THIS IS NOT A BOXING DRAMA.

Many people went into it thinking it was, and I did too without watching the trailer. However, it's more of a delinquent-style show, where one or two protagonists face off against overwhelming odds and an antagonist. The main difference is that the protagonists aren't delinquents, but trained boxers.

I think the show balances reality and fiction nicely. There are almost no guns in the show, which was hard to grasp. Even the organized crime syndicate (literal Korean Mafia) doesn't have them. I'm not sure about gun ownership laws in South Korea, but I'd expect a criminal organization of that magnitude to acquire guns and other weapons from some source. They could have used their connection with someone in the police department, so I'm not sure how accurate that portrayal was.

The lack of guns meant there's a good amount of brawling and knife action. Boxing is used effectively in combat, and the fight choreography was pretty good. However, the show still had the classic "one goon attacking at a time" trope instead of having them attack together, though they did attack as a group occasionally. The acting is good. I liked most of the cast. The cinematography was great. Many scenes felt like they were straight out of feature films.

In conclusion, "Bloodhounds" delivers a gripping narrative that defies expectations. While it may initially appear to be a typical boxing drama, it quickly evolves into a intense crime thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The series cleverly uses the protagonists' boxing skills to create unique action sequences, setting it apart from both conventional sports dramas and run-of-the-mill crime shows. Despite some minor issues with fight scene realism, the strong performances, exceptional cinematography, and the refreshing take on physical confrontations make "Bloodhounds" a standout in the Korean drama landscape. For those seeking a blend of sports action and crime drama with a dash of social commentary, "Bloodhounds" offers a compelling and visually striking experience that's well worth watching.