How many episodes does Guardian: The Lonely and Great God have?

Guardian: The Lonely and Great God has 16 episodes. It aired on tvN from December 2, 2016, to January 21, 2017.

Does Guardian: The Lonely and Great God have a happy ending?

The ending is bittersweet. The Goblin's immortal curse is eventually resolved through great sacrifice, and he and Ji Eun-tak are ultimately reunited after profound loss — emotionally satisfying but not without heartbreak.

Is Guardian: The Lonely and Great God based on a webtoon or novel?

No. The drama is an original work written by renowned screenwriter Kim Eun-sook, who also wrote Descendants of the Sun and Mr. Sunshine.

Where can I watch Guardian: The Lonely and Great God with English subtitles?

The series is available on Netflix in many regions and on Viki globally, both with English subtitles.

Is there a season 2 of Guardian: The Lonely and Great God?

As of 2025, no official season 2 has been announced. The story concludes within the 16 episodes of the original series.

★ 8.6completed

Guardian: The Lonely and Great God

쓸쓸하고 찬란하神-도깨비

Year2016Episodes16NetworktvN

“Goblin meets Grim Reaper — an immortal's curse, a mortal's love”

In his quest for a bride to break his immortal curse, a 939-year-old guardian of souls meets a grim reaper and a sprightly student with a tragic past.

DramaSci-Fi & FantasyComedy

Gong Yoo

as Goblin / Kim Shin · LEAD

Gong Yoo

Goblin / Kim Shin

Kim Go-eun

as Ji Eun-tak · LEAD

Kim Go-eun

Ji Eun-tak

Lee Dong-wook

as Grim Reaper / Wang Yeo · SUPPORTING

Lee Dong-wook

Grim Reaper / Wang Yeo

Yoo In-na

as Sunny / Kim Seon · SUPPORTING

Yoo In-na

Sunny / Kim Seon

Yook Sung-jae

as Yu Deok-hwa · SUPPORTING

Yook Sung-jae

Yu Deok-hwa

Lee El

as Sam-shin · SUPPORTING

Lee El

Sam-shin

Kim Seong-gyeom

as Yu Shin-woo · SUPPORTING

Kim Seong-gyeom

Yu Shin-woo

Kim Byong-chul

as Park Joong-heon · SUPPORTING

Kim Byong-chul

Park Joong-heon

Streaming

Where to watch

Viki

Availability varies by region · Data by JustWatch via TMDB

Quick verdict

Should you watch?

A gorgeous, emotionally rich fantasy that set the bar for Korean romantic drama storytelling.

Story

9.0

Acting

9.1

OST

9.0

Pacing

8.3

8.5+

7–8.4

✓Fans of Mr. Sunshine or Crash Landing on You, viewers who love tragic romance with supernatural mythology, anyone who wants sweeping cinematography and a tearjerker ending

✗Viewers who dislike slow-burn romance, fantasy world-building, or bittersweet endings

Story

What is it really about

A battle-scarred Goryeo general cursed with 939 years of immortality can only be freed by his destined bride — a cheerful high-school girl who can see the dead. Their unlikely romance is complicated by a brooding Grim Reaper who shares his house and is slowly uncovering his own devastating past-life secret.

BittersweetEpic romanceSlow-burnMythological grandeurComedic heart

Did you know

Trivia & facts

The finale recorded an 18.68% nationwide audience share, making it the seventh highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history at the time.

Writer Kim Eun-sook won the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards for the series, while Gong Yoo won Best Actor at the same ceremony.

The series aired on tvN from December 2, 2016, to January 21, 2017, spanning the turn of the new year — an unusual broadcast window that boosted holiday viewership.

Gong Yoo plays Kim Shin, a Goryeo-era general cursed with immortality after being killed by his own king — a role requiring him to portray over nine centuries of loneliness.

Lee Dong-wook's character, the Grim Reaper, is eventually revealed to be the very king responsible for Kim Shin's death in their shared past life, a twist central to the show's tragic mythology.

Soundtrack