This review may contain spoilers
"Tackles, Tears & Try-Hards: The Winning Try Scores Big!" ?✨
🎬 What makes “The Winning Try” a winning ride so far
The ultimate underdog sports story, built around rugby—a bold first for a K‑drama. Coach Joo Ga‑ram (Yoon Kye‑sang) steps in to save Hanyang High's perpetually losing (25‑loss season, anyone?) rugby team from getting disbanded
Perfectly cast lead chemistry: Yoon Kye‑sang’s quick‑witted, eccentric coach full of one‑liners and awkward charm meets Kim Yo‑han’s stern, perfectionist team captain who despises being coached by his disgraced hero—sparks fly in the best way
Second‑chance vibes for days: Joo Ga‑ram’s disgraced past—once MVP of Korean rugby now ruined by a doping scandal—fuels his redemption arc as he rebuilds not just the team, but his own purpose?
🎠Highlights of premier emotions and standout moments
Episode 1 immediately hooks with high‑stakes drama, sports action, and emotional layers that make you care—about everyone. You’ll feel like you know them in an hour. Writer Im Jin‑ah’s story hits hard while keeping the levity
Coach vs. Faculty showdown: Joo Ga‑ram clashes with cunning school admin (enter Vice Principal Seong Jong‑man played by Kim Min‑sang), who’d rather alphabet‑ize budget cuts than value rugby sweat and dreams
Throwing a rugby pass into a pig-head cake during a serious school ritual? Iconic. It’s exactly the kind of off‑beat humor that says “don’t expect predictability”
💬 Why I’m totally hooked (so should you)
Coach Ga‑ram is a riot: Every scene he’s in is a lesson in deadpan delivery, expressive faces, and bizarre motivational tactics. Yoon Kye‑sang returns to SBS after 18 years—and he’s back with a bang
Team vibes! The ragtag rugby crew includes a wide ensemble of young actors who bring energy and authenticity. Their early training scenes hype the athletic intensity already
Heart over hype: No flashy celebrity match‑ups—just flawed humans, family drama, rivalry, and that steaming hot quest to win the National Sports Festival and save the team (and reputations)
Final thoughts: what to expect next
If Episode 1 is any indication, this show is serving up laughs, heart, and the thrill of second chances—all in a sweaty jersey. Expect training montages, intense school politics, clashing personalities, and heartfelt growth. Coach Ga‑ram is running head‑first into the beliefs, souls, and stubbornness of his students—and it’s a treat watching them finally learn to tackle life as a team.
The ultimate underdog sports story, built around rugby—a bold first for a K‑drama. Coach Joo Ga‑ram (Yoon Kye‑sang) steps in to save Hanyang High's perpetually losing (25‑loss season, anyone?) rugby team from getting disbanded
Perfectly cast lead chemistry: Yoon Kye‑sang’s quick‑witted, eccentric coach full of one‑liners and awkward charm meets Kim Yo‑han’s stern, perfectionist team captain who despises being coached by his disgraced hero—sparks fly in the best way
Second‑chance vibes for days: Joo Ga‑ram’s disgraced past—once MVP of Korean rugby now ruined by a doping scandal—fuels his redemption arc as he rebuilds not just the team, but his own purpose?
🎠Highlights of premier emotions and standout moments
Episode 1 immediately hooks with high‑stakes drama, sports action, and emotional layers that make you care—about everyone. You’ll feel like you know them in an hour. Writer Im Jin‑ah’s story hits hard while keeping the levity
Coach vs. Faculty showdown: Joo Ga‑ram clashes with cunning school admin (enter Vice Principal Seong Jong‑man played by Kim Min‑sang), who’d rather alphabet‑ize budget cuts than value rugby sweat and dreams
Throwing a rugby pass into a pig-head cake during a serious school ritual? Iconic. It’s exactly the kind of off‑beat humor that says “don’t expect predictability”
💬 Why I’m totally hooked (so should you)
Coach Ga‑ram is a riot: Every scene he’s in is a lesson in deadpan delivery, expressive faces, and bizarre motivational tactics. Yoon Kye‑sang returns to SBS after 18 years—and he’s back with a bang
Team vibes! The ragtag rugby crew includes a wide ensemble of young actors who bring energy and authenticity. Their early training scenes hype the athletic intensity already
Heart over hype: No flashy celebrity match‑ups—just flawed humans, family drama, rivalry, and that steaming hot quest to win the National Sports Festival and save the team (and reputations)
Final thoughts: what to expect next
If Episode 1 is any indication, this show is serving up laughs, heart, and the thrill of second chances—all in a sweaty jersey. Expect training montages, intense school politics, clashing personalities, and heartfelt growth. Coach Ga‑ram is running head‑first into the beliefs, souls, and stubbornness of his students—and it’s a treat watching them finally learn to tackle life as a team.
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