Now, I know what you’re thinking. “No, it’s not.” “What’s Tale of the Nine Tailed?” “Is Inuyasha one of those cartoon thingys?” The answers to all of those questions are – yes, a brilliant kdrama, and basically.
Tale of the Nine Tailed is a TvN Korean drama airing during the fall months of 2020. If you’re like me, an American, than you can catch it on Viki.com. I first drafted this post when the show was first airing back in 2020 – but I took a break from the show (I still haven’t finished it!). So, now that seasons 2 and 3 have just been announced it felt like the fitting time to finish the show and share this post!
It stars Lee Dong Wook as the titular “Nine Tailed” Fox, or Gumiho. Anime fans would refer to him as a Kitsune. Sonic fans would say “Oh, like Tails?” all of which would be correct. He’s a mystical fox. “But, wait?” you’re now saying, “Isn’t Lee Dong Wook human?” and you would be right. He is human. Gumiho’s or Kitsune’s can and usually do take on human form. So, don’t worry. You’ll be able to see Lee Dong Wook in all of his sharp-jawed, newly-dyed red-brown hair perfection.
Staring alongside Lee Dong Wook are the beautiful Jo Bo Ah as the leading lady and primary human, and the talented Kim Bum (who, incidentally, was one of the first Korean actors I ever saw, but I digress) as the mischievous little brother.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is where the similarities begin.
As we all know (and if we don’t all know then please, just pretend), Inuyasha is a Japanese anime series about a half demon dog and his human friends (and girlfriends) who work hard to defeat big baddie Naraku by collecting all of the Shikon Jewel shards before he can. Inuyasha, as I’ve said, is a half demon dog, but one of his traveling companions, little Shippo, is a fox. Yes, a nine tailed fox! A Kitsune. A Gumiho. All of the things.
An interesting fact – but a little bit of a further digression.
Basically, I feel like someone in the writer’s room wanted to know “what would happen if we combined Inuyasha, Shippo and John Wick?” and they came up with Kim Bum’s character.
Let’s get into the nitty gritty details.
Why is Tale of the Nine Tailed Inuyasha, huh? Explain it to us!
I will!
#1: Red
As we all know, Inuyasha wears red:
Here, we see Kim Bum also wearing red:
A lot!
See what I’m saying? But wait, there’s more!
#2: Antagonistic half brothers
In Inuyasha we have Sesshomaru:
Who is a full dog demon and brother to Inuyasha:
A half dog demon or, as they like to call him, a half-breed. The brothers hate each other! At least, they’re always fighting and trying to kill each other.
In Tale of the Nine Tailed we have Lee Dong Wook:
The full fox, and Kim Bum:
A half fox, who are constantly fighting and trying to kill each other.
Still not convinced? Well what if I told you…
#3: Swords & Claws
Both sets of Brothers use swords as their preferred weapon of choice, although in both Inuyasha and TotNT, the little brother makes good use of his claws.
#4: First Meetings
They first met, both in the past and the present, when she was a little girl. In the past he was literally resting against the base of a large tree, just like Sesshomaru.
In the present, in episode 4, he goes to the underworld to pay for saving her life – and in Inuyasha Sesshomaru went to the underworld to rescue Rin.
#5: Kim Bum is Inuyasha
The obnoxious half demon that’s wears red and is constantly trying to fight his older brother.
#6: Lee Dong Wook is Sesshomaru
The powerful fox demon that is stoic but falls in love with a human.
#7: Jo Bo Ah is Rin
The innocent young human who falls in love with the protective fox demon.
In conclusion – it’s Inuyasha but Inuyasha if Sesshomaru was the protagonist. In Inuyasha he’s the one with the human lover that dies and is then reincarnated. In Tale of the Nine Tailed it is the Sesshomaru characters’ human lover that dies and is reincarnated.
Now that it’s fall again I’m really excited to re-watch and finally finish this show!
And I’m SOOOOOOOO excited for future seasons!
A Writers View 
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