Knock Out

solid couple dynamics (uncut version)

Overall: I loved the communication and chemistry between the leads in the beginning but there was some nonsense writing. This is based on the book with the same title that I haven't read and I reviewed the series based on its own merits. 12 episodes about an hour each. Aired uncut on WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/play/u23sfk7obd6z87j/k4101c5i4r4-EP01%3A_Knock_Out and the first 2 episodes are on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0xfFEdKNq0

Content Warnings: murders, torture, beaten up, violence, blood, slap, punches, grief, manipulation, drugging, kidnapping, non con touching/molestation (flashing lights beginning of ep 8 until around 8 min)

Watch Suggestions (to focus on sweet/steamy moments and take out most content warnings but a ton of plot will be missed)
- start episode 1 at 44:30
- episode 2 skip 31:45-34:20
- watch episode 3
- episode 4 skip 13 (keep watching if you enjoy boxing)-28:10
- episode 5 skip 12:50-27:30, 36:20-42:30 and end at 1hr2min
- episode 6 skip 39:10-48 and end at 55:55
- episode 7 watch the beginning to 3:30 (keep watching if you enjoy boxing) and 6-6:40
- episode 8 watch 23-25:30 and 46:45-49
- episode 9 watch 33:30-35:30
- start episode 10 at 13
- episode 11 watch 3:50-14:05 and 19-25
- episode 12 watch 5:10-5 and 36-end

What I Liked
- chemistry/tension
- communication (falls apart later though)
- set up the characters and plot well
- that Keen was not a damsel in distress, he actively tried to solve his problems
- excellent massages
- symbolism with the handcuffs
- caring moments
- intimacy, the check in in episode 5
- finale wrapped things up pretty well
- production value

Room For Improvement
- a ton of nonsense/because the writer said so stuff like a character wouldn't sell his car but was okay possibly dying if he didn't sell his car, a diuretic wouldn't work like that (maybe it was a translation mistake), a journalist just went into an active crime scene and what was the end goal because anything collected likely can't be used in court, why didn't a character say anything to another character earlier in episode 8 or apologize right away, there weren't any security cameras on the premises after they've had problems, the dad staying behind etc.
- too many antagonists, I get that it was supposed to be a bit twisty but watching all at once would have been easier, there were a ton of characters and it was difficult to keep track of all the baddies
- started the series with a flash forward but about 18 minutes later that scene happened, which doesn't annoy me as much
- episode 3 talking about her weight
- the slap in episode 5
- love rival/jealousy

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A promising start that devolves into pure hot mess

I really wanted to like this one— but alas, it disappointed me. Knock Out starts out really strong. The set-up is done well, and the backdrop of the show is interesting. I even like the two main characters; Thun and Keen have an interesting dynamic.

HOWEVER, I think the biggest weakness of the show is that the leads get together way too soon. There's absolutely no courtship or flirting between them. They meet for the first time in the 1st episode and move on to having s** by the 4th episode. This makes everything that comes after very slow and repetitive. I wish they would have put in some amounts of push and pull between the leads. Because the romance plot wraps up so quickly, the rest of the show feels repetitive as well. Thun fights character 1, wins or loses, gets hurt, he and Keen do skinship. Thun fights character 2, wins or loses, gets hurt, he and Keen do skinship. On and on it goes. Oh, and there are WAY too many villains in the show. Basically, everybody besides Thun and Keen are bad/outright villanous in some way.

This is particularly disappointing because the actors definitely have a lot of physical chemistry. They give the NC scenes their all, and there are sparks. But a relationship is more than just physical sparks. There has to be something we feel when the two look at each other as well. And because the characters are not super deep and get together quickly, this aspect is entirely missing. I was just left feeling a major meh with this one.

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