Image: Prime

Title: Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938
Director: Kang Shin-Hyo
Writer: Han Woo-ri
Number of episodes: 12 episodes
Release date: May 6-June 11 2023

Four months after Lee Rang's death, Lee Yeon receives the power of the nine-tailed fox again, on the condition that Lee Rang be reincarnated. An uninvited guest slips in during the lunar eclipse and steals the guardian stone created by the King of the Dead to protect the boundary between the Worlds of the Living and Dead, then disappears "into the cabinet"

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Yeay, after Alchemy of Souls, I think Tale of the Nine-Tailed is the next series that I really adore. Well, I should admit that the first season is full of a romantic side between Lee Yeon (Lee Dong-Wook) and Nam Ji-a (Jo Bo-Ah). But, this second season, is more about the brothership between Yeon and Rang (Kim Beom) and the friendship between Yeon, Hong-joo (Kim So-Yeon) and Mu-young (Ryoo Kyung-Soo).

The Story

Because of an unexpected case, Lee Yeon should travel back in time to the year 1938. There, Yeon meets Ryu Hong-Joo, Yeon's long best friend. Well, just like Yeon, Hong-joo was once a guardian spirit of a mountain in the West. Now, in 1938, Hong-Joo is the owner of Myeoyangak--the best high-end restaurant in the capital city of Gyeongseong. 

Another unexpected thing is, Lee Yeon also meets his younger brother, Lee Rang. What's happened in the present makes Lee Yeon try his best to cherish every moment with Rang. He wants to be the best hyung for him. Yeah, it's like paying the price for everything that he couldn't do at the present time.

Meanwhile, there is Cheon Mu-Young, another friend of Lee Yeon and Hong-Joo. He used to be a guardian spirit of a mountain in the east. Sadly, a hurtful event made Mu-Young despise Lee Yeon so much. This incident also made Mu-Young try to seek revenge on Lee Yeon.

Aside from the conflict between Yeon and his two best friends, we also meet another conflict about the independence movement from the Japanese colonization. There were Sunwoo Eun-Ho (Kim Yong-Jin), Snail Bride (Kim Soo-Jin), and grandfather from Afterlife Immigration Office, Hyun Ui-Ong (Ahn Kil-Kang). Therefore, these 12 episodes are really compact and interesting. I really love this season a lot.

The Opinion

So, this season has made me smile a lot. Since we lost Lee Rang in the first season, the second season showed the brotherhood between Lee Yeon and Lee Rang. Of course, with everything that happened, Lee Yeon wants to take advantage of the remaining time that he has with Lee Rang. He knows that Rang won't be coming back at the present time, but in those short moments, Lee Yeon wants to make up for everything. I really love when Lee Yeon without any hesitation always said, "Don't mess with my dongsaeng!", "If something happened to my dongsaeng, you will pay the price." and else.

I couldn't help but smile when Lee Yeon always takes care of Rang, even though Rang sometimes feels annoyed by it. Ahh, I love their bond has become deeper from several events that happened in 1938.

Then, in my opinion, this opinion is war more comedic than the first season. The first episode made me laugh so hard, moreover when Lee Yeon meet Hong-Joo again for the first time. Their battle scene is really hilarious. As the drama progress, a lot of comedic scenes have been executed well in this drama. Good job, PD-nim!

In some interviews, Dong-wook and Beom said that this series will unleash more of the urban legend, including the legend from outside Korea. Well, compared to the first season, this season has brought more urban legends and ghosts from all over Korea. Sadly, as someone who couldn't watch a horror movie, I definitely muted the sound from episode 6 when watched it. I couldn't stand the horror vibe, let alone from the Korean movie--I have a big trauma about watching a Korean horror movie.

 

Anyway, I almost forget that indeed there is a romantic story here. In this season, we gotta meet with the cute story between Lee Rang and the mermaid lady, Jang Yeo-Hee (Woo Hyun-Jin). Their story is not too much but still cute. I laughed so hard when Yeon said something like, "How dare you bring seafood to our family line." That's so funny. Thankfully, Yeon is very supportive of Rang's relationship. At first, Rang maybe looks so cold, but he becomes warmer once Yeo-hee is always on his side when he needs the most. Aww, melting. 

Conclusion

Very well, I know that there will be a next instalment for this series. I mean, how about that origin mountain spirit that has been awakened? Also, the hint at the end of the episodes when Yeon come back to the Joseon dynasty. So, I am more than excited to wait for the next season to come. Ahh, seriously. I love this series so much. I love how Dong-wook and Beom can make the brotherhood between Yeon and Rang felt so real. 

8.5 out of 10 stars from me.

Sincerely, 
Ra

Title: Queenmaker

Director: Oh Jin-seok

Writer: Moon Ji-young

Number of episodes: 11 episodes

Stars: Kim Hee-ae, Moon So-ri, Ryu Soo-young, Seo Yi-seok, Yoon Ji-hye

Watched on Netflix

Hwang Do-Hee works as a general manager for a strategic planning team at Eunsung Group. She is good at dealing with public opinion. She takes care of disturbing cases for the company and she is highly trusted by her employers.

One day, she joins Oh Kyung-Sook's  campaign to become the mayor of Seoul. Oh Kyung-Sook is a human rights lawyer, who often went up against Eunsung Group. She decided to run for mayor with the goal of fighting for the weak.

During the election, Oh Kyung-Sook and Hwang Do-Hee often butt heads with differing opinions, but they strive for the same end goal. That is to make Oh Kyung-Sook the mayor of Seoul.

***

When the two powerful ladies join hand in hand to take down the corrupt wealth a family, it won't be easy. There will be so many challenges and also tears when doing it. But, both of Hwang Do-hee (Kim Hee-ae) and Oh Kyung-sook (Moon So-ri) proof that their powerful collaboration does miraculously amazing.

The Story

Do-hee is the general manager of strategic planning team at Eun-sung Group. She infamously being called as The Cleaner. She can managed to take care all of disturbing cases for the company. You know, to make a strategy to retain the public opinion about Eun-sung family. 

Meanwhile, Kyung-sook is a human rights activist lawyer who demand the people in power to be accountable for their action, including their mistreatment toward the worker at Eun-sung Group. She did what she can do protest and campaign what she believes is right. 

Some event made Do-hee realize that Eun-sung family is really evil and corrupt. Therefore, she decided to ask Kyung-sook to be the Seoul Mayor—compete with the Eun-sung Group's in-law son, Baek Jae-min (Ryu Soo-young). At first, Kyung-sook rejected Do-hee proposal. She thinks that Do-hee is just crazy. But then, Kyung-sook realizes that Do-hee is very serious with her plan. 

The Opinion

To be honest, I have a bit of expectations from this drama. Moreover, several weeks ago, I happened to just watch Pandora: Beneath the Paradise. Both of these dramas are political drama. Therefore, I thought that will be a huge twist as the story progress. Sadly, there wasn't any in my opinion.

First thing first, I really admire Do-hee and Kyung-sook's friendship. Both of them is really charming and powerful. They did what the best they can do during the campaign period. I love how at the end, Kyung-sook can one hundred percent trust Do-hee's judgement and plan. 

Second, in a way, Kyung-sook's persona has reminded me with someone that I know in real life—hello, Mbak Asfin🙃 I mean, a powerful human rights activist lawyer just like her. The thing is, in Indonesia, it won't be possible for us to pursue a mayor position without the support of political party. I don't think it would be possible to be an independent candidate? Correct me if I'm wrong, even though it's possible, but the requirements are ridiculously so hard to be achieved.

Third, maybe the most relatable situation with what happened in Indonesia is about the oligarch who want to extend their power in politics. This powerful people, decided to involved in politics so they can get advantage from their position. Sometimes, their way is reallt brutal and unjust. They did everything they can do, in dishonest way to reach their goal.

I really despise Baek Jae-min in this drama. He is really an evil person. He thought he could has everything with his wit and power. Then, of course Son Young-sim (Seo Yi-seok) is also an evil human being. Oh, goodness. Meeting her standard is just pushed you being the monster who shouldn't have a heart.

As I said before, there's no a huge twist at this drama. You have known whos is the bad and the good from the very start. There won't be any awed moment that could make you shocked. About Do-hee's plan to confess everything about the campaign fund, in a way, I have predicted it. There should be a reason why Do-hee asked help from Eun Seo-jin (Yoon Ji-hye). 

Then, even though there is betrayer in the Kyung-sook's campaign team, there is no significant effect from it to Kyung-sook's strategy. So, yeah. 

Conclusion

I love seeing Do-hee and Kyung-sook's collaboration. I also intrigued with the political competition in the South Korea. I also want to know more about it. I think, I should find another political drama again to watch.

But, if you expect there will be a lit of twist and drama, well, I could say that there's no many moments of that in this drama.

Well, 7 out of 10 stars for Queenmaker.

Sincerely, 

Ra