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Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, released on December 2, 2016, is considered one of the classic dramas in Korean media. Also known as Goblin, the drama has become a fan favorite due to its exceptional storytelling, mystical element, cast, and music.
The plot revolves around Kim Shin, played by Gong Yoo, an immortal cursed to wait for his mortal bride to end his 900-year suffering. The story deepens with the arrival of Ji Eun-tak, played by Kim Go-eun, who claims to be his bride, leading to a complex love story.
Lee Dong-wook, who played the role of the Grim Reaper, lives in the same house with Goblin, creating a heart-warming chemistry. Kim Go-eun's portrayal of Ji Eun-tak adds charm despite the age-gap romance.
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Guardian: The Lonely and Great God excels in its fantasy storytelling and boasts a memorable soundtrack. Stay With Me, performed by Chanyeol and Punch, is particularly acclaimed.
Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion.
Dramas to watch alike Guardian: The Lonely and Great God
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God blends romantic and mystical elements, and the industry has crafted several dramas like this. Sportskeeda has cherry-picked some of the same K-dramas, and they are:
- My Demon
- Tale of the Nine-Tailed
- While You Were Sleeping
- The King: Eternal Monarch
- The Bride of Habaek
1) My Demon
My Demon, a mystical K-drama like Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, was released in 2023, starring Song Kang and Kim You-jung. The series delves into themes of love, redemption, and cultural folklore.
Do Do-Hee, played by Kim Yoo-jung, is the successor of the Future Group with an arrogant and cynical attitude toward love. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she gets involved with Jeong Gu-won, a 200-year-old demon, played by Song Kang.
Gu-won, who thrives on making deals with humans, unexpectedly loses his demonic powers after meeting Do-Hee. To prevent his extinction, he enters into a contract marriage with her and must protect her, leading to a developing romantic relationship.
With the impactful acting of Song Kang and Kim Yoo-jung, certain comic scenes, and the interesting sub-plots are some aspects, Goblin fans can enjoy. The show is available to stream on Netflix.
2) Tale of the Nine-Tailed
In 2020, Tale of the Nine-Tailed, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God alike drama was released on Amazon Prime Video. Based on the folklore about Gumiho ( the nine-tailed fox), this K-drama depicts the narrative of the creature, wandering the earth for centuries in human form and waiting for the reincarnation of his first love, A Eum.
Lee Dong-wook played the character of Lee Yeon, portraying a former mountain spirit who sacrificed his divine status to resurrect. Nam Ji-ah, played by Jo Bo-ah, is a television producer specializing in supernatural stories.
Haunted by a car accident in her childhood, Ji-ah recalls a mysterious man who saved her and later identifies him as Lee Yeon through CCTV footage. The character of Bok Hae-ja as the snail bride could likely remind the fans of the Gobiln's bride in Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.
3) While You Were Sleeping
While this drama is not similar based on the plot, people who love Guardian: The Lonely and Great God can watch the same K-drama While You Were Sleeping, written by Park Hye-ryun. The drama was released in 2017, starring Bae Suzy and Lee Jong-suk.
The main character, Nam Hong Joo, played by Bae Suzy, can foresee future events through her dreams. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Jung Jae Chan, played by Lee Jong Suk, a newly appointed prosecutor who moves into her neighborhood.
The drama also features Han Woo Tak (Jung Hae In), a police officer whose life Jae Chan saves and who subsequently begins to have prophetic dreams. This romantic drama similar to Goblin can be watched at Viki.
4) The King: Eternal Monarch
In 2020, The King: Eternal Monarch was aired on Netflix and was themed on the parallel universe. The Guardian: The Lonely and Great God lovers can enjoy this drama due to its mystical element.
The series portrayed two worlds - present-day South Korea and the Kingdom of Corea in 1994. The young Crown Prince, Lee Gon (Jeong Hyun-jun), survives a stabbing and holds onto half of the legendary flute, Manpasikjeok, after a mysterious figure intervenes.
The following day, Lee Gon becomes the new ruler of the Kingdom of Corea, clutching a police badge from the mysterious savior, dated November 11, 2019, and issued to Lieutenant Jeong Tae-eul.
Twenty-five years later, in the autumn of 2019, King Lee Gon (Lee Min-ho) governs the Kingdom of Corea. Still haunted by the events of his childhood, he is obsessed with the mystery behind the police badge.
The inclusion of a parallel world makes adds the spices to the mystical drama, available on Netflix.
5) The Bride of Habaek
Another K-drama alike Guardian: The Lonely and Great God is The Bride of Haebak, themed on mythological characters, released in 2017. The plot of the drama revolves around Yoon So-ah, a poor psychiatrist, and Haebak, the Water God, who is sent to Earth to retrieve the God Stones to become King of the God Country.
Yoon So-ah, played by Shin Se-kyung, is connected due to an ancestral promise to the gods. Haebak (Nam Jo-hyuk) loses his powers and must find his fellow gods and the God Stones, moving into Yoon So-ah's home with his servant, Nam Soo-ri. His friends, Moo Ra, Bi Ryeom, and Joo Dong, are reluctant to help.
Along with fantasy elements, the drama has some eye-soothing visuals that can make Goblin fans enjoy it, available free in Viki.
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God stands as a seminal work in the Korean drama industry, revered for its exceptional storytelling, mystical elements, stellar cast, and captivating music.
Fans of Guardian: The Lonely and Great God can explore similar K-dramas like My Demon, Tale of the Nine-Tailed, While You Were Sleeping, The King: Eternal Monarch, and The Bride of Habaek, each offering unique blends of romance, fantasy, and intriguing storylines that resonate with the enchanting elements of Goblin.
Apart from these, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God accolades can also watch Legend of the Blue Sea, a series that depicts the last mermaid in the world. The drama features Lee Min-ho and Jun Ji-hyun.
