Lee Dong-wook, from the grim reaper to the nine-tailed fox... Anyone or everyone succeeds, 'fantasy powerhouse'

Actor Lee Dong-wook met his life character once again. His acting ability shined even more when he acted as a non-human being. In 'Goblin', he played an active role as a grim reaper, and in 'The Tale of a Gumiho 1938', he transformed into a gumiho and captivated viewers.

tvN's Saturday and Sunday drama 'The Tale of a Gumiho 1938' recorded its highest viewership rating and reaped a kind of beauty. According to Nielsen Korea on the 12th, the last episode had an average of 9.1% for households in the metropolitan area and an average of 8.0% for households nationwide, ranking first in the same time slot.

'The Tale of a Gumiho 1938' ended with a happy ending. Lee Dong-wook succeeded in defeating the 'final boss', Ryuhei Gato (played by Ha Do-kwon), a Japanese monster, and returned to the modern age. The remaining Ryu Hong-joo (Kim So-yeon) and Chun Moo-yeong (Ryu Gyeong-soo) confronted the era's Lee Yeon (Lee Dong-wook) and the new Japanese governor and soldiers.

At the end of the last episode, 'rice cake' for season 3 came out and thrilled the fans. 'The Tale of a Gumiho 1938' is also Season 2 following 'The Tale of a Gumiho' that aired in 2020. In Season 1, the romance between Lee Dong-wook and Jo Bo-ah took up a large part, but in Season 2, Jo Bo-ah does not appear. When the news broke, fans were worried that there would be a huge vacancy for the female lead.

However, 'The Tale of a Gumiho 1938', which was less romantic, also worked. Season 2 was filled with the story of recovering friendship between Kim So-yeon and Ryu Gyeong-soo, and Kim Bum's Tiki-Taka brother Chemie, who played Dong-wook Lee and his younger brother. Lee Dong-wook expressed the desperate heart of an older brother who cares for his younger brother through delicate acting. In addition, the intense action acting gave viewers a sense of excitement.

Lee Dong-wook's visuals cannot be left out. His gorgeous features that fit the character of a nine-tailed fox and his long hair that fluttered slightly in the wind were enough to make people say, 'Lee Dong-wook's visual is a narrative.' He showed off his elegance by wearing a hanbok and showed off his sophistication by digesting a classic suit.

Before the gumiho, he was the grim reaper. In the tvN drama 'Goblin', which ended in January 2017, Lee Dong-wook, who was divided into a king and a grim reaper, gained popularity like a syndrome. Instead of being a dark and serious grim reaper, he showed off the charm of a grim reaper with a cute charm that is both pouty and flimsy. The story-filled romance with Yoo In-na in the play was also a popular factor. Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun were a sub-couple.

In particular, the scene where Gong Yoo appears to save Kim Go-eun is still talked about. The tall model stole the hearts of women by walking as if on a runway.

Both the 'Tale of a Nine Tailed Fox' series and 'Goblin' are fantasy works. The characters are also non-human beings. These genres can easily cringe. Since unrealistic elements appear in dramas, the role of an actor who expresses them naturally is important. Lee Dong-wook skillfully digested the fantasy character. The story of the character is built up in detail so that viewers can understand the world view of fantasy.

Lee Dong-wook, who comes back every year with a new work. He is an actor who has been running without rest since his debut. Just looking at the filmography he has accumulated, he has been loved across various genres such as action, romance, and comedy. Among them, 'Goblin' and 'The Tale of a Nine Tailed Fox' show a strong appearance in fantasy works to the extent that the ratings and topicality stand out. Fans of 'The Tale of a Gumiho' are eagerly waiting for season 3 to be produced.

Kim Seo-yoon, staff reporter seogugu@tenasia.co.kr