Goblin's making-of.

Behind the scene : Conversation between screenwriter Kim Eun Sook and film director Lee Eung Bok.

LEE - Writer Kim, I've been waiting for your script for days!
KIM - Oh! Sorry, it slipped my mind.

Writer Kim Eun Sook takes a piece of paper and quickly writes something on it.
Then she hands the paper to director Lee Eung Bok.

KIM - There you go.
LEE - ... ?!!!
KIM - The script! Read it!
LEE : (He reads the sheet).
LEE - That... That's all?

On the sheet of paper, it says:
(pretty setting)
900yearsGOB - So, do you see it?
SCHOOLGIRL - What do I see?
(nice atmosphere)
SCHOOLGIRL - Am I the Goblin's fiancée?
900yearsGOB - Only if you see it.
(some flashback)
900yearsGOB - Let's not see each other anymore.
(someone crying)
SCHOOLGIRL - Ah! You've come back.
(someone making an easy joke)
SCHOOLGIRL - Give me 5 million.
(something that sounds like an end scene)

LEE - But... but... What else should I put in?
KIM - Whatever you want, you have carte blanche.
LEE - Rea... Really?!
KIM - As long as it's pretty and a bit fairylike.
LEE : (Wondered face in disbelief)
LEE - Am I really doing everything I want?!
KIM - Yes.
LEE - All the aesthetic stuff I haven't ever been able to fit anywhere else?!
KIM - I'm telling you...
LEE - Uh, a meeting on a pier by the sea, and the wind?
KIM - Yeah, lots of wind.
LEE - A scene with snow at night.
KIM - Perfect.
LEE - People passing each other without recognizing each other, in slow motion and in the rain?
KIM - Yeah, that's the spirit.
LEE - Uh... A stage in Canada?!
KIM - Yes, Canada is very pretty, especially in the Indian summer season.
LEE : (worried look).
LEE - How are we going to explain that they suddenly find themselves in Canada?
KIM - Is it really that important? As long as it's nice?
LEE - Still...
KIM - Yes, you're right, we should come up with something...
LEE : (Thinking about it, he takes out a cigarette and puts it in his mouth. Then he takes out a box of matches and tries to rub one, but it won't light).
LEE - Bloody hell, we're not in a drama, I have the right to light this fucking cigarette!
KIM - I've got it!!!!
KIM - Every time the heroin lights something, it forces the goblin to teleport to her.
KIM - Anyway, let's just say that the Goblin can teleport to wherever he wants.
LEE - But... But why?
KIM - Just... because!
LEE - People are going to scream at the plothole.
KIM - Ridiculous, to find a "plothole", there would have to be a "plot" already.
LEE - Okay okay.
LEE - On the other hand, in terms of dialogue, your script is a bit short.
LEE - Even with my aesthetic scenes, we'll never manage to furnish everything.
KIM - Tttt, no problem.
KIM - All you have to do is take these lines of dialogue and repeat it several times during the episodes.
LEE - Huh?! Those same lines?!
KIM - Yes, yes. Better little and well written than much and badly written.
LEE - Um, it would be better Above all: much and well written, than little and badly written...
LEE - Besides, people will fall asleep, they might miss the lines.
KIM - You're right, don't forget to add flashbacks with these dialogues.
KIM - That way we're sure the audience won't miss anything.
LEE - Scriptwriter Kim, I know you're the highest paid writer on the circuit...
LEE - ... and in a way the best for the producers...
LEE - But I have a feeling your drama is going to be boring to death.
KIM - Not at all, it'll be a blockbuster!
LEE - But a blockbuster needs a thrilling story! Suspense! Cliffhangers!
KIM : (mocking smile)
LEE - While your mess is frozen stagnant stalling!
LEE - Nothing's moving. Everything sounds hollow, it's an empty shell!
KIM - Director Lee, you just gave me the recipe for a western blockbuster.
KIM - I make drama blockbusters! That has nothing to do with it.
LEE - A drama blockbuster must be that shitty boring?!
KIM - Don't worry, I know the recipe.
KIM - Top actors, a good promo, your undeniable talent, screaming songs for teenage girls.
KIM - It's fast food drama. No need for a story, or anything stressful... especially for us.
KIM - We give viewers what they want without skimping on clichés and over-the-top glamour.
LEE - A McDrama'...
LEE - I have a feeling that the MVs on youtube will be even better than the drama...
KIM - That's very good, it'll give us good publicity.
LEE - I feel a bit ashamed.
LEE - We're pulling the whole drama industry down with something like this.
LEE - Plus, we're really taking people for dumb.
KIM - Yah! We're not here to make art.
KIM - We throw the sauce, we collect the money, and the producers are happy.
LEE - Well, since I've got all the latitude to do all I want...
LEE - ... I'm still going to try to do something artistic with this, at least for the images.
LEE - After all, that's the main interest in working with you.


(If spectators found pleasure in seeing this drama, that's the main thing.
I'm not here to spoil the happiness of others, that's why I made a humorous text.
There are some truths in this text, about screenwriter Kim philosophy).

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I'm posting this comment for some friends from BOD.

NOTE: this review was used as a thread while watching the drama with friends. So, you can get our live reactions to the drama in the comments zone.

Production: cheap. The direction looks between weekly and daily drama. Which is nothing to be ashamed of, as the visual quality of these dramas has definitely improved in recent years. I just assume that the budget is limited. As for the actors, I dont see them often, and some of them are more regular of the sitcom/makjang with 50+ episodes. A few familiar faces and names used to support roles. Especially Jin Ji Hee (from Penthouse). Anyway, there are still good actors.

Episode 1.
First ~20 minutes. Disparate. Avalanche of scenes and characters, difficult to link. Lines of exposition under your nose and worst: people talking about other people you've never seen, and about situations that still don't mean anything. Impossible to memorize or concentrate.
And to nail this in a coffin: no catchy or dramatic scene; apart from the gallery director's shout-out to her assistant Madame Oh and Yu Ra looking at Se Hyeok cam. I had the impression that I hadn't watched anything, that my mind was elsewhere, and that it was so painful that I didn't feel like watching again to take down the information I could only miss.

An incomprehensible misstep coming from the writer of "Feel Good to die", whose exposition was good, and the first scene excellent. By the way, I rec this drama in the comedy-fantasy genre (no romance).

However, things quickly work out like a miracle. The writer insists on repeating names and links. Normally this would be cumbersome and annoying, but here I really needed it. Good scenes appear: people looking at the heroine's painting, their acerbic comments, then the meeting between FL and ML.
It's done, the drama is on track, and the rest of the episode gets better and better. Auction scene, accident, hospital. Funny wink with the big white truck. Like to say the drama will subvert or parody makjang tropes.

Episode 2.
The heroine's change of attitude is not credible. She changes completely.
But hey... I'm not picky, I'll accept that and see what happens.
The rest is a straightforward story, obstacle after obstacle. All focused on the main character. So, of course, it works very well. Everything is crystal-clear, and there's no difficulty in situating the characters as there was at the beginning. The pace is fast, and scenes enough dramatics. It's OK!!
A few clichés with the ML, but again, it all works. It seems naive, but even the romantic scenes are good. It's ultra-easy to watch and understand. No mining, even the flashbacks are laid out naturally. I hardly see any hidden tricks. It's classic, popular storytelling with the aim of giving pleasure to the audience. If you like the drama, thank the screenwriter first!

Episode 3+.
The drama is fun to watch. It focus on the main story without loosing time on side-plots, what I like a lot.
It's 12 episodes but 1h15 each. What is a 15h drama, close to the regular x16 one hours ones.
The attitude of the FL becomes more credible, as she's struggling more with her old-self.

Even with low budget, the director can sometimes paint beautiful scenes and aesthetic:
For example the scene in the night bar with very vivid colors, magic lights, reflection in mirror, blurry effects.

It's not a drama we can take too seriously (and I guess it's not the intention of the writer).
But I find myself involved regularly when it's enough dramatic. A bit like in The Penthouse.

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