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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "The Legend of the Blue Sea" Episode 1

Although not the most original K-drama opening in dramaland, "The Legend of the Blue Sea" established some good background on the characters, the plot, and the zany treats that are in store for us. Jun Ji-hyun is just as funny and charming as we expected her to be with another Park Ji-eun-penned drama. Park wrote the 2013 sensation "My Love from the Star" that also starred Jeon as a quirky, strong female lead. This episode boasted of some awesome fish-out-of-water antics (pun-intended) and plenty of swoony Lee Min-ho scenes. Welcome back to dramaland, Lee Min-ho.

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Director Jin Hyeok ("City Hunter", "Doctor Stranger") still loves his camera filters and special effects although this time they're a little far-fetched. Both storms that wash Ji-hyeon's mermaid ashore were a tad hoaky. I have to say the mermaid form of Jun Ji-hyun, while she is beautiful, is a disappointing lace number. It would've been really cool had she had scales that traveled up her chest and neck to make her feel more otherworldly. But that is a minor quibble. because Jun Ji-hyun was absolutely hysterical as the mermaid who discovers the amenities of the modern world. She pulls tissues out of a tissue box like a child, eats food like my cat, and hangs herself in clothes that are still hanging in the closet. She was definitely the funny woman to Lee Min-ho's suave, skilled straight man.

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His character is Heo Joon-jae, conman and skilled hypnotist pulls dangerous heists with his two brothers-in-crime, Jo Nam-doo (Lee Hee-jun) and Tae-oh (Shin Won-ho), are high-stakes crimes that require Ocean's 11 skills and even savvy-er getaways. I like the three together as they are comfortable working as a team and have been doing it for quite some time. Digging into their back story should be interesting.

More than that, I like that this story has a taste of what made "My Love from the Star" so successful: the parallel stories in past and present. Supposedly there will be a child cast, too, adding more history to it all. We have yet to meet the other leads, but we still have a second episode for the week.

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Written by: Lisa Espinosa AKA Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

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"The Legend of the Blue Sea" is directed by Jin Hyeok, written by Park Ji-eun, and features Lee Min-ho, Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Hee-jun, and Shin Hye-sun.

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