"Racket Boys" is not merely the best show about badminton (if there are many others) and not merely the best drama with a sports background, but it's possibly the best drama about friendship. It's almost a total package from cast, story, production value, score, photography and everything else.

There are a few faults. For some reason, Kim Kang Hoon's Yong Tae gets an inordinate amount of screen time to the detriment of Son Sang Yeon's Yoon Dam, Choi Hyun Wook's Woo Chan and Kim Min Ki's In Sol. The coaching couple of Kim Sang Kyung and Oh Na Ra overplay their parts (the former as a goofball and the latter as humorless and grim). The older villager subplots show early promise, but as their focus shifts away from Jung Min Sung and Park Hyo Joo's former city couple, the emotional punch fades. Moreover, it perfectly acceptable to have a show without Woo Hyun. Seriously.

But the flaws are minor. Tang Jun Sang is marvelous and his performance is so different but just as compelling as his work in "Move to Heaven". Hopefully, he continues to grow and find opportunities in productions of this quality. Although in a smaller role, Lee Ji Won sparkles as the sidekick to the star athlete. Her work in episode 14 and that episode as a whole is one of the best episodes of the year. The direction and story deftly mixes humor and tension. Even the badminton pieces, though repetitive, are compelling viewing throughout.

2021 is more than half over and it seems unlikely that any show will rival "Vincenzo" for top marks for this year, but "Racket Boys" is the leader in the clubhouse of the remaining challengers and should be on the list for top dramas of the current era.