Blood Free (2024)

Good Enough

Korean Drama '' Blood Free '' is a sci-fi, mystery, action drama.

The drama gives a lot of food for thought. It deals with a lot of philosophical and not issues and problems and it does a good job of combining them into the story.

The characters were also pretty intriguing and the performances from every actor and actress in the cast were enjoyable and well handled.

The action scenes were, in addition, entertaining and nicely choreographed.

On the other hand, the drama had a rocky pace and didn't allow things to develop smoothly and, therefore, the political intrigued suffered from it.

So, overall, six out of ten.

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Needs another season

I thought that this drama handled such a wacky idea (the fake meat thing) pretty well, and I liked that it turned out to be something much bigger than that. I also really liked the main characters and thought they had EXCELLENT chemistry.
I'm just getting really sick of these 10 episodes seasons where we have a somewhat complicated plot that's condensed so much and then doesn't even finish up the story. For instance, Grid was like this too (I only bring that drama up because it's written by the same writer and also on Disney+). We have a really interesting idea that kinda just ends while leaving some major loose ends. I'm not sure about you guys, but I'd rather 16 episodes with a complete story rather than 10 with the possibility of a second season.

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Kept Me Hooked Till The End!

I watched this drama solely because of Ju Jihoon. I was kinda curious at first because the plot is a bit different than the romcom lovey-dovey dramas I usually watch. Tbh, the plot sounded very boring at first, but I watched it anyway. It was a pleasant surprise for me because the story revolved around the biotech company 'Blood Free', politics and prominent figures in South Korea who were affected by a terrorist attack or who were present during it. I honestly loved the cast because the acting was phenomenal. I'm not exaggerating or anything; even the side characters like the female lead's assistant were cast so well and they understood their assignment. Otherwise, I would never be interested in watching a drama like this. Also, the drama has several action scenes which were directed pretty well. But beware, this drama doesn't have any romance, but the ML and FL have a subtle platonic thing going on like friends (I wouldn't say lovers because they didn't show any scene of them being intimate toward each other). I hope there will be a season two! I wanna know how everything gets wrapped up now because the ending felt a bit rushed for me.

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GMO with the MOJO ⚗ The Birth of the 6 Bajillion Won Man °8.5° °innovative wows°

Okay, it's time to pick off another ep of BF. ⏱… ⏲… Where is it? What's wrong with my continue-watching…? Where's the beef? Hulu?

WHAT!?!

That's all there is? Just 10 eps? A cliffhanger?

I'm usually bringing up the rear guard and watching the older shows, which are all completed, so I haven't had this happen to me in a long time. Now I have to wait for S2 and it hasn't even been announced yet, smh.

Don't let that scare you. Unless people watch it, they won't make another season, and we should get another season of BF. It's excellent and has the potential to be a 9+. I've held back because it ain't over yet. As is, it's quite a rush. Let's get into its DNA.

He's got what she needs.

Ju Ji Hoon (Hyena, Kingdom-8.3) is Woo Chae Woon. He's ex-mil and now high-level security. He's about more than babysitting CEOs, though. He's on a mission to uncover the truth about a terrorist bombing that took place under his watch where he was one of the base commanders overseas. He's one of those guys - Like Uma Thurman in Kill Bill. He's lethal. Usually more like a statue in the corner, he doesn't show much emotion.

Han Hyo Joo (Moving, W) is Blood Free’s CEO, Yoon Ja Yoo. With her background in the sciences, she's quite stoic herself. Hints surface of past traumas. She started the company, which makes cultured meat, in order to provide human beings with a drug, parasite, and cruelty-free food supply. Things are going well. They've released their beef and are preparing to launch their seafood line. Just wait and see what they get into next.

Our ML's resume fits our FL’s job search parameters so perfectly that she's suspicious. She's not stupid, afterall. Yet Ji-hoon gradually gains her trust, then her admiration, then more. Plus he's a good cat-dad. Men that like cats are largely secure with themselves. It's a good sign.

BF is a 2024 release that is rated 88 on AWiki. It is 1 season consisting of a MERE 10 50-minute episodes. Screenwriter, Lee Soo Yeon, also wrote the popular Stranger. Instant stardom: This is director Park Chul Hwan's 1st effort. Wow. Other main players are Lee Hee Joon (Mouse) as PM Seon Woo Jae, and as aids to the powerful are Lee Moo Saeng (Cleaning Up, Maestra: Strings of Truth) playing On San, Jun Suk-ho Kingdom-8.3, Call It Love-8.4) is Seo Hui, and Park Ji Yeon (A Model Family) as Jung Hae Deun. Jeon Gook Hwan (Crash Landing on You-9.1, Empress Ki, and nearly everything else) is perfect as the former Prime Minister/ grandfather to the current one. He actually loses it in one scene, which is something new. As one could imagine, it's frightening. He's everywhere because he's authentic.

BF's successes in the lab threaten the power structure in K-country. The plot centers around corporate espionage and other intrigues. It's a hot second before the government steps on the mess and makes everything worse.

BF touches on the cruelty of the meat industry, but only slightly. I've considered going vegetarian, but I'm not quite there yet. The changes I have made are 1. I eat little meat, and 2. I insist on organic and humane products. A healthy person doesn't “need” meat but 2 or 3 times a week, if at all. Our food supply is polluted with chemicals, and our meat is polluted with them as well. {All those ingredients most of us can't pronounce? I've learned the hard way they have a cumulative and deleterious effect on our health, particularly gut health. Maladies that barely existed in the mid-20th are rampant now - IBS, Crohns, and mental health, such as the anxiety and depression epidemics. Serotonin receptors are in the gut (? Yep!), so poor gut health absolutely affects mood. I probably never would have made changes if my condition hadn't become ultra-extreme. GIGO (garbage-in-garbage-out) applies to our physical health, not just computers. A good start is to wean off of GMO wheat, grains, corn, and all sugar, which only harms and has no nutritional benefits whatsoever. Same goes for pet food.} Animal cruelty is just absolutely wrong. It is inexcusable. By now, the cruelty involved in the meat industry is common knowledge, so to be willfully blind to it is to be party to it. There is no room for it in Hinduism, Buddhism, or Judeo-Christian belief (yes, traditional Hebrew worship involves animal sacrifice, but the whole point is that it is supposed to hurt. It is supposed to make humans reflect on the consequencesof their tresspasses and regret the hurt that we cause). Regardless of belief-system, it is patently obvious that it's wrong to be cruel to animals except to the most ardent subscribers of “survival of the fittest.” This isn't political. I am not political. Politicians-at-large let our food supply become polluted and it's keeping us down. Politics is the new racism, and we've never sorted out the old racism. People make a mess of everything, and it's all for nothing.

Moving on…

There's a rich and powerful family depicted in which the grandfather, father, and son all have their own agendas and work at odds with eachother. So sad. This is contrasted with our ML who is making sacrifices for his niece and working for the sake of his lost comrades. He lives to bring them justice. It would be lovely to not have to worry about money. Sadly, many rich people don't manage to be happy, either. They develop habits and appetites, based on greed and pride, that can never be satisfied.

The writing is just splendid. Only the most finicky left-brained types will object to the plot twists. I found viewing pleasure near frictionless - an easy glide. BF is slick as culture in a petri dish. It's weighty. The CEO has a tremendous burden on her and the viewer can feel it. They build tension steadily. Slick techno music accompanies the tense scenes. There's respectable action in ep3. As of ep7, BF develops into an excellent thriller. There's a Hollywood style gun battle in which our protagonists are quite fortunate in their ability to avoid being shot while being amazingly accurate with their own shooting skills. Still, it works. There's very cool VR search technology featured while the actor is using VR gloves (Like Minority Report). Save a life - A very cool medical device inhabits BF's basement (Like The Fifth Element-8.9 and Prometheus-8). “Good artists copy, great artists steal,” per Picasso (if he even came up with that. Whether that quote is his original words has been brought into question, in full-circle irony. It amuses me to think that he plfered that line). The camera work, acting, directing, writing all blend together to culture a quality product. One can't pilfer that. They constructed this excellent work one cell at a time.


✏〰 IMHO
Directing 7.5
Writing 8.3
Acting 8.5
Romance 6
Flutters 5
Art 8.2
Sound & music 7.8
Ending ?

LEVELS
Laughs
Warmth 3.3
Action 7.8
Tears 5
Fright 4.5
Tension T Anxiety 4
Gore 6
Thought provocation 5.5
Snores 0

?8.5 ?8.3 ?8.5 ?6,?5 ?8.2 ?/?7.8 ?? ▪ ?3.3 ⚡7.8 ?1 ?5 ?4.5 ?4 ?6 ?5.5 ?0


Age 15+ for Violence. One stabbing scene is gritty. American style shootouts. I don't have any notes on language but it's likely some scattered PG-13 vocalization.

Rated TV-MA: Mature Audience Only.

Re-watch? This is a prime candidate to crank up for the family in my attempt to broaden their viewing horizons. When S2 comes out (nothing official is set yet) I will probably rewatch S1.


In order of ~lite&trite~ to ~heavy&serious~ you may also like:

Modern Day -
Love to Hate You 8.9,
Her Private Life 8,
Touch your heart 8.2,
Crash Landing On You 9.1,
Oh My Ghost 10,
It's Okay Not To Be Okay 9,
Descendants Of The Sun-8.3
Love Struck in the City 7.3,
Hospital Playlist 9,
Move To Heaven-8.4
Mine-8,
Call It Love-8.4,
Iris,
Anna-8.1,
My Mister 9.5,
Hymn of Death-8.4
I'll See You When the Weather is Fine 9,
Mother 9


Historical/Period -
My Only Love Song 8.7 ~ excellent comedy,
Mr. Queen 8.5,
My Sassy Girl 8.5,
Saimdang 8.5,
The King's Affection 8.3,
Mr. Sunshine 9

Action/Crime/Sci-fi -
Glitch-8,
K2 8,
When the Camellia Blooms-8,
Inspector Koo-8.4

Private Lives 8.1, Vagabond-8
Sisyphus 8, Law School -8
Tunnel 8.5,
Signal 8.6,
D.P. -8.4,
The Cursed 8.3,
Flower of Evil 8.9,
The Man from Nowhere 8.9,
Parasite-9,
Black 9,
Squid Game 8.4,
Kingdom 8.3,
Sweet Home 8.4
The Wailing-8.8


Romance junkies only -
My Secret Romance 7 (if you ff thru overdone flashbacks),
Boys Over Flowers 8 ~ melodrama to the max,
The Bride of Habaek 7,
Heirs 7.3,
That Winter, The Wind Blows 7,
Something in the Rain 9,
C: Well-Intended Love 7.5 Rom-porn - extra points for the dopamine,
You are my destiny 6.8 cute, sweet & 1/2 padding,
A Little Thing Called First Love 8.5,
Find Yourself 8.9

Consider a Chinese romcom: The Romance of Tiger and Rose 9.8, Love Between Fairy and Devil 8.9, Love and Redemption 10 or Japanese romcoms: Maid Sama 10, Mischievous Kiss Love in Tokyo 7.8, Love, Chunibyo And Other Delusions 8.4, or Toradora 8.5

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Almost trope free, and the drama has a female CEO

Imagine a world where meat is biotechnologically generated and cultured. This eliminates the need to slaughter animals. Of course, such an advancement could solve world hunger. BF Company has hopes that in the near future all food will be cultured using biotechnology. Blood Free does not have many of my usual circle of acting friends in it. However, since it met my “Love it or Leave it” 15 minute criteria in 2 minutes, I thought it best to investigate further. Blood Free has a high technology driven plot-line. CGI and cinematography are through the roof.

I love a great romance drama. This ain’t it. However, the intelligently written story will keep you in suspense. Therefore, some should try to get out of their comfort zone and add Blood Free to their shopping list. Now for the guys. You have been asking for this Korean Drama. I think that you will enjoy Blood Free. For the girls. I know that actor Ju Ji Hoon starred in Kingdom, a drama I did not see, but wow, where did he come from?

The ML is Ju Ji Hoon (Jurisan, Kingdom) and FL is Han Hyo Joo (Moving, W:Two Worlds, Happiness).

I am excited about this drama Blood Free. The drama does not follow the usual Korean Drama tropes. The story is innovative and exciting. That acting and action are great.

A company has learned how to culture fleshly meat products and this company is poised to take over the world market. Can life be that easy? Not in a Korean Drama. I like Blood Free a lot. This drama is a total change of pace. The use of video gaming tools and drones to fight the bad guys is sure to please. CGI and Cinematography are great, with a great OST

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Will be waiting for the 2nd seasonn

With some high and low moments, getting better by each the episode. For me this season ended perfectly, with the desirable suspense and all. The main actors are amazing veterans, not news, and it was very nice to see Moo Saeng acting a good and trusty character for a change.
It's not a lightly drama but also not that heavy to watch. it brings a new concept, not very far from todays society. It was fresh to have a perpective of a possible outcome and consequences. Although I felt the story was not highly focus on that but instead on the characters own stories and the terrorist attack. Worth watching it.

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An intricate tale of corporations and technology in the future.

Science fiction enthusiasts will find themselves thoroughly captivated by this series. It masterfully combines the speculative allure of futuristic settings with a thoughtful critique of socio-economic systems.

A Glimpse into a Future of Unbridled Capitalism
The show offers a profound and provocative look into a future shaped by unrestrained capitalism. It explores how advanced technologies and societal changes intertwine with the relentless pursuit of profit, creating a world that is both fascinating and cautionary. The series deftly illustrates the potential consequences of a society driven by corporate interests and consumerism, providing a stark reflection on current economic trends while pushing the boundaries of imagination.

Maintaining the Essence of Sci-Fi
Despite its deep dive into the realms of economic theory and social commentary, the show never loses sight of what makes science fiction so enthralling. The narrative is rich with imaginative technologies and the timeless quest for knowledge and adventure. It balances thought-provoking themes with the excitement and wonder that are hallmarks of the genre. Advanced robotics, virtual realities, and the complexities of artificial intelligence are seamlessly integrated into the storyline, offering viewers a feast of speculative concepts and futuristic innovations.

An Engaging Premise for Vegans and Ethical Consumers
Beyond its appeal to sci-fi aficionados, the show also presents a compelling narrative for vegans and those interested in ethical consumerism. The story delves into the implications of technological advancements on food production and consumption, posing intriguing questions about the future of sustainable and humane practices. It envisions a world where biotechnology could revolutionize how we produce and consume food, potentially aligning with vegan principles of minimizing harm and promoting animal welfare.

Exploring Ethical Dilemmas and Societal Impacts
The show doesn’t shy away from examining the ethical dilemmas and societal impacts of its futuristic vision. It addresses issues such as environmental degradation, social inequality, and the moral complexities of technological advancements. Through its intricate plot and multidimensional characters, the series invites viewers to ponder the moral and ethical ramifications of a world where technological progress and capitalist incentives are inextricably linked.

Conclusion
In summary, this series is a treasure trove for sci-fi lovers, offering a heady mix of futuristic speculation and critical social commentary. It delves into the potential excesses of capitalism while preserving the essence of what makes science fiction so compelling. Whether you're drawn by the allure of advanced technology and virtual realities or intrigued by the ethical questions it raises about our future, the show provides a captivating narrative that resonates on multiple levels.

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Lead Actress

Everything she is involved with is of the highest quality in entertainment. Han Hyo Joo is absolutely one of the best International stars working today. Her selection of Drama or Movies from the very beginning has been stellar since 2011, Always (https://mydramalist.com/1814-always).

Blood Free, her latest drama is head above the rest regarding quality of production, and I can't believe the interesting stories she continues to select. This has never really been addressed on screen this way, replacing organ parts and engineered meat, not the Impossible Burger (LOL). I won't give away any part of the drama because it's too good to spoil. If you intend to watch, don't quit after the 1st episode because they do an excellent job of character overview so half of this episode is kind of slow, but important. Make sure to watch this on the weekend because you won't turn off your TV once you get halfway through the first episode. Think about it, what actress has this many top movies and dramas to their resume just in the last 10 years?

Highlights:

4.5 rating (don't give 5s so this is the highest: for example, Crash Landing is 4.5 for me)
- Blood Free (⭐⭐⭐⭐?)
- Moving (⭐⭐⭐⭐?)
- Happiness (⭐⭐⭐⭐?)
- W (⭐⭐⭐⭐?)

4.0 rating
- Pirates (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
- Love and Lies (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

The 4 dramas at the top are must-see if you like top-notch entertainment. If you want to see an American TV show that i thought should have had 2 seasons but for some reason got cancelled after 1 season. Trust me, American television usually "sucks" but this was high quality (Title: Treadstone - A Jason Bourn association). It was to complex for American television and Han Hyo Joo had main role. She was fantastic as a Korean spy similar to Moving but instead of guns, she was a fighter.

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Quite Unique

This is a thought provoking mystery/crime/political/medical and personal ethics ride.

Yes, Disney has inserted their weird abrupt cut/jump into next scene thing they often do with their Kdrama productions, but once you get used to that, it doesn’t take away from the quality of the work.

I have enjoyed seeing so many favorites show a lot of range, as well as just getting to think about exactly how I feel about the subject matter. The dialogue is extremely good and well delivered, the action scenes are great, and the subtle depth of the characters (they all have some baggage that isn’t immediately apparent) was top notch. I’ve already rewatched a few scenes just because I was impressed. I highly recommend, and will be waiting with lots of excitement and anticipation for season 2.

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A TOTAL MASTERPIECE!

THIS DRAMA IS SO UNDERRATED. THIS ONE OF THOSE DRAMA THAT GOT ME A WAY TO HOOKED UP. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS DRAMA IT HAD MATURE PLOT AND IT WAS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER K-DRAMAS. I REALLY LIKED THE CONCEPT "AN AI BASED THRILLER DRAMA” I WOULD SAY THIS IS THE ONLY ONGOING DRAMA THAT GOT ME ATTRACTED. THE CASTING WAS PERFECT! THE STORYLINE, PLOT , ACTING, CHEMISTRY AND THE TENSION BETWEEN THE LEADS ??✨ LITERALLY EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS DRAMA WAS PERFECT BUT WE NEED A SECOND SEASON OF COURSE!? I MEAN THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER SEASON *crying . I SERIOUSLY CAN'T MOVE ON. THIS IS NO JOKE! IT FEELS INCOMPLETE.. WE ALL ARE DYING INSIDE !

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You need a brain, your heart, and the guts to watch this

Dark and psychological, save for the glaring "thriller" tag. I should start by saying----this drama is for a mature audience.

You are not just watching, but analyzing every subtle action, the twitch of a gaze, the cut of multiple scenes, a lieu of emotions that are never spoken but present in each character's eyes. There is so much hidden tension, betrayal, romance, and trauma waiting to spill out, but it never does and it leaves us, the audience, taking it all in instead. I felt very emotionally exhausted by the end, because Blood Free is a whole cinematic, intimate experience. This is very hard to achieve in a 10-episode series with a lot of sociopolitical world-building, by the way.

BF is more than just a company that discovered how to culture meat. It's a group of emotionally intelligent, successful individuals w bigger goals and intentions----the "meat" part of it was actually just to hook you in. It's highly political and delves into the power-hungry antagonists, but even I wasn't sure which side to be rooting for at first. They even had me questioning if curing world hunger through cultured meat was worth eliminating whole industries already in charge of it. Again, the meat plot is just to distract us because there's a hellhole to dive into in this mastermind of a company. Without a doubt though, CEO Yun Jayu is THE most badass woman in this universe.

No one in the team really says anything about themselves, but you can tell so much about what kind of character CEO Yun is (calm and calculative but a huge risk-taker), her bodyguard who is stoic yet has the cutest cat in the world, and her team, who had some of the best written (and developed) characters I've seen in a while. You can't really get too attached though.

I want to keep this review short and sweet----but basically, the first 2-3 episodes will tell you if this drama is for you. It's slow, and wants to make you feel every second of intensity and suspense, then suddenly moves on fast while you're still drenched and dwelling in it. It's mature, and requires you to take out your brain and critically think.

Like the cells that merge in cultured meat, you will be consumed by this drama. That's why I loved it so much, and hope people will be willing to unwrap the many layers of this sci-fi universe that mayyy not be so far from our reality after all.

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A great watch

I initially started to watch this out of boredom. But then it started to get interesting. I mean the first 15 minutes of this series got me hooked. When it first came out I thought it's gonna be very boring because the poster was not giving and the summary was not good enough to get me into watching it.

But then I started to watch it and it was awesome! I'm a student of Biochemistry-Biotechnology with Genetic Engineering. So it was fun for me to watch as the series topic is related to my subject. It was interesting how they produced everything within a short period for the benefit of human beings. You see 10 years is all they needed to produce their products without any error and everything which is still hard for us in real life. It is gonna take 20 more years to produce the genetically modified goods to be completely pure and out of any error so that they are compatible with the human body. Now produced genetically modified stuffs contain microplastics, not enough nutrients and can cause neurological if put in our bodies.

The technologies they used are very much possible irl and I'm very impressed with the writer's thinking and the director's work.

Hence, If you a person with a STEM or is into Biotechnology world, This drama is definitely for you!

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