A Drama Which Certainly Doesn’t Disappear From Your Mind With The First Snow...
When skimming over reviews on this website for drama recommendations , I’m sure that most fellow drama watchers can agree that you should take what “ critics” sometimes say with a pinch of salt, especially when a drama gets 10/10 on all categories. Of course, it’s human nature that our tastes differ from one another. I’m sure most drama watchers have been in my shoes, where someone will blatantly say to you that “ this drama, is the best one in the world” , and when you come to watch it via their recommendations, you can’t get even get through the first ten minutes of it without internally screaming at the screen.Goblin is no exception . I remember the first time watching Goblin and as one of my first few Korean dramas , I was undeniably a biased fan. I denied a lot of evident faults which has arisen to my attention in the drama, because I had been enchanted from episode one by the show’s cinematography. ( As a fan of Ghibli Movies, the drama reminded me a lot of the detail behind characters and setting put into some of my personal favourites ) . For a long time, I remember maintaining this biased opinion upon Goblin , until, I gained a new perspective from a friend who had never watched Goblin ( though she had seen a lot of Korean dramas before) , and out of curiosity, I asked her to give her own honest feedback after watching it.
Her own thoughts on the drama ? She hated it with the passion. It surprised me a lot when she gave me her honest feedback on the show. We’d nearly always seen eye to eye on movies, shows and books, so, it was surprising that her opinion differed so greatly from my own. Out of curiosity, I asked her to elaborate on what annoyed her about it. Her list was certainly endless, but, it did help to bring to mind even at the time, the classic
Marmite slogan ; you either love it, or you hate it, and, Goblin is truly one of the two for drama fans .
I’ll be honest in saying that my thoughts on the show didn’t magically change overnight, however, my friend’s criticisms did make me rethink a lot about my biased views on the drama. As a consequence, I decided to rewatch it, and it was only through watching again without rose-tinted glasses, that I began to understand my original thoughts that I had buried down in place of my love for the drama, after watching the show again .
First off, I will agree with nearly all of the reviews, that Goblin is a fairly original drama . The blockbuster hit across Korea and overseas, does present a fascinating combination of Korean mythology in a modern day setting with intriguing characters, an unforgettable OST and of course beautiful backdrop settings as well. So, where can we find any faults, with it then?
First off, the episode lengths between 70-80 minutes. Of course, in comparison to some dramas, Goblin is about average for a Korean TV programme. It did come to my attention , however, that in a lot of drama reviews, few critics have actually bothered to mention simply slow- paced some episodes became when a “ short” storyline was paced for nearly three hours, rather than finished in one completed episode in order to progress the storyline . Arguably, the drama did use some of this time to establish some key techniques , not least introducing our protagonists and foreshadowing later events as well. On the other hand, it still remains prominent exactly how key writer Eun Sook and of course the cast, were able to truly establish our characters in this seemingly endless amount of hours as well.
Gong Yoo’s performance as Kim Shin, was fairly impressive. I’ll be honest in saying, Gong Yoo was not notably memorable in comparison to other performances that I’ve seen by actors, however, he still portrayed his role with a level of emotional appeal for viewers. Portraying a former general trapped in a cursed immortal body, I’m sure you can imagine the amount of raw appeal and questions of philosophy which were arisen by thoughts of immortality and morality within the show. On the other hand, it did come to my obvious attention watching the drama again ( and a shared criticism by my friend) , that Eun Sook had left out a lot of realistic qualities and characterisation techniques for Kim Shin. This is because Eun Sook had written not suggested any truly profound psychological or pondering qualities towards a man who has lived for nearly a millennium with “ no love interests”. Whilst I appreciate the romantic element of ‘ first love’ in the drama and of course concepts of chastity in Korean culture, it was beyond ridiculous for Eun Sook to even mildly hint that an adult man who had lived for centuries , had never had a one night stand nor interests in any woman before Eun Tak.
By far, Eun Sook did give Ji Eun Tak some story writing justice . This was explored brilliantly by Kim Go Eun taking upon a younger, yet arguably a more complex portrayal of an adolescent at the time and Eun Sook making
Eun Tak a more relatable and empathic character to audiences than Kim Shin . Sadly, this didn’t entirely mean that she was a more ‘ fleshed - out’ protagonist either. Whilst it was certainly a lot more believable upon Eun Tak’s passing fancies for Kim Shin and her old classmate, Eun Sook seemed to be focused a little too much upon Eun Tak as a ‘ younger schoolgirl ‘ for a major proportion of the drama, highlighting an unrealistic correlation between her naivety against her age, intelligence and circumstances shown within the show.
As a consequence, this does raise a lot of issues with the age difference between an emotionally vulnerable high schooler and an adult man as well. Am I being biased and arguing it would have been different if Kim Shin had been given to a “ young and fresher” actor like Sung Jae instead? No. The age gap is not actually the main problem, it seems. Whilst the issue of gaps certainly raised an eyebrow for me early on within the show, I can’t deny that the setup between the two characters does explore a maturation of different love forms between the two leads from friends to near family to a romantic setting in a somewhat gradual development for audiences. Where my criticism lies is certainly within the factor that neither leads are truly explored because of this age gap, as being realistic love interests for one another. There were no explorations of emotional trials, similar tastes or expanding their feelings realistically to one another at all within the show, even in the apparent emotional conclusion of the final episode.
Then of course aside from our main leads, there’s also the portrayals of the Grim Reaper (Dong Wook) , Sunny (Yoo In-Na ) and spoilt Chaebol heir Yoo Deok Hwa (Yook Sung Jae). With regards to his role as the Reaper , Dong Wook interestingly said in an interview once, his embarrassment at not living down his role in the show and it’s easy to see why . Dong Wook’s portrayal from the seemingly callous and sardonic figure to a soft-hearted soul, added to some more touching and humorous moments in a show centralised upon romance. Aside from his comically heart -driven romance with Sunny, the Reaper’s relationship with the Goblin was portrayed in brilliant fraternal-style for audiences which will easily make you laugh and your heart breaking within later scenes in the show. Although there was some out -of -place lines and cheesy acting moments, Eun Sook did undeniably do Dong Wook justice in this role, however, in a similar manner to Shin and Eun Tak, there was a lot of left out realism within the Reaper, especially psychologically.
It’s undeniable that Sunny and the Reaper’s relationship had a level of comical chemistry between essentially a naive man with lacking social interactions , and a social butterfly each seeking their own comfort within one another’s company. Yoo In-Na did give a genuine sense of authenticity within her portrayal as a healthy sister figure for Eun Tak as a character, something which thankfully didn’t drive downwards into the typical cliche of female animosity, however, in a slightly more honest manner, Yoo In-Na nor Eun Sook, truly add anything
jovially new to the cliche female flirt role of Sunny. Whilst she did play her role intriguingly later on within the show, for a high percentage of the drama, she was a perfect example of a ‘ stock female lead’; flirtatious , comical and a perfect plot device, but certainly not a sincere human being with with any exposure in flashbacks , relationships prior to any of the other protagonists or expressions of any sincere emotions.
In a similar manner whilst Yook Sung Jae doesn’t shine out as much as Go Eun or Dong Wook, his performance was still surprisingly well retained as the stereotypical “ spoilt heir” who shows a deeper side to his personality during the course of the show. My biggest complaint with Eun Sook’s characterisation of Deok Hwa was that there was a lot of brimmed potential with Sung Jae ‘s portrayal. Rather than giving Sung Jae any justice in a similar manner to In-Na, Sung Jae is left as the sort of stock ‘ clown character ‘ of the drama. What makes this even more ironic is that Eun Sook suggested later in the show a more complex and intriguing quality to Deok Hwa, which was unsurprisingly disregarded later that episode and once he had been of use to this particular storyline, Deok Hwa was nearly entirely disregarded as a character by the ending of episode 16.
In addition to this portrayal of characters and questionable storyline , there’s the other slightly more trivial complaint of excessive product placement. Whilst this doesn’t entirely take away from the originality of the plot, seeing a Subway or a placement for Paul’s Boutique in the middle of a scene which could have been used for original character progression and storyline considering Eun Sook’s missed links, did irk me a bit personally. Critically, I think it’s fair to say that I can only give you my personal thoughts on the drama. Goblin is one of those shows which you you sort of have to watch yourself to work out whether you love it or hate it. There will be some people who have entirely disagreed with everything that I’ve said in this review, and arguably some who have felt the same as well, and that, is perfectly entitled either way . Regardless of your thoughts on the matter, Goblin has strengths and faults for everyone, but it’s certainly a show you shouldn’t miss out upon as well.
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Just feel that the story was very ... dull?? Or for me it was the main couple that made me feel this drama was not great. I had already found out the answers like in the first few episodes and found it to be quite predictable ... I could figure out what happened in the past which was revealed later in the series....
Some positive things about this drama were the supporting characters and THE MUSIC MY GOD LOVED ALL THE MUSIC !! The supporting characters were amazing and their acting was awesome. I loved the second couple and I loved their chemistry ! I feel that they stole the show. The humour was also top notch I must say hehe
Just wish the storyline was a bit better because I know the audience were much smarter than the writers may have thought??? I don’t know it’s just my opinion. This may be harsh but the main female actress really put me off any of her other dramas she is in.
So many times I felt like dropping this drama but kept on watching for the music and the supporting cast. Just reckon Goblin in general is overrated.
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In the end I ended up skipping a lot of it just so I could finish it and see what happened to Sunny and the Grim Reaper. They had way more of an interesting story than Eun Tak/Goblin, but I was still a bit disappointed in it. I kinda wanted a drama with the King/Queen.
I don't know why I was so bored and disappointed with this drama, maybe fantasy doesn't do well for me, but then again I loved My Love From The Star.
Well at least I can say I watched Goblin, but I won't be rewatching it and I'm not interested in the specials. Damn it, I had such high hopes.
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The main romance was childish and gross
About the age gap:I cannot recommend this drama to anyone. The main romance was childish and gross. It was so uncomfortable to watch that I don't know how I got through it. The main female lead has such a childish character. The undertones of the drama were weird, they shouldn't have been a couple. People hate other dramas for having a weird age gap, but Goblin never gets mentioned. I think this drama is one of the worst ones because their maturity level was not at the same level. If there is going to be an age gap I think writers should consider the maturity needed to give real consent. I'm glad people are finally starting to realize the importance of age gaps and real consent though.
About the storyline:
Even besides the romance, the main storyline was confusing. There was more emphasis on aesthetics than the story. I would say watch the first two episodes then stop. It goes downhill from there. At one point in the drama, around episode 12 or 13, I found myself skipping through a lot of it. I watch dramas for the storyline much more than the cute moments or aesthetics, so if you feel the same way, I do not think you will enjoy this drama. I wish I had written this review when the episodes were first coming out. It was so weird to see everyone say they loved it.
About the good parts:
The music in this drama was fantastic, and, in my opinion, one of the only redeemable qualities about it. I love Gong Yoo, but this drama was not it. Episode 1 and 2 were exciting for sure, but I cannot recommend this drama farther than those two episodes.
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The story is ambitious, let me tell you. The fantasy genre is not for the weak. Many try, but there are few survivors. They tend to fall short, leave the audience wondering, and the plot becomes shaky. Goblin, though marched right up to the top (easily) and stuck it's flag in, claiming its rightful place as the best fantasy drama made so far. It tells a story that spans 900 years, relying heavily on drawing parallels between past and present, but coherently weaves all the little details into place. Everything makes sense, and leaves the audience in suspense through the entire show with it's twists and turns. The fantasy aspect is absolutely amazing as it's used both comically and as important elements for the plot. It's never used just to show off the effects they can do. The show forms such an amazing atmosphere as if you were in another world, and as an artist, I can assure you that this is the most aesthetically appealing show I have ever seen.
The acting was of course, top notch, with this star studded cast. By star studded, I don't mean idols; These are talented and renowned actors that have proven their excellent acting abilities with their previous work. Fun fact, Lee Dong Wook, who normally has lead roles, begged and begged the writer to cast him as the SECOND lead. That's how good this script was, and you bet he worked his butt off for this drama. Gong Yoo, I'm sure you've seen in plenty of other movies, namely Train to Busan, never overacts, but conveys so much emotion and is just perfect for his role. There have been people talking badly about the lead actress, saying she isn't pretty enough, but I think she's absolutely gorgeous and has such a pure smile. She fits her role so well and you can't help but love her.
Since the drama does everything else so well, I guess you can't expect its OST to be perfect as well right? But it is. Many of the tracks have gotten millions of views on Youtube and I have the entire OST replaying on my phone. All of the music is just so atmospheric and fitting for the show. I mean it when I say I love every single song, and that's pretty rare. I mean when's the last time you loved every song on an album?
Alright well, I guess I'm done singing praises for this drama. I can't find a single thing to criticize, not because I'm biased, but because it's just THAT good. By now you may have guessed, but I wholeheartedly urge you to try this. You'll find yourself rolling around with laughter, pain, and feels so if you don't try it I may have to personally go over there, sit you down, and force you to watch it. Now I'm off to cure this post Goblin hangover and maybe cry in a corner. Shoot me a PM if you need me (especially for fangirling or crying purposes I'm here for you)!
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I have been very critical when it comes to sci-fi and supernatural dramas and movies because they have one of the most confusing timelines and stories. That's why when I watched Goblin, I have expected a lot from it. And, honestly, I have my ups and downs as I watch this show. Nevertheless, this is a unique masterpiece that viewers need to see as Asian dramas continue to go through paradigm shift.
Story: It started really well. AS IN REALLY WELL HAHAHA. The first episode topped most of the movies and other dramas' first episodes that I have watched. I have continued to like it as it shows the development of the characters and the relationships that they're in. However, I felt a lack of depth (just a little) to the story as I reached the half of it, and also, as I continued to watch it, questions about the characters, their statements, their actions, and their memories have risen. I wanted them to redeem the show, and guess what? THEY DID. The story ended not as big as the start of it, but it ended with a touch in the heart. My questions were also answered, komabta!
Ending: I really liked it. Especially the ending for Sunny and Grim Reaper. :D
Acting/Cast: The actors were good. However, I only want to mention these three characters that I salute, and the actors that have portrayed the role: (1) Kim Woo Bin/Wang Yeo/Grim Reaper. He's my favorite because of his sense of humor and how this sense opposes his being the deliverer of dead souls. Lee Dong Wook is really gooooood! I can't think of others who will fit the drama more than him. (2) Lee El. HUHUHUHUHU :'( every scene that she's in, I was very happy. Her character shows that we are never alone in this world. And Lee El is really fit for this role huhuhu she's so beautiful btw. And last, (3) Sunny. Her chemistry with Grim Reaper is daebak!!! Their pair is, by far, one of the best. I liked her innocence and at the same time, her strong personality. In Na is realllllllly beautiful omo please be with me hahaha I am not biased with her, but she's so good here haha.
All in all, the cast displayed a wonderful performance.
Music: UNDERRATED! IT SHOULD BE 14/10 HAHAHAHAHA THE MUSIC IS ONE OF THOSE THAT DROVE ME TO WATCH THIS SHOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. OSTs here are the best (my opinion)
Rewatch Value: Worth watching again.
Overall: Dramas have flaws. I believe that there is no perfect drama. But what makes an excellent drama is its consistency and its heart. I believe that this drama has both. And even when people bash this because of the lack of chemistry ( I admit that there is a lack but not too much) or the confusing facts ( But they explained it at the end well), I personally want to recommend it to other people.
The effects were great, too. I also liked how the camera captures the scenes, especially the close-up ones. I think they did a pretty good job in terms of editing.
A GUY'S CONCLUSION 101: I don't want to forget. Oblivion may be a grace, but forgetting goblin, her bride, grim reaper, sunny, goddess of birth, deok hwa and everyone of them would bring me more pain.
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Alternatively titled as: We've Got The Best Bromance!
It's been a couple of days since I completed watching Goblin and might I just say am so not over it. I've been reading a lot of its reviews, stalking the fuck out of Lee Dong Wook and basically just obsessing over this one a little too late. I usually try to stray clear of fantasy genre but I hate that I didn't give this one a chance sooner. It's like one of those overly popular dramas that have got the mainstream vibe to it because almost everyone has watched it already and I guess now I know why.I've got so many things on my mind regarding the series, the good things and the bad ones too that it's a bit hard to formulate them properly into words so I'll probably just rant my way out.
Starting off, Goblin was an extremely whimsical watch to say the least.
The first few episodes were absolutely breathtaking with immaculate cinematography both in the historical flashbacks and in current timeline, interesting choice of characters and plot will force you deeper into this drama, and once you're in well, there's no going back thereafter.
The plus point of the drama was definitely its character interactions with underlying but hugely effective humour. I personally prefer things to be serious and funny both at the same time, too much of just one set of emotion gets boring for my attention span. So needless to say Goblin nailed this one requirement of mine perfectly.
Each and every character dealt with the other in such a playful and satisfying way for most part of the series that I couldn't help but connect with them on a deeper, more intimate level.
That said, don't even get me started on the (b)romance between the Goblin and Grim reaper, probably the best I've seen yet (that says a lot considering bromance is a fairly common trope in K-drama world) they were just so entertaining together that at one point I was just watching the drama, waiting to get a glimpse of their quirky interactions (which were a lot thankfully). So if anyone asks me why I loved this drama as much as I did, I'll gladly put my hand on my heart and just think of all the cheeky moments between these two extremely good looking hunks.
Now coming to the romance, I found the story of Grim Reaper and Sunny a lot more captivating and emotionally investing than the protagonists despite the limited screen time. Not to belittle the leads or to say they were lacking or anything, they were good too in their own way. While the Reaper and Sunny had a heavy hot dose of chemistry sizzling through; the Goblin and his bride were the cutesy heart fluttering couple. The show got a lot more interesting seeing these two romantic parallels unfolding side by side. Not to mention the very evident age gap didn't bother me at all, if more I found it quite endearing and romantic since one of the involved party was a lonely immortal being while the other was an equally lonely but warm hearted magical soul. So whatever works for them in this life and after am all for it without any second thoughts whatsoever.
As much as I was intrigued by the plot and the never ending suspense of how things were going to pan out in the end, the last few episodes were a let down as compared to the heavy plot build in the previous ones. While the story went a full circle it failed to actually make sense. The logic and reasoning shredded into nothingness just like how Goblin was supposed to? But after a short amount of separation he reappeared as if nothing happened only god knows how (pun intended). Many other plot points came off as mere convenience which I possibly couldn't ignore at the end. The story of the Reaper got a whole lot diverted and complicated but I suppose it's a given since rounding up a fantasy takes an even more fantastical on the spot thinking. The writers could have done better because the plot turned out to be a sore spot for this one for sure.
Focusing on the actors, obviously they did a fine job on this one. The emotion transitions were perfect, the comic timing even more so and the inner turmoil in each of the 4 leads was something I actually felt and sympathised with especially in the case of Reaper's identity revelation. Lee Dong Wook has got me spellbound and am probably off to binge watch on his other remaining dramas.
Last but definitely not the the least. The OSTs! Oh my lord the OSTs are so on point in every damn scene and the fact that I absolutely love every one of them tunes (still humming round and round) is something that happens rarely.
So if you're looking for a feel good, fanciful world with beautiful and funny people roaming about it, be sure to delve into this one, if you haven't already.
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High re-watch value
I think this is my all-time favorite Kdrama. First off, the story is phenomenal. I always give dramas 10 minutes to see if it'll hook me. If it doesn't, for the most part, I'll have a hard time finishing it for some reason. Within minutes, I already knew I would love this Kdrama.The casting is spot-on. I can't think of another person who could play the Grim Reaper as well as Lee Dong Wook or Gong Yoo as the Goblin. The dry humor and bromance between the two are what I enjoyed the most. None of the characters "bugged" me. Not a one. In almost every drama, one character will rub me the wrong way. Instead, in this drama, every character became important to me.
The two separate love stories complemented each other so well. You rooted for both and there was no jealousy or games that you usually see in other dramas. The emotional feelings aren't forced like in a lot of other dramas, where you feel like they set it up just to make you cry. In this drama, there are heartbreaks, but many feel-good moments. A great balance.
The music was great and I felt the choice of the songs was spot-on. Great production as well. It doesn't matter who I recommend this show to, whether it is male or female, old or young, they have all enjoyed it. I highly recommend this if you've never seen it. I wish I saw this sooner.
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Magic, Fluff, and some other stuff
Usually I only watch hidden gems, and leave the popular dramas to people that have FOMO or something. However, after about 2years or so, I figured I’d give this drama a chance. after watching this entire drama, I’ve realized that this drama is heavily overrated, the fandom of this drama is overly biased, and majority the reviews on these platforms have next to no substance. Most reviews (I’ve read a couple high rated reviews) just praise the MLs, praise the visuals, mention the faulty age gap, criticize the FL for being childish, praise the secondary leads relationship(or lack thereof), then give the drama 10/10 (undeservedly so).I won’t be doing any of the said above.
First of all, I won’t give a reiteration of the story. If you wanna know what it’s about, read the drama synopsis.
2ndly, for the life of me, I don’t understand this obsession fans have with couples with varying ages, but I’d like to think that fans mention it to put themselves on some moral pedestal.
3rdly, I really believe this drama could’ve been great. Hell, it could’ve been amazing. If there’s one thing that encompasses all the problems this drama has, it would be that it focuses on the past too much. It also made the ML cold, dubious, and doubtful that he would ever find his bride. There should’ve been more focus on the present, letting the leads establish a better relationship on screen, instead of the ML constantly giving the FL whiplash and making her doubt herself more than she already does. The FL does such an amazing job, and is so mature whenever she’s faced with a difficult situation. When the Goblin presents himself in her life, she accepts her new destiny with stride and determination,and that is what makes her the best, most redeemable character in this show.
Circling back to all the flashbacks, it becomes quite evident that the only person that can account for what transpired 900yrs ago (why 900 though? why not 50, or 70? wtf even is this?) is the goblin himself, yet he’s supposedly carried this vengeance in his heart all this time. I can’t even remotely fathom why the writers of this drama thought this was such a great idea, but I’ll give my 2 cents.
— It’s impossible to hold onto a grudge for that long. Furthermore, these are PAST lives, so as far as I’m concerned, anyone that was reincarnated, the people of their past are their ancestors. Not only do the characters of the present not remember anything, they are NOT the same people. They have their own personalities, their own minds, their own souls. so the concept of them being the same people falls flat for me.
ngl, I hated episode 13 & 15 for making me cry, but ep13-16 were the only episodes worth watching. around these episodes is when you actually see chemistry between the FL & ML, and the Goblin is actually concerned about Eun Ji Tak. The final episodes wrecked me, not because it’s such a great drama, but because the acting really is exceptional, and the FL is excellent at portraying emotions, especially when she’s devastated.(also the viewers of ep 14 are the most insensitive fucks I’ve ever seen. I read the timed comments, you know who you are, worthless degenerates). just for clarification, I hate crying.
The best thing about this drama is Eun Ji Tak, the Grim Reaper, and the music. that’s it. also, why would anyone make a drama whereby everything revolves around the FL, only to kill her in the last episode? seems counterintuitive, but wtf do I know?
This may be the first drama I’ve ever watched where I’m just waiting for it to be over. it wasn’t terrible, just makes no sense how all these supernatural beings have all these powers, but they’d rather only intervene in terrifying situations when they want to.
what really leaves me baffled is how the acting is so amazing, but the story itself is such trash. I only finished this drama because I was already too invested. unfortunately, I don’t recommend this drama. If anything, go watch Seo Bok instead; it’s underrated, and most likely makes a load more sense than Goblin. Also, Gong Yoo’s birthday is in 2 weeks(July 9), so go celebrate watching something worthwhile( that’s not Goblin). ?
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Unfortunately, there were a lot of inconsistencies and unexplained phenomena in the story line, especially toward the end. I was disappointed with the last few episodes; they felt rushed and slapped together last minute. In fact, I think that's what really happened, considering the delays in production. The creators had opportunities to tie together the themes they touched upon and get creative with it, but they completely missed those chances. And talk about overdoing it with the product placement!
All that being said, I still loved it, if not mostly for the awesome and unbearably cute bromance between Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook. They had great chemistry together and their dynamic was way more interesting than the actual boy-girl romance, in my opinion. They are two of my favorite actors, so there you go, I'm totally biased! With this bias in mind, I give it a generous 8 out of 10.
I'm secretly kind of glad it was a letdown at the end, because otherwise I'd be feeling those post-drama blues!
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