Legend of the blue sea

Today saw the premieres of three dramas, all direct timeslot competitors on the Big Three broadcasters, but it was this show, Legend of the Blue Sea, that had the highest hype and the highest expectations. I'm always nervous when a show I'm looking forward to, which has writers and directors and actors I like very much, is beset by a lot of early buzz; it almost sets us up for disappointment, because it's rare that a show can live up to all that anticipation.

Well, for now Legend of the Blue Sea is safe, because it premiered to generally favorable response and impressive ratings: 16.4%, a rarity in today's landscape, against Oh My Geum-bi's 5.9% on KBS and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju's 3.3% on MBC. Is that number justified? Despite my wariness to decide anything based on a first episode, I do think it delivered, and while I'm still waiting for some elements to gel and the story to truly get going, the first episode hit all the main points for me: intriguing characters, a wonderful performance in a sure-to-be-classic role for Jeon Ji-hyun, a hint of whimsy, and a dash of poignancy. It's not quite soup yet, but the ingredients are there and I'll harbor hopes that it'll continue to develop into a heartfelt and hilarious romance.