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Mental Coach Jegal (2022) 멘탈코치 제갈길
Directed by Son Jeong-hyeon, starring Jung Woo and Lee Yoo-mi.
Watched 2 - 7 November 2022 — 16 episodes (DRAMACOOL)
MAIN CHARACTERS (description taken from Wikipedia):
Jung Woo as Jegal Gil, a mental healthcare coach and a former national Taekwondo athlete who quits sports due to an unprecedented scandal;
Lee Yoo-mi as Cha Ga-eul, a gold medalist short-track speed skater who aims to overcome a slump and to make a comeback;
Kwon Yul as Gu Tae-man, head of the Human Rights Center of the Sports Council and a former Taekwondo Olympic gold medalist;
Park Se-young as Park Seung-ha, a psychiatrist from the national sports team’s psychological support team;
Moon Yoo-kang as Lee Mu-gyeol, a leading South Korean swimmer;
Kim Do-yoon as Cha Mu-tae, brother of Cha Ga-eul.
*Finished the show last night and have mixed feelings about this one. I really like the mental coaching and life lessons, and the sport world setting. I also loved the main characters, and Jung Woo gives a good and convincing performance again.
*I didn’t like the fact that the main focus shifted to the higher-ups and the corruption within the sport’s world, and some characters like Lee Mu-gyeol (the swimmer) didn’t even get screen time anymore.
*I already read a lot of comments online of viewers who are dissatisfied with the love relationship between Gil and Ga-eul. Although I didn’t hate the fact that they ended up as a couple as much as other people do — because they have nice chemistry and I don’t mind the age gap (which is only 12 years anyway) — I was rooting for Dr. Park to become a couple with Gil. I really liked them together, and the show also teases the viewer by devoting lovely scenes to the couple in the last episodes. I loved their goodbyes in front of the No Medal Club building and Dr. Park walking away in tears. Also loved the scene where she sits at Gil’s bedside at the hospital, crying and confessing she likes him.
*I also wanted Ga-eul to end up with Lee Mu-gyeol, but alas.
*Coach Oh was an annoying and pathetic character, and the performance was a bit over the top. It was also tiresome how many times he came back, every time thinking this must be the end of him.
*At least they could have given Dr. Park a last scene with Tae-man, who has feelings for her, so we could fantasise about a possible romance between them, lol.
*I liked the redemption of Tae-man’s character (maybe a bit too abrupt), and totally loved the kick-ass scenes with the three Taekwondo national athletes (Gil, Tae-man and Mu-tae) beating the crap out of the evil Assemblyman’s thugs. Loved the bromance here, much more than any scenes between our main romantic couple.
*Also liked the No Medal Club very much, the series could have given more screen time to them.
*Love the growth Ga-eul goes through and her healing process. I liked her happy moments and she was quite adorable at times.
*Though the ending is overall fairly satisfying, it’s still the wrong girl Gil ends up with. I would have preferred a platonic relationship between him and Ga-eul.