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Tale of the Nine Tailed: Episode 13

Things are looking rather dire for our heroine and, really, everyone at this point. As our team learns more about the imoogi and its plans, they realize it’s time to go on the offensive. They’ll have to come up with a strategy fast if they want to not only save our heroine but also humanity as a whole. No pressure.

 
EPISODE 13: “The other imoogi”

Newly imoogi-fied Jia greets Yeon, asking how it feels to meet again like this after 600 years. The imoogi pleasantly states that Jia is screaming, trapped inside. Yeon asks what we all want to know: who is “Terry” then, and what exactly is the imoogi?

The imoogi explains that due to Yeon’s meddling, the imoogi was split into two at the well when Jia was supposed to be sacrificed. She smiles that they’ll be made whole again when they enter Yeon’s body. It hits him that the imoogi doesn’t only grow fast but ages fast too, which is its “curse.”

The imoogi claims it should’ve been the god of Beakdu Mountain had it succeeded in becoming a dragon. Taking Yeon’s body is about revenge. The imoogi taunts that Jia will soon fade away, and Yeon can’t kill them without killing Jia. And if he saves Jia, he’ll die. Will he choose himself or her?

Yeon doesn’t like either option. The imoogi attacks him, and Yeon can’t do more than hold her off for fear of hurting Jia. But he realizes they’re using Jia like a shield – being in her body makes the imoogi weak. “Terry” contains most of their powers as the body, while Jia is like the heart.

The imoogi angrily yanks a metal post out of the ground and stabs Yeon in the chest. He ignores the imoogi and speaks to Jia, urging her to come back. He’ll always be waiting. “I’m yours until I die.”

Jia finds herself repeating Ah-eum’s fate when she surfaces and stares in horror at what she’s done. Despite Yeon’s reassurances (after ripping the post out of his chest like it’s no big deal), Jia sinks to the ground in grief and begs him to kill her. He holds her while she sobs.

After saving Sae-rom and Jae-hwan, Shin-joo goes running when Yeon calls. Elsewhere, the crazed CEO drives with his precious lantern tree beside him. He’s terrified to find Hyun Eui-ong in the backseat and shoots him, but he’s even more frightened when that has no effect.

While Shin-joo takes care of Yeon, Jia sits outside the clinic staring at her bloodstained hands which now sport scales. Inside, Yeon shares that he let the imoogi hurt him so he could test its strength. Yeon instructs Shin-joo to ask Hye-ja about the fortune teller who has his fox bead.

At the Afterlife Immigration Office, Taluipa tells Hyun Eui-ong that they’ll free the souls from the lanterns who have life remaining. She waits for Hyun Eui-ong to leave before typing Jia’s date of death as 2020 in her record of lifespans. She can’t let the chaos continue, although she hesitates when she thinks of Yeon.

Meanwhile, Yeon steps outside to comfort Jia, more concerned about whether she’s hurt than anything. She’s scared to go home in case the imoogi surfaces and hurts her parents, so Yeon takes her to the beach. They reminisce about when they first (re)met, and he notes it was the first time anyone has chased after him. Jia regrets not immediately asking him out – they would’ve been able to enjoy more time together.

The now treeless CEO’s day gets worse when the imoogi shows up. He switches to subservient mode and begs for mercy. The imoogi demands to know how he could betray him after he saved him from execution for treason, and the CEO cowers in the face of his wrath.

The imoogi is done with him and gently places his hand on the CEO’s forehead. A rash appears when he withdraws his hand. He commands the CEO to turn himself into the authorities and live as a criminal.

At what I’m guessing is another of his apartments, Yeon suggests he and Jia roleplay as a normal, married couple. He’d rather her be the breadwinner, and he’ll be the homemaker who collects rent from his buildings. Heh.

Jia finds it ridiculous but plays along. She pretends to get home from work, and he immediately nags her about coming home so late all the time and sits her down to talk. She swipes the wine, “You just got sober!” HA.

Their little game of pretend just hammers home how unfair their tangled fate is. Jia angry cries at the fact that the imoogi exists, and they can’t be a normal couple. This leads to some bedroom sexy times, after which Yeon watches Jia sleep (again) and vows to protect her.

At the mansion, the imoogi has a self-pity session and monologues in the dark about how he’ll make Yeon feel his paaain. He calls Jia the following day to let her know there will be a “party” soon, and he’s not going to go so easy on her anymore.

Jia pities the loveless creature, which he doesn’t appreciate. He warns her that she’ll be taken over soon, and then she’ll kill Yeon herself. Jia scratches at the scales on her body, as if she can erase them. She cries and sinks to the ground (again).

Hyun Eui-ong angrily confronts Taluipa about her changing Jia’s lifespan record, but she justifies it by explaining that the true imoogi is in Jia’s body. He doesn’t think that warrants harming an innocent. And what about Yeon?

Taluipa retorts that Yeon won’t let Jia die, and it will be disastrous if the imoogi possesses Yeon’s body. Hyun Eui-ong still objects, making Taluipa shout that this is her job.

He reminds her that her changing their daughter-in-law’s record is why their son killed himself. She argues she stopped a plague, but Hyun Eui-ong yells back that their son can’t reincarnate. She hasn’t changed. This time, he’ll stop her. “If you change that girl’s fate, we’re over.”

Yeon wakes to a note from Jia that she plans to return to Seoul. No matter how far she runs, she can’t escape. She asks him to walk with her on the beach before they leave, likening him to a life vest that keeps her from drowning.

While they play on the beach, Yeon narrates that he’d promised to give her a normal, boring life. But on the beach, she told him she didn’t want to enjoy that life alone; they should live or die together. Yeon observes he might not be able to keep his promise.

At Rang’s, Puppy Boy hides in the wardrobe and eavesdrops on Yoo-ri and the imoogi’s conversation. Yoo-ri brazenly asks the imoogi to help Rang seeing as this is all his fault. He scoffs but notes that she’s truly not scared of him. What does he get out of this?

Yoo-ri thinks a moment and offers her life. She tells Rang to live long and well, softly stroking his hair as she asks him to be happy. Yoo-ri places her lethal hairpin in the imoogi’s hand and closes her eyes. He stops just short of stabbing her in the neck. He’ll grant her wish if she comes with him.

He places a lantern on Rang’s chest and issues a command: “When the imoogi inside her calls, you’ll be my soldier.” Great. He looks toward the wardrobe and drily tells Puppy Boy the dark will swallow him if he keeps hiding there.

In a trance, the CEO goes to the police station and turns himself in as the murderer of the mummified corpse and tells them his GPS history will lead them to four more corpses. He scratches at the rash on his forehead.

Yeon drops Jia off at her house so she can spend quality time with her parents. He’s worried, but Jia assures him the imoogi only surfaces when it feels threatened. She makes the connection that it happens when she bleeds. Jia remarks that the scales are spreading, and she might not have much time left as herself.

Meanwhile, Rang gasps awake. Puppy Boy is crying next to his bed and informs him Yoo-ri left with a scary man and isn’t coming back.

Yeon goes to see Hye-ja about the fortune teller. She shares a rumor she’s heard: one of the gods of the underworld sometimes leaves his post and wanders. At home, Jia finally gets to spend her paycheck on her parents and gifts them clothes.

While acting as the imoogi’s chauffeur, Yoo-ri asks for five minutes to stop by Shin-joo’s clinic. After walking in, she immediately kisses Shin-joo, and then says she’s dumping him. She bluffs that she tires of things quickly, but Shin-joo isn’t buying it.

Yoo-ri gets harsher and says she hates how he nags and smiles all the time. He tears up but calmly says he won’t do those things then. It’s too much for Yoo-ri who yells for him to stop and starts crying as she insists she hates him.

Shin-joo knows she’s lying and hugs her when she tries to leave, saying he won’t let go of her. When he begins to sob and apologize, Yoo-ri breaks free and walks out. He follows her outside, but in the end, there’s nothing he can do. The imoogi watches interestedly from the car.

Shin-joo cries it out with Yeon (who is terrible at comforting people) and says he even bought rings and planned to propose. Yeon thinks there must be a reason for the sudden breakup. “It’s the imoogi. The imoogi took her!” Rang announces as he rushes into the room.

Yeon’s face lights up and he jumps over the couch to grab his little brother in a hug. Rang pretends to hate it, of course. He explains that Yoo-ri saved him and the imoogi took her in exchange.

Shin-joo is frantic as Yeon tries to hold him back. Rang delivers a swift blow to the stomach that sends Shin-joo to the ground. “I thought you wouldn’t be able to hit him, so I did it for you,” Rang explains to Yeon. Ha.

Yeon promises to save Yoo-ri. Despite his worry, Shin-joo thinks to ask about Puppy Boy and is aghast that Rang left him alone. Rang thinks he’ll be fine since he bought him a mountain of new toys to keep him preoccupied.

The gang (including Jae-hwan and Sae-rom) gathers at Yeon’s to plan, although Jia and Rang continually butt heads since he thinks she’s a danger to them all. Yeon notes that attacking the imoogi physically won’t work, and only he and Jia are immune to the imoogi’s mind control.

Jia shares that the imoogi plans to ultimately spread a plague. Everyone is worried, save for Rang who plays a game on his phone like a bratty kid. Yeon ignores him and admits that he’s found a way to kill the imoogi inside of Jia.

He announces that the fortune teller is one of the underworld gods, which finally gets Rang’s attention. That god possesses the Euiryeong Sword, a weapon made by King Yeomra that slays sin. And now Hye-ja has it. Since it’s a wooden sword that only slays spirits, Jia will be safe. Yeon says they’ll use it the following day.

Yeon and Rang go for coffee, and Rang is weirded out by how nice Yeon is being. He even pushes his drink toward Rang when he says he wants to try it. “I only have to extend my hand. Why didn’t I do that earlier?” Rang scoffs that he’s talking like he’s dying. (Uh-oh).

When Rang playfully pushes him, Yeon winces. Rang pushes aside Yeon’s shirt and sees his wound. Yeon denies Jia did it, but Rang knows he’s lying. Rang frustratedly asks what happens to Yeon if they fail with the sword? “Rang, that’s why I need you,” Yeon admits.

The CEO raves in his jail cell and scratches at the chickenpox-like rash now all over his body. Nearby, a cop starts scratching at his neck. Ooh, it looks like the “plague” has begun.

Jia, Sae-rom, and Jae-hwan go out for tteokbokki. Jia tries to get them to stay away from her for a while, but they won’t hear of it. Jia observes that they can’t all take off work, but Jae-hwan informs her Team Leader Choi isn’t there.

She finds out the CEO turned himself in and calls Yeon while Jae-hwan tries (and fails) to get in touch with Team Leader Choi. He’s currently at the police station doing CPR on the officer who got the rash and is now unconscious. The officer vomits up some blood and an egg-looking thing.

With no time to spare, the team decides to enact their plan that night at the Snail Bride. Rang already created a rope fence with horse blood to (hopefully) contain the imoogi. Jia will cut herself to call the imoogi out, and Shin-joo will lock her and Yeon inside.

Rang asks what they’ll do if the imoogi takes over Yeon’s body, but Yeon assures him that won’t happen while he’s conscious. (But what if he gets knocked unconscious?) They have a snake that will serve as a body for the imoogi to jump into if it tries to escape.

Jia palms a safety pin (hmm) before she and Yeon enter the prepared room. The others board the door shut and cover it in talismans. Inside, Jia tells Yeon tie her to a chair so she can’t hurt him. Outside, Rang has a bad feeling as he, Shin-joo, and Hye-ja wait anxiously.

Jia is nervous and asks for a hug. She entreats him not to hesitate – she’s prepared to get hurt. Yeon assures her the blade only hurts things that can’t be slain, like an imoogi’s soul. Jia asks if that means it could slay Yeon’s soul too. When he says yes, she smiles. Looks like the imoogi is driving.

Yeon senses it’s not Jia, but she still manages to swipe the sword and slash him, knocking him unconscious. The others hear the thud, and Shin-joo has to hold Rang back from rushing inside and killing Jia.

Inside, the imoogi smashes a chair over Yeon’s prone body, but he doesn’t stir. The Jia imoogi rips a scale off Jia’s neck – elsewhere, “Terry” grabs his neck in sympathetic pain – and grossly puts it in Yeon’s mouth.

Yeon’s eyes shoot open, and he spits the scale out. Now he knows that the imoogi switches bodies using a scale. We flash back to when Hye-ja told Yeon the fortuneteller was AWOL. Yeon then instructed her to procure a normal wooden blade. Ah, it was always fake.

Even knowing it’s been duped, the imoogi isn’t daunted and vows to return to Jia no matter what body Yeon uses the scale to put it in. Yeon threatens to put it into the snake, but the imoogi warns him that it won’t leave Jia whole when it jumps out.

Yeon prefers this imoogi’s villainy over “Terry’s” weird romantic obsession. This imoogi sees Jia purely as a hostage, but Yeon remarks the other is more concerned with Jia than becoming whole. He asks if the imoogi knows what its other half is currently up to.

The imoogi looks concerned, but it suddenly grabs Jia’s head in pain. The body falls unconscious. In the car, the other imoogi’s pain finally seems to ease as Yoo-ri watches from the driver’s seat.

Taluipa, meanwhile, finally submits Jia’s death date: today. Hyun Eui-ong sees and says he’s no longer her husband. As he walks to the door, she yells that she’ll make him lose everything. He turns to face her.

“Terry” leaves a trail of bodies as he stalks down the street. Jia wakes and tells Yeon to hurry because she wants to be by his side as herself in the final moments. Yeon takes her hand. “Let’s end this sickening and tiring battle.”

 
COMMENTS

I could’ve done without yet another fake out plan this hour. Sometimes they work really well like with Yeon and Rang switching identities, but they can start to feel trite when used too frequently. Plus, we’re so close to the end that I’d rather just be privy to what’s going on in full rather than be kept in the dark to be “surprised.” I did think their supposed plan was kind of simplistic, so I’m glad that they were being smarter than that. I was with Rang that it seemed risky to have Jia in on all their plans when she’s literally housing the enemy, but they wisely used that to their advantage. Or at least Yeon did – I’m not sure who all was in on the real plan. This time was all about figuring out how the imoogi switches bodies, which does seem a good first step. If they can get it out of Jia, they can go all out in trying to destroy it. Since it seems like the scale needs to be ingested, I’m guessing the imoogi spirit can only be transferred to a living body rather than something inanimate, for instance.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about the imoogi, although we did learn more this hour. Most importantly, we learned the original imoogi split into “Terry” and the one in Jia because the ritual at the well went awry. It’s interesting that they’re so different despite being technically the same being. I hadn’t considered that they’re not working toward the same goal, but Yeon seemed to hit on something with that. I hadn’t realized the fixation on Jia is pretty much just a “Terry” thing. From the looks of it, his obsession with her could cause internal strife, and he may be going rogue. I wonder if the plague spreading was the original imoogi’s idea or if he’s acting solo. Also, how is he intending to use Yoo-ri? Is she his replacement for the CEO now that he cast him off? I’m curious how connected the two halves of the imoogi are – the imoogi in Jia didn’t seem to know what “Terry” has been doing judging from the look on Jia’s face when Yeon brought it up. Maybe our team won’t have to do anything, and they can just let the imoogi destroy each other.

I’m not sure what I think of the imoogi as a villain overall. The imoogi in Jia is much more consistently threatening, whereas “Terry” vacillates between threatening and laughable. I can’t take him seriously when he’s all smirky and giving broody monologues. He sometimes comes across like a wayward boyband member who’s going through a bad boy phase. I get what they’re going for with his gentle mannerisms and pretty facade, but it doesn’t always work well here.

On another note, it feels like we’ve finally started to flesh out Taluipa’s character these past couple episodes, although it’s a bit too little, too late. I really wish we were introduced to her backstory with her son and daughter-in-law much earlier in the drama since it adds an interesting dimension to her character and her relationship to Hyun Eui-ong. While I can understand how her family would find her decisions heartless, she is in charge of basically everyone’s lives. It’s hard to say she’s wrong for choosing to prioritize the fate of the world, but it might not make her the best wife and mother. That kind of job doesn’t lend itself well to family life, and it’s an interesting thing to explore. Even though I’m not a fan of her character, she is another example of how the women in this drama are varied and the characters in general are not gender stereotyped, which is greatly appreciated.

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I also agree that the "you didn't fool me because I knew it beforehand" plan is being too repetitive. Yeon may not be as smart as he thinks he is. This may be my main complain about the show: Yeon always saying, "hey, you did exactly as I expected because I'm a smart guy". Well, this may serve as plot device to prove him wrong in the worst possible way (yes, I know he was already wrong when he awoke the "other" imoogi).

I'm really loving Jo Boa as evil imoogi. The way she changes from Jia to snake is amazing. I always felt she was the weaker part of our main trio (and she still is) but she's really improved from the beginning of the show.

I know I said a couple of weeks ago that I could imagine our fox extended family having a lovely future together, but I'm really afraid my favourite distracting psycho cute fox is not going to make it to the end. And even so he had the best lines, as always. He's the bratty donsaeng that mocks everybody when asked to behave. Him wanting to have the rainbow drink his brother had, or repeating "I warn you" while playing with his cellphone. My cute psycho foxy.

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I agree that the playing possum came off as just a little bit overused. It wasn't terrible, though. Also, Yeon is coming off as a great boyfriend but a not so good person overall lol. I mean, he's always terrible at comforting ShinJu! And as we've seen he was rough on other people as well. It's like he's only nice to ji-Ah sometimes. But he's the biggest romantic ever so i totally forgive him

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Ji Ah works much better as Imugi than one half of the romantic duo. She just isn't likable so being mean works well with her mean beauty. Also, she doesn't need chemistry with co-stars for those scenes and lack of chemistry is what makes her hard to buy as a lover, daughter and friend. She's much better enemy.

If something happens to psycho cute fox they'll be throwing the best character and best character arc on the show out of the window. There's zero narrative logic to kill him in the finale since he already redeemed himself and has grown as a character. He now takes responsibility for himself, Blacky and Yu Ri and even Lee Yeon while keeping his endearing bratty demeanor. Death in the finale is for characters who aren't redeemed yet but the story needs them to be at the last moment, or for ones that have always wanted to die for higher causes. Lee Rang is neither.

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Somehow am still holding on to the hope that our gumiho-human band will all survive, cause we're almost at the finale and so far only random passerby has died and none of the important character. May chakka-nim be the opposite of George R. Martin and loves the characters too much to let them die!

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I agree. Jia/the romance is the weakest point of the story, and I really find it difficult to buy that she’s worth it??? I found her infinitely more likable as A Eum/Imoogi. I would much prefer the focus to be on the brothers, ShinJu, and Yuri. At this point I’m actually enjoying the spin-off more than the main show. Kim Bum and the supporting characters really stole the show, and with it, my heart.

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Hear hear! I was hoping that the show would pivot away from forced romance and to absolutely smashing brothers, and while that side of the story became equal in importance (especially the amazing Ep.9), now the focus is back to romance since brothers patched up. And in all honesty, I don't know where they are going with this anymore. Two Imugis are weird choice. I get that it made for a neat twist but it's been "and now what" since.

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A scorned Terry causing a nation wide virus?? Too soon Imoogi, too soon.

I’ve been siding with Halmeoni this week’s episodes because I feel iffy about Yeon ready to sacrifice everything and *everyone* just for love. I also want to show to totally go full goth and maybe deal with the fallout of Jia sacrificing herself to rid her body and the world of Imoogi.

I’m anticipating how the drama gets itself out of this “will they or won’t they” die or live happily ever after loop. To me it’s obvious that it’s not going to be a perfect ending where everyone lives but I really want to know if the drama has the balls to kill off someone from the main trio. At the same time, if Rang sacrifices himself for Yeon and Jia, I’ll be so heartbroken because I’ll miss the bickering trio.

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Rang should not sacrifice himself for either. he is extraneous to the Imugi plot and connected purely by association as Lee Yeon's brother. That plot should be resolved between Imugi 1, Imugi 2, Lee Yeon and Ji Ah and maaaaybe Taluipa since she's at the center of all the supernatural mess. Those are 4/5 main players in this side of the story. Lee Rang is the main player in the fox brothers story and that conflict got resolved when they overcame their differences thus redeeming Rang for mayhem he caused to his big brother and vice versa. The show should not mix these 2 storylines for the sake of shock. Same goes for supporting cast. They have no business dying in the Imugi storyline if they didn't already in order to raise stakes. With 2 more episodes to go, it's no more about changing the game and raising the stakes but about wrapping it up. I really hope they don't drop the ball but I have my reservations.

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Your explanation is so logic.
Then, this is dramaland, where logic...

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Ikr? Drama in dramaland shouldn't be infuriating (which is what happens when logic goes out the window and shocks for the sake of shock take over) or you get GOT Season 8. Or that DoDo show whose finale is currently causing meltdowns.

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Yes, I too understood Taluipa. I mean, people is dying by dozens and he only cares for Jia. That's the selfish part of Yeon I don't really like. As you said, he's only good to her in the whole extension of the word. He's magnanimous (as in superior) to all the people around him, that's why it took 600 years to tell Rang how much he cared for him, because he always feels he always feels he doesn't need to give explanations to others. A very God thing, I guess.

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It does feel very uncomfortable, when people are literally dropping on the street. At the same time, I guess I kind of understand? When you are in love love with someone, they can become your whole world. The things people have done to save just one person they love, overlooking the rest of the world, is perhaps difficult to accept rationally, but the behavior is somehow understandable and not unique. I think maybe I also have a harder time with it personally because I don't think the couple in general has the strongest chemistry.

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Problem with people dropping on the streets is the same one that mass suicide had - hero(es) figure out quickly that they can't do anything about it and inevitably focus on other matters where they can make an impact. Such as saving the girl who needs saving for 600 years now. The side effect is that it makes them indifferent to greater suffering which is a big No-no for heroes. so it's best not to mix Save the Girl and Save the World if you can't have the heroes efficiently save both.

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1. Cute intro
2. Evil Ji-ah (yas, girl!)
3. Yeon gently coaxing Ji-ah from the Imoogi's hold while stabbed
4. Normal life roleplay and makeout sesh! (I need a making video of this lol)
5. Ji-ah's crying scene felt so raw
6. Beach scene (Yeon, are you setting up to sacrifice yourself?)
7. Insight into the dilemma that is Taluipa's character
8. Yoo-ri kissing Shin-joo before breaking up with him
9. Yeon hugging Rang and Rang pretending to not like it
10. Rang spoiling Geum-doong lol
11. Bratty Rang in the council meeting
12. Yeon and Rang's coffee date (uh, oh I don't feel good about this)
13. Terry walking menacingly through the streets

Imoogi now has 3 people at its disposal (Taluipa, Shin-joo, Rang) and I was kinda expecting them to f*ck up that ritual in Imoogi's favor, so it being another fakeout was kinda "meh."

As for the Imoogi, if Ji-ah is the "heart" and Terry is the "power," it might explain why Terry has no clear purpose and may be easily swayed by the need to be loved while Ji-ah has purpose but is unable to execute it and is limited to manipulating with words instead.

This show is so much fun. I've expressed love for the foxes before but now the snakes are also getting my attention. Thank you, show, for introducing me to Lee Tae-ri as this villain going through a rebellious teenager phase ❤️

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Speaking of Team Snakes, I'm intrigued that they accidently became 2 different personalities. For example, Snake "Ji Ah" (who is also very much like Snake "King/Ah Eum") seems to think or identify with the origin that started in the cave (" a snake slithered out of it"), while Snake "Terry" identifies with the origin that started before the cave, with the freaky child that was kept hidden in a trunk and then taken to the cave where plague victims ate it. That also gives them different motivations. Snake "ji Ah" wants to be a God, while Snake "Terry" wants to have a heart/feelings (basically be a person). Snake "Ji Ah" only sees Ji Ah as a sacrifice and a way to lure Lee Yeon, while Snake "Terry" developed an actual crush on Ji Ah and wants her to be his wife. I'd say that Snake "Ji Ah" is more mature, while Snake "Terry" is really an overpowered kid. So that's pretty interesting but I don't know where they are going with this cause it's introduced so late in the game.

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I love how in all the seriousness Rang is just there to scorn everyone’s plan haha

I just realised after watching this episode that Jia and Rang haven’t had a scene since the start of this drama and wished I could have seen more interactions with them whether it was a civil or a snarky conversation.

Now that Jia is in dire situation I’m really curious to see how this all ends. I hope the writer doesn’t take the easy way out with zero logical explanation but I also hope to see everyone alive by the end of this although I’m not sure if that’s likely to happen.

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They did in the beginning!
The ritual at the village, Rang disguised himself as the lady that lost her father to his friends. I love their banters and will love to see more of it😃

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I have only one really great complaint about this show - we have 4 gumihos, but we have basically seen zero tails. (I am purposely ignoring the CGI abomination behind Yeon in episode 4 or whatever.) Again, ok, we don't have to see all 36 of the tails in every episode, but it would at least be nice if we could see some of them once in a while... Just sayin...

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I completely agree with you about the lack of tails. Then why make them gumihos and not goblins or some other mythical creature?

And wouldn't tails be helped in a fight? Like if you can control all 9 of them, wouldn't it be like having 9 extra hands?

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ShinJoo doesn't have a tail, if I'm not wrong. His tail is in his necklace, the one YuRi stole from him. It was explained in that episode that he had lost his tail and then carries it with in the necklace.
But yes, tails please.

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And we saw Yuri's tail once

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I don't blame the Afterlife CEO for considering the fate of everyone else. As viewers, we are trained to value the leads more than anyone else in their world even if those dying are someone's daughters/sons, wives/husbands, moms/dads, etc. However, I do blame the Afterlife CEO for refusing to help think of any other solution. She obviously knows vital information that could help our leads. Even if she thinks that they can't win, she should at least give them all the tools/information she can so they can try.

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I guess the reason she doesn't help it's because of her son.
Is Imoogi her son? Is somehow related? Is that the only way her son can reincarnate?

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OMG I THOUGHT THIS TOO. What if Terry is the dead son of Halmeoni who the Imoogi reincarnated as?? I seem to have observed that Taliupa and Teryy haven’t come face to face yet, so this is still a possible theory?

Maybe that’s the final nail in the coffin the show is waiting to hammer in to fix Taliupa’s arc and make her help Yeon and Jia?

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But even then, she could tell her husband that. There is no reason to keep him or anyone else in the dark other than her own pride (not wanting admit that she still cares about her son).
And, if she were tell to her husband and Yeon that would bring an even more interesting conflict because they both would have to make that decision on who to prioritize.

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This!
She could’ve helped from the beginning as someone who knows more than everyone but no, she didn’t.
So part of this is her fault.

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I think Jo Bo-ah is doing great as the Imoogi and as Ji-ah struggling with having the Imoogi be a part of her. It's interesting that the heroine gets to be the more dynamic character at this point of the storytelling and I'm glad she gets to shine. I'm glad Taluipa's husband stood up to her.

I'm ready for more information though. I don't know what Terry's point is. What does he do all day? Just ride around in a care driven by Yuri and trying to think of ways to make Ji-ah like him? But if Ji-ah get taken over by the Imoogi, would he still be pursuing scaly Ji-ah?

Terry: "boyband member who’s going through a bad boy phase" -- LOL! @quirkycase, that is a very apt description! He's even got a manager (Yuri) driving him around.

It feels weird that such a big threat like the Imoogi is being confronted by 3 gumihos (one of whom is not a fighter at all), a helpful snail, and 3 humans. I feel like we need a bigger army of supernaturals.

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Somehow, he get really buff from reading all those books. :) :) :)
But yes, what he does the whole day is read, advertise the car brand that sponsors the show, advertise Samsung. Though to be fair, everyone does the latter plus plug for Coffeebay. You can play a drinking game every time coffee cups with big Coffeebay logos are brought in. :) :) :)

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LOL at Idol Imoogi & his (stolen) manager! Have to admit to bursting out laughing when Dark Ji-ah ripped her scale and Terry felt the pain... in his car, still being chauffeured by Yoo-ri. Oh, the hassle when you need to spread a plague but traffic is bad ><

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It seems traitorous to LDW but I find literally every other character interesting over his. The most touching scene was the shin ju and yuri break up. Their desperation and heartbreak- i got really caught up in it. I’m going to wait till next week to catch eps 14-16. At this point I just want to see what the writer will come up with. Just don’t kill rang or shin ju or yuri

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The leads aren't interesting at all and Ji Ah is totally unlikable. She is supposed to be a likable character but the actress works well only as Imugi Ji Ah. Something about her is just hard to warm up to and her lack of chemistry with other actors is a big problem.
OTOH, Lee Rang and supporting cast such as Yu Ri and Blacky are gold. Also Lee Rang and Lee Yeon relationship. That's where Lee Yeon shines because his sibling rivalry with Lee Rang plus their chemistry feel genuine and give his character spark. Unlike forced romance that really isn't working hence why they keep complicating the Imugi situation (it's 2! No it's 1 but split! No it's one half developing his own personality and motivations! Make up your mind!) in order to make it exciting.

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Rang was really amusing this episode. Despite his age, he is just a big brat. 😂🤣
I also agree with what he said, but fooling JiA and the imoogi within her can just be a one off. They will need to exclude her in their future plans.
Terry does seem to vacillitate towards foolish and dangerous. But I won't write him off yet, he can still wreak havoc in the world.
Taluipa is always angry and I just want to see more emotion from her. Yes she has a lot on her shoulders but she can't be always right.

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I keep wondering if Team Leader Choi is going to turn out to be the roaming being from the underworld? 🤔

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Am wondering too whether they are laying crumbs for this underworld roamer to be the deus ex machina that saves the day... Am kinda pinning my suspicion at Puppy Boy, although can't say am excited with the prospec!

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Oh, no, not Puppy boy!

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Yes, I think we’re not done with Puppy boy yet

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Puppy Boi ❤️❤️❤️ to the rescue. ROFL

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Knew there'd be a twist, but it's less expected after the switcheroo. Really hope they will up the ante in all these twisting tricks. Also, when did Dark Ji-ah appeared? So basically Ji-ah bloodying herself is unnecessary since the dark one can just surface whenever? The rule is way unclear...

Have to admit to LOLling at the beginning of the ep when Yeon asked all the question we've been asking and Dark Ji-ah did an exposition.

The imaginary married life is so sweet, but am just kinda annoyed that the whole episode seems like Yeon and Ji-ah falling over themselves to die for each other, and only at the ends we see the "let's fight this together and win" spirit. The war council was a joy to watch, especially with irreverent bratty Rang!

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I think that the episode spent so much time with the main couple falling over each other because the showrunners are aware of complaints that there's no chemistry. They think ramping up romantic scenes equal chemistry and they totally don't. Actors either have it (see Lee foxes, see Yu Ri with everyone, etc) or they don't (see the main couple and Ji Ah with anyone). I suspect these romantic interludes were the real reason why 13 (and 14) were post-poned for a week.

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Am not sure whether it was because of the show's enforced broadcast break or that the past few weeks have been really busy for me, but it's taking me awhile to get back into the groove of the show. I like that the imoogis' intentions are made just that bit clearer in this episode because it raises the prospects of a future conflict between the 'greater' and 'lesser' imoogi. As far as I understand it, based on fellow beanies' comments and @quirkycase's recaps, Jia-imoogi's endgame is ego-driven revenge and Terri-imoogi's endgame is a warped desire to be accepted and loved i.e. "if-I-can't-get-what-I-want-I'll-kill-the-world-with-a-plague". On another note, there's now three potential time bombs which Terri-imoogi has set: Snail Bride, Shinju and Rang. It's interesting that the trigger for them to become 'soldiers' is when the Jia-imoogi calls, because we've being led to believe that the two imoogis are split and potentially warring personalities of the same entities. Or is this just what Yeon is setting up the Jia-imoogi to believe?

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yes that is correct. Imugis are now two individuals with different personalities and endgames like you described. Jiamoogi wants revenge and Godhood while Terrimoogi is basically Anakin to Jia's Padme (he even developed a crush on her when he was a boy lol). So how that plays out is a big question mark. Not much time left yet 'Moogis are yet to come face to face over their conflicting endgames. if that's where the show is going. I'm honestly not sure anymore. I thought it had a clear vision up to ep 12 but this one really complicated the proceedings. Whether unnecessarily or necessarily, we'll know in 3-4 days.

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I still really like that I'm generally never quite sure where the next episode is going to go (I have hunches, but I've been surprised more than once). Many of you have mentioned various plot holes or weak links that have irked me, too, so I keep reminding myself to try and go back to my mentality of the first few episodes where my expectation level was zero. Honestly, despite my gripes, I really still enjoy this show for what it is. It's wild and weird and doesn't take itself serious and just seems to be having fun for fun, and I'm down with that.

Imoogi Ji-ah is a much more compelling character than Early-Episodes-Ji-ah; and I do think Jo Bo-ah has settled into the role over all much more comfortably. She plays the juxtaposition of the two personalities inside Ji-ah well, and that's overall made Ji-ah more interesting to me.

I thought the scene at the beach apartment was cute - Yeon acts like it's a game for Ji-ah, but I felt like LDW played that with some nice silliness and vulnerability on the part of Yeon and his longing to be human and live a "normal" life with someone he loves. The problem for me is that I feel like it would be much more impactful and touching if the chemistry between the two of them was stronger - they just feel like friends to me. (Yes, I admit, I'm thinking of the Reaper/Sunny thing right now.)

It never gets old watching Yeon and Rang together. Never. I really want them to be able to have a few hundred years as brothers now - they deserve it.

I think I'm most frustrated with Taluipa. She's all, "It's her destinyyyyyyyy!" and then is all about stacking the deck. Yes, I get the whole 'greater good' thing, and that there are apparently rules she has to follow. But I feel like they are fuzzy and not well-explained, so sometimes she just comes off as mercurial vs procedural and they seemed to insist she was for so long.

Finally, I'll just say that I never get tired of watching LDW and the expressions that constantly move across his face. For a character that's actually fairly superficial, he is adding as much nuance and life as he can to it.

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I agree! The show has so many little problems, but despite that it's managed to capture my heart. Part of that is probably the sexy foxes...

A lot of people complain about the chemistry between LDW and JBA, but it for me it's pretty decent. I watched Lawless Lawyer recently with Lee Joon-gi and Seo Yeji, and imo they truly have no chemistry and are like friends even more than LDW and JBA (I still enjoyed the show because the plot was super compelling).

And yes, JBA has improved! I honestly didn't like her at all in the first few episodes because her character was so confusing.

I'm excited to see how the show ends! It's been a fun ride^^

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It is a fun ride! 😊

The LDW/JBA chemistry isn't terrible, it's just not as intense as I think a story like this requires. And totally agree about Lawless Lawyer, though I did not make it past episode 6, I think!

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I know and I've obsessed with Seo Yeji yet I still couldn't complete LL

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Totally! Super interesting show. I love it.

Grim Reaper and Sunny were one of the best Kdrama pairings ever - the overshadowed the main lead by miles. The younger versions also were so compelling, it was another reason I loved Goblin or I would say the main one.

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Amen.

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The original old-king Imoogi wanted Yeon’s body as revenge for being denied mountain god status and he also wanted Ji-Ah as she was sacrificed by her father for Imoogi’s power.
Old Imoogi always considered Ji-ah as his belonging.
When Imoogi was split into two, each part retained one obsession. Scaly Imoogi wants Yeon’s power and other emo part is obsessed with Ji-ah.
One wants power and other wants love?

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I want to comment on this scene cause I think a lot more is going on here than meets the eye but people are sleeping on it:

"At Rang’s, Puppy Boy hides in the wardrobe and eavesdrops on Yoo-ri and the imoogi’s conversation. Yoo-ri brazenly asks the imoogi to help Rang seeing as this is all his fault. He scoffs but notes that she’s truly not scared of him. What does he get out of this?
Yoo-ri thinks a moment and offers her life. She tells Rang to live long and well, softly stroking his hair as she asks him to be happy. Yoo-ri places her lethal hairpin in the imoogi’s hand and closes her eyes. He stops just short of stabbing her in the neck. He’ll grant her wish if she comes with him.
He places a lantern on Rang’s chest and issues a command: “When the imoogi inside her calls, you’ll be my soldier.” Great. He looks toward the wardrobe and drily tells Puppy Boy the dark will swallow him if he keeps hiding there."

OK, this played out like a Severus Snape scene (translation: bad guy does something good while looking very bad) which is awesome. Terrimoogi appears as bad as ever (turns Lee Rang into another Manchurian Candidate, with Shin-Joo and Snail Bride) while doing several good things:

Saves Lee Rangs' life which is really all that matters. With heroes being absolutely ineffective in this regard, I'm not going to trash the villain for saving my fictional crush who is the best character on the show, even if he used it to his advantage. The whole point is that Lee Rang is back and the show is better for it.

Doesn't kill Yu Ri even though he totally could. She served her purpose when she stabbed Lee Rang and he Manchurian'd Shin-joo (he won't kill him despite threats) so my guess is that he spared her because he likes her and because he wouldn't kill Blacky's adoptive "parents" in front of him. Also, props to Yu Ri for doing the right thing and going directly to the source of the problem. You made the mess, you clean it and he did. Yes it's actually pretty simple. Again, while I'm sure some will see her action as stupid, a lot was achieved. One life was saved, and Terrimoogi continues to show he's capable of empathy which might play to heroes' advantage later.

Adds himself to the list of people who care for Blacky. he was totally talking about himself when he advised Blacky against hiding in the darkness for too long (he would know wouldn't he?), which is in line with "don't whine but stand up for yourself" type of wisdom Blacky was receiving from Lee Rang. Both men drew on their own experience as kids and the fact that neither followed the advice which is why we have a messed up half-fox and a messed up half-snake or whatever he is. But there's hope for Blacky since bad and bad-ish supernaturals care that turns out alright aka different from them. I also stand by my opinion that Terrimoogi wouldn't kill Yu Ri and that he saved Lee Rang partly because of Blacky watching. He can read minds so he read Blacky's...

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Ooh, your last paragraph and the drawing of a parallel between "a messed up half-fox and a messed up half-snake or whatever he is" is cool!
And me likey this take on Terrimoogi being much more "human"; they keep saying Ji-ah is not the same as Ah-eum, makes sense if neither Terry nor Dark Ji-ah is not the same with that Imoogi that faced Yeon, and whatever it is that they've gone through in this live affect their current selves.
I mean, spending 600 years being incomplete in a well sure can give you some weird thoughts...

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Thank you! The way I see it, Jimoogi is the arch villain, like lets say the Emperor Palpatine, while Terrimoogi is the underling villain like lets say Darth Vader. Because he has more sympathetic background and goal though he goes really wrong about it. But never the less, he seems capable of compassion and empathy whereas Jimoogi is not. That gives me hope that they won't do the stupid thing and have Lee Rang die a sacrificial/redemptive death since a) he already redeemed himself so no point to undo the arc and then redo it quickly and unsatisfactorily and b) Terrimoogi is basically Lee Rang without LR's support system (same abandonment issues, desire to be loved but without a brother or other to guide him) so he's set up for dying nobly in the end, while Lee Rang should live (or that amazing character arc goes down the drain). It may be a confirmaiton bias since I really don't want anything to happen to Lee Rang, but it doesn't make sense to give him a big role in Imoogi storyline suddenly since players are already well defined: Lee Yeon, Ji Ah, Jimoogi the arch villain, Terrimoogi the conflicted underling villain. The resolution should be between then instead of throwing character(s) from a different storyline (sibling rivalry and reconciliation) under the bus for the sake of shocks and twists.

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At times this show has my head spinning.

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I believe in Jo-Bo-ah supremacy!! She killed it in the evil mirror scene. What a great actress! Yes I said it, I'm just glad that she hasn't been turned to a damsel in distress. Ahem Start Up. Plus she actually has friends/a life outside of just her bf, *cough cough Start Up. Sorry, but I just had to say it lol.

Again, one of the things I love the most about this show, is the ability to inter-weave all casts members (big or small) into the show. What a lovely surprise for all the actors involved, they aren't just background workers but actually have some depth/separate side stories/romance too! Bravo writers/PDs!!!

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I just have this bizarre theory that maybe JiA got pregnant and the baby half-human, half-fox growing inside her will help in killing the Imoogi.

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