Noctis

The Winning Try is a story that doesn’t just focus on the sport itself or the main leads and their past, present and future.. Instead it highlights the entire team and even several characters outside the team, that we grow interested in.. You don’t need to be a rugby fan or a sports enthusiast to understand or enjoy this story.. I have never watched rugby in my life, but the fact that I didn’t need to know even the basics of the sport to fully enjoy this drama makes it worth watching.. The drama follows the usual setup of a struggling team with little hope, until the arrival of a new coach who influences a transformation so remarkable it feels like a miracle.. Add in the petty politics and rivalries within the school itself and this makes for an interesting storyline that's brilliant to watch..

Easily the best aspect of the drama was the authentic performances from the entire cast.. Yoon Kye Sang, Kim Yo Han and the rest of the cast.. Yoon Kye Sang in particular, gave one of his best performances.. After finishing the drama, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in that role..

There were a few obvious plot holes.. Though this one isn’t really a plot hole, more of me nitpicking about something I didn’t like or understand why it was included.. Seong Jun and Seo U Jin were clearly bound to end up together, with their feelings for each other made obvious halfway through the drama.. So why make Moon Ung [the new addition to the team] create unnecessary tension?? The love triangle or whatever that was felt completely out of place.. Most people might have missed it, but even in the last episode when SJ was about to confess his feelings and all his teammates were cheering him on, there was this one guy sulking in the background.. Was that really necessary?? Like I said it’s a minor element, but why add it at all?? What’s the point??

Anyway, moving on.. I loved how the drama didn’t glorify a single individual by giving them the hero mantle to carry the entire team.. Instead it kept the team as a whole at the heart of the story throughout.. It was about the team, not just one person.. I especially liked how they stuck together through the highs and lows.. Yes, this is a sports drama but more than that, it’s about the triumph of one man’s confidence in his team and their ability to silence the doubters and the haters, giving us a feel good conclusion.. Some might find the drama a bit draggy at times but sticking with it definitely pays off.. With a solid storyline and strong performances, The Winning Try is an engaging drama from start to finish.. Overall, a very good watch..