23/06/2025

LYFE MONDAY | JUNE 23, 2025

25

TV SHOW REVIEW

0 Director: Shim Na yeon 0 Cast: Park Bo-gum, Kim So-hyun, Lee Sang-yi E-VALUE 6 ACTING 7 PLOT 8

K -DRAMA Good Boy directed by Shim Na-yeon delivers a knockout combination of action and emotion, fronted by a trio of talented stars Park Bo-gum, Kim So-hyun and Lee Sang-yi. With its unique plot rooted in the gritty world of Olympic-level boxing and the unconventional path of its central characters, the series offers more than the typical underdog sports tale. Set against the backdrop of a special police unit made up of former athletes, Good Boy follows Yoon Dong-joo (played by Park Bo-gum), an ex-boxer who once brought home gold for South Korea. After an incident threatens his career and future, he is recruited into this elite force alongside other medalists, turning gloves and gear into cuffs and combat boots. with emotional performances in When Life Gives You Tangerines , Park Bo-gum returns in a role that lets him breathe a little easier, literally and figuratively. Dong-joo is still cool and skilled, but what makes him stand out is his warmth. His sweet smile, easy-going charm and subtle humour add layers to a character that could have easily been reduced to a typical tough guy. It is a refreshing shift from the tear-streaked, brooding roles he tackled before. Of course, his boxing scenes are still impressive, thanks to the training he committed to. But it is the mix of action and personality that makes this performance one of his most likeable yet. While Kim So-hyun is no stranger to emotionally charged roles, Good Boy pushes her into new territory with physical action sequences and intense standoffs. Her portrayal balances strength and vulnerability, especially in scenes where Ji-hyun questions the system and fights for justice, not just with her fists but her values. As for Lee Sang-yi, known for bringing humour and depth to his supporting roles, Lee adds a vital comedic rhythm to Good Boy, often acting as the glue between Bo-gum’s stoicism and So-hyun’s intensity. His chemistry with the two leads is natural and adds a necessary lightness to the darker Ű BY THASHINE SELVAKUMARAN Characters with depth After winning hearts

Park plays Yoon Dong-ju, an Olympic gold medallist.

Fighting spirit o Good Boy packs punch with heart, humour, unique plot rooted in Olympic-level boxing

insight on the making of the series and how they approached their characters. Park shared that preparing to play a national boxing champion was no easy feat. “My role is a former boxer who is a gold medallist,” he said. “To prepare for this role, I learned and trained in boxing for about six months.” He said he did strength and endurance training with Lee. Kim revealed that Good Boy allowed her to explore action for the first time on-screen. When asked if there was a particular scene she found especially memorable while filming, she said: “In the first episode, there is a scene where bad guys break into my house. That was my first-ever action scene. Even though it was filmed quite a while ago, I still remember feeling nervous and excited. Even though it is lacking but I think I did quite well.” New episodes of Good Boy are released every Saturday and Sunday on Prime Video.

moments in the series.

Series with substance One of the show’s biggest strengths lies in its pacing. The pilot episode kicks off with an adrenaline-pumping fight scene, but the series’ appeal lies in how it explores trauma and the unusual friendship among its leads. The combination of heartfelt backstories and dynamic fight choreography creates a gripping balance of substance. However, there are moments when the storyline risks falling into predictable K-drama territory, especially with its familiar setup of “trauma-fuelled hero turned protector”. Some early side characters feel a bit underwritten, but given it is still early in the series, there is plenty of time for deeper development. Interview with cast theSun a roundtable interview of Good Boy cast members Park and Kim to get participated in

Good Boy is a South Korean action-comedy TV series written by Lee Dae-il.

Kim captivates audiences with her role as Ji Han-na. – ALL PICS FROM PRIME VIDEO

Lee takes on a bold, action-packed role in this series.