🎬 Subtitles and Bad Decisions Presents:
🫰 Because I have feelings, subtitles, and no self-control.
Tale of the Nine-Tailed
🌙 Watch Log
Started: “The trailer looked intriguing, Lee Dong Wook looked unfairly attractive, and Netflix was basically my entire Asian drama library at the time.”
Finished: “Came for the fox spirit. Stayed for the mythology, the romance, Kim Bum chaos, and whatever supernatural spell Lee Dong Wook's face has cast on humanity.”
🇰🇷 South Korea • 2020
🎬 16 Episodes (Standard Series)
📺 Available on: Netflix, Viki, Prime Video, Tubi
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✨ Why I Picked This Up
Honestly, I picked this up because the trailer on Netflix looked really interesting.
At the time, Netflix was pretty much the only place I knew to watch Asian dramas, so if Netflix suggested something with supernatural creatures, mystery, and attractive people, I was probably clicking play.
It gave off urban fantasy, star-crossed romance, mythology-heavy mystery, and "there is definitely emotional damage hiding behind those pretty visuals" vibes, and I was curious enough to press play.
That was it.
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🎭 The Premise (Spoiler-Free)
Lee Yeon is a legendary nine-tailed fox who has spent centuries living among humans while secretly maintaining balance between the supernatural and mortal worlds.
When television producer Nam Ji A begins investigating strange urban legends and mysterious disappearances, she finds herself drawn into Lee Yeon's world and uncovering connections to her own tragic past.
What follows is a mix of mythology, romance, supernatural mystery, and family drama wrapped in Korean folklore.
Short version: immortal fox man spends centuries waiting for his soulmate while chaos, monsters, and his problematic little brother refuse to let him have peace.
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👥 The People Responsible for My Emotional Stability
💫 Lee Yeon (Lee Dong Wook)
Ancient fox spirit. Protector of realms. Owner of the most devastating sad puppy eyes in existence.
I don't know what his appeal is.
Actually, yes I do.
The eyes. The voice. The lips.
Case closed.
💫 Nam Ji A (Jo Bo Ah)
Smart, determined, and refreshingly willing to investigate things most normal people would immediately run away from.
She balances skepticism and courage really well throughout the story.
💫 Lee Rang (Kim Bum)
Chaos. Pure chaos.
Technically an antagonist.
Emotionally? A disaster raccoon with abandonment issues.
Kim Bum absolutely stole every scene he walked into.
💫 Ki Yu Ri (Kim Yong Ji)
Sharp, loyal, and far more emotionally invested than she wants anyone to know.
One of the most enjoyable supporting characters in the series.
💫 Supporting Chaos
Koo Sin Ju (Hwang Hee) — loyal friend, comic relief, and professional third wheel
Taluipa (Kim Jung Nan) — gatekeeper energy mixed with exhausted management energy
Hyun Ui Ong (Ahn Kil Kang) — proof that supernatural married couples can be just as chaotic as human ones
Various gods, spirits, monsters, and folklore creatures — constantly making sure nobody gets a peaceful day
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📝 Review
(WARNING: Potential Spoilers — I’m Not Saving You from Any Emotional Damage)
This was one of those dramas that immediately grabbed my attention because the premise sounded cool.
Then Lee Dong Wook appeared on screen and suddenly my objectivity left the building.
The story follows Lee Yeon as he continues searching for the reincarnation of the woman he loved centuries ago, and quickly spirals into mythology, ancient grudges, family wounds, supernatural politics, and enough emotional suffering to keep everyone busy for sixteen episodes.
The FL is intelligent, capable, and actively involved in uncovering the mysteries surrounding her own life, while the ML carries centuries of grief and devotion that shape nearly every decision he makes, creating a romance built on fate, memory, and impossible waiting.
The supporting cast and side relationships add humor, heart, and emotional depth, making the world feel much larger than the central romance alone.
These types of dramas tend to rely heavily on their mythology and lore, and this one is no exception.
The folklore elements were some of my favorite parts of the entire show. Every supernatural creature, legend, and mythological reference helped make the world feel rich and lived-in rather than existing solely for plot convenience.
By the middle/end, I was fully invested in both the romance and the family dynamics.
Especially the family dynamics.
Because Kim Bum's Lee Rang spends most of the drama throwing wrenches into everyone's plans while simultaneously making you increasingly concerned for his emotional well-being.
He's not really the main villain.
He's more like a professionally trained troublemaker operating on unresolved trauma and questionable decision-making.
And somehow it works.
The gatekeeper and her husband were also fantastic. Every scene involving them added charm, humor, and a nice break from the constant supernatural disasters unfolding elsewhere.
My brain: invested in Korean mythology.
My emotions: repeatedly manipulated.
My snacks: mysteriously disappearing every episode.
One thing I appreciated was that the series kept moving. It didn't feel padded with endless filler episodes or unnecessary detours. There was always another mystery, another reveal, or another piece of lore waiting around the corner.
In the end, I finished feeling entertained, emotionally satisfied, and slightly concerned about how much I enjoyed watching immortal fox people ruin each other's lives.
And somehow… it worked.
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📊 Damage Report
🎭 Story: 10/10 — engaging mythology, strong pacing, and an entertaining blend of romance and supernatural mystery
💫 Acting & Cast: 10/10 — Lee Dong Wook, Jo Bo Ah, and Kim Bum carried every emotional beat perfectly
🎧 Music: 5/10 — serviceable, but not particularly memorable compared to the rest of the production
🔁 Rewatch Value: 10/10 — mythology, characters, and Lee Rang chaos make revisiting easy
🏆 Overall: 9/10 — a fun, emotionally engaging urban fantasy that helped introduce me to Korean folklore dramas
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💭 Final Mood
A stylish blend of romance, mythology, mystery, and supernatural chaos carried by an incredibly likable cast.
Come for the immortal fox spirit.
Stay for the brotherly dysfunction, Korean folklore, and Kim Bum causing problems for everyone.
Would absolutely rewatch.
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🏷️ Tags
#KDrama #FantasyDrama #Gumiho #KoreanFolklore #SupernaturalRomance #EmotionalDamageApproved #SubtitlesAndBadDecisions
