Reincarnation, the gods, the mysterious ‘goblin’, the Grim Reaper and a confused human being are trapped because the sands of destiny. It ought to come as no shock that The Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, starring Gong Yu, Kim Jiao-eun, Lee Dong-wook, and Yoon In-na, is such a comfy, but bubbly watch that also has a few of its personal, 5 years later. The attraction is just not misplaced. Finished. for non-hallu watchers, it launched new phrases to the vocabulary, together with ‘dokkabe’, which implies ghost. These usually are not sly English creatures roaming the woods, however non secular and magical entities of Korean folklore.
The present revolves round Gong Yu’s Kim Shin, a well-known warrior who’s betrayed and killed by his king. However, dying doesn’t come to Kim Shin as he’s cursed to roam the earth with an invisible sword in his chest. He may be free solely when the bride of future ghost can draw a sword from him. Enter the bubbly however Cinderella-like Kim Go-eun Ki Yun Tak, a lady whose destiny is sealed, however one evening resulting from Kim Shin’s whimsical intervention, she escapes earlier than she is born. Lee Dong-wook performs the Grim Reaper, hanging out with Kim Shin. While he struggles along with his sophisticated love life with Yoon In-na, he kinds a short lived friendship with Yun Tak, although he is aware of she is going to finally die.
Lee Dong-wook, Gong Yu and Kim Go-eun (Photo: Netflix)
Bonds are cast, damaged and rebuilt, whereas some have to attend for an additional life. The Guardian is a play with a whole lot of coronary heart and soul, and an exemplary OST to again it up. This is a gradual watch, and never one thing that may be simply seen. It requires persistence, however pays off fantastically. The performing is not over-the-top, however cool, delicate with solely the occasional burst of emotion, all by the 4 charismatic leads. There are many issues to cherish about this play, beginning with the performing prowess by the solid and the emotional maturity of their roles – balancing the sunshine humor nicely. As every character’s previous, dilemmas and demons are uncovered by means of the present, the actors turn out to be extra immersed of their roles.
fortune telling
Guardians help lots of the concepts of destiny and future, written by ‘increased gods’, however blended with realism. This world of fantasy that has been crafted is totally reassuring, that you just fall into this mystical mix of modernity and fantasy. Some deaths on the present are painful and sudden, however they can’t be prevented. Lee Dong Wook’s Grim Reaper walks round with envelopes or ‘destiny’, and joins those that have simply handed away. This is just not a cartoon caricature of the Grim Reaper, wearing a tragic black cloak. He is a crew within the company grim machine, who has to report back to work each day.
Sometimes it is comical, different occasions it is heartbreaking, as victims typically need to perform a little preparation for dying, as they should say goodbye to their beloved. As the spirits go by means of his ‘workplace’, which is definitely an organ, he provides them a drink to neglect about their lives, in order that they don’t really feel any ache.
Yun Tak’s destiny is a curious exception, as she was not made to be saved. Kim Shin, who falls in love along with her, protects her from hazard at each alternative, deceiving dying. The gods – dressed as modern people – go to them and categorical their displeasure. However, Eun Tak escapes dying, and the producers virtually idiot you that she is going to discover her glad ending with Kim Shin, who’s free of the curse. Her dying involves the fore in one of many present’s saddest scenes, as she sacrifices herself to avoid wasting the youngsters from a automobile accident.
A tearful Grim Reaper stands by the rubble, and explains to his confused colleague why there was no envelope bearing his identify. Some human actions are so unpredictable that even increased powers can not write them down. It’s a darkish line, and the present does not delve into additional interpretation.
Grim Reaper Romance
It is a standard trope for Okay-plays to have a number of parallel storylines, considered one of them being two-second leads, that are often associated to the protagonist indirectly or one other. When it involves the Guardian, the ‘second lead syndrome’, as followers name it, is especially robust, due to the great chemistry between Lee Dong Wook and Yoon In-na. Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun’s romance was bitter and healthful, little question, nevertheless it was the connection between the Grim Reaper and Kim Sun that was electrical to observe. You did not care what number of occasions they cried, you’d simply cry with them.
(Photo: Netflix)
As far as ominous romances, the Grim Reaper prompt largely as a result of he was the insecure King Wang Yeo, who married Kim Sun, who was Kim Shin’s sister in considered one of his earlier lives. He is killed together with Kim Shin, and a heartbroken Wang Yeo, realizing his sins, additionally dies, solely to return because the Grim Reaper, who has no reminiscence of this previous. That is till he meets Kim Sun, a dazzlingly brilliant woman within the trendy age, and Eun Tak’s finest pal.
For a number of episodes, the Grim Reaper is unable to know why seeing him causes such intense ache, they usually piece collectively the puzzle on the finish. They usually are not meant to be in that lifetime, however in case you are fortunate there may be all the time a subsequent life – they usually discover happiness once more, and there’s no reminiscence of their previous sorrows.
The present does not need to be morbid, it needs you to search out that solace within the loss, that you could reunite with your beloved—even when it is reborn in one other life fully.
Brotherhood between the Grim Reaper and the Ghost
One of the surprisingly uncommon issues about The Guardian is that the Grim Reaper and the Goblin get to share a house. You virtually neglect that these are two cosmic entities, as a result of they appear like warring housewives. Kim Shin pinches the Grim Reaper’s work outfit and hat a number of occasions, and walks out and in of the portals as he pleases, simply to harass him additional. Still, the 2 are united relating to Eun Tak’s security, and in presumably considered one of my favourite scenes of all the present, they emerge from the darkish ‘like a mannequin’ to rescue her. In a hilarious twist, they attempt to recreate the identical scene whereas looking for groceries, nevertheless it does not fly as a truck roars behind them, shattering their vibe.
Lee Dong Wook with Gong Yu (Photo: Netflix)
After a lot preventing and making an attempt to intimidate one another, they strike an in depth bond, solely to understand that the Grim Reaper is, in truth, a deep connection to the goblin’s previous life as a warrior. Even although he does not understand it. If Gong Yu and Lee Dong Wook could make us snort with their cellular expressions, continuously bickering over breakfast, they’ll stab knives into our hearts, particularly throughout emotional scenes. The chemistry between the 2 actors is a delight to observe, and this friendship translated off-screen as nicely. They barely hug on the present – however their camaraderie is mirrored of their little particulars.
Ending
Suffering can not final for eternity, however love can’t be deep both. But can it final endlessly? Yun Tak replies, This is gloomy love. When we hear these phrases in the beginning of the present, it’s obscure what they imply. But as we see Kim Shin being compelled to dwell a life with out Eun Tak, simply silently craving for her presence, we perceive what meaning. This interpretation of affection is considerably uncommon for a Korean drama, and but, it’s what provides to the present’s realism.
After a very tear-jerking scene of Eun Tak crying goodbye to Kim Shin, The Guardian leaves you with just a little hope. She tells him to dwell his life slowly and never take the tea that wipes the recollections. Qin Xin’s nerve-wracking sobs are so eerily life like as Gong Yu immersed himself deeply within the position. An outdated video with Lee Dong Wook revealed that he had stayed for a number of days. “You were tired. I kept paying attention because I was so worried about you.” Lee Dong Wook revealed that he personally went to Gong Yu and patted him on the shoulder to verify if he was okay. “You began crying as quickly as you heard the motion. I stood subsequent to you, and I shed tears. When each of them remembered this, they turned emotional.
(Photo: Netflix)
In the ultimate couple of minutes of the present, Wang Yeo is born once more, and is reunited with Kim Sun, now an actress. There is a comfort that they’ve lastly discovered one another, even when Kim Shin does not have that destiny. Nevertheless, Eun Tak returns to her on the final minute, reincarnated once more. They do not hug, however a significant look is solid with just a few phrases between the 2. He’ll dwell on for eternity, and has only some lives left – however you already know, regardless of this, she’ll discover a solution to get again to him. There is a flashback to the interpretation of sad love.
The Guardian is just not a run-of-the-mill Korean drama that must be watched to go the time—beneath all of the humor and romantic mush and fantasy, it gives deep reflections on life and love.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
