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 show will have 16 episodes and be broadcasted on tvN’s Saturday-Sunday 9:20 PM KST timeslot previously occupied by Pandora Beneath the Paradise. Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 episode 1 has a run time of 75 minutes.
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 Episode 1 Recap Contains Spoilers-
Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 episode 1 begins with Lee Yeon waking up to be surrounded by Japanese colonial soldiers who suspect him to be behind a bombing in the city. Given no other choice but to fight his way out, Lee Yeon goes for it and soon notices someone at a far-off distance.
It is none other than Lee Rang who is busy smoking which annoys Lee Yeon as he gets the gun ready and fires a shot right at his cigarette. However, Lee Rang isn’t one to back off from such provocation and takes out a long-distance bomb which he shoots right at his brother.
The two continue to fight like always and with this begins the new season of Tale of the Nine-Tailed in the year 1938. We are then taken back to 2020 to know what brought Lee yeon here.
After Lee Rang gives his life for his brother, Lee Yeon goes to the Taluipa to ask her about Lee Rang’s reincarnation process only to find out that it won’t be easy as his brother had committed too many crimes. He asks for a way out and she soon signs a contract with him to work for her until Ji-ah dies.
He gets started with his job, however, one night during the lunar eclipse the guardian stone on the terrace of the afterlife immigration office is stolen by a man in a red and white mask. Lee Yeon is called to bring back the stone and is sent to the year 1938, but before leaving he is warned to come back within the time limit by Taluipa.
If he fails to come back then he will be stuck in the past. Lee Yeon promises to fulfil his mission on time and arrives in the Japanese colonial era, unaware that he has been followed by Gu Shin-joo. He soon spots the man in the mask and tries to follow him, meanwhile, a plan to bomb the commander is underway in the city.
The one carrying out the bombing is a woman named Seonwoo Eun-a, who looks exactly like Ki Yu-ri, and is about to throw the bomb when Lee Yeon and the masked man land in front of the crowd. Lee Yeon notices Eun-a and is shocked by the striking similarity when she suddenly goes ahead and throws the bomb.
Chaos soon arrives as the Japanese soldiers try to protect their commander while the cries of rebellion are heard from Korean citizens who demand their freedom. Meanwhile, Lee Yeon is looking around for the stone while trying to get his hands on it.
However, a sneaky thief gets his hands on it and runs away. Lee Yeon tries to follow him, but when he sees the soldiers shooting the people, he stops to help the people before running behind the thief. He chases the thief and ends up following the whole gang, however, he soon reaches their den where a surprise awaits him.
It is none other than his brother Lee Rang from this era who is unrestrained and holds a grudge against him. Lee Yeon is overjoyed upon meeting his brother and forgets that the Lee Rang in front of him is not the one from 2020. Lee Rang goes along with him to get his barriers down before offering him alcohol which makes Lee Yeon faint.
Meanwhile, Eun-a is caught by the officials but is saved by Cheon Moo-young on time. Elsewhere, Lee Yeon is asleep for hours and ends up wasting a lot of time. He wakes up to the Japanese soldiers surrounding him and we are brought back to the opening scene where the two continue fighting. However, Lee Yeon doesn’t defend himself against Lee Rang’s final blow and assures him that he is trustable.
Lee Yeon then walks away to return back to his time, but when he turns back he sees the masked man standing behind Lee Rang and stabs his brother. Lee Yeon is devastated by this and warns the man that a gumiho never forgets grudges.
Lee Rang asks Lee Yeon to bring him to Myoyeongak before he faints. Elsewhere, Eun-a is once again caught by the officials, however, this time her identity as a Japanese businessman’s daughter-in-law saves her life.
Lee Yeon brings Lee Rang to Myoyeongak and tries to understand what made his brother ask him to be brought to this place. He soon finds his answers when he meets the one who calls himself Long Living Dong Bang-sak. Lee Yeon asks him to save his brother to which he agrees on the condition that he brings him the item written on the ball that he has to pick from the box.
Lee Rang agrees to it and picks a ball with the words Uturi’s Sword written on it, a sword that belong to the Lee Yeon of this era. Elsewhere, Lee Rang’s spirit comes out of his body and is startled by what he is experiencing right now. He observes that he is able to get past everything and decides to find Lee Yeon.
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He overhears his brother’s conversation with Bang-sak and is touched by Lee Yeon’s words, however, he tries to communicate with him only to fail each time. He then tries to follow Lee Yeon outside Myoyeongak but fails to do so.
Lee Yeon reaches where his old self stays and is embarrassed by the way his old self behaves. He then tries to sneakily take the sword and almost succeeds, but is caught by the old Lee Yeon while leaving. The two have a face-off but Lee Yeon manages to trick his old self with a picture of Ji-ah.
Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 Episode 1 Ending
Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 episode 1 ends with Lee Rang finding the truth behind Bang-sak who ate away the lifespan of a young girl in front of him. This shocks Lee Rang who then tries to save his body only to discover that it has disappeared. He soon finds out that the gisaeng had hidden his body at Lee Yeon’s request, however, his happiness doesn’t stay for long as Bang-sak finds out what happened.
Lee Yeon soon arrives with Uturi’s sword which is the only weapon that can kill Bang-sak, but before handing it to him he asks for his brother to be saved. However, when Bang-sak goes on wasting his already precious time, the two begin fighting.
Elsewhere, Lee Rang finds out that the little girl whose lifespan has been stolen can see him, he takes her help and communicates with Lee Yeon. Thus, he tells him the way to subdue Bang-sak and the two finally win after killing Bang-sak.
Lee Rang soon wakes up in his body and all the lifespans stolen go back to their place, however, time continues to run fast for Lee Yeon. Unfortunately, it runs a little too fast and he is stuck in 1938. Elsewhere, Ryu Hong-joo prepares to meet her beloved Lee Yeon and is ready with the biggest sword she can find.
Lee Yeon understands that someone is trying to keep him back in time and is now ready for the hunt that is soon to come.
Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 Episode 1 Review
The magic has once again begun and it takes off with a hoard of laughter-filled scenes as well as emotional ones as we are ready to get more of these beautiful gumiho brothers. The first episode has really done well in keeping us entertained while keeping us excited with what is to come.
Finally, this was definitely a good start for the new season of the show and we are ready to see where this journey leads Lee Yeon.
What do you think about this episode? Let us know in the comments below!
Watch Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 on Prime Video.
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