Legend of the Blue Sea Ep 1-2 Discussion Post

[keytfelt.livejournal.com]

Synopsis: This drama tells the love story between the son of a Joseon noble family named Dam Ryung and a mermaid named Shim Chung. She finds herself transplanted to modern times. She is caught by Heo Joon Jae, a charming but cold con artist who is the doppelgänger for Dam Ryung. In the present time, Joon Jae works with Jo Nam Doo, a skilled conman who guides Joon Jae to become a genius scammer. Joon Jae’s friend, Cha Shi Ah, who works as a researcher at KAIST, may be Chung’s only hope for surviving in her strange new world.

Cast: Jun Ji Hyun, Lee Min Ho, Lee Hee Joon, Shin Hye Sun, Sung Dong Il
Director: Jin Hyeok
Writer: Park Ji Eun
Network: SBS
Episodes: 20
Release Date: November 16, 2016-January 19, 2017
Runtime: Wednesday & Thursday 22:00

Watch here: Viki

sources: MyDramaList, AsianWiki

I really enjoyed the first two episodes. Jun Ji Hyun is amazing, I can't think of many other actresses who could pull this character off like she can.

Comments

[pandaapple27.livejournal.com]

I'm debating if I should watch this drama or not! I'm not really a fan of lee Minho...it's really the only thing putting me off the drama tbh lol

[xxmannequin.livejournal.com]

First thing I have to say about this drama - the cinematography.. it's absolutely amazing! I was expecting it seeing the teasers, but I'm truly blown away. It's a feast for the eyes :D If you are not watching it in the highest quality available, you are really missing out! Another thing I like about this drama is the way they are introducing the sageuk story, usually we would get 2-4 intro eps, but here we are getting about 20min or less at the beginning.. It's a really nice contrast, and very engaging.

I agree with the OP, Jun Ji Hyun is unbelievable. I feel like any other actress would make her character seem over the top, even annoying at times, but I'm loving her in this. I didn't know how I would feel about the pairing, but LMH and her seem to be having a nice chemistry. I usually really enjoy LMH's acting and this is no exception. I'm excited to get to know his present character better and learn more about the past sageuk romance.

This drama looks so well made, I really hope the writing will be on point till the end.. As of now, I feel like LMH will leave for the army on a high horse.

[ah0000.livejournal.com]

I watched the other two dramas bc I care more about them but I can't wait to watch this over the weekend. I really like JJH so much and ngl since City Hunter my heart has never left LMH. Even after the mess called Heirs

[opd-devil.livejournal.com]

Very entertaining two episodes so far :D

[antrea.livejournal.com]

after watching whirlwind eps of Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim, I thought the pacing was so slow hahaha but really enjoyable so far, I'm surprised! Jun Ji Hyun is so good in this, her voice is also really pleasant to listen to, idk why I haven't noticed it before
First time I've enjoyed watching LMH since City Hunter too, he really reminds me of Zen from Mystic Messenger in this lmfao

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

How is Doctor Kim? I'm a big Han Sukkyu fan but I dont want to taint my memory of him by watching Korean medical dramas again lol

[antrea.livejournal.com]

I really love it! The first ep was the epitome of WILD like so many things happened within the ep but it's slowed to a better pace now. The character Han Sukkyu plays is really intriguing so I'd give it a try!

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

Havent watch this yet but I'm so excited to watch this with my sister this weekend. Lee Minho might love to chose bad projects but City Hunter will always remind me what he can do as an actor.

From the teaser, Jun Jihyun's character seemed to be like her characters in Sassy Girl/Windstruck/MLFTS. But she's great at playing this over the top character without being annoying so I'm looking forward to this too.

[itsglenncoco.livejournal.com]

Loved it, love JJH, loved her lip colour (as expected), loved her skirt at the church scenes and really happy that she can talk now hahaha

[fabulousdoll.livejournal.com]

JJH is amazing. I don't like to comment much about shows that just started because it could end up changing a lot, but for now while I feel it goes a bit slow, I like it, and I kind of prefer it like that.
And lmao they supposedly went from Girona to A Coruña like is just around the corner? Or maybe I got confused about the "time line".

[cagallisakura.livejournal.com]

jun jihyun had my crying from her antics tbh lmao all the fighting styles she learned from watching shows, if only real life was like that. idgaf about lee minho but i'll suffer through his face for JJH

my mom spent krystal's scenes talking about how her forehead is so big and should use her bangs to cover it up, mom pls

[miyozari.livejournal.com]

LOVE IT or well, I love Jeon Ji Hyun. It's amazing how many emotions she was able to portray w/o speaking. Whereas I'm not sure if LMH could do the same. But I'm afraid that the drama might lose its steam in the second half. I've yet to watch MLFAS's last four episodes.

Her Bruce Lee imitation was hilarious.

Is LMH's mom a mermaid? Why can JJH's character speak in the Joseeon era, but she has to relearn it in present times?

I'm already taking notes of her outfits that D&G dress + Manolo Blahnik flats looked gorgeous on her.

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

So far the setting is beautiful and the foreign extras are less annoying than they were in Heirs and DOTS. I found myself becoming annoyed with her not talking and I hope they have a logical explanation for why she could talk in the Joseon dynasty. For now I'm assuming they are both reincarnations which would make it different from her last drama. LMH is serviceable as an actor, I keep wanting more from him. I don't think he has progressed to the same level as his peers. JJH is owning the comedy scenes. Spain? is beautiful but I still look forward to the Joseon scenes.

[pukingflowers.livejournal.com]

I'm pleasantly surprised by the tone and cinematography of the first 2 eps.

JJH is a goddess as usual, and didn't expect much from LMH and his character (heirs left a deep scar) but I'm loving him so far.

Prayer circle the rest of the show remain as per flawless amen

[ohlookshiny.livejournal.com]

it was kind of cute but also kind of slow? as much as i thought stars was really overrated, the comedy was better there and it had a zippier start. the joseon parts are more compelling here though (lmh isn't delivering in the sageuk scenes but they're still gorgeous). i want more of that.

i was expecting joon jae to be all slick and cool but he's an idiot and quite endearing so that's nice. idk where this story is going, how are we going to fill 18 more episodes? i'm gonna watch next week's eps and decide if i can be bothered to continue for the cute. i already dropped weightlifting fairy and 1% of anything is ending next week so i have nothing to watch :( i need drama recs!

[afictionjunkie.livejournal.com]

Ohhh I'm curious why you dropped Weightlifting Fair. I'm planning to add it to my to watch list.

[ohlookshiny.livejournal.com]

umm. god where do i start. spoilers ahoy!

i get that this is supposed to be lighthearted fare but for a drama centering around a female weightlifter i was disappointed that this seems to be more about his journey, not hers - and she just seems to be reduced to his love interest. which is really disappointing considering jang mi ran had such an amazing career and it's mostly glossed over in the show while his swimming career seems to be the main focus (he has this whole storyline going on about this ~trauma~ he will have to get over to become recognised and a rivalry with another swimmer while she basically has nothing). i don't find his storyline super compelling, but the writer put in some effort with him while with her they basically didn't bother. tbh it feels also alot like sassy go go which also treated its sports drama as an afterthought, which is disappointing in of itself.

it's all typical kdrama stuff - i actually laughed when they revealed the little twist at the end of episode one, which is one of the most overused tropes in dramaland and is in no way surprising. + also the fatty jokes were shitty.

on the acting front, the cast is pretty weak. i actually like lee sung kyung in this but she's totally miscast and is no way convincing as a weightlifter (+ the show even undercuts bok joo's own ability, like when she's too weak to get out of a pool and he has to help her and i was like ????). nam joo hyuk still can't act and his character is like school 2015 redux and i don't really want to watch that again. he is not lead material and if he wasn't pretty/from yg he wouldn't get these roles basically.

ymmv etc. the general consensus is that it's v cute but it didn't do much for me.

(i love masaki suda, your icon <333)

[winegums.livejournal.com]

tbh re Sassy Go Go, it wasn't a drama about cheerleading, it was more of a drama about what cheerleading itself is about. it was p clear there from Day 1 that cheerleading was just the background for these kids' issues to play out.

And WF has many faults but it's def Lee Sung Kyung who's the lead here, Nam Joo Hyuk looks like it's about as much of his story as School 2015 was. It's def looking like a story that's more Bok Joo-centric w him as the love interest, than the other way around.

[afictionjunkie.livejournal.com]

Oh I was finally able to find time to watch Weightlifting Fairy and I can see your point. Nam Joo-hyuk does feel like he has the meatier storyline but it's been 2 episodes so I'm a little hopeful that the drama will give us more Bok-ju.

(Masaki Suda is ❤️, I'm watching Jimi Ni Sugoi and he's adorable!)

[hibaalhadid.livejournal.com]

LOVED IT

[afictionjunkie.livejournal.com]

So far I'm loving Jun Ji-hyun, the cinematography, and the location. I'm still waiting for a more serious story but I'm currently satisfied with the the funny and cute moments so I'll still watch it.

[ty.livejournal.com]

I love it. LMH is a convincing conman and JJH is lovely brilliant! The snort when she hit the window made me have to pause everything! lol

[noonakaia.livejournal.com]

The first 2 eps were promising imo. It was funny and cute and JJH is a flawless queen as usual <3