it's like a comfort food when you're sick
Every character is wonderfully potrayed. I love how every character get their own spotlight and their development is honestly so satisfying to follow. Watching this reminds me of my highschool memories, friendships, fluffy lovey feelings, togetherness and trust. Love how they try to resolve their problems together, specially between Hae Kang and Yong Dae later.Technically, some said that the sports/ badminton element game is pretty boring. I honestly think instead of technical, they are trying to focus more on the trust and efforts in the teammates and that's what makes it special and heartwarming.
Totally recommended when you're looking for something light and heartwarming.
Was this review helpful to you?
surprisingly cute, but feels a tad bit unfinished
i was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed this! if you enjoy sports animes, this drama may be something that appeals to you. i think it was funny and sweet and sentimental.i enjoyed the team dynamics a lot, and it was fun to see how they grew throughout the show. i don't think there were any characters i truly disliked. the portrayal of friendships in this show was something so heartwarming!
i will be honest, i started watching this to hear the ost, and so i didn't go into it expecting the plot to wow me—which it didn't, but it wasn't bad at all. i think due to the length of the drama, it felt a bit messy here and there, and didn't go into building the characters as much as i would've liked for a slice-of-life show.
overall, it was a fun watch! i would watch it again if i'm in the mood for something sentimental but unserious ☺️
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Very recommended
Racket Boys: a heart warming, coming of age, sport-center and feel good drama fill with important life lessons and an impressive line of cameos (almost all from Prison Playbook🥰) I am sure I won't have space to cover all the reasons why I find this drama so worth watching, it'll probably take me more than an post to do so but I really recommend it if you are up to watching a drama with the genre I mentioned at the beginning. If you are not convinced... keep reading.“Why I am getting Prison Playbook vibe with this drama?!” Was my first reaction when I started Racket boys! And after investigating, I found it was from the same screenwriter! So no wonder why the resemblance in the screenplay techniques. (If you like PPL and love it as much as I do, that's a great reason to start) A little sneak peak? You’ll get closure for Looney's character in here.
If you are hesitating to start it because you think is going to be a boring, sport center drama and moreover about a bunch of teenagers. You are not entirely wrong but is it so much more than that.
I can’t vouch for the badminton-related scenes, for my nonathletic-eyes it was very legit, there where some exaggerated slam scenes but, come on, it was entertaining. Besides, that’s not entirely the point. The point is that this drama is a gem and is underrated. Wish people give it a chance and let these kids make you smile with their energy, motivation and innocence <3
Was this review helpful to you?
EXCEEDED EXPECTATION
What I liked:- At first I thought it will only be about sport/badminton, but it actually covers everything. Sportsmanship, friendship, family relationship.
- Before watching this, I hope there's no romance at all. But end up it do have a slight romance. Surprisingly, I don't hate it at all. Instead, I found it so cute and rooting for them.
- Every character has character development and I totally love it.
- A drama that makes me cry every episodes.
What I don't like:
- Nothing. Everything's perfect.
If you like a drama about life, family, and friendship, this is perfect for you.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It takes a village to raise the best junior badminton team
Watching this show is like eating a whole tub of ice cream by yourself. It is a little naughty but so satisfying and a guilty pleasure. You almost feel a little embarrassed to admit you liked it so much.This show has all the things that you'd decried about tropey, over-the-top scripts with questionable story telling but it has so much charm and energy that you didn't realise until you are hooked and it is too late to bail.
A lot of that energy came from the young cast. There are a lot of testosterone, teenage angst and bravado on display and sometimes it can feel monotonal but most of the time, the young actors, especially the Racket Boys, pulled it off. A special mention goes to Tang Jun Sang. He was impressive in Move to Heaven and he did not disappoint in this show. One to watch as his career develops. Kim Kang Hoon was a joy to watch, a mix of cuteness and determination. The veteran actors provided the glue that gave the show cohesion and a nurturing environment for the youngers to grow and be themselves. To be honest, some of those roles are from central casting and there is not a lot of depth to their characters but the fact that they are instantly recognisable is also comforting within this dramaverse.
As you can imagine, humour is central to a show like this but some of it is pretty crude and they are served with extra cheese. The show can be cringy as it farmed all the clichés and set up tropey situations just to milk the laughs/tears. What made it worked is the ensemble cast (both young and old) and the fast pacing so that you are never given enough time to analyse each scene. For much of the show, there is a definite coda, see setback -> overcome obstacle -> plot advances/character grows -> rinse and repeat. The show also tapped into many other themes beyond sports, found family, friendship, romance, dislocation, alienation and many more. Even a bit of supernatural towards the end which you can only shrug and say "why not". You would think it is a mess and it was but you are too invested to care (or you'd have dropped the show a long time ago). You'd forgive a lot of their trespasses just to see what happens next. However, this is a doubled edged sword as you knew things will never get too rough and the reward is always a few scenes away.
However, not everything can be dismissed offhandedly. The way the show dealt with antagonists can be quite tone deaf and lackadaisical. Foreigners and city dwellers are easy foils. Bad people will do bad things, end of story. The whole land developer subplot was heavy handed and farcical.
Romance was a big part of the show and a source of minor frustration as the teasing and push/pull goes on and on. There is little skinship to talk about but it is rated PG15+ more for other contents.
I have read some comments on the badminton games were not realistic. I beg to differ. I doubt any sport based drama has ever portraited their sport 100% realistically. Drama and plot development must come first so tight editing and a bit of CGI are used to create tension and magic. I think the young actors did their best to impress us on how physical and challenging the game is at elite level and I'm sure they'd have sweated through tough training sessions as well. They deserve a bit more credit.
One thing that did irked me was how Kang Tae Seon gets to play in the national team selection match against the ML. According to the show, Kang has not played badminton for 10 years. Putting aside his fitness and skill retention there must be some kind of ranking system so that people have to demonstrate a certain level of merit to earn a wildcard entry but to go straight to the top seemed to take the mickey out of the system, Consider his character was introduced late in the drama and probably will not show up again (unless there is a season 2), it served little purpose other than to take the ML down a notch and to humanise the head coach.
Even with the questionable subplots, I definitely enjoyed this show and it demands very little from you. The less critical you are, the more enjoyable this show will be. Like I said, it is a guilty pleasure that you can binge watch easily.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
SO FKING GOOD
Sept. 19, 2021HOLY SHIIII, I found myself another comfort drama and that is Racket Boys. I really love the theme of family and helping others here. The value and emphasis on community really get me to tears. This drama along with Reply 1988 and When The Weather Is Fine, really makes me wanna move to a small town full of loving and supporting people. Now that I think about it, in where such town can I find that place.
Also, I am so happy with how the ending went. It really showed the reality that all of us face. Sometimes, losing is better as it can help us grow into a better individual along with our skills I really love our Racket Boys, the girls, the townspeople, the city people, and the lovable side characters that curated this warmth energy. Every episode feels fulfilling, and although some parts can be a bit unnecessary. I feel like it's up to the viewers to decide on whether they want to skip some scenes or not.
BUT ALL IN ALL. I LOVE HOW MY SHIPS SAILED SO DAMN MUCH. I LOVE HOW EVERYTHING IN THE END WRAPPED UP. It feels so good to watch everything until the very end. I really have huge kudos to the writers and directors since it was just perfect imo.
I love y'all, fictional people if I can meet you. I certainly will do anything I can to make that possible!!!
Was this review helpful to you?
No lag No boring
In my opinion,Throughout the drama, the friendship of 7 people full of humor and their interest in badminton is shown. Around those 7 people, there are their villagers and their favorite coaches who encourages them.The main theme of this drama is not only sports but also their love for the villagers and the sincere friendship of those seven and the moments they spend together.
I love all the characters in racket boys except villans
WHY I LIKE IT? :-
* no lag
* no boring
* full of comedy
* sometimes, motivational
*episodes start and end with flow
* Good story, happy ending
* shows nature beauty
* good bonding ( villagers + coaches + 7 students )
* no over villianism
* some action techniques ( while playing badminton)
* The best reason why i like this drama is the realtionship & bonding between each and everyone.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH :-
* if you like sports, give it a try you will love it
* you can laugh a lot ( 75% comedy )
* you can see beautiful friendship
*good screenplay
* simple story but you will enjoy
* sports skills are better
*you will feel almost all emotions while watching it.
* it has happy ending
NB:-watch each drama with low expectation& Enjoy ever single episodes.
Was this review helpful to you?
Valuable story
The way that the actors and actresses fall into character is beautiful. They really put their thoughts and feelings into it! I rewatched this and decided to write a review, since I enjoyed it.Racket boys really left a print on my mind, very good comedy wise and enjoyable to watch. Some pieces of the story were just a little bit messy I’d say, but it was still really nice.
It is worth it and I recommend it to someone who likes easy to watch series and something lightweight. Made me want to buy badminton stuff.
Was this review helpful to you?
review in short
this drama is really sweet and nice.it shows teenager's lives who loves badminton.its fun and exciting
this drama includes everything, comedy, emotions and sportsmanship,love and friendship
i loved this drama.the cast is really good. everyone has played their role well
i loved the friendship between the characters,it's really nice
the drama is fun and slice of life,it also shows how different is life in rural areas from urban.someone who loves sports would understand the vibes of this drama.i'll recommend it to eveyone
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
All I can say is watch it!
This one took me by surprise, I admit. When I think badminton, I remember back to playing in school - basically trying to just get the birdie over the net. There was so much strength and power watching the badminton tournaments, and watching all they did while practicing. But badminton takes a back seat to the friendships and the community. I laughed and I cried, a lot.The young ML character of Yoon Hae Kang starts playing badminton after moving to the country. He was a middle school baseball star, so starting badminton (with his dad as the coach) didn't start out well. He started out with a big chip on his shoulder, and I wondered how long I'd have to put up with that behavior. He kept his cockiness throughout, but watching him develop actual deep, meaningful friendships was such a lovely thing to watch.
Friendships, first love, separating from your parent's help, bullying, corruption. This drama has it all.
The acting was so good all the way around. I loved the friendships between the boys, but I also loved the villagers. You know, the typical quirky characters, but each person had their own story that blended in so well with the others. The sad young couple that come to live in the village for mysterious reasons - I loved their story development and how they integrated into the community. I also loved the old lady that made a playroom, and the kids would go there, because she had Wi-Fi. How the kids were absorbed in their own lives, but also cared about the elders in the village.
I do have to say that at the beginning I hated the dad/coach. He just seemed so stupid to me. But the more I watched, the more memories it brought back of me and my own parents - how they tried to be cool and fit into my world, but all it did was cause embarrassment. I think you'll feel this more, the further you watch.
I loved watching the friendships between the boys develop, especially since Yoon Hae Kang was an outsider and didn't want to be there. As he let the other boys into his life, then it progressed to the boys letting others in as well. I just can't say enough about the friendships.
I loved the BTS music and references. The actors breaking the fourth wall and looking at the camera was funny throughout, but never more funny than when the coach said he thought the boys were cooler than BTS. The boys got really nervous and said he should never say things like that, because it could be really bad (protective Army reference!), and the dad looks straight into the camera, apologizes, and runs away.
I held off watching this for the longest time, thinking it was just a sports drama. It turned out to be so much more to me.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Heartwarming Masterpiece
I always loved sports drama and I'm glad on 2021 Racket Boys exist in dramaland. From the title itself, sure the drama will be focus on Badminton but they also offers more than that...there's stories about family, depression, bullying and rural community.Racket Boys tells the story of five teenage boys that share same passion in badminton which includes "narcisstic" Hae Kang, "selfie mania" Yoon Dam, "blabbermouth" Yong Tae, "humble" Woo Chan and "nerd" In Sol. Their journey navigate friendship, teamwork, competition and teenage mayhem was pleasure to watch and gonna make you laughed and cried with them.
Aside some problematic side characters remarks...this drama was truly wonderful watch. Both kids and adults as parents or mentors could learn something from it.
I will miss my beloved racket kids and adorable little Hae In, but will be keeping an eye out for their future projects. 디지네 디져~~!
Was this review helpful to you?
Cutest drama I have watched in a while
This was such a cute little warmhearting drama! I wish we had more sport focused dramas like this, the ones I've watched usually only have the sport as a background with barely any development on it, but here we got to see them grow both as people and as athletes and I loved it!The whole cast was amazing, the story was nice and I enjoyed every second of it even if we didn't had big plot twists it was still good and enjoyable. The story is very directly and predictable with some cliche and exaggerated scenes, but I don't think it makes it any less good, I think its the charm of this drama. It's a great drama to rewatch when you're feeling down and need something light to cheer up.
Was this review helpful to you?
