Blood Free is a gripping K-drama that merges elements of science fiction and thriller. The story is set in a future where lab-grown meat has become the norm. The drama centers on Woo Chae-Woon (Ju Ji-Hoon), a former elite soldier, who now works as a bodyguard for Yun Ja-Yu (Han Hyo-Joo), the CEO of BF, a leading company in the biotech industry. The plot thickens as Chae-Woon uncovers a web of conspiracies linked to past terrorist attacks that seem to connect with the company’s booming success. His mission to protect Ja-Yu becomes a perilous journey through layers of deception and hidden truths.
The series opens in a banquet hall during a presentation by Ja-Yu, CEO of BF, a company renowned for its artificial meat, aiming to eliminate animal slaughter. It’s 2025, and Ja-Yu announces its latest venture into artificial seafood and plans for culturing grains. Amid the audience, a man watches Ja-Yu intently, haunted by war-like flashbacks involving her, triggered by the popping of champagne.
Protests and Dangerous Pursuits
As Ja-Yu exits, her assistant alerts her to the protesters outside—some accusing her of murder, others supporting her vision. Adding to the chaos, Ja-Yu’s departure is marred by an attack on her car. The same man from the audience follows her, hinting at deeper connections yet to be unveiled.
A Tragic Incident
A shocking incident disrupts the traffic: a man falls from a bridge onto Ja-Yu’s car, severely injuring her. The observing man rushes to aid Ja-Yu, while another enigmatic figure watches from a distance. The tragedy takes a turn when Prime Minister Seonu-Jae learns the victim was a bankrupt stockbroker, allegedly impacted by BF’s innovations.
Strategic Moves
At the hospital, Ja-Yu, now with a broken neck, is visited by On San, a research director and co-founder of BF. Ja-Yu is curious about her mysterious helper. Her lawyer, Jeong Hae-Deun, suggests hiring a full-time bodyguard, especially after recognizing the helper’s face but unable to place him.
Flashbacks and Cyber Threats
Back at his home, the helper, who washes blood from his clothes, is haunted by wartime memories. Meanwhile, a new crisis unfolds at BF’s lab; the research team leader, Kim Sin-Gu, discovers a ransomware attack demanding a vast sum in bitcoin by a group named CitizenX. Hae-Deun investigates a germ-related controversy linked to BF, tracing it back to a mysterious source named Schrosky.
A Web of Conspiracies
Hae-Deun soon connects the mysterious helper to Woo Chae-Woon, a former bodyguard entangled in past corporate hacks linked to CitizenX. Ja-Yu, deep in a discussion with an AI named Yeongsil, uncovers that Chae-Woon’s previous employers were also victims of CitizenX’s schemes.
Chae-Woon meets with former President Lee Mung-Yu, who reveals their shared history and suspicions surrounding influential figures from a fateful flight that ended in a tragic bombing. Mung-Yu charges Chae-Woon with infiltrating Ja-Yu’s circle to unveil her potential involvement, promising him a position as her bodyguard.
Ominous Developments
The episode concludes as political manipulations surface; Seonu-Jae and Man-Gyu discuss Chae-Woon’s belief in the orchestrated narrative. Chae-Woon, now focusing on Ja-Yu’s vulnerabilities, prepares to integrate into her life under the guise of protection. His preparation is timely as BF extends a job offer, setting him on a path that could either prove Ja-Yu’s innocence or implicate her further.
The first episode of Blood Free weaves a dense narrative of technological advancement and deep-seated vendettas. The episode does a wonderful job setting up an intricate battle where technology and personal histories collide spectacularly.
You can stream BLOOD FREE on Disney+ Hotstar
READÂ |Â Blood Free Episode 2 Recap and Review
READ | Blood Free with Ju Ji-Hoon and Han Hyo-Joo to hit Disney+ Hotstar
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