Anyway, I agree that "2049" is muddled in the way it approaches Officer K's motivations. He does exactly what he's asked to do up until the point he finds the Magic Horse Totem and believes that he's Replicant Jesus. Then he busts ass to figure out ... whatever he needs to figure out.

Joi seems to exist solely so that K can demonstrate empathy to the audience. The ending would play as sentimental and implausible otherwise.