Raine: Where in the world do we start after those PACKED episodes? There is so much to talk about I feel like I could write a novel. Consequences of curses and love, the past becoming clearer, even more delicious bromance. Plus this is shot so beautifully…my poor heart is going to burst.
Zombie: I really don’t have a clue where to start. There’s just so much to talk about! I guess maybe we should start with the sword and the fact that Eun Tak really is going to end up being the death of Kim Shin. Or maybe we should never bring that up again because I don’t even want to think about a world without our beloved Goblin in it… Ugh! Just no. We talked last week about how weird it was that Eun Tak couldn’t draw the sword out of Shin’s chest and our theory was the two of them would have to actually be in love if that sword was ever going to budge. It would seem we were right. Sadly, we were also right about this whole sword drawing process hurting like heck.
Raine: Yeah, he laughed and winced in pain and I was like, “Dangit. We were right.” The whole mythology looping around on itself, working a bit like Angel and Buffy, it’s so awesome, but incredibly sad.
Zombie: Oh, you just had to go and bring up Angel, didn’t you!?! It’s been how many years since both of those series ended and my heart still hasn’t healed! I’m afraid this darn drama is gonna traumatize me just as badly. My heart aches for Shin and breaks when I think of what it’s going to do to Eun Tak when she has to draw that sword. Crap! I’m starting to cry!
Raine: :’( Me too! It’s just such a poignant story and we’re attached enough that this reveal (of course we sorta guessed it would happen) is really a big punch in the gut. And the same is true of Death and Sunny. I had an inkling that they had past incarnations and that they were the king and queen, but the revelation hurt.
Zombie: By the end of episode 7 I knew Death was the ancient King and Sunny was the girl in Shin’s portrait. I just had no idea she was his little sister until he said it in episode 8. I’d just assumed that she was his first love but now that I know she’s his sister, I see his relationship with Eun Tak in a whole new light. He really has spent almost 1000 years completely alone and unloved and that just makes this whole story of his that much more heartbreaking. He’s experiencing love for the first and last time in his life and that just kills me!
Raine: Which makes that last scene in episode 8 all the more powerful. He just found it, and he has to lose it. We know the true meaning of the punishment he was given 900 years ago. And about his sister. I guessed they were related ‘cause it’s always relations when men and women are close or a guard/queen type relationship. But I’m super curious about why Death’s past incarnation was such a jerk! And what he did specifically to make god angry. Unless it’s hurting Goblin.
Zombie: I actually have a theory on that. My guess is that as a human, Shin was somehow related to the King. Not directly, but close enough that as he gained power as both the queen’s brother and a highly decorated general, the King felt a real threat from him. Even if Shin never had plans to usurp the King, the fact that he was so recognized and loved by the people put him in a place where he could have made a legitimate play for the throne, if he’d wanted. The fact that the King sent Shin out to guard the borders makes me think he sent him out there to die and the fact that Shin didn’t die means he was a really darn good general. Winning favor with people who would have otherwise been left to die means he had strong connections with people who could put him in a place of power, should he want it.
Raine: Good thinking. Mix a little faction politics in there, perhaps Shin and his sister were of an opposing faction, and it’d match with a lot of historical happenings, especially in Goryeo when things are still being hammered out in the government.. But at least we do know that his coming back was against the king’s orders, which is why he was killed.
Zombie: I think the big sin of the King, which condemned him to the immortal life of a Grim Reaper, was his blind jealousy and the ensuing command to kill not just Shin, but everyone related to him, including the queen. Killing innocents to protect your throne seems like a crime worthy of severe punishment to me.
Raine: It does. Especially after showing us how profound Shin and Sun’s connection is in the present. I’m so curious about their story, which means good writing. I’m gonna say it again, I’m baffled by this writing!
Zombie: I’m at the point where I’m no longer going to question the writing, I’m just going to accept this little miracle as something wonderful and be happy that I get to enjoy it while it lasts.
Raine: And it’s lasting. Wonderfully. A beautiful reveal on the woman in red/grandma as god who personally takes care of her creations.
Zombie: That scene was so beautifully perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a better way for my questions about the woman in red to be answered. It was so dramatic and heart-wrenching and wonderful and awful, all at the same time. It was perfect.
Raine: Yes, and precedence about her potential identity had been set. She changes appearances. She heals. She is there at the right time always. Just really great writing. Like how all the souls that Death take away have meaning and purpose.
Zombie: Oh… Sorry, I’m a bit overwhelmed by emotion at the moment. Just thinking about Death and what it must be like for him, escorting so many souls into the afterlife. The scene with the mother and daughter broke my heart. I just don’t know how Death handles dealing with moments like that over and over again. The way he reacted in that moment made his statement at the bus stop so much more poignant. It killed me!
Raine: Yes! And now he appreciates death and its effects. He took life so frivolously while he lived as a selfish young king that now he has to witness death every day and retain his human feelings. It’s actually quite a similar punishment to Goblin’s.
Zombie: Well, the two did have very strong ties in life, so it makes sense they would suffer similar fates as immortal beings. Especially when you consider how strongly everything in this story is tied together. There’s no way these two could just be randomly thrown together immortal roommates. They were as destined to be together as immortals as Eun Tak was destined to become the goblin’s bride. Fate and excellent scriptwriting demanded that these characters form and shape each other, both in life and beyond.
Raine: Which leads us to god-planned BROMANCE. It always tops itself. Whether they’re fighting or talking about girls or making faces at each other. It makes me think that they weren’t always hostile back in the Goryeo days because they can get along.
Zombie: When you think about it, that definitely makes sense. I mean they were brothers in law, once upon a time. Surely not every in-law in the world is as… You know what? I’m just gonna shut-up now.
Raine: Haha…I saw where you were going there. And you’re right. But right know, these two are nothing if not ridiculously cute and handsome. Okay, now for something completely different. Can I complain about two things that drove me bonkers?
Zombie: Of course you can!
Raine: *deep breath* Subway will be the death of me. There is so much PPL it’s obscene. No one goes on a nice date to Subway, or buys a sandwich there twice in one day. It needs to STOP! That was the first thing. The second…that slow motion run. I couldn’t stop laughing. The show has thus far avoided such tropes, or made something of them, like the cute head patting thing. She had to show him how to do it. But the run…smh.
Zombie: Oh gosh! The run! I nearly fell off the couch laughing when they went into that slo-mo run! All I could think to myself was WHAT THE HECK!?! As for the excessive Subway ads… I just can’t. It makes me sick to think that they may have written the whole giving that boy a sandwich into the script, just so they could product place Subway in the present.
Raine: It ruins things. I would much rather have a 2 minute subway commercial than that. Or so I say. Those two things totally broke me out of Goblin world and it wasn’t appreciated. I know that’s how they fund the beauty of Goblin, but *sob*.
Zombie: I wish I could find a way to ignore the blatant commercials but it’s so darn hard, especially when they’re shoved in your face. It’s unfortunate that something as silly as a sandwich commercial can ruin the flow of an otherwise perfectly wonderful drama.
Raine: And it is a wonderful drama. Which we can go back to talking about. Like when Shin freaks out at the movie theater while watching Gong Yoo’s most recent zombie flick “Train to Busan?”
Zombie: Can’t… Type… Laughing… Too… Much…
Oh gracious! If ever there was a more perfect moment written into a drama, I’m not sure what it would be. I DIED during that scene! Absolutely died! Mostly because that’s pretty much the way I am when I watch zombie movies. Yes, it’s sad but true. The Zombie is terrified of zombies.
Raine: I’m enjoying the irony inherent in that statement. And the major meta moment. And the adorable shrieking of Gong Yoo or him getting jealous of that young ball player and pettily dumping a piano in the middle of his living room! The music when Shin gets jealous is like epic war music, sweeping strings and full brass. It’s ridiculous and funny.
Zombie: It’s absolute perfection, that’s what it is. Jealous Goblin is the most hilarious thing ever. He’s so petty and cheeky and everything a goblin is supposed to be. They’re inherently mischievous beings so of course he’s going to be a brat when he gets jealous. And my favorite part of that whole zombie movie scene was afterwards, when Shin tells Eun Tak that the future of Korean film certainly seems bright. I laughed so hard I almost cried.
Raine: Good job with the meta, Goblin. Very good job! We haven’t talked much about Eun Tak and I just want to say, how much did you love when she cried over cake? They gave her a birthday and she felt like she had family and it was so sweet. It makes her eventual separation with Goblin even more poignant. Evil, delicious anticipation!
Zombie: That whole scene with the cake made me cry. It was so sweet of the boys, treating her like that, with cake and presents and everything. They make such a perfectly imperfect family and I love seeing them all come together like that. Poor Eun Tak hasn’t ever had a real family so having one now is literally her biggest wish come true. Now if only Shin could own up to his feelings for this girl, she’d be able to cross another wish off her bucket list.
Raine: At least she’ll have the happiness to bolster her and he’ll have experience it before the thing we’re not gonna talk about. Because right now we get to see him be petty and tease her, see the trio of boys be silly, watch Duk Hwa grow up inch by inch, witness Death falling in love again. It’s all so wonderful.
Zombie: You know, I really love watching Duk Hwa grow into his role as Goblin’s right-hand man. He started out as such a pointless brat but he’s really starting to understand what it means to be at Shin’s side and he’s taking on that responsibility pretty well. It makes me think he may actually turn into a valuable member of society someday.
Raine: I don’t think that he could really do otherwise with the bloodline he comes from, but I’m glad we’re here to see him go from credit-card hungry kid to a man who can clean up Goblin’s public messes.
Zombie: Like everyone else in this story, his lessons have to be learned over time. The good thing is, he’s learning those lessons and growing into a better person as a result. You really can’t ask for anything better than that!
Raine: Definitely. Everything feels so organic (except Subway…) Including that romance between Death and Sunny. I just can’t get over by how annoyed she gets at him and ends up smiling, and how much he cares for her, but can’t seem to properly show her. I do wish they at least get a happy ending cause…*sniff*
Zombie: I’m not ready to think about endings yet. I’m just going to be content with all of the wonderful, beautiful, painful, hilarious, heart-warming, gut-wrenching, perfect moments that lead us up to that most dreaded of moments.
Raine: It’s gonna hurt so good. And I can’t wait. No…I can’t…Wait….I can’t…I dunno!
Zombie: Oh just give me more Gong Yoo and let the swords fall where they may!
Raine: I can deal with that. Here you go:
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