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This review may contain spoilers
Blood: A memorable masterpiece in the vampire genre. ~ Ending explained.
I wrote this a long time ago. I tried to make it as insightful as possible. Thank you for reading in advance!
Blood is not your typical vampire story from the get-go because of its take on vampires and the medical setting. It's philosophical and even artsy. It really is a matter of being hooked by the storyline and atmosphere. The music is a mix of old school techno, violon and harpsichord to evoke the atmosphere of Victorian vampires. The main cast and many other characters are kind of edgy from the vibe they give off but it is perfectly fitting to the style of the drama. They were unique and unforgettable. If you cannot handle anything spiritual, you might want to stay away from Blood.
Look back at the whole drama to understand the ending. Blood is actual genius.
Copy-pasted a part of Maryena's review (the one on the top) which I wanted to include here : "The plot was very unpredictable. That's why I liked its story. Also the story was full of moral, humanity and most importantly, Blood is brimming with life philosophies. Add to this the other invaluable life lessons that may be culled from the drama. To name a few, faith in God during adversity, compassion or empathy for the sick and dying; fleeting nature of life and vain things like power and money; moral science or the upholding of the ethics and standards of one's profession."
I really like the synopsis, so I will also copy it here in case some of you didn't read it : "Park Ji Sang is a doctor specializing in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery in the best cancer research hospital in the country. He is also a vampire. Despite seeming cold and unfeeling, Ji Sang masks his soft heart and inner pain and yearns for closeness with people. He believes very strongly in the sanctity of human life and suppresses his thirst for blood to treat terminally ill patients and save lives. (his internal conflict >>>)
Among his colleagues is Yoo Ri Ta, a hotshot physician who entered medical school at the age of 17 and is also the niece of the chaebol group chairman who owns the hospital. Ri Ta is highly capable but snooty and prideful, yet Ji Sang finds himself falling for her. He also gets drawn into a conflict between good and evil as he encounters Lee Jae Wook, a two-faced hospital chief who gains everyone's trust with his gentle demeanor, but inwardly harbors a dangerous ambition for power and a talent for cruelty."
Side note: The romance was sweet and the support between the characters was very refreshing, as there was no useless toxicity between them. Finally, a real team with real teamwork.
Special effects: You must keep in mind that this is a 2015 supernatural drama from KBS2. However, the fights were so well choreographed and I LOVED it when they transformed. It was so cool and original.
Acting: All the cast is commendable, truly. Ji Jin Hee's Lee Jae Wook is one of the best villains I have ever witnessed. Ahn Jae Hyun's Park Ji Sang is by far my favorite vampire and his little smirk was everything (also like the tone of his voice and his facial expressions were so captivating to me?). Moreover I appreciate how stoic he is because when he cracks, it accentuates the shift and gives a real intensity. On the other hand, Rita is a fun character. People blaming Ahn Jae Hyun and Goo Hye Sun must have a personal problem with them or their characters. As AJH's first main role, it must have been very hard first of all. Please watch the press conference to have an idea of what they went through. I couldn't bear GHS in BOF because I couldn't bear anything at all in this drama, it was way too cringe for me. But here I loved her (I mean she's not the most likeable in the first few eps tho but she did a great job at that lol). Please pay attention to their emotional changes all throughout. If the drama is not for you, just drop it and get a life.
For more details on GHS's acting in the first episodes :
https://www.soompi.com/article/704949wpp/blood-team-voices-their-concern-regarding-criticisms-of-goo-hye-suns-acting
Teasers I felt the need to share as well as a press conference :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWCjhD3BqTI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MogMyyGLhY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyVMYcYEAOE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkpcA9AgtZs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remember the last episodes when Park Ji Sang was talking to Chief Jung and the conversation between Dr. Choi and Dr. Jung about him. That he could live without a heart and he has to die to cultivate the cure for 20-30mins. And because his blood is auto-genesis, he can live again. Because this is a theory and not been proven that's why everyone is concerned that it might fail. He is not that affected much with the sunrise because they could have injected the decomposed blood already and it won't react anymore to a dead infected and because he is of pure blood he can heal faster. Him being alive at the end means the antibody worked, and it was successful making him stronger than ever even as a human. So Yoo Ri Ta is all in to the experiment and when Park Ji Sang died of course they have to revive his body and observe him. It can take longer before his body will be totally cured and by the time he woke up Yoo Ri Ta is gone to Kochenia already as planned. So when she saw Park Ji Sang there it is as if she already knew that it was him but was too amazed to react or in a dreamy state when she realized that the cure was real. The end.
So, this is the logical explanation. But if you don't mind me sharing more of my thoughts :
By the end, he is human. His heart stopped beating, but he transcended humanity. His blood is enough for him to live and that's what saved him. He'll die as a human. The writer certainly knew that only a few people would understand and love the drama for what it really is "beyond the surface". They could have shown everything that happened in between to give the viewers clear explanations, but it would then ruin the atmosphere, all the build up, and the theme of the drama would become meaningless. Blood stayed true to itself. It was supposed to feel like a miracle.
From the beginning, they try to find a cure (Ji Sang's mother). This is how it ends. Ji Sang and his mother's dream to make him human became a reality.
The drama started in Kochenia (note that the very first scene is important), and ended in Kochenia.
Remember the dialogue between Rita and Ji Sang on the rooftop, it also fits perfectly.
The reference to Beauty and the Beast.
The vampires came from Kochenia originally. But them appearing at the same place, at the same time where Rita is... strange right? Now remember Jae Wook's monologue before he died. He represents the devils (the painting at his home is quite self-explanatory already) whereas Ji Sang represents the angels. Blood is a battle between light and shadow. Look at the main poster now. Ji Sang's sudden appearance as Rita's savior was brilliant (just like in the past!).
All in all, this is like 10 parallels in one scene. One (and most) may say that it's a stupid ending and that it doesn't make any sense, but it really does. I found it really beautiful. Not to mention the scenery was gorgeous and Ji Sang became even more handsome?? I really love Rita too... she made me cry hard before this scene came - Ji Sang's reaction to Hyun Woo's death was also heartbreaking. Both had an awesome character development throughout the drama and suffered so much.
Vincenzo was written by the same person, and it only confirmed my thoughts about Blood with biblical references being placed here and there. I clearly don't love it as much as I love Blood but it was really good. Vincenzo is definitely not as serious, but it gave me good laughs. I still find the robot in Blood to be one of the funniest things I have ever seen in a drama though.
Honestly, it couldn't be more obvious with all the religious things in the drama, even in the poster you can notice crosses. When I first saw the ending, I wasn't even confused. It was a surprise yes, but somehow, it immediately made sense for me. By always seeking too much rationality in fiction, you lose yourself and miss a lot. Blood is the best take on vampires to this day, and it is not only a vampire series for teenagers like Twilight.
Yet, even though I said it is obvious, it is all very subtle.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Very insightful analysis from a Korean philosopher : https://m.post.naver.com/viewer/postView.nhn?memberNo=134246&volumeNo=1335670&vType=VERTICAL
Blood is not your typical vampire story from the get-go because of its take on vampires and the medical setting. It's philosophical and even artsy. It really is a matter of being hooked by the storyline and atmosphere. The music is a mix of old school techno, violon and harpsichord to evoke the atmosphere of Victorian vampires. The main cast and many other characters are kind of edgy from the vibe they give off but it is perfectly fitting to the style of the drama. They were unique and unforgettable. If you cannot handle anything spiritual, you might want to stay away from Blood.
Look back at the whole drama to understand the ending. Blood is actual genius.
Copy-pasted a part of Maryena's review (the one on the top) which I wanted to include here : "The plot was very unpredictable. That's why I liked its story. Also the story was full of moral, humanity and most importantly, Blood is brimming with life philosophies. Add to this the other invaluable life lessons that may be culled from the drama. To name a few, faith in God during adversity, compassion or empathy for the sick and dying; fleeting nature of life and vain things like power and money; moral science or the upholding of the ethics and standards of one's profession."
I really like the synopsis, so I will also copy it here in case some of you didn't read it : "Park Ji Sang is a doctor specializing in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery in the best cancer research hospital in the country. He is also a vampire. Despite seeming cold and unfeeling, Ji Sang masks his soft heart and inner pain and yearns for closeness with people. He believes very strongly in the sanctity of human life and suppresses his thirst for blood to treat terminally ill patients and save lives. (his internal conflict >>>)
Among his colleagues is Yoo Ri Ta, a hotshot physician who entered medical school at the age of 17 and is also the niece of the chaebol group chairman who owns the hospital. Ri Ta is highly capable but snooty and prideful, yet Ji Sang finds himself falling for her. He also gets drawn into a conflict between good and evil as he encounters Lee Jae Wook, a two-faced hospital chief who gains everyone's trust with his gentle demeanor, but inwardly harbors a dangerous ambition for power and a talent for cruelty."
Side note: The romance was sweet and the support between the characters was very refreshing, as there was no useless toxicity between them. Finally, a real team with real teamwork.
Special effects: You must keep in mind that this is a 2015 supernatural drama from KBS2. However, the fights were so well choreographed and I LOVED it when they transformed. It was so cool and original.
Acting: All the cast is commendable, truly. Ji Jin Hee's Lee Jae Wook is one of the best villains I have ever witnessed. Ahn Jae Hyun's Park Ji Sang is by far my favorite vampire and his little smirk was everything (also like the tone of his voice and his facial expressions were so captivating to me?). Moreover I appreciate how stoic he is because when he cracks, it accentuates the shift and gives a real intensity. On the other hand, Rita is a fun character. People blaming Ahn Jae Hyun and Goo Hye Sun must have a personal problem with them or their characters. As AJH's first main role, it must have been very hard first of all. Please watch the press conference to have an idea of what they went through. I couldn't bear GHS in BOF because I couldn't bear anything at all in this drama, it was way too cringe for me. But here I loved her (I mean she's not the most likeable in the first few eps tho but she did a great job at that lol). Please pay attention to their emotional changes all throughout. If the drama is not for you, just drop it and get a life.
For more details on GHS's acting in the first episodes :
https://www.soompi.com/article/704949wpp/blood-team-voices-their-concern-regarding-criticisms-of-goo-hye-suns-acting
Teasers I felt the need to share as well as a press conference :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWCjhD3BqTI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MogMyyGLhY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyVMYcYEAOE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkpcA9AgtZs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remember the last episodes when Park Ji Sang was talking to Chief Jung and the conversation between Dr. Choi and Dr. Jung about him. That he could live without a heart and he has to die to cultivate the cure for 20-30mins. And because his blood is auto-genesis, he can live again. Because this is a theory and not been proven that's why everyone is concerned that it might fail. He is not that affected much with the sunrise because they could have injected the decomposed blood already and it won't react anymore to a dead infected and because he is of pure blood he can heal faster. Him being alive at the end means the antibody worked, and it was successful making him stronger than ever even as a human. So Yoo Ri Ta is all in to the experiment and when Park Ji Sang died of course they have to revive his body and observe him. It can take longer before his body will be totally cured and by the time he woke up Yoo Ri Ta is gone to Kochenia already as planned. So when she saw Park Ji Sang there it is as if she already knew that it was him but was too amazed to react or in a dreamy state when she realized that the cure was real. The end.
So, this is the logical explanation. But if you don't mind me sharing more of my thoughts :
By the end, he is human. His heart stopped beating, but he transcended humanity. His blood is enough for him to live and that's what saved him. He'll die as a human. The writer certainly knew that only a few people would understand and love the drama for what it really is "beyond the surface". They could have shown everything that happened in between to give the viewers clear explanations, but it would then ruin the atmosphere, all the build up, and the theme of the drama would become meaningless. Blood stayed true to itself. It was supposed to feel like a miracle.
From the beginning, they try to find a cure (Ji Sang's mother). This is how it ends. Ji Sang and his mother's dream to make him human became a reality.
The drama started in Kochenia (note that the very first scene is important), and ended in Kochenia.
Remember the dialogue between Rita and Ji Sang on the rooftop, it also fits perfectly.
The reference to Beauty and the Beast.
The vampires came from Kochenia originally. But them appearing at the same place, at the same time where Rita is... strange right? Now remember Jae Wook's monologue before he died. He represents the devils (the painting at his home is quite self-explanatory already) whereas Ji Sang represents the angels. Blood is a battle between light and shadow. Look at the main poster now. Ji Sang's sudden appearance as Rita's savior was brilliant (just like in the past!).
All in all, this is like 10 parallels in one scene. One (and most) may say that it's a stupid ending and that it doesn't make any sense, but it really does. I found it really beautiful. Not to mention the scenery was gorgeous and Ji Sang became even more handsome?? I really love Rita too... she made me cry hard before this scene came - Ji Sang's reaction to Hyun Woo's death was also heartbreaking. Both had an awesome character development throughout the drama and suffered so much.
Vincenzo was written by the same person, and it only confirmed my thoughts about Blood with biblical references being placed here and there. I clearly don't love it as much as I love Blood but it was really good. Vincenzo is definitely not as serious, but it gave me good laughs. I still find the robot in Blood to be one of the funniest things I have ever seen in a drama though.
Honestly, it couldn't be more obvious with all the religious things in the drama, even in the poster you can notice crosses. When I first saw the ending, I wasn't even confused. It was a surprise yes, but somehow, it immediately made sense for me. By always seeking too much rationality in fiction, you lose yourself and miss a lot. Blood is the best take on vampires to this day, and it is not only a vampire series for teenagers like Twilight.
Yet, even though I said it is obvious, it is all very subtle.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Very insightful analysis from a Korean philosopher : https://m.post.naver.com/viewer/postView.nhn?memberNo=134246&volumeNo=1335670&vType=VERTICAL
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