Racket Boys

Presentation

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Analysis

Synopsis

Yoon Hae Kang is a teenager who wants to play baseball, but used to be a badminton champion in his childhood. One day, he is forced to move to a small village because of his father’s debt. There, he ends up joining the badminton team. He gradually becomes friends with the other players and they enter competitions together.

My Opinion (No Spoiler)

Loved it! There is no word to describe how much I loved this drama! First, it caught me totally by surprise, because it has nothing to do with all other dramas that we can see like the usual romances or melodramas. Second, it was a breath of fresh air that I was eager to inspire every Monday and Tuesday. Third, there is absolutely nothing to criticize: actors’ performance is amazing, the depiction of the badminton world reliable and the atmosphere is just 100% feel-good.

If you’re looking for a drama to blow off some steam and enjoy one episode after the other, then Racket Boys is definitely for you!

Analysis (Spoiler Alert)

Characters:

Yoon Hae Kang (Tang Joon Sang) is a middle school student, who lives in Seoul with his father and sister at the beginning of the drama. He is very fond of baseball and wants to become a pro. Unfortunately, he is forced to move in a small village called Haenam due to his father’s debt and transfer as a badminton coach. At first, Hae Kang is resentful of his father, as his baseball career remains in the capital.

However, Hae Kang adapts little by little not only to village life, but also to playing an old sports of his: badminton. Indeed, when Hae Kang was younger, he was a badminton prodigy and won several championships. But the constant condescension from other sports’ players – like the baseball team – made him change his mind. He wanted to be praised for his victories in a sports that would bring him recognition. So he shifted towards baseball.

Moving to Haenam is thus difficult for him, as he has to join a sports he had already abandoned. Yet, he finds more in Haenam than he thought he would. There, he discovers a team, if not a family, full of love, support and praise. Gradually, Hae Kang learns how to trust and rely on his teammates. It is a total change of mind and perspective for this young teenager, who was used to accomplishing his successes alone, whether it’d be in badminton as a child, or in baseball.

I have to say that Yoon Hae Kang is like a blossoming flower in the drama. He literally gets out of his shell episode after episode. He is probably the cutest character of the drama as well, as he hides his soft and tender side (surely inherited from his father) under a strong and unbreakable mask (like his mother’s). He always tends to be over-confident, arrogant and boastful, but in reality he is just a kid trying to look tough and protect his vulnerable side. He doesn’t show a lot of emotions and pretends to be alright all the time, unless he is with Han Se Yoon (Lee Jae In), his love interest. In the final episode for instance, Hae Kang loses an important match at a championship. Though he doesn’t show his disappointment to his friends, keeping his head held high, he is overwhelmed later on, as Se Yoon comes to find him. He breaks down in tears in her arms, crying out loud and showing his real sadness. After all, he is only 16!

If his self-confidence was not enough, Yoon Hae Kang is also a fierce competitor and ruthless opponent. This itself makes him at the same time intimidating and very dangerous, but also quite helpful for his entire team. His skills, his ego and his fair play are definitely an asset to Haenam’s badminton team.

As top player of the female team this time, there is Han Se Yoon. I would personally describe her as the female Yoon Hae Kang, as they have a lot in common. First, they are both very gifted at badminton, they are competitive, fierce and are able to hide their emotions very well. However, while Hae Kang uses confidence to hide his real feelings, Se Yoon is quieter. She doesn’t speak that much and has a real poker face, making it also impossible to read her mind. Even her coaches at some point aren’t able to know what she thinks. This emotionlessness often gives others the impression that she is arrogant and a total jerk, but Se Yoon is actually very tender-hearted.

She puts a lot of pressure on herself, works hard to pursue her dreams as a badminton player, but also wants to experience life like any other ordinary teenager: sharing food and good memories with them, being in a relationship… Though it seems like she doesn’t care about her matches, and takes victory for granted, she is in fact very much affected by her performance. Despite her talent, she cares a lot for encouragement and support, what Hae Kang brings her at some point.

Just like Hae Kang, Se Yoon also grows up over the course of the drama. She is also a blossoming flower, who opens up to others. She manages to express her feelings better towards her best friend Lee Han Sol (Lee Ji Won) for instance, or her crush Yoon Hae Kang.

Hae Kang and Se Yoon were actually so cute together. Yoon Hae Kang made Se Yoon a promise he would win his last game and confess his feelings to her, a moment Se Yoon waited for, for a long time. Although they waited until the last match (which was the key motivator), their mutual affection was clearly visible and palpable.

Bang Yoon Dam (Son Sang Yeon) is the captain of Haenam badminton club. Despite his young age, he is already quite the leader. On top of that, he is also the oldest of a family of 6, which explains why he can manage people so well. Yoon Dam is also excellent at badminton, competitive as hell, which leads to some rivalry with Yoon Hae Kang at some point. As a leader, Yoon Dam is supportive and drives his team to victory.

He is also handsome, that’s why many young girls chase after him; and popular, especially thanks to his social media account that traces back the greatest moments of his badminton team. In spite of his success, he lays eyes on one cute girl, who is also part of the girls’ team alongside Se Yoon. This girl is none other than Han Sol, Se Yoon’s best friend.

Han Sol is Se Yoon’s right hand. She is strong, loyal and protective of her friend, who is often criticized by others. But she also lacks self-confidence and is certain that without Se Yoon, her team can’t win. She has put herself in Se Yoon’s shadow, relying on her to win and not believing in herself. Thing is, she didn’t join the team for no reason and is quite the player as well. One episode in particular proves that Han Sol is as deserving as Se Yoon. Se Yoon has to go abroad to play for an international competition. Scheduled the exact same day, her team is also supposed to play. Se Yoon gives the reign to Han Sol, so that she would lead the team to victory. Yet, no one trusts Han Sol. Everyone, including Coach Ra (Oh Na Ra) is convinced that without Se Yoon, the team will lose. Everyone, except Se Yoon. She knows her teammate, they have trained together forever and she wants to encourage her. So she rushes her first match to get to the second. People think it is so that she can play, but in fact she wants to be there for Han Sol. Han Sol, against all odds, understands that she needs more self-confidence and wins the game, thanks to Se Yoon’s mother conveying a kind message of encouragement from her daughter. Just like this, Han Sol is boosted and wins the game, as Se Yoon arrives to jump in her arms.

This scene was so moving and heart-warming. Their friendship is adorable and it is a great lesson as well: “Believe in yourself, even if no one else does. That’s the key!”.

Moving on to the last players of Haenam Badminton Club, there is Na Woo Chan (Choi Hyun Wook). This character is quiet and reserved, he is also a strong supportive player, who has an unbreakable defense. Woo Chan is the kind of person, who very often stays in the background. He usually stays behind and lets Hae Kang and Yoon Dam lead the team. However, this certainly doesn’t mean that he is not indispensable to the team. In fact, he always has the impression that he is a second-tier player, not good enough to become a pro like his friends. Yet, the drama did an excellent job at emphasizing his role among the other players. Indeed, in the final episodes the Heanam team is against the unbeatable Seoul team. Against all odds, the Haenam boys win the game thanks to two crucial elements: first, Woo Chan’s tactics and defense ability. With him as a defendant and Hae Kang as a striker, they are able to shake the other team’s routine, and eventually defeat them. This naturally proves how much Woo Chan is needed in the team, and reinforces team effort as the essential ingredient for victory.

Second, the Haenam team beats the Seoul one, because of a powerful asset that lies in the team: Jung In Sol (Kim Min Ki). Although In Sol is always bickering with Hae Kang, and doesn’t seem to show any interest in the sports at first, he turns out to be quite the passionate player. His love for badminton is immense, to the point that In Sol goest against his wealthy father to keep playing. His dad eventually accepts his son’s dream and encourages him with all his heart. Moreover, In Sol is also aware of the fact that he is not of the same caliber as Hae Kang or Yoon Dam. But, he remains the greatest strategist among them all. In Sol is quite the nerd at school, and he puts the same energy in studying badminton matches as in his studies. Thanks to him, the team decides to take other teams by surprise in the final match, leading to their final victory.

I have to say that I really like In Sol, he seems not to care that much, when he is in fact very involved. Just like the others, he grows up alongside his teammates, from being lonely and without purpose, to having joined this solid and proud family.

The last player of the team is Lee Yong Tae (Kim Kang Hoon). He is the youngest among all and is trying hard to find his badminton style throughout the drama. Because of his youth, he tends to copy others, making him very predictable in his games. Until he finally understands his strengths and weaknesses. This helps him asserting himself and makes him stronger as well.

All of the characters are, interestingly, very different and similar at the same time. They all have their own qualities, strengths and weaknesses, but they all share the same love for badminton and for each other. Because they are able to trust each other, they are unbeatable. Plus, they all live together, which makes their scenes together and interactions even cuter to watch!

Atmosphere: Racket Boys is definitely a feel-good drama! The more I watched it, the more I wanted to actually join the team. Despite the hurdles along the way, the drama is bright, positive and optimistic. It teaches viewers that no matter what life throws at you, you can overcome it, especially if you are surrounded by the right people.

On top of that, it is also a coming-of-age drama, in which teenagers learn about life, friendship, sportsmanship, discover love, trust, hope and so many other good things. Rackets Boys teaches characters AND viewers valuable life lessons, whether they’d be related to relationships, family or sports.

Following the story of this badminton team, is like going on a roller coaster of emotions. I sincerely lived the matches with them, finding myself screaming in front of my screen, applauding their wins, or shedding a tear, saddened by their losses.

What are the themes tackled?

The world of badminton: I would like to thank SBS and the entire team for finally shedding light on one of the forgotten sports out there. Indeed, badminton is less famous than baseball (especially in South Korea), but this doesn’t mean that there is no beauty associated to it. Being myself a badminton player, I really appreciated the effort!

As if this were not good enough, Racket Boys dives very deep into this neglected sports and provided viewers with a broad overview of everything that happens when you evolve in this environment. Here are a few examples:
– Practice, trainings, competition: There is one thing that is sure, the Racket Boys and Girls are quite serious about their sports. They train very hard every day to make sure they are in their best physical condition. On top of that, the drama also highlighted the difficulties there are when you don’t have enough players in a team sports, when you are a small team at competitions (and therefore often considered as losers) and how hard it actually is to climb the latter. Like mentioned in the last episode of the drama (and with a clear reference to BTS): victory is the result of these youngsters’ “Blood, Sweat and Tears”.

– Being despised by other sports: Like I said previously, badminton is not necessarily the sports in everyone’s mouth. The drama illustrates it through the character of Hae Kang, who switches to baseball. Moreover, there tends to be also quite a number of criticism and disdain towards these excellent players, because of this lack of recognition. The clash is shown mid-drama when the baseball and badminton teams meet in the middle of the streets.

– Pressure vs self-confidence: Being an athlete and constantly competing comes with a lot of emotional stress and can sometimes be quite the burden, especially at a young age. All characters experience this downside at some point like (Se Yoon). However, the drama goes beyond this negative feeling and proves that a lot can be achieved thanks to self-confidence and a strong mental. Not only the physical, but also the mental state is important when doing sports. You just need to be able to balance both.

– Being a team: One thing is for certain in that drama, there is no better driver than the love and support of your dearest ones. The drama depicts a solid bond between players, showing that nothing beats teamwork.

– Injury, fair play and foul play: I loved that Racket Boys doesn’t only show the bright sides of the industry. It also did an excellent job at showing some very negative, and sometimes hidden parts such as faking an injury, rigging the game or foul play (like the foreign team that willingly aims at Hae Kang’s eyes, and causes later on his injury). Some players would be willing to do whatever it takes to win, even if it goes against the spirit of the sports. Fortunately, the good also triumphs, especially in sports.

– Being bullied, seniority and violence: Hierarchy is very important in South Korea, add sports in the equation and you get seniority. This conscious respect of authority can be very positive (teaching your juniors how to play better), but can also lead to some terrifying abuses of power. The past incident regarding the prodigious player Kang Tae Seon (Kang Seung Yoon) and the Coach known as the White Wolf is an example of this drift. Tackling this issue, that used to be quite common back in the days, gives more depth to the complex narratives of the drama. But it also gives some more hope (the drama is an educational one, don’t forget), so that it also shows that first, the institution has evolved and condemns most of the time these barbaric practices, and second, that a good coach is someone who’d protect his/her players no matter what.

– Being a coach: Racket Boys is very good at highlighting each and every position of the sports (coach, player, member of the association, former athlete, parent…). That’s why we get to have more information regarding the two main coaches of the drama (former athletes and spouses): Ra Yeong Ja and Yoon Hyeon Jong (Kim Sang Kyung). Both have a very distinct method, Coach Ra is strict but very serious, she is protective and ruthless, while Hyeon Jong considers himself to be a mediocre coach. At first, he resents his job as coach for the Haenam team and doesn’t take it seriously. He doesn’t believe in his kids, until he messes up by forcing them to forfeit due to their late arrival. That’s when Coach Yoon understands how important badminton is for these young players and that he needs to change his attitude. And he does. He transforms into an excellent and supportive coach, encouraging all players, showing no favoritism, while remaining soft and kind.

– Making a comeback, deception and losing: Losing is a difficult feeling to live with. But sports teach us that it is also part of life, you can’t always win. The positive point of the drama is that it shows it is fine to lose, as long as you have given your all, tried your best and don’t have regrets. Of course, there will be disappointments, but you mostly tend to have a second chance, especially when you are young. Your life is ahead of you. Tae Seon’s comeback is the best epitome of having a second chance. He left the industry because of violence, but eventually manages to do what he loves and to become a great champion.

– Press: Being an athlete is not just about the sports, there are a lot external factors that come into play: essentially what others think and naturally the press. This aspect is present in the drama too and insists on the need to keep these external factors into check, to prevent emotional scars.

– Being a female athlete: Thankfully, the drama didn’t only focus on young male players. Female players and their struggles were also represented on screen, especially through Coach Ra in the parents’ timeline. As she was about to play in the Olympics, she suddenly gave up on her dream, leaving people speculating. However, what happened is that she got pregnant and had to make a choice between her child and her career. I really liked the fact that the drama showed the difficulties for women in sports to sometimes have to choose between career and family.

– Meeting your idol and finding your true self: Clearly, Yong Tae turns into someone else, after he meets his idol. The latter tells him to play with his own style instead of copying others’. In a word: he told him to be himself. A lesson that can actually be applied in so many life situations.

Village world: The other great theme of the drama is the life in the countryside. Most of the intrigue takes place in the village (apart from competitions), leaving room for local residents to be introduced and added to the cast.

Racket Boys depicted some actual issues related to living in the countryside: for instance, the old couple doesn’t see their grandchildren often, don’t know how to use technology nor to read; the village is also more and more deserted, as most residents leave for the city; many of them are afraid of the urban life and/or have been hurt by people from it….

What I found actually is that the arrival from Hae Kang and his family, as well as that of the city couple, sheds light on the clashes between city and countryside, but also proved that the two can work together. Having new blood and a pair of fresh eyes can participate in reviving rural areas with new ideas. For example, children like Hae In (Hae Kong’s younger sister) is a ray of light in the old couple’s lives, missing their own grandchildren; the presence of the city couple enables the same old couple to see their family everyone, thanks to the mural painted in front of their house. The city couple is also responsible for the revival of the village by suggesting they sell local products and use empty houses for tourists.

Just like badminton, being part of a village is a question of team effort, support and trust. You don’t become a community only by being part of it, you have to get involved. The results can be spectacular, like showed at the end of episode 16. They all become a big family in a sense.

This community is by the way important because it also protects the village from greedy outsiders: the redevelopment project for example.

Finally, the drama emphasizes on the importance of protecting nature either directly (tourists leaving their waste and being yelled at for it) or indirectly (the grandmother last cue).

Personally, my favorite characters were the married couple, who had escaped the city because they had been betrayed and came to the countryside to commit suicide. Instead, they found comfort, love and support, changing their plans, to the point that they establish their lives there for good (and even get pregnant).

The actors’ performance: Clearly, the cast is a very promising one, with actors like Tang Joon Sang, who has already proven himself in Move to Heaven. Each and every actor portrayed his/her character perfectly and made him/her relatable. I can’t wait to see more dramas with these youngsters in the future!

The title: Well, Racket Boys surely rings some bells for the K-Pop fans out there: it refers to the Korean name of BTS, in case you didn’t have it. Racket being obviously a mention of badminton.

Cameos: This amazing drama was full of interesting cameos, either they’d be real badminton players (Lee Young Dae) or actors, supporting the drama. Among them, we had Kwon Yu Ri, Lee Si Eon, Kim Seul Gi, Kim Min Suk, Jo Jae Yun, and many others.

But the best ones were those from the cast of Prison Playbook, the other drama written by Jung Bo Hoon. Therefore, Park Hae Soo, Lee Kyu Hyung and Jung Min Sung were also part of the team, leading to this exquisite and hilarious encounter between Lee Kyu Hyung and Jung Min Sung, who used to play inmates in Prison Playbook.