Yup, you read that right. Kang So-ra (Revolutionary Love) is considering her next drama, and the fantasy-romance series has me intrigued: It’s called Gyeryong Fairy Tale, where Gyeryong is a location in the province of Chungcheong (note: the latter part means “tale of a fairy” rather than the “fairy tale” genre of stories). Given how much I enjoy watching Kang So-ra and how disappointed I’ve been in recent projects from her, I’m hoping for a better result this time.
Gyeryong Fairy Tale is based on a Naver webtoon and centers around a 699-year-old fairy from Gyeryong mountain who lives through Goryeo and Joseon times, who then becomes a barista. That’s a strange trajectory if I ever saw one. She is on the hunt for her reincarnated husband and her winged clothing, which recalls the famous folktale about the woodcutter who married a fairy when he hid her winged clothes to prevent her from returning to her heavenly home. (Yes, I have huge problems with this fairy tale.)
The role Kang So-ra has been offered is the main character of the fairy, who lost her winged clothing after taking a bath in a pond (because the woodcutter stole them!) and then married the woodcutter who came to her aid (after first disarming and isolating her!). But in this drama, the husband loses his footing on a precipice and falls to his death, and ever since then the fairy has been waiting for him to be reincarnated. She now works as a barista, and to ordinary people she appears as a grandmother but retains her youthful appearance in front of certain people with whom she has a special connection. She also possesses the power of being able to talk to plants.
The plot is certainly attention-grabbing, and I’m in the mood for an innovative story. Hopefully PD Kim Yoon-chul brings the quirky story to life; I have liked many of his previous dramas, like the contemplative Could We Marry?, the intense Que Sera Sera, and of course the seminal My Name Is Kim Sam-soon. (We’ll just ignore Madam Antoine, shall we?)
Gyeryong Fairy Tale is being considered for a tvN slot later this year.