Racket Boys
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Racket Boys
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Racket Boys is a comedic Korean drama about teens and their families tackling tough issues as they battle their way towards badminton championships. While mostly about friendship, teamwork, and the pressures of being a student athlete, the show also tackles poverty, aging, discrimination, adjusting to a new community, and overcoming feelings of failure. Teens fistfight bullies; the actual fighting is not shown, but characters later have cuts and bruises. In one episode, a depressed married couple contemplates suicide and a pair of nooses is briefly shown but not used. Language includes profanity (e.g. "s--t," damn) and appearance-based insults (e.g. "ugly," "short"). Adults drink alcohol and youth discuss (but don't engage in) substance use. Korean characters often interact with characters from other countries; however, these interactions sometimes include microaggressions and problematic portrayals. At the same time, the show does attempt to challenge negative stereotypes about individuals from rural communities.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
RACKET BOYS follows the Haenam Seo Middle School badminton team as they rise the ranks towards junior championships, managing friendship and romance on the way. Former youth badminton star Yoon Hae Kang (Tang Jun-sang) reluctantly moves from Seoul to the village of Haenam when his father, Yoon Hyun Jong (Kim Sang-kyung), suddenly takes on a coaching job in an effort to make more money for his family. But when they arrive, Hyun Jong learns that this job will be short-lived unless he secures more funding by getting the team eligible for the National Youth Sports Competition. He'll need to recruit more members and improve the team's skill if he wants any chance of success. Meanwhile, Hae-Kang resists returning to badminton until the Haenam team members challenge his pride. Losing a bet, he joins the team and settles into forming new friendships, pursuing his past athlete glory, and navigating the unfamiliar world of rural living.
Is It Any Good?
This charming Korean drama balances an underdog sports story with a humorous, heartfelt look at the trials and tribulations of small-town life. Racket Boys makes sports fiction fun and accessible for viewers who want the thrill of watching athletic competition without the over-the-top, drawn-out "battle" scenes. Mix in a little bit of teen drama, light comedy, and occasional suspenseful mystery and you have a show that appeals to a wider audience. Older viewers will appreciate the nuanced looks at parenting, aging, and community relationships, while younger viewers will relate to characters' struggles with friendship, romance, and success in youth sports. A strong cast of supporting characters makes the long episodes still captivating with a number of interesting subplots that break up the occasional slog of Hyun Jong's ineffective coaching and the main teens' materialism and vanity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about loyalty and friendship. Three of the boys get into a fight to defend the youngest teammate. Their coach is made at all of them but only gives the punishment to the boy who didn't join the fight. What lessons do the boys learn from this moment?
Families can talk about suicide and mental health. While the teens in the show deal with pressures of growing up, the adults deal with financial and family pressures. What are healthy ways to cope with strong feelings and overcome negative experiences? What resources are available to help people who are struggling with mental health?
Families can talk about social media and screen time. What are the pros and cons to regularly using on social media? How can you take steps to protect yourself and your privacy when posting on social media?
Families can talk about discrimination, stereotypes, and diversity in media. What kinds of discrimination do the various characters face? How does the way media portrays people different from us influence our world view?
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 31, 2021
- Cast: Kim Sang-Kyung, Tang Jun-sang, Son Sang-yeon
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts, Middle School
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: January 18, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
-
Twenty Five Twenty One
Fun comic Korean series explores pressures on teens.
-
Boys Over Flowers
Lighthearted Korean drama features bullying, gossip.
-
Crazy Rich Asians
Messages, role models stand out in culture-clash romcom.
For kids who love anime
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate