| KDRAMA - Goblin |

"Every life is touched by a deity at least once. Just when you’re drifting away from the world, if someone nudges you back in the right direction, that’d be when the deity chooses to visit you."

SYNOPSIS: Kim Shin, an immortal goblin, aims to find his bride who will able to remove the sword he was killed with in order to finally die and move on in the afterlife.

RATING: 8/10

NUMBER OF EPISODES: 16

STATUS: Completed

NON-SPOILERY REVIEW: 

         I love the fantasy aspect of this kdrama and the way it was shown in the series. The execution of the effects was amazing to see. You can really see that they put a lot of effort and budget for it. Even the fighting scenes in the old era was amazing to see. 

         The story was enjoyable to watch. It's not the typical romantic comedy. It has a dramatic and heartbreaking aspect that would ruin you. The story didn't progress that much at first so there were parts where I got bored and some scenes seemed unnecessary to me. However, the fun interactions between the characters and the romance between the Goblin and his bride was cute and adorable to see. There were times that the story seemed all over the place but it redeemed itself with its adorable characters and their fun relationships. It was very entertaining to watch especially the reaper and Kim Shin with their bromance. One more problem I have is that some of the character lacked character development. Especially, Eun-taek.

         Yoo In Na as always was an amazing actress to watch. She really breaks my heart whenever I watch her and she's so prettyy. Kim Go Eun was able to portray her character well but Yoo In Na was more heartbreaking to watch. I am still shocked by how different her appearance is compared to that of her appearance in Cheese in the Trap (that's the first kdrama I watched her in). The bromance between Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook was really adorable and you could see that they really bonded because of this kdrama.

         Overall, it's a really enjoyable kdrama to watch. Each of the lead characters were able to portray their character well and was very entertaining to watch and see progress.

• I felt really bad for Kim Shin. It seems that his blessing was really a curse. He had to live hundreds of years seeing his loved ones die and leave him. It must have been very lonely. He wasn't even bad in his original life, he just killed so many people because he was a soldier. He protected his own kingdom. His death was very heartbreaking to watch especially since he just wanted to approach the king and he wasn't able to do so. He died in vain after the king's mind was poisoned by the Eunuch. He had to suffer a lot before he met Eun-tak and continued to suffer even more when they were together. There was always a threat of them being separated. I love him because he was a fun character to watch. He took good care of Eun-tak and his interactions with the other characters were very entertaining to watch.
• I did not love Eun-tak but I did like her character. She was a fun character but deep inside you could see that she had problems. Growing up with her abusive family must have hurt badly and having no friends because she can see ghosts must have been terrible. I didn't really see much character development in her that's why I did not love her. Her characteristics were constant all throughout the series but it was fun to watch. I love that she finally got her wishes in the end and was able to live with the one she loves.
• My favorite character in this series is the Grim Reaper. Sure, his previous life was a hateful character (Wang Yeo) but you could see that he just misunderstood. He listened to the lies of the Eunuch but regretted the choices he made afterwards. He was very devastated that he made cowardly choices. He made terrible decisions in the past but he tried to make up for it in the present making his character not that terrible. It was very heartbreaking to see when he finally confirmed that he's Wang Yeo because he knew that Kim Shin would hate him. 
• Sunny was an aloof character that made no sense in the beginning but she was very kind to Eun-tak. As the story progressed, her part in the story became more heartbreaking. I was glad to see that the actress who portrayed her was Yoo In Na because Yoo In Na is very heartbreaking to watch when she cries. Her character made my heart ache so much. Her love for Wang Yeo was really deep that even in different lifetimes she fell for him.
• The Samshin Granny was a cool character. I liked how she helped Eun-tak during her difficult times and even showed up to her graduation because she knew Eun-tak would be alone. I also loved how she made the teacher realize that she's a terrible person.
• Secretary Kim was an adorable character. I loved his interactions with the other characters plus the scene where he acted different dances of different kpop bands was hilarious. I was glad to see that he became CEO after the original one died. 
• Deok-hwa was a fun character. His character could have been given more screen time but it was fun altogether. He somewhat matured during the latter half of the series (after his grandfather died) but it was still not enough for me. 
• Eun-tak's abusive family was really hateful to watch. I was glad when Kim Shin decided to get them away from Eun-tak. He gave Eun-tak justice and helped her with her life.
• Eunuch Park was a really hateful character. He was so greedy that he poisoned the mind of Wang Yeo and killed everyone who wanted to separate him away from the crown. He didn't care for Wang Yeo and only used him as a tool to have power. He was even scarier as a ghost and I'm glad that they were able to defeat him.
• Eun-tak's teacher was really an asshole. I don't get why there are teachers like that. It's not like Eun-tak had a rebel reputation. Some students just bully her and blame her for things. I don't get why she thinks Eun-tak is a bad girl. She has a twisted mind. I also hate Eun-tak's classmate. Why are there so much bully in the world?
• I was glad that Eun-tak had some friends even if they were ghosts. They were able to protect her at some point (against the bully in school and against her Aunt). I was glad that she was able to help some move on even if one of them almost caused her death. 

• Kim Shin and Eun-tak's relationship was really wonderful to watch. At first, Eun-tak just kept bothering him because he's the goblin and she's the goblin bride but as the story progressed I loved that they began to really care for each other. They were really cute together and I'm glad that they ended up together. They had to go through many hardships especially since death won't leave them alone. It was very heartbreaking to see Kim Shin fade away and leave Eun-tak. Her depression was more heartbreaking because she doesn't know why she felt that way. She can't remember who or what she forgot. I was glad that they were reunited.
• Sunny and Wang Yeo's love story was more tragic. They had a bittersweet love. You could see that they really loved each other during their previous life but the Eunuch got in the way. Wang Yeo listened to him because he was raised by him. He was blinded by jealousy and did not realize that what he was doing was wrong. I was really saddened by the fact that they separated during that lifetime but it was appropriate. Sunny couldn't give him what they wanted because she still feels that they should not end up together because of what he had done. I love though that at her third reincarnation, they were finally together without any strings attached. They were an adorable couple and their ending was really great.
• Kim Shin and Sunny's interactions were really cute in the past life. It broke my heart when Sunny died and Kim Shin wasn't able to protect her. I was glad that they were somewhat reunited in the present life. It was funny to see Kim Shin trying to approach Sunny because he knew that he's his sister but she didn't. I loved it when Sunny finally remembered and they were able to have apologize to each other. Their relationship could have been expanded more though in order to make it more beautiful.
• The bromance between Wang Yeo and Kim Shin was the highlight of this kdrama. I love seeing their childish fightings. They fought a lot but grew to care for one another as the series progressed. They helped each other a lot and I'm glad when Kim Shin finally forgave him. It broke my heart to find out that the Reaper was Wang Yeo because he's the reason why Kim Shin became a goblin. It broke his heart because he knew that Kim Shin would get mad at him. 
• The bond between the Reaper, Kim Shin, and Eun-tak was another adorable thing to watch. You could see that the Reaper grew to came for Eun-tak too because he always gave Kim Shin her death note so that Kim Shin could save her. He was there to tell Eun-tak the truth about the sword and helped them when they had a misunderstanding. Together, they were an adorable and fun trio.

• The death of Eun-tak's mom was one of the first heartbreaking things to see here. It broke my heart when Eun-tak realized that it was her mom's spirit who greeted her during her birthday. Being able to see ghosts enabled them to say their goodbyes.
• I loved the episode where Kim Shin kept bothering the Reaper to ask for his opinion about his outfits.
• I loved the episode where Kim Shin and the Reaper went to Eun-tak's rescue when she was kidnapped by the debt collectors. It was a cool scene to watch.
• I felt sad for Kim Shin when he had a premonition of Eun-tak having dinner in a restaurant in Quebec in the future with a guy. I was devastated at first because he thought she met another guy in the future and is able to live happy without him. However, near the end we find out that he's the guy that she's waiting for and he was really cute to see. He was so happy because of that.
• I wonder why Eun-tak didn't say that she could see the sword at first. The sword thing was really weird because at first she couldn't pull it. Maybe, Kim Shin needed to fall for her more (which is very twisted because she'll cause his death). When she finally was able to, I was scared because she really tried to pull it out that fast. Kim Shin caused a massive accident because he didn't warn her properly and he didn't want to die yet.
• I love the episode where Eun-tak and Kim Shin watched Train to Busan. 1) Gong Yoo starred in that and it was fun to see him overreact to his own show. 2) His reactions were really loud and absurd which embarrased Eun-tak a lot in the cinema. It was a pretty hilarious scene.
• I love that the reapers had to blend in the real world. They had to eat, live, and earn money in order to survive. I liked the fact that the reason why they became reapers is because they committed suicide. They had to learn to love life and appreciate what they took before being able to move on. It was a pretty funny scene when they used their hats to leave a restaurant and put all the blame towards Wang Yeo.
• Seeing the Reaper cry towards the Jade Ring and the portrait of Kim Sun broke my heart. You could see that he had unresolved issues deep inside and many regrets that's why his heartbroke. It was also heartbreaking when we find out that the portrait was drawn by him before he died.
• Jung-hyun, the ghost that was Eun-tak's mother's friend was a really wonderful ghost. She stayed on Earth just so she could protect Eun-tak's bankbooks. She was a wonderful friend and her farewell words toward Eun-tak was pretty perfect and heartbreaking.
• The scene where the Samshin Granny gave Kim Shin the ultimatum while Reaper told Eun-tak the truth about the sword was perfect. You could see how conflicted they are about the decisions they had to make since they don't want to be separated from another.
• It was funny to think that at first they thought that the Reaper's past life was that of Kim Shin's sister. They made him try to call Kim Shin, "Oraboni".
• I love that the Reaper kept telling Kim Shin whenever he receives a death note about Eun-tak so that he could prevent the death. It was the perfect way to cheat death but of course, death still won in the end (kind of like Final Destination). They could only delay the inevitable.
• I loved the episode where a motorcycle driver told Kim Shin and the Reaper to get out of the way because they were walking slowly and fabulously on the road.
• I love that the Class President gave Eun-tak her number during graduation and became friends with her. I was glad to see that they hanged out together in the future.
• I love the episode where Kim Shin remembered that he had a vision of Eun-tak long before she was born. It was really adorable and sweet.
• The episode where Eun-tak confronted the husband of one of her ghost friend made me really panic. I mean really, who would confront a guy in fire exit of a building where he could easily push you off? How stupid can you get especially since death was after her.
• It was shocking to see the part where Deok-hwa was possessed by God (?).
• The death of Deok-hwa's grandfather was heartbreaking to watch. You could see how hurt Kim Shin was of because what happened. I was glad that Eun-tak was there to help him. I was also devastated for Deok-hwa because he loved his grandfather even if they didn't see eye to eye sometimes.
• I was glad to see that Kim Shin was able to encounter his second in command, Kim Woo-Shik in the present lifetime and rewarded him greatly for his loyalty.
• I was devastated during the part where the Reaper made Sunny remember her past and told her to forget all the parts that made her sad only for it to backfire since all the parts were happy for her even if she was suffering as long as Wang Yeo was there. It broke my heart because she really loved him even if he made idiotic decisions.
• I cried in Episode 14. I knew they had to defeat the Eunuch. I knew that Kim Shin would probably need to die but it didn't make it any easier. Eun-tak wanted to sacrifice herself because she knew that the Eunuch would possess her. She wanted Kim Shin to kill her before she kills him. Eventually, Kim Shin personally removed the sword using Eun-tak's hands and uses the sword the defeat the Eunuch. The mini-victory though did not seem much of a victory especially since Kim Shin faded into nothingness afterwards.
• I was sad that during the nine years they were separated, the Reaper and Eun-tak had to suffer alone because the memories with Kim Shin were removed by God.
• I was amazed that Sunny was able to keep her memory of the truth. It's just sad though that she knew all this time and probably felt sad for Eun-tak because she couldn't remember.
• I felt really devastated for Kim Shin when no one recognized him after he came back. Only the Reaper. I love the apology he said to Kim Shin after his return:

"I’m too late, so late. I should’ve said it nine years ago, nine hundred years ago, but I hope you’ll forgive the words I say now: Forgive me for not protecting you, who protected my lover and my Goryeo. Forgive me for receiving love but not loving anyone."

• I felt that the trigger for Eun-tak to remember Kim Shin was lacking. However, I still felt really happy that they were finally reunited. His proposal to her was just perfect and their marriage was really wonderful.
• Eun-tak's aunt being annoying even when she's dead was something I hated. I find it quite nice though that one of the ghosts took her away from Eun-tak. I love her for that.
• Seeing as all the lose ends were tied with and there were still lots of time, you knew that shit would go down before the last episode ended. It broke my heart when Eun-tak died especially since she wasn't meant to die. It was just the goodness in her who won and made her sacrifice herself in order to protect many children. I hope that act will help her become something else that could join the Goblin for all eternity. It broke my heart to see Kim Shin cry but he swore that he would wait for her to get reincarnated.
• I was glad that during the fresh moments when Eun-tak died, Kim Shin had the reaper to comfort him. However, it was devastating when the reaper had to go and he even had Sunny with him. I was glad that they were able to move on to the afterlife together. They were finally able to resolve their issues and move on in peace.
• I was really happy with the ending because I'm a sucker for reincarnation stories. I was glad that Eun-tak and Kim Shin were reunited and that Eun-tak remembered everything because she didn't drink the tea of oblivion.