Mental Coach Jegal: Episodes 7-8

10 October 4, 2022October 4, 2022

by missvictrix

Just when it looks like the good guys are finally winning, they face not only setbacks but betrayals. When our mental coach starts to second guess his own healing journey, will his mentees be able to change his mind?

EPISODES 7-8 WEECAP

I am still enjoying this drama lot, but I’ll admit I’m a little tired of the endless circles around Coach Oh, as well as the corrupt Olympic officials that never seem to get caught… and never seem to hold my interest. That being said, the drama did take our hero on an interesting path this week, and it’s very much like life to see all the ups and downs that our characters go through, just in the course of a single episode.

We open on a high note: Ga-eul welcomed with open arms at the No Medal Club, and soon, a new journal from Gil for her to fill out. She balks and doesn’t think much of writing down her feelings — never mind feeling them — but still, the bond that she and Gil now have is the highlight of the show. (As is his house/club being the place where struggling athletes come to crash and borrow sweats.)

And thank goodness for those two, because I’m losing patience when it comes to our baddies, and I’m not sure why. It’s not because they’re not hateable — they are. Maybe it’s because they’re just a little too flat? Coach Oh is the biggest @sshole character in a long time, and I honestly don’t know how many more times I’m willing to watch Gil and the No Medal Club go all out with the dramatics (risking life and limb) to take him down… only for him to win in the end.

We did it before, and we do it again this week. The No Medal Club members investigate, stakeout, hack, and get into a scrappy (hilarious) dog fight – but once again, even with the evidence stacked against him, Coach Oh runs free. The shin kick that Gil delivers to him in frustration was very satisfying, and yet not satisfying enough. What I’m craving is a change in the story’s tempo. I don’t want to feel like I’m on a hamster wheel. Let’s get rid of this tool and move on already!

Where we do have some significant development is with Gil. Riding high on their successful sting operation to gather evidence against Coach Oh — before they even know they’re going to fail a second time — Gil meets something far worse: betrayal.

First, he and the No Medal Club learn that their elaborate plans to expose Coach Oh’s match rigging and illegal gambling was actually all masterminded by Tae-man, who shows up to gloat. It turns out all of that coming to light gets rid of his political rival — so Gil inadvertently wound up doing exactly what he didn’t want to: serving Tae-man’s ulterior motive.

But that’s not the only blow to Gil’s psyche. Moo-tae, after being taunted and tempted and threatened by Tae-man and Coach Oh, finally gives in. He becomes their dog — all to support his struggling family — and Gil is utterly broken. The scene could have packed a little more punch for me, but still, that puppy heartbreak in Gil’s eyes sold the whole thing.

The betrayal — along with Dr. Park’s criticisms of his behavior and mental health — sends Gil into a tailspin. And as much as I don’t like to see it, it did feel authentic. How can I help anyone else when I can’t even help myself? he wonders. In the midst of all this, in a deal with Tae-man, he chooses to resign as mental coach in exchange for the hard-fought evidence to be used again Coach Oh. Tae-man, snake that he is, promises to get rid of Coach Oh, but saving his own skin comes first, and he doesn’t follow through in the end. He’s awful. And worse than that, he’s also boring. Come on, Show, you can do better with your villains!

Where the show is really blossoming, though, is with our two young athletes. Watching Ga-eul’s healing unfold thus far has been heartwarming and adorable, and instead of a miserably clammed up girl, we now have an open and more mature young woman. She seeks out Gil’s counsel on her own now, and knows when she needs it — that self-awareness is a major win, as is watching her finally stand up against Coach Oh. You go, girl!

I also love how the show has handled Mu-gyeol’s arc. His brief but wild stint with Gil as his mental coach was like nothing he had ever experienced before. Harsh, maybe, but it did the job. And whether it was shoving him in the water or teaching him how to fail (with the help of the No Medal Club!), it’s nice to see Mu-gyeol get the exact counsel he needs. Gil has a lot of insight on Mu-gyeol’s issues, and he might bristle in Gil’s presence at first, but he quickly learns that Gil is right. We’ve seen Mu-gyeol go from arrogant to broken, and now, by end of Episode 8, he’s a little softer, kinder, and ready to accept counseling from his new “personal” mental coach.

I also like the rekindled relationship between Ga-eul and Mu-gyeol — they’re still drawn to each other, but unlike the sharp edges and claws of the past, now they’re able to sit together on the same bench (or couch!) and talk, apologize, and put the past behind them. Their cute little pre-romance moments lightened up an episode that focused a lot on Gil’s defeat, and it struck a good balance.

I’m a bit torn with the drama’s pacing, though. It feels almost as if it’s trying to do too much, or pull too many threads together all at once, and by the end of an episode it feels like more has happened than I can even fit in my brain — and the editing style of this drama doesn’t help it feel any more cohesive.

With so many colorful characters who I really feel for and want to see more of — Ga-eul, Mu-gyeol, Young-to, Moo-tae — the plot spends too much time orchestrating events around them instead of just letting us linger with them and watch their stories unfold. For instance, that moment where Ga-eul runs to greet Gil and just has this gigantic smile on her face — and he’s so touched — I want more of that, and I want to have time in those moments, to explore the character growth and their interactions with each other. So, more time spent with heart-to-hearts on benches and couches, Show, and less time with unnecessary villains!

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1 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️

October 4, 2022 at 8:31 PM

@missvictrix thanks for the speedy weecap on this. I have been wondering what is going on with Viki my end as a lot of the dramas are being released later and later in the day. Episode eight is only available raw on HiTV and not accessible on Viki until later today. I am so gutted as this is the most anticipated episode of the series so far for me😱 I am hoping beyond hope we have a double agent situation. When they finally release it I will read the weecap and respond fully.

I am loving this drama as I was literally screaming at the screen on two occasions firstly when fumbling woman didn’t read the room and just leave when she couldn’t get her meal 😂 and when our double agent (jebal jebal kneeling hands rubbing together in pleading pose) walked in the room.
I am hard hearted in response to Gaeul’s mum crying over her abused daughter’s sleeping body. These tears were wasted on me but it would have been horrendous for her son to witness.

I will be back for round two.

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knewbie

October 4, 2022 at 8:56 PM

I haven't managed to watch ep8 either. I'm more sorry for Ga-eul's mum than the middle-class mums, cos she and her family have far fewer options. But I must say her speech to Moo-tae is as self-incriminating as it is sad. For me, the speech is a small but shining example of the exceptional quality of this show's writing. In a few words (and of course Gil Hae-yeon's great acting), it captures the woman's love, pain and fear, and - in her pointless struggle to reconcile Ga-eul's ordeal with her belief that good athletes don't get hit by their coaches - her utter blinkeredness.

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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️

October 4, 2022 at 9:19 PM

I agree poverty and the loss of her husband’s support due to the effects of the head injury makes her much more vulnerable and powerless. Both the son and Gil were powerless when they were in the situation and still can’t find a way out so it’s not about gender or physical strength. However, there are some things children need to develop into competent adults and that includes a sense they are loved, and safe. She was not able to provide emotional or physical safety during those times. Knowing her mother couldn’t/wouldn’t protect her hurt more than the physical assaults.

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2 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️

October 5, 2022 at 5:20 AM

Finally got to watch the show, had a super early lunch because I couldn’t hold out! Episode 7 I was out of it hoping it was not as it seems but by episode 8 I was resigned that we may have lost a battle but things were turning in our favour re the war. The twists and turns are worse than a rollercoaster but I am hoping we will see things slow down now. Vacation allows for a slower pace for the reflections and fun times. So it looks like next week will be the fun packed lull before the next storm.

Loving the grandpa CCTV and Gaeul and Mugyeol cuteness 🥰. I also love that Gaeul and Mugyeol were able to reflect on and apply what they have learnt from their sessions and help each other to grow as well as showing Gil they are turning the corner.

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knewbie

October 5, 2022 at 7:36 AM

Yes one of the best things about this week's eps is the thawing and blooming of Ga-eul and Moo-gyeol. Ga-eul had been going back and forth in the previous few eps, but this week she really went full steam ahead. Loved how she faced both Coach Oh and Moo-gyeol head on. As for Moo-gyeol, how sweet that he was comfortable enough with Gil to play the shrink for a change (only for Gil to swat him away with a cushion).

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3 knewbie

October 5, 2022 at 6:09 AM

One of the things I really like about this show is that it provides an almost panoramic view of an area I know little about. Every week it either emphasises something I’ve taken for granted or shows me something new about the sports scene. For example, it’s absolutely true of large organisations that a nasty piece of work like Coach Oh, despised by so many, can nevertheless be almost impossible to dislodge. In fact, the less integrity they have, the easier it is for them to get away with their misdeeds. Moo-tae’s money troubles and all the talk of sponsorship are a reminder of how financially precarious a career in sports can be. I also like the snippets of information about what former athletes get up to - not just the clean, shiny stuff like coaching and managing, but also drugs, gambling and getting beaten up in cage fights. Gone are the days when Roger Bannister could run his four-minute mile then return to being a neurologist.

For me, the situating of Ga-eul and Moo-gyeol’s struggles against this backdrop is very apt, because it shows just what it is that they’re up against. The system won’t stop chewing up and spitting out athletes overnight, but with the support of people like Jegal Gil and Dr Park they might be able to contribute to breaking the cycle, and also inspire others to do the same. (For all their fear and apathy, Ga-eul’s teammates look like they are inching towards outright mutiny.)

I can’t stand Tae-man’s smug sleaziness, but the guy is getting more interesting. On the surface he seems to embody the No Medal Club ideal - the guy who is utterly relaxed, and knows exactly who he is and what he wants. But I suspect he is roiling with insecurities - for a start, I don’t think he is as certain as he claims to be about beating Gil in that taekwondo match all those years ago - and I think Assemblyman Park has been capitalising on his fear of being a dumb ex-athlete.

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4 wandering spot

October 5, 2022 at 10:08 AM

I literally screamed when Dr Park couldn't take a hint to leave. The episodes have been tiring and seeing Coach Oh getting out for the nth time is even more tiring. I wish badly for a ToD now (call me evil but I am really so tired seeing him every time with his annoying smirk). The good thing about this week's episode where the budding bond between GE and MY. The final punch was a little relief.

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5 silverp

October 5, 2022 at 3:20 PM

Coach oh grrrrrrr.
I understand your point about the editing and pacing 100% Just staying for the characters I grew to like tbh.

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6 Toodlepip

October 5, 2022 at 3:44 PM

Oh thank goodness theses episodes ended positively, the politics was tough going to get through, and Jegals best friends choices, while made with the best intent to protect his family as he saw it, also had tough consequences. The interactions between GE and MG were the highlights for me. I needed more for these two episodes, I hope next week is brighter.