This review may contain spoilers
Very Disappointing and Sad Series
I don’t usually leave reviews, but this series was especially disappointing and heartbreaking to me and everyone I watched it with. It was really sad that they killed off almost all of the good characters, especially the grandfather, I won’t even go into that, and all the other nice characters that were helping, as well as what they did to the guy and his pregnant wife, that was really wrong. I’ve always liked Woo Do Hwan and think he’s a great actor, so one of the reasons I watched the show was because he was in it, but I’m disappointed that he’d play in a show that kills the characters off in such brutal and disturbing ways, especially when at some points they had to take on dozens of bad guys by themselves, and didn’t even survive, so it was just hard to watch. And even though the lead actress Kim Sae-ron had a real life controversy, it seemed weird that they cut her out of the last half of the show, I was expecting her character to at least show up at the end, but they didn’t even mention her character even though she was originally one of the main parts of the storyline, so her character missing just really threw things off, and I feel like the show would have been a little better and made more sense if they would just have kept her in the rest of it or at least mentioned her more. All in all, even though it’s only a show, my family and friends and I were all upset with how it went and what happened to the good characters, so even though we like action and adventure shows this one just wasn’t enjoyable to watch and I would not recommend it.Was this review helpful to you?
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Creating bonds amidst violence
Bloodhounds was one of the kdramas which had been on my watchlist for some time. While the premise seemed intriguing from a first glance, I was hesitant to get into the series and I postponed it. Having watched other similar action-packed kdramas which left me kinda underwhelmed, I was afraid of Bloodhounds not being able to deliver - a fear which didn't come true.From the get go, we get immersed to the world of Bloodhounds, which is grim, violent and ruthless. Physical violence aside, the writers of Bloodhounds did a good job in establishing the great lengths greedy people go to in order to gain more power and status. The villains relied on their physical and economical advantages in order to exploit the weaker individuals and amid the semi-realistic setting, their schemings highlighted the painful reality of our society - thus, adding more weight to the characters' goal to stop them.
Many people have sung praises of the main duo, Kim Gun Woo and Hong Woo Jin. To be frank, their relationship was one of the main aspects which contributed to my eagerness to get into the series in the first place. I love myself an interesting pair of characters and I was sceptical about whether Gun Woo and Woo Jin would deliver. Well, the boys did not disappoint for a bit.
At first, I expected that Gun Woo and Woo Jin would start as rivals and develop a strong friendship later on, which is the most typical route for most male duos in kdramas. But the series proved me wrong very quickly since they hit it off in the very first episode. I found this to be very refreshing and realistic. They met by chance as rivals on the ring but they quickly became an inseparable duo once they took off their gloves. And yet, this encounter would affect their lives like they would have never imagined before.
I adored the boys' relationship. Their bond was very strong and they treasured it a lot. Both Gun Woo and Woo Jin were willing to move heaven and earth in order to help each other and that was shown multiple times. The writers showcased the influence each one had to the other, especially Gun Woo who managed to make Woo Jin care more about ethics instead of money and power. While Gun Woo and Woo Jin differed in terms of personality, they completed each other like two puzzle pieces and together, they unlocked their true potential not only as kick boxers but as human beings too.
Although Bloodhounds is full of action sequences, the writers put great emphasis on the characters' dynamics too. By providing the drama with a more layered and humane tone and by highlighting the bond between the main characters, Bloodhounds managed to differ from other action packed series which prioritize the action more than the characters.
The quiet and domestic moments between the boys and their friends were a breath of fresh air to an overall hectic and troublesome plot. Mr. Choi, Hyeon Ju, Yang Jeong and Du Yeong, all of them became a second family to Gun Woo and Woo Jin. Mr. Choi's relationships with the other characters in particular, transcended the connections between an employer and his employees and together, they formed a group akin to a family. I especially enjoyed the bond between Gun Woo, Woo Jin and Hyeon Ju, who was always there to help the boys despite her initial reluctance to accept their assistance.
The performances from the actors really elevated the series. I couldn't think of a single miscasting, everyone depicted their character so effortlessly. Woo Do Hwan and Lee Sang Yi were phenomenal as Gun Woo and Woo Jin respectively, their chemistry was off the charts and they conveyed their characters' emotional turmoil perfectly, especially Woo Do Hwan. Kim Sae Ron as Hyeon Ju was alluring to watch, every time she appeared on the screen, I wouldn't take my eyes off her. It was the first time I watched one of her dramas and I'm saddened about not being able to see her in anything new anymore...
The rest of the actors were equally great to watch. The veteran Huh Joon Wo delivered a memorable performance as Mr. Choi and Park Sung Woong embodied Myeong Gil in the most convincing way. He encapsulated the villain's unpredictability perfectly, his body language and the tone of his voice made me feel so uneasy. As for Tae Won Seok, he did so good as Kang In Beom. I got introduced to him from The Judge Returns and the discrepancy between these roles couldn't showcase his versatility more clearly. I could barely believe it was the same person!
As much as I enjoyed Bloodhounds and although I came to really enjoy the series, I must say that I don't find myself getting crazy about it, like many other people did. I understand that compared to other action series, it did some aspects better but for me, some other elements prevented it from earning a bigger reaction from me.
While the pacing was overall very good (it benefits that the episodes were only 8), the last episodes felt like they dragged. I totally understand that due to Kim Sae Ron's DUI controversy the writers had to make some changes to the script but they could have handled it better. After the sixth episode, it was as if the drama had lost its park (which is logical, considering the events that took place) and I wasn't that engaged to the story. The police operation bored me at times and I would have liked to see more of the aftermath after Smile Capital's attack.
Because of the drama's length, some characters and plot points were left unexplored. I would have liked to see more of the characters' past and ordinary life. It would have made an even bigger impact to the story and it would have made the viewers connect better with them. I feel like Woo Jin was sidelined compared to Gun Woo, I wanted to see more of his lifestyle outside of his interactions with Gun Woo. I loved him with Woo Jin but he could have been explored more in some areas.
All in all, I am very happy about watching Bloodhounds at last. I totally understand the fuss around it and it's more than understandable why it gained so much traction. I am excited to watch season 2 as well, this universe is so exciting to watch and I have connected with the characters a lot. I strongly recommend the series to those who are looking for something quick to binge and if you love action packed media, do not miss out!
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‘It’s not over til it's over for real’
OmG. This drama was incredible!The cast! Was EXTRAORDINARY. It's amazing how the story was created. The plot! The friendship! And the dedication the main character has to their facial expressions. Holy. I'm also in love with the two main characters. I've been a fan of WOO do Hwan since his drama with JOY and seeing him in different kinds of roles... I'm proud as a fan!
I felt devasted with the other characters tho. That hurts a lot😫😫
All the cast did an outstanding job. After a few episodes, I realize the main girl was Saereun... I was shocked she was still part of the drama as controversy is a huge thing in Korea. However, I liked how they kept her.
She portrayed her character well.
The The ending was good! I was also shocked when I saw Siwon is part of the drama. Omg, I love him HAHAH.
I actually started watching this on the plane home from Cancun hehe
Good choice of downloading this. I'm somewhat traumatized from certain scenes as it's too brutal but hey.... It's BLOODhounds.
Haha.
Anyways, I would totally rewatch some scenes. Those scenes 🙈6/30/23 6:40pm
Good day to end JUNE 2023❤️
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Bloodhounds
This is my third time trying to watch this show.The first time I tried watching it, I think I gave up because I was too busy. The second time, I watched two episodes, and then got into a massive K Drama slump. I am pretty sure I didn't watch any show for around five months.
So what made me start watching this show? All the credit goes to the actors.
I recently watched Mr. Plankton, and I absolutely adored everything about that show, including the actors. Woo Do-hwan was phenomenal, and I wanted to watch more shows that he was in. Lee Sang-Yi also holds a special place in my heart, as he was a main character in the first K-drama I have ever watched (Hometown Cha Cha Cha), so of course I had to watch it for him as well. And lastly, I wanted to get a glimpse of an actress who I had never seen act, and who lives on in the memory of these dramas.
So with all of that in mind (mainly the cast), I clicked play on the first episode yesterday. And Bloodhounds did not disappoint.
First of all, the acting is insane. Every single person on the cast is crazy. The chemistry between Dohwan and Sangyi is also ridiculous: if you think that I didn't binge every single interview, every single snippet of any show they were on together, you thought wrong. I also watched every single edit they were in, and honestly, an edit I saw was one of the reasons why I even attempted watching the show in the first place (iykyk). Everyone else also acted incredibly: there weren't necessarily any standouts in my opinion, but I think that shows how balanced the acting was.
And then comes the story. I think overall, they had a very solid idea, and it turned out pretty well. The story was very captivating, and even despite all of the changes they had to make at the end, still turned out really well. My only issue is that we know NOTHING about Woojin. Who is his family? Why did he become a loan shark at the beginning? We literally have zero information on him, and I bet that they could have sacrificed some of Taeho's scenes for his scenes. It felt like Woojin was a side character in his own drama. That changed in the last two episodes, and hopefully it will improve in Season 2 as well.
Lastly, the FIGHTING SEQUENCES??!! Half the time, I was literally holding my breath. The scene where Woojin fought all of those men at once in the house? Honestly, it reminded me of one hundred men vs a gorilla, but instead of a gorilla, it's a lovable strong man. The scene with the archery??!! The scene where they had vents as their weapons at the end?? All of them were so so creative, and so well shot. I also really liked that their was less music during the scenes, and instead, you could hear the actual fight (like all the grunts and hits: it felt like you were actually there).
The ending was very heartwrenching in some ways, but heartwarming in others. Once you watch the show, you can decide for yourself.
I am so excited that Season 2 is filming, and I can't wait to see all these characters on my screen again!
And remember, sometimes thank you is just enough.
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I was pretty choked by this drama
I have officially finished this drama! I uselly only watch romance troops, however this drama did not need romance or romantical partners. Intsead it thought us what a family really is, it is someone or some people who appreciate and adore you for who you are. Instead of wanting to change to to whoever they want you to be, Gun woo and Woo Jin supported as well as loved each other. Even in the darkest moment when they could have left each other, they stayed and tried to find a solution to their problems instead of only being sad and depressed at home. That is what I appreciated the most about this drama. However it is not only Gun woo and Woo Jin who showed love, but also grandpa, hyeon ju, doo young and Yang jung.Despite that I felt like the ending was kind of rushed. I wonder why this drama only had 8 episodes instead of like 10ep. They could have finished this drama instead of giving it a season 2. Obviously we do not know what kind of issues and problems that is going to occur in season 2, despite that I am still kind of worried about how everything is going to end. Besides that I had not issues with this drama, almost everything was perfect!
- 24 dec 2025
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not sure how much more time I need to move on from this show!!!
i have to admit the first 3 episodes had me wondering what all the fuss was about, but then things started happening in a pace I couldn't move an inch. the journey from 4th episode to the 6th were a total cliffhanger! the plot was quite interesting and the fight scenes excited me to the utmost, but what was more to these 3 episodes for me that stood above all was the characters and how deep i had fallen in love with most of the characters before I'd realized(which im gonna cherish forever!). even the evil characters got me passionate tp know more about them.however im afraid to say the 2 last episodes weren't as much as i had hoped for; especially the last. the ending makes quite sense but it felt to me like it was apart from the pace the previous episodes used to go by. i mean things hadn't gone so easy in the last 6 episodes to be flowing smoothly then in the 8th episodes, that's what im talking about.
all in all, I've recommend the show to all my friends and i already can't wait for the 2nd season.
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This review may contain spoilers
Packed with action, bromance, and thrill!
I absolutely devoured this show! It was heart-racing level of good! Full of adrenaline! Small spoilers towards the end.Geon Woo meets Woo Jin as rivals in a boxing match but they quickly become friends. Geon Woo's mother falls for a loan scam and thus starts the journey of both men trying to take on a dangerous group of men.
The bromance is impeccable and fun with a bit of jokes thrown in here and there. It reminded me a bit of Midnight Runners. Though Bloodhounds has a lot of violence and blood and a bit of torture. I had to speed up some of those parts but mostly I was filled with an adrenaline rush as the show went on.
Episode 6 made me anxious and I was sweating. So be prepared for that. It's not a very easy watch.
There is no romance in this series. It's pure grit and testosterone. But they didn't forget to add some badass females. I was delighted by them not simply depicting women as helpless or eye-candy. Nope. You'll love them!
I only have two small issues but it's not something that would make me like this show any less.
SPOILER
- Why did they (writers) send Hyeon Joo away? I was so ready for her to be there at the end.
- The ease with which Kim Myung Gil kills the deadliest killers felt a bit of a stretch. Especially since he says he was scared of them.
SPOILER FREE
This series deserves at least a one time watch. Especially if you saw Woo Do Hwan in Joseon Attorney, then watch him in this different avatar in Bloodhounds. He is spectacular!
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the bromance was amazing and a great drama
this drama was acc amazing and I did not lose interest. it kept me hooked the whole time and there was always action going on but not to much. In the show their friendship was so strong and their personalities were amazing. I have watched both of the main actors in other shows and they had such different characters that weren’t very similar and the acting was amazing a 10/10. this show I could rewatch so may times. It is most definitely a rewatch but to watch this show you have to be ok with blood and death but other than that great show and I am so excited for the second season.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
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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This review may contain spoilers
Is the writing great? Does the plot make a lot of sense? Not particularly. However, I still found a lot to like about this show. It's very clear that the story they wanted to tell in Bloodhounds is not the story they ended up telling. A key character's very abrupt departure was handled so poorly and the entire rest of the show you could tell they were scrambling to figure out how to piece together a coherent story. It was really disappointing because the story felt really strong until that point and the dynamic between the main three characters was great. The last few episodes were nowhere near as strong as the beginning of the show. I couldn't give Bloodhounds a terrible rating though, because I still had a great time watching it. The fight sequences were well choreographed and and very cool to watch. There were very epic action scenes spanning large amounts of time but it never felt boring. The friendship between the two leads was a huge highlight of the show. Lee Sang Yi's character especially brought a lot of much needed humor to what otherwise is a pretty dark show. Even though their characters were complete opposites, their bond felt really genuine. Both Lee Sang Yi and Woo Do Hwan gave great performances, both in the emotional scenes and all of action sequences they had to do.
I would have really liked to see what they were originally intending to do with the plot because I think it would have been a lot more interesting than what they ended up doing with the last episodes. Since season two is coming, hopefully that is an opportunity for them to fully explore a story they want to tell. There was so much that I enjoyed about this show but it is so easy to pinpoint exactly when there was a marked difference in the quality of the writing. Fortunately, the acting and action remained great throughout the show. Bloodhounds is still really worth the watch if you like action. I'll be looking forward to what they do with the second season!
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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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