‘Racket Boys’ Reminds Us That A Little Bit Of Kindness Goes A Long Way
Contains spoilers and mentions of suicide.
In late May 2021, Netflix began airing Racket Boys, a Korean drama following the growth and challenges of a group of student athletes in the badminton club at their school. The premise observes the journey of Yoon Haekang (Tang Joonsung), a former badminton prodigy who resumes playing the sport after his father uproots their life at Seoul to move to the countryside and coach the local middle school badminton club. Haekang is met by his new teammates as well as new rivals, that both support and challenge him to become the number one badminton player in the nation.
While the series follows the general ups and downs typically presented in South Asian drama series, Racket Boys provides a unique style of storytelling without any antagonists. Instead, the plot centers around the development of friendship and mutual respect, not only between Haekang and his teammates but between the residents of their town. Many of the interactions between the characters consist of profound moments and smooth comedic timing, allowing viewers to enjoy a variance in emotions when watching.
Throughout the many sub-plots within this series, there has been a running theme of presenting kindness and compassion, especially in unconditional circumstances. As the protagonist, Haekang is recognized as strong-willed, stubborn and hot-tempered, particularly when things do not go his way. But his character extends beyond his prime characteristics; one such scene occurs in the first episode itself, when he forgoes the opportunity for training camp by not telling his parents as it was expensive, and money was needed for his sister’s medication instead. While Haekang presents himself as a difficult person, he is shown to be considerate and understanding of those around him. He explores outside his comfort zone in building trust and relationships, finding an unorthodox kinship with his teammates and the residents of their town.
Aside from the main characters, even the supporting characters in Racket Boys are depicted as having independent storylines that continuously support the overall concept of being benevolent and selfless. One instance of this is displayed when a new couple from the city moves into town and one of the neighbors spends the night making them a batch of fresh kimchi. Unknown to the neighbors, the couple was in fact escaping their city life to commit suicide in the countryside after losing all their savings. The gesture was touching enough for them to rethink about ending their lives as they cried, allowing a moment that was deeply poignant for the viewers. It also enabled a strong foundation into building a sense of community within the residents of the town. Even the minor scenes and sub-plots in Racket Boysshowcase the tight knit relations between the characters; residents are found voluntarily helping with farming, spending time with the elderly and coming to each other’s aid as a group.
The series also experiments loosely with the concept of found family; Haekang’s friends regularly sleep over at his house and view their coaches as second parents. Many scenes include the coaches stepping in as parents to protect their students and help them in overcoming challenges, both while playing and outside of badminton. It highlights the importance of providing children with the necessary support systems, so that they can feel secure with themselves and grow to become more confident. Moments like this are continuously highlighted, particularly between one of the female players, Han Seyoon (Lee Jaein) and her coach. As one of the best badminton players in South Korea, Seyoon is often subjected to immense pressure from her teammates and industry officials. It is mostly with the encouragement and guidance of her coach that she is able to continue her growth as a badminton player and achieve her goals, all while overcoming the obstacles in her path.
These heartfelt moments are a significant contributor to the development of the characters, enabling them to establish a culture of healthy rivalries and sportsmanship as well. The players regularly interact with players from other schools that they are competing with by sending messages of support, practicing together and openly cheering for them during the games. Despite the natural bias the audience has towards the protagonists, Racket Boys emphasizes on the fact that all the players are children and capable of being flawed. Even their rivals and competitors are presented as sincere and hard-working in spite of being obnoxious, thus preventing the audience from antagonizing them. Additionally, they also act as a strong motivator for Haekang and his friends to continue to strive towards their goals as they learn and grow.
It is particularly rare for a series so oriented within sportsmanship to have less prominence on the act of winning; instead, showcasing and highlighting the effort and personal growth of each of the characters. Haekang and his friends find themselves facing multiple dilemmas that test their skills, relationships and even their own sense of self-worth. Nevertheless, they consistently overcome these hardships by unconditionally loving and supporting each other. The positivity and kindness prioritized within Racket Boys is not only heartwarming to watch, but a touching reminder for the audience to embody the values expressed by the characters.
As a viewer, Racket Boys provides an escape that presents a more wholesome world centered around being empathetic and understanding of each other. Its insistence on altruism may not be realistic, particularly in the cut-throat world of competitive sports, but it still demonstrates a pragmatic view of what it means to be an athlete and sets the benchmark on teaching how they should be treated. In addition, it also allows continuously changing dynamics between lighthearted and more high-strung scenes, thus making the series more gratifying to watch as a viewer.
Overall, Racket Boys is a fresh take on South Korean dramas, especially as one that is centered around sports. The story of these young athletes continuously progresses each week with a strong plotline that centralizes the personal growth and emotional connections of the characters. Though it is still flawed in some aspects, the principal message provided by the series maintains its significance and inspires viewers weekly with its uplifting moments.
