REVIEW: ‘No Tail to Tell’ Episodes 1-2

There are moments when you have to admit to yourself that a series might just not be for you. Unfortunately, despite isolated strong sequences and hints of something greater (if under a more exacting storyteller), the fantasy romance No Tail to Tell falls under this category. A shrug-it-off style personal miss that will certainly be suitable for those looking for an, albeit mindless, bout of escapism with some pretty faces at the center. But anyone looking for more will be distracted by inconsistencies and ill-advised decisions. 

Written by Park Chan-young and Jo Ah-young, and directed by Kim Jung-kwon, No Tail to Tell Episodes 1-2 introduces a story set around a modern twist on a classic story. The series follows Eun Ho (Kim Hye-yoon), a gumiho with nine tails who has written off the notion of embedding herself with humanity. While romantic ideas once swayed her, she writes them off after the death of someone dear who became human after falling in love with a mortal man. 

Now, Eun Ho is determined to maintain a balance of human pleasures with the perk of immortality. This means she deliberately avoids anything that might be considered a good deed while also never going too far in her discretion (aka, no killing). But that all changes one night with a chance encounter with teenage soccer prodigy, Kang Si Yeol (Lomon, All of Us Are Dead). His presence in her life sets off a spiritual disturbance as she must deal with the butterfly effect of one too many deals with those who use immorality to acquire more wealth and power. 

No Tail to Tell Episodes 1-2 are in dire need of balance. 

Over the course of No Tail to Tell Episodes 1-2, there’s a distinct lack of tonal coherence. The series moves from being needlessly absurd and gimmicky to leaning on attempted profound emotional beats. But the biggest issue comes down to the characters, and for very different reasons. 

Eun Ho is poised for a big come-down as she learns she can’t have it all in terms of immortality, worldly possessions, and good spiritual balance. Something, at some point, is going to have to give. And all signs point to Si Yeol and the people around him. Specifically, he and his best friend, Hyun Woo-seok (Jang Dong-joo). But there’s a significant problem with this design plan – Eun Ho isn’t just a morally gray character. She’s unlikable. 

Yes, there’s a degree of bandwidth here because there’s always, always, room for more unlikable women characters in television. The problem is, it’s not clear just how unlikable the series thinks she is, or how much of a rebound they can handle. Because, currently, she seems pretty nonplussed at having indirectly both killed a man while also permanently hurting another young man’s future career. 

On top of that, there’s the general ick factor of Eun Ho’s first meeting with Si Yeol, which took place when he was still a teenager, and she’s an immortal being. Yes, it’s been done before. But that doesn’t make it any more palatable at first glance, even if it’s clear fantasy shenanigans are going to put them on the same page. 

Si Yeol and Eun Ho make for broad character archetypes. 

We see that in the first episodes, even. When we first meet Si Yeol, he’s an aspiring pro soccer player who has to make ends meet with part-time jobs while helping his ailing grandmother, his parents both having passed away when he was a child. He’s an easy enough character to root for, but it’s not his dynamic with Eun Ho that’s interesting, but the one with his friend, Woo-seok. 

And it’s in this friendship that the other glaring character issue comes to light. After a hit and run caused by the corrupt businessman Eun Ho was helping, Woo-seok is injured. While he was once going to be selected for the national team, the position is now offered to Si Yeol. And thus, changing their trajectories and making Eun Ho latch herself onto Si Yeol, as she has a lot of money in his future. Meaning, he’ll be able to afford to be one of her clients who requests wishes. 

But it’s the time jump in No Tail to Tell that cements my issue with the writing. While Si Yeol was introduced as confident and aware of his abilities as an athlete, his personality shifted to cocky and self-involved, which seems out of character with the thoughtful one we met. It’s similar to Woo-seok’s dejection at never having reached the same heights.

There’s truth to both elements. Yes, fame and fortune will always change you to a degree. And yes, having dreams that don’t meet their highest potential is, at least momentarily, defeating. But it’s not necessarily what defines you. 

Kim Hye-yoon and Lomon are charismatic, but the story needs a boost going forward.

And so far, No Tail to Tell is leaning into those big tropes. Eun Ho is mischievous and nihilistic, cold and biting, and easy to provoke. Si Yeol is driven and famous; Woo-seok is his mirror. It’s tough because it’s never conducive to wish for a show to be something it’s not, but currently, the series is aiming to be a little bit of everything while also being indecisive about what tone it wants to set. It needs to commit to anything, the fantasy, romance, comedy, character study, whatever, and scrounge up some energy to explore central ideas. 

Pure escapism doesn’t have to have a direct intent or higher message. But it does have to engage with the audience and foster a sense of fun. 

Somewhere, buried beneath the rough-around-the-edges special effects (sometimes it’s okay not to show a character’s power) and the way-too-on-the-nose cutesy soundboard cues, there’s something here. Something that might be worth time and energy beyond the, might as well check it out to endure the winter mentality. It’s enough to be ready and willing to say I was wrong if Episode 3 blows me away. 

As of now, No Tail to Tell is coasting on the relative charm of its stars, Kim Hye-yoon and Lomon. There’s room for hope, as intriguing threads run through the story. But the setup struggles to make us look forward to the next installment, especially given the deluge of quality series worth the time and effort. 

No Tail to Tell Episodes 1-2 is available to stream now on Netflix.