The Story of Bihyung: Enchanted Master of the Goblin – Series Review

Geumbok is a young man who lives with his grandfather in the countryside. He wants to become a famous actor and star in a drama. With his grandfather's blessing, he moves to the city in search of better opportunities. Initially, his grandfather had already arranged an apartment rental. However, Geumbok realized he was scammed after arriving at an occupied unit. Now, he has no place to stay, no money, and no job. Poor Geumbok spends his first night in the city sleeping on the streets.

Eventually, Geumbok finds work at a café. The owner asks him to dress as a mascot to draw customers. A group of rowdy kids tries to pick a fight with him, and Geumbok scares them away. Their violent father arrives to retaliate, causing Geumbok to run away in fear. During the chase, he bumps into a stranger. The man looks into his eyes, embraces him, steals a kiss, and faints. Another man appears. He introduces himself as Gildal, and the unconscious stranger is Bihyung.

Bihyung and Gildal have unique histories. Bihyung was born a century ago. His mother was a human woman. His father was King Jinji, an ancient lord who died, returned as a spirit, and had an affair with Bihyung's mother. As a result of his unusual lineage, Bihyung is half-human and half-spirit. He possesses the supernatural ability to sense evil spirits. He can also destroy them with ease. Due to his immense power and infamous reputation, many ghouls and demons fear him. They give Bihyung the nickname of The Goblin.

Gildal is Bihyung's loyal bodyguard. He was once a guardian stone at a village entrance. It stood there for centuries, protecting the villagers. The stone could transform into human form to fight evil. Bihyung heard stories about it and approached the stone. He used his abilities to give Gildal a permanent human form. Since then, Gildal stayed by Bihyung's side, remaining loyal to him. Bihyung also used to look after Jigwi, a fox demon. Their relationship soured when Jigwi wanted independence. Jigwa hasn't been on good terms with Bihyung or Gildal ever since.

Bihyung and Gildal remain immortal for a century. In the present day, they live quietly among humans. However, Bihyung's abilities have weakened over time. He once loved his master, who abandoned him, and his strength faded after the heartbreak. When Bihyung met Geumbook (who looks like his master) and kissed him, his abilities suddenly returned. Gildal sees this as a positive sign and invites Geumbok to live with them. Geumbok accepts the free lodging, though he remains unsure about his new roommates and their mysterious lives.

The Story of Bihyung: Enchanted Master of the Goblin is confusing. The first few episodes unfold chaotically as strange characters behave weirdly in bizarre scenarios. Some moments feel so wacky that I can't tell if they're intended to be funny or just the result of bad writing. The story is also packed with supernatural lore, almost none of which I understand. What are goblins, spirits, or demons? Explain it to me like I'm five. Lost and overwhelmed, my initial review of the series is, "OMG. I'm watching a trainwreck."

Does the drama improve? Thank the heavens, it does! Once Geumbok grows closer to Bihyung and Gildal, I enjoy their interactions more. The cast shares a playful chemistry. Each character has a cartoonish personality with exaggerated quirks. My favourite is Gildal, a lovable dumbass with more muscle than brainpower. Bihyung has an inflated sense of grandeur, while Geumbok can be a snarky twerp. Put these weirdos in a room, and every scene becomes hilariously absurd. The series also enjoys camp humour and embraces its own silliness. Even when the plot feels confusing, the comedy keeps everything entertaining.

The Story of Bihyung has a strange issue where I enjoy the filler more than the actual plot. I watch for the jokes and banter, not the supernatural drama. I want to care about the main storyline, yet the details are hard to follow. The series explains Bihyung's past through a short animation, but it needs a longer flashback or a multi-episode arc to help us picture the history clearly. Nonetheless, I appreciate the creativity. Many BL dramas feel formulaic, almost like they're copying each other's ideas. This fantasy series has a unique premise and tells a different kind of story.

I like Geumbok and Bihyung as a couple, even if some of their intimacy feels awkward. I don't get romantic vibes when Bihyung leans in close and starts sniffing Geumbok lol. Instead, what I enjoy about them is their cheeky banter. Bihyung teases his partner's childish streak, while Geumbok fires back by calling him an old man. The mockery feels affectionate, almost like playful flirting. While I don't sense that they're deeply in love, the couple seems close enough to crack jokes. The bottom line is that they have funny exchanges, so I like watching them together.

Geumbok's actor (Lee Cha Min) is charismatic. He can emote naturally, smile brightly, nail the comedic timing, and still anchor the dramatic moments. His performance is head and shoulders above the rest of the cast. However, his co-stars are on the weaker side. Bihyung (Hwang Jae Wook) makes it obvious he's acting rather than immersing himself in the role. Jigwi is meant to be a charming antagonist, yet his actor (Nam Taek Jun) doesn't have that presence. Gildal (Kang Chan Woo) is wooden when he needs to convey emotion, but he excels in comedic scenes.

In the later episodes, the twists seem random. Geumbok can travel to the past! Then, he loses his memories! But wait, he still remembers! Is the story just making up the rules as it goes along? I want to like this series because it's full of imagination. BL dramas should be encouraged to take creative risks, and this one certainly tries. Yet, everything feels incoherent. The story has built a complex world with fascinating lore, but it can't explain the plot clearly to the audience. Despite its creativity, The Story of Bihyung suffers from bad writing and deserves a mediocre review score.