Last episode, Joon Jae took Shim Chung to a ski resort to see the snow and asked her to say "I love you".
Episode 7 returns to the past as Dam Ryung searches desperately for Se Hwa. As he goes a certain jade bracelet flashes around his wrist, the same one that Shim Chung acquired in Spain and Joon Jae later took. Dam Ryung approaches the edge of a cliff where he finds the beaten body of his comrade who tried so desperately to save Se Hwa. Meanwhile inside the cave Se Hwa continues to wait for her love when the cave opening illuminates, unfortunately for Se Hwa it's not Dam Ryung but rather Mr. Yang's men. Luckily for Dam Ryung his friend is alive but in critical condition.
Dam Ryung pays a visit to Mr. Yang who plays his role apologizing for his concubines actions but Dam Ryung doesn't fall for it. Instead he picks up a tangerine then goes on to explain that the corpse they had found was poisoned and had eaten tangerines, a delicacy a the time, before he had died. Dam Ryung explains that while at first they didn't detect the poison but when the corpse thawed out they discovered poisonous blow fish eggs. As Mr. Yang attempts to deny this, Dam Ryung's men come in with a jar of blow fish eggs they found in Mr. Yang's room which he blames the servants for.
Outside Mr. Yang's concubine is taken by Dam Ryung's men, she tries to get away but before she can escape their arms Dam Ryung puts a sword to her neck. He threatens her life is Se Hwa is dead which gets him to a closet like room. Inside is a beaten Se Hwa tied up with a basket of pearls beside her. Mr. Yang's concubine attempts to cause ruckus by claiming the mermaid brought the bad omen but with a quick wrist, Dam Ryung throws the pearls creating a calamity with the citizens as Mr. Yang's concubine cries over her loss. While they are distracted, Dam Ryung takes the unconscious Se Hwa away. As he walks to an unknown destination, he tells her about a dream he had of them in the future which mirrors the events that have occurred with Joon Jae.
In the present, Shim Chung tells Joon Jae that he's her property thinking back to Spain when Joon Jae said the same thing. Joon Jae asks where she learned this and she tells him from a man. He scolds her for following someone who is obviously going to con her but Shim Chung is set that he is a good man. When Joon Jae mentions love again, Shim Chung finally says 'I love you' which causes Joon Jae to pause but they continue to walk away.
They arrive back at home as Nam Doo inquires about where they where. When Joon Jae explains that they went to a ski resort, Nam Doo is quick to jump that they went on a date which bothers Taeho who then walks to his room but not before giving Joon Jae a wicked glaring. When Joon Jae walks away, Nam Doo hands Shim Chung a tangerine and questions Joon Jae's bad mood.
That night Joon Jae lays in bed restless. Overrun by his thoughts he calls on Shim Chung, when she slides the door to her room open Joon Jae's heart quickens pace. She climbs down and Joon Jae asks about her other man, first asking if she said I love you to him which she replies yes, then asks what he looks like. She goes on to talk about his pretty looks and sparkling eyes but Joon Jae stops her and talks about how awful pretty boys are. He yells at her to go back to her room and she obliges.
Outside a car swerves on the road but comes to halt when it hits a barrier. Back with Joon Jae, he dreams of Dam Ryung little flashes of his previous life. Flashing on Dam Ryung's injured comrade who he realizes looks like Chief Nam and the jade bracelet. Joon Jae wakes up in a sweat trying to figure out what the dream was about and calls Chief Nam. But Chief Nam is injured, badly, in the previously swerving car and Dae Young grabs the phone turning away Joon Jae's call then putting the phone to automated voicemail before leaving the car.
At a meal the next day, Gil Joon sits with his family when he receives a call. He informs them of Chief Nam's accident, which was covered up as a DUI case, but he and Chi Hyun both find it suspicious while Joon Ji dismisses it but acts upset. She offers to go with Gil Joon to the hospital when he visits which he agrees upon. When she turns back to her food Chi Hyun notices a smirk on her face.
At the police station, the detective continues trying to trace Dae Young but gets no where. The chief of police nags the detective to look into a stolen identity case (which involves Joon Jae) rather than poor all his focus into Dae Young but the detective is adamant on finding Dae Young.
The men plan a new con involving Sung Ryung but as they plan Shim Chung interrupts surprising them all. She asks about Joon Jae's job and he attempts to explain it by creating it as a modern day Robin Hood which Shim Chung takes as he's a public servant. He denies it saying he's better than it which makes Shim Chung happy.
The detectives follow a lead with x's on certain houses and a triangle which lead them to near Joon Jae's house. Outside Shim Chung leaves but Dae Young watches close by. The detective sees him and calls him out which prompts a chase. Dae Young narrowly gets away by pulling a switch in clothing. Meanwhile Shim Chung picks out clothes from her favorite bin choosing a questionable outside.
Meanwhile Yoona is approached by rich girls who bully her until Shim Chung steps in picking up the leader of the bullies and tells her off. The girl runs home to her mother which turns out to be Sung Ryung. They leave together and Nam Doo realizes she has left so they have to stall the heist. At a convenience store eating, Yoona explains divorce to Shim Chung explaining that sometimes people fall out of love. As they're eating and talking an angered Sung Ryung ushers that Shim Chung come outside. When outside, Sung Ryung attempts to belittle Shim Chung but gets distracted by her outfit. As Shim Chung walks off with Yoona, Sung Ryung asks about her skin care to which Shim Chung flashes to mermaid facials. Nam Doo watches as Sung Ryung comes home and looks on her SNS to realize that she's staying home therefore they can't pull off the heist. As Taeho and Joon Jae leave, Yoo Ran catches sight of Joon Jae and attempts to go after the car. She then convinces herself it wasn't Joon Jae to ease her heart. In the car Taeho inquires about how Joon Jae become a con artist and Joon Jae explains with a flashback.
A teen aged Joon Jae sits in the internet cafe writing an open letter asking for information on his mom. After seeing someone eating, he himself gets hungry and goes to eat. As he eats he's approached by a young Nam Doo who first spouts facts about Yoo Ran then offers to find her for a fee. Joon Jae gives him money but realizes Nam Doo had taken it for his own gain, for a month and a half Joon Jae waited in the freezing cold outside the restaurant until one day he hears Nam Doo's voice once again. Joon Jae throws himself at Nam Doo demanding his money back. As they sit and eat Joon Jae suggests going after richer people rather than teenagers to which Nam Doo offers him a job, Joon Jae accepts but only until he finds his mother and can buy a house for them.
In the present Taeho asks why Joon Jae is still there when he has enough money to buy a house. Joon Jae does agree that he has enough money but through the years even with the help of Nam Doo, they haven't been able to locate his mother.
Nam Doo in the meantime, goes to a doctor friend to look at Shim Chung's x-rays. The doctor confirms the x-rays are from the same patient but there's something peculiar about the bones. Nam Doo inquires about the length of time it takes for a broken bone to heal which is significantly longer than Shim Chung took. Afterwards Nam Doo meets up with Sia for lunch, they chat briefly as Sia makes Nam Doo promise to keep Joon Jae away from Shim Chung. She gets a call confirming the vase belonged to Dam Ryung which stimulates Nam Doo who remembers that's the name on the jade bracelet.
Shim Chung looks on at the ocean with longing and decides to go for a swim taking off her shoes and then nearly going in before being stopped by an officer, Jung Hoon. As he holds her arm they have a moment of realization. He leads her to his quarters where they talk about being mermaids, Jung Hoon tells her about how she can get money by creating pearls from crying and upon realizing that she's there for love informs her of a time limit she has. A mermaids heart can't handle being out to see and it can stop at any moment but can be revived by a confession of love to which Shim Chung remembers in the hospital losing her heartbeat until Joon Jae held her hand. They come up with a plan to make Joon Jae jealous with the first step a make over which of course requires money so they cry over a sad drama. Shim Chung gets an entire make over and Jung Hoon brings her home. They act as a couple much to the displeasure of Joon Jae who finally pulls Shim Chung in.
At the hospital, Chief Nam lays in a coma while his wife cries over him. Gil Joon talks once again about how Chief Nam isn't the type to drink and drive. His wife suggests it wasn't an accident but Joon Ji is quick to reassure it was.
That night as Joon Jae sleeps a mysterious figure looms over him. Joon Jae acts quick to discover it's Nam Doo wanting the jade bracelet. Joon Jae explains that the only reason he has the bracelet is to give back to Shim Chung when she leaves. When Nam Doo scoffs about Joon Jae going soft, Joon Jae demands he gets out.
The next day, Shim Chung shows off her newly reformed fashion but Joon Jae gets livid quickly demanding that she has to change. He covers it up by demanding Nam Do change too. When she suggests going out, Joon Jae demands she works for her stay informing her that Taeho does the same. He runs down a list of chores for her to do while they guys go out for a heist. Realizing he forgot his phone, Joon Jae goes back in. Meanwhile Shim Chung cleans the area near the pool and fills herself with longing. When she makes sure everyone has left she dives in as Joon Jae continues to the door. As she swims she remembers what Jung Hoon had said, that he once had a love too but when she discovered his true being she couldn't handle it. He warned that she must never show her true identity. As she swims Joon Jae comes in and sees that the door to the pool room is ajar. In the final moments of the episode, Joon Jae makes eye contact with Shim Chung.
In the epilogue, Joon Jae inquires to Jung Hoon as to what he does for a living. Jung Hoon informs him that he's a public servant and while the pay isn't amazing the benefits are good enough. During the night Nam Doo attempted to get the bracelet, Joon Jae had a job search for public servant on his laptop.
Episode 8 returns ask Shim Chung is caught, Joon Jae thinks she's naked and questions why she would go skinny dipping in a house full of men while Shim Chung yells for him to turn around. She puts on a dressing robe and Joon Jae continues about how she can't do that. He goes back to the car where he tells everyone that from now on they have to make their presence known before entering the house.
Shim Chung meets with Joon Jae who explains lying and the signs to find it to Shim Chung. He also explains that just because someone says 'i love you' it doesn't mean that they actually do.
In the car, Nam Doo asks what has gotten into Joon Jae that he keeps making all these ridiculous rules for the house but Joon Jae brushes it off that it's his house so it's his rules once again. He has them stop the car in front of the museum Sia works at where he pays her a surprise visit much to her delight. But Joon Jae isn't there for her but rather the vase, as he looks at the vase he suddenly has a sort of flashback to when Shim Chung kissed him in the water. Afterwards he pays a visit to a doctor who specializes in hypnosis, Joon Jae inquires about losing only a certain part of his memory and the fact that he felt the man on the face was him to which the doctor decides to put him under. While in a trance rather than having the missing pieces to the Spain trip come back, Joon Jae is overwhelmed by images of Dam Ryung and everyone in that era including Se Hwa.
At the house Taeho plays a video game while Nam Do encourages him until Joon Jae walks in. He's immediately taken aback when Shim Chung suddenly appears flashing to the vision of Se Hwa but he regains his stance and installs a new rule of curfew so everyone will have to be home by 8. Nam Do finds it absurd as Shim Chung is about to leave and it's 7:30, Joon Jae insists that it's reasonable that she meet whoever she's meeting in that time and walks away. Nam Do inquires as to what Shim Chung was about to do and she reveals she was going to get money for pearls. Nam Do asks if he could have one but she insists they all go to Joon Jae. Nam Do offers a distraction and takes a pearl from Shim Chung's bag.
By the sea Jung Hoon explains that his time is almost up and his heart has begun to harden. He tells her about the fact that rather than live with his fate, she should go back to the sea with the memories she has. He explains what a hard life it is being on land and losing love. When she asks why he doesn't return instead of dying, he informs her that dying is a better option than living lifelessly and dreams of being reborn as a human to have multiple loves rather than be confined to one. Shim Chung asks about her lifespan, he informs her that it's been two months since his love left him. He tells her that rather than being pitiful toward him, she should be thinking about the fact that this will one day be her future.
Outside Joon Jae's house the detectives wait for signs of Dae Young. Unbeknownst to them Dae Young passes by incognito. Inside Joon Jae makes tea but his mug triggers the memory of a young Chief Nam which then goes back to his vision of the past. It prompts him to text Chief Nam asking if he's okay. Outside Dae Young scares away a drunkard and answers a text.
That night, Shim Chung mulls over the words that stuck with her from Jung Hoon about her future. Downstairs Joon Jae gets a text back 'Chief Nam' about meeting up. Afterwards Shim Chung comes down, she asks if he has any plans to like her in the future which he quickly says no. Shim Chung insists that he thinks about it for longer, he insists that he doesn't have plans and tells her that the hardest thing a person can do is love another. Shim Chung explains that it's easiest for her to love but trying to rid herself of the love is nearly impossible. She leaves Joon Jae to think it all over by requesting that he tell her if he ever has plans to like her.
At Sung Ryung's residence, Sung Ryung puts on an act to please her mother in law while Sia reads the newspaper. After her phone call Sung Ryung explains that a way to a man's heart is through his mother. As Sia tells Sung Ryung that she doesn't know Joon Jae's mother, Yoo Ran walks in giving them coffee. Sia spits out her coffee and berates Yoo Ran not knowing that she's Joon Jae's mother. Realizing how to get information on Joon Jae's mother, she meets with Nam Doo. In order for Nam Doo to give away any information, he asks about Joon Jae's visit and Sia shows him the picture of the vase. Afterwards with some more insistence from Sia, Nam Doo explains that Joon Jae was separated from his mother at 10 and he's been searching for her ever since.
In his office Gil Joon calls his lawyer to inform him that he wants to get his will notarized as soon as possible. Unknowing to Gil Joon, his lawyer is with Joon Ji. The lawyer explains the situation and that most of Gil Joon's assets would go to Joon Jae.
As Sia comes down, Shim Chung insists they have a discussion. She asks Sia how to win over Joon Jae's heart and Sia tells her that she has to stay far away from Joon Jae. Realizing that Sia displayed all the signs of lying that Jung Hoon had taught her therefore concluding she has to stay as close to Joon Jae as possible. Realizing that he won't be able to shake her off, Joon Jae takes her to the the library with him. After having to explain that she has to whisper Shim Chung is giddy that she can be close to Joon Jae but he rushes off to look up Dam Ryung. As he reads about Dam Ryung's life, Dam Ryung wakes up startled as the medicine man looks over the still unconscious Se Hwa. The medicine mean informs him that Se Hwa is in critical condition and it would be best to return her to sea. Dam Ryung thinks to what Joon Jae explained that his death will be at age 27 in December. Realizing that's his current age is 27, Dam Ryung asks when December is and is informed it's in 20 days. The medicine man once again explains that it would be best to let her go to which Dam Ryung puts the jade bracelet on her. In the present Joon Jae questions what caused Dam Ryung's early death. Meanwhile Shim Chung reads a children's book about a mermaid that turns to sea foam.
At the hospital Chi Hyun pays a visit to Chief Nam. He reiterates that Chief Nam isn't a person to drink and drive. Chief Nam's wife agrees and tells him that Chief Nam's cellphone is missing. The police had pulled his phone records but there was nothing out of the ordinary, Chi Hyun insists that he will look into it for her while the wife explains that Joon Ji was so persistent that she shouldn't look too much further.
As Joon Jae and Shim Chung exit the library, Shim Chung informs him that she's going to see a friend while he gets the location of where to meet 'Chief Nam'. Joon Jae warns that she has to be back by 8 before she goes off.
At his office, Gil Joon is stopped before he can leave by Joon Ji who offers to take him to dinner. Gil Joon insists that he has an appointment but his lawyer calls to cancel which makes Gil Joon agree to dinner and Joon Ji suggests bringing Chi Hyung along as well.
When Shim Chung arrives at the station where Jung Hoon worked, one of his coworkers tell her that Jung Hoon had a heart attack earlier that day and died. At that same time Jung Hoon's love, Hye Jin arrives. The coworker informs her as well and gives her a present that Jung Hoon had left her. When she opens it, it's a ring with a pink pearl. Shim Chung remembers back to her conversation about tears with Jung Hoon and realizes that the pearl is from when Jung Hoon was so happy he cried. She mentions it to Hye Jin who realizes that she's a mermaid. Outside they talk, Hye Jin explains that the keeping of secrets are what cause wounds as well as that humans and mermaids just can't go together because eventually that secret will come out and rip each other apart. Shim Chung in turn talks about how Jung Hoon had no regrets, even though in the end it hurt him as well as the fact that he chose not to erase Hye Jin's memories after he was caught was because he hoped that humans and mermaids could love despite their differences and he wanted Hye Jin to keep the good memories. With that Hye Jin leaves but stops when her emotions take over as Shim Chung clutches her chest in pain.
In the meantime Joon Jae goes to the location that 'Chief Nam' sent him but not before taking a gun. He walks suspiciously around trying to call Chief Nam's phone. Eventually he finds the phone ringing endlessly as he goes to look he gets a call from Shim Chung who tells him that she's sick and he should come. When he hangs up Dae Young is waiting for him, Joon Jae pulls out his gun which turns out to be a water gun which gives him the upper hand. He takes out his lighter and is about to hypnotize Dae Young when he connects Dae Young to Mr.Yang causing Joon Jae to stumble. Dae Young beats him mercilessly until a hoard of car alarms ring out scaring Dae Young away. As Joon Jae walks out he's greeted by a bunch of taxi where he recalls calling Nam Doo and insisting that the taxis come as he felt uneasy. Joon Jae picks the fastest taxi and goes to meet Shim Chung. He gets to her location and looks around to find her. Meanwhile she sits by the water recalling what Hye Jin said, she says she'll go. Joon Jae listens in and asks where she's going. Shim Chung approaches him but tells him that she must go back to where she came from. In the final moments, Joon Jae tells her that he has plans to like her in the future and therefore she should stay.
In the epilogue Dam Ryung hold onto the hand of Se Hwa who finally wakes up. She tells him that she will have to go back to sea and that she'll take his memories so he can live comfortably. He asks why she took his memories the first time and she explains that it was easier for him to live that way. He then tells her that he wants to keep the memories and gives her a kiss.
HE TALKS! I was so excited to hear Taeho's voice, it's weird hearing him talk but I like it. Aside from Taeho, I really like how the past and present have begun to intertwine I'm curious if current Joon Jae can alter Dam Ryung's past and how Shim Chung fits in all of this. The connections are really cool but if you don't look closely it could go over your head. That being said, I'm not sure I'm as into this show as others. It's not that it's a bad show but it's not necessarily my usual style therefore it's not peaking my interest. The acting is superb and I loved the camera work when Shim Chung was swimming in the pool. The amount of work that is put into this really shows which makes it a great watch. I'm insanely curious what will happen now that Joon Jae has almost confessed, I'm also curious as to if mermaids can control their power to take memories like if Dam Ryung, by kissing Se Hwa, will have his memories taken away.
Overall despite my disinterest the episodes weren't bad and deserve a 10/10!
Catch 'Legend of the Blue Sea' Wednesdays and Thursdays!
