In the latest episodes, Team Racket Boys proclaim their passion for badminton and unity as a team.
Episodes 7 and 8 of Racket Boys warms our hearts with the team’s burning passion in the summer competition. Win or lose, the start of the competition marks a turning point in their lives as an athlete.
Marcie Line watches Racket Boys on Netflix
Episode recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 & 06 | 07 & 08
Racket Boys Episodes 7 & 8 Key Moments
Yoon Dam and Han Sol’s Disqualification
As the summer competition begins, Han Sol bumps into a senior whom she had a crush on before. Han Sol is teased by her ex-crush before and during their mixed doubles match. Han Sol’s ex-crush is their line judge during the match, and Han Sol is continually shaken by the taunts thrown at her. Yoon Dam, fed up by the offending remarks, defends Han Sol by punching their line judge.
They get disqualified from their match, but their coaches appeal to the officials and justify Yoon Dam defending Han Sol. Yoon Dam apologizes to Hae Kang, and Han Sol to Se Yoon. Both Se Yoon and Hae Kang accept their apologies and continue to prepare for their matches for the next days. After the summer competition, Yoon Dam and Han Sol appear to grow closer.
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Se Yoon and Hae Kang’s Experience of Defeat
Everyone assures Se Yoon that she will always win her match in the summer competition, and she accepts the coffee offered to her by an official. However, during her first match with Lee Na Ra, she loses. We see Lee Na Ra crying after the match, but Se Yoon, with a stoic expression, exits the court with her coach.
Coach Ra Yeong Ja states that she already noticed Se Yoon’s discomfort during the match was caused by the coffee she drank. Se Yoon explains to her coach that she accepted the coffee because most adults told her that skills were not enough to succeed. In her second match with Lee Na Ra, Se Yoon succeeds in regaining her win.
On the other hand, Hae Kang won his match against Gil Seon Gyun with the help of In Sol’s analysis. However, in his match against Park Chan, Hae Kang loses. Hae Kang’s teammates are amazed and puzzled by his reaction to his defeat. They are worried that Hae Kang did not react like his usual self, protesting when he loses a match.
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Woo Chan’s Acknowledged Passion for Badminton
Woo Chan is focused on watching videos of his past matches. He feels disheartened because he feels that he is not that good, and his father does not support his love for badminton. Watching closely the videos, Woo Chan notices that his father watches his matches. He pushes himself to do well in his present match to the point of injuring himself.
Knowing that his father is present again in his match, he walks out of the court after getting injured and searches for his father. He talks to his father and asserts his love for badminton. Woo Chan’s father then acknowledges his son’s passion for badminton.
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Yoon Hyeon Jong’s Efforts as a Coach
Coach Yoon has bad blood with the head coach of the national youth team. He avoids him at all costs. However, in the recent episodes, Coach Yoon approaches the head coach to persuade him that Yoon Dam is worthy of the national youth team. He gets belittled by his juniors for his outfit and the canned coffees he bought.
The head coach appreciates the efforts and sincerity of Coach Yoon, and scolds the other coaches who belittled him. Coach Yoon gets reassured by the head coach saying that skills are now more valuable than connections in today’s morals. Yoon Dam and Hae Kang are confirmed to be recruited in the national youth team for their potential.
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Yoon Hae Kang’s Decision to Stay
Yoon Hae Kang outsmarts Lee Seung Heon, and wins their match. Hae Kang’s teammates are disheartened because they believe that Hae Kang will choose baseball over badminton. They feel sad because of the possibility that Hae Kang will leave their team once he achieved beating Seon Gyun and having wifi installed in their house.
Unbeknownst to them, Hae Kang chooses to stay and continue his path as a badminton athlete. He greets his teammates at their barbecue party wearing a cast on one of his feet because of his injury he endured on the day of his match with Lee Seung Heon. Hae Kang proudly announces that he is now part of the national youth team and merrily eats at their barbecue party.
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Racket Boys Mid-Series Musings
In the earlier episodes, we were not sure whether badminton or baseball was closer to Hae Kang’s heart, but crossing the middle mark, it has been confirmed that Hae Kang really does love badminton more than baseball. Hae Kang’s baseball coach realized on his own that Hae Kang will choose badminton over baseball as he has never seen Hae Kang that frustrated in his matches at baseball.
We also see that In Sol’s sincerity touches his teammates’ hearts and his character becomes more appreciated in the series. As he helped in monitoring and suggesting tactics in his team’s matches, In Sol’s character develops from initially just being the unlikable nerd to a caring friend.
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What To Love In The Series So Far…
Aside from the summer badminton competition, the rift between the elders of the village and the city visitors has taught viewers valuable lessons on visiting rural places. This may serve as a reminder to people that they should respect the rules in the rural area. Being a city person does not permit anyone to disrespect the environment and the practices of the countryside. At this point of the series, the harmonious bond in the village opens the viewers’ eyes to appreciate the countryside life.
Coach Yoon’s conversation with the head coach was also inspiring. They have emphasized that skills should be the basis of judgment rather than connections. The series is commendable for always emphasizing the importance of staying away from ineffective practices that were common in the past. It allows people to feel optimistic about having equal opportunities in today’s society.
Reaching half of the series, we are given the hint that Park Chan may be a possible rival of Hae Kang for Se Yoon. Based on the past episodes, there is already a budding romance between Hae Kang and Se Yoon, and it is worth anticipating. Yoon Dam and Han Sol’s side romance is also worth the watch in the next episodes. The side romances in the series are refreshing and bubbly, creating a tingly feeling in the viewers’ hearts.
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The summer competition has finally ended with Hae Kang and Yoon Dam being accepted in the national youth team. Look forward to their experiences as athletes of the national youth team!
Watch the latest episodes of Racket Boys on SBS. English subtitles for international fans are available on Netflix.
Photos: SBS
