It will be quite long ^^"
[The story]
A very inventive story in my opinion. This kind of story definitely is some fresh air compared to the usual 'impossible romance' story line of historical dramas (it gets better nowadays, I agree).
The first time I read the synopsis, I was a bit reluctant to watch the drama because it seemed really disgusting (what's with eating people's liver ?...) but I decided to give it a try anyway because of the cast and I'm far from regretting it.
Even though there aren't really any suspense, the story is captivating.
All the characters are equally important and you always ask yourself if you really can hate or love any one of them because their character is far from being simple.
The gumiho thingy isn't what's the more important here as the story is more focused on the parents who try to save and protect their beloved child no matter right.
It definitely is a beautiful story in my eyes.
[The cast]
Here comes what has been one of the strong point of this drama. If every characters are important, then every actors was...extraordinary.
Han Eun Jeong (Goo San Daek)and Jang Hyeon Seong (Yun Du Su)were perfect in their roles, and I still can't say which one of them is the good or the evil in this story. They perfectly portrayed their difficult character - especially Jang Hyeon Seong.
As for the child actors, Kim Yoo Jeong (Yeon Yi) and Seo Shin Ae (Cho ok) totally amazed me. They were rather young at this time, and yet they totally stood out next to the adult actors. I'm sure both of them will have a great carrier.
As for Lee Min Ho(Jo Jung Kyu), though he had a supporting role he did very well.
Special mention to Suh Joon Young (Cheon Woo) who won my heart and made me tear even as a mute.
[The Music]
What can I say about the music apart from saying that I'm still playing the OST again and again six months later ? In my eyes, the OST is what made this drama better. I confess I didn't skip some slow parts only because of the music.
[Rewatch Value]
I only gave a 7 for the rewatch value because though it's an absolutely awesome drama, once you've watched it, then there isn't any reason to watch it again except for the amazing cast.
The story in itself doesn't call for a rewatch and I guess that many (which I'm part of) wouldn't have the patience to watch all those chasing/crying/screaming/betraying scenes again when you already know what happens.
I may watch it again later though, if I've forgotten most of what happens.
[What I disliked]
Because even though I loved this drama, I can't deny there are some things I didn't really like.
I don't want to spoil so I won't write them all (there aren't that much anyway)
Some of Goo San Daek's actions are quite...unrealistic. Let's say she could have done things better as a Gumiho and a mother. This didn't bother me that much while watching though, I just realised after. ANd let's say that if she had done what was needed right away, the drama would be groundless.
Oh, and make sure you're volume isn't too high too, because Cho Ok is a character who screams a lot...
I hope this will help :)
Was this review helpful to you?
Very odd. Especially for a korean drama. Or rather very unique. A gumiho getting revenge for her kid. I thought that this drama was really interesting. It had romance, supernatural, tragedy, melo-drama, historical, horror?, and suspense. What more can you ask for in a drama? The story starts out as she is about to become a human until her husband finds out that she is a gumiho and everything is ruined. She takes her innocent kid who knows nothing and flees. Only to be save by a man and later on she falls in love with him. They are living their lives happily but soon, things are not going their way as her daughter is in the age of turning in to a gumiho and problems start to rise. I like the pacing of the drama and felt that it was good.
Acting/Cast: 8/10.
I love the acting in here. Especially of Yeon Yi who knew nothing and automatically became the victim target of everyone. She was the most pitiful character in the drama. Makes me go: "WHYY?! She just wanted a sweet, normal, romantic childhood and this is what she gets?!>:'(". Then we have the mother gumiho who did a great job acting crazy when the time comes, think about a bear or any mother animal who is protecting their child. That's how I felt. Then the husband guy, the way to describe his character: sly. His way to handle things. He himself is a parent who wants to save his child. We are seen his nice side but also his desperate measure to get what he wants. CRAZYY. Then the other little girl : Bratty. Any other noble korean little girl who would be in here. Jung Kyu here is the pretty boy. He didn't have much but then the roles with him and yeon yi are sweet. Then the Shaman guy. I thought his character is interesting. Love his creepiness.Everyone in here is creepy. They all perfectly bring out the suspenseful moments.
Music:9/10.
I love the music in here. It creates the mood. Especially to keep you to your edge and makes you want to pull your hair at the perfect moment when something comes up. Keeps you hype up, makes you go aweee, makes you sad, and angry. Most of it's OST are in my playlist and I still play them nowadays. I love the opening, it is very gumiho-like.
Rewatch Value: 6/10.
Wouldn't really want to watch this drama.
Overall: 8/10.
Was this review helpful to you?
This K-Drama has a solid Story!
I tend to stay away from overly fantastical (ok, creature-based) K-Dramas but the reviews on this one (and the holiday blues) made me decide to binge it and see what I thought.Most important thing to know: This drama has a solid story to it.
Definitely hits all the buttons on being a drama. It's filled with conflicted desires, jealousy, hate, passion and people driven by need, revenge and love.
It sounds cheesy but it's good anyway!
Here's my list of likes & dislikes *without spoilers*
1)It's a really good story. The plot is thought out, and there aren't any gaping holes at the end where you go "Yea, but what about...."
2)The symbolism peppered throughout. Very nice touch the producers and writers had on that one.
3) Lots of interwoven motives between the wide cast of characters.
The Cast:
1)Han Da Gam as Gu San Daek - wonderful range of expressions that were really pivotal in making one feel empathy for her character.
2) Jang Hyun Sung as Yoon Doo Su - I've only seen his more recent works and seeing him in his younger years and in a real, meaty role (as opposed to the smaller parts I've seen him in) is a treat!
3) Kim Gyu Chul as Head Minion of Yoon Doo Su. For me he was a sleeper-star in this drama! This guy really, really didn't have a lot of words but he didn't need them! You could feel his emotion and worry in his scenes and it was fantastic.
What I wasn't keen on:
1) The OST is awful. Lots of overly long, quasi-wailing singing. The non-singing bits tended to be repetitious and kind of annoying.
2) A lot of scenes were drawn out much longer than they needed to be.
I get that the producer (obviously) thought they had to be to make an emotional/dramatic impact, but I think they could have been edited out/down a considerable amount without losing impact or flow of the drama.
General Comments:
The Production:
Considering the age of this drama, I have to say it's much better than I expected. A lot of dramas made in the 2010-time frame (including Arang and the Magistrate for example) have awful OSTs and lighting that is horrible at times. You know, the glaring spotlights of light even though it's nighttime, or they're indoors in the dim light? You know the stuff I mean! Gumiho: Tale of the Fox's Child is better than average in that respect--while the soundtrack is awful, the lighting for most of the interior and exterior shots was very good and not glaringly artificial.
It'd be a 9.5 for me if it came with the overly long scenes edited, but even as it is I feel it's a firm 8 because the acting and the overall story is worth those hours of my life spent watching it!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Great Plot
PS: I watched this long ago but I'm only reviewing nowThis might not be for everyone due to it's horror sageuk genre, but for me, this drama is really good. Except for a few scenes, I don't find this drama scary in a general sense. The effects used may have aged a bit, but I didn't really mind.
I really love how this drama used Korean folklore to create this original story. I also love how the fantastical elements in this story are used to show the themes of this show: mainly about parents' love for their children and the lengths they'll go for their children. This along with Arang and the Magistrate are both good kdramas that used the Korean folklore very well to tell their story. This drama about family. It's also a drama about children and their adventures, rivalries, and early experiences in romantic crushes/love.
The actors are really great. Han Da Gam (known as Han Eun Jung when she made this drama) was amazing as the Gumiho mother. She also has great chemistry with Jang Hyun Sung (actor of her child's rival's father who fell in love with her character) and Seo Jun Young (actor of the young male servant who also fell in love with her character). Kim Yoo Jung and Seo Shin Ae are both amazing in here as the two main children. Kim Yoo Jung's acting as both the sweet human child of her gumiho mother and her scary gumiho version is really great. No wonder she is one of the most well known actresses in Korea today. I still think this is her best acting in all her acting projects that I've watched. Seo Shin Ae is terrific as the wicked and spoiled child of rich parents, you'll really loath her character. Sad she's so underrated, I really believe she deserves more great acting projects. Lee Tae Ri is only in supporting role, but he's great as the teenage Jung Kyu, the young boy in the affections of both Kim Yoo Jung and Seo Shin Ae's characters.
Was this review helpful to you?
Não deixe o odio te dominar
Ela so queria viver feliz!Um drama que mostra MUITO do talento do elenco.
Existem cenas ao meu ver difícil de nao se emocionar e não criar um ranço da vilania, a Mae e filha sofrem muito ate conseguiram viver feliz, ela cuida muito da filha e de todos que seja necessário, existem outras mulheres com o ódio imperando em cada capitulo, tambem tem filinha tem primeiro amor de infância, eles fazem um par envolvido de fofura, mas como a paz nao reina nesse drama tem um bruxo que pede sacrifícios...garanto que vão ficar arrepiados, capitulos todos com muito choro . Acreito que o rapaz mudo teve muitos arrependimentos mas você tem que assistir para ver se concorda comigo. Não falta momentos em familia...se bons ou ruins so assistindo.
PARABÉNS ao elenco que teve que ter sangue nos olhos e ficaram com coracao na mão para fazer muitas cenas...a protagonista mãe super convicente e espetacular.
Ate onde o amor de uma mãe vai e se ela é gumiho pode ter certeza que nso saira vivo!
Was this review helpful to you?
