Bloodhounds

Fun, thrilling, short watch

This was a really good drama. The acting was good, the story for the most part made sense and it wasn't unnecessarily long, only 8 episodes all around an hour long(except for the last episode). The action scenes were done so well, a little long but entertaining nonetheless. The characters were easily the best part, the friendship between the 2 main leads was also really well done, as well as the others, and also this was also pretty funny.

I would say there were some logistical fallacies:
- One would be the fact that when they contacted the heir guy, they just sent him a DM and he actually had his notifications on despite having 500k followers. Like I felt like they could've done something more creative.
- Another one was the fact the sushi restaurant fighter got killed off even though he was supposed to be this incredibly skilled and experienced fighter? I just couldn't believe he got taken out by one guy, when a whole fleet couldn't even do it.
- Not as well planned. This is mainly towards the last 2 episodes, a lot of the operations (especially after Mr Oh got captured) weren't planned out and they kind of just improvised what they were going to do, and I would've liked to see them put a bit more brains into their operations.

But overall, I really did like it, and it got me out of a kdrama slump so if your also in one then I would most likely recommend.

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Tough and nail biting

Oct 2023
The very early episodes that lay the foundations for this very violent, gripping and fast paced drama, go from causing feelings of mild anxiousness to all out threat, fairly quickly.
It is not easy watching ordinary people being strong armed out of their livelihoods, all their savings and conned into crippling debts they'll never be able to repay.
The ferocity with which the strong-arm gangs operate is sickening. That people could do this to others, totally blows my mind (gang wars happen in real life).
We are then moved on to Geon-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and his new found friend from boxing, Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi), getting drawn ever deeper into conflict with the legitimate business fronted, highly successful and wealthy loan shark, Myung-gil (Park Sung-woong ~ always a brilliant villain).
The story sees them joining forces with someone whose past has a strong connection to Myung-gil. Then, together with characters involved with one another as veterans and members of the Marines (their military service), they decide they have no choice but to take him and his entire organisation, down.
The fight scenes are something else and the efforts both WDH and LSY must have gone to, to get as fit as they look in this, don't bear thinking about!
In terms of how characters are dealt with by the drama/writer, it reminded me of the early days of The Walking Dead... no one is safe and there are shocks aplenty. The sudden departure of one character in particular was very odd but might be to do with the actress.
Excellent writing, as some very witty dialogue and interactions pepper most episodes, which counters the angst and violence.
I love the cast and was really surprised to see Choi Siwan (didn't even realise he was in it), in a very different and [to me] surprising role for him.
Much of it is very OTT in terms of being a long way from what's possible, but, this is an action and justice/revenge drama, not a slice- of-real-life story or a documentary. It's entertainment and I loved it!
The ending held some shocks and I wasn't disappointed, but (why's there always a but?
;-D ), I would have loved to see some characters actually suffer the consequences of their disgusting deeds, and get legally punished by the system, with a nightmare life behind bars!
The most hateful character for me was In-beom, MG's muscle and right-hand man... what a mindless neanderthal. One of my favourites was the quirky and unflappable Oh Da-min, who makes her appearance in later episodes.
If the brutal treatment of others and quite high levels of threat are not for you, then the drama probably won't be either, but otherwise, it's a great and compact watch.

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It was okay

I love the bromance in this movie, but ofc it's not just all fun and games (which i would have preferred that way (don't judge me)). The story was aight, but one thing i love about this show is that, the pacing of the story is really random, which most people won't enjoy but it's something new to me. But overall, it was an okay show, not really emotionally touched or anything, sort of an expected ending as well. Will this movie worth your time? Well, depends, if u have nth else to watch this is a pretty decent show. But if you have other recommendations from ur friends like always, prioritize their show instead.

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Everyone is dumb and the writers think I'm dumb too

one thing I hate in media is when we get introduced to a character who is incredibly smart and then force him to make an incredibly stupid decision to get rid of him. that just pisses me off so bad and it happens not to one but THREE people in this drama (episode six pissed me off). this is weak writing an there is no excuses ! I could go in details but im not that passionate about this drama honestly.

Started this for dohwan but then the most horrific thing ... he is playing a grown adult acting like a child NOOOOOOOOO omg I almost *redacted* myself. I hate when it happens to female characters and its even more painful on a guy. anyway bunch of stupid guys making stupid decisions over and over again until almost everyone is dead. at some point I expected them to be more ruthless but no. AND THEN HE HAD THE AUDACITY TO SAY AT THE END "IVE BECOME LIKE THEM UWU" ARE YOU DUMB ??? (lowering the score as I wrote that bcs what ???) Actually its the opposite you are so unlike them might as well be a p*ssy. the writers are spitting on me and telling me its raining. needed them to be smarter. also they gave the money to a billionaire they barely know like why are they torturing me like this.

Why did I stay ? well, once again hate made me stay. I was introduced to someone on ep 1 that I needed to see suffer. so I watched all of it and once again I was let down bcs I did not get to see him suffer.

It looked good, the acting was good. the action was very good, the punches felt so good and powerful especially after the time-skip. If they fixed the script just a little bit this would be a 10/10 which is all the more upsetting.

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Thrilling scenes, corny writing

One thing I'm sure of is this has got some insane keep-you-on-the-edge action scenes. but pretty much everything else feels mediocre; the acting, the plot, the writing.. all very unnatural to the point where it's noticeable. especially what happened with the fl.. i dont undestand why they felt they had to replace her with another awkwardly placed female character when the initial trio were just done. 4 main characters were just written off 2 episodes before the finale, and the show lost its purpose which is such a shame honestly.
overall fun really, but mostly only because of the fights.

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SEASON 2 PLEASE!!!!!!

I have to say, I was thrilled! This drama captivated me from beginning to end. It was an incredibly suspenseful and captivating drama that impressed me with many surprises and twists.The cast was fantastic, the chemistry between the actors was just amazing. I was particularly impressed by the performance of Woo Do Hwan as Gin Woo and Lee Sang Yii as Hong Woo Jin. The two of them embodied their roles perfectly and thrilled me with their acting and their Bodies 😏

The villain, played by Park Sung Woong, was nothing short of terrifying. I couldn't help but be impressed by his portrayal. And of course, one must not forget the performance of Choi Si Won as director Hong Min Beom. He played the role perfectly and made me smile every time.

However, I have to say that the drama seemed far too short to me. I'd love to see a second season that gives us even more of this great cast and lets us dive deeper into the thrilling story. All in all, "Bloodhounds" was an absolute highlight for me and I'm sure other viewers will enjoy it too!

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this show is annoying

dog water

first two episodes were good and from there a complete down hill trash

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You Just Might Feel Like You've Gone a Few Rounds Yourself With This Incredible Series!

“Bloodhounds” reminded me a little of “My Name,” one of the most spectacular thrillers I’ve seen in a long time. If you go into this series thinking it’s just about two boxers mixing it up, you’re only scratching the surface. As with so many fantastic Korean shows, there’s so much more going on, and you barely have to watch even half of the first episode to realize that this story—like so many others—is like an onion. Peel back one layer, and there’s another one waiting. That’s the sophistication of the writing of this series.

Kim Geon Woo is a professional boxer who is doing all he can to help his mother pay the rent on the small café that she owns. Little does Geon Woo realize that his mother has taken out a loan, via one of the most notorious loan sharks in the business. The story is set during COVID-19 when so many businesses are struggling to survive, and so many of them are turning to alternative means to try and keep going. Unfortunately, this falls right into the hands of Kim Myung Gil, a ruthless mob boss. You might be a little surprised to find that Geon Woo is polite and courteous, even when he’s knocking his opponents down, he rushes over to make sure they’re all right.

Hong Woo Jin is the fiery, impulsive professional boxer who is actually a bit familiar with the loan shark world, as he’s been a “bloodhound” which is basically another word for a “collector.” After losing to Geon Woo in a fight, he’s shocked when Geon Woo wants to strike up a friendship. Woo Jin is pulled back into the loan shark world when Geon Woo is ruthlessly beaten in his attempt to defend his mother.

Both fighters are soon brought under the protective umbrella of Choi Tae Ho, a former powerful loan shark who’s only too familiar with Myung Gil and his tactics. Choi Tae Ho now uses his immense wealth to give out principal-only loans (no interest) to those in desperate need. However, once he finds out that Myung Gil is behind the series of plots to take over a building in order to open a casino and bleed foreign customers dry, Choi Tae Ho comes out of the shadows to try and bring Myung Gil down, his former lieutenant.

The series is brutally honest and realistic in its violence, which can be difficult to watch. As good as Woo Jin and Geon Woo are, they can’t escape getting beaten, battered, and bruised, including cutting up their knuckles. It’s one of those rare times when you realistically see that knuckles get cut up during a fight, which impressed me, since this is a detail that most scenes of this caliber too often overlook.

Myung Gil is a fantastic villain, and a series like this can only go so far as how good the villain is. He’s smart, cunning, and absolutely ruthless threatening to punish anyone who gets in his way like a massive tidal wave. However, like so many people like Myung Gil, he believes he’s untouchable, and that ultimately leads to his downfall.

I was incredibly impressed with Woo Do Hwan (Geon Woo) and Lee Sang Yi (Woo Jin). They must have trained with professional fighters, because their movements and tactics are spot on! And they also do it so fast and effectively, that you’ll likely marvel at the fight scenes! I’d be curious how long it took to choreograph just one fight scenes (and there are a number of them throughout this 8-episode series).

The Korean underworld is dark. The sun doesn’t even really come out. Even in the daytime, it’s cloudy, as if marking the level of corruption that dwells within the city of Seoul. Too many times, we actually wonder if this small group can finally come out on top over Myung Gil. Each time Geon Woo, Woo Jin, and Choi Tae Ho score a point, Myung Gil finds a way to score two. The entire series plays out very much like a boxing match. Two sides, bobbing, weaving, trying to outthink their opponents, while scoring a hit and then moving back into defensive mode.

What impressed me the most was the naivety of Geon Woo and Woo Jin. They may be able to box, but they know very little about the Korean mob world and what to do. They are anxious and eager to help, but Choi Tae Ho and his lieutenants have to teach them and share the wisdom of their own experiences.

This is an intense but bingeworthy series! As soon as you finish one episode, you immediately have to keep going to find out what happens next. By the time the series is over, you feel like you need to sit in the corner to get a breather!

The story is tautly written, and the performances throughout are absolutely spot-on! This is a fantastic series, that when it’s all over, you may feel like you’ve gone 15 rounds!

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