Overcoming mental /psychological disorders through sport: inspiring! This is the second series of this anthology I am watching. The first one was about dealing with depression through skateboarding. This one is about autism and learning through badminton.

The actors are amazing: just as skilled as actors as badminton players! While watching, I thought they must have had doubles but there were too many close shots with their faces on to make that realistic! They are amazing! The child actors are just as good, if not better considering their age (10 years old or something like that). The casting director gets a huge credit for finding child actors who look like their teen counterparts, who are talented actors and who can play badminton skilfully.

The series is short, as in it is long enough not to have precious time wasted on unnecessary things. And so much better for it! I binged it in one day. I must admit that I watched the first episode three months ago and the topic was to difficult for me to bear at that moment (too depressing) but it is actually optimistic and uplifting: going for one's dreams in spite of obstacles! It is definitely worth the watch: for the actors, for the story and how it deals with a milder case of autism and for the exciting way the matches are filmed! The last episode is almost entirely a competition match between Gym and Dong and the emotional turmoil it provokes in them while they are playing. You can literally see them grow and mature through the game!

Here are the notes I jotted down while watching!

So, I have only seen two episodes so far and that mother is driving me mad! Yes, her nephew is autistic but is it fair to ask of her own little son to be understanding when she favours the other boy more? She obviously cares more for the autistic boy than for her own son: everything for him, nothing for the "normal" boy! Her son is sweet and kind and she is taking a very wrong, criminal advantage of him, neglecting his needs completely! I hope she realizes the error of her ways! And the autistc boy's mother sees everything and does nothing about it. Nothing yet, I hope! So far she's the only one who is in a position to do something!
On one hand it is admirable what she is trying to achieve here: get mentally challenged athletes accepted in the mainstream sport competition but on the other hand, her own son has to pay the price for it! Is it fair to ask or expect of a child to look after his cousin whose tantrums are robbing him of a normal childhood (ep. 3: they are 10 yrs old and Gym is all sulky and upset because Dong went to play with the neighbour so the 10 year old Dong has to calm him down!)
In ep;4 we finally find out the reason for this behaviour: she had an affair with her sister's husband, got pregnant and had a healthy boy. She feels guilty about it and therefore she looks more after Gym neglecting completely her own son who is not allowed to have a life away from Gym! Is he going to have to pay for his mother's mistakes all his life? By the end of the episode, Dong rebels and asks to be given the freedom to make his own decisions about sport. Seeing that nothing good would come out of stubbornly controlling her son, the mother finally relents and gives in.
And even though Dong is independent and can take care of himself (ep 6) he still needs the support a family can give, words to cheer him up and on. So stop feeling guilty towards your sister and start feeling guilty for forgetting about your own son! Be a mother finally!
Separating boys eventually proved to be a good thing but the nagging worry that he is not good enough, still haunts Dong. And when Gym decides to go back to playing but in singles, Dong sees the tiny territory of independence he managed to conquer through endurance and hardship, being again threatened by Gym, completely unaware of the struggles Dong is going through!
The incredible thing, shown throughout the drama, is the acceptance of mental disability by the society. I had expected actually to be made uncomfortable by the rejection and difficulties people meet while dealing with autistic children: none of it here! Nobody is really making fun of Gym (except once and that was nipped in the bud)! People can be cruel towards others who are different, so showing the ideal world is a bit jarring. Maybe it is true, in Thailand! I hope it is!

Anyway, this is a great short watch dealing with serious matter but gripping and eventually uplifting!