Tale of the Nine-Tailed (2020)

The Lee brothers stole my heart?

This show was a bit confusing for me since I’m not well versed with Korean mythology, but it propelled me to do some reading of my own and I found it quite fascinating. Initially some scenes were too creepy for me to watch at night, but they eased out on the creep factor and indulged us with cute. The villain himself was so cute, I was never really scared of him. I feel the story would have benefitted if they found a scarier looking Imoogi. In fact Jo Boah in her double role played a kick ass Imoogi in my opinion.
What really hit home with this show was the relationship and growth between the two brothers Lee Yeon and Lee Rang. They were the heart and soul of the show and I loved every single interaction between them. While I knew the end would not be a happy one for both of them, I understood why they took the route they did and as heartbroken as I was I feel they tied it up decently.
Kim Bum my gosh, you’re Damon Salvatore and I heart you!

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Wasted potential

I won't get into the nitty gritty since this is quite an old drama. I was interested because it is coming with a sequel and I am sucker for fantasy.
Plus for this drama:
1. Lee dong wooks acting /portrayal as lee yeon. The character is not well fleshed out well thought out, no complex characterization, no character development that he goes through via trials and tribulations which is supposed to make a character interesting. The character works because of lee dong wook ONLY. He brings all his veteran actor charm skills and good looks to this.
2. Lee rang. One of the best written kdrama character with the worst ending. I liked that lee yeon came back but his death made no sense. In fact nothing after 7-8 episodes did much.
3. Lee rang and lee yeons brotherly dynamics were easily the best thing of this show and helped me get through it.
Negatives in order of intensity:
1. The romance: Dragged out, poorly developed, nonsense, cringy and towards the end utterly totally annoying. Kdrama romances barely get romance right despite kdrama romances being known worldwide. Insta love with razzle dazzle.
2. The female lead: Turned into a helpless.damsel in distress within 5 episodes of the show. Her storyline with her parent was the stupidest arc I've seen which led to nothing for the plot when much time was wasted in finding her parents in the first place. No explanation as to why she was chosen as the sacrifice for the snake. She is bland Mary sue that you feel utterly nothing about and will be happy that she dropped dead.
3. The villain: imugi is the flattest villain I've seen. I'm sorry but the neighborhood cat with a grudge against my cat is a better convincing villain than him. His motives made sense given he hates lee yeon and hates humans. But there is no feeling to it like it was with Darkness.
4. The plot: *sigh* where to start?.This is about a mythological being but hardly any mythology is discussed. We don't know lee yeons parents, his time as a deity even his tails are shown once and then never again when ironically it's named tale of the nine tailed (huh!). Not even with the fight with imugi, the big boss. The parents were conveniently forgotten after being saved. We don't know what exactly happened to her parents, they had no effects and adjusting to modern world like nobody's business with no neighbors relatives friends asking why the hell these people who are supposed to be dead appeared out of nowhere, except for being hostages they offered nothing pretty much like those colleagues she worked with. An all powerful deity supposed to be as powerful as a gumiho was just struck in the head like some common human and fell unconscious. No explanation as to why even the non human characters except for lee yeon can be mind controlled. Lord of samdocheon was an equally potentially complex character and victim of bad writing. Thousands of humans died, no one except her cared. Lee yeon reincarnated but with the same face and likely as a fox. So all that shabang was for nothing. 🙄🙄 I won't go forward anymore since we will be here all day otherwise.


This could have been the next big thing but yeah it as usual with these dramas is a major clusterfuck because writers can't see beyond their tunnel vision of pursuing a forced genre and trope. I have read fanfiction with better writing.

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There was some curiosity but a romcom.

At the beginning I was curious, and I wanted to watch till the end, but I hate historical parts and as I saw the beginning, I wanted some more thrill and horror. When we think about the acting skills, I can say that there were some highs and lows in each and every character but as a whole I can say that they did a good job, but I will not say that was the best because there were some characters, they were unable to show their feelings according to the scene they were only tough from outside as well as inside. When it's up to the story line I hated the old story which was the base to the present story, but I loved the present story. And also, the villain was really powerful but there was a lot of time that we had to see him through the main characters therefore I think it is a strain for the viewer. Even though he finally appears as a human it really did not give some pleasure because I was already fed up with that character. And there were a lot of coincidence in the historical as well as the present story that the story gets far away from reality and ended up near the fantasy fairy tale. Even though it is a fantasy fairy tale they wanted to connect that with the present. But I really felt that there were a lot of useless scenes that they did not do anything for the end of the story. Ending as usually was a happy ending with some regrets but there were some curious points at the end even. As a whole we can say that was a historical and invincible love story that extended hundreds of years with some up and downs as well as some thrill. I can recommend this as a romantic story with a small flavor of thriller and horror.

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So I'm not really the type to watch Korean dramas. This is the second one I've seen. This show started off really well. Like it was kind of scary, and I get scared really easily. I love the main leads. The plot started going downhill. Like after a few episodes I couldn't keep up with everything. It all happened too fast, and it got really boring. However, the ending was really disappointing yet good at the same time. Lee Yeon reincarnated as a human however in the last episode we see that he brings the red umbrella to the guy with the mask. However, he transforms the umbrella into a sword meaning that he is not human. His eyes also change colors. So did he really get reincarnated as a human. The story ends with a cliffhanger, which I hate when dramas do that. So can someone please answer me was he really reincarnated as a human or a fox?

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Urban fantasy kdrama done right

I didn't expect to enjoy this show so much, even if it's in my fave genre. It does rehash a lot of the Goblin/Vampire Diaries type cliches of fated tragic love between immortal & mortal, past lives, reincarnation, and such. But the show executed it well, and kept the story fascinating with rich folklore.

The show hooked me from the venture into the mysterious island to the interesting Voldemort-esque villain, and these all connect to the main overarching story of the fated OTP. It borrows inspiration from famous horror and fairy tales, but they made it their own. This was what I wanted Joseon Xfiles to be.

The only thing I wished different is the OTP, I like Lee Dong Wook, he committed himself wholeheartedly as the otherworldy fox from the visuals to even acting in some questionable CGI scenes. He and Jo Bo Ah are good in their roles, but the chemistry unfortunately fell short. Yet again another drama where I ship the bromance more than the romance.

I like Kim Yong Ji since 'The King', she tends to go overboard at times, but what if Kim Bum and Kim Yong Ji are the main OTP here? Yes, they're deliciously wicked in their roles, and she has a cute love arc with the vet, but makes you wonder what could have been right? KIM BUM. YUM. The long wait for his drama comeback was so worth it. He made all complicated facets of Rang shine through, and made a crazy villain like him a sympathetic character. We really need to see him in a lead role soon.

Great worldbuilding and supporting cast, from the fascinating otherworldly characters Yeon and Ji Ah meet, to the Underworld immigration system headed by the sister of Hades and her comical husband, to Shin Ju and Rang's adopted 'kids'. It's such a delight. If you love your supernatural kdramas in the vein of Master's Sun, Along with the Gods, Arang, this is worth a try, good full-blown fantasy kdramas do come far in between.

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i love Lee Rang so freaking much and it being played by Kim Bum was a really great choice

I love the overall plot, but for me, the chemistry between the two main leads was kinda off. I cant really feel it, even awkward in certain scene. BUTT dont worry yall they have some side stories that's really interesting to watch especially the story abt the relationship between two brothers. the character development of the two villains was just really great and that made me fell for them more than i should do. Lee Rang was really such a scene stealer and his character development was a really great and heartwarming touch of the drama. He may seem like a jerk but if you see deeper you'll fall for him more than you do to the main leads and that's what happened to me lol.
I cant say it had a happy ending nor sad it really all depends on you but for me it was not a happy ending. I still remember how i cried SO hard throughout the last episode omg even if i rewatched the clip now id still cry TT

p.s. I really wish Kim Bum gets to be the main male lead in another drama. his acting was really amazing it was such a waste of talent that he never be one in any drama so far.

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What do you do when you really, but really do not like an actor but would love to see the drama because the theme is supernatural and you love it? So you try watching it, even finish it! But you hate every second of it! Even though you tried liking it. Well, that's me with this drama!!!

So, I am really biased here, but I cannot stand the sight of Lee Dong Wook. He may be a very nice person but his acting is not! He ruined the whole drama for me! He always sports a sinister smirk, a cary half smile which is permanently glued to his face and is immuable like the universe. His only moments of grace, in my eyes, were when he slayed the bad supernaturals. But the rest of the series which he spent pining and swooning and crying ... it was just awful! The only moment I really liked the drama was the very last MINUTE of the very LAST episode. Up to that point, it was draggy and messy. Characters strutting around, being cooly dangerous. Or the main couple being all lovey dovey in the midst of all the chaos! Nice! Major events were being planned and plotted leaving tha main baddie enough time to figure them out and come with a counter attack plan! The main couple seriously lacked chemistry in my book and they were so evidently unhappy when they saw each other again but could not say anything because they spent 16 episodes pining for each other, and offering to die for each other frequently. When the banality set in, they were bored and not interested in each other any more. All those scenes of domestic bliss following the cringy nature wedding (rings made of grass! Original! What else?) felt so false, wrong. Which was proven in the last minute of the drama. Domesticity kills the romance. And the romance was high when they were risking their lives every day but not anymore....

I liked seeing the actor from To My Star being all young and eager: I almost did not recognize him, he was so different here! Well done!
I usually like Kim Bom but here his character felt off, his acting was all over the place.
I liked that grim reaper couple: the husband was so funny with his wife and their banter was great.

What else did I like? The money they obviously spent on sets, cinematography, costumes shows clearly which was nice! And that's it!

And the final remark about Lee Dong Wook: he should be in a vampire themed drama or a movie, as a vampire obviously! That I would watch!

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An Okay Watch

To be honest.. I really did not like the way the drama turned .. While the starting few episodes were really good but then there were lot amount of plot-holes in the story.. Kim bum acting really stood out in the drama and Lee dong wook too but other than that.. It was just one time watch , The chemistry between the leads really did not contribute, the longing love between them could not be felt anywhere.. The plot twists were the main reason making this drama somewhat better, The villain was strong, All side characters acting were notable. But other than this do not expect anything else. Anyways, It's just a one time watch

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Fit my drama taste perfectly.

This drama was even better than I expected.
I usually like when there is romance in a drama. There are very few times I would hate it and find it disturbing. It's just my preference. I don't like it when romance takes a long time to develop and then suddenly everything speeds up because the drama ends. So that's already one of the advantages of this drama.
Another thing I liked was the fairly quick reconciliation between the brothers. We were given hints from the beginning that they didn't completely hate each other, so it was a good choice to pursue this subplot this way.
The third thing I liked was that the creators showed from the beginning that they took a specific direction, but at the same time there were also several plot twists.
The side characters also contributed a lot to this drama. The whole thing just fit my drama taste perfectly.

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Confusing Story, Great Acting

The premise of this story excited me and I went all in, hoping for a better-than-Goblin experience with fantastic actors. While I wasn't completely let down, it was apparent that the writers struggled through the story, and come up with new concepts each week just to keep the story going -- whether it made sense or not.

I enjoyed the stories of the secondary characters far more than the two main. Kim Bum was fantastic throughout the series and expertly portrayed his dynamic character. Don't know if I would watch this series again, save for fast forwarding just to see the Kim Bum scenes XD.

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Kinda confusing but hella satisfying!

I did not understand the ending where Yeon was reborn (as a human) in less than six months time! It kinda felt unreal and unconvincing. But the rest of the story was awesome and I liked every bit. Rang dying was probably the stupidest decision ever made by the storywriters and his sacrifice was not felt by his people as much as Yeon's did. It was like Rang's life was not even important for them. He was in fact my favorite character and it broke my heart to end it without him. The last part where Yeon slices his umbrella again and goldens his eyes was so damn satisfying! I watched that scene over a million times! I'm totally waiting for the second season. And I hope I won't be disappointed again!

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I enjoyed the drama a lot because of the various folkfore included. It makes me curious since these folkfore differs from one country to another. The acting was good, I especially love the two brothers and Lee Rang with the kid, he's super cute. imo, the storyline was rather plain and common for a fantasy drama, kinda predictable in some way. at some point, it was really interesting and i want to know happen next, but then it went back to its plain plot. that being said, this is one of the dramas that the cast had to lead and really 'push' the drama. even so, i still enjoy the drama a lot, it was a fun ride. if you enjoy fantasy drama, give this a watch, it was good for me.

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