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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Blood" Episode 10

Let's consider for a moment what the actual plot of "Blood" would be if vampires were not involved. Jae-wook would just be a somewhat ruthless researcher who resorts to somewhat underhanded techniques to procure test subjects. But, the test subjects already had questionable hopes for recovery to begin with. So the dilemma is really only an ethical one. Is it acceptable to use desperate people for scientific research?

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The question is a morally ambiguous one frequently discussed in real-life medical circles. So I can't help but be somewhat annoyed that "Blood" is acting like Jae-wook and friends have really gone entirely too far, to the point that by the cliffhanger it seems like even violence is a wholly justified reaction. From where I'm watching, Jae-wook's main problem is that he's failing to conduct the situation diplomatically. By treating the research like it's some inscrutable secret, Jae-wook only creates the implication that they really are up to no good.

It's one of the definite weaknesses of the drama- Jae-wook has done evil things. He killed Ji-sang's parents, and he also killed some of his own followers solely for the sake of playing mind games with Ji-sang. But these don't seem to have any obvious relationship to what's happening in the present day. Ji-sang and Hyeon-woo are investigating the man, which is very good, but they don't have enough information yet to come to radical conclusions.

Perspective has been a major downside to "Blood". The plot only makes sense from our vantage point because we have access to information the characters themselves do not know. The writing in "Blood" is completely backwards- the plot twists would have a lot more impact if they came as an actual surprise. As it stands the only genuine mystery here is why Jae-wook is behaving so antagonistically when right now Ji-sang and Ri-ta can be easily distracted by cute romantic moments.

I'll grant "Blood" some grudging praise in that department. The acting is improving. Ahn Jae-hyun and Koo Hye-sun at least have the basic ability to relate to each other, and they now have some common cause to figure out what's happening in the larger storyline. Beyond that though "Blood" is still a huge mess that inexplicably feels the need to offer flashbacks and explanations regarding it's most transparent and least interesting plot points. I suppose the existence of an actual conflict is some mild grounds for optimism, but that's it.

Review by William Schwartz

"Blood" is directed by Ki Min-soo, written by Park Jae-beom-I and features Ahn Jae-hyun, Koo Hye-sun, Ji Jin-hee, Jung Hae-in, Kim Kap-soo, Son Sook and more.

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