The Heart Killers – Series Review & Episode Guide

Bison and his older brother Fadel run a burger joint with a retro diner vibe. While Fadel handles most of the business responsibilities, the carefree Bison doesn't even know how to cook. Despite their ordinary personas, the siblings lead double lives as undercover assassins. Their boss, the mysterious Mother, assigns them secret missions to kill powerful business tycoons guilty of terrible crimes. After executing their targets each time, Bison and Fadel return to their seemingly average lives.

Fadel is serious and cautious, fully aware that their line of work is dangerous. Fadel knows that one wrong move may get them killed or arrested, so he always keeps his guard up. He avoids relationships and remains emotionally distant to protect himself. In contrast, Bison is a hopeless romantic. While he enjoys one-night stands, Bison secretly desires a more long-lasting love. More than anything, he wants a normal life with a boyfriend. However, Fadel warns him against forming attachments, reminding his brother that being an assassin is incompatible with falling for anyone. Reluctantly, Bison agrees.

One night at a bowling alley, Bison meets Kant. This charming tattoo artist flirts with him, and they share a steamy night together. Bison leaves without exchanging contact information, thinking that's the end of their relationship. However, Kant tracks Bison down at the burger joint and keeps pursuing him romantically. From smooth pick-up lines to constant affection, Bison falls for Kant's charm. Kant lives with his younger brother Babe and takes care of him after their parents passed away. Bison sees Kant as sweet and potentially boyfriend material.

Bison has no idea that Kant is a former car thief. Kant secretly works with the police, who have offered him a plea bargain. They promise to erase his criminal record if he accepts a secret mission. The police suspect Bison and Fadel of being dangerous criminals. They want Kant to gather information about them, especially the leader behind their operations. If Kant refuses to cooperate, he'll be arrested for his past crimes. Kant worries about his brother's well-being, so he agrees to be an informant. His task is to get close to Bison, spy on him, and report to the police.

Although Bison is smitten with Kant, Fadel remains suspicious of his brother's new boyfriend. He constantly gets in the way, making it difficult for Kant to collect information. Kant turns to his mechanic friend, Style, for help. If Style can successfully distract Fadel and seduce him, Kant will give his friend a vintage car. Winning over Fadel is challenging. Fadel seems guarded, no matter how much Style turns on the charm. But Style is persistent. He follows Fadel everywhere, flirts shamelessly, and refuses to back down until he wins over his target's heart.

The Heart Killers is like a greasy burger. That first bite seems juicy. When the series begins, there's a lot to enjoy. This edgy crime romcom excites me because it differs from the usual BL dramas. The sex scenes are also filled with sizzling kisses and plenty of skin on display. But then comes the second burger, which no longer tastes as good. The story starts to get stale, the romances seem unhealthy, and even the sensual moments feel excessive. Like fast food, the more I consume The Heart Killers, the less satisfied I am.

Initially, I was on board with the premise of two brothers working as secret assassins. These hot guys take down powerful business tycoons, almost like Luigi Mangione. However, the plot becomes laughably dumb. Bizarre events occur in the second half, far removed from logic and realism. Another issue is that the romances receive too much focus. While I like that the couples get plenty of development, they're constantly in the spotlight. Their relationship drama feels excessive and tedious. A 14-hour narrative can allocate extra time to side characters or new subplots for more variety in the storylines.

Early on, I hated Style because of his annoying personality. Despite getting rejected multiple times, he pesters Fadel and invades his personal space. Like Pepé Le Pew in human form, his creepy antics resemble harassment rather than flirtation. As chaos explodes later in the series, the assassins threaten to kill their love interests. For me, pointing a gun at your soulmate is a dealbreaker and enough to justify a breakup. Also, their relationship conflicts drag on so much that I've lost my patience. If you want them dead so badly, stop making excuses and pull the damn trigger!

Although The Heart Killers often frustrates me, there are aspects I enjoy. At one point, all four leads have hidden agendas they don't reveal to their partners. Surrounded by deception, their relationship scenes carry a sense of danger and suspense, which can be exhilarating. As irritating as Style may be, I like that he sparks Fadel's transformation from a ruthless assassin to a sensitive softie. The stylish retro aesthetic also sets the tone for enchanting moments, like Bison & Kant's dance at the bowling alley or Fadel & Style's late-night makeout sessions.

The Heart Killers likes to put the cast in risque scenarios. They strip down, hook up, and have steamy exchanges. This series is brilliant at highlighting each actor's sex appeal. Joong has always been attractive, but he reaches Magic Mike's level of hotness during the strip tease. Likewise, I see Dunk in a new light after he flaunts his alluring waistline. While I appreciate the spicy imagery, The Heart Killers overdoes the raunchiness and comes across as tacky. A little sensuality is fun, but it feels tasteless when you constantly indulge in naughty innuendos or sleazy antics.

Kant's actor (First) performs charismatically, while his co-star (Khao) looks adorable. Fadel's role is perfect for Joong since he can be mysterious without needing to emote too much. In contrast, his partner (Dunk) struggles in dramatic scenes. At least both couples have superb chemistry and deliver lots of passion during physical intimacy. However, the series loses steam near the end with pointless relationship fluff in overly long episodes. I was bored with The Heart Killers. Much like my feelings after eating a greasy burger, I've lost my appetite for this bloated BL drama.