[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Duel" Episode 5

It is a dog eat dog world out there, but when you have several dogs with unclear motivations and stories, it is as confusing a sight as it is a violent one. "Duel" manages to clear some things up while not really revealing much and I feel it is about time the clones start providing story when they meet, rather than just a lot of physical abuse for Seong-joon.

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Things remain complicated despite some answers. It looks like our clones originate from someone who was confirmed dead and that explains their age. The question is, why were his organs given away? That is planned action. Did Jeon Byeong-joon (Jo Jae-ryong) use Choi Joo-sik's (Jo Jae-wan) and the others' vengeful rage for his plans? Why this young doctor specifically? The whole situation does not look very professional.

Also, is the reason why Seong-hoon (Yang Se-jong) has markings that he was experimented on and tortured? I would like to know why one clone has clearly been through a lot physically while the other has not. Perhaps Seong-hoon is the original clone created for his originator's memories and Seong-joon is a clone he in turn created in order to do his dirty work while the other is being chased. I have a lot of questions and I do hope they will be answered.

At least now we know that the list is in fact the original doctor's organs. Why those are important to someone powerful I have no clue yet. Maybe the original young doctor had created and tested something on himself which turned him into a universal donor. The science and pseudo-science in this could go wherever the creators feel like at this point. All we know is that the list is important to someone old and possibly related to the original 1993 incident.

As for Deuk-cheon's (Jung Jae-young) story, I still wonder why Soo-yeon (Lee Na-yoon) is kidnapped and still alive. Does her body hold a key to the cure Seong-hoon is looking for? Is the Sanyeong Bioresearch Institute the reason why she was targeted or is it because Seong-hoon simply knew that Deuk-cheon has money? Money he needed to enter the dog fight club as a VIP client, that is.

Questions aside, I am starting to get weary of Jo-hye's (Kim Jung-eun) lack of development. She is the drama's boogeywoman, but she can be used better. I want to see what she is about, what she thinks and feels. Kim Jung-eun can only do so much when it seems that her guidelines are to look creepy and wait for whatever plans they have for her. Give her some love, "Duel".

"Duel" is directed by Lee Jong-jae, written by Kim Yoon-joo and features Jung Jae-young, Kim Jung-eun, Yang Se-jong and Seo Eun-soo.

Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

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