The National Juniors Sports Festival has finally begun and an athlete from 10 years ago comes back to Haenam in the latest episode of Racket Boys.
Athletes from the Jeonnam province including the boys from Haenam Seo are ready to show off their skills in the national competition. They succeed in winning in their matches and move closer to the finals. Kang Tae-seon (Kang Seung Yoon) comes back to Haenam, and sparks questions on his return.
Marcie Line watches Racket Boys on Netflix
Episode recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 & 06 | 07 & 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Racket Boys Episode 13 Key Moments
“Nothing is free in this world, you know.”
After receiving a new car, the boys from Haenam Seo are tasked to help in the fields by Big Gran’s daughter, Shin Song-hee. Just right in time for a visit in Haenam, their old teammate Jae-seok and Park Chan join them in the fields. Yong Tae awakens the rivalry between Park Chan and Hae Kang in order to speed up everyone’s work.
Meanwhile, Coach Ra is troubled with the schedule of the World Championships and the National Juniors Sports Festival or NJSF. The day of Se Yoon’s match in the World Championships in Bangkok and the NJSF overlaps. Coach Ra is worried and decides to let Se Yoon drop out at the semi-finals of the NJSF.
“I’m a huge coward. You know I can’t even go to the bathroom by myself late at night. But I’ve been waiting for you here.”
After losing in a game, Se Yoon is assigned to go pick up some melons from Mr. Hong. Park Chan uses up his wish and joins Se Yoon in picking up the melons. On their way back to the house, Park Chan shares his goal to Se Yoon on becoming a national athlete together with her. He also worries that he might be making her uncomfortable before the NJSF now that he has a rival.
Hae Kang suddenly rises from the side, and Park Chan decides to head back first. Se Yoon and Hae Kang stay for a moment as the latter shares how he chose to wait outside late at night even though he is a coward. He then proceeds to reveal the secret he was supposed to tell Se Yoon after winning in the NJSF earlier. He tells Se Yoon he plans to confess his feelings to her, and he just couldn’t hold back himself at present.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CROm2OtNFVE/
“Of course, it would be nice to win. But people don’t always win, you know. That doesn’t mean they didn’t work hard.”
The boys from Haenam Seo share their role models one by one. Hae Kang tells everyone that his role model is the pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong, but he adds another person as his role model. He shares that Yoon Hyeon Jong is also his role model for reminding his players that it’s okay to lose as they all worked hard and did their best.
A scout from Seoul individually recruits Se Yoon and Hae Kang, but both of them reject the offer. Hae Kang shares to the scout that he prefers to be part of a team where it’s okay to lose and members can support each other. On the other hand, Se Yoon tells the scout that she wishes to stay at Haenam and she already has her best partner, Lee Han Sol.
“I thought about what I should say to make you feel better. I couldn’t think of anything except ‘Don’t worry and cheer up.’ But that’s something others can say too.”
Han Sol grows cold to Se Yoon after being tense for the upcoming matches in the NJSF. In their tournament match with Busan, Han Sol wins the match but still worries about facing Lee Nara without Se Yoon.
After being teased by Nara, Han Sol’s teammates are disheartened in cheering for her match. However, the boys from Haenam Seo liven up the atmosphere and influence the others to loudly cheer for Han Sol. Inevitably, she wins the semi-finals match against Incheon, and Yoon Dam comforts her with a hug at night.
“I still haven’t apologized, but she said it’s okay. They raised me like their own after you left, and she said it’s okay.”
Kang Tae-seon receives a call from Coach Noh while working at a convenience store. Coach Noh tells him that someone wishes to meet with him, and Tae-seon assumes it is Coach Bae. However, it turns out to be Coach Bae’s wife.
She tells Tae-seon that there are people saying that he came back for revenge or to play badminton again, but for her, she believes that he came back to apologize to Coach Bae. Tae-seon emotionally apologizes, and Coach Bae’s wife suggests that he say that in person since Coach Bae visited his deceased mother.
Tae-seon cries while speaking to his deceased mother about how he was forgiven by Coach Bae’s wife despite what he did in the past. Coach Bae asks him what he wants to do at present, and Tae-seon responds that he wishes to become a national athlete. Coach Bae encourages him in pursuing his goal, and willingly offers himself to train him on becoming a national athlete.
“I really want to play the game.”
Coach Fang notices how Se Yoon hastily wishes to finish her final match with New Zealand, and he reminds her to take it easy because she might injure herself. Se Yoon wins her match and she pleads to the coaches that she wants to play at the NJSF. They arrive at the airport, but their flight from Thailand is delayed because of heavy rains.
Racket Boys Episode 13 Musings
The man from the end of episode 12 turns out to be Kang Tae-seon, who is portrayed by Kang Seung Yoon. Tae-seon’s motive for coming back to Haenam is finally revealed, and it’s great that it was not for any ill intention. It is heartwarming to see how he apologized and was forgiven after years of remaining silent with Coach Bae’s incident.
Kang Seung Yoon’s acting is commendable as his cry in one of this episode’s scenes radiates the character’s feelings. He is also a member of the boy group Winner, and it’s really great that he excels both in singing and acting.
Hae Kang is blessed to have parents like Coach Yoon and Coach Ra. They may have shortcomings, but nonetheless, the morals they impart especially in sports are really valuable. Coach Yoon’s take on losing can really comfort a lot of people because truly, defeat is not a sign that you didn’t do your best.
Han Sol seems to be pressured and hurt at the same time how people around her make her feel that she’s nothing without Se Yoon. It’s sad to see how that pushes Han Sol to grow cold to Se Yoon after always being warm and friendly with her. We shall hope to see Han Sol believe in herself more and restore her close bond with Se Yoon.
As the finals for the National Juniors Sports Festival draw closer, viewers shall anticipate how the results would affect Se Yoon’s relationship with Hae Kang and Park Chan. We shall also see what will happen with Han Sol and Se Yoon’s friendship. Other than that, viewers shall look forward to Tae-seon’s training with Coach Bae on becoming a national athlete.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CROxcsoJZgp/
Catch the next episode of Racket Boys on SBS. English subtitles for international fans are available on Netflix.
Photos: SBS
[wpedon id=”3227″ align=”center”]
