How "Tale Of The Nine-Tailed" Is Attracting Viewers Of All Ages

tvN’s “Tale of the Nine-Tailed” has been receiving much love from viewers of all demographics!

“Tale of the Nine-Tailed” is a fantasy action romance drama that stars Lee Dong Wook as male gumiho (a mythical nine-tailed fox) Lee Yeon and Jo Bo Ah as producer Nam Ji Ah who find themselves tangled in a mysterious case on an island. For all six episodes that have aired so far, the drama has topped viewership ratings for its time slot. It also ranks first among viewers between the ages of 20 and 49 between all cable and major broadcasting stations.

Additionally, for the past three weeks, official clips from “Tale of the Nine-Tailed” released on Naver TV and other platforms have been the most popular, recording nearly 12 million views. These clips are also available for purchase as a VOD replay service, recording the highest VOD sales for a tvN Wednesday-Thursday drama this year.

Here are four key points that explain why the drama has been a hit for viewers in their teens all the way up to adults in their forties and fifties!

1. For teens: Piquing curiosity with its novel storyline and quick pace

The plot of “Tale of the Nine-Tailed” takes an immediate twist by introducing a male gumiho as well as by combining their fantasy world with our reality. Lee Yeon is also a past guardian spirit of the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range who has been alive for over 1,000 years. The storyline allows viewers’ imagination to go wild by going back and forth between Lee Yeon’s past and present, changing the name of the Sanzu River to the Underworld Immigration Office, and creating punishments in hell. With every episode, the plot has quick advancements and always leaves the viewer in awe with a dramatic ending.

2. For those in their 20’s: The perfect casting

As soon as Lee Dong Wook, Jo Bo Ah, and Kim Bum were confirmed as the drama leads, there was a ton of positive feedback for the perfect casting. Those in their twenties, who are well-versed in expressing themselves on social media, have actively been promoting their favorite characters.

Lee Dong Wook has been praised that his existence alone was perfect for the role as Lee Yeon. Jo Bo Ah is being called the “cool unnie” in her role as Nam Ji Ah, who is trying to find her parents after they went missing 21 years ago. As a half gumiho and half human, Kim Bum’s role as Lee Rang is commonly referred to as the ‘charming villain.’

3. For people in their 30’s: The fantasy romance

Ahead of the broadcast, Lee Dong Wook explained in an interview that 60 percent of the “Tale of the Nine-Tailed” plot was romance, further exciting viewers. To those in their thirties who value their emotions and endurance most within both their families and their everyday lives, “Tale of the Nine-Tailed” is said to have become a small happiness in their busy lives.

The love story began over 600 years ago between Lee Yeon and his first love Ah Eum, who were not meant to be. For the past 600 years, Lee Yeon has been waiting for Ah Eum to be reincarnated and it is revealed that she has finally been reborn as Nam Ji Ah. Now that the couple can complete their love story at last, viewers will be sure to have their hearts fluttering at their long-awaited romance.

4. For those in their 40’s and 50’s: The nostalgia of an old folktale

“Tale of the Nine-Tailed” reinvents a legendary myth into a modern-day story, interesting viewers in their forties and fifties who are brought back to the original story from their childhood. In episode four, this was especially relevant when viewership ratings for women in their forties recorded 10.9 percent nationwide. As they look back on the story they’ve heard before, while they may be able to predict what will happen next, they will also discover the fun in observing what aspects have been altered to match our current generation. This includes characters like Tal Eui Pa (played by Kim Jung Nan) who drinks coffee and runs into many technical difficulties while running the Underworld Immigration Office. There is also Bok Hye Ja (played by Kim Soo Jin), the “snail bride” from a Korean traditional fable, who also runs a Korean restaurant while delivering information about the monsters and spirits. The action displayed by these forces and the charisma of the former guardian spirit of the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range also gifts viewers an exciting catharsis through each episode!

The producers commented, “We want to deeply thank our viewers who have recognized the value and many charms of ‘Tale of the Nine-Tailed,’ including its novelty and ability to appeal to the general public. We hope that this drama lasts as one that the entire family can enjoy, as a fantasy action romance drama that receives love from those in their teens all the way to their forties and fifties while combining generations.”

Watch “Tale of the Nine-Tailed” with English subtitles below!

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