As much as I enjoy the original Blade Runner, it really does not feel like a masterpiece the way 2049 does.

Note the usage of quotes from Nabokov's Pale Fire during the baseline test. A few I liked:

  Do you feel that there's a part of you that's missing? Interlinked.
  Did you buy a present for the person you love? Within cells interlinked.

* spoiler alert *

Joe (aka "K") has to pass the baseline test to demonstrate his lack of emotional state.

There's a scene early on in the film where K will be giving a present to his hologram love, Joi. She's the opposite of K - full of emotion, joy, sadness. Joe just had a rough day, comes home, and she tries to cheer him up

  Joi : Would you read to me?
  [gets up, crosses to table, 'picks up' Nabokov's Pale Fire] 
  Joi : It'll make you feel better.
  'K' : You hate that book.

Yes, of course she hates that book. She is a glowing ball of emotion and doesn't want to ever give that up. She's the most emotional character in the whole film.

It's clear the film is a true labor of love from Hampton Fancher and Michael Green. They put their entire being into this work.