ICYMI: the hit Netflix series Bloodhounds is back with a second season! If you didn’t have time to watch the first season, then you’re lucky you don’t have to wait and can just binge two seasons’ worth of episodes in one go! The series is an adaptation of the successful webtoon of the same name by author Jeong Chan. Although the first installment of the Netflix series followed along the same timeline of the webtoon which had officially ended in 2020, it hit off so well that a new plot shift was created in order to continue the story.
The beloved duo, Gunwoo (Woo Dohwan) and Woojin (Lee Sangyi), make a strong comeback as the show shifts its focus towards the boxing industry. The timeline takes place in 2025, after a 5 year time skip from the first season, with a new antagonist—a retired boxer that delved into an illegal underground boxing league in order to earn some fast money.
Hope we’re not too late to the match—here are High Five reasons to tune into Bloodhounds season 2.
Bromance and Idols Galore
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“I watch it for the plot,” they said. Apparently, watching for the plot involves a lot of gorgeous eye candy. Early generation K-pop idols-turned-actors seem to be sweeping viewers off their feet: the show already has Super Junior’s Choi Siwon, who is reprising his role from the first season, but we also get a chance to see 2PM’s Hwang Chansung in action, and even the K-pop and K-drama legend himself, Rain.
The first season also showcased insane chemistry from the main leads, which led to a new genre being coined by fans: “Bromelo”—a combination of bromance and melodrama, which highlights the deep and intense focus on male friendship and camaraderie that the series is known for. This time around, we get to see an even deeper friendship as they go against new foes. Look forward to how this new ensemble will sustain the momentum and create tension this season.
Leveled Up Production
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While season one received some noteworthy praise, the production value has noticeably improved in two aspects: the action scenes and the makeup. Since boxing is more of a focus in this season compared to last, this required the actors to be involved in the action. In one of Dohwan and Sangyi’s interviews with Netflix, the duo revealed that there was no use of CGI for the show because they had to fight with their bare hands. And since the sport is close contact and needed to be filmed in a convincing way that depicted a lot of movement and shifting stances, the use of stunt doubles would be too obvious to viewers, resulting in a hands-on approach for the actors during fight scenes. Thus, stunt doubles were saved only for scenes that involved highly dangerous stunts.
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The makeup and special effects also aided in delivering the vulnerability of the series, showing how banged up and beaten down the characters were during a brawl. Thanks to the very real and raw make up done by the team, the action scenes totally felt much more convincing and gut wrenching.
Relatable Life Lessons and Relationships
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The narrative makes you think mostly of grit and gut at first glance, but in reality it is much more than what is seen on the surface. In comparison to the very tough exterior of the show’s premise, the very heart of it is quite soft and full of love. The show tackles much deeper themes about the value of loyalty, friendship and family. All the pain, grief and loss that the protagonists experience in the first season influenced much of how they behave in the new season. Even though each fight involves a battle between two sides, we see each character have an internal battle of their own, with their own agendas and motives. It all boils down to how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect what they care about the most.
The Heart of a Boxer
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If the previous sections were not enough to excite you for a thrilling watching experience, how about its dedication to boxing? Gunwoo is actually a big fan of Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and even highlighted him as a role model, citing his boxer’s heart. We see this at the start of the first season where Gunwoo shares that Pacquiao is a person who shows strong will and an undying passion to achieve his dreams. Gunwoo aspires to invoke the same kind of hope that inspires the people watching him. Ultimately, we see this play out as one of the driving factors that build the character’s moral compass alongside his challenging journey. This admiration continues to show into season two, with some snippets of Pacquiao framed in Gunwoo’s bedroom. Keep up to see the extent to which Gunwoo lives out his idol’s principles or if he ends up following his own heart.
It’s Not Over Until It’s Over
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The showrunners definitely know how to keep the audience on edge throughout the season. The conclusion left a few things up in the air, and with how season two came about, there’s definitely a possibility for another season. With more new characters being introduced at the end, one can only assume that it could be leading to another original storyline, or maybe a possible spin-off. Although, the final episode could be a conclusion in itself and just left open to the interpretation of the viewers as well. One thing’s for sure, a new season will all depend on this season’s performance. So if you want to see the gang back for the continuation of this bromelo series, go show your support and stream it on Netflix.
Get ready to rumble and feel the adrenaline rush that’s going to keep you at the edge of your seat. Grab some snacks and a drink because you won’t want to get up from your seat once you put Bloodhounds on screen. SEA Wave gives it a 3 out of 5 waves.