For quite a chatty series, Mental Coach Jegal smartly assimilated humor in its narrative full of pep talks.
It surprisingly stays you glued to the story because you feel the need to support the characters and be there to witness them achieve their dreams.
abbyinhallyuland watches Mental Coach Jegal on Viu
Opening Week Rating:
The Striking Building Featured In “Mental Coach Jegal” Is In Futuristic City of Songdo
Mental Coach Jegal Opening Week Story
Famous mental coach Gil Jegal is a success story that anyone can be interested in. From being expelled as a National Taekwondo artist, he turned a new leaf and has since converted memories of his mentally unstable self to something lucrative.
When his best friend reached out to him to help his younger sister, Ga-eul, who is a short-track speedskater; he agreed owing to the friendship they shared.
However, Ga-eul has deep-seated wounds that make her a hard-to-crack case. When an athlete he gave counseling took her own life, Jegal is driven to ensure Ga-eul does not suffer the same fate.
Initially refusing his help, Ga-eul slowly opens up and take in Jegal’s pieces of advice. She was also introduced to No Medal Club, a friendship circle of former athletes who once have glorious dreams like her, but suffered physical injuries and emotional pains that made them retire for good.
“Just live for the day.”
To qualify for a national team slot, Ga-eul had to raise points. But it is a Herculean task since the skaters from a prestigious sports college are being mentored by the National team coach, Oh Dal-sung, who also trained her before. Their relationship fell apart when Ga-eul signed up with a private company after winning a gold medal at a world event.
Often treated as an outcast, Ga-eul requires all the luck in the world since the evil Coach Oh includes blocking Ga-eul’s path in every way possible so as not to get a spot on the National team.
Aside from that, he also predetermines the skaters’ roles and who the team will pour effort into for the goal of securing the Olympic gold medal.
In the preliminary events, Ga-eul sadly lost and even cut her thigh due to the underhand means of Coach Oh. Having no other choice but to proceed with the last two events, she took Jegal’s advice to finish the race even when she was again attacked by fellow competitors under Coach Oh’s ministration.
Discovering Coach Oh’s penchant for emotionally harassing and physically assaulting athletes; Jegal executes a plan with No Gold Medal club members. They expose his wickedness to the public.
Along with that, it also revealed one of the already selected national team members engaged in bribery. Thus, giving a chance for Ga-eul to a spot on the national team.
Mental Coach Jegal Opening Week Musings
If you like healing stories that make sense, Mental Coach Jegal is surely a perfect fit. It surprisingly sedates you to stay and witness what will happen credit to the actors who embodied their characters well.
Truth be told, I was not expecting anything when I picked this series for the first impression feature. So, I’m delighted that I was showered with positivity and thought-provoking nudges that are applicable not just to athletes, but to any person struggling with any small or big concerns.
Notably, it also bravely tackled preferential treatment and disheartening moments happening then and even now for national-level athletes. Hopefully, it sparks a ripple of change to probe deeper into the gaps overlooked in the program provided for national athletes.
Eradicating it is honestly far-fetched but doable. So, the series does a great job providing a possible workaround and presenting the people involved in this debilitating situation.
Impressively, there is a surplus of encouraging lines highlighted in the series so far. When there’s much optimism, any story is worth tuning into.
Coach Jegal somehow represents someone we all need to have when the going gets tough. His words about giving up his dream and choosing a different route thereafter, to find his purpose to live, resonates with anyone.
Jung Woo has so far done a great job coloring Jegal’s growth from being a hopeless whiner to becoming a motivator helping people who are like him in the past. Evidently, we still need to see him fully move past the angst towards Young-to that we know he still keeps in his heart.
His upcoming task to be a coach to athletes promises delightful and reassuring moments that viewers can benefit from.
Breathing life to an athlete in a slump, Lee Yoo Mi impressed with her grit and vulnerability. Her interaction and story with Coach Jegal primarily drive the narrative. And it’s hard not to volunteer to be invisible members of the team backing her up.
Supporting characters portrayed by Kwon Yul and Park Se Young add fun and excitement to the series.
Be inspired to succeed after accepting failures and setbacks as seen in the beautifully captured characters of Mental Coach Jegal. International fans can watch it on Viu and tvN Asia.
Photos: tvN Drama
*This First Look feature covers episodes 1 to 3 of the series.
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