“In this drama, there are characters from all ages, and each one has something valuable to contribute”.
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First things first
The following review has no spoilers.
We chose to watch Racket Boys one night my husband and I were looking for something to watch together. I noticed that it was focused on a sport and it was a new drama, so we decided to give it a chance.
Each episode is quite long, about 60 to 90 minutes, but honestly, we didn’t feel them dragging, we enjoyed this series a lot; it is funny, exciting and touching.
Racket Boys is a Korean series of 16 episodes, released on May 31, 2021 on Netflix, and its genre is sports drama and comedy.
Synopsis
The drama focuses on Haenam Seo Middle School’s Badminton Club, located at a rural place far from the city, and tells the story of many teenagers facing challenges, while training hard in order to become high-level players. Yoon Hyeon-jong, a former badminton player, and Ra Yeong-ja, a legendary former badminton player, train these kids, who dream to become legends in this sport.
In general terms
Racket Boys is not only based on the story of these badminton trainees, it also focuses on their coach, a man with low self-esteem who has a lot to learn.
Besides the sports-related story, we also get to know many other characters who live in the rural area where the drama takes place, and through them, we get to know a bit more about country life and its people. You could say that it covers many topics, and that surprised me in a positive way.
Why do I recommend Racket Boys?
Friendship
The bond that unites the players is very touching; their friendship has a very nice evolution. In fact, it is the base that helps them improve as players, and in character.
The characters
You get to care deeply for almost all of them. You get to know them little by little; some of them really surprise you because they are not what they seemed, and you take a few life lessons with you.
The country life
I like that they showed both life styles, the country and the city. I am not talking about the economical difference or the status, but the way they see life, the way country people live as a community. In this drama, there are characters from all ages, and each one has something valuable to contribute.
It is light, but has its moments
Racket Boys has a lot of light and goofy comedy. It was fun, and we laughed a lot! However, it also has its drama moments; it made me cry a few times and I was impressed because it touched serious topics like bullying amongst students, bullying professor-students, corruption, and more. You are laughing one moment, but in the next, you are crying. It has everything.
Locations
I love how Production handled the cinematography. Landscapes are beautiful, the colors, the country homes and sowings. The food… Yum! I always ended up with cravings!
The sport
I have never seen Badminton games before and I really enjoyed it. It was shown in a way that got me very excited in every game or training. That was well done.
The music
I do not have a favorite, but in general, I really enjoyed the music; especially the score (instrumental), it was on point with the plot. As for the soundtrack, I liked “Cloud” by Park Ji Won, and you can listen to it on this YouTube link.
There was something…
There was something that kind of frustrated me a bit and it was the coach’s personality. The man has a golden heart, but that heart, his naivety and low self-confidence harmed him, his family and his team. His process to maturity and learning is the biggest challenge in this story, I believe. Sometimes I just wanted to give him a jolt to get him to react. I guess that is the sentiment that writers wanted to generate in us, and so they did. With me, they succeeded greatly.
A little ending note
Honestly, I highly recommend this drama. It is family friendly, fun, moving and motivating. If you see it, I would love to read your opinion.
Xoxo,
MJ
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Mi terapia es escribir. Me desahogo escribiendo sobre la vida, mis aficiones, aprendizajes, bienestar, historias, libros y recetas. También me hace feliz conectarme contigo.