[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Duel" Episode 9

The cloned cat is out of the bag for several characters and with Seong-joon regaining important memories and information, the chase begins for Seong-hoon and the people behind him. The motive of our rich villainess is revealed and so is an unexpected secret of Lee Yong-seob which changes her plans and puts Soo-yeon back in harm's way. Meanwhile, Jo-hye's grip on the cloning case tightens.

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The creators of "Duel" seem to have understood that the clock is ticking and that plots need progression, which is why we get a recap or rather information dump right at the start. I will not dwell on my dislike of narrating a plot rather than showing it, but the episode thankfully adds on to this introduction. I just wish that the drama had worked on these revelations in a more timely manner.

We now know that Lee Yong-seob (Yang Se-jong) may have not in fact experimented on himself, that his cure may have failed or that the host changes the behavior of the organ. We also know why Seong-hoon's employers need that list, although I do lament the change of our mystery heiress from cool and collected to a tantrum throwing tyrant. Regardless, these developments put Soo-yeon (Lee Na-yoon) in danger again, since Seong-hoon has grown soft.

The series has been going for the "tortured soul" reversal and so I assume that Seong-hoon will do good things or at least help save Soo-yeon before he possibly dies. Frankly speaking, he has been quite a boring character for too long. Changing his function in the story might at least liven him up and so I welcome it at this point. Any help he provides for Deuk-cheon (Jung Jae-young) would also make their relationship more complicated and therefore more interesting.

This is what "Duel" has a problem with. It focuses on the action and the information digging, the violence and chases and it ignores the relationships which could have been built to make those feel engaging. The reunion of Deuk-cheon and Seong-joon could have been a great moment, but with the two never really developing a bond, it is only a relief because they can finally share vital information.

Jo-hye's (Kim Jung-eun) trajectory is messy as of now, because this episode reveals her motivation for working these cases as keeping her position and climbing up. That is a fine motivation with something solid behind it, but the series has yet to peel back any layers. "Duel" is not by any means badly done. It has just missed many notes which would have kept me emotionally invested throughout.

"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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