"Duel" Episode 8 recap

It is a rare, slightly creepy, but also satisfying feeling when a show seems to be right behind you and your complaints and wishes. I asked for the villains' motivation and scientific explanation and "Duel" delivers. Deuk-cheon starts creating his own plans while Seong-joon and Mi-rae find some important answers. Things become tense as the past comes back to haunt several characters.
The clone mystery is solved just as I was losing my investment. I had been wondering why Seong-hoon and Seong-joon (Yang Se-jong) grew up so differently and Seong-joon's recovery of his previous self explains it. One was left behind by the other, intentionally or not. This also explains Seong-hoon's resentment for Seong-joon. I do wonder how Seong-joon kept healthy without the medicine all this time, but perhaps Seong-hoon's body deteriorates faster due to his continued abuse.

Thankfully my theory that Lee Yong-seob was special stands and this explains everyone's motivation on the villain side. It seems his way is only one method, but perhaps the most stable or profitable one. It is also good to know that Soo-yeon (Lee Na-yoon) is being cured. While I do not hold the series capable of killing a child the rescuing of who is right in the premise, this leaves medical drama over her condition out for now.
Aside from Seong-hoon's goal, we find out what our mysterious chaebol heiress type wants. She is clearly in a hospital for herself or someone and survival is a strong motivator. My question is, who started this research before her? Is the "elder" Seong-hoon's handler refers to her possibly ill father? I just hope that the series is not about to jump the shark and give us an ageless villainess after immortality. "Duel" has been pretty down to Earth within its own scope so far.

Seong-hoon's reasons for choosing Deuk-cheon (Jeong Jae-yeong) have been bothering me and the series delivers once more. His personal dislike and the possibility of his choice not being random have been established and I had suspected that Deuk-cheon or his wife may have had a transplant. Hearing the rejection of a young Seong-hoon's pleas, however, let us know that the child was either not taken seriously or betrayed by Deuk-cheon for his first bribe.
Soo-yeon is eleven, so Seong-hoon would have been thirteen when her mother was attacked for it. However, the time of the incident buried could still be when Seong-hoon was a child. If this is the case, who was killed and who was the framed man? Most importantly, does this mean that Jo-hye (Kim Jung-eun) could still be working with and be willing to cause harm for the institute?
"Duel" is directed by Lee Jong-jae, written by Kim Yoon-joo and features Jeong Jae-yeong, Kim Jung-eun, Yang Se-jong and Seo Eun-su.
Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'