JTBC's 'Good Boy' actor Park Bo-gum is making a significant impact. From the first broadcast, which was filled with heart-pounding action that raised adrenaline levels, it recorded a nationwide rating of 4.8% and 5.7% in the metropolitan area, signaling a 'good start'. (Provided by Nielsen Korea, based on paid households)
The JTBC weekend drama 'Good Boy', which unveiled on the 31st, captivated the home audience with an intense immersion that exceeded expectations from the very first episode. Above all, Park Bo-gum's new face, charging fearlessly towards justice, left a strong impression. Following a bloody confrontation with a hit-and-run driver, he dove into a criminal organization with a mouthpiece engraved with 'JUSTICE', showcasing a dramatic transformation into 'Yoon Dong-joo' that revealed the essence of passionate youth. Moreover, his seemingly reckless yet pure 200% sense of justice harmoniously blended with the rough action sequences he executed smoothly, making it impossible to look away.
The presence of Kim So-hyun, Lee Sang-yi, Heo Sung-tae, and Tae Won-seok, who brought the reality of national heroes facing the walls of reality to life with delicate emotional performances, also shone brightly. Kim So-hyun played 'Ji Han-na', a shooting genius relegated to a promotional role, while Lee Sang-yi portrayed 'Kim Jong-hyun', a cold and logical elite inspector. Heo Sung-tae depicted 'Go Man-sik', who endured being kicked by the chief, and Tae Won-seok played 'Shin Jae-hong', who aimed for a promotion for his family, each illustrating the harsh reality of police officers carrying their own burdens after the glory of their heated past. In particular, the simultaneous explosive ending action sequence strongly imprinted their specialties, causing heart rates to soar. The ending, which blended the intense punches of boxing, the quiet yet explosive gunfire of shooting, the agile movements reminiscent of fencing, the tenacity of wrestling, and the power of discus throwing, heightened expectations for the future activities of the 'Good Avengers'.
The broadcast opened with the hottest moments of Yoon Dong-joo, Ji Han-na, Kim Jong-hyun, Go Man-sik, and Shin Jae-hong. During their time as national representatives, they enjoyed the glory of victory on their respective podiums. However, once the torch was extinguished, heroes are often forgotten. They became police officers through special recruitment, but the reality was extremely cold. Unable to tolerate injustice, Yoon Dong-joo was demoted to a police officer and sidelined. Ji Han-na was only mobilized for promotional efforts to improve the police agency's image, while Kim Jong-hyun faced friction with team members due to whistleblowing. Go Man-sik struggled financially as a 'goose dad', and Shin Jae-hong volunteered for a lowly traffic department to make a living. Moreover, they were often looked down upon as special recruits within the organization.
However, the hearts of these individuals, thought to be extinguished, were reignited. The catalyst was the 'Rabbit Hunt' operation aimed at eradicating the largest crime organization in Inseong, the 'Golden Rabbit Gang'. Chief Jo Pan-yeol (Kim Eung-soo) led this large-scale operation with media exposure in mind, deploying the maximum number of personnel under the Inseong Police Agency. However, Yoon Dong-joo and Go Man-sik, who were not part of the plan, interfered and ruined the operation, becoming outcasts within the organization amid the ridicule and scorn of their colleagues and the humiliating gatherings of their superiors.
Yet, while Yoon Dong-joo was lying in wait under the scorching sun to make up for this, another incident occurred. The moment he stepped out of the car to catch his breath, an unidentified vehicle crashed into him and fled. Stuck in the mud, Yoon Dong-joo chased after the driver but lost him, only to find a deceased victim who had already been hit by the vehicle. While checking the imprint of the vehicle's grill on his backside, Yoon Dong-joo felt a sense of déjà vu. It was the same vehicle he had seen in the Golden Rabbit Gang's smuggling-related materials from the special investigation team. Only one of this vehicle had been imported into the country, and the list lacked the buyer's information. Sensing a connection between this vehicle and the Golden Rabbit Gang, Yoon Dong-joo began to fervently pursue the case.
At the moment Yoon Dong-joo rushed to the paint factory after receiving a tip-off about the hit-and-run driver, Kim Jong-hyun discovered that the 'Rabbit Hunt' operation had been leaked. Moreover, the victim who died in the hit-and-run was a customs officer who had reported the Golden Rabbit Gang's smuggling activities. While hurrying to Ji Han-na, who had the victim's belongings, Kim Jong-hyun was attacked by an assailant but subdued him with a baton. Nearby, Shin Jae-hong, who was directing traffic, threw a manhole cover at a speeding vehicle that threatened Kim Jong-hyun, which he had been keeping an eye on. Ji Han-na took down the intruders who broke into her home with a paint gun. Meanwhile, Go Man-sik, realizing that Yoon Dong-joo was in danger at the paint factory, requested support from the special investigation team's Ahn Dae-yong (Han Kyu-won), who promised to help if he could defeat him, and delivered a refreshing throw. Confronted by the Golden Rabbit Gang, Yoon Dong-joo delivered a righteous punch.
This intense ending transcended mere action sequences, capturing the moment when the 'Good Avengers' each grasped justice again for their own reasons. The moment when boxing, shooting, fencing, wrestling, and discus throwing, each with different styles and weights, intersected and connected as one team was electrifying. The direction of the scenes where the glory of their past as national representatives overlapped with the reality of the present was exquisite. Although the torch had been extinguished, their hearts remained hot, and justice began to move again, igniting even greater anticipation for the next episode.
JTBC's weekend drama 'Good Boy' episode 2 will air on the 1st at 10:30 PM.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
