Over the years, Korean action-thrillers have all morphed into the same language in different fonts. On the outside, they may seem to give you something new, but really, they’re dealing in the same tropes, following the same patterns with no real direction. Interestingly, Bloodhounds set out to be one of these same action-thrillers back in 2023, but it was surprisingly worth watching despite the sameness. Yes, it was all about the ever-trending loansharks, but it was also about boxing, and nobody would believe the two main leads are professional actors and not professional boxers by the way they fight. The show doesn’t have a romance, yet another trope it subverts, and there’s an earnest quality to both boys that makes them feel almost too childlike to headline an entire show, especially one titled “Bloodhounds.” But after 3 years of waiting, there are some expectations for a global phenomenon like Bloodhounds. The overall consensus back in the day was that it was truly an exciting action drama that kept you on your toes. But while season 1 focused deeply on the relationship the boys shared with Mr. Choi, the only father figure in their lives, who ends up dead (season 1 spoiler of course), the second season has a much more hands-on plotline that focuses more than anything on the boxing itself.

The second season is way gorier, and really, for a show like this one, it’s all about how well developed the villain is. With only 7 episodes to show for it, I can’t really say Im Baek-Jeong, played by K-pop artist turned actor Rain, has a distinctive character arc. But, he’s certainly the most menacing K-drama villain I’ve seen in a while, who isn’t simply being evil for the sake of it. Sure, some action heroes simply need villains to punch out, but here, there’s revenge, there’s egos and there’s a whole lot of boxing. It genuinely baffled me how fit the boys were in season 1 already, but watching the action sequences in season 2 really had me wondering if they spent the last 3 years developing their boxing skills because damn, girl! The best part is, the show is only 7 episodes long and totally bingeable, unless you’re not really one for action. The boxing choreography is just too good, and the way the scenes have been shot really makes you feel like you’re watching it from within the ring. It’s just so captivating.

But the thing that really won me over with Bloodhounds is the dedication of the actors to making us feel like we’re genuinely watching boxers fight for the lives of their loved ones. With Woo Do-Hwan and Lee Sang-Yi, we already saw it in season 1. Their movement was clear, their actions were exactly right (from a non-boxer’s viewpoint of course) and it really made you feel for them. Earlier, I talked about how there’s an earnest child-like quality to them, this is because the characters are very vulnerable and go through a lot over the course of the show, so it makes sense that despite being boxers, they don’t have to put on a strong front outside of the ring. To be fair, these are the bits of the show that feel less developed, likely because of the short episode count, but hey, at least we get to see their acting skills in the emotional scenes.

But really, it’s the icon and legend that is “Rain,” (who by the way has a song titled “Rainism”) who shines in this season as the sinister villain who is out for blood and money. Right from his entry to the scene where he asks someone to bite down on a bathtub, I was immediately watching with my eyes slightly shut out of the fear that he would step out of the screen and punch me in the face too. I genuinely had no idea the actor was capable of pulling off something like this. Might owe this to my lack of Rain-actor knowledge, because I’ve only seen him doing romantic roles, even in action dramas. Anyway, if you’ve never seen the guy before, you might have a completely different impression of him, which is the whole point of acting I suppose. The haircut and the body (my gosh the body that came out of nowhere) certainly make for a very realistic and Halloween-able villain. Give him a role in the Marvel-verse (Jk Jk).

Bloodhounds season 2 focuses on the clash between Gun-Woo and Im Baek-Jeong. On the inside, it’s still mostly about the action, and the two friends-turned-brothers finding their way in a world that keeps throwing curve balls at them. Both Gun-Woo and Woo-Jin have pure hearts, that’s why the irony of the show being titled “Bloodhounds,” is not lost on me. But I think we’re meant to see it as something they actively avoid while still saving the people that are dear to them. A moral dilemma that doesn’t force them out of their moral stances. Good one, I know.

I have only one real qualm about this show, and that is that everyone who works for the cops, as well as the bad guys, basically anyone who isn’t in the leading role, wears all black, and since they’re all built and set out to be action figures, it becomes a little hard to separate them as characters. Sure, some have a bigger role than the other, but because they have limited screen time they do merge together a little, at least in my head. Also, fun fact, this show has three K-pop idols in important roles, how exciting! Anyway, I’m not entirely sure it passes the “Bechdel test,” which is usually something I care very deeply about, but I will forgive it because these characters don’t fully hide away from being vulnerable. They have good human qualities. Yes, there’s a homoerotic vibe to the whole thing, probably why so many women like the show too (I’m just saying we know how this works), but I can’t deny it’s genuinely fun to watch. So, ultimately, I give Bloodhounds season 2 a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars for the amazing action sequences and the character arcs that were slightly better than season 1.