Title: Tale of the Nine-Tailed, Tale of Gumiho, Chasing the Nine-Tailed Fox
Episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Drama, Comedy, Action, Thriller, Horror
Story: 7 out of 10
Characters: 7 out of 10
Cinematography: 6 out of 10
Korean Drama Tale of the Nine Tailed owns its success to its strong characters and clever writing, but certainly not to the CGI.
Story
Lee Yeon is a Nine-Tailed fox who has been roaming the human world for 600 years, waiting for his first love to reincarnate. When Ji Ah, a TV producer of a show that deals with urban myths and who has been saved by him when she was a child, approaches him, he is confused as she looks just like his true love, but she doesn’t have the fox bead that would have proved that she is the one. However, Ji Ah is determined to make him help her find her parents that had disappeared when she was a child. Reluctantly, Lee Yeon will agree to aid her, but soon they will find out that the parents’ mystery is part of a bigger plan that will threaten the world.
Tale of the Nine-Tailed is not a story that hasn’t been used before. The pattern is simple, masterfully decorated with layers of mystery, suspense, and myths, some of which did not live up to their full potential.
The main ingredient of the story, and what keeps things going, is the romance. The love story of two star crossed lovers that fate set them apart and now, tragically, are set to be apart once more, was interesting, but not handled as it should.
The modern-day relationship was rushed and happened in just a few episodes. The whole reincarnation, moreover, did not expand beyond the surface of its myth and it was just ignored and left as it is for most of the drama.
To be more exact, the characters just accepted that things were the way they were and did not question or contradict any of them. Not to mention that Ji Ah did not really resemble the girl from the past.
The romance was, in fact, of a lesser impact compared to the bromance. Not that the couple didn’t have enough sweet moments, or intensity between them (hint: the way Lee Yeon looked at Ji Ah). But the tragedy of their relationship was just lukewarm.
On the other hand, Yeon’s relationship with his brother was pretty much what kept things interesting at times when the episodes had too few to say. The two siblings were locked into a web of problematic situations of their past, which pretty much explained who they were presently. And the way Rang loved Yeon was what made things even more tragic.
The rest of the drama played with the idea of the main villain, Imoogi. His tale knitted the love story along with the mystery of the parents, which was too conveniently resolved, and the numerous mythical creatures that appeared to aid the entertainment of the story. Some of them, actually, succeeded.
As for the side characters, they provided some solid side stories and comedy reliefs. They were also nicely blended into the story.
Characters
Lee Yeon is a narcisistic, powerful and canning nine-tailed fox who has fallen in love with a mortal. He desperatly is trying to meet her again, waiting for her to reincarnate.
Lee Dong Wook proves that supernatural roles suit him. He also did an exellent job with the action scenes.
Watch Lee Dong Wook in his recent drama K Drama Touch Your Heart
Ji Ah works as a PD for a tv show that deals with supernatural legends. She got that job in order to find her parents, who had disappeared when she was a kid, after a car accident. However, no one believes her when she says that they are not dead. That’s why she is determined to do anything to get them back.
Jo Bo Ah nailed her ‘evil’ parts, but some of her Ji Ah scenes were a bit annoying.
Watch Jo Bo Ah’s other dramas KDrama My Strange Hero and KDrama Forest (2020)
Rang is Lee Yeon’s brother. He is a half fox who enjoys bringing pain to those around him. But, behind the evil facade, hides his true self, who wants to be loved by his brother, is afraid of being abandoned, and wants to help the weak ones.
If Kim Bum was enjoyable as one of the F4 in Boys over Flowers, he is a true delight in Tale of the Nine-Taled. He not only had the best-written character, but he also executed it brilliantly.
Cinematography
If the drama tried to be like Goblin, then it failed miserably. The CGI was bad, and those scenes of the past were horrible when it came to styling and costumes. The pace in some episodes, moreover, was too slow and lead to some really boring ones.
Overall
My overall rating for the Korean Drama Tale of the Nine-Tailed is 6.5 out of 10. The drama had some good qualities, but most of the time it didn’t execute the story well.
K&J Reviews 
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