Lazy Unnie’s Couch: Racket Boys

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Who would have thought a coming of age story about badminton players would turn out to be freaking wholesome as a whole apple pie shoved down your throat. Not I, for damn sure. This show has been on my to be watched list for months because yes, I love a kids sports story. Blame it on my youth of movies like The Sandlot and Mighty Ducks. And just like those nostalgic films that we always reference when we think of simpler times, Racket Boys also provides a story of underdogs and first loves that you can’t help but uwu at.

What I think makes this show such a strong one is the faith in its team. And by that I mean the ensemble cast. This show is built on the fact that these kids are a real team. That in this rural town, the city folk have migrated to, is actually a village where the people would really give their last to you. This show also has a great sense of what it’s like to be a young teenager with dreams and goals and the pressures that come from the adults surrounding them.

My favorite scenes are when the Haenam team, or Racket Sonyadan, are together. I expected them to draw out the fact that Yoon Hae Kang didn’t want to play badminton. Yes, it was a big part of the story but I liked that even though Hae Kang still tried to be his dickish self, he showed up. He was there for the people who needed him and really liked being there. But because he’s a teenager, he had to be super cool about it. Those moments of comedy was great because they were mixed with heart. Speaking of heart, the coaches. From Head Coach Bae to Coach Fang of the national team, all of them had their own stories and struggles but when it came to making sure these kids live up to their potential, the goal was the same. I really loved Coach Yoon Hyun Jeong the most. When the show started and showed his struggle make money to just get his kids some chicken, I felt that. He really ended up being the heart of the show. And he was funny too! I loved the scenes when he just didn’t get it or I like to say, understand the youth. He wanted to be in their group chat SO bad. His struggle was real.

You would think a rom-com junkie like myself would actually miss the lack of romance but there was a different kind. That first love/crush romance we all get when we’re in middle school. It was actually interesting to see because I don’t see it in many dramas I watch. My favorite was to actually watch the romance between Bang Yoon Dam and Lee Han Sol. The pairing between Yoon Hae Kang and Han Se Yoon was obvious but it was really cute to see the unexpected pairing between our second romance. I just loved how supportive Yoon Dam was of Han Sol even before deciding to date. My heart. Everything about this drama just pulled at my heartstrings. I need more. I really wish for another season because I just don’t want to say goodbye to these characters.

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