tw// sexual assault, rape

what this drama gave me was more than i asked for. i'm not in any way saying that this drama is simply a warm hug or full of happy pills but it's like a comforting way of saying, "it's okay. you're having it rough right now. it's okay to accept that feeling" similar to the dilemma of 'push or pull' situation, this drama teaches you to 'feel' and not suppress your emotions.

it's clear that ga eul has been mistreated and abused. that's why she locked her feelings and emotions inside a cage. the moments where someone is nice to her, she views it as a form of manipulation. the complex thoughts of "can i trust this person?" was wonderfully portrayed through this character.

in a competitive sports industry, it doesn't help that coach oh is an annoying virus that uses his power to his advantage. while i would've loved it if he got destroyed earlier on, it shows the reality that there are monsters like this in the real world that are favored by big hands. there are those harrowing stories that are not documented but they are very much happening at this minute.

now, let us look at some of my fave parts of this drama:

-a galore of inspiring quotes
there are so many lines spoken that are worthy to be engraved in gold for how much it resonates to the audience. my favorite aspect of this drama is how it emphasizes that weakness is not something to be ashamed of. instead, it can be a sign of growth. to open yourself up to people and be a bit more carefree, you are allowed to embrace yourself more in many ways other than weighing everything on your shoulders. if i were to include my fave quotes, it would take up my whole review.
here's one: "If the world won’t change, I must change. Only then can I survive" -Jegal Gil

-beautiful use of symbolism
i specifically liked the use of crustacean and camel as a metaphor for ga eul. while these are the only examples of symbolism, they both swayed my heart to the fullest and wrecked my heart because of its meanings.

-good combo of comedy, action and melo
there were sad moments. there were also hilarious and badass ones. no medal team was perfectly fitting to the picture. this group involves people who have gone through a lot yet they stand tall and fight against injustice. it's quite a shame they were only used as plot armor when more could've been explored.

-no cardboard characters
everyone in this drama has shit going on. yet, we get to see characters develop wonderfully as the episodes progress. ga eul, lee mookyeol, the whole skating team. heck, even park seung ha started to grow on me (even a lil bit) in the end.

-a lovely twist
as the drama was halfway reaching its final episode, there was a point where i was slowly losing interest. thankfully, the unexpected trio happened. as though an elephant was in the room, this sudden twist somehow converted my worries to laughter and full on wholesomeness. who knew 'he' could work with the very same person he's been trying to crack down this whole time? i just love it.

-important topics were carefully addressed
i'm tired of sexual assault and rape being brushed off like it's nothing. in here, we see how much it affects a person and how hard it is to bury such a horrifying memory.

"Did I bring it upon myself?"

this. it's so sad that even though she's the victim, there is a part of her that makes her feel like it's her fault. in addition, there is an inhumane side to society that shame victims into thinking it's their fault or that they were 'asking for it'.

-the sismance
“Alone, I will not be able to achieve anything. And you’re the one I want to race with” -Cha Ga Eul
although we didn't get to see much of oh sun ah and ga eul, they were the ultimate tsundere duo. they didn't express it through their face but their actions showed they cared for each other.

while i loved this drama, i can't say it's perfect. midway or somewhere the last few episodes, i was having mixed emotions with how the drama sort of shifted from this healing drama to something else. personally, i feel like this drama would've done better with sticking to the way it was. the romance was just so out of the blue for me.

despite the frustration i felt from the final episode, i can't take away my love for this drama. at first, this was an astounding 9 for me but we can't have everything our way. in my heart, this drama did more good than bad so i'm going to let the it slide.

to anyone searching for healing dramas, you're on the right track.
do you have to know about sports to enjoy this drama? no.
'mental coach jegal' isn't just about sports. it's about healing, hope, self-acceptance and anything else that helps you get back on your feet.