Bloodhounds (2023)

This show hides a mediocre plot behind excessive violence, good visuals, and a star packed cast. A short drama that does not take you long to get through but also requires you to suspend belief to enjoy. Most of what this drama does right is the comedic timing and entertaining bromance between the leads. The action sequences were mostly choreographed to perfection with no one pulling their punches and the interactions, while brutal, felt organic for the most part.

If you enjoy action packed stories that are heavy with violence and characters that defy the odds then this would definitely be for you. Not a horrible watch by any means but also lacks logic in the plot execution. While the first episode introduces you to fairly naive and good hearted boxers that accidentally find themselves trapped in a fight with an underground mafia boss the story misses any true character growth or believability by the end.

First the bromance felt very insta-love to me. These boys meet once and all of a sudden are completely inseparable and share a bond that feels forced in the beginning. As a viewer I quickly adapted to the relationship and enjoyed it going further but the show would have benefited from offering a more concrete growth in the friendship through time. I mean they meet and the following day Geon Woo ends up in a fight with the corrupt loan sharks that targeted his mother and Woo Jin backs him up wholeheartedly immediately upon finding out. Now I know Woo Jin is kind-hearted and it is plausible to try to help a new friend find the money he needed but the script made the connection feel deeper too quickly. Geon Woo being a naive puppy dog the entire series was also a little off putting. His good intentions were endearing in the beginning but by the latter half of the show it does not make sense that all the mindless killing wouldn't have changed him or at least bolstered his confidence making him a little more dominant.

Then you have Hyeon Joo whom with her brings a better understanding of the overall situation but her tough as nails character misses the mark at times. Knowing that about her however ended up being a bad thing because it did not make sense for her character to make the exit she did after the only person she loved was brutally murdered. Her replacement Da Min was much more palatable but lacked any gravity to her character because she was just thrown in to make up for writing off Hyeon Joo.

The action sequences also began to lose their spark. It began to feel repetitive where the bad guys would just send in more and more men and the good guys would just miraculously survive no matter how many they were facing. While highly entertaining to watch it wasn't believable that they could continuously go up against 20-40 men against the two of them and act like they were fine the next day. I could believe they won but not that they came out of the fights with nothing but a couple cuts and bruises. Episode 6 was also incredibly idiotic. To watch veterans to crime circles make decisions that put themselves in danger made absolutely no sense. There is no way that veteran killers would just get drunk on the night of a major event, leave personal information that would lead to their wherabouts out in the open knowing they would be hunted, and then to also be taken down by one or two men when they had previously proven their prowess against a dozen. None of it made sense and all of it happened so fast that it just pissed off the viewer.

This show's charismatic male leads can't save it from the continuous plot holes, unsatisfactory ending, and overall sense of incompleteness.

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SO GOOD

Man I didn’t know what to expect watching this show but one thing for sure is that it frustrates you…A LOT!

So many things happen at once that at some points I needed to pause the show and take a breather. Definitely another exhausting watch but in a good way! It tires you out along with the characters, you’re not the only one fed up with everything, so are the characters and that’s what makes you connect with the characters.

I was hoping for a cliffhanger so it could hint at another season because seriously the main characters’ chemistry is no joke. Both of them worked so well together and I wish they would play more roles together!

On another note, the ending was extremely satisfying. Even though it was frustrating, everything paid off in the end. Seriously great kdrama!

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A Top Kdrama of 2023

This kdrama has become probably one of my favourites of all time! I was a bit unsure when I first began watching, but as a fan of Woo Dohwan, I figured I'd see if I liked it.

The storyline throws you right into the mess in the first episode which was a bit of a shocker, but it worked well with the production of the show. I really enjoyed seeing a drama where it focused on friendship without having side-plot romance. Gunwoo and Woojin's friendship and as people on tiktok say "bromance" was really comforting to watch develop and strengthen throughout. I also really liked how Gunwoo's character wasn't your typical "mafia-esque" male lead; I liked how he was kind-hearted even to those on Myeongil's side, and that he never became this rugged criminal that's happened in many other shows I've watched. It was nice to see a balance with Gunwoo and Woojin, where Gunwoo is more reserved and soft-spoken, Woojin is more extroverted and sarcastic.

Overall this series was amazing and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys revenge dramas. There is a decent amount of gore so watch at your own discretion, but my rating is a 9.5/10

Ps. Du-yeong's death broke me

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Terrible Writing Packaged with Good Action

LIKES:
Action right in first episode
Decent fight scenes
Writing:
No romance thrown in, because it didn’t need it.
The bad guys didn’t upgrade to guns.
The bromance between Gun Woo and Woo Jin was fun and heartwarming.
I liked the young archery character and her dynamic with the two boxers.
Production:
for the most part was good, sometimes zooming camera in too close, but at least shaky camera wasn’t noticeable.
Music:
was fitting, but no song stood out.
Cast:
well selected and I love that Woo Do-Hwan is a main lead. (Both boxers were delightful eye candy!)
FX:
blood and scars were decent.

DISLIKES:
FX:
the stitches looked to be done by a butcher and not a medical professional. Some of the facial damage, like broken noses were omitted. The big facial scars should’ve been a little more raw looking, compared to what was shown.
Directing:
Pro criminals not noticing a car tail gating them on an empty highway and following them every turn they make?
The elite bad guys seem to be able to handle a lot of force on their heads, which throws the realism of the fights out the window.
Writing:
A few characters we need more information on what happened to them, especially at the end. However I understand why they had to get rid of Kim Sae Ron’s character due to the actress’s DUI, but the way it was done made no sense due to the character that was created up until that point.
The whole Marines part about the two boxers: Marines are trained in hand to hand knife fighting and many other weapons. The South Korean military are trained in Teukgong Moosool. Their characters knowledge and skills therefore very lacking.
Criminal element was very unrealistic, especially since the master villain gets defeated by two young boxers. Also all the masters (the brains and brawn) get defeated so simplistically, which made for a disappointing conclusion for their characters.
A lame plot was covered by violence.
Pacing issues:
Ending felt rushed, but they had plenty of extended drinking moments. Time could’ve been used better.

OVERALL: The fitness level that the main actors had to achieve was awesome. This should've been an action movie and not a series. It's fun to watch for the fights, but don't expect anything from plot. I don't need to watch it again, maybe just clips of the 2 boxers (lol), I would recommend it for fight scenes and action only.

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Long live the boxer bros

Somehow I think still less brutal for Lee Sang Yi than Hometown Cha Cha Cha?

A few noteworthy things- for one, this was SO much more gutwrenching than I anticipated. Episode 4 actually gave me stomach cramps. I have never felt so sick over fictional characters that I knew were not about to die. The plot integration of COVID and the financial consequences it had was executed flawlessly; the shift for the last two episodes actually provided some welcome relief as someone who doesn’t regularly watch action dramas. And finally, my new favorite duo, goofy golden hearted outrageously handsome boxer bros.

Very high hopes set for season 2! Please just let LSY keep his curls

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Great watch! Will not disappoint

I'm not someone that likes action that much, nor do I like gore, but this series deserves a good review.

Things that especially deserve praise:
First of all, the fighting sequences were top class 💯 amazingly executed, they'll keep you on edge. You just cannot deny how good those scenes were.
Second, the acting. The main leads were amazing, the bromance between them was very natural. The actor that plays Geonhoo has such delicate expressions, you can see the happiness, fear, anger, passion – everything clearly in his eyes. The other actors were good too.

Things that I personally don't like:
1. Quite a lot of gore. Sometimes it even felt like it was too much for no reason lol like they even showed little things like drawing blood during a blood donation very graphically. And obviously everything else was much worse, I couldn't watch. So yeah very graphic display of blood and injuries, be warned.
2. Since this isn't a favoured genre of mine, I was pretty distracted during most of the discussion scenes. I'm not very good at paying attention to those long serious talks and discussion of plans by the good guys and the bad guys. And there's quite a lot of that in this series so I was often lost on the plot and just let myself figure out what's going on as it went on. I actually thought I wouldn't like this series for that reason, but the story and acting kept me hooked later on.

It's not a series that one would re-watch though, although I can see people rewatching just the fighting scenes haha

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Bloody brilliant!

A little late to the party, but I'm still glad I watched this drama. For starters, I love action series with a pinch of drama. It was refreshing to see Woo Do Hwan in the role of a boxer who fights for his family and the people he loves. The first series I watched with him was the drama "tempted" or "the great seducer", it depends on how accurate the English translation is. I didn't write a review for that drama because I'm still in doubt whether I liked it or not, but I have to say that I remembered him and his way of acting. In "Bloodhounds" I was really captivated by his innocent look and sensitivity that I had to keep watching. Plus seeing him as a boxer holding his heart in his hands was really emotional and wonderful.

The bromance is real! He and Lee Sang Yi were a pairing that I never expected to love so much and I really hope that I will have the chance to see them together again. If not, I can rewatch the drama all over again haha.

As for the story, it’s a typical story of revenge for one's family, which was wronged by a criminal. I'm not saying it's bad, I love such stories and watch them no matter how many times it’s repeated, but here's what really bothered me. I had the impression that the writers helped the criminals more than the good guys. I know that sometimes there is karma and sometimes something happens that you didn't expect, but it really seemed to me that the criminals had everything delivered on their plate, while the good guys struggled until the end.

But all in all, it was an amazing drama that I watched in one day and I'm saddened that it's so short. I would like more!

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excellent story and characters with flawed execution

i throughly enjoyed this show. the action here is unlike any other kdrama ive watched, its very well done and believable. both the main characters here are so lovable and relatable, and so charismatic as a duo. secondary characters, like Mr.choi are just as precious. In ep 6, i was crying the whole episode because the connection of all these characters to each other was genuine and very human, and it was such a heartbreak for me to witness their downfall and the horrible way they were murdered. These are all the things i loved and enjoyed about this show, but after ep 6 it kinda felt less genuine to me somehow. the connection of our characters to the chaebol, the new girl and Mr. oh, the new “mole” who gets caught in one ep, the old sunabe who they utilize out of nowhere.. i had a hard time feeling bad when Mr.oh was in danger because this is the issue with this team, they never learn from their mistakes or learn how to back up their plans. never once throughout the show , since ep 1 where gun woos mom was in danger, did it ever occur to anybody to initiate any type of contact in case of danger. Mr.oh just lives in the countryside unprotected and the boys just leave him to attack the most capable gang leader they know… and they leave the mom the Mr. choi’s orphanage and then are surprised when they threaten her too? idk all in all it just seems like when they were new and amateurs these stupid mistakes were more acceptable (still stupid and preventable) , but now with their “glow up” it just is stupid and perventable and didnt really move me. the final boss’s death wasn’t all unsatisfying, but it did feel less impactful to me. i do understand that they needed this whole journey to strip him of his assets and resources, and it does make sense so maybe i was just that i was over it by the point he died. great show overall, i would watch season 2 when it comes out

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Goofy & Cute Male leads, Bromance and Beating tons of gangsters at the same time Still like it!

I like it! If you watch it for entertainment then it is perfect BUT it also has lots of plotholes and You can find faults in the story...

Like some things are really funny and not practical at all... no one is that clumsy or thoughtless the way they show both of the main characters...

BUT overall if you put practical & logical mind aside, it is one of the good action series.

The casting is good, Both of the main leads, Kim Geon Woo & Hong Woo Jin, Mr. Choi's character, and all the supporting characters did a good job with their acting...

The action scenes were not natural or practical... No matter how good Boxer you are you just can't beat tons of fighters who only kill or beat... It's just not practical... some fight scenes remind me of "My Name" BUT not too much.

One more thing the elders teach the kids how to fight with knives in a day... IN A DAY! LOL... they are boxers, not a robot... come on🙄

When you know who you fighting, you only defeat two of his man and NOT kill them... and then you just Chill & celebrate instead of planning your next move... WTF You know he is a loan shark, who has people in his pocket and you are just a boxer... ohh come on!🙄

AND when you are a professional Bloodhound before Lee Doo Young you leave your family photo in that place while your wife is pregnant and Hwang Yang Jung goes to his cafe like a regular Friday.... what do you expect?

I like the main leads friendship the most... They became friends very naturally... The duo has a perfect balance b/w a goofy and cute personality one talks non-stop and the other one listens.

I really really love Woo Do Hwan's character 😍 His innocent & cute character reminds me of his The King: Eternal Monarch Character Jo Eun-seob.

About Kim Hyeon Joo's character... She was like I will fight for people and all then she just RUN AWAY.. that too when his one and only family get murdered?

In starting they show her as a cold personality who wants what she wants but after Mr. Choi's death. She was like I can't handle it... I'm just a lit girl... I want peace... instead of revenge? That doesn't go with the personality she had before.

Overall it is worth watching once, I like it even tho some things were not practical. it's a fictional story so you can also put that aside.

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