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So in love with the characters <3
(only mild spoilers though...)
First disclaimer: I am a huge fan of Jun Ji Hyun so my review is a bit biased to this show and any other that she is in. That being said, I was ready to give up on Lee Min Ho (I don't know, his shows and my taste do seem the clash) and this show made me completely change my mind about him (but then I watched The King: Eternal Monarch.... oh my... but that´s a story for another time).
Second disclaimer: Is been a while since I watched this show from beginning to end… So to keep in mind that this review is more about what stuck with me from this series. I believe that when I first finished the series I rated it 8.0 (?)... However, as the weeks and months passed, I found myself remembering scenes of the series and just laughing and feeling good. I grew fond of it, I fell more in love with the characters as I distanced myself from them.
So, let´s start!
The story itself is very weird and I need to say that if you prefer a more down to Earth storyline stay clear of this one (and I don't mean it just because it is a story about a mermaid). I think the screenwriter thought that 'mermaid and human man' was a too simple concept and went beyond in ways no one could have imagined... Try explaining the plot of this show to a friend and you will know what I mean... Feels overstuff and all over the place... but, in my opinion, it did work and it made the series more interesting and dynamic. It was not perfect and some stuff seemed forced and unnecessary to the growth of the main characters, but it was not something that made me stressed as well.
I think that even though nothing seemed cohesive at first - the story set in the past that did not seem to resonate with the present, the lost mother, the rich aloof father, the evil stepmother, the consequences of being a mermaid living on land, the scammer group, the killer guy that just was there, the whole Shin Hye Sun subplot… - I found that one subplot tended to feed the other and when it didn't it made the series escape from being too focused one the romantic problems of the main couple (which is something that tends to get old after a few episodes, in my opinion).
Now, my favourite part, the characters!
Jun Ji Hyun was just hilarious and amazing throughout. The relationships of her character with the people she meets on the streets of Seoul are just one of the high points for me. All those supporting characters were fun and caring and made us understand and care for Shim Chung much more. It enriched the storyline of her character and made her even more likable and affable and fun.
Heo Joon Jae was also made better and more rich by his relationships, precisely the one with Shim Chung and with Jo Nam Doo. His storyline was the most convoluted one and where all the 'overstuffiness' was but I really liked Lee Min Ho portrait for this character, I think he was able to strike the right balance between slightly arrogant and mysterious and being funny and adorable in rude yet endearing sort of way.
The chemistry of the main couple and their interacting were just the best and it felt like a balanced and well-constructed relationship. It didn’t feel forced or rushed and it did not become a fluffy fest either… I liked their romantic moments, their banter, the way their differences and misunderstandings were built.
When we embark on a romantic comedy such as this one we already know what is going to happen in the broad terms – they will meet, probably don’t see eye to eye at first, fall in love, have some sort of fight/disagreement/miscommunication, break the relationship and get back together and be happy… Some series deviate from the formula a bit but, to be honest, I don’t think that us fans of romantic comedies really care if they do or don’t, what we want is to be surprised and taken away and to fall in love with the main characters and root for them. If the series is able to accomplish this, then most of us are happy. Legend of the Blue Sea was an ace in this point to me. I think Shim Chung and Heo Joon Jae are definitely one of my favourite couples of all times.
Bonus point:
The amazing and unexpected subplot about Cha Shi Ah and Tae Oh. I won’t say much not to ruin it. But I loved it every minute of it and, yeah, was one of the highlights of the show for me.
In summary:
Legend of the Blue Sea is a series that connected to my heart and soul. I loved watching it and I think about the characters and story even now, half a year after I last watched.
First disclaimer: I am a huge fan of Jun Ji Hyun so my review is a bit biased to this show and any other that she is in. That being said, I was ready to give up on Lee Min Ho (I don't know, his shows and my taste do seem the clash) and this show made me completely change my mind about him (but then I watched The King: Eternal Monarch.... oh my... but that´s a story for another time).
Second disclaimer: Is been a while since I watched this show from beginning to end… So to keep in mind that this review is more about what stuck with me from this series. I believe that when I first finished the series I rated it 8.0 (?)... However, as the weeks and months passed, I found myself remembering scenes of the series and just laughing and feeling good. I grew fond of it, I fell more in love with the characters as I distanced myself from them.
So, let´s start!
The story itself is very weird and I need to say that if you prefer a more down to Earth storyline stay clear of this one (and I don't mean it just because it is a story about a mermaid). I think the screenwriter thought that 'mermaid and human man' was a too simple concept and went beyond in ways no one could have imagined... Try explaining the plot of this show to a friend and you will know what I mean... Feels overstuff and all over the place... but, in my opinion, it did work and it made the series more interesting and dynamic. It was not perfect and some stuff seemed forced and unnecessary to the growth of the main characters, but it was not something that made me stressed as well.
I think that even though nothing seemed cohesive at first - the story set in the past that did not seem to resonate with the present, the lost mother, the rich aloof father, the evil stepmother, the consequences of being a mermaid living on land, the scammer group, the killer guy that just was there, the whole Shin Hye Sun subplot… - I found that one subplot tended to feed the other and when it didn't it made the series escape from being too focused one the romantic problems of the main couple (which is something that tends to get old after a few episodes, in my opinion).
Now, my favourite part, the characters!
Jun Ji Hyun was just hilarious and amazing throughout. The relationships of her character with the people she meets on the streets of Seoul are just one of the high points for me. All those supporting characters were fun and caring and made us understand and care for Shim Chung much more. It enriched the storyline of her character and made her even more likable and affable and fun.
Heo Joon Jae was also made better and more rich by his relationships, precisely the one with Shim Chung and with Jo Nam Doo. His storyline was the most convoluted one and where all the 'overstuffiness' was but I really liked Lee Min Ho portrait for this character, I think he was able to strike the right balance between slightly arrogant and mysterious and being funny and adorable in rude yet endearing sort of way.
The chemistry of the main couple and their interacting were just the best and it felt like a balanced and well-constructed relationship. It didn’t feel forced or rushed and it did not become a fluffy fest either… I liked their romantic moments, their banter, the way their differences and misunderstandings were built.
When we embark on a romantic comedy such as this one we already know what is going to happen in the broad terms – they will meet, probably don’t see eye to eye at first, fall in love, have some sort of fight/disagreement/miscommunication, break the relationship and get back together and be happy… Some series deviate from the formula a bit but, to be honest, I don’t think that us fans of romantic comedies really care if they do or don’t, what we want is to be surprised and taken away and to fall in love with the main characters and root for them. If the series is able to accomplish this, then most of us are happy. Legend of the Blue Sea was an ace in this point to me. I think Shim Chung and Heo Joon Jae are definitely one of my favourite couples of all times.
Bonus point:
The amazing and unexpected subplot about Cha Shi Ah and Tae Oh. I won’t say much not to ruin it. But I loved it every minute of it and, yeah, was one of the highlights of the show for me.
In summary:
Legend of the Blue Sea is a series that connected to my heart and soul. I loved watching it and I think about the characters and story even now, half a year after I last watched.
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