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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!
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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