Disappointed with the finale of Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938, and want to nurse the hangover of a terrible conclusion? Fantasy and romance in K-dramas truly have an otherworldly quality, which is why our expectations are always high when it comes to them. This is the exact reason the ending of Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938 is making us ball up our fists in frustration. If you feel the same way as us, here is a list of some other fantasy K-dramas with much better writing to soothe your soul.
1. A Korean Odyssey
Chock Full of Korean mythological characters, this one is a pure treat. There is also a complicated love story at the heart of it, whose setting feels straight out of a Wattpad novel at times. Falling in love while forced to be in love is so soapy, but the way the lead actress guards her heart against her own growing feelings, which in turn leads the male lead to address how he treats the people around him, is a delicious story in the making. There is also a zombie in the mix, but she is a good one. Our personal favorite is Cha Seung Won, who plays Woo Hwi Chul and really elevates the drama to the next level. It is surprising that this drama comes with such a high rewatch value, despite being some 20 hours long in total, and the conclusion will leave you with all kinds of feelings, despite being an open ending. This is a must-watch for fans of the romance-fantasy genre.
2. Hotel Del Luna
It was a serious tie between A Korean Odyssey and Hotel Del Luna for first place in our list, but since our bias for a stronger love story won out, this is the hierarchy. Just like Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938 and A Korean Odyssey, this one is full of ghosts and their problems, along with some beings from mythology. Additionally, there are not one but two unrequited love stories here. More than anything, Hotel Del Luna is a treat for the eyes, and you can watch them for IU’s outfits alone. It also helps that Kim Soo Hyun’s appearance at the end of the series is one of the most iconic cameos in K-drama history. Don’t miss out on this one.
3. Goblin: The Great and Lonely God
This title would have ranked higher if it had been faster-paced, but either way, it is just one of those dramas that you cannot afford to miss. 2016 is often called the year of the best Korean dramas, and this one might be the crown jewel of them. The OST and the umbrella scene are unforgettable, and this is also the drama that propelled Lee Dong Wook to international fame, so much so that goblins find a mention in Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020) with reference to this particular drama. We would say that you should watch this drama to swoon over Lee Dong Wook when he is acting out his adorable side, which is in complete contrast to his portrayal of an overconfident Lee Yeon. Even the bromance between him, Kim Shin, and Yoo Deok Hwa set a benchmark. If we may say so, we also personally prefer Lee Dong Wook’s pairing with Yoo In Na over Jo Bo Ah. They just have better chemistry.
4. Mr. Queen
This drama doesn’t have any fantasy, but it has some time travel and is one of the better gender-bender dramas we have seen. We believe that the story is an adaptation of the Chinese drama Go Princess Go, but the two of them hold their own against each other. What they have in common with Tale of the Nine Tailed Tiger 1938 is the element of time travel and a narrative where the protagonist is a fish out of water just trying to get back home. While both Mr. Queen and Go Princess Go are slow-burn romances, they feel very fresh and worth the wait due to oodles of comedy in the plots and dialogues. We cannot believe how Mr. Queen went under the radar, but this is a must-watch.
5. Doom at Your Service
It is a fantasy, but what holds your attention is the love story between Myul Mang and Tak Dong Gyung. Both Seo in Guk and Park Bo Young have amazing chemistry, and even though you never know till the end why their couple makes sense, it keeps you enthralled. This drama is more reminiscent of Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020) because of the plot of two lovers constantly finding their way to each other through death and destruction. It helps that Seo In Guk and the mole on his face are drop-dead gorgeous.
6. Faith: The Great Doctor
We have a thing for time travel, but keep in mind that this drama is only for hardcore Lee Min Ho fans. It is one of his earlier dramas, and though he is as perfect as he can be, the story is such a slow burn that you might feel like throwing things at the screen. However, the script is tight and leaves next to no loopholes. You need patience to watch this series, but you cannot call yourself a true Korean drama fan unless and until you are acquainted with all of Lee Min Ho’s earlier works.
7. Castlevania
This might seem like an odd choice, but if you felt that the politics of the supernatural mingling with the regular world were underexplored in Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938, you would love watching this anime. It is not as fluffy as Lee Yeon’s adventures, and there is sufficient gore and action to make you stop and look away. But the story moves fast and is extremely engaging, enough to make you want more after it wraps up, though we know that there is not going to be a fifth season of it.
There is a lot of fantasy K-content out there, just waiting to be watched. There are some classics like Moon embracing the Sun, The Untamed, or even My Love from Another Star. It is interesting to watch the evolution of the protagonists of these dramas and how the narrative has changed with them. But we can say that if you have safely ticked off all the dramas on our list, you can consider yourself a fantasy aficionado.
