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4
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Charming, funny but it could have beeen better
The Winning Try is my first sports kdrama and it's safe to say that my introduction to this genre started with a blast!
From the very first episode, I was immediately hooked by the story and the characters. I love stories about rookies who want to prove their worth. Add funny moments, personal growth and strong bond and you've officially won me over. I rooted for the Hanyang rugby team from the moment I got introduced to the players and I was so excited to see their growth.
The direction of the series was very good, the games were very intense and the editing in the funnier scenes enhanced the comedic elements. The OST was perfect, very charming and hopeful and the intro song is stuck in my head. Kudos to the actors for singing it, when I learned that they were the ones who sang it I was ecstatic! They brought the right energy!
The acting in The Winning Try really elevated the story and the dynamics between the characters. All of them poured their hearts out forthese roles and it showed. Yoon Kye-Sang delivered an amazing performance as Ju Ga-Ram, I literally fell in love with the character shortly after his introduction and that didn't change throughout the series. He owned this role, it was as if it was written for him specifically. He portrayed many different emotions and conveyed Ju Ga-Ram's complexity in a way that made you understand him and feel sympathy for his character. He also had great chemistry with Im Se-Mi, who portrayed Bae I-ji, Ju Ga-Ram's former girlfriend.
I was very impressed by Kim Dan who portrayed Ung. For a rookie actor, he did a marvelous job. He was also given the task to portray a complex character and he gave his everything. The scene with Ung and his father before he went to Hanyang almost brought me to tears. Kim Dan was excellent playing the kind and kinda naive Ung but he did a terrific job in the dramatic scenes as well, showcasing more of his talent. It goes without saying that from now on, I'll keep track of his future projects.
Last but not least, Kim Yo-Han was another actor who caught my eye. He was great as Seong-Jun and as the episodes went on, he won me over more and more. He nailed Seong-Jun's awkward character and he never came across as too cringe. At the same time, he was a determined leader of the team who knew when he had to step up and guide his teammates. The scenes between Seong-Jun and his mother or Ju Ga-Ram where the ones where Yo-Han shined the brightest. He portrayed Seong-Jun's desperation and sadness very convincingly, it always broke my heart seeing him experiencing feelings of inferiority and self-doubt.
One of the best elements in the series and one that has been praised the most was the chemistry between the rugby team. Whether it was between Ju Ga-Ram and the boys or the boys only, you couldn't question how close they were. The chemistry on and off-screen was more than evident and I was always looking forward to their interactions. They were so funny and yet so heartfelt. Comedy blent with emotional impact and in the end, I couldn't help but feel so proud and nostalgic of how far they had come. I could have watched scenes between Ju Ga-Ram and the team for hours, he became the guardian they needed and he really turned into their shield by protecting them from other people's doubtful and belittling words.
As a sports kdrama, The Winning Try did a decent job in bringing light to the world of sports. It portrays both the beauty and the ugliness of it. We see how delighted the athletes were once they got good results but we also see the pressure that is put on them. Just Ga-Ram himself felt suffocated from that. Being the No1 rugby player in South Korea, he had a great weight on his shoulders and he couldn't stand not being able to play well or stop playing rugby altogether - which led him to questionable choices.
In contrast to JU Ga-Ram and I-Ji's gentle and supportive attitude towards their athletes, the shooting coach Nak-Gyeon worked as a reminder of how many incapable coaches are out there. Not only was he sexist towards I-Ji by belittling her and questioning her abilities both as a coach and athlete, but he played favouritism with U-Jin and Seol-Hyun. Out of all the villains in this series, he was by far the most despicable one. It's really sad to think that there are many people like him in the sports industry and my heart breaks just from thinking of all these athletes who break down under the false guidance of incompetent trainers.
The Winning Try gave great emphasis on the importance of a good relationship between a reliable coach and an athlete. From Ju Ga-Ram's relationship with the rugby team to I-Ji's bond with U-Jin, the series portrays howgood coaches should be with their athletes. The coach is the catalyst to an athlete's career. An athlete needs the right guidance in order to succeed. No matter how talented you are, unless you have the right coach, you cannot go far. Both Ju Ga-Ram and I-ji cared about their kids (for this is how they viewed them) so much and they were willing to go to great lengths in order to support them.
In addition to the pressure that comes with bringing good results, through Seong-Jun and U-Jin's mothers, we see another obstacle that halts an athlete's progress: the pressure some parents will put on their children. In Seong-Jun's case, his mother disapproves of him playing rugby because she believes he won't get far and urges him to sacrifice his career in order to support his star football player brother. As for U-Jin, she tries to live up to her mother's dream, who was a former shooting player and who was unable to go far in her shooting career. We have two sides of the same coin: two mothers who ruin the mentality of their children for different reasons. One who doesn't support her child's dream of becoming a rugby player and one who sees her own child as a trophy in which she can object her bitterness for her career. The fact that the athletes felt safer and more comfortable around their coaches says a lot and it was emotional seeing how much Just Ga-Ram and I-Ji cared for them and showered them with the love and support they had been deprived from.
So, as you can probably see, I have praised The Winning Try a lot. It was a refreshing kdrama, with many important messages and one that I mostly enjoyed.
But unfortunately, I must say that even though I had a good time for the most part, it failed to become a favourite of mine as I initially expected.
First of all, the major problem with the series was the amount of subplots. We had so many issues going on at once and the story became messy. The preparations for the Nationals, Ju Ga-Ram's illness, Ju Ga-Ram and I-Ji's loveline, the villains schemings against the rugby team, the drama with the shooting team, the players' evolution...I get what the writers wanted to do but you cannot fit so many things in just 12 episodes and deliver a smooth result. Yes, most of these subplots connected with each other but some of them took too much screen time which could have been used for other aspects.
After the first two episodes, for the majority of the episodes, the drama started to focus less on the rugby team itself Yes, each episode had its own moments but it was as if their bond was not the heart of the series anymore. I totally understand that The Winning Try wouldn't center around the rugby team only. I also understand that we couldn't get them playing rugby matches in every single episode. If the audience wanted pure rugby, they could watch actual rugby matches instead. But it would have been nice to see them playing against other teams or watch them train more in order to observe their development and teamwork even better. We had three actual rugby matches and all of them were against the same school. At one point, you almost forgot you're supposed to watch a kdrama that advertised itself around rugby.
Unfortunately, due to the numerous subplots, the interactions between the rugby team weren't as many as in the first episodes. There were some nice moments here and there but at one point, their relationship was sidelined by the rest of the story. And that applies to their individual development. Besides Ung and Seong-Jun (and Yeong-Kwang, to some extent), the rest of the players got crumbs.
The politics and the drama with the shooting team frustrated me but for the wrong reasons. I didn't mind that the drama wanted to address the ugly side of the sports industry. But I got fed up by the amount of screen time the villains were getting. Too much time wasted on them circling around the rugby team's disband and Ju Ga-Ram's resign when we could have gotten more interactions between the rugby team and Ju Ga-Ram. Politics are nice and interesting but in a sports kdrama like The Winning Try, they dragged the story so much and made it less interesting. The actions of the vice principal felt way too cartoonish, I couldn't take his beef with the team and Ju Ga-Ram seriously. I understand his reasons and why he didn't approve of the rugby team but his philosophy regarding sports was explored in a very poor way.
At one point, the plot began going around in circles. When things seemed to settle, something bad would happen and the characters were called to find a way to solve it. It's a typical structure for kdramas but all of this drama felt way too tiring. I really wish the writers had toned it down. I especially disliked the subplot about Ju Ga-Ram's illness. Again, I understand that it was supposed to fuel the story and add more depth to Ju Ga-Ram's actions and emotions but honestly, had they kept the original concept of him doing dopping, the drama would have been far better. We wouldn't have to play this hide-and-seek game of him hiding his illness and we would see how he would make amends with everyone and grow as a person in the process.
Due to the various subplots and the limited screen time, some characters were not explored as much as they could have. I am very disappointed with how underutilized Seong-Jun's inferiority complex compared to his brother was. We should have seen more of him and the writers should have explored his feelings in more depth. He never had a proper confrontation with his mom and his character lacked some depth in some areas to make me fully connect with him. Another missed opportunity was Seol-Hyun and the aerobics coach. Both characters were handled in a rushed way, the writers clearly intended to make them appear evil at first only to be redeemed later but their writing felt superficial.
It's a pity I didn't get to love The Winning Try as much as many people did. I loved some aspects like the rugby team but they unfortunately couldn't make up for my lack of interest. I admit that the ending was satisfying and provided a proper closure but had the series been 16 episodes long, the plot would have developed more smoothly. Even though I overall liked the plot and the characters, I couldn't connect with them fully because the way they got explored did not allow me to feel anything deeper about them.
Nevertheless, The Winning Try remained a good watch and I recommend it if you're looking for something fun with important messages. I myself do not regret watching it so give it a try! Who knows, it might win your heart!
From the very first episode, I was immediately hooked by the story and the characters. I love stories about rookies who want to prove their worth. Add funny moments, personal growth and strong bond and you've officially won me over. I rooted for the Hanyang rugby team from the moment I got introduced to the players and I was so excited to see their growth.
The direction of the series was very good, the games were very intense and the editing in the funnier scenes enhanced the comedic elements. The OST was perfect, very charming and hopeful and the intro song is stuck in my head. Kudos to the actors for singing it, when I learned that they were the ones who sang it I was ecstatic! They brought the right energy!
The acting in The Winning Try really elevated the story and the dynamics between the characters. All of them poured their hearts out forthese roles and it showed. Yoon Kye-Sang delivered an amazing performance as Ju Ga-Ram, I literally fell in love with the character shortly after his introduction and that didn't change throughout the series. He owned this role, it was as if it was written for him specifically. He portrayed many different emotions and conveyed Ju Ga-Ram's complexity in a way that made you understand him and feel sympathy for his character. He also had great chemistry with Im Se-Mi, who portrayed Bae I-ji, Ju Ga-Ram's former girlfriend.
I was very impressed by Kim Dan who portrayed Ung. For a rookie actor, he did a marvelous job. He was also given the task to portray a complex character and he gave his everything. The scene with Ung and his father before he went to Hanyang almost brought me to tears. Kim Dan was excellent playing the kind and kinda naive Ung but he did a terrific job in the dramatic scenes as well, showcasing more of his talent. It goes without saying that from now on, I'll keep track of his future projects.
Last but not least, Kim Yo-Han was another actor who caught my eye. He was great as Seong-Jun and as the episodes went on, he won me over more and more. He nailed Seong-Jun's awkward character and he never came across as too cringe. At the same time, he was a determined leader of the team who knew when he had to step up and guide his teammates. The scenes between Seong-Jun and his mother or Ju Ga-Ram where the ones where Yo-Han shined the brightest. He portrayed Seong-Jun's desperation and sadness very convincingly, it always broke my heart seeing him experiencing feelings of inferiority and self-doubt.
One of the best elements in the series and one that has been praised the most was the chemistry between the rugby team. Whether it was between Ju Ga-Ram and the boys or the boys only, you couldn't question how close they were. The chemistry on and off-screen was more than evident and I was always looking forward to their interactions. They were so funny and yet so heartfelt. Comedy blent with emotional impact and in the end, I couldn't help but feel so proud and nostalgic of how far they had come. I could have watched scenes between Ju Ga-Ram and the team for hours, he became the guardian they needed and he really turned into their shield by protecting them from other people's doubtful and belittling words.
As a sports kdrama, The Winning Try did a decent job in bringing light to the world of sports. It portrays both the beauty and the ugliness of it. We see how delighted the athletes were once they got good results but we also see the pressure that is put on them. Just Ga-Ram himself felt suffocated from that. Being the No1 rugby player in South Korea, he had a great weight on his shoulders and he couldn't stand not being able to play well or stop playing rugby altogether - which led him to questionable choices.
In contrast to JU Ga-Ram and I-Ji's gentle and supportive attitude towards their athletes, the shooting coach Nak-Gyeon worked as a reminder of how many incapable coaches are out there. Not only was he sexist towards I-Ji by belittling her and questioning her abilities both as a coach and athlete, but he played favouritism with U-Jin and Seol-Hyun. Out of all the villains in this series, he was by far the most despicable one. It's really sad to think that there are many people like him in the sports industry and my heart breaks just from thinking of all these athletes who break down under the false guidance of incompetent trainers.
The Winning Try gave great emphasis on the importance of a good relationship between a reliable coach and an athlete. From Ju Ga-Ram's relationship with the rugby team to I-Ji's bond with U-Jin, the series portrays howgood coaches should be with their athletes. The coach is the catalyst to an athlete's career. An athlete needs the right guidance in order to succeed. No matter how talented you are, unless you have the right coach, you cannot go far. Both Ju Ga-Ram and I-ji cared about their kids (for this is how they viewed them) so much and they were willing to go to great lengths in order to support them.
In addition to the pressure that comes with bringing good results, through Seong-Jun and U-Jin's mothers, we see another obstacle that halts an athlete's progress: the pressure some parents will put on their children. In Seong-Jun's case, his mother disapproves of him playing rugby because she believes he won't get far and urges him to sacrifice his career in order to support his star football player brother. As for U-Jin, she tries to live up to her mother's dream, who was a former shooting player and who was unable to go far in her shooting career. We have two sides of the same coin: two mothers who ruin the mentality of their children for different reasons. One who doesn't support her child's dream of becoming a rugby player and one who sees her own child as a trophy in which she can object her bitterness for her career. The fact that the athletes felt safer and more comfortable around their coaches says a lot and it was emotional seeing how much Just Ga-Ram and I-Ji cared for them and showered them with the love and support they had been deprived from.
So, as you can probably see, I have praised The Winning Try a lot. It was a refreshing kdrama, with many important messages and one that I mostly enjoyed.
But unfortunately, I must say that even though I had a good time for the most part, it failed to become a favourite of mine as I initially expected.
First of all, the major problem with the series was the amount of subplots. We had so many issues going on at once and the story became messy. The preparations for the Nationals, Ju Ga-Ram's illness, Ju Ga-Ram and I-Ji's loveline, the villains schemings against the rugby team, the drama with the shooting team, the players' evolution...I get what the writers wanted to do but you cannot fit so many things in just 12 episodes and deliver a smooth result. Yes, most of these subplots connected with each other but some of them took too much screen time which could have been used for other aspects.
After the first two episodes, for the majority of the episodes, the drama started to focus less on the rugby team itself Yes, each episode had its own moments but it was as if their bond was not the heart of the series anymore. I totally understand that The Winning Try wouldn't center around the rugby team only. I also understand that we couldn't get them playing rugby matches in every single episode. If the audience wanted pure rugby, they could watch actual rugby matches instead. But it would have been nice to see them playing against other teams or watch them train more in order to observe their development and teamwork even better. We had three actual rugby matches and all of them were against the same school. At one point, you almost forgot you're supposed to watch a kdrama that advertised itself around rugby.
Unfortunately, due to the numerous subplots, the interactions between the rugby team weren't as many as in the first episodes. There were some nice moments here and there but at one point, their relationship was sidelined by the rest of the story. And that applies to their individual development. Besides Ung and Seong-Jun (and Yeong-Kwang, to some extent), the rest of the players got crumbs.
The politics and the drama with the shooting team frustrated me but for the wrong reasons. I didn't mind that the drama wanted to address the ugly side of the sports industry. But I got fed up by the amount of screen time the villains were getting. Too much time wasted on them circling around the rugby team's disband and Ju Ga-Ram's resign when we could have gotten more interactions between the rugby team and Ju Ga-Ram. Politics are nice and interesting but in a sports kdrama like The Winning Try, they dragged the story so much and made it less interesting. The actions of the vice principal felt way too cartoonish, I couldn't take his beef with the team and Ju Ga-Ram seriously. I understand his reasons and why he didn't approve of the rugby team but his philosophy regarding sports was explored in a very poor way.
At one point, the plot began going around in circles. When things seemed to settle, something bad would happen and the characters were called to find a way to solve it. It's a typical structure for kdramas but all of this drama felt way too tiring. I really wish the writers had toned it down. I especially disliked the subplot about Ju Ga-Ram's illness. Again, I understand that it was supposed to fuel the story and add more depth to Ju Ga-Ram's actions and emotions but honestly, had they kept the original concept of him doing dopping, the drama would have been far better. We wouldn't have to play this hide-and-seek game of him hiding his illness and we would see how he would make amends with everyone and grow as a person in the process.
Due to the various subplots and the limited screen time, some characters were not explored as much as they could have. I am very disappointed with how underutilized Seong-Jun's inferiority complex compared to his brother was. We should have seen more of him and the writers should have explored his feelings in more depth. He never had a proper confrontation with his mom and his character lacked some depth in some areas to make me fully connect with him. Another missed opportunity was Seol-Hyun and the aerobics coach. Both characters were handled in a rushed way, the writers clearly intended to make them appear evil at first only to be redeemed later but their writing felt superficial.
It's a pity I didn't get to love The Winning Try as much as many people did. I loved some aspects like the rugby team but they unfortunately couldn't make up for my lack of interest. I admit that the ending was satisfying and provided a proper closure but had the series been 16 episodes long, the plot would have developed more smoothly. Even though I overall liked the plot and the characters, I couldn't connect with them fully because the way they got explored did not allow me to feel anything deeper about them.
Nevertheless, The Winning Try remained a good watch and I recommend it if you're looking for something fun with important messages. I myself do not regret watching it so give it a try! Who knows, it might win your heart!
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