These 2 episodes were a great intro for the story and different characters, each of them looking suspicious.

I don't really care about the "how" for the technology, but I really liked the debate behind it.

The casting is great.

Thank you so much for this beautiful review.
Blood Free reminded me what a treat it is when all crucial aspects in film/drama production as in writing, acting, directing, camerawork, music, set, special effect are strong. There are so much to love about these two episodes, but what stand out the most for me are definitely the writing (what a refreshing topic! Such complex characters and witty dialogues!) and the cast. Bless the cast, this is why veteran actors are so so precious. I am already kinda lamenting the fact that we only get 10 episodes worth of this incredible journey, but maybe it is the ideal length for the writer to tell her story with. Wednesdays can't come soon enough!

This was so unexpected, but in a good way. I feel like I thought it would be one thing, but it is something else. I also enjoy the glimpse at her inner thoughts. This looks to be a fun mystery and I am excited for it.

This was great--love how the writer reversed the usual sci-fi trope, by making biotechnology not a culprit but a victim of terrorism. (I really do think it will turn out the bomb was intended for the FL rather than the Prime Minister). The two leads were great--I really like action/intrigue when the ML is smart, competent, and with "special skills." I'm a little disappointed he is married with a child, it means that there likely won't be a romance. But the mystery with so many suspects is set up well. I am looking forward to see how it develops!

I really liked the first two episodes. I have trust in writernim's skills as a storyteller. I enjoyed how she setup the story and the leads' connection. JJH and HHJ has great onscreen chemistry. I know with writer's previous drama there is usually no loveline between the leads. I do not mind that but it will be a waste with this two. I sure hope that is not his wife and daughter's photo in his laptop's homescreen. But if it is, then I hope for a good story with Ja Yoo and Chae Woon.
I do not like the idea of "synthetic" meat and understand the protests against BF. But let us see where the story will lead us.

I thought the trauma Chaewon was recollecting was years ago and Yun was ex-marine. I didn't expect that it was a far recent experience.
While I'm not excusing the hands of BF in the matter, my best bet is On San. Both the hacking and the terrorist attack. I'll admit that I expect Yun Ja-yu to have shady deals done already. I don't exactly trust corporate in stories like this. And that's why I love stories such as these.

The angle of the breeder's death is quite off though. Unless he was dropped dead from an helicop, I don't know how he'd have landed on her roof except that building has an extended rooftop decking.

It was nice seeing Kim Sangho in this kind of character.

On San's comment when he first crossed paths with Chaewon just puts him in further scrutiny. He said if not for this NCIS service, he'd be great as Yun Jayu's bodyguard. And by episode I got to see how. I know it is coincidental but I'm guessing On San knew the rank Chaewon occupied while serving in the NCIS for him to say so.

Before I forget, I'll really love for Lee Moo-saeng to do something different, something sweet. I miss the actor that charmed me within minutes in Thirty Nine. Somehow I'm not exactly pleased with the characters he's taken up after Thirty Nine.

Another one. I was really hoping that either Solstices or Mistyisles recapped this.
I'll look forward to your recaps each week.

I don't suspect their IT guy at all. I also don't suspect the biotech doctor. Hong's sudden leave raises eyebrows. And it seems like it took Yun Jayu's thought process for me to think of critically looking at her head of PR.

I loved it! Loved it all!! The plot, pacing, cast, direction, lighting, music.
The issue felt real and the corporate issues and greed was captured perfectly.
Both leads are smart. Looking forward to them teaming up to figure out things.

p.s Joppa looks bestest in 4K!

Prior to the premiere week, some of us had been making comparisons between Blood Free and the 1973 film, "Soylent Green," insofar as this drama was clearly going to have to be about the unavoidable ramifications of the physical law of entropy.

One simply cannot get the energy out of a system that one puts in. There will be inevitable loss when you decide to engage with the world outside of our minds, in order to try to make something happen. It's never been shown to be possible that you can reap more than you sow, and there have been centuries of research that show, to put it simply, that you literally can only lose more than you gain whenever you put in effort.

I look forward to this drama's narration of reality, which I hope will be as taxing, uncaring and dispiriting as the empirical world would appear.

Did anyone notice that when the ML left to meet with the FL the house was all broken down but when he got home later the house was spotless? Or did I dream it?

Raise your hand if you really just wanted them to replicate cheese?  That's right, I wanted an update of Whitney's The Bodyguard. 🤭

Anyhoos, this is a thriller and I enjoy those too. But I had a somewhat mixed reaction to this. I found some of the storytelling uneven and overwrought. And the cheese in wrong place (that hi-tech test? cringe). Conversely, where I wanted more, the leads gave me very little. I get she’s a cool-headed CEO, he a traumatized veteran, but I wanted a bit more emoting than blink or you’ll miss it. (And yes, I’m haunted by the ghost of The Impossible Heir. Please don’t go the slick but soulless route again Disney.)

But it’s early days, I love trust these leads and when their damn breaks, the payoff will be brilliant. And the twists and underlying social commentary are pretty great. By the end of episode two I liked it much more.

So I’m rooting for you show. Gimme more heart. Make me believe. I swear I’ll add Tofu Tuesday to my Meatless Monday if you’re good.

That's why I prefer veteran actors than newbies actors. Their acting seldom rarely disappoints. And yes...the writer truly delivers, not surprising as she was the writer behind the Forest of Secrets 1, which is my favourite Korean drama of all time.

I think I am not in an "intellectual" mood because I did not enjoy the first episode. Also, I was not curious by anything that happened in the story. Plus, this writer's previous drama "Grid" makes me wary of this current one. Hope at least this time she gives a closure for the sake of the ones who are willing to stick with it. Thanks @solstices for the recap.

I think solstices excellent recap and @hacja's comments is all the *drama* I can handle. Will be tuning in for more of the same. Thanks to both of you.

The first two episodes are promising - sleek and fast-paced.

The set up does have a shade of Okja and HHJ’s character looks pretty (literally) like another Tilda Swinton without the cartoon. But this is a Lee Soo-Yeon drama and I look forward to see how her social commentary compares to that of Bong Joon-ho. The ‘ruptured organ’ reference is as uncomfortable as - or worse than - the project in Okja though.

Not impressed with FL and not surprised. Two episodes in and I've already lost all interest in her. All style and no substance. Got a nice hair style, nice face, nice clothes - but no real depth, no real inhabiting of her character, her voice has no substance. I would much much much prefer someone like the FL in Forest of Secrets back here. I'm only watching for the ML and screenwriter from hereon.

Seen this mentioned a couple of times in the thread so I want to join in: My guess about Ja-Yoo's "unfortunate ruptured organs" comment is that she wouldn't be able to bring that man back to life using BF's technology. Unlike a lot of the viewers, I don't think BF's secret behind their cultured meat is creating synthetic meat using human tissues, but that their technology can be used in a way to generate new cells to an extent that a person's organs or even their entire torso can be replicated under certain circumstances (maybe not being ruptured for example?). This technology can open up a can of worms if being discovered by the outside world or is in the wrong hands, say national governments will be able to form an army of un-killable soldiers, or the dictators can live forever by constantly replenishing or replicating their organs/torsos. My wild guess is based on this recurring comment "greatest technology in human history has always come in the form of weapons" in the trailers, and the scene where the ML was placed in some sort of capsule and woke up confused as his wounds appeared magically healed (in the trailer for ep3-4, ML will get badly hurt while protecting FL).
So instead of trying to hide a shady practice behind the cultured meat, my theory is that FL is trying to prevent the technology from being found out prematurely and being misused.

Okay, I'm a captive audience for this. Hope it sustains the slick-ness of ep1-2. Thank you solstices for leading the recaps on this. Let's enjoy the ride, beanies.

After watching the premier two episodes, I can't wait the next ep. 3. Also hoping to see scenes Chae-won and Mansik together.

Thank you @solstices ❤️! The recap's very intriguing but I'm going to wait for it to finish so i can binge-watch it in one shot. Impatient me is already going mad 😭 waiting for next episodes of Queen of tears and Lovely Runner.

Am I the only one who thinks the PM might have a thing for our CEO? I'm basing this off the scene where he asks for flowers to be sent to her and another scene in he later episode (I won't spoil it)