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Slow paced & soulful slice of life - HOW we are living being more important than surviving
Beforehand: Anyone who expects "Goodbye Earth" to be a 12 episodes long doomsday blockbuster in the face of an impending apocalypse is completely wrong here. The KDrama has nothing to do with a fast-paced, action-packed and adrenaline-arousing desperate fight against an approaching asteroid.Plus: Yoo Ah-in's lead role, due to a charge of illegal drug use, was reduced to a minimum during production. So somehow it had to be improvised in terms of content. But in my opinion, a stronger focus on the female lead (played by Ahn Eun-jin) didn't hurt.
I would say "Goodbye Earth" is a ´slice of life´ centering around a bunch of rather ordinary people in a rather ordinary residential area in the city of Ungcheon. The remaining city population is expecting the crash of an asteroid that is on a collision course with the Earth and, according to calculations, will hit the Korean peninsula. Other than that, people live their lives - which, compared to before, obviously are not quite the same... So this dystopian KDrama is not about averting disaster. It's about continuing with life - until the end. Together. But, now, what do all the noble, dutiful, corrupt, holy, street-smart, arrogant, simple, life-hungry, in love, pregnant, believing and criminal variations of human beings do with this knowledge of their collective death?
Significantly, the looming asteroid isn't the worst thing at all in “Goodbye Earth”. In this particular scenario, the political order had already largely collapsed. Those who could afford it, had tried to save themselves. Eventually, the power vacuum was filled in no time. But fortunately, "Goodbye Earth" does not medially exploit the dystopian scenario to gleefully indulge into man's cruelty, unscrupulousness and insatiable greed even in the face of the bitter end. In fact, the KDrama gives its time and space mainly to interpersonal dynamics of a certain community - a diverse collection of people, young and old, who know each other from their community life, from school, from childhood. Only over time, little by little, in interspersed flashbacks, do we find out how they are all related to each other and what actually connects them. We walk along with them - during their last days, which are unstoppably shrinking in number… until the collision with the asteroid. Thus, emotionally, episode by episode, we get to know the people and their neighborhood better and might even grow fond of them, too.
The people in Ungcheon are actually less concerned with the approaching asteroid itself than with why and where their priest had disappeared or what had happened to the church money. And then there is this gang of criminals who among others specialized in child trafficking. The pain, fear and hopelessness felt by the people of Ungcheon is more likely to be caused by the collateral damages beforehand of the asteroid collision, than by actually facing their end.
It is slice of life in the context of a rather bizarre, extraordinary life situation. While people have to process their traumatic, crucial life experiences, talking and sharing might actually help to overcome emotional alienation or even frenzy. Yet... This is beautifully demonstrated in several examples. Sooner or later, close to the end the question arises as to what really counts...
In my opinion, this is a quietly gripping and complex KDrama. So complex that a few questions might remain unanswered at the end. But for me they are not so important here, therefore I can leave it at that. I´d say “Goodbye Earth” is rather about the personal processes that all those different characters have to go through, while dealing with those obviously extraordinary challenges their ordinary life is confronting them with.
For all those who expected e.g. “Deep Impact” in a series format, "Goodbye Earth" is certainly disappointing. For fans of slice of life, however, an almost unique scenario opens up in this rare dystopian context. The focus is on a former teacher who had to helplessly watch the children of her mid-school class becoming the greatest collateral damage in the run-up to the asteroid collision. For her this is representing the actual catastrophe.
"Goodbye Earth" lives from subtle interpersonal dynamics, coping with everyday life in a state of emergency and the daily struggles for emotional balance, for humanity and structure, for law and order in the midst of chaos. The KDrama is primarily a soulful and slow-paced study about the people of a neighborhood in Ungcheon bravely continuing with their lives in the light of their definitive collective death date. Because it's not over yet. Well aware about day X, life goes on. Until then. Together.
Bottom line: In the end, HOW we are living is more important, than surviving no matter what.
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Make your own mind up - don't believe the negativity.
I'm genuinely surprised by the low scores and negativity so far about this show.Perhaps it isn't as fast paced as an action movie on a similar subject, but as a series with character development a film doesn't afford, it's compelling spot on.
Given the pandemic the world experienced in recent history, the day to day experiences and less-than-perfect emotions and ideologies exposed in the show hit home, & are all the more watchable for it.
Watch for the first few episodes and make your own mind up prior to believing the short-sighted negativity.
This show compelled way me more than most highly rated dramas.
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Awful show
I could tolerate the poor editing in ep 1 and 2 , and yoo ah-in had enough scenes that I'm not even sure his scenes were cut , but the writing was baaaddd, despite all the noise made about abduction and trafficking of children ,the adults somehow let them always wander off , the younger priest having his faith tested was meant to come off as deep ,but came off as boring , all the talk of the ML being this important person that the bad guys needed , reduced to him having a flash drive with all his work that he gave away willingly.Did no one think of escaping by ship except the human traffickers. The FL had more chemistry with her female soldier friend than the ML. Despite that , the only thing the show had going for it towards the end was the ML and FL relationship and they butchered that with the stupid ending
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A poignant and philosophical take on the end of the world. "Together today, tomorrow, till the end."
*Sorry for the length and thank you for reading but I intended to write a lengthy, honest review from the bottom of my heart whatsoever.This is a drama I wanted to watch since the trailer came out. I've had the OST on loop for months and finally I watched it. I was scared by the reviews, but I still went in with high expectations. And rightly so, because it was even better than I thought. Consistently from the beginning too. Then it somehow dethroned THE work that I thought could never be dethroned... That's how much I loved it.
"HOW we are living being more important than surviving" this is from the headline of the top reviewer, who's been my favorite for a long time, and for good reason. "In my opinion, this is a quietly gripping and complex KDrama. So complex that a few questions might remain unanswered at the end. But for me they are not so important here, therefore I can leave it at that. I´d say “Goodbye Earth” is rather about the personal processes that all those different characters have to go through, while dealing with those obviously extraordinary challenges their ordinary life is confronting them with." I did read her review before watching and was even more intrigued than I already was. Anyway, let's start with my review.
Goodbye Earth is a beautifully crafted drama that offers a unique and thought-provoking exploration of human emotions in an apocalyptic/dystopian setting. While the English title is fitting and I do like it, I personally prefer the Korean one, inspired by the Japanese novel The Fool of the End (or The Fool at the End of the World), on which the drama is based. You'll understand the title later on.
The story is unique and has countless layers, serving as an eye-opener to the reality of the situation, politically and beyond. Of course, with a drama like this, a critique of society and human nature is to be expected. However, the difference lies in that Goodbye Earth has the most reflective and realistic approach to the apocalyptic scenario. The drama's atmosphere is distinctive, adding to the believability of its chaotic, end-of-the-world premise. The unique color grading further enriches the visuals, giving the story an added layer of depth. The characters' emotions are raw and complex, making the narrative deeply resonant.
The drama strikes a compelling balance between hope and despair, portraying a range of human responses—chaos, greed, and altruism—that feel both authentic and unsettlingly accurate. What some might perceive as unresolved plotlines, I view as a deliberate choice. Despite the wide range of events depicted, the narrative remains focused on following the lives of the city's residents, emphasizing their stories amidst the chaos.
The direction is top-notch, with excellent cinematography, clever symbolism, a stellar cast, and a powerful soundtrack. The epic introduction, which gave me goosebumps, sets the tone perfectly. That said, the drama does require patience, as it is not strictly linear (the beginning foreshadows as far as to their final day (February 22, 2026), the timeline of the present starts at D-201, then it mostly comes back to the sources from what I remember, the announcement being at D-300) and there are many faces to familiarize yourself with along with how everyone is connected. Indeed, there are so many characters, and what was done with them, alongside the main cast and storylines, is amazing.
It’s worth noting that Yoo Ah In’s role was reduced due to his recent scandal, but thankfully it wasn't that much of a problem while watching. The drama also could have benefited from a longer runtime with such a complex worldview, but overall, it was satisfying. A 12-episode Netflix drama within a single season is something, after all.
While the drama is classified as a sci-fi thriller (and it does deliver on that front, I was even more than pleasantly surprised), it feels more like a psychological slice of life. It follows the residents of a city as they navigate their final days and as we learn to know them (and ultimately connect with them emotionally), focusing less on action and more on emotional and philosophical reflection. Fans of fast-paced dramas may find the slower pacing challenging, but personally, I never wanted to pause (this often happens, even with my favorites, but for once it did not). And I am the kind of viewer who never skips a single second or uses the speed function. In fact, I even binge-watched the drama in two days with how immersed I was.
It's a drama full of heart and soul, standing as a groundbreaking achievement in the genre. Though it may not have been a mainstream success, it will find its audience regardless. This is a story we need today, and tomorrow.
For a personal note, I'm not really a religious person, but I sometimes accompany my grand-mother to the mass, she has many friends there and the drama made me think a lot about her.
In conclusion, if you're looking for a drama that blends human connection, existential themes, and stunning visuals, Goodbye Earth is more than worth your time.
P.S: Don't end Episode 11 too soon and let the credits roll to hear the different version of the main theme. The lyrics are different but I couldn't transcribe them well enough. I uploaded it anyway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mJeiiQcQBU.
* Ending spoiler and more in the comments
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Side note :
For those hesitant to start this drama because of its low rating on MDL, here’s some context. This drama was unfairly bombed with 1/10 ratings right from the start by people who hadn’t even watched it (or pretty much skipped to the end). Of course they had to appease the tensions. Drug charges are so badly seen in Korea and many people would have felt uncomfortable by watching him apparently. It’s true that the drama isn't everyone’s cup of tea and most likely won't cater to many people's expectations from this genre. However, adding a negative mindset and zero willingness to understand the narrative or appreciate the drama as a whole only worsens the perception. Even without this context, ignore the ratings or reviews online and just watch what you want.
The claim that the chronology is extremely confusing in the first episodes is baffling to me. Along with obvious enough context clues, the timeline is literally written on the screen every time it shifts, or you get a black and white effect after short flashbacks, there is no way you can say that unless you skipped or ignored those parts. Also, many things are conveyed subtly and not always through dialogue. Additionally, the story's structure is not entirely conventional, which made it more interesting to me from both an ambitious and narrative perspective. However, it’s not so unconventional as to feel shocking or bewildering. In today’s world, where it’s common for people to multitask or lose focus easily while watching something, I strongly recommend giving this your full attention. If you choose to watch it, commit to the experience. Of course, if it doesn’t captivate you, that’s perfectly fine—no one’s forcing you.
As for the boycott, it’s counterproductive and, frankly, ridiculous (don't know if there were that many but, that's MDL community for you). The drama was already delayed from 2023 to 2024 and almost didn’t get released. If the goal was to support Yoo Ah In, boycotting the drama—like what happened in Korea—achieves the exact opposite.
Don't place all the blame on the director. He and everyone involved went through a great deal to bring this project to life—it was truly a labor of love. I’ve read several articles on the matter, and I’d like to share what I’ve learned to provide more context and, hopefully, foster some empathy for what went on behind the scenes. First, the original work is an omnibus novel with an unusual setting. In an interview, the original author shared his perspective, stating that while the adaptation had a uniquely Korean touch, the characters still felt true to his creations. However, the director had concerns from the outset that the drama’s complex worldview might confuse viewers, especially given its limited 12-episode format. This constraint made it challenging to fully explore and explain the intricacies of the story. To add to the challenges, the writer of the adaptation persevered despite battling a serious illness, underscoring the dedication and passion poured into this project. And then, following Yoo Ah In’s case, significant re-edits were required. Ultimately, the drama underwent over 20 versions, with the director continually rethinking and revising it, even seeking feedback from outsiders unconnected to the work. The final version, as he explained, was chosen because it was the most effective in conveying the story within the constraints they faced. Thankfully, the director has clarified that he didn't remove anything that would affect the story, so I’m inclined to trust his judgment. If anything, we’ll never know, and it’s not as if we can accurately infer the missing parts. The only option left is to treat them as though they don’t exist. Coming back to the subject matter, the director did his best under extremely difficult circumstances. Also, let’s not overlook Netflix’s role. If they had been more proactive and less concerned about political correctness, they might have been able to provide more support. Removing scenes from a work as intricate as this one was far from ideal, and no one involved found it an easy choice. Ultimately, the director expressed that if viewers could 1. recognize that this story is different from others involving an apocalypse and 2. resonate with the message—shifting their focus from merely surviving to reflecting on how they would truly live in such a situation—it would be enough. On that point, I wholeheartedly agree. He also knew that it wouldn't please everyone because of the nature of the story, and therefore the lack of action.
Here are the articles I've read:
- https://news.zum.com/articles/90526272
- https://m.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/Amp/A2024050317530001691
- https://no1ceo.tistory.com/m/31
- https://m.news.zum.com/articles/89821643
From the second article: (Aside from the fact that Yoo Ah-in appears in the series, opinions on The Fool at the End of the World remain divided. Director Kim stated, "While creating it, I did consider that viewers might find it difficult to fully grasp. The original work is structured as an omnibus, but our drama weaves those stories together to tell the tale of a community within the city. I thought it might feel complex if viewers didn’t watch several episodes."
He added, "Some viewers might find the unfamiliar settings disorienting, as they’re elements not often seen in dystopian works. I believe that this unfamiliarity may have contributed to a sense of confusion. While these aspects pose a risk, I think they also highlight that this is a dystopian story distinct from conventional ones.")
I can’t deny wishing we could have experienced all the content as originally envisioned. However, I cannot understand those who never even attempted to appreciate the rest of the cast and the story (some just skipped to Yoo Ah In's scenes...), and I'm saying that as someone who also loves Yoo Ah In. I’m forever grateful especially for the opportunity to discover the incredible talent of Jeon Sung Woo. But whatever, they are the ones missing out on a lot, not me.
The drama is indeed not perfect and I'll talk about it more in spoilers, but I already didn't intend to rate it below 10 before knowing all this. I personally went with the flow without overthinking it too much if I didn't clearly understand everything and it was amazing.
It’s disheartening to see a drama like this receive a 6.4 rating when compared to so many others on this site. The score clearly doesn’t reflect the effort, quality, or storytelling delivered here.
In short, this drama deserves a fair chance, free from bias and preconceived negativity.
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Slice of life but world is ending
Unpopular opinion, i really liked this slice of life with an end of the world background. It's obviously not a massive action dystopia where the Earth gets destroyed (and the biggest mistake was probably to sell it as this) but you can't tell me there is nothing to keep here.Chatacters are really interesting with deep struggles and emotions. They are well developed and complex. It's a philosophical show with a lot of themes portraying humanity and its duality. It questions power, religion, forces, family, relationships, loss, despair, love.
Construction is a bit ambitious (like the impossible heir) and I understand people can dislike when the storyline goes back and forth with different timelines and cuts but when the story makes sense and the acting is that good I personally find it ok. It's just different and I feel like ppl are too much used to do something else while watching so they can't handle changing povs.
I loved the girl soldier, the children, the relationships between ahin's and eunjin's character. It blends social constructions ( for example children behaving like adults bc they will never become one, marriage, pregnancy).
Love language and touch is this drama is BEYOND INCREDIBLE. I never saw such emotions pictured and it was heartbreaking (acting performance from the couple deserve an award). Once you detach from the apocalyptic movie you were expecting and if you focus on small things , you'll see there is a lot to take from this. The counting of days before the asteroid hit the ground is slow paced but I liked that it wasn't a story about a hero trying to save the world and escape his fate. Maybe they could have survived but the story is not about that.
There's a also a hard work both visually and musically. Ost are so good. From The last of us to The Leftovers, there's a beautiful story here about connection between human being.
One sad thing is that there are huge blanks in the story (we miss the whole yunsang's POV because of those cowards) so they probably had to fill in with length or side characters that can be boring from time to time BUT besides this i find the storyline makes sense and it's interesting unusual and beautiful.
I ache thinking of what they did with Yoo Ahin and that we won't see him anytime soon. But i'm also very surprised by the angle they chose here. The flashbacks show us a lot of the chaos that happened in the past and the greed of people which let the characters with big traumas. And we face their fear and surerending in the present. The last ep was very moving like others scenes throughout the show (the end of ep9 is so sad i could kms) The ending is questionable but overall this is an enjoyable story with impactful scenes. I hope some people will make their own mind and stop focusing on reviews and group effect
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A good philosophical show with a bad pilot
The first three episodes present a disorienting experience for viewers, with a narrative structure that lacks clarity and coherence. The plot jumps haphazardly between different timelines without clear indication, leaving audiences struggling to piece together the sequence of events. Flashbacks blend seamlessly with present-day scenes, further complicating the understanding of the storyline. This lack of a clear timeline detracts from the overall viewing experience, making it challenging for viewers to fully engage with the narrative.Furthermore, the abundance of characters introduced in the early episodes adds to the confusion. While an extensive cast can enrich the storytelling by providing diverse perspectives, this show struggles to effectively develop each character amidst the chaos of its narrative. As a result, many characters feel underutilized or underdeveloped, diminishing their impact on the overarching plot.
Despite its shortcomings, it" begins to find its footing in the fourth episode, as the narrative begins to coalesce and the timelines become more discernible. The characters, once disparate and disconnected, begin to intertwine in meaningful ways.
So, is a philosophical drama with grand aspirations, marred by its initial confusion and lack of coherence. While the early episodes may leave viewers feeling adrift in a sea of disjointed narratives, the series gradually finds its footing and delivers a more cohesive and engaging experience.
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Let me explain
It's a very nihilistic drama about a neighbourhood as the end of the world approaches and, bad things start to happen. It is generally about human follies, there are few philosophical ideas but, none of coherent enough to leave an impact upon viewer. And, when this 12 hour long drama ends there is no closure.This whole human follie drama could have been saved in the editing room by cutting at least 4 hours of stuffs. This series is just menander around from one point to another without reaching to the point. Simply, it’s all over the place.
I get it that they are trying explore if worlds get destroyed within 200 days what will happen to the normal people of a simple small town, how they will spent this 200 days with lack of food, faith, corruption, crime, how do they protect their neighbourhood and, most importantly how can they protect the children. As I said it’s a very nihilistic drama without any closure.
However, this drama does not deserve 12 hour long duration time. Like the main story of this drama begins at 6 episode which is baffling, how the editor and the director ignore such a big problem. Furthermore, none of the characters have any important goal that could engage the viewer, most of the characters are passive. Like the character of YAI is pointless, he just sits around and, follow the female lead. Nothing really happens in this drama, what we see in episode one to four, it’s just repeats itself in rest of the episode. And, no it didn’t happen because, YAI part was cut out, I think they really did not cut his scenes, they just wanted calm the viewer so, they can release it without any further controversy
What I learned watching this series is that not every story need to be retold using visual medium. I really don't understands how this series got green lit or how the actors signed it because, the writing is bloated with repeated things. I really wanted to like the show. I actually liked 60-70% of the series, I also liked the supporting characters too but, the problem is this there is no set up or pay off at the end, it begins and then it just ends. I am jealous of whom ever loved this series I wish I loved it too.
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It’s very disappointing
For me and possibly many others they were most likely hyped/excited for this show. And once the scandal of one of the actors interfered with the show I was quite worried, but when they released the trailer I genuinely thought everything would be fine… (I was wrong) The show’s storyline did not deliver and honestly felt a bit sloppy. And to be completely honest the ending was not what I was expecting. I think all of the actors gave their all in the performance but they storyline just wasn’t it. I truly wouldn’t recommend this to anyone especially people who like shows like this. So just to say once again the actors/actress did amazing acting rise the plot just fell shortQuesta recensione ti è stata utile?
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A reflection on human's behaviour when facing a known doom.
As someone else have wonderfully commented in their review, do not watch this show and expect a full on action and survival doomsday show. It is not. Goodbye Earth could be classified as a slice of life in certain aspects, with a huge focus on people. I would say it's a show made to get you to think and reflect. There is some action but it's not the focus.How would people and society behave when you're faced with a certain doom and death. How will people, both in charge and "normal" ones, react and do? Those seemed to be the main focus of this show. The first episodes seemed quite chaotic, but it does the job of showcasing how chaotic the situation was. And the further you watch more of your questions will be answered. A lot of the focus would be in survival but not in the expected way. It would be in how day to day, you live your life. Do you keep up with your morals when others don't? What would you do to get food when there isn't much left? What would you do when most of the leaders and people in charge have left the country in their greed; do you succumb to your own greed?
One could question the show's focus on not the asteroid looming crash but instead of other "problems". I for one, really liked that. They were focusing on just living and make the best out of the little time they would have. At the same time, you could get the feeling that many hoped what Jin Seo's father was preaching were true even if they didn't really believe it. They all wanted to live, no matter what. And that felt like a reflection on human nature. People will want to live, even when you're faced certain death. Also what else could they do? Transport was heavy controlled and the food was scarce. So if you have to find random videos to sell just for a bit more food, you do it.
One fascinating aspect of this show is religion. The show manages to showcase both bad and good sides of someone's faith, something I've rarely seen in a k-drama before. Cults, brainwashing, corruption and homophobia are portrayed alongside the hope and community faith could give one. And if there's one thing people seek during a crisis, it's hope and a community.
Another big aspect of this I would say is it's ability to convey information non-verbal. There's a lot scenes who gives a lot information without a lot of dialogue. So watching on a higher speed or skipping through parts could make the show seem more illogical or confusing. Since the show assumes you've picked up on the scenes. Like a character could say they seemed fine but if you actually look at their behaviors they are far from it, so when they reach their tipping point the meltdown is expected.
And lastly the music and the score together with the cinematography was phenomenal. It really pulled you into the scenes and captivated. Especially during the more emotional scenes. So overall, I would say it's a really damn good show portraying people during a crisis and all the problems that could occur.
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The world may come to an end, but it will never be in anyone's hands
I'm writing this review as I bawl my eyes out from this unexpected conclusion. I never saw that coming at all even though I've read countless of spoilers here. Heck, you guys should have told me.
Desperation comes for when you have everything you could lose, but it comes in the form of letting it all go and losing yourself. Goodbye Earth presents the bitter truth of our society within an apocalyptic dystopian setting. Although fictional, it says a lot about human nature and the innate drive to survive regardless of morality and dignity. We tend to sacrifice everything for what we thought was the greater good but we end up losing ourselves in the process.
I figured the reason for the low ratings are either the disappointment about Yoo Ah In's reduced screentime or it's about how most of the people here expected a typical action-packed-end-of-the-world-series where people are crawling from the ground for their lives to be saved, yet this drama went deeper than that. It goes beyond natural disasters and people running for their lives. It went for the horrors of existence and the heart-wrenching reality. As for YAI, he is actually pretty much reduced to a side character despite being initially a lead role as well which is one of the biggest flaw of this drama. There were many unanswered questions regarding the story of Ha Yun Sang. It didn't ruin the drama per se, but there's certainly feels unfinished. But it made me happy that his screentime is pretty huge for someone who's character is already reduced. Ha Yun Sang is a key figure of the drama and I hope someday they'd release a director's cut version. Please don't let his hardwork go to waste.
The cinematography is superb and it was able to immerse the viewers with each scene. Fantastic color grading. The casting is chef's kiss. Each and every actors and actresses did a phenomenal performance that was able to tug my heartstrings. It's just that it felt a bit too rushed. I think it's supposed to be a 16-episode drama. Oktokki's character wasn't given enough backround and spotlight as well. Yet, I'm probably going to cry over the characters for a period of time and I probably won't be able to move on for awhile.
The plot is really something else. It was able to portray the harsh realities of life and circumstances that aren't far from truth if we ever get to be in such setting. It wasn't just a drama about a stupid asteroid. It was a wake up call. It was designed to open our eyes about the atrocities and injustices in the world we live in. But it also showed the heartbreaking fact that no matter what we do to change the world, as long as there are monsters in power, we are bound to fall unless we work altogether as one. One person may be enough to move so many, but one person will never be enough to put an end to everything. Jin Se Kyung and Kang In Ah are the proof. We, people, are inherently born with an instinct to survive. Yet, we are also born with rationality. We are not supposed to be monsters stepping over each other to survive, we're supposed to help each other hand in hand and it's not that hard to do. Yet we are blinded with money, power, and recognition. As if we are what the world revolves around with.
Will I watch it again? I'm probably going to rewatch the last episode just to cry about it again. The ending definitely feels like it's what the director planned as an ending, yet it felt really incomplete. It wasn't about the asteroid. It was never just about it. It's probably due to the many cuts they had to do due to the issue. Yet it feels like it's the ending that's really supposed to happen, and it doesn't help because we didn't get any closure. It left a very heavy feeling in my chest to watch the drama end just like that. It definitely wasn't something we'll ever expect.
In conclusion, "Goodbye Earth" is a haunting exploration of humanity in the face of impending doom, offering a philosophical take on life amidst an apocalyptic dystopia. While the narrative may not cater to those seeking action-packed thrills, it profoundly delves into the essence of human nature and survival. Despite its flaws, such as the underutilization of Yoo Ah In's character and the feeling of an unfinished storyline, the drama succeeds in presenting a stark, realistic portrayal of societal collapse and moral dilemmas. The superb cinematography and stellar performances elevate the series, leaving a lasting impact. Ultimately, "Goodbye Earth" challenges viewers to reflect on their values and the true meaning of survival, making it a compelling and thought-provoking watch. And remember, the world will never revolve around you.
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What would you do if you had 200 days to live?
This drama actually blew me away. The low ratings really scared me at first, I was wholly expecting a hot pile of garbage. But watching the first episode I was entirely and extremely pleasantly surprised. While I must admit the first two episodes were kind of patchy and had a rocky start, the development of the story was certainly something incredible to watch. It is WAYYY more than just about the world ending. It's deeply philosophical, political, emotional, uncomfortably realistic, and eye-opening. The story was so unique and had so many layers, I liked seeing how some of the plotlines ended up intersecting at one point, and how it ultimately always came down to the wellbeing of the innocent souls (children especially) being harmed by selfish and greedy humans.It reminds me of the short drama Monstrous, where both works reveal that humans are inherently evil, and society is a f*cked up place rid with black souls ready to ensue chaos at any given moment to fulfill their greed for worldly desires. But the main message is that, of course, the consequence of this greed and selfishness will never be good. I enjoyed Sungjae's story the most, because it seemed most of the drama revolved around the church and the support system they created for their community during these trying times. JSW's emotions and gaze during many of his scenes, especially the city hall memorial scene and fasting period scene, WOW, actual chills. Special shoutout to all the main cast because they were all amazing. I was especially excited about this drama ever since it was first announced because all my faves were in the main cast, seongwoo, eunjin, yoonhye, and they CERTAINLY did not disappoint. They were perfect. I have never watched a YAI drama before, and honestly I was fully expecting they would cut him completely out of the drama's footage, but he had many scenes! His character was nice, but nothing that stood out for me, personally. I enjoyed seeing eunjin and ahin together more, they had good chemistry and their love story was really interesting to watch given the context and both of their situations. I LOVED the dynamics between the four friends, they were worked so well together. Obviously I was very excited for a Diary of Prosecutor eunjin x seongwoo reunion, but they barely interacted tbh LOL. Also a ton of bromance between YAI and JSW, so good, really unfortunate that YAI didn't actually get to promote the drama with the gang.
This drama has overall given me very much jdrama vibes, and i guess this makes a lot of sense because it IS based on a Japanese novel. Within the plot there is just a lot of ruminating and reminiscing and enjoying the little moments in life, even amongst a catastrophe like the world ending. But I quite enjoyed that aspect of it. Because, HONESTLY, if we were to face a countdown to the end of the world right now, what else could we do besides just go on with our lives until the end? Maybe create a bucket list and do everything we've always dreamed of? Or maybe panic ration, remaining in denial that the world is not ending? Or maybe do something bad, because the world is ending anyways? This drama showed pretty much all of those aspects of human nature, which I really really loved, because it made the drama and story feel so real. I am highly considering to read the novel this drama was based off.
Overall, I think the MDL rating for Goodbye Earth is way too low, it doesn't deserve such a low rating. I think the YAI scandal just caused a lot of people to start the show with very low-expectations and the fact it was more slice-of-life and slow-paced rather than a thrilling action plot probably gave a lot of people whiplash, leading to the overall low rating. I recommend giving it a chance! It might be your cup of tea if you usually prefer slow-paced plots with more slice of lifey elements rather than fast-paced plots meant to keep you on the edge of your seat. This drama most closely reminded me of a drama I watched recently, the korean drama Live, which is that intersection of slice of life with crime, emotional topics, and thriller. It is certainly NOT everyone's cup of tea.
The only reason I give this drama a 9 rather than a 10 is because while the whole drama was so good, the ending felt a bit vague and I didnt feel like it was quite enough closure for all the characters. It could definitely use a special movie sequel or something, I need more 😭😭😭 Like I'm actually gonna miss them so bad, I got so attached to the church gang. The scene at the end with the doggy and sungjae was the CHERRY ON TOP, it was for me >>>>>>> also ina lesbian agenda is SO REAL AND TRUE
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Well, It Lives Up to Its Korean Title
If you're ever trying to guess what a show is about from just the title, in this one the Korean title "The Fool of the End" gives you a very accurate summary, and even more than what you bargained for at that, which I'll explain more later.Its collection of pretty well-known cast kept me going throughout the entire 12 episodes. The acting was great, just as what you would expect. The story, however, is another matter. Two thirds of the way through I still only had questions about what it is that I'm watching, because the entire time nothing of essence was ever revealed. Instead the whole show just feels like a collection of moments of everyone involved that only shows surface level happenings instead of delving deep into character or motivation. After you finish this you'll probably relate to me saying: "uhh,, okay." which is deflating given the time I've just wasted on 12 episodes.
Its Korean title which I understand to actually mean Doomsday Fool pretty much summarizes the show, and extends the description to the viewers. One thing It does a great job at is making a point of how when faced with the reality of the world ending, people become fools and all the things they do, foolish. It even goes so far as making me feel like a fool for watching it, since in the middle of watching this I felt like I had been taken along for a ride without any clue what exactly is going on. Lucky I don't easily take offense to being taken as a fool for the whole duration of the show.
At least I do get they were trying to make us think that, given the limited life you have and seeing the end is near, in the situation you're in, what will you do, and is there any meaning to any of it, or is everything just a fool's errand? If it's nothing but futility, does anything even matter? Dare I say, is it as pointless as watching this show? Then again that may be the only genius of it- making the viewers feel exactly like what they intend to show.
My layman's opinion is that this lacks the depth needed to make me relate to any of the characters. Their backgrounds and what little was revealed do very little to justify the things they do, and in most cases they were not thoroughly explained and so at the end nothing and no one really gets any closure. I guess in other words, all rather pointless; Foolish people doing foolish things, making me feel like a fool for watching this.
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