Thanks @beantown for bringing up good ol' Goblin. I really loved that show, Lonely, Shiny and all. I'm like you in being a great audience for switches and twists. I may sort of expect some of them but usually not all, and I get so blown away by the surprise or the horror! LOL.

I was aghast at the twists of Goblin 'dying' and yet not dying, ... well because he twisted it so that he chose to remain in limbo, neither dead nor alive. But I liked that he left the possibility open that he might return to Eun Tak.

I was frustrated by the Eun Tak twists of forgetting but not entirely forgetting when she re-read her journal and made the return trip to Quebec. And I was so relieved that the falling leaf finally got her remembering how to call Goblin.

I was somewhat less invested in Suuny and Reaper, but I even thought it right that Reaper and Sunny should be connected yet always apart, since their togetherness needed to be earned in another lifetime. And the happy twist was that they really got their next lifetime together, but forgot Goblin.

Also there was a surprise twist that Sunny never actually forgot, only that she pretended to.

Having survived the initial twistiness, I felt that I was able to accept the decision of Eun Tak, just a day after her wedding, still destined to die and the loneliness of Goblin, a real, horrific twist for the hearts of romantics. What a decision to make, but so in keeping with character, therefore I was fine with it.

If ever there was a grand love story, Goblin was it - a love to span multiple life-times, hundreds of years, accepting death and loneliness to wait for each other once more.

Thank you so much for this lovely article :).
Goblin is one of my fav fairy tale dramas taken with a few pinches of salt and the first one I truly live watched from ep 1 and it did not disappoint me and I loved both plot twists and the banter between goblin and reaper.

I loved that last twist in Oh Hae Young again but I was ready to bet everything that it would happen like that.

OMG! Someone wrote about Goblin! I thought about writing one, but I don't want to look like that person that is obsessed with one show. (I am that person.) So, thank the drama gods you did! Deok-hwa/ Butterfly-god was the BEST plot twist. But with Oh Hae Young, I never thought he would actually die and the repeated scenes showing his premonition did get annoying to me personally. No other show since Goblin has allowed me to be as emotionally invested though. The OST brings me back to certain scenes as well, and all the emotions I felt while watching this. I'm so glad I got so many of my friends on board with this too, and it was the first kdrama for all of them. We all share a special connection because we watched it together and there's still something special about being the "first" one that captured my heart. Thank you, @beantown for letting me revisit it!

I suspected there was more to Deuk-hwa, but God, the God using him, that one took me by surprise. The scene in the bar is so well done. I especially love the chair he is sitting in, with the raised middle finger. Makes me laugh every time.

Also, Lee El was perfectly cast for her role.

God used the little boy too. Sunny chose to not forget because it was her choice and no god should choose for her. I think it was very sad she chose to be alone to punish the Grim Reaper (he deserved it) because she suffered as much as him.

Goblin was a really interesting drama about life, death and choice :)

Is it really possible to be a casual drama watcher?

Thank God(he he) for the Goblin because it was such an amazing drama. And for me, one of my favourite scenes was the revelation that God was with them all along. Never saw it coming and it took me by surprise and I love it to this day. Sungjae really outdid himself in that scene and when the Goblin was remembering all the scenes that God was there.... Wow! I am someone who does not like surprises, in fact I read the episode here first and then watch it, but that episode I saw it first and I'm so glad I did. That for me was the best plot twist! And then it continued with Sunny and the young boy(God). I always rewatch that scene, it is one of my favorites!

For me, Goblin is a genius loci in itself. The entire premise of the drama has its own sense of place, or rather a spirit of place that not many other dramas or movies can replicate. It has carved out a special existence for itself in KDramaland. What I'm trying to say that it's a unique production that would stand on its own and still remain relevant in many years to come.

I recently watched Oh Hae Young Again with my wife. It was a heck of a ride.

And I have to say this- Goblin was truly sui generis. It may have borrowed tropes from elsewhere but it was one of a kind.