Kim Hye Yoon’s new drama No tail to tell quickly became a hot topic, drawing mixed, largely negative, reactions from viewers just two episodes after its broadcast. What was supposed to be a new fantasy romantic comedy was instead labeled by some viewers as one of the most disappointing gumiho performances in recent Korean drama history.
No tail to tell follows Eun Ho, played by Kim Hye Yoon, a proud nine-tailed fox (gumiho) who has lived for centuries with the power to grant wishes. Determined to preserve her eternal freedom, Eun Ho avoids becoming human at all costs, choosing instead to play harmless pranks and trade desires for personal gain. He lives by a strict rule: never fall in love, never get confused with the human world.
His carefully controlled existence unravels when he meets Kang Si Yeol (played by Lomon), a world-famous soccer star known for his discipline and impeccable public image. A sudden and fateful encounter causes Eun Ho to lose her powers, forcing her to take an unwanted path to becoming human. What follows is a chaotic love-hate relationship between a fallen gumiho and a superstar athlete, blending romance, comedy, and familiar fantasy clichés as the two characters slowly begin to heal each other.
However, shortly after the first two episodes aired, online forums and social media platforms were flooded with debate. Much of the criticism focuses on Kim Hye Yoon’s performance as Eun Ho. Although his character is supposed to be mischievous, arrogant and otherworldly, many viewers have complained that his high-pitched, high-pitched and overly clear voice has become exhausting– especially during fast-paced dialogue delivered in a single tone.
Some viewers argued that Kim Hye Yoon simply doesn’t fit the gumiho archetypelacking the mystical charm, seductive charm and dangerous elegance traditionally associated with Nine-Tailed Fox characters. Others criticized his facial expressions and acting style forced and excessiveclaiming that it seemed to recycled version of his past rolesespecially Ye-seo da Sky Castlerather than a new transformation.
The drama’s weaknesses, according to critics, go beyond the acting. The script has been labeled shallowfailing to deliver the emotional punch expected of a romantic comedy. The chemistry between Eun Ho and Kang Si Yeol has also been widely criticized, with many claiming that the male lead he lacks the charisma necessary to make the love story convincing. Besides that, the quality of the production has been criticized, as pointed out by viewers Disappointing CGI, cheap visuals, forgettable background music and uninspired direction– giving the show the feeling of a low budget web drama rather than a primetime SBS series.
Ratings seem to reflect this lukewarm reception. Episode 1 recorded 3.7% domestically, but Episode 2 dropped to 2.7%, according to Nielsen Korea, amid stiff competition from other programs. Some viewers also believe that the Friday to Saturday time slot is unsuitable for a fantasy romantic comedycausing the audience to quickly become distracted.
That said, not all responses were negative. Some fans and industry observers argue that the problem lies more in the matter the director’s guidance than with Kim Hye Yoon herself, noting that her distinctive vocal style has worked well in previous roles. Others pushed back against the harsh criticism, urging viewers to focus on acting rather than acting attacking his appearance or characterand pointing out that the drama still needs time for character development to fully unfold.
Overall, No tail to tell is facing a rocky start, with strong negative reactions aimed particularly at Kim Hye Yoon’s portrayal of Eun Ho. While there remains hope that subsequent episodes might change things, the drama is currently in question one of the most controversial and disappointing gumiho-centric Korean dramas of recent times-at least in terms of early reception by the public.
