Tale of the Nine-Tailed (2020)

It's a decent Kdrama!

Not sure what should I say, honestly, because the show isn't bad, the basic plot is nothing special, if you watched a fantasy Kdrama, you probably see them all. The real problem is the villain, as usual. The romance was okay, the actors are fantastic, even the side-characters, but with many Kdrama, in the last couple of episodes it was a downhill.

There were so many weird decisions made by the characters, especially from Jiah, and that the biggest problem, because they made her like if she's the smartest person alive. Not to mention the story with her parents. They literally didn't do anything with it.

You can find a LOT of good things in this show, especially if you don't care about the logic, but honestly, the ending was rushed as usual, and they solved the problems too easy, and we didn't see the aftermath.

I mean, a LOT of people died, but they only mentioned it like once. Jiah finally found her parents, but we didn't see them leaving the house, just once. It felt like a dream where nobody cares about them anymore.

Honestly, I wouldn't mind if the show ends with a sad ending, because he sacrificed himself for her, yet, 6 months later his brother did the same so both of them could come back. This was such a lazy writing.

Not to mention THE ENDING! What the hell was that? He said he came back as a normal human, yet he had his powers again, so he lied?

I know there's a 2nd season, but I'm not sure if I should watch it.

Anyway, the characters are likable, the two main lead is great, and overall, it's a decent show, but I expected a bit more, to be honest.

Leggi di Più

painful ending

Let's start with the ending. it was absolutely the worse, Rang dying is like the worst ending. I hate it when they kill the best characters in a drama. I hate that as much as I hate the worst female leads that ever existed. The story was fine at first, the back story was amazing as well, how the lead pined over his dead lover is good and how they fell in love in the present time is fun. I enjoyed the development of Rang's character, I loved it, and how yong ji's character developed. I loved how a family was made by different people coming together because of Rang. I mean, he practically made his own family without the normal concept of making a family. Honestly, in this drama, I enjoyed his part of the story more than the leads, the leading story is fine and all, however, the fullness and the complexity of Rang's story is even better than the leading story so I loved it more. I just really hated the ending!!!

Leggi di Più

Okay be prepared because this is really going to be a long review.
After watching Goblin and Touch your heart, I was so excited when I found out that Lee Dong Wook was starring in this series as the main male lead. I was even more excited when I found out that our lovable Kim Bum from the popular F4 in Boys over flowers was the supporting male lead?.
As I'm finally done with Tale of the the ninetailed which took one week for me to finish, all I can say is that the last two episodes of this series were elongated, and for some reason I find episode 16 very unnecessary and very extended.
I did not like the fact that "Lee Rang" had to die because he wanted his brother "Lee Yeon" to be reincarnated. It really did not make sense at all, I understand that it's because of the love he had for his brother. But if that was the case then there really was no need for "Lee Yeon" to die then. Another thing that I was annoyed with is that at the end of Episode 16, Lee Yeon is seen facing off another demon as a ninetailed fox. Yes, we were meant to be shocked and happy that he got his powers back even though we were told that he became a human. But for me it was a different case because it made me even more angry.
Above all, I really enjoyed their OriginalSoundTrack. I won't say that I really enjoyed this drama but for me it was that I loved the acting and their special effects! For me it's not my best Kdrama I've watched this year 2020.

Leggi di Più

Like a fairytale, easily predictable but you still like it at the end.

Spoiler Free Part:
In Summary: Plot was messy with some plot holes I can't ignore with my drama intuition built from years of watching and observing story line written by others. Some part of me regrets going on this journey itself (cause it is quite generic and doesn't compare to how I felt for Goblin) but I am somewhat at least still happy for another part of me which have gone down this journey, no matter how much flaws I noticed. TNT was very Goblin-esque no doubt. The brotherhood, the ML and FL relationship and the supernatural. I still enjoyed it a lot. The cast's acting is great. ML and FL actually did well portraying their character. Side Characters are some individuals that I care more than I expected. OST is amazing as usual such as Moonlight Ballad by Lynn and Leaning on you by Sung Shi Kyung. The instrumentals such as Lightning bugs and parting at the three rive crossing by Hong Dae Sung is magical.. CGI wasn't overdone and appropriate. The would shot some scene beautifully (other than having black screen be the transitioning scene which I don't think was really smooth or a good choice at times). Overall I believe they did many things well other than the core part of the story writing and direction choices taken.

Spoiler Part:
The ep 16 ending: so basically the idea that you need to sacrifice something, to get something. That to me is a more tragic message than an inspiring one. I cried deeply for the lost of lee rang at the end rather than lee yeon himself. The ending about how lee yeon could potentially be a gumiho again does create confusion but I want to believe it is more of a fanservice. The fact that in the end, they reincarnated so early in the same lifetime also does takeaway the impact I had (as compared to HDL where the they did show the reincarnation happening but it is in a future lifetime (fantasy of KCS) which is a stronger effect). They gave us happier moments between the leads as well as to a certain degree, the relationship between granny and gatekeeper and little kid (dog) with yoori (though there is something missing in terms of the 2 friends of FL as well as the possibility that the little kid could be friend with lee rang in kid form). It's alot of back and forth in terms of the flow. I also personally didn't like the aspect about how many people died for unjust reason just because the imoogi spread the plague or cause people to suicide. The impact of those death felt meaningless to me, almost as if they are just numbers because the FL didn't show the appropriate reaction to those (other than to her friends).

Leggi di Più

Had an amazing first arc but after that? Just full of bad writing....

I really love the Kitsune/Gumiho folklore a lot and especially if it has a human-kitsune kinda romance in media. So I was really excited for this show and it actually had a great beginning. I was so interested, it was really engaging. The island arc was spectacular and Ji-a ending those misogynistic fishermen was amazing to see. The lead actors had great chemistry too but right after Ji-a's parents return it just turns... shit. Thats one of the main reasons too why it becomes bad like, why are her parents back? I mean that whole dream sequence she has where she wishes she could be with her parents just doesn't have any significance in the story now whatsoever since they're... back? The point of that scene was that she had to stop living in the past and get over her parents already because she had a new person and friends left to live for. But her parents coming back makes that powerful scene look so bad. Also right after that, LY and NJA's relationship is bad too. I was rooting for them and shipping them in the beginning and when they finally become a thing, I just... didnt care? I honestly stopped caring for their romance. Then the worst shit ever, Lee Rang's death... why does he die when he finally found happiness after years of depression and pain? His death was soooo random too he's just walking by, meets the fortune teller and then dies like... what. Ji-a's reaction over his death is weird too and she's not as sad as the other characters because duh she gets her man back and she wasn't even close with Rang which the writers should've worked on too.

Ji-a... I felt the most disappointed in how she was written. She turns from a kind, badass, really smart journalist who doesn't take anyone's shit to a crying hopeless mess towards the end. I loved her in the beginning so much but my god she became so annoying towards the end. Yeon is just too ex-machina to me man like he never loses, it doesn't make any sense. Also he's a fox deity, how come we never get to see his true full form with his nine tails and everything? We just saw it once and the special effects in that scene were so ugly. We only really got to see his eyes and nails that too just once. The only things that are good about this show is the beginning, Yu-ri and Shin-Joo's relationship, Lee Rang's whole character arc and the actors. Seriously this is one of those shows were the side characters are so much more interesting and likeable than the main leads.

I wouldn't say I hate this show, I just hate that I started it because I'm so disappointed right now. There are so many things in this show that could've been done better but nah it just bad writing everywhere. So I'm just gonna pretend the rest of the series with the Imugi stuff doesn't exist and only acknowledge the Island Arc to cope. I would definitely not rewatch this mess nor suggest to watch it but if you're still curious you should still watch because the beginning and Lee Rang are seriously the best part of this show.

Leggi di Più

Magical

Fab-u-lous! I loved everything. The casting is perfection, with so many good actors (both female and male) and unforgettable characters. I can't even pick favourites. Lee Rang really touched my heart though, especially the scenes of him as a young Gumiho half breed. His feelings of abandonment were palpable. Kim Bum is so good.
The myths included are wonderful, as ghosts and devils are battled.
The child actors are so good too, especially Kim Tae-yul as the young Imoogi, Lee Joo-won as young Lee Rang and Jung Shi-yool as Kim Soo-oh.
The pace of the drama, whilst having exciting scenes, is relatively gently paced, which fit for me; a central romance spanning 600 years can't be rushed!
The ending didn't disappoint either.
I loved the BTS episode 17 on Viki, with the delightful Hwang Hee (Gu Shin-joo) and lovely Kim Yong-ji (Ki Yoo-ri) ~ these 2 seemed to genuinely get on and have fun together.
A must watch and one I know I'll return to more than once. Magical.

Leggi di Più

if you like fantasy drama, this is perfect for you!

i love everything about this drama!
this is my most favorite series in 2020 and it really gave inspiration to me during this difficult period.

IMO, the romance is just perfect as well! i am not the type who like cheesy, etc. couple. so yeah, OTP here is quite unique for me, so i cherish them more! besides, i enjoyed the fantasy, action, and even the horror part, so i did not focus solely on the love story.

honestly, i do not have any biases prior watching this drama. So i was also surprised how much i enjoyed it and became a fan!

main leads did great in acting! they really work hard for it so i hope viewers will give more love & appreciation to the whole team!

Leggi di Più

First Of All
This is one of my first KDramas and I loved every moment of it.
I Was thinking of writing a review on this drama but I never had the words and now too I don't have any.
But what should I do , I cherished every moment while watching this drama so much that I mustered up the courage to write a review for the first time.
In this drama the characters like 'LEE RANG' who you thought you hated would become the most lovable characters you would remember your whole life.

As per the Story,
As I Said this is my first drama so the story is pretty unique and a perfectly executed fantasy for me.
I don't know much about the actors but they acted their parts the best.

The OST is the heart of this show.

TALE OF NINE TAILED IS A WARM WELCOME FOR MY JOURNEY TO KDRAMAS.

Leggi di Più

Really promising start, weird ending.

At the beginning, I really loved this show. I thought it was, overall, a really good plot with interesting characters. Contrary of what most reviews say, I think the main couple chemistry was good enough to keep me going. I won't say much about the cast and music because they were good and I think they did their job.
But what really bothers me is that it seems writers never fully decided if this was going to be a mainly romance show or a fantasy one. I really liked how tension was built when Imugi reincarnated and the general idea of the character. Nonetheless, I simply couldn't stand how he was out there, literally killing people, where the main couple was out there having... dates. Imugi's steps and moves were so predictable, yet the main characters always seemed so behind him. Because, like I said, they were busy walking down to the park or stuff like that.
I love shows filled with romance. They're my favorite. But I think most of their scenes were unnecessary. They kept saying goodbye to each other to then changing their minds over and over again. Besides from that, there are A LOT of questions and things that never got a proper answer. I'll never understand how, in a world that seems like it's full of ghosts and guardian spirits, no one seems to care about Imugi besides the male lead. Imugi threatened the world and yet, nobody appeared to stop him. That didn't make sense at all.
Another weird thing is how they made her parents come back. They were away for decades just to be put back again in their old lives like it was nothing. They deserved a proper development since they were the main motivation for the female lead. They were the reason she lived at first and then appeared to be mere decorations.
Ok. So far seems like I hated this show, but I truly didn't. The beginning was so good and I could never drop a work from Lee Dong Wook. I loved how badass the female lead looked like at first. I loved the side characters and their relationships. I loved all the deity stuff. But the decisions the writers and director did.... I'm sure they still don't make their mind. The ending was all over the place.
Anyway, I think it's a good show if you know beforehand that the middle/ending is not well thought. I still believe is a pretty story, but that it could been told better.

Leggi di Più

Don't know how to feel

It was a good plot. at the beginning I was sure it was going to be one of my favorite k-dramas but somewhere along the was i got lost. It was a mess. A hot mess sure but still a mess. You didnt drown but didnt swim either. You had to pay alot of attention to smallest deatil as to not get lost.

Sure the plot and the story are good. The acting is not that bad either. The relationshitp develops at a good pace.
The brothers Lee Yeon and Lee Rang were hands down the most well thought out part and that could be seen. The actors had a lot of chemistry on set and they expressed bbeautifully the depth of emotions of the two characters.

The ending... it was achoice? It was a thought, something left unsaid and uncertain Personally it left me a little bitter. But it wasn't the worst.

Bittersweet.

I didnt hate it. I still somehow consider it a good k-drama. Would i recomend it? I f you like this type of series [ fantasy, roance] yes sure . Just dont have too high of expectations. Face it with a smile and don't think too much so it leaves you with a sweet aftertaste

Leggi di Più

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!

Leggi di Più

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.

Leggi di Più