# The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016) Review: A Mermaid Con > The Legend of the Blue Sea is a lavish Korean fantasy romance: Jun Ji-hyun's mermaid falls for Lee Min-ho's con artist in Seoul, as their Joseon past life echoes. Canonical: https://celluloidscore.com/reviews/the-legend-of-the-blue-sea-review/ Published: 2026-07-25 Last updated: 2026-09-24 Author: Kaiser Khan — Founder & Editor Language: English Review basis: direct-viewing Spoilers: none Rating: 4/5 ## Verdict Yes, with reservations. A gorgeous, funny fantasy romance for fans of its stars, though the reincarnation plot tangles itself up in the final stretch. ## Is The Legend of the Blue Sea worth watching? **Yes. The Legend of the Blue Sea is a glossy, charming fantasy romance, and Jun Ji-hyun's wide-eyed, fearlessly comic mermaid is one of the most delightful performances in K-drama.** Her chemistry with Lee Min-ho carries the series, and the con-artist comedy in modern Seoul sparkles. The main reservation is the reincarnation storyline, which becomes increasingly convoluted as the 20 episodes wind towards their conclusion. ## What is The Legend of the Blue Sea about? In the Joseon era, a mermaid formed a bond with a young town magistrate. Centuries later, a mermaid (Jun Ji-hyun) washes up in modern-day Seoul and attaches herself to a man who wears the magistrate's face: Heo Joon-jae ([Lee Min-ho](https://celluloidscore.com/stars/asia/south-korea/lee-min-ho/)), a charming, unsentimental con artist who makes a living by talking wealthy targets out of their money. She can erase memories with a touch; he can talk his way out of almost anything. As their relationship develops, the story of their earlier lives runs alongside the present, and echoes of the past begin to shape what happens now. [The Legend of the Blue Sea](https://celluloidscore.com/shows/the-legend-of-the-blue-sea/) is a South Korean series in Korean, written by Park Ji-eun and first broadcast across 2016 and 2017. Lee Hee-joon, Shin Hye-sun, Shin Won-ho and Lee Ji-hoon round out the cast. This review covers the complete series: a single 20-episode season with a finished story. ## Jun Ji-hyun makes a mermaid funny The show's secret weapon is its lead actress. Jun plays a creature entirely new to human society, and she commits to the physical comedy with gusto: eating with abandon, misreading social cues and repeating phrases she has overheard with total confidence. It could have been a one-note joke, but Jun gives the character real emotional sincerity, so her devotion to Joon-jae feels both comic and moving. Lee Min-ho is well cast as a con man whose charm is part of his trade. He is convincing both as a slick modern swindler and as the gentler Joseon magistrate, and he lets Joon-jae's cynicism soften gradually as the mermaid breaks through his defences. ## Con-artist comedy with a fairytale shine The modern-day storyline is at its best when it leans into the heist and con elements. Joon-jae and his crew run elaborate schemes, and the playful energy of those scenes gives the romance a lively backdrop. Shin Won-ho and Lee Ji-hoon provide strong comic support as members of Joon-jae's circle. The production values are high. The underwater sequences, the Joseon-era scenes and the glossy Seoul settings all look expensive, and the visual contrast between past and present is handled with flair. Park Ji-eun, who also wrote My Love from the Star, knows how to build a fantasy romance around big stars and heightened emotions. ## Where the mythology gets tangled The reincarnation plot is the weakest part of the series. As the past-life story unfolds, the parallels between eras become more contrived, and the final stretch adds complications that feel designed to extend tension rather than deepen the story. Some subplots, including family conflicts and villainous schemes, lean heavily on familiar K-drama melodrama. Viewers invested in the central couple will forgive much of this, but it does sap momentum. ## Who should watch The Legend of the Blue Sea? It suits fans of fantasy romance, of Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Min-ho, and of K-dramas that mix comedy with a touch of the fairytale. Twenty episodes make it a substantial commitment. The content is mostly light, with some scenes of violence and threat in the later episodes, making it suitable for teenagers and up. If you enjoy it, try these next from the [fantasy](https://celluloidscore.com/genres/fantasy/) shelf: - [My Love from the Star](https://celluloidscore.com/reviews/my-love-from-the-star-review/), the earlier Park Ji-eun hit starring Jun Ji-hyun, with an alien in place of a mermaid. - [Goblin](https://celluloidscore.com/reviews/goblin-2016-review/) for another lavish 2016 fantasy romance built on past lives and destiny. - More K-drama on the [Netflix hub](https://celluloidscore.com/shows/platform/netflix/). ## The verdict The Legend of the Blue Sea is a beautiful, funny and heartfelt fantasy romance, lifted by Jun Ji-hyun's irresistible performance and her chemistry with Lee Min-ho. Its reincarnation plot tangles itself in the later episodes, but the charm of its leads makes it well worth diving into. **Rating: 4/5** ## Related title - [The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016)](https://celluloidscore.com/shows/the-legend-of-the-blue-sea/) ## Editorial - [Editorial standards](https://celluloidscore.com/about/editorial-policy/) - [Report a correction](https://celluloidscore.com/about/corrections/)