Abhiroop Das
Helmed by Jason Kim, Netflix’s ‘Bloodhounds,’ or ‘Sanyanggaedeul,’ follows a boxing prodigy named Kim Geon-woo, who is forced by his circumstances to get enveloped in a complex world of loan sharks. In the first season, he breaks free of the vicious cycle and advances his career as a martial artist, and the second season builds off of that momentum to bring forth an action-centric antagonist, Baek-jeong. In the end, Baek-jeong forces Geon-woo into an all-out brawl after kidnapping his mother, and though the fight goes neck-to-neck, it is Geon-woo who takes the ultimate win.
While this might seem like a happy ending upon first glance, a series of last-minute twists threatens to unravel everything Geon-woo and his friends have built up. As of writing, Netflix hasn’t confirmed a third season for the show, but in the best-case scenario, fans can expect a sequel to release sometime between 2028 and early 2029.
Bloodhounds Season 3 Can Build up on its Post-Credits Cliffhanger
While the ending of ‘Bloodhounds’ season 2 sets up multiple plotlines for the future, whether or not we get a third season largely depends on the show’s popularity levels and fan engagement. In the case a sequel is greenlit, however, it appears that the story is on track to go international, with the antagonist, Baek-jeong, becoming an informant for the NIS. Their target is a terrorist in Thailand who goes by the name of Paichit Chaichana, and is the mastermind behind a drug trafficking network that has spread its roots to Korea. However, this means that trouble is about to knock on Geon-woo’s door yet again, and his fear of Baek returning any second might not be paranoia after all.
The season notably ends with a post-credit scene introducing a new character who might be related to Yun Tae-Geom. This man appears to be a soldier, which makes sense considering that Tae-Geom was in the special forces before he took to a life of crime. Where things get much more mysterious, however, is in dissecting the target of this character, as he might believe that Baek-jeong has simply escaped prison. On the flip side, he might direct his rage towards the system for forcing him to become a bloodhound and then allowing him to die. In either case, it seems that a clash between this man and Geon-woo is imminent, and given how this show is driven by action, fans can expect many more setpieces to materialize along the way.
Bloodhounds Season 3 is Likely to Bump up Some Fan-Favorite Supporting Characters
Season 2 introduces us to several new and interesting characters, many of whom are likely intended to have a greater role in a potential sequel season. Given that the story is founded on the bond of Kim Geon-woo and Hong Woo-jin, fans can expect actors Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi to reprise their roles. The same goes for actors Park Hoon and Park Ye-ni, who essay Moon Kwang-moo and Kang Tae-young, respectively. One character who is set to have a more unpredictable character arc than before is Hong Min-beom, which means that the actor Choi Si-won has a very high chance of returning as one of the main actors. Actor Choi Young-joon is also likely to make a return as Min Kang-yong, who has just survived a near-fatal explosion, and is likely to bounce back even stronger.
If there is one character who has an ambiguous fate going forward, it has to be Baek-jeong, who is pulled from the brink of death and turned into a bloodhound. While Rain steals the spotlight in the role in season 2, it remains to be seen whether he will have cameo appearances in a potential third season or if he will come back as a full-fledged antagonist. Actor Tae Won-seo, on the other hand, is unlikely to reprise his role as Kang In-beom, as the character is thoroughly defeated in this season and is most likely behind bars again. Actors Lee Si-eon and Hwang Chan-sung are also unlikely to make a comeback, as their respective characters, Lee Man-bae and Yoon Tae-geom, meet their end. However, given that the show teases two new characters towards its end, we can expect some fresh faces to join the cast. Thus, fans can hope to see Park Seo-joon step into the shoes of the ever-so-elusive Choi Shin-hyeong, who might just be the trump card next season.
Bloodhounds Season 3 Might Experiment More With Its Woo-Jin’s Story
While ‘Bloodhounds’ is a boxing show at heart, its first two seasons’ stories are largely dominated by crime conspiracies. Based on what we have right now, it seems that a potential third season is only going to push deeper into that angle, which means that it has a chance to genuinely interrogate Geon-woo’s future as a martial artist amidst all of this. As he ventures deeper into the world of professional boxing, it appears that he is too bogged down by external factors and criminal enemies, all of whom distract him from his real passion. At the same time, however, it is undeniable that Baek-jeong is by far the fiercest opponent he has faced, and most certainly a tier stronger than the best the professional realm has to offer. As such, this seems to be the universe’s way of making Geon-woo stronger, which is something the show can delve deeper into.
An interesting character who is only briefly shown in the final stretch of season 2 is Baek-jeong’s former coach, who displays enough knowledge to take down his own protégé. Given that Woo-jin’s arc as Geon-woo’s coach is reaching its end, a hypothetical third season would be a good time to introduce a new, more experienced coach into the mix. At the same time, this opens up Woo-jin’s side of the story to many new possibilities, especially in light of his injury to the left hand. On a more curious note, it appears that a potential sequel might be interested in experimenting with Min-beom, who shows a wildly different shade of himself in this season. Given how eager he is for revenge, we might see him go toe to toe with the NIS, risking everything he has built up over the years.
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