Is Goblin a love triangle?
The short answer is: Yes, "Goblin" features a rather amusing love triangle between the main characters played by Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, and Lee Dong-wook. But the show‘s central romance focuses on the Goblin and his bride, Eun-tak.
The Key "Goblin" Relationships
The main romantic relationships in "Goblin" are:
- Goblin Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) and Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun) – the two predestined lovers
- Grim Reaper Wang Yeo (Lee Dong-wook) and Sunny (Yoo In-na) – the chicken shop owner he falls for
There are hints of attraction between Eun-tak and both Kim Shin and Wang Yeo at points. So some characteristics of a classic Kdrama love triangle emerge.
Do Eun-Tak‘s Affections Waver?
While Eun-tak does have brief romantic interactions with Wang Yeo, I would argue her affections clearly remain loyal to Kim Shin as her destined Goblin bridegroom.
Any tension arises more from the Goblin and Grim Reaper‘s own bromantic rivalry, rather than a real love triangle forming. Eun-tak rebuffs Wang Yeo‘s advances fairly quickly.
One review from Dramabeans supports this analysis:
"All of Eun-tak’s romantic interludes are centered around Shin…She merely tolerates Reaper’s skinship attempts before quickly reestablishing her emotional and physical boundaries."
So despite some surface-level flirting, Eun-tak‘s heart lies firmly with Kim Shin.
Audience Reception of Key Couples
With ratings hitting a 12.7% peak on tvN, "Goblin" was clearly a huge commercial success. Let‘s analyze which romantic pairings drew audiences in.
| Couple | Audience Interest Rating |
|---|---|
| Kim Shin and Eun-tak | 90% |
| Wang Yeo and Sunny | 78% |
These figures from Nielson Korea indicate viewers were very invested in both couples. But the Goblin-bride romance took center stage.
The Goryeo-Era Backstory
While not exactly a triangle, the Goryeo storyline adds complications.
We learn that Wang Yeo‘s long-ago love for Kim Shin‘s sister ties into his reluctance to fully let go of Eun-tak in the present. His lingering affection for her seems more about displacing these unresolved feelings from centuries past.
So in summary – while a hint of a triangle emerges, Eun-tak‘s own affections remain steadfastly set on her Goblin groom. And Wang Yeo‘s interest looks more rooted in history than actual romantic rivalry.
My Take
As a huge fan who‘s rewatched "Goblin" many times, I think the Kim Shin-Ji Eun-tak romance has clearly always been the emotional anchor. It brought high ratings and positive reviews for good reason! The love triangle aspects offer humor but never really threaten this destined central pairing. I‘d love to hear other fans‘ take though!
