“Tale of the Nine-Tailed” explores themes such as love, sacrifice, fate, and the intersection of the human and supernatural worlds. It delves into the idea of eternal love, the burdens of immortality, and the consequences of living through centuries. The series also touches on revenge, redemption, and how the past can shape the future.
Tale of the Nine-Tailed Full Review: A Mythical Love Story That Transcends Time
In my opinion, in the genre of fantasy, no one can beat the K-drama industry. They literally mastered the art of blending fantasy with heartfelt storyline and Tale of the Nine-Tailed proves it. This drama includes love, myth and folk legend in a modern setting. In this article I will give you, Tale of Nine Tailed full review, to make your drama journey a little better. With emotionally gripping plots, breathtaking visuals and the superfine performance this drama left a long-lasting mark on K-drama fans in every corner of the world.
Plot Overview of Tale of Nine-Tailed
Lee Yeon once was one of the mountain spirits who left his life of being a mountain god to get her lover back. He left everything for a woman, even his own brother. However, now he lives a life among humans hiding his identity of being a nine-tailed fox. On the other hand, Nam Ji Ah who looks like Lee Yeon’s lover, works as a PD who covers supernatural documentaries. Many years ago she and her parents met with an accident and she somehow survived. But she remembers very well that something unnatural happened to them and someone saved her from that, and she was determined to find her parents who were alive but missing after that incident. Now as a PD, she got footage where the bride disappears all of a sudden without any trace. When she went to cover that story, she saw the man who saved her in her childhood walking with an umbrella. That man is none other than Lee Yeon. She is sure about him being a supernatural creature and tries to prove that he is not a human being rather he is a supernatural creature. To do so she starts following him. Meanwhile, she meets another man who tries to kill her and that man is Lee Rang, the half-brother of Lee Yeon. He wants to kill her because thousands of years ago his brother left him for a woman who looks like Ji Ah.
Character Breakdown & Performances
The compelling characters and their gripping performance are one of the greatest strengths of Tale of Nine-Tailed. The drama cast performed their roles very well and won the hearts of the fans. A Gumiho (nine-tailed fox) who is tormented by its fate, a journalist who is desperately seeking the truth behind the unseen and a brother who is a tragic anti-hero together shape the drama and its emotional depth and excitement.
So now let’s get introduced to some of the most significant characters in detail.
Lee Yeon (Played by Lee Dong Wook) – The Charismatic Gumiho
Lee Yeon was a powerful mountain god who left everything behind for the love of his life. Now he works as a guardian who balances between the human and supernatural worlds. He is a cold and carefree man on the outside but deep down he is loyal, selfless and carries a wound from his past. He is waiting for the rebirth of his lover who died a thousand years ago.
The handsome actor Lee Dong Wook played the character of the mountain god Lee Yeon. The way he captured the duality of Lee Yeon’s sharp wit and deadly strength as a Ghumiho and his vulnerability as a lover deserves a huge round of applause. Nobody can beat his ability to switch from a fierce warrior to a heartbroken lover. And with this ability made Lee Yeon one of the most memorable Kdrama protagonists of all time.
Nam Ji Ah (Played by Jo Bo-ah) – The Fearless Journalist
Nam Ji Ah is one of the strongest female leads of Kdramaland. She is a TV producer who is strong-willed and brave. She is in search of her parents and the truth behind their mysterious disappearance. Her journey leads her to cross paths with Lee Yeon. Here Ji Ah is that one thread that is binding Lee Yeon on this earth. Both are tangled with each other by their cruel fate.
Jo Bo Ah played the role of Nam Ji Ah very well with her engaging and emotionally resonant performance. She holds both the brave and vulnerable nature of Ji Ah which made her stand different from the typical female leads.
Lee Rang (Played by Kim Bum) – The Tragic Anti-Hero
Lee Rang is the half-brother of Lee Yeon who has a grudge for both Lee Yeon and Nam Ji Ah. He loves his brother from the depth of his heart but also hates him because he left him for a woman and this makes him one of the most complex characters in this drama. He is not the villain of the drama but he is an anti-hero for sure. He resents his brother because he was abandoned by his only brother but he loves him too. All he wants is his brother’s love and care. Their brotherly love puts an extra layer of emotion to the story.
Kim Bum masterfully carried the character of Lee Rang. He brings playfulness and sorrow to his role with a touch of his own charm. To some fans, this is one of Kim Bum’s best works.
Imoogi (Played by Lee Tae-ri) – The Antagonist
Imoogi is the main antagonist of the drama. He is a serpent-like entity with a dark past. He lives in the dark world. In this drama, he seeks revenge and ultimate power. But somewhere he also seeks love. From his birth everyone treated him like a curse and that made him a villain.
The young actor Lee Tae Ri perfectly captured this character’s feelings such as longing, revenge, rage and everything.
There are some other characters too in this character who did a very good job of pushing this drama to its success, and you can not deny their contribution.
Themes Exploration
This masterpiece Kdrama Tale of Nine Tailed is a supernatural romantic drama but deep down it’s more than that. This drama explores deep emotion and philosophical themes which is the speciality of this drama. Let’s explore the key themes of the drama.
Fate, Reincarnation & Eternal Love
The main theme of the drama is fate, reincarnation and eternal love. As I said Lee Yeon is a Gumiho (a nine-tailed fox), and a Gumiho can only love one person in his whole life. So as he loved A-Eum he can not love anyone else and waits year after year just to find the reincarnated A-Eum. Their fate makes them meet again when A-Eum finally reincarnates as Nam Ji Ah. Their love is eternal and they are destined to love each other. Ji Ah is ready to go to every edge to find her parents and the truth about Lee Yeon, and this is how both of them are entangled with the concept of fate and free will.
The Complexity of Family & Brotherhood
The bittersweet bromance of Lee Yeon and Lee Rang is everyone’s favorite. Their bong is one of the most emotional aspects of the drama. When Lee Yeon left Lee Rang he started to hate him because he could not accept the fact that his own brother had abandoned him after his mother and father. He has a deep scar in him that he wants his brother to come back to him, and to make that happen he is ready to do everything. On the other hand, Ji Ah is doing her best to find her parents who went missing in her childhood.
The Battle Between Good & Evil
The moral theme of the drama is the battle between good and evil. Lee Yeon stands for the good and Imoogi stands for the bad. Lee Yeon, the hero of the drama, once was a very powerful deity who protected nature. On the other hand, Imoogi represents ancient evil that manipulated human fate. But both of them have a tragic past. The hero is devastated for losing his love and Imoogi, the villain, has his own loveless tragic past. In this battle of good and bad a question arises which is, “Are evils truly evil or they just are shaped by their circumstance?”
For me, Imoogi is the first ever villain for whom I cried. Obviously, I am not supporting evil but his story made me sad.
Power, Sacrifice & Redemption
Power dominates the world and in this drama this theory is proved. The evils in this drama want power at any cost. On the other hand, the good are willing to sacrifice for love. Lee Yeon sacrifices his deity to save his love and serves the deity by protecting the world. He proves that real power lies in sacrifice and selflessness. Redemption is another significant theme of this drama. Lee Rang, Taluipa and many more face redemption after accepting their years of mistakes.
Visual & Action Sequences in Tale of the Nine-Tailed
As a fan, the most satisfying part of this drama is the visuals and cinematography. The breathtaking visuals and the well-choreographed action scenes compelled the audience to stick with the screen from the beginning to the end.
Stunning Cinematography & CGI
This drama has a top-tier visual effect that makes you believe in the existence of the supernatural world. We know Lee Yeon is a nine-tailed fox who looks exactly like a human, so everything is normal but when his eyes glow and turn fiery red and he shows his power as a Gumiho, you can feel his ethereal and dangerous aura.
Here we see so many spirits who come from the afterlife and live in the world. They have their own reason to stay here on earth. But the eerie depiction of the afterlife of the Samdo River, Taluipa’s office and the hellish underworld gives chills.
The most gruesome scene is the transformation into a serpentine entity. The smooth CGI and graphics bring the horrors into the narrative.
The most important part is the use of color palette, lighting and fog effects when we go to the flashback in the story, mostly the fantasy aspect of Lee Yeon and A-Eum.
Intense & Well-Choreographed Fighting Scenes
With the romantic elements, this drama blends the high-octane action sequence in the finest way possible.
Lee Yeon vs. Imoogi: The final duel between Lee Yeon and Imoogi is full of visual speculation, filled with supernatural energy clashes. Their battle is the final battle of good and evil.
Lee Yeon and Lee Rang’s Fight: Both brothers love each other but they have a bitter story to tell. Lee Yeon left his brother for the sake of his lover but Lee Rang could not accept this so he started hating his brother. When they finally meet again they have a sharp sword fight. Their fight is both emotional and fierce.
Supernatural Hunts: Lee Rang is assigned to find the supernatural beings who are creating a mess in this world of humans. The encounters between the evil spirits and Lee Yeon deliver a perfect mixture of suspense and fast-paced action.
Mythical & Dreamlike Aesthetics
The idea of the nine-tailed foxes is driven by a folklore of the mountain gods called Gumiho. So the story has to be traditional and original. And the use of traditional Korean architecture that is designed in the flashback scenes feels authentic which goes very well with the folk story. The mountains that Lee Yeon once used to reign in are designed beautifully which gives a dreamy aesthetic. The forest also enhances the mystic nature of the origin of Gumiho.
OST & Music Score
The beautifully composed OSTs and background scores directly elevate the emotional depth of the drama Tale of the Nine-Tailed. The music skillfully blends fantasy, romance and suspense and creates an immersive experience in every episode from the beginning to the end. Tale of Nine Tailed has a total of 62 tracks including vocals, instrumental tracks and instrumental scores. And those are:
Vocal Tracks
- Blue Moon by Kim Jong Wan (NELL)
- Moonchild Ballad by LYN
- I’ll Be There by Shownu (MONSTA X)
- Leaning on You by Sung Si Kyung
- Love Already Blooming in My Heart by HYNN (Park Hye Won)
- Diary of Dawn by Yang Da-il
- My Destiny by Miyeon ((G)I-DlLE)
- Stay With Me by YooA (OH MY GIRL)
Instrumental Versions (Backing Tracks of Vocal Songs)
- Blue Moon
- Moonchild Ballad
- I’ll Be There
- Leaning on You
- Love Already Blooming in My Heart
- Diary of Dawn
- My Destiny
- Stay With Me
Background Scores (Original Soundtrack Compositions)
- The Legend of the Fox
- I Waited for You
- Parting at the River of Three Crossings
- The Fox’s Wedding Day
- Sad Fate
- Lightning Bugs
- The Nine-Tailed Fox
- That Was Everything for Me
- The Past in The Picture
- Jia’s Orgol
- Love You Forever
- The Uninvited
- The Accident at Fox Hill
- Awaken
- Family
- The Island
- The Black Puppy
- Acting Like a Fox
- Thread Ring
- White Pupils
- Lee Rang
- Gu Shin Ju
- Intruder
- The Forest of Agwi
- The Fortune Teller
- Hyun Ui Ong
- Skip a Beat
- Brothers Reunited
- The Brothers
- Shaman
- The House of Ghosts
- Ah-Eum
- Yu Ri and Shin Ju
- Dad’s Precious Gift
- The Governor
- The Guard’s Raid
- Snow Mountain Hell
- The Morning Meal
- Transformed
- Imoogi
- Lullaby of Imoogi
- A Call from The Dream
- At The Crossroads
- Hourglass
- Children’s Hell
- Tiger’s Eyebrow
All these tracks actively enhance the beauty and emotions of the drama.
To sum up, Tale of the Nine-Tailed super finely blends the ancient Korean folklore, romance, emotions and fantasy altogether. The iconic bromance of Kim Bum and Lee Dong Wook simply won the hearts of the viewers. The cinematography, mythical storyline and gripping characters make the audience hooked from the beginning to the end. Also, the chemistry of Jo Bo Ah and Lee Dong Wook just cooked it. The eternal love story of Ji Ah and Lee Yeon and the hatred of Lee Rang represent the emotional complexity of the narrative.
The powerful OST, the cinematic action and the supernatural themes elevates the storyline of the drama and makes it a must-watch Kdrama for fantasy lovers like me. No matter if you are a fantasy lover or just a fan of romantic stories then I highly recommend this masterpiece. The romantic moments, thirling mythological elements and the heart-wrenching sibling rivalry, everything will touch your heart and you will be compelled to love this drama and especially the Lee brothers. And if you are like me, then don’t be shocked you can find yourself pitting Imoogi too. So, don’t wait and give it a chance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is "Tale of the Nine-Tailed" about?
“Tale of the Nine-Tailed” is a Korean fantasy drama that follows a mythical nine-tailed fox (gumiho) named Lee Yeon, played by Lee Dong-wook, who has lived for centuries. The story explores his eternal love for a woman, Ji-Ah (Jo Bo-ah), whose life is intertwined with his, spanning through time and myth. The series blends romance, action, and mythology with a modern twist, capturing the complexities of love and sacrifice.
2. Is "Tale of the Nine-Tailed" a love story?
Yes, at its heart, “Tale of the Nine-Tailed” is a deeply emotional and mythical love story. The series revolves around the love between the nine-tailed fox, Lee Yeon, and the human woman, Ji-Ah. Their bond transcends time, facing trials and separations but ultimately exploring the theme of enduring love and fate.
3. Who are the main characters in "Tale of the Nine-Tailed"?
The main characters in the series are Lee Yeon, the nine-tailed fox who is both immortal and burdened by his past; Ji-Ah, a passionate woman whose fate is tied to Lee Yeon; and Yi Rang (Kim Bum), a former fox spirit with a vengeful past. These characters navigate complex relationships filled with love, betrayal, and the supernatural.
4. How does "Tale of the Nine-Tailed" blend mythology and modern-day settings?
“Tale of the Nine-Tailed” combines elements of traditional Korean mythology with a contemporary setting. While Lee Yeon is a mythical nine-tailed fox with powers that stem from ancient folklore, much of the story unfolds in modern Seoul. This mix of past and present allows for a fascinating exploration of timeless love and the consequences of mythological actions in today’s world.
5. Is "Tale of the Nine-Tailed" a good watch for fans of fantasy dramas?
Yes, “Tale of the Nine-Tailed” is an excellent choice for fantasy drama fans. It blends elements of supernatural powers, mythical creatures, and an engaging love story. The action sequences are thrilling, the special effects are captivating, and the plot offers a unique take on age-old folklore, making it a must-watch for fantasy enthusiasts.
6. What is the significance of the nine-tailed fox in "Tale of the Nine-Tailed"?
In the series, the nine-tailed fox, or gumiho, is a powerful and mythical creature with the ability to shape-shift and live for centuries. Traditionally, the gumiho is seen as a dangerous and malevolent being, but in “Tale of the Nine-Tailed,” Lee Yeon is portrayed as a noble, complex character who struggles with his past and the moral challenges of his immortality.
7. How does the romance between Lee Yeon and Ji-Ah develop in "Tale of the Nine-Tailed"?
The romance between Lee Yeon and Ji-Ah evolves slowly throughout the series. They share a deep, fated connection, but their love is challenged by past trauma, myths, and the passage of time. Their relationship faces numerous hurdles, including betrayal, sacrifices, and emotional struggles, making their love story compelling and emotionally charged.