Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 (구미호뎐 1938) is a sequel to the much-loved fantasy Kdrama of the same named and is directed by Kang Shin-hyo and Jo Nam-hyung. The Kdrama stars Lee Dong-wook, Kim So-yeon, Kim Bum, Ryu Kyung-soo, Kim Young-ji, and Hwang Hee alongside other cast members.
The sequel brings the gumiho Lee Yeon away from his happy ending and back to the year 1938 where he once again comes face to face with his brother Lee Rang and Ryu Hong-joo. Now, he has to find a way to return to the present and to his loved one, but this isn’t something that will come to him easily.
The synopsis of the show reads:
A K-FANTASY ACTION UNFOLDS AS THE NINE-TAILED FOX (PLAYED BY LEE DONG-WOOK) MAKES A CRASH LANDING IN THE YEAR 1938, AN ERA OF CHAOS, AND HE STRUGGLES TO RETURN TO THE PRESENT.
Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 Ending Explained
Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 episode 12 brought an end to the spectacular season and journey of Yeon in the Japanese Occupation of Korea era where he meets old friends and new enemies. With this adventure coming to an end, the story of our gumiho is set to continue because more adventures are sure to happen. With that, here’s how this season ended.
Towards the end of episode 12, Yeon finally defeats Ryuhei Kato after taking up his gumiho form and giving the demon a satisfying end. Now, he begins his race against time to reach the afterlife immigration office, however, Akira Saito arrives with his soldiers and is ready to revenge Kato.
Right then, Hong-joo arrives and tells him to rush to Taluipa as she is here to take care of this group. The two say their last farewells and rush to their own ways. Yeon leaves the hotel and gets into his car when the police under the Japanese government arrive and block his way.
Surrounded by another group, this time it is Moo-young who arrives to save his friend. A flashback shows the scene of Moo-young’s death when the mark on Yeon’s wrist lit up and the god of fortune arrived to fulfil his wish. While he is given a warning, Yeon adamantly chooses to save his friend’s life.
Back in the present, Moo-young asks Yeon why he made this choice to which the latter replied that there is no reason for saving each other as this was a promise they made a long time ago. As their friendship gets back on track, Yeon says his farewell and leaves the scene while Moo-young makes way for his friend.
Yeon and Shin-joo soon reach the afterlife immigration office, unaware that the original mountain god stands outside watching the duo in silence. On the other hand, Rang rushes to see Yeon for the last time before his departure.
Yeon’s arrival fills Taluipa with relief as she tells them to leave soon, however, Yeon is hesitant as he hasn’t said goodbye to Rang. When he is about to open the door, Rang arrives and rushes to his brother to tell him about how he was able to protect his loved ones. He gives him the fortune string he brought for Yeon and apologises for not being able to send him off with a smile.
The two shed tears of sadness and Yeon finally reaches out to open the door and opens the portal that will take him back home. He then leaves with Shin-joo and the scene changes to Hong-joo and Moo-young who are thinking about their friend.
Hong-joo then asks Moo-young about his plan to which he tells her that he now wishes to live as a wandering doctor and become the person she wished for him to become. As he wishes to always come back to her, the scene once again changes and brings us to Myeoyeonggak as Hong-joo misses the Yeon who left.
Right then she receives a letter left for her from Yeon along with a daenggi (traditional Korean ribbon) that consists of memories that the two share from their childhood. A daenggi on which Yeon embroidered Hong-joo’s name, Yeon writes his farewell to his friend who is always there to protect him and Moo-young.
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Soon, Hong-joo’s days go back to as normal as they can be but with new changes that came from the events that took place. As she financially supports the independence activists, her Myeoyeonggak has welcomed the fox family consisting of the Yeon of this era, Rang and Yeo-hee.
Along with this comes her binge eating which worries others as they link it to Yeon’s departure. But what they don’t know is the godly trio’s activity which consists of stopping the Japanese in the darkness of the night.
On the other hand, Yeon finally comes back home and is now on his way to meet the one who has been waiting for him. Standing under a red umbrella in the rain, Yeon finally meets Ji-ah and the two finally reunite after his adventure in the past.
Post credits scene shows an animated clip of Yeon arriving in the historical Joseon era with his red umbrella and a new adventure to set forth on.
What Happened to the Original Mountain God?
Episode 12 shows us that the original mountain god is now the main antagonist and has got his hands on Taluipa’s thousand-miles eyes. The last scene of his is outside the afterlife immigration office looking at Yeon and Shin-joo, however, we can guess that he is ready to bring chaos very soon.
As Taluipa has mentioned in episode 11, the original mountain god’s power had been divided into four treasures that include the golden ruler and the guardian stone. She also mentioned that these treasures don’t appear in the same era together, so with this, we can assume that he is now going to embark on a journey through time to get his hands on the other three treasures.
For now, we can only wait for news on the next season of this show to know more about what will happen in Joseon and how Yeon’s next adventure will take place.
Until then, let us know what you think about the show in the comments below!
Watch Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 on Prime Video.
Also read: Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 Episode 12 Recap and Review: Mountain God vs Mountain God
Amazing show. Both season 1 amd 2 are excellent . Season 2 has unexpectedly taken it a notch higher ! Brilliant
Season 2 was definitely better than the first. Every episode left me at the edge of my seat. Looking forward to more seasons as they battle it out with the original mountain god.
One thing is ticking in my mind. Shouldn’t changing the past change the future too? I mean Yeon changed Rang in the past with his brotherly love.
Then shouldn’t be Rang present there in the future with his wife?
in an earlier ep, taluipa told lee yeon that what he does in this timeline would not affect his current one. it’s more like an alternate universe and the 2 are not linked, so this wouldn’t create a time paradox. so yes the 1938 rang will have a wife but the 2020 one would not. (most likely cause they didn’t meet since them meeting at the boutique was due to lee yeon dragging rang there)
I thought about it too…..that means rang won’t be angry with yeon anymore…so he will not wake up that imoogi thing…if so everything in the future has to be peaceful…and in that case ..yeon and ji ah’s meeting would have been changed too…however if there’s no imoogi rang won’t have to die….and also i have another doubt …what happened to that mountain god girl…if she is also a mountain god…she should be able to live long just like yeon…then she should be alive in 2023 too …same goes for the other friend….and rang’s girlfriend might have died pretty soon…that’s why she was not there in future…..i have so many other questions they better make season 3
The season 2 was so good they give us viewers good ending, Hoping for Season 3
exactly what I have in mind!
though in the beginning it was mentioned that no matter how and what changes are done, it wouldn’t affect the future.
was it just a simple “side task that would give extra credits” type of event (while Yeon is waiting for the eclipse so that he may travel back again in time? or did Taluipa refrain from telling the whole truth again so that ‘all would be according to plan’?
WHATEVER IT MAY BE, IT IS CLEAR THAT SEASON 3 IS COMING. <3
I think they follow the parallel universe theory as believed that Lee yeon who traveled in 1938 will not affect his era in the future 2023…if it follows that, then the changes in 1938 will only branch out a new future… a 2023 where the fox family is complete as well a the mountain gods…or who knows, maybe the original mountain god annihilated Joseon right after the ending and a beginning of season 3????
I pray somehow or someway Rang is back, if there is a season 3.
I hope so! I loved the character of Rang<3
Completely agree!
The season 2 was an unexpectedly good sequel. But what about the part where mountain gods are not allowed to kill humans? In Season 2 each mountain god was killing them. Moreover the ending. In the middle somewhere Ryu Hong Ju received punishment in ice hell for killing the human…what about the massacre at the ending?
What i think is that they were allowed to kill since those humans were destroying their lands and it can also be possible that those soldiers were not human since japanese were collecting demons for the war too
Please producers, do make sure to release a sequel to explain what would happen to the original mountain God. Thank you