A big clap to the whole production of this show! We never thought we'd encounter a drama that topples our favorites and takes us to another heck of a ride to undiscovered world of deities and grim reapers. It clearly showed the beauty of life by telling stories of death with a clear purpose and that felt fresh for a drama. Ms. Writer-nim sure has a lot of things in her head!
To me, the best parts of the show was when Shin and Grim Reaper were doing their jobs. I love those small stories because it was so moving - various people coming in and facing the afterlife in different ways greeted by their loved ones who had gone before them. I totally bawled my eyes out when Shin rewarded his second-in-command for saving his country in a past life. I also like the parts when everything feels like Final Destination and earth does everything to kill people (mostly Eun Tak Haha). I would like to credit the villain's bewitching entrance which made me shiver (and his violet snake tongue eeeeii) but knowing later that the real enemy is not him but life itself.
Apart from the awesome story it presented us, there are also some things I wished they could have done better - like Kim Shin's relationship with Deok Hwa and Sunny. I was waiting for this big emotional moment with Shin which never came. I thought it was such a waste considering they were suppose to be his family. Shin's closer to Eun Tak, yes, but they made us believe he supposedly missed his sister for 900 years! And he said his eternal goodbye from outside the window? Sooooo yeah. I also would like to protest that I didn't see Deok Hwa grow up after 30 years. I mean, Deok Hwa as a mature man, anyone??
A love that transcends death isn't actually new in dramaland, but the idea of immortal beings who greeted human life and death very differently, lives in human world like they weren't different from the rest is refreshing. They made the supernatural world come alive.
And this comes down to the bitter part where Shin will remain immortal while Eun Tak will continue to be reincarnated. I mean, I knooooow that she'll be back and that she gets three whole lifetimes with him, but STILL. I’m left wondering what Shin’s life will be like when Eun-tak’s three lifetimes are up and he’s all alone again. Maybe other people watched it and were happy at the reunion, but it felt endlessly sad to me, the idea that he’d have to watch her die and be without her again for years on end is so heartbreaking. Although on the other side, that's always the consequence of immortality. That's what other movies/books with immortality themes fail to explore just to have a happy ending - either they make them like them or they just die together - but it doesn't always work that way.
Although I wanted more, Goblin did an amazing job giving its audience the perfect ingredients of romance, bromance, aegyo, laughs, suspense, drama, heartache and fun combined creating a top-notch drama to beat - which is one of the best things that welcomed us this year. Praying to Gods for a follow-up drama! Wiiii~
My Rating:
Plot: 10/10
Acting: 10/10
Cinematography: 10/10
Characters: 9.8/10
Uniqueness: 10/10
OVERALL RATING: 9.9