#taluipa

The Mountain Gods doing Mountain God things. Taking care of their inhabitants, managing weather, chasing off invaders/poachers, solving civil complaints and disputes. That one 1938 episode was so funny (Yeon was literally horizontal by the end of it)

Rang and Yeohee doing married couple things and building each other up. Yeohee showing Rang what it is to be loved unconditionally, and Rang adoring every little thing about her. I bet they would adopt all kinds of strays

Yeon's 600 years of bounty hunting for Taluipa. He is one powerful, ancient, terrifying beast of a man, and I would have loved to see him chasing down evil spirits and other miscreants

Yeon and Mooyeong making amends in more detail

All the nonsense Shinjoo would have to put up with as Yeon's right hand man babysitter

Married life between Yeon and Jia

More of Yeon being a brother/parent to Rang

Shapeshifting. Just- shapeshifting. And animal forms

Source: Google Images

An unexpected case leads Lee Yeon back in time to 1938, where he reencounters Ryu Hong Joo. Once a guardian spirit of the mountain in the west, she's now the owner of a high-end restaurant in the capital city of Gyeongseong. He also meets his younger brother Lee Rang. Meanwhile, another former guardian spirit and ex-friend Cheon Moo Young has become hostile. Lee Yeon struggles to return to the present, to his loved one.

Source: MyDramaList (2023)

One of the Most Unserious Dramas Out There

Before we start: I did not watch the first one and am not planning to watch it at all. Going into Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 I admit I had to do a Q&A with my sister to understand what happened between the Lee brothers in this drama's modern world. However, one does not actually need to watch the previous drama to watch this and honestly speaking, from what I saw and knew about it, Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 is a whole lot more interesting and fun.

That being said, lets get on with how I felt about this drama. I am not kidding when I say, this is the most unserious drama for a drama anyone would think to be serious. Practically half of this drama was comedy and that is a praise. The comedy bit plays a part in making Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 so darn interesting and fun. Yet, this show also pulls on your heartstrings be it the brothers, the best friends or the best friends' righthand people.

I understand romance was a huge part of the first instalment but in this, it was just a tiny bit and I believe that is why I freaking loved watching this drama. In terms of what romance there was, I have no complains too. I mean, I adore the mermaid and the only complain I have is that I wished we could have gotten more scenes with her powers. When Rang said he liked someone who's stronger than him, he was not lying. The way Yeohee was written was right up my alley, she may not be as powerful as Rang but she saved him more times than he saved her and even when she was in danger, she still did not back down on a losing fight. For that reason, Yeohee is I really thought I would dislike the mermaid but nope, I love her.

Another thing I seriously love about Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 was the friendships. Any friendship in this drama was a pleasure to watch. Obviously, the friendship among our three mountain gods was my favourite. Don't get me wrong, Yeon is extremely lovable but in this trio, I need to worship my lady, Hongjoo and lovingly protect the cinnamon roll, Mooyoung. These three portrayed my kind of friendship where they were tight as children, still tight as adults and even with unfortunate circumstances, they might hate but they love each other more. Of course, the friendship among the roommates was a delight too. I only highlighted my top two favourites but I am not lying when I claim that this show did friendships so well.

Now, now. We have a problem though. At the beginning of this drama, Taluipa told Yeon even if he changes something in 1938, it does not affect 2023. I think its safe for me to say that we do not want that to be true, right? I am just willing to believe that what Taluipa said meant that Rang would still be dead in 2023, nothing Yeon did in 1938 changed Rang's decision in the future. I would even go as far to say that, everything Yeon did in 1938 further encouraged Rang to make that choice in the future. That is all I am willing to believe because I hear there's a third season and I need my best friends and roommates reunited to fight (without a doubt) the original mountain god. Yes, I know I said all I am willing to believe is that Rang is still dead but that's because I am sure there will be no Nine-Tailed dramas without both Lee brothers alive.

When the next instalment comes out, I will watch it as long as Hongjoo and Mooyoung are still around (if Jaeyoo, Miyeon and Yeohee are too, even better). I don't even care if there will be more romance although I wish there wouldn't be.

Rating: ★★★★★

I loved it far better than the first season. It was better paced, less uselessly slow, with better character development. I really, really, really fell in love with the characters. They felt like real people, if you know what I mean, and by the end of the season I felt like I actually knew them.

In the first season I already loved characters such as Lee Rang, Yu-Ri, Shin-joo...

I kinda liked Lee Yeon, but in a way that sometimes I hated him and sometimes I found myself entertained by his general attitude and character, but I didn't really feel much more than that. I also found myself bored to death by the love story: I usually don't particularly care for love stories in general, and even if I kinda liked both characters (even if "like" is peraphs a too strong word), I couldn't feel anything in seeing them toghether, and it seemed to be the only thing the series cared to show.... Nothing against those who liked them, you do you. It's just not for me.

But second season!

The brothers were brotherling, finally! I ended up finally liking Lee Yeon! I kept loving Lee Rang and Shin-joo, no surprises there, but then I met Hong-joo. And I. Fell. In. Love.

She's everything. She deserves everything. There are not enough words to describe my love for her.

AND!

I absolutely LOVED the relationship between Hong-joo, Lee Yeon and Moo-yeon! I could actually feel how much they love each other and how much they mean for each other, and how much they care! I couldn't get enough of them!

There was a love story too, between Lee Rang and a mermaid lady (I'm so sorry I love her I just can't remember her name!) but for once, I found it really cute. I actually cared about them and, even if I'm not a hard-core shipper, I was happy to see them toghether. Also because Lee Rang definitely deserves someone who loves him unconditionally and doesn't leave him (HEARD THAT LEE YEON??). So yes, it was actually another good thing I liked about the season.

Some cons are: there's no Yu-ri (I was heartbroken when I realized that) and Lee Yeon continues his "I've never abandoned you" rethoric with his friends. ( Which, I really think he doesn't understand what "abandoning" means. Like, if he's trying to say he never stopped caring and loving them, okay I can believe it, but he still DID abandon them. So I wasn't a fan of that). But in the end, I came to the point of caring about him and actually liking him as a character, so it was more the only actual thing that bothered me about him this season.

The plot was interesting, Taluipa and her husband (another character I absolutely adore but can't remember the name to save my life) were amazing just like the first season. I loved the folklore they showed, one of the perks of season one and done very well here too, if not better.

All in all, great character development, amazing new characters to love, intriguing story about a period of time in Korea we, at least here in Europe, don't really talk about, and I never found myself bored.

Unfortunately as TOTNT draws to an end, so shall these posts! This will probably be my last post concerning TOTNT unless there is something of great importance that happens in the finale that would warrant a discussion. Overall, everything in the series made sense if you actually did your fair share of research of mythology from around the world.  Anyways, I will try to make this post as short as possible for your sake and mine! 

Predictions Based on Ep 15 Preview

One Last Date

There’s not much to say about this portion except that Ji Ah and Lee Yeon just go on one last date before everything blows up!

Let’s Get Sato’s Moon Mirror

The Imoogi will go to get Sato’s Moon Mirror by killing him. Based on this scene, it looks like this will occur in a bathroom (notice the paper towel dispenser and mirror?). 

Hello Mother, It Has Been A Long Time

The Imoogi spirit has been inhabiting Bok Gil’s immortal body. Taluipa will be shocked to see that her dead son body was being used by the Imoogi. Out of anger, she will try to turn him into stone. However, since Terry now has the Moon Mirror, he will use it to deflect Taluipa’s Medusa stone turning power. This will cause her to turn into stone instead. 

After killing Taluipa, Terry will change Ji Ah’s death date to ensure that his other half can now live freely. Then Terry reunites with Ji Ah outside of the Office of the Afterlife to go over the next part of their plan.

Betrayed On All Sides

Lee Yeon not having been aware of what all has happened, will return to his apartment. It is there that he will see Ji Ah standing at the window. Ji Ah will turn around to reveal she’s once again taken over by the Imoogi. At that moment, Lee Rang, Shin Ju, and the Snail Bride will sneak attack Lee Yeon to get his body. Lee Yeon escapes by knocking them all out.

Final Showdown

Lee Yeon realizes the Terry Imoogi has betrayed him so Lee Yeon decides to head to the Office of the Afterlife to stop him once and for all. Lee Yeon will find that Taluipa has now been turned into stone at her desk (see Taluipa’s stone statue in red circle). 

As Lee Yeon is fighting Terry Imoogi, Ji Ah Imoogi arrives at the scene and blocks Lee Yeon from stabbing Terry Imoogi (see red arrow of Terry hiding behind Ji Ah Imoogi).

Ji Ah temporarily regains control of her body and tries to end her life with the CEO’s gun. Also, note the brown couch (red arrow) in the background of Ji Ah, showing that this occurs at the Office of the Afterlife. Ji Ah will fail at killing herself because either Terry Imoogi has stopped her or the Imoogi inside of her has gain back control.

Save Yuri or Save Lee Yeon

Lee Rang wakes up and immediately heads to the Office of the Afterlife where Yuri is there to stop him. Her eyes look pretty dead so my guess is that she’s probably being compelled by the Imoogi to block Lee Rang’s path to Lee Yeon.

Lee Rang is faced with an obstacle similar to what Lee Yeon had to face 600 years ago, which is who to save when both people are considered equally as precious. I think Lee Rang will probably knock Yuri out or maybe Shin Joo will if he tags along with Lee Rang to the office.

Lee Yeon’s Decision

Lee Yeon will decide to go through with his original plan of taking Ji Ah’s half into himself. Lee Rang arrives at that very moment and is faced with having to kill his brother. However, I don’t think Lee Rang will be mentally strong enough to do it. Possessed Lee Yeon will then stab Lee Rang. Following this, Lee Yeon will temporarily gain back control of his body long enough to get to the River Styx.

I’ll Chase You Like You Chased Me at the River Styx

This scene of Ji Ah running in the Office of the Afterlife seems like it happens right after Lee Yeon has taken the Imoogi piece out of her (notice that she no longer has scales on her face or neck). Ji Ah is probably running towards the River Styx to prevent Lee Yeon from jumping into it. This parallels to past when Lee Yeon was running to the River Styx to save Ah Eum’s soul.

Everyone Has Been A Puppet 

There are no coincidences in TOTNT. Every single character has been a puppet in King Yeomra’s grand scheme of finding his perfect replacement. From legends, it is told that King Yeomra was the first to have faced death. In doing so, Yeomra became the King of the Underworld. In Yeomra’s eyes, the candidate best suited to take over his position should also have to face a similar situation. Therefore, Lee Yeon will prove himself worthy by jumping into the River Styx.

Morals of the Story

1)    People who remain good despite experiencing tragedies in their lives will get rewarded 

2)    Bad people are given opportunities to change their terrible fate by doing good deeds

3)    Bad people who do not change their ways despite being given opportunities to do so will meet the ultimate punishment (being erased from existence entirely)

Final Outcomes for TOTNT Characters

Everyone will get a happy ending except the Imoogi! 

Lee Yeon becomes the next King Hades

Ji Ah becomes an immortal, takes over Taluipa’s job, and she has a kid with Lee Yeon

Taluipa gets brought back to life and decides to leave her job to focus on repairing her relationship with Hyun Ui Ong

Bok Gil may or may not come back to life. I’m just not sure if his soul will remain once the Imoogi leaves his body. Although it would be nice if in the end Hyun Ui Ong gets back both his wife and son.

Shin Joo and Yuri have a happily ever after and many fox babies

Lee Rang lives a long happy life being Kim Soo Oh’s father

Ji Ah’s two coworkers will date or get married and live after happily ever after

Snail Bride gets her husband back and they too live happily ever after

We know from S1 that he shouldn't have powers off his mountain, but he does because he made a deal with The Angry Lady (Taluipa) to work for her so his soul mate can be reincarnated. Which means everyone knew what he was doing, it was allowed, and no one made a succession plan.