The cover screams homo, the synopsis screams homo, the title screams homo, the character dynamics are homo, but the characters are actually straight because homosexuality doesn't exist in korea.
but if you put on your yuri goggles, medium thickness is enough, you can just imagine it's lesbian and it works perfectly

Really, they should invent a separate name for korean dramas like these, not exactly "womance" more like "schizo closeted" on a meta level
Recommended by kretuzerwilhelmxiii
both Friendly Rivalry and Pyramid Game are a high school focused female centered plot, that revolves around friendship and obsession
Recommended by XingBack
It's actually really good, the cast is great, the story is great, (I think the haters don't get that people can be whatever) but its wtv, the director allowed such scenes to be played AND IT WAS SO GOOD, I loved it, my friend loves it too, although on some websites the captions could be wrong but you can always make out what they are saying, it really is a good series, I haven't read the manhwa yet but I'm looking forward to that as well, even IF the characters look different.
Recommended by TiyannaW
Both take place in an All-Girls school, both are have dark/chaotic characters, Shades is a GL and Friendly Rivalry has GL elements.
Recommended by LilacSummer
school setting, some same actresses, competition for being the best, prestigous school, drugs usage, bullying and violence, main character is from poor background
Recommended by anabana
Kim Deuk Pal, a 47-year-old gangster and #2 in his gang, dreams of attending university despite his lack of education. After encountering a suicidal high school student, Song Yi Heon, Deuk Pal's spirit possesses Yi Heon's body. Deuk Pal learns that Yi Heon is bullied, leading him to seek revenge on the bullies. In Yi Heon's body, Deuk Pal befriends classmate Choi Se Kyung, a model student hiding his own struggles with domestic violence.

Similar because of censored adaption of same sex work, obsession
Recommended by Cider Melon
- In this ML comes to School on Scholarship
- Top 1% School Settings
- Both ML friendly, obsession, Rivalry
Recommended by Selby Thomas
they are in the same universe called BLUESTRING UNIVERSE of YLAB so i recommend it to people who enjoyeds watching study group since they are somewhat connected
Recommended by AyaP.
this is also a thriller etc and based around students and events, it also matches the vibes like bullying, fighting, action, etc students around each other
Recommended by Lighter
Friendly Rivalry (2025) poster

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  • Score: 7.7 (scored by 10,329 users)
  • Ranked: #4668
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