WATCHED: Tale of the Nine Tailed (Ep 1+2 / SPOILERS Ahead)
"Tale of The Nine-Tailed" ("Gumihodyeon" / "구미호뎐") is a brand new Kdrama series launched on tvN, with 16 episodes lasting October 7th thru to November 26th, 2020, airing on Wednesdays and Thursdays (22:50) in South Korea. Currently watchable on viu.com (Thursdays+Fridays). The show's synopsis reads:
"Tale of The Nine Tailed is about a man with a secret past and a woman who does not remember her past. The man is a nine-tailed fox who has given up on his mountain spirit status and keep wandering the Living realm. There seems to be a link between the man and the woman. What could it be? What has happened in the past?"
THIS synopsis on however, provides a more lengthy description...
"History is littered with the tales of the nine-tailed fox, a legendary creature who seduces the innocent in order to satisfy their craving for human flesh. Though there are few in this modern age who believe in the ghost stories of the past, there are some, like Nam Ji Ah (Jo Bo Ah), who are convinced the legends of old are full of more facts than fiction. Determined to prove to the world that the monsters that lurk in urban myths and ancient legends are, in fact, real, Ji Ah has plied her talent as a television producer to create a show that does just that. With an iron will and nerves of steel, Ji Ah hunts down the weird, unusual, and sometimes dangerous subject matter to showcase on her program.
During one such pursuit, Ji Ah comes across Lee Yeon (Lee Dong Wook), an irresistibly handsome and incredibly intelligent man who is so well put together that he seems too good to be true. Convinced there’s more to this man than meets the eye, Ji Ah keeps a close watch on him, but the more she observes him, the more convinced she becomes that he’s just like every other man in the world, cold and heartless. If only she knew the truth!
A nine-tailed fox who has only recently settled in the city, Lee Yeon has wrecked more than a little havoc since his arrival, as he has a penchant for cleansing human spirits. Fully aware that Ji Ah is tracking him, he does little to arouse her suspicion; but when his blood-thirsty step-brother, Lee Rang (Kim Bum) shows up, things get a bit more complicated. Will Lee Yeon be able to save both himself and Ji Ah from the wrath of his vengeful brother?
A thrilling tale of legends and love, “Tale of the Nine-Tailed” is an action-packed 2020 romantic fantasy drama directed by Kang Shin Hyo."
Lee Dong-Wook stars as "Lee Yeon" (A 1,00 year old fox spirit tasked to eradicate errand fox spirits roaming South Korea), while Jo Bo-Ah is "Kim Beom" (the female TV producer whom Lee Yeon has crossed paths with in her youth, and is the reincarnation of Lee Yeon's eternal love, of course). There is also "Lee Rang" - played by Kim Bum - who Lee Yeon's half-brother and is determined to kill him. Surrounding them are multiple fox spirits who have also taken on human guises, and the humans themselves, who thus far have offered up comedic versions of humanity, IMHO.
We are introduced to the lore of the land in the first 2 episodes (which this blogpost is based on my viewing of). From the "Afterlife Immigration Office" - where folks who have passed from life are given a powerpoint presentation of what they are to do next ... and modernised incarnations of traditional Korean lore (Described on soompi.com). I personally adore fantasy tales such as "Hotel Del Luna", "Goblin" and perhaps even "Mystic Pop-Up Bar" - where reality crosses over with updated traditional fantasy - so this is right up my WATCH-alley!
The last we saw Lee Dong-Wook was as the Grim Reaper in "Goblin", who has yet again donned the guise of a supernatural being in this fantasy tale, and he even makes fun/offers a homage of the "Grim Reaper" role! Of course his heightened romanticised aim of waiting for the reincarnation of his love, will be the highlight of this tale, although I am looking forward to any twists long the way ...
Without a doubt, we experience the show via the main character of Lee Yeon, in his pursuit of love, and romantic notion of KDramas we are used to. The character of Lee Yeon himself though, is another "interesting" element of the show - with his arrogance and nonchalant ways no doubt aching for a story-arc change as the show progresses! If it does not change however, he deserves quite a few slaps LOL
Jo Bo-Ah takes on a guise of a "PD" (Producer Director) of yet again another investigative television show, but this time as a much more competent and smart(er) person (than the similar characters seen in "Zombie Detective" and "Team Bulldog") who is able to deduce and accept the truth of the spirits, and quite frankly is much more refreshing that the "deer in headlights" approach we constantly have been seeing, IMHO. In many ways, Kim Beom represents our/the viewers' POV of discovering the spirits, but with a more knowledgable acceptance of the genre, IMHO.
The script has become somewhat more aware of past genre presentations too, and takes the opportunity to iron out and simplify our palettes (the over-explanation in Ep.2 of the forest spirit also helps sets the tone beyond our principals), while paying homage (at last to my feeble understanding) of Korean lore. The first 2 eps sort of lays out the very basic "ground rules" and the lay of the fantasy land, and I am sure as the series progresses, we've be discovering mpre.
I certainly am looking forward to what writer Han Woo-Ri has prepared for the rest of the series, even though the first two episodes I had devoured did not exactly rock my world, save for Jo Bo-Ah looking like Yves from LOONA, which certainly caught my attention (*cough*). What I am somehat certain is, the show will bring "AA-HEEYYY" into everyone's lips..! LOL
(Poster image via asianwiki.com)
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