Open Thread: My Girlfriend is a Gumiho Episodes 11 & 12

Welcome to the Open Thread, everyone! Check out this cute screenshot of our lovebirds; aren’t they legit adorable together? 😍

Here are our usual ground rules, before we begin:

1. Please don’t post spoilers in the Open Thread, except for events that have happened in the show, up to this point. If you really need to talk about a spoiler, it is possible to use the new spoiler tags, but please know that spoilers are still visible (ie, not hidden) in the email notification that you receive, of the comment in question.

We have quite a few first-time viewers among us, and we don’t want to spoil anything for anyone.

2. Discussions on this thread don’t have to close when newer threads open, just so you know! But as we progress through our group watch, please keep the discussions clear of spoilers from future episodes, so that future readers coming to this thread won’t be accidentally spoiled. Does that make sense?

Without further ado, here are my reactions to this set of episodes; have fun in the Open Thread, everyone! ❤️

My thoughts

Episode 11

There’s quite a lot that happens this episode, and we finally get some key movement on the OTP front. Progress! (But with a healthy dose of bead-related anxiety on the side, ack.)

I’m glad to see that Dae Woong’s so concerned for Mi Ho, but I’m much more preoccupied with Awful Noona.

I am so mad at Noona for being so defiantly unrepentant, even when Mi Ho falls from the scaffolding to the safety mattress below. Ugh. The way she throws a look of contempt in Mi Ho’s direction, then stalks off in a huff, is as if she’s been inconvenienced. Her sense of entitlement is quite astonishing, really.

..Which is why it’s so satisfying to see Gumiho Hunter corner her and frighten her into running away. And, it was also pretty great to see Mi Ho literally threatening to kill her, right then and there. After all that Bad Noona’s done, this is really quite gratifying.

While it’s most likely because of the bead within Dae Woong, I do just like the idea that it’s Dae Woong hugging her, that brings Mi Ho back to her senses.

Afterwards, I like the role reversal, when Mi Ho expresses that it was all her fault, because Noona had only been reacting to the discovery that the ring had originally been here, it’s Dae Woong who defends her actions, saying that Mi Ho hadn’t done anything wrong, and in fact, she’d done exactly what a girlfriend is supposed to do. Nice.

Poor Mi Ho, though; she’s truly devastated that she’s let Dae Woong see her true “monstrous” nature, and is more convinced than ever, that she needs to leave Dae Woong, at the end of the 100 days.

As an aside, when Mi Ho tells Gumiho Hunter that she can feel herself slowly losing her powers, it all makes sense why she wasn’t able to hear Dae Woong approach Noona with the drinks, which is how that whole kiss thing happened. I like that Show makes sure to tie up this detail with supporting details of our developing mythology.

I like how, as we go through this episode, Dae Woong gets more and more uncomfortable about the impending end of the 100 days, even as Mi Ho takes concrete steps towards being independent.

It really is pretty poignant to hear Mi Ho tell Dae Woong that it was wrong of her to ask him to like her, that she won’t make things difficult for him anymore, and that she’ll leave after the 100 days have passed.

I’m a little disappointed that Dae Woong reacts with anger (partly because he’s jealous of her relationship with Gumiho Hunter), but I rationalize that it’s such a difficult thing to hear that he’s in denial.

I do appreciate that on his own, Dae Woong regularly angsts about Mi Ho’s words, and also, goes out of his way to search for Mi Ho’s ring. This makes it really clear that he didn’t mean what he’d said to Mi Ho, that she wouldn’t be welcome to stay even for one more day, after the 100 days are up.

Also, Mi Ho really does appear to be top of mind for Dae Woong; when he feels discomfort around the bead during her second death, he rushes back to the apartment, anxious to know if she’s ok.

I like that. Even though he has no idea what she’s going through, he’s no longer brushing things off assuming that as a gumiho she’ll be fine; he literally breaks down the door, out of worry for her.

Given Dae Woong’s jealousy and general animosity towards Gumiho Hunter, I’m rather surprised that he would go to the vet’s clinic to ask for painkillers (which he claims are for Ddoong Ja). It’s pretty significant, though, that he’d put aside his pride to ask Gumiho Hunter for help; he really does care about Mi Ho.

It’s bittersweet to see Dae Woong nurse Mi Ho through the night, because even though he’s finally starting to come around to his feelings for her, she is actively getting ready to leave.

Mi Ho’s voiceover the next morning, as she runs as hard and as fast as she can, on her way to continue filming, is really quite heartbreaking.

“Woong-ah. Because I like you too much, I can’t stop liking you now. And I can’t pretend to not like you now, either. I can only not let you see that I like you. I can only stop begging you to like me. If I want to slowly leave your side, I still need to run.”

Oof. Poor Mi Ho is so earnestly trying to do the right thing, even though she’s feeling just as anguished as Dae Woong.

I appreciate how we do get some levity amid the angst, this hour, via Director Ban’s loveline with Aunt.

It all starts off so promisingly, with Director Ban showing Aunt around the film set, and him talking about how she’s the leading lady of the film in his heart.

Aw. That’s sweet. And then it feels like such a momentous moment, when Sun Nyeo comes into view, and instead of pushing Aunt out of the way like he’d done before, Director Ban determines to introduce the leading lady of his heart, to his daughter.

Aunt must really have stress-related digestive issues, though, because she’s completely mortified by the, er, involuntary flatulence that escapes, just as those important introductions are about to be made.

Ack. Poor mortified Aunt! I can understand why she wouldn’t know what else to do but run away.

Credit to Director Ban, though, for chasing her down, and assuring her that she has nothing to be embarrassed about.

I like how Director Ban dramatically tells Aunt to be bold about admitting that she’s his woman, and that she’s always had a light fragrance about her, and I am also amused by how Aunt is so dramatically touched by it all, as he dramatically pulls her in for an embrace.

Tee hee. These two deserve their own show, truly. 😆

The other thing I found especially amusing this episode, is the fake curse that Mi Ho puts on Sneaky Noona, that Noona will get uglier and uglier, from that point onwards.

Ahaha. That’s brilliant, because that’s exactly the sort of thing that would freak Noona out. Not that she believes in curses or anything, but her appearance is so important to her, that the threat of such a curse possibly being even a little bit real, would be enough to freak her out. I loved this.

I also love how the angst comes to a head when Noona expresses glee at the idea of Mi Ho leaving at the end of 3 months, because this pushes Dae Woong to articulate how he really feels.

This is the first time Dae Woong says out loud that he doesn’t want Mi Ho to let him go, and would rather she hold onto him, and I am very pleased that he says all this to Noona, with such firm resolve. I particularly liked the part where he tells Noona not to try to understand nor interfere. YES. Take that, Noona.

I also like the fact that even though both Dae Woong and Mi Ho go to the church separately while pining for each other, it’s when they are individually honest with their feelings, that they find each other.

Mi Ho goes there when she comes to terms with the fact that she isn’t really all that keen on the life as Park Seon Ju that Gumiho Hunter has planned for her, and Dae Woong goes there as he fully comes to terms with his feelings for Mi Ho; it’s perfect.

And finally, because Dae Woong articulates that he likes her, Mi Ho finally feels able to tell him that she is going to become human.

I also love the way Show plays with cause and effect, in their clarification of their feelings for each other.

Dae Woong doesn’t like Mi Ho because it’s ok to like her; it’s because he likes her, that everything’s ok. And Mi Ho doesn’t like him because she needs him; she likes him, and that’s why she needs him. Aw.

It is rather swoony, though, that Dae Woong takes that idea and twists it, telling Mi Ho, “If you need me, then just use me. Take everything and use it. In return, take responsibility for me.” I love that he doesn’t care whether she uses him or not; he just wants a commitment. Ahh! I love it.

While it still bothers me that according to Gumiho Hunter’s set-up, one of them will die at the end of 100 days, I’m too busy enjoying The Cute to worry too much, right now.

I like that Dae Woong sings Mi Ho a personalized birthday song, and meaningfully changes the lyrics to say that she’s his 여친 (“yeochin”) which is a truncated slang for 여자 친구 (“yeoja chingu”), meaning girlfriend.

Ahhh! It’s official, and we have kisses to seal it!

Episode 12

I’m pleased that when Dae Woong takes out the ring to return it to Mi Ho, he tells her that this time, it’s for real.

Aw, yay. I know it was already implied, when they were talking about feelings and everything, but this still feels important, and I’m glad that Dae Woong makes it a point to negate the old relationship contract.

How amusing, that now that our OTP is officially together, they start to explore what being in a relationship is like, only to have the angry bead stop them in their making-out tracks. Ahahaha. I find the idea, that the bead is angry because Dae Woong has been tainted by the energy of another woman, very amusing.

Also, I am suitably tickled that the bead basically allows Mi Ho to read Dae Woong like a book; it’s so funny, that Mi Ho coyly tells Dae Woong that he doesn’t have to pretend that he wasn’t thinking about mating, when the bead got angry.

Lol. Only Mi Ho could manage to look so innocent, while blithely talking about mating.

On a similar note, you just gotta love Mi Ho’s straightforward life plan, eh? She’s got it all figured out, and I got a good chuckle at how horrified the visual, of a brood of kids hankering for Daddy to buy them meat, made Dae Woong. 😆

It’s nice to see Mi Ho impress Grandpa, using the skills she’d acquired to impress her bridegroom 500 years ago, and it is poignant to hear Mi Ho tell Dae Woong that even though she doesn’t know yet how she feels about growing old and dying as a human, she just really wants to have the experience of growing and changing over the course of her life, like Dae Woong has.

How heartwarming, that Dae Woong now tells Mi Ho that they can start memories together. I like that idea.

Although I didn’t much care for the introduction of the little goblin who wants to eat Mi Ho’s bead, I have to admit that he was pretty useful to our story.

For one thing, he’s the one who convinces Gumiho Hunter that Mi Ho’s bead has the scent of goblin fire, which is the thing that causes Gumiho Hunter to conclude that Mi Ho was made from the embers that Kil Dal dissolved into. I guess.. that makes Mi Ho a reincarnation of Kil Dal, in a manner of speaking?

After losing Kil Dal the way he did, I’m not surprised the Gumiho Hunter is now determined to protect Mi Ho from suffering the same fate that Kil Dal had.

It’s a bummer that Dae Woong’s movie shoot takes him to China for an extended period of time, but I really like this scene, where he recharges Mi Ho, by telling her 9 things that he likes about her – one for each of her tails. Cute.

In particular, I love the ninth thing that Dae Woong says, because he echoes Mi Ho’s favorite phrase so well: “The last one. Nine. Mi Ho-ya, I just.. really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really… really like you.”

Ahhh! It’s perfect. I love it. And I love how thrilled this makes Mi Ho. Our girl’s liked Dae Woong for so long, that I just really like the idea that she’s being assured so well, that her feelings are 100% reciprocated, in equal measure. ❤️

It’s sweet that Mi Ho works so hard to be supportive of Dae Woong’s trip to China, even though the last thing she wants, is to be separated from him. It says a lot, that she’s even earnestly eating vegetables, to show him that she’s capable of taking good care of herself while he’s gone.

I feel pretty proud of Mi Ho, for being true to her word, and filling her days with people and activities, and making memories to put into that photo album, while Dae Woong’s away.

I love that she even learns of Aunt’s antennae thing with Director Ban (the dorks!), and takes photos with Aunt doing the antennae pose. 😆

Last Open Thread, I was most annoyed with Sneaky Noona for trying to come between Dae Woong and Mi Ho, but this time, it’s Gumiho Hunter who’s in the dog house with me.

I really don’t like how he’s basically manipulating Mi Ho in a life and death situation, without actually giving her full information.

It’s not fair that he makes these life and death decisions for Mi Ho, while keeping her in the dark.

She’s not a child, and deserves to know what the stakes are. Heck, she’d deserved to know right from the beginning, when he’d presented her with the option of becoming human.

It’s just so wrong that Gumiho Hunter knows how much Mi Ho cares about Dae Woong, and yet, he’s looking for a way to get her to leave Dae Woong, so that she won’t know that he’d died for her to become human. It’s insane.

Because our little goblin arc this episode also works to clue Mi Ho in to the truth, that if Dae Woong gives her back the bead, he’ll die, I do find it worthwhile overall, even though I personally didn’t care for the details of the arc all that much.

Poor Mi Ho; she’s utterly devastated to realize the true implications of Dae Woong holding her bead for her.

Not only does this mean that she and Dae Woong can’t be together like they’ve planned (and those plans have only just been made, after such a long road to togetherness!), this means that one of them will have to die.

Ack. It’s the worst dilemma imaginable, honestly.

Meanwhile, poor innocent Dae Woong only learns (again, from Gumiho Hunter) that if he doesn’t return the bead to Mi Ho, she will die.

And now we have a situation where Dae Woong’s intent on returning the bead to Mi Ho, in order that she might live, and Mi Ho’s now intent on disappearing, so that Dae Woong might live. 😭

Somehow, the fact that Dae Woong is now starting to trust Mi Ho implicitly, telling her that he believes she hadn’t told him about the consequences of him not returning the bead because she believes in him unconditionally, makes everything so much worse.

Save them both, Show! You have to!

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Open Thread: My Girlfriend is a Gumiho Episodes 11 & 12 | The Fangirl Verdict

phl1rxd
phl1rxd
2 years ago

I loved this line from Mi Ho to Hye In – “When you smile it is even more scary.” The subsequent curse was delivered with so much innocence. Her honesty is so refreshing, especially deliverd with those gorgeous dimples.

Director Ban and Aunt continue to amuse us with their ri-dunk-u-lous behavior.

Dae Woong is coming around…

Leslie
2 years ago

Hard pass on the vegetables. “How can I get any prettier? I’m satisfied with where I am.” Yet another reason to love Mi Ho! 😍😂

One of the best confessions ever: the best 9 things. Unique, strength, honesty, courage, confidence, care, tension, belief, I just ominominominomin…. like you! You came through, Dae Woongee, you came through.

If anyone can offer a more accurate romanization of very, very, very, very, very… I’d appreciate seeing it. It feels like a delightful something to have in one’s back pocket for the right occasion. 😉

BE
BE
2 years ago
Reply to  Leslie

My favorite line in the entire show to date.
I always appreciate how in Korean shows both women and men are immodest when it comes to their own beauty without sounding in the least bit arrogant.

Ele Nash
2 years ago

Oh, my heart! ❤ How happy was I watching those confessions of love and, ah, the singing and, ah, the swoony kiss and, argh, the pesky bead! Honestly, kfangurl, if Miho has been the cutest little gumiho ever then Dae-woong (eeeeee) has now matched her for his sheer commitment – very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very nicely done. Oh, I’m like all over these two and thought the honest sentiments were the loveliest breath of air.
Speaking of, ah Director Ban and Aunt – he even loves her smells 😍 That’s what we all want in life, isn’t it? Someone who’s willing to put up with the stench of us 😂
I mean, I could crowd my comment with angry emojis over ugly Noona or deceitful (or wretched) Gumiho-Goblin Hunter or the plot point that either our Miho or Dae-woong (eeeeee) is going to die, but I just want to ignore for now those anxieties to bask in the wondrous unconditional love this show is serving.

Ana
Ana
2 years ago

I’ve waited for the kiss! Ecck! So cute, what a lovely couple! Wishing for more! On the other hand, Noona terrified is satisfying on the eyes. The next episode would be heartbreaking, I can only imagine. I hope no one else die! Please let them be together until the end. Don’t make them do foolish things like sacrifice or whatever the hell is that! I’ve waiting for so long for their relationship to grow,for them on the road to togetherness… Ommo!

j3ffc
j3ffc
2 years ago

Kfangurl with a “u”: thank you so very much for choosing this show as our second watch. As my first re-watch ever, I am enjoying the show more than ever and also appreciating its craft and story even more than the first time. And especially with our literate and engaged group of compatriots to move our viewing along. 

I sense that many of our colleagues are more impressed with complex, intricate plots that focus on war, maneuvering, and revenge, particularly in a historical setting. While I understand and to a degree share those enthusiasms, I would like to make a case for romantic comedy as a genre worthy of at least as much serious consideration. I, for one, have never been the subject of a murderous plot or engaged in the inner workings of palace intrigue, or have been a soldier of war (I hope this is true for most of you as well). But what has been important in most people’s lives? I mean, of critical, life defining, importance? In a word: love. And the choice of whom to share one’s life with.

So, while maybe the specifics are not of world-changing import, I believe that romantic dramas and, yes, comedies, speak to some of the most integral issues that nearly everyone faces in their personal lives. And, although in the guise of a fantasy, a show like Gumiho addresses those issues in a way as compelling, to me at least, as the most earnest “serious” dramas do.

So, onto this week’s episodes, where stakes are finally clear to all of our principals. In so doing, this light-as-air confection is turned into a fable of sacrifice. If you saw it coming, more power to you, but I recall being taken MOST aback upon first viewing. Mi Ho’s wish to become human, now only possible through sacrificing the one being that she saw most essential to her journey, becomes not a goal but a conundrum. And thank you so very much, Mr. Gumiho Hunter (or should that be Dr. Gumiho Hunter?), for putting all of this into motion. 

Mi Ho’s cuteness of the week: I loved her fake curse upon Cursable-Noona. What a hoot.

And, while I shared kfangurl’s lack of enthusiasm for the li’l goblin arc on first watch, I was impressed by this character as a dramatic device in this second go-round. It was highly economical of the Hong sisters to use this one character to reveal the most critical information to Mi Ho, Dae-Woong, and Mr./Dr. GH in a single episode. 

So now it’s real and On. Keepin’ it real from this point on.

BE
BE
2 years ago
Reply to  j3ffc

Comedy meaning romantic comedy, like tragedy and history is one of the three great venues for drama. But while they are considerably rarer, for me, yes, the ceiling is higher for great tragedy than great comedy. And comedy suffers from its beats that are so thoroughly predictable and hackneyed–characters meet, are repelled by fear of their attraction, have obstacles get in the way of their hooking up, finally, often as a result of seeing the other suffer, hook up and then face a challenge together.
MGIAG (or maggie ag as I like to call it) benefits from its absurdist sub plot enacted by two very good physical comedians and its fairy tale set up. Thus in ep 11, we get to take on the two major self conscious anxieties folks have about hooking up, in the first case the shameless fart joke humor of Director and Auntie, which allays the particular neurosis folks have about the less than attractive features of their less than attractive bodily functions, and the second more troubling anxiety concerning the fear of one’s monstrosity toward others coming to surface in front of the object of our attraction via the fairy tale.
Show is getting more somber, but as long as it continues to keep some breeziness via the Ban-Auntie lovebird combo and the magic of the fairy tale, then it will continue to elevate show beyond the typical rom com fare and keep its charm, which one also has to say results from Shin MIn Ah’s total buying into her character with endless charm.

My favorite song from IU’s latest set of confections is one riddled with nonsense syllables in which she brags about being a “bubble maker,” song as fizzy as a frappe. I also like very much listening to classical carnatic ragas with their complex melodies and rhythms, and deep musically philosophical bends.

Some days I need the pure fizz, others the drama.

Trent
2 years ago

Argh, Gumiho Hunter is such a jerkface mcjerkwad. He and Noona totally deserve each other. They should hook up and have a brood of spiteful hell-babies together or something. (I know, not fair to wish such awful parents on innocent babies. I take that part back).

It’s hilarious that a family-friendly PG-rated show resorts to using the “angry bead” stratagem to circumvent the next logical step in our progression, now that our OTP has gotten all their true feelings out in the open and resolved their relationship issues. Our sweet, ingenuous gumiho is self-evidently DTF, and Dae-woong is obviously not going to object too strenuously, if at all, so good thing that dang bead is delivering some shock therapy…but only after the first romantic kiss, of course, because the audience would riot without that, right?

They really are very cute in their mutual devotedness and infatuation, and it’s ever so much more pleasant to see them in this state than separate or at odds.

Now I guess we get to see what show has in mind to get them out of the “one must die” dilemma they’re facing, and deliver the happy ending that show’s tone and narrative logic demands…

BE
BE
2 years ago
Reply to  Trent

I am actually having a hard time taking the big Dong very seriously, except to say what a good make up job he is sporting. The fella is kind of a dive bar doom on the plate cocktail, cheap vodka and grapefruit juice gone bad all over the table cloth if you ask me. I am tired of his clavicle and all that hairless bit below it. I think it is funny every time we get the hour glass, the soap opera doom music, and the lights go dim next to him, knowing his canines are growing and getting more pointy all the while. The guy is so lame he cannot even tell MeOw to make a wish and gives her a cake about 494 candles shy of the real deal.

And to be honest, I am beginning to feel sorry for Noona in the high heeled sneakers. The young woman is in over her head. We are not in middle school any more, Toto. We all know what happens to these kinds of young women–does not end well, and usually in bad makjangs about rich people, usually in divorce, her rich business man husband endlessly fooling around behind her back as she gets more shrill and bitter at the dinner table, the table cloth, fancy plating and silver, the ice water goblets and the candles separating the two by distances not accounted for by sheer geometry. i do love her, however, in that black masked assassin outfit, her face in a perpetual state of dazed and stupid.

Insofar as the kiss is concerned, heck sometimes these things take forever, and in more contemporary rom coms they can even take longer than this. If there is something these shows prize it is the “everyday it’s a-getting closer, going faster than a roller coaster” feels. I like that show makes no bones about its fairy tale structure, and so the kiss here feels like it is happening just at the right time, and only after Boogie Woongie makes the point that falling for a pink tailed, five hundred year old creature from a painting near a blue lagoon is in fact several apple slices shy of a full pie and there are blackbirds piping out of its crust, but he just does not care. I know everyone here has been putting him down for his hesitancy up to now, but how can the show work if you do not buy into the whole fairy tale concept? I mean I know everyone might love their tote adorbs cat or dog, but would they fall in love with it? I am, however, waiting for our dimpled dumpling to suggest mating again some time soon, or at the very least taking a bath together (just saying, but would not the cuteness quotient go up exponentially with the two of them face and feet poking out of a sudsy tub?)

Last edited 2 years ago by BE
phl1rxd
phl1rxd
2 years ago
Reply to  Trent

Trent and BE – both of your comments are superb. Drying my face from the tears caused by too much laughter.

BE
BE
2 years ago
Reply to  phl1rxd

Having only completed 11 when I posted my comment, I cannot tell you how disappointed I was when in episode 12 along with the plan of Ms. Gum to start a family larger than those Mormons who settled in Utah, a goblin showed up more seeming like one of those nasty pipsqueak goblins out of Harry Potter than Gong Yoo, who would have certainly been an upgrade as a rival for Woongoarama in pursuit of the sweet Gummi Bear. Like what is really at stake here? What innocent and fanciful five hundred year old lass would not prefer Lee Seung Gi to that bad salted licorice popsicle on a stick aka Dr. Dong. On the other hand, as one coffee princess gamine to our soda pop gumiho can attest that Goblin Gong has…well…IT. Now that would have really upped the ante.

Instead we get this shrimp boat of nastiness after her bead just for plot writers to introduce an extra amount of tension to poor Dae Woong’s already mortal situation and the kind of goblin fire that messes with that half of a man, Dr. Park Dong Joo, and his morbid memories, and makes us think, it’s bad enough to carry a torch for years, but now, do I have to pity the Dongaroo too, stuck for centuries on the same babe? Get yourself a new girl friend, sir–again, you’ve got powers and that Noona girl, yes she like you is only a half a person but maybe she could be your better half, the two of you might really put together an interesting sex life if you just give each other a chance, and fly off to your island paradise. And take that tree goblin with you to plant in a coconut palm.

Last edited 2 years ago by BE
J3ffc
J3ffc
2 years ago
Reply to  BE

OK, since you brought it up (sorta), I have an off-topic question for the group:

”Goblin”:
A. A modern classic. Stream it.
B. Ugh. Skip it.

I ask in part because it is in the extraordinarily slim Venn diagram overlap of (a) popular, well-known shows that (b) kfangurl has skipped.

Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  J3ffc

:

B

BE
BE
2 years ago
Reply to  J3ffc

B

Trent
2 years ago
Reply to  J3ffc

Personally, my answer is “A”, but whether I would recommend it for anyone else is heavily dependent on one’s tolerance for a very fate/destiny-heavy plot, where every major character is powerfully karmic-ly bound to at least one, if not more, of the other main characters, and it influences the story from beginning to end.

Also, both romances, main and secondary, are…not weird, exactly, but definitely not “normal,” even within the fairly broad tolerances of what constitutes normal in the modern love landscape. Speaking of lenses, it helps to view the romance between Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun (both of whom I like a lot) as an essentially chaste, Platonic ideal of “romantic love,” rather than the hot, sticky, passionate, messy real thing. And who knows what the hell Li Dong-wook and Yoo In-na (the secondary pair) are doing…

ALL THAT SAID, I admit that I did fall down the rabbit hole, swallow the show’s premises and narrative through-line, and was basically a blubbering wreck from roughly episode 13 on, so…yeah, it depends.

Last edited 2 years ago by Trent
BE
BE
2 years ago
Reply to  Trent

Gotta love yr attitude Trent, even if I don’t like all the same shows.

Trent
2 years ago
Reply to  BE

De gustibus, aka “different strokes for different folks,” is a principle containing much wisdom…

The strange thing is, I usually don’t go in for those sorts of destiny-heavy plots; I tend to find them extremely eye-roll-y. For whatever reason, I got snared by this one.

BE
BE
2 years ago
Reply to  kfangurl

I won’t say I tried to love it, but I was certainly willing. And I reacted to show and characters in the exact same way.

phl1rxd
phl1rxd
2 years ago
Reply to  J3ffc

Hi j3ffc –

I fess up – I loved it lock, stock and barrel. I loved the love story line and the fantasy element but what I loved the most about Goblin was the backstories and moral messages of all of those who were crossing over. How did they live their lives and what lessons had they learned? I loved the idea of the tea of forgetfulness. I was moved to tears at most of these scenarios regardless of whether they were positive or negative. In fact I was more moved by the positive scenarios. That may be due to my age. As I get older I often reflect back on my life and make an effort to work off any bad karma. I have watched it twice and will probably watch it again.

I did think the bromance arc felt a little forced at times and that there was a little too much of it but I did enjoy some of its moments. I was blown away by Yook Sung Jae at the bar. I loved Sunny and the hair toss. I loved the intensity of the big scene and thought the kiss was as passionate as any I have ever seen in a KDrama. I never felt the age difference was a big deal. I sat and waited for each new episode to come out.

I understand that it is not for everyone. We all have our own preferences and dislikes. I respect all of those who did not watch or decided to drop.

Last edited 2 years ago by phl1rxd
Trent
2 years ago
Reply to  phl1rxd

That little way station manned by the Grim Reaper really got to me, too. And I’m right there with you about all the incidental characters that passed through it, they hit me hard…that one where the soldier who was killed back in the freakin’ Korean War, finally reuniting with his wife when she passed, what, 60 years later? I was a mess!!

And then, the final one

end spoilers
when Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun) passed through, to be met by the Goblin. Wrecked me. I’m tearing up just remembering it.

phl1rxd
phl1rxd
2 years ago
Reply to  Trent

Oof Trent – that scene was so deeply moving. Those were some powerful moments before, during and after. I truly believed in that love and it transcended the age difference for me. And Grandfather! My darn emojis are on strike again or there would be a line of hearts here. That scene with Yoon Gyung Ho/his job interview. There was so much beauty in that scene. I am tearing up. In fact I had to walk outside to cry during some of the scenes I was that moved. I really connected with the theme of this drama. I really got the message that ‘What we reap we sow’. I think it inspires you to try to live a more responsible, positive life and to think before you act.

Spoiler
I think you sync with the show a lot more if you believe in karma and reincarnation.

I know from Patreon that you watched DAYS. Did you notice that they tried to pseudo-imitate the wall of vases outside the team room? I was like “No, there is no comparison”. LOL!

Spoiler
I have only been that deeply moved by one other drama – Kill Me Heal Me. I know KMHM was billed as a comedy and there were some truly great comedic moments but I found it really sad to watch poor Ji Sung struggle and I felt his pain.

Last edited 2 years ago by phl1rxd
j3ffc
j3ffc
2 years ago
Reply to  phl1rxd

Thanks to all of you for your comments. This sounds very much like a “your mileage may vary” type of show and I’ll keep it on my to-do list for the future….then I’ll come back and read the spoilers. 😉

Trent
2 years ago
Reply to  phl1rxd

Yes, I definitely picked up on that aesthetic in DAYS. It’s like the set designer was all, hmm, how can we convey this is a scary but huggable immortal type dude? I know, let’s put up a bunch of black and white vases in a shelf-wall, and everyone will immediately think of the Grim Reaper’s tea cup wall from Goblin!

Spoiler
Interesting…I guess that it’s a good thing(?) that KMHM is the next group watch, starting…next week, yikes! Curious to see what it’s all about, since I haven’t seen it before. Might be a little weird to watch Ji Sung in KMHM and The Devil Judge at the same time, though…

phl1rxd
phl1rxd
2 years ago
Reply to  Trent

Spoiler
KMHM is definitely worth your watch Trent, if only to see the tremendous performances of Ji Sung playing so many different roles. You will be gob smacked – he is that doggone good. FWIW – Golbin and KMHM are my top two favorite KDramas.
I am starting The Devil Judge this week just because he is the ML. He is a very talented actor. I really think you will enjoy watching it.

Trent
2 years ago
Reply to  phl1rxd

So far, just two episodes in (to The Devil Judge) and it is pretty interesting. But at all sure where it’s ultimately going, but will be made clear in time, no doubt. And Ji Sung does have tons of charisma, no question. Kim Min-jung is going to be a great foil, too, looks like.

J3FFC
J3FFC
2 years ago
Reply to  Trent

Sorry….DTF?

Trent
2 years ago
Reply to  J3FFC

Uh-oh, busted..

It’s an acronym, the precise meaning of which can be easily found on urbandictionary.com, but the essential meaning is “ready and eager to engage in intimate relation type activities.”

J3FFC
J3FFC
2 years ago
Reply to  Trent

Ohhhhhh. Thanks. 😳

Ele Nash
2 years ago
Reply to  J3FFC

I love that you didn’t know that, J3ffc. Innocence! Trent is totally corrupting you 😅

BE
BE
2 years ago
Reply to  Ele Nash

Ah, I 2, still innocent after all these 75 years, asked myself “wtf is DTF.” Future shock an invention of 1970 overtook me sometime after I retired teaching community college kids at the end of the aughts even if I do try to keep up still with Dave Chapelle and know that tmi is already a concept long outdated.

Trent
2 years ago
Reply to  BE

Honestly, y’all, 2-3 years ago I didn’t know what it meant, either. I ran across it in something I was reading, and had to go “research” it.

J3ffc
J3ffc
2 years ago
Reply to  Trent

No worries. Never let it be said that we weren’t open to learning new things.