Good Boy

The Sun that shines through the Darkness (SPOILER FREE)

GET IN THE RING

Remember, the day when everyone burned with passion !

Don’t be swayed by the bad reviews, some people don’t know nuance and think things are either black or white !

This kdrama means so much to me, Yoon Dung-Ju, the main character, means so much to me.

It started really strong, had some REALLY GOOD highs, some little lows, but overall, it’s a show that i find to be really REFRESHING.


Plot :

The plot could have been better, it’s not the most extraordinary, but it’s not the sloppy thing that some people will try to make you think it is.

To me, the thing that really made this plot and this story move forward was the ANTAGONIST.

The writers of good boy gave us Min Ju Yeong and they delivered ! Some people found it problematic that the show was centered around one villain, but to me, the delivery was really well done. Even though he was the only one MAIN antagonist, he had many tricks up his sleeve so the story went along with it and he made our main crew suffer quite a bit.

Repetitive ? Yes. Bad ? Not necessarily so. That’s what some people ought to learn to differentiate.

The show also kept us from being more emotionally attached to certain secondary characters by cutting the amount of screen time some scenes should have had. It moved on too quickly from scenes and things that were really poignant and GOOD for character developments.

Characters :

- Yoon Dong Ju : He is the sun of the group, a former professional boxer. I already made this comparison in the comments many times but, he really reminds me of Monkey D Luffy from One Piece. Simply put, Dong-Ju is a strong willed individual that does not hesitate to charge without thinking in order to protect his friends, family AND also to bring down Villains. Dong-Ju had a really sad childhood but pushes through with a smile, even if it means destroying himself in the process, he is THE GOOD BOY of the show. Some would say that he does not think at all throughout the show, but that’s not true. He evolves, learn to deal with the consequences and change at his own pace, with nuance. He Still is the same person at his core but is much more level headed. Park Bo Gum really made a STRONG impression with this role, he nailed it completely.

- Ji Hana : This one is a little special. Kim So Hyun’s performance was not really outstanding, but not BAD. I think it’s one of her best role but she still had a tough time delivering good emotional moments with the character. The character also has its own problems and trauma and i think that, to an extent, she (KSH) did a good job depicting them. I like the character but it does not move me in any way. The character is a badass, despite its flaws.


Lee Sang-Yi’s character : One of my favorite. At first, i didn’t like him at all, but i really loved his character development. I grew fond of him and became eager to see him and dong-ju interact with each other, cultivating their rivalry/friendship. The writers did a good job with this character.


Man-Sik’s character : The clown of the group, and it’s not an insult. He made me laugh so HARD, multiple times. He was like their dad, his relationship with dong-ju moved me.


Tae Won-Sok : Not much to say about his character as an individual : He was sweet, the big brother of the group.

As a whole : Their Dynamic was off the charts. Doesn’t matter which characters are exchanging words, they nailed it completely ! The group as whole is a FOUND FAMILY and I will miss them very much.


Others :

- Action Scenes : The choregraphy for each AS was really good ! I am a boxer myself so i was looking forward to see if they were gonna deliver, especially with Dong-ju : they did. You can feel each and every IMPACT from the hits.

- Cinematography : One of the highs of this kdrama. Everything is really well filmed and put together.

- The Balance between romance / comedy / action is well done too. Honestly, this show could have done without the romance, it wasn’t necessary BUT it was a good addition nonetheless because it gave us sweet and badass moments.

- The Music : 10/10, i won’t say more.

Again, the show has its flaws, it CAN be boring sometimes, but it’s like a bowl of fresh air. The character dynamics, the villain, the stakes, it’s overall a really enjoyable show.

It Also has multiple good quotes, especially from dong-ju.


This Show has a special place in my heart.

a well deserved 8.5 / 10 for me.

you should definitely give it a go.

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A shonen manga-esque action drama to chill with

This was good TV. Good comedy, great action, memorable characters, turn off one's mind and chill. A nondescript corrupted customs officer being a cartel boss was the most genius concept. The villains were definitely the most prominent characters even if following archtypes, larger than life. Overall this drama was carried by great acting from all, with Oh Jung-se being like a maestro.

MVP: Gwang-se.
He is too, too super cute and funny. The scene where Mama's phone call saves him and the actor's joke about Mama's blessing was the best. The way he said "Spasibo Mama" too XD. Second MVP is definitely Geum-nam, who does more work than the entire Korean Police force. Man-sik was overloaded with comedy😂. Leo is yet another element of comedy, even his last words had a comic element, albeit sentimental.

The bromances overall were super strong. Dong-ju/Man-sik, Man-sik/Dae-young(RIU captain, I really liked him by the end), Dong-ju/Jong-hyeon, Dong-ju/Min Ju-yeong, Dong-ju/Jae-Hong, Man-sik/Geum-nam... The team bonded together by the end and with Gwang-se, Geum-nam and even Sergei made a perfect combo. The side characters had a strong presence and a lot of the "good" side ones turn into allies by the end. I liked the main romance was kept understated, though it wasn't a big draw. I really liked Han-na a lot. She was badass and a dedicated cop with her own story arc.

The core crime concept of the plot and the way all the types of crimes committed fell together however felt quite ingenious. Albeit, it was too in the background to matter (ironically, quite a bit of plot that isn't a mob fight has weight). And except...everything has very little to do with the protagonists being former national olympic athletes which was what I thought it would show more of. Again, very manga-esque that while this concept is a fresh hook, the story itself is just a straightforward action story utlizing these skills same way as individual superpower sets are. And as is common for Kdramas, its a police story instead of a superhero one. But in almost every kdrama the police team (sans the one brainiac of the team) are badass at fighting, usually with some national level skill at judo or taekwondo or a UDT background or such. So, end of the day, it was nothing new. While they were united against a greater evil they still felt like each was so accustomed to individual sports they were unable to function as a proper team the dissolution of which made them more united than such a team's inception.

Now here comes the main issue I take with the writing. Initially I was thinking this should have ended in only 10-12 episodes if that is all the plot they can come out with. But there was enough in the overall plot concept that didn't make it to being fleshed out. The past of how the new customs clerk Min Ju-yeong became who he is and all the players in that story in the past should have been expanded on. And even without this crime part, the individual team member's characters could have been expanded on). Everything leading back to Min Ju-yeong was straightforward and all the pieces fell together neatly in a binge rewatch but this was not memorable when live-watching. His being revealed early has little to do with what makes it fall flat since this kind of story has been done before and works if there if properly executed.

Ever since I read a certain comment this parallel has stuck in my mind- this kdrama reminds me a lot of the manga Boku no Hero Academia. I really wish this had been more like One Piece instead but... The manga had a very weak final arc but primarily it is the amount of suffering and torture the MC goes through- it seems to cross the invisible line in fiction for how far things are supposed to go. It caused loss of immersion. Both MCs are inspired off two national poets of their respective countries and the poem on "ideals" embodying the concept of an ideal person(who in the two MCs case) can be considered a "hero" which leaves a bad taste due to seemingly glorifying the martyr-like spirits. This Kdrama's dialogues too are very shonen manga-esque. But the way some things frustrated me in BnHA and the way it was good because of both things that were excellent and things with a lot of missed potential kept me hooked. Art carries a lot. The comic pettiness too is very like in BnHA... Basically they kept a sort of tempo which in time glossed over the faults quite a bit. But the fight scenes lost their steam soon. They seem to win a little and then lose grandly in an endless cycle. What worked in the kdrama Taxi Driver or Fiery Priest doesn't here due to the differences, primarily the poorly done protagonists. To top it all, despite the structure being similar to the shonen genre they rob us of a final battle where the protagonist get a clean win against the villain powerhouses. And this, after setting up enough grounds for a 1:1 between the main villains or their primary henchmen and the olympians in terms of skill and/or antagonism. Anticlimcatic final confrontation.

Characters who should have been fleshed out a lot more: Jae-hong, Jong-hyeon and Leo.
I did like them overall as characters but felt their stories should have been expanded on more. Both Jong-hyeon vs Baek and Jae-hong vs Misha fights were well set up in advance so it felt satisfying. But they both -as main characters- had too little to do a lot of the time. Man-sik's portion felt just right by contrast. Leo atoning through death after saving Han-na and giving her hard evidence was the perfect end for the character but the character himself was written contradictory. I ended up with a massive crush on Leo- his villain archtype and style, his atoner death and confession (reminded me of Cha Rae-hyoung's in Hometown) plus Ko Jun's voice... Leo's character was hard-carried by the acting and presence but the writing around Leo is bare minimum and a tad too plot device-y. A lot of things regarding his story, especially around Min Ju-yeong, felt they were left unexplained. Drugmon's story is a tad confusing as well but she is like a "black cat"(aka The enigmatic 'femme fatale') villain archtype and she gets the redemption lampshaded from the start(Leo by contrast starts as a brutal mob hitman, the sort that lives and dies by his gun). But both really nailed their characters- cartoony but also well-rounded and human criminals. And Lee Ho-jung is so beautiful! Leo also reminded me a bit of Twice of BnHA and Sanji of One Piece. And Drugmon mostly of Toga. And thats how their villain pair chemistry was to me- more like Twice and Toga of BnHA at it's core. I actually liked Baek and his cartoon style too, as well his pretty henchman Ryu-ga. Misha too. The villains nailed being villains. And I also loved the villain OST themes a lot(I associate two with Min Ju-yeong with "Your Name" really being an earworm). The main opening song "Finish Line" was so catchy. "Get in the Ring" was great too.

Unlike Ju-yeong, ML's character was inconsistent being the punching bag of the show for the majority of the run, nobly idiotic and outright dumb at times and then super smart when needed to get a win, sometimes with eidetic memory, can learn to swim and dive expertly with two days lesson, etc. Things that bring to mind words like plot convenience and retcon. The power levels were inconsistent too depending on who needed to win or lose to move the plot. The amount of beatings ML could take on or folded from was too inconsistent, and the one overkill scene (actually, an entire overkill episode) was a turn off. And so on. Something either writing or editing wise was off at times and it affected the flow. I know several Kdramas with similar plotting I couldn't sit through so it is well done. But I also know kdramas with far worse writing I'll forever call the greatest of tv, so it could have been done better. Too much was glaringly implausible. Or too contrived.

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Please I'm waiting for the second season

So, in my opinion this kdrama is very good and I'm definitely waiting for the second season. But I hope that the second season will be longer and the topic about Donju sickness thread will be more developed and also their athletic past.

Donju keeps getting beaten and he is saying that he is fine even tho, he almost died many times I still love it. I love this type of kdramas and we don't see them often. Maybe it's not perfect yet, but in my opinion, this drama has huge potential to be something even more and I hope that we will get the second season.

I laughed a lot, cried a lot, smiled or even got angry watching it and I really recomend it to people who likes dramas or movies about fighting. I couldn't stop watching it myself and I watched whole kdrama during 2 days because when you start it's hard to stop, cuz many thing are happening. So again, I can't wait to see the second season, hope soon!!

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A fast, funny, and heartfelt ride with plenty of punch

𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝘆 was simply a fun and energetic watch. It’s not trying to be groundbreaking — instead, it delivers solid entertainment through its mix of humor, friendship, and grit. The pacing is sharp, the characters are likable, and the chemistry among the leads makes every scene feel alive.

The drama balances comedy and action surprisingly well. The sports backdrop adds tension and excitement, but what really stands out is the camaraderie and underdog spirit that runs through it. You can feel the 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿, and 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 in every episode, even when things get a bit over the top.

Of course, it’s not perfect — some emotional moments are predictable, and the story doesn’t dive too deep into its themes. But that’s not really a flaw here; it knows exactly what kind of show it is and leans into it confidently. The lighthearted tone keeps it accessible while still offering flashes of intensity and sincerity.

In the end, 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝘆 is one of those dramas that makes you laugh, cheer, and enjoy the ride. It’s energetic, feel-good television with just enough substance to keep you hooked.

Pros:
✔ Great 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 between leads
✔ Balanced 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿 and 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
✔ Feel-good underdog energy
✔ Fast-paced and never dull

Cons:
✘ Some predictable emotional beats
✘ Doesn’t dive deeply into character backstories

Would I rewatch?
Yes — it’s light, exciting, and fun enough to enjoy again when you need a good mood boost.

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Fun action scenes and an unrealistic antagonist

This show had so much potential in the first half, and I really wanted to like it. The cast is incredibly talented and honestly the only reason I stuck it out until the end.

Unfortunately, the story never felt complete to me—especially when it came to the characters. The only one who truly felt fleshed out was Park Bo Gum’s character. There was an attempt to build depth for the antagonist and his network of cronies, but it ended up feeling uneven: we were given a lot of details, yet somehow still not enough to truly understand them.

In the end, strong acting carried a weak narrative, leaving me wishing the writing had matched the cast’s potential.

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Park Bo Gum is hot and that's pretty much it.

The show started off really strong and was entertaining but became lowkey boring. I haven't been keeping up with kdramas recently but decided to watch this cuz I missed Park Bogum on my screen. He was my favorite part of the show, his acting was breathtaking. Even though Yun Dongju wasn't a particularly great character, Bogum brought a complexity to his character that made me fall in love with Dongju despite his shortcomings. And of course the many amazing Bogum edits that came from the show was a plus

Oh Jungse plays the villain in this show and a deceitfully plain one at that. Min Juyeong's character isn't one I hated or loved but appreciated ten times more because of how Jungse played him. There is something so sinister about a villain who is evil for sport. The absurdity of how much money he had and was moving around made him a worthy villain that took all 16 episodes to defeat. Now, was is harder to believe 5 easily disposable cops could bring down someone like him down, sure, was it entertaining watching them try, mildly. The sequence of Dongju sending Min Juyeong selfies of himself tryna find his money was ridiculously funny.

I loved the comedic relief Heo Sung Tae's character brought to the show. It was disappointing though, that they used such a talented actor solely for comedic relief without attempting to utilize his acting prowess but instead making his character a bumbling fool that rarely contributed to a team he supposedly lead. However, without him the show would have been significantly more boring than it ended up being.

It's not bad, but it's not great, and for a show with a stacked cast and a cool premise, it was very disappointing. The few things I did enjoy, however, were the action scenes. The action isn't something I really care for in shows, but I was pleasantly surprised by how skillfully shot the scenes were. It felt like I was in it sometimes, and enjoyed seeing all the main cast have an action scene. I also really enjoyed the romance because of the chemistry Bogum and Sohyun had. They had a chance to create a very entertaining bromance but decided to make Lee Sangyi's character a bitter and boring.

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Okaish drama ig!?

All in all a good/okaish drama. Watched for Park Bo-Gum but fell in love with Lee Sang-Yi. He looked so hot and everything. Loved it.

A few things that seemed way too stupid to me were - 1.) Ep 1 felt too long! It felt like I was watching it for 2 -3 hrs and yet a bit was left (felt it wasn't 2-3 hrs long). 2.) No matter how much they beat Doong ju , how much he bleads and all , the guy will be perfectly fine the next day to take up a new fight. I mean, the way they were beating him was pretty serious & with the punch-drunk I think he should be hospitalized and be in a cast and all but the man is all ok. It's like he is made of steel or something. 3.) Story felt dragged a bit. Could've finished it in 12 ep max. Till 16 it felt dragged. 4.) No chemistry in ML & FL. Doong ju and Jong hyun had more chemistry than them ? Rest of the points I forget.

But still it was entertaining, funny, and worth the time (sort of). Loved the action! For which I specifically watched the drama.

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An alright binge.

It was alright. I definitely wasn't hooked when I started the drama but it was an alright binge.

I think the villains and characters were pretty well crafted but the plot just dragged on way too much. Like it was kindof obvious who the main villain is since the start of the drama and it just kept dragging on SO MUCH. Also, it was so frustrating when the fl or the ml would just put themselves in such a bad situation. Like just bring backup??? Is it ever that hard?!?!

Second thing, I know this isn't a romance drama but there was def romance between Ji Ha Na and Yoon Dong Ju. But it was done pretty poorly imo. There was just no "oompf". Like he was just crushing on her this whole time and idk I just wish there was just a bit more to it. And it was like they just added the kiss scenes in there just to add "chemistry"... it wasn't really working tho. Don't get me wrong, I really like Park Bo Gum and Kim So Hyun. But it just wasn't doing it for me idk.

The saving grace for this drama was definitely the OST. It was SO good. The cast was pretty great too. I enjoyed watching the olympic avengers lol.

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