The popular South Korean fantasy drama Tale of the Nine-Tailed received positive reactions from viewers when it aired a couple of years ago. The series focuses on Lee Yeon, a 100-year-old gumiho who meets his true love after reincarnation.
The series ends with Lee Yeon reuniting with his love, Ji-ah, after reincarnating on Earth. Moreover, the finale also hints at the reincarnation of Lee Rang, Yeon’s younger brother. However, Yeon is supposedly still a fox.
The ending is quite open-ended, with several questions left to be answered. The most important question to consider is whether Lee Rang dies at the end of Tale of the Nine-Tailed season 1. Let’s find out by revisiting the finale.
Does Lee Rang die at the end of Tale of the Nine-Tailed?
Lee Rang dies at the end of season 1 as he sacrifices his life to save his brother Lee Yeon’s life. He gives up his life to stop Imoogi and save the world while reuniting Yeon with his true love. However, the finale hints that he has successfully reincarnated.
In other words, Rang’s present version dies at the end of season 1, but he reincarnates soon after, so we’re not done with his character yet. In the finale, Yeon meets a young boy who resembles Rang’s younger self, suggesting that Rang has reincarnated in the mortal world.
Spotting the young boy gives Yeon a sense of relief, as it assures him that Rang did not have to sacrifice everything for him. However, it is strange how Rang is already shown as a young boy, although he died just a while ago.
The makers wanted to use the same child actor who played the younger version of Rang to indicate his return. This suggests that the young boy’s appearance is a clear hint at Rang’s reincarnation. Therefore, there’s no option but to portray him as a young boy instead of a newborn.
Lee Rang’s temporary death in the end serves as a perfect ending for his character, given the murder of innocents that he had caused. He had to sacrifice his life to save his brother, so he gave it up for a good cause.
What happens to Lee Rang in season 2?
Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 is set in the past, so there’s no confirmation about Lee Rang’s reincarnation. Season 2 explores Lee Rang and Lee Yeon’s past dynamic when Rang was rebellious and angry with his brother.
As shown in season 1, Lee Rang is supposedly reincarnated as a child to a loving mother in the mortal world. However, this takes place in the present day. Season 2 occurs entirely in 1938, where Lee Yeon meets the past version of Lee Rang.
In the 1938 timeline, Lee Rang is still angry with his brother for abandoning him. Yeon tries to connect with Rang by helping him fight against the Japanese forces that are trying to destroy the Korean Gods.
Lee Rang does not die anytime in the past timeline. He only dies at the end of season 1 in the present timeline.
About Tale of the Nine-Tailed
Tale of the Nine-Tailed (Korean: 구미호뎐) is a 2020 South Korean television drama starring Lee Dong-wook, Jo Bo-ah, and Kim Bum. It aired on tvN from October 7 to December 3, 2020, every Wednesday and Thursday at 22:30 (KST) with 16 episodes.
A second season, titled Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938, premieres on May 6, 2023. with Lee Dong-Wook and Kim Bum reprising their roles and the female lead set to be portrayed by Kim So-yeon, as well as several new cast members like Ryu Kyung-soo
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