# The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016–2017) — Celluloid TV fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/shows/the-legend-of-the-blue-sea/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-25

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 75% |
| Critic Score | 70% |
| Audience Score | 84% |
| Metascore | 61/100 |
| IMDb | 7.9/10 |
| Fan Score | 80% |
| Creator | Park Ji-eun |
| Platform | Netflix |
| Genres | Fantasy, Romance, Comedy |
| Seasons | 1 (20 episodes) |
| Language | Korean |
| Country | South Korea |

## Quick answer

The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016–2017) is a Fantasy, Romance, Comedy series created by Park Ji-eun, streaming on Netflix. It holds a 75% Celluloid Score — Recommended — averaged from critic reviews (70%), audience ratings (84%), Metascore (61/100), IMDb (7.9/10), and fan ratings (80%) across 1 season.

## Critics consensus

A gorgeous, expensive fantasy romance that trades on its leads' chemistry more than its plotting — the con-artist comedy sparkles, even when the reincarnation mythology ties itself in knots down the final stretch.

## Synopsis

A mermaid who once loved a Joseon magistrate washes up in modern Seoul and attaches herself to the man wearing his face — now a charming and entirely unsentimental con artist. She can erase memories with a touch; he can talk anyone out of anything. As their two lifetimes braid together, the murderous ending of the first one quietly begins arranging itself for a second attempt.

## Cast

Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Min-ho, Lee Hee-joon, Shin Hye-sun, Shin Won-ho, Lee Ji-hoon

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Most searched questions

**Is The Legend of the Blue Sea worth watching?**
Yes — The Legend of the Blue Sea earns a 75% Celluloid Score (Recommended), averaged from critic 70%, audience 84%, Metascore 61/100, IMDb 7.9/10, and fan 80%. A gorgeous, expensive fantasy romance that trades on its leads' chemistry more than its plotting — the con-artist comedy sparkles, even when the reincarnation mythology ties itself in knots down the final stretch.

**Is The Legend of the Blue Sea on Prime Video?**
No — The Legend of the Blue Sea is not on Prime Video. It streams on Netflix, and on Celluloid it is catalogued under Netflix. Streaming rights rotate by country, so confirm in your region before subscribing.

**What year did The Legend of the Blue Sea come out?**
The Legend of the Blue Sea first aired in 2016 and ran through 2017 (2016–2017). Created by Park Ji-eun; it streams on Netflix today.

**Is The Legend of the Blue Sea on Netflix?**
Yes — The Legend of the Blue Sea is available on Netflix in many regions (catalogued under Netflix on Celluloid). Rights differ by country; confirm in the Netflix app or the where-to-watch notes.

**How many seasons of The Legend of the Blue Sea are there?**
The Legend of the Blue Sea has 1 season across 20 episodes (2016–2017). Status: ended / complete.

**Where can I watch The Legend of the Blue Sea?**
The Legend of the Blue Sea streams on Netflix in supported regions. On Celluloid it is catalogued under Netflix. Rights rotate — confirm in your country on the platform app.

**How long does it take to watch The Legend of the Blue Sea?**
At roughly 40–50 minutes per episode, The Legend of the Blue Sea’s 20 episodes take roughly 15 hours of runtime (plus credits). Binge pace depends on season breaks.

**Who is in the cast of The Legend of the Blue Sea?**
The Legend of the Blue Sea stars Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Min-ho, Lee Hee-joon, Shin Hye-sun, Shin Won-ho, and others. Created by Park Ji-eun.

**How many episodes are in The Legend of the Blue Sea?**
The Legend of the Blue Sea has 20 episodes across 1 season (2016–2017).

**What is The Legend of the Blue Sea about?**
A mermaid who once loved a Joseon magistrate washes up in modern Seoul and attaches herself to the man wearing his face — now a charming and entirely unsentimental con artist. She can erase memories with a touch; he can talk anyone out of anything. As their two lifetimes braid together, the murderous ending of the first one quietly begins arranging itself for a second attempt.

**Who created The Legend of the Blue Sea?**
The Legend of the Blue Sea was created by Park Ji-eun. It is a fantasy, romance, comedy series from South Korea, primarily in Korean.

**What should I watch after The Legend of the Blue Sea?**
Browse more fantasy series on Celluloid’s Netflix hub, or open More Like This.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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