It’s been a while since I’ve watched it, but the original Blade Runner is in my top 5 sci-fi movies, so I went into 2049 pretty nervous. I really expected it to warp or cheapen the legacy, like we’ve seen happen to other beloved IP (Cowboy Bebop live action comes to mind).
Instead, I was pleasantly surprised. To me, 2049 didn’t just avoid ruining the original, it expanded the world in a way that felt respectful, ambitious, and thematically consistent. I totally see what you’re saying about the melodramatic villain moments and some convenient plotting, but I think I was more forgiving of those because everything else (the atmosphere, score, pacing, visuals, emotional weight) landed for me.
So despite its imperfections, I came away feeling like it really added to the legacy. For me, it leans closer to masterpiece than missed opportunity.