Lee Min Ho attends a press conference for a commercial event on September 11, 2014 in Taipei, Taiwan. (Photo : Getty Images/Ashley Pon)
When big stars like Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun come together for a show like "The Legends of the Blue Sea," it is impossible not to come up with a hit show that will be followed by thousands of viewers worldwide. However, most fans will agree that when it comes to this comedy-drama, Jun Ji Hyun definitely steals the show.
In "The Legends of the Blue Sea," Jun Ji Hyun plays Shim Chang, a mermaid who is brought to share and lives in the world of humans brimming with curiosity and excitement. Much like her performance in "My Love From The Star," Jun brings her "A" game and showcases her infectious charm and funny antics.
In one particular scene, Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun's characters get cornered in an alley by a gang. Lee Min Ho mans up and fights the hoodlums, although he struggles to get rid of three. Meanwhile, Jun Ji Hyun effortlessly defeats more men by mimicking Bruce Lee's moves, complete with facial expressions and sounds. From that point, it's hard to deny that Jun is the bigger star in this show.
Lee Min Ho has no trouble playing the suave flower boy/con artist character. His portrayal of the role is comparable to Song Joong Ki's very macho Yoo Shi Jin in "Descendants of the Sun" and Ji Chang Wook's Kim Je Ha in "K2." However, Lee Min Ho has always played the cool, sometimes short-tempered pretty boy before, so it comes as no surprise to fans that he nails his character this time around.
Meanwhile, Jun Ji Hyun has made her character completely her own and she has added her own unique take on the role of a mythical creature learning the ropes of how humans live. Moreover, it's a role not viewers see every day in Korean dramas She provides much of the primary comic relief on the show, while Lee Min Ho complements her. Even Lee Min Ho himself can't help but praise his co-star.
"She's so charming how she unhesitatingly shows herself as is," Lee told Harper's Bazaar Korea, as cited by allkpop.
Although it is easy to say that Jun's performance is the main reason why viewers are hooked on "The Legends of the Blue Sea," it is Jun Ji Hyun and Lee Min Ho's chemistry that is the beating heart of the show.
"After we got comfortable, our reactions toward each other got better and our chemistry became smoother," The Jakarta Post quoted Jun Ji Hyun as saying about how easy it is to work with the "Boys Over Flowers" actor.
Could this drama finally topple "Descendants of the Sun" as the most successful and highly viewed drama series in 2016? "The Legends of the Blue Sea" airs every Wednesday on SBS.
