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Goblin is a fantasy romance drama that tells the story of a 939-year-old immortal goblin who is looking for his bride.
Only she can end his life by removing the sword from his chest, and to say he’s tired of living is an understatement in the first episodes of the show.
Along the way, he meets a cheerful high school student who can see ghosts, a grim reaper who has no memory of his past, and a sunny chicken shop owner who has a mysterious connection to him.
I know that there’s a tendency to classify many of these super popular Kdramas as sadly overrated, but this is one of those fantastic Kdramas I find myself coming back to time and time again.
That’s to say, it’s the best in every way that counts and I genuinely feel that everyone needs to give it a chance. And if you’ve watched and loved it, this is the rewatch sign you’ve been waiting for!
But before we get into this article, here’s what you need to know about Goblin: The Lonely And Great God –
Episodes: 16
Director: Lee Eung Bok
Screenwriter: Kim Eun Sook
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Comedy
Watch: Prime Video | Apple TV | Viki | Netflix
Who plays what in Goblin: The Great & Lonely God?
Here is a list of the main cast of Goblin and the roles they play:
- Gong Yoo as Kim Shin, a 939-year-old goblin who is looking for his human bride to end his immortality.
- Kim Go Eun as Ji Eun Tak, a 19-year-old high school student who can see ghosts and claims to be the goblin’s bride.
- Lee Dong Wook as Wang Yeo, a grim reaper who is in charge of taking deceased souls and has no memory of his past life.
- Yoo In Na as Kim Sun / Sunny, a cheerful and attractive owner of a chicken restaurant who is the reincarnation of the goblin’s sister (she was the grim reader’s wife in their past life).
- Yook Sung Jae as Yoo Deok Hwa, a rebellious heir of a wealthy family who is under the goblin’s care and has a connection to the goblin’s past.
Here are the top 4 reasons you need to add Goblin to your watchlist (if you haven’t already watched it):
1. The fantastic storyline
You guys, I know this sounds super cliche, but Goblin is not your typical romance drama.
It has everything from fantasy to comedy to melodrama, and even a nice little bit of action that will keep you absolutely hooked from the first episode to the last.
It was heartwarming in the best of ways, the heartbreaking moments quite literally had me drawing in a pool of tears.
I’m trying to keep this as spoiler-free as possible, but trust me when I say the plot of Goblin is so original and to date, many have tried and failed to pull off the star-crossed lovers trope like they did.
2. The stunning cinematography and catchy OST
The cinematography in this drama is absolutely gorgeous, and there were some scenes (like every time they went to Canada) that were so darned atmospheric, that they literally made me tear up.
The music was also amazing, with songs that perfectly matched the tone and emotion of each scene, and if you’ve watched any of the Kdramas from the early 2010s, you know this isn’t a small feat to pull off.
The OST features some of the best artists in the Korean music industry, including Crush, Chanyeol, Punch, Heize, and so many others that will have you belting along.
So, if you like a well-timed musical score and an OST that will always keep you on the brink of tears, Goblin might just be a new fave drama.
3. The stellar acting and chemistry between the characters
You guys, every character in this drama was perfect and you’ll see once you watch it – the leads had perfect chemistry and none of the secondary characters were simply loitering in the background.
In this drama, Gong Yoo plays the goblin and he is super charismatic, charming, and expressive. Reader, this is the drama that carved a human-sized hole in my chest for my Yoonie-bear.
I don’t think you’d be able to watch this without completely falling in love with Kim Shin and trust me when I say I cried, laughed, and felt the pain of loneliness with him.
Kim Go Eun plays Ji Eun Tak, the goblin’s bride, and she was adorable, bubbly, and brave, and I immediately marked her as an actress to keep up with and I haven’t been disappointed so far (have you watched Little Women?)
Lee Dong Wook, who is my soul-mate (I won’t be taking questions), plays the Grim Reaper, and I was so curious about his past and identity from the very beginning. Needless to say, he shined in his role and I loved his bromance with Gong Yoo.
Yoo In Na plays Sunny, the chicken shop owner who is gorgeous, sweet, and sassy, and her chemistry and sort of funny relationship with the Grim Reaper made me ship them so hard.
Even the Goblin’s nephew, played by Yook Sung Jae, was fantastic as the comic relief of the show, and I really couldn’t have picked a better squad to take part in this drama. So, big ups to the casting director.
4. The unforgettable bromance
If I’m being honest, the relationship between Kim Shin and the Grim Reaper is hands-down one of the best reasons you should watch Gobin if you haven’t.
The goblin and the grim reaper were just like an old married couple, who bickered, teased, and annoyed each other, but also cared, supported, and protected each other.
They have some of the most hilarious and touching scenes in the show, and their friendship will make you both smile and cry.
So, what are you waiting for? Will you watch this drama? If you’ve watched it before, will you check it out again?
Now that I’m through with this article, I’m reliving some very special scenes in my head and I’m definitely going to be starting my 3839273920101738448th rewatch once this post goes live.
Trust me, you’ll love it and you’ll definitely thank me later.
And just before we go, if you liked Goblin, you might enjoy these Korean dramas that have similar themes, genres, or vibes.
Watch these fantastic Kdramas if you loved Goblin: The Lonely & Great God:
1. Hotel del Luna
This drama is about a hotel that caters to the souls of the dead who have unfinished business in the living world.
The hotel is run by Jang Man-wol, a beautiful but cursed woman who has been stuck there for centuries.
She then meets Gu Chan-sung, a human who becomes the hotel’s manager and helps her resolve the grudges of the ghosts.
This drama is similar to Goblin because it deals with reincarnation and redemption. It also has a lot of humor, romance, and fantasy elements and it will remind you
2. See You in My 19th Life
This drama is about a woman who has the ability to remember her past lives and a man who has the power to change her fate.
In her 18th life, she meets him for the first time as a child and falls in love with him, but a tragedy separates them and she dies.
This drama is perfect to watch after Goblin because it also deals with past lives and destiny, and it’s super interesting.
3. W: Two Worlds
This drama is about a woman who gets transported into a webtoon world where she meets the main character, a handsome and charismatic doctor who is being hunted by a killer.
She tries to help him survive and escape from the webtoon, but she also falls in love with him, and this drama feels very much like Goblin because it also deals with parallel worlds and fantasy.
4. The Legend of the Blue Sea
This drama is about a mermaid who comes to the human world and meets a con artist who looks exactly like her first love from the Joseon era.
She then tries to adapt to human society and learn about love, but she also faces dangers from those who want to harm her.
You’ll enjoy this drama if you enjoyed Goblin because it also deals with mythical creatures and reincarnation.
5. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
This romantic historical Korean drama is about a woman who travels back in time to the Goryeo dynasty and gets involved in the political and romantic conflicts of the royal princes.
She even falls in love with the fourth prince, who is destined to become the king, but she also has to deal with the consequences of changing history.
Even though this drama is a time-travel piece, it deals with fate and has a whole lot of drama, romance, and tragedy, and you’ll definitely be reminded of Goblin.
So, make sure you check out Goblin: The Great & Lonely God. Happy watching!
