Korean drama “Good Boy” has everything in it: a cop show with endearing characters, a workplace romance, quirky comedy, and some heavy drama…. Think “Brooklyn 99” but more dramatic.
Endearing characters in a fun and action-packed storyline remind us that the buddy coptrope is far from done.
Another thing that is not yet done, is corruption.
Globally, so it seems.
Image: IMDB/Good Boy
This story is about a squad who fights it with muscle, street smarts, and a single-minded quest for justice.
Each member of the squad all exceled in Korea’s national team, in different sports. Their diversity of talents and personalities working in synergyis life-affirming to watch.
Yoon Dong-ju (Park Bo-gum) is a champion boxer with a goofy personality and a heart of gold.
Dong-ju’s love interest, Ji Han-na (Kim So-hyun) is a shooting prodigy hell-bent on resolving her father’s murder.
Complicating the office romance is Han-na’s former boyfriend, silver medalist fencer and heir to a massive fortune, Kim Jong-hyeon (Lee Sang-yi).
Shin Jae-hong (Tan Won-seok) is the group’s gentle giant, a family man with a love of greens and a bronze medal in discus throwing.
Image: IMDB/Good Boy
Image: IMDB/Good Boy
Last but not the least is the squad’s captain, Ko Man-sik (Heo Sung-tae), a former bronze medalist in wrestling, committed to the law and mentoring his squad, yet whose antics make taking him seriously a challenge.
Their nemesis? Min Ju-yeong (Oh Jung-se), a seemingly simple, unassuming civil servant at the Korea Customs Service commended for his service.
But all the investigative roads led to him.
Their antagonist had protection from powerful authorities, making the mission that much more difficult.
And isn’t that the same as real life? The bad guys just need to pull some strings, and the good guys are either back to square one, or worse, neutralized. The syndicate just seems too powerful for a few good men.
Spoiler alert, the Philippines is even given a special mention.
Image: IMDB/Good Boy
Speaking of the Philippines… in recent months, much has been covered in the media about the Gen Z protests against corruption in Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, and the Philippines, with possibly more to come.
The protesters, while mostly Gen Z, were joined by other generations, all fed up with corruption in thegovernment.
Image: IMDB/Good Boy
Corruption is nothing new. But in developing countries, corruption kills. From substandard flood control projects to public hospitals that don’t have the required equipment for quality care.
As someone who has often lent her voice to an angry crowd demanding accountability from the government, it’s disheartening to see that we didn’t eliminate corruption.
While peaceful assemblies are our right, and we must continue to expect the highest standards from our public officials; our hope is not in our protests, nor in our leaders.
Our God knows all, sees all.
In the end, justice will prevail, and the wicked will get their due.
Image: IMDB/Good Boy
Image: IMDB/Good Boy
Amos 5:11-12 The Message
11 "But here it is, bluntly spoken: Because you run roughshod over the poor and take the bread right out of their mouths, You're never going to move into the luxury homes you have built. You're never going to drink wine from the expensive vineyards you've planted.
12 "I know precisely the extent of your violations, the enormity of your sins. Appalling! You bully right-living people, taking bribes right and left and kicking the poor when they're down."
There is an ending where the good guys win and the bad guys actually pay for their crimes.
Maybe “Good Boy” is a fantasy. But it’s one we need right now as we aspire for a world with social justice and good governance.
You can watch “Good Boy” on Amazon Prime.
Image: IMDB/Good Boy
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