The Winning Try – K-Drama Episode 1 Recap & Review
Episode 1 of The Winning Try begins at a rugby game between Korea and Japan at Seoul Asiad Stadium in 2022. The team's ace, Ju Ga-ram, leads the team to victory. However, the celebration is short-lived since Ga-ram is roped into a doping scandal. Ga-ram forfeits his gold medal and retires from the union.
Three years later, coaches from Ga-ram's former school, led by the vice principal, are rallying for the cancellation of the rugby program at the school. The team has not won a single game for years, and as of the moment, the team does not have a coach.
The vice principal suggests transferring the rugby players to other teams, and if that's not possible, they can be transferred to another school. The vice principal makes a compelling case for the removal, but the principal, Kang Jeong-ho, has already hired a coach. Just then, Ga-ram enters the meeting, and the principal introduces him as the new coach for the school's rugby team.
The teachers protest Ga-ram's appointment due to the doping scandal. However, even though he was dismissed from the union as an athlete, he has the certification and can legally be a coach.
The office gets a call from the rugby stadium, where the players are stranded because their practice match is on hold. The opposing coach refuses to participate in the game without a coach. Ga-ram and the principal go to the stadium to deal with the issue.
However, upon seeing that their new coach is Ga-ram, the team captain, Seong-jun, forfeits the match and asks the players to leave the field.
Later, Ga-ram reminisces in the rugby room, which has not changed since his time at Hanyang High School. In the past, Ga-ram was diagnosed with a disease that reduced mobility in his arms, legs, and affected the respiratory system. Now, he has to deal with the hate from the teachers and the players.
In addition, he also has to deal with an angry ex-girlfriend, I-ji. Three years ago, Ga-ram ghosted her for three years without a word. Ga-ram jokes that since he never asked to break up, I-ji is technically his girlfriend.
Ga-ram runs away, and I-ji runs into the shooting head coach, Jeong-ho. Jeong-ho scolds her for the BBs spread on the floor. He looks down on her for still insisting on playing when she is not half as good as the top shooting students, Woo-jin and Seol-hyun, and asks I-ji to clean their guns. Afterwards, she should drive him home since he is going out for drinks.
The situation is dire for the rugby team. Coach Kim left them, and because Ga-ram was expelled from the union, he could not write recommendation letters for the players. Therefore, college admission or entry to a pro team will be an individual's effort. Consequently, they plan to get back their coach, so the next day, they skip school and go to Daesang High to talk to Mr. Kim.
The players think the school pressured Mr. Kim to quit, but are shocked to learn that he left for self-preservation. He tells them they escaped, so they could not ruin his coaching career. The team has not won a single game in years.
Ga-ram arrives and speaks up for them against Mr. Kim. However, he is not here out of the goodness of his heart, but because the whole team is to be punished for skipping school, and he did not want to go alone.
The vice principal, aerobics coach Heung-nam, and the shooting coach Nak-gyun are working together to force the removal of the rugby team from the school. The coaches want the budget allocated to the rugby team redistributed to their respective teams. In contrast, the Vice Principal intends to use the opportunity to get a promotion to school principal.
Since talking to the principal did not work, they decided to resort to threats using a powerful parent, Mr. Na. He is the PTA head and the deputy superintendent of education. Mr. Na hands the principal a petition for Ga-ram's dismissal.
The vice principal and Nak-gyun suck up to Mr. Na. They give in to his every request, including that of his daughter Seol-hyun. When his daughter asks for a training partner, they force Woo-jin, who has already completed her training for the day, to accompany her.
The other coaches and captains oppress the rugby team during the meeting to determine the schedule for team practices. When Ga-ram stands up to speak for the team, the vice principal tells him he is suspended since the PTA put forth a motion to suspend him. Therefore, he cannot represent the rugby team until the voting and his fate are decided.
Next, it turns out that the team captain is so opposed to Ga-ram because he used to be his idol. Seong-jun was at the final match between Korea and Japan, cheering on Ga-ram. Therefore, he feels betrayed because the scandal ruined rugby. However, the reason why Ga-ram took the medicine was that the coach forced him. He had chosen not to participate in the final game because of his health problems, but the coach could not take the chance of losing the final.
The following day, the rugby team practices at the edge of the field. The track and field team picks a fight and ends up at the teacher's office for punishment. The vice principal bans the rugby team from training until further notice.
Without a coach and no practice, since Seong-jun voted to kick out Ga-ram, the rugby team is tasked with preparing for the rite of passage ceremony. The vice principal is determined to end the rugby team, so they do not give them a space at the table.
However, Ga-ram does not plan to go out quietly. He makes his point in a rebellious and explosive way during the ceremony by pitching a six o'clock pass directly into the pig's cake head, covering the vice principal and Nak-gyun in icing and cream.
The Episode Review
The first episode is entertaining as it ticks all the boxes of what makes a sports drama exciting. There is an underdog team that has to fight its way on the field and outside.
Their coach is also an underdog who is partly to blame for the team's humiliation. The coach and the team must work together and fight for a second chance to be recognised. There is a romantic angle between Ga-ram and I-ji, and a touch of school politics to keep us engaged.
Will this team rise from the pits of desolation, abandonment, hate, humiliation, and loss? We must stick around to find out.
Next Episode
Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
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