Storyline and Good Casts
Idk why other people wants to bring down Friendly rivalry by giving low rating. When In fact they enjoyed the show. Friendly Rivalry is a masterpiece. The cast ,the storyline is wise , the acting is awesome .. I appreciate the effort of every cast on putting their roles. Friendly Rivalry deserves a high rating. It becomes more popular in global than other kdramas despite it's not available for all. It's hard to access the drama in other countries but we're fighting just to watch it. Friendly Rivalry deserves more recognition . Remember the more they want this series to destroyed , the more this series will become popular.Was this review helpful to you?
The best drama ever
I enjoyed every single episode, It's been a long time since a series captivated me as much as this one. The finale was spectacular and had an open ending that leaves me hoping for a second season. The cast was perfect, I can't imagine other actresses like the characters. This drama will always have a place in my heart. and Seulgi Forever!!Was this review helpful to you?
Sometimes I was a little bit lost, because the story were hard to follow.
I love how ex-kpop (or non-current generation kpop) idols goes to GL and BL. Please continue to do that, I love it..
In my head they are dating.. And Yeri and Kyung are dating too..
I loved the music they were spooky.
watched it with my GF.
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It’s worth to watch
I watched this series when it came out and I waited for it a lot. To be honest it didn’t disappoint me at all. It was as good as I expected it to be. The story really fits with my liking. The two main actresses are very talented and beautiful. I love seeing this kind of a chemistry on screen. The plot was very interesting too because there happened a lot of things that I didn’t expect to see. All in all I recommend it to anybody and everybody because it’s just so fun to watch… especially if you like possessive love and gl series!Was this review helpful to you?
Best show I’ve watched
This was my first Gl series and I loved how the story line was composed and had it’s hidden features I was really expecting the way the story was gonna go it took me by surprise but I still enjoyed it. I like the way they casted the children and they look almost identical to the “older version” of themselves. The music that played in the show to me it’s iconic now. I have at least rewatched this twice already and I still had the same reaction both times and still enjoyed it. Overall to me this show was just really entertaining especially because it was my first time watching something like this.Was this review helpful to you?
SAPPHICS!!!!!!!!we are being fed!!!!!!!!!
💫 The Story: From Rivalry to RevelationFriendly Rivalry follows Woo Seul Gi (Chung Su Bin), a quiet but brilliant girl raised in an orphanage who earns a scholarship to attend the prestigious Chaehwa Girls’ High School, a place dripping with money, hierarchy, and hidden agendas. Used to being the top of her class, Seul Gi suddenly finds herself outmatched—especially by Yoo Je Yi (Lee Hye Ri), the school’s flawless, cold, and impossibly composed queen bee.
What starts as academic competition quickly escalates into something deeper, more emotional, and far more dangerous. Their relationship walks the line between toxic and tender, hostile and heart-wrenching. Je Yi taunts Seul Gi, challenges her—but also protects her in moments no one else sees. Their rivalry becomes a mask for something else neither of them can name yet. And when the mystery of Seul Gi’s father's death resurfaces, everything begins to unravel.
💘 Sapphic Tension Done Right
This drama delivers actual lesbian tension—not just queerbaiting or subtext. The chemistry between Seul Gi and Je Yi is electric, aching with every glance, every confrontation, and every moment of unexpected tenderness.
They are not perfect characters—and that’s what makes them feel so real. Seul Gi is guarded, aching for belonging. Je Yi is powerful but emotionally walled-off, terrified of what loving someone might cost her. Their dynamic mirrors the best of enemies-to-lovers: complex, slow-burning, and emotionally explosive.
While their queerness isn’t always loudly labeled, it’s present, visible, and deeply woven into the emotional core of the show.
🎭 Brilliant Performances with Raw Emotion
Chung Su Bin brings quiet strength to Seul Gi, making every moment of her vulnerability hit like a gut punch. Lee Hye Ri, meanwhile, steals scenes as Je Yi—portraying a girl raised on expectations and privilege, but desperate for something real, someone who sees past her perfect mask.
Together, they build a dynamic that’s as painful as it is beautiful. Their evolution from reluctant rivals to something closer—more intimate—is paced perfectly.
🔍 Mystery, Power, and Queer WLW Survival
The backdrop of Chaehwa High is more than just a school setting. It’s a world of secrets, corruption, and legacy. Beneath the uniforms and elite façades lies a suffocating system that punishes any girl who steps out of line—especially those who dare to love differently.
As Seul Gi begins to uncover the truth about her father’s mysterious death, she and Je Yi are pulled deeper into a dangerous game. But the emotional heart of the series remains their bond—the question of whether they’ll choose each other, even when everything around them demands otherwise.
🎬 A Visual and Emotional Masterpiece
From the dark academic aesthetic to the intimate, lingering cinematography, Friendly Rivalry is visually stunning. The use of light and shadow reflects the duality of the girls’ relationship—sharp contrasts that slowly soften as they draw closer.
The soundtrack is sparse but purposeful, underscoring emotional beats without ever overpowering them. And the quiet, intense stares? Lesbian poetry.
🏳️🌈 Why It Matters
Adapted from the webtoon by Song Chae Yoon and illustrated by Shim Jae Young, Friendly Rivalry gives space to a sapphic story that doesn’t exist to be tolerated—it exists to be felt. It doesn’t erase its characters' queerness. It embraces it, exploring how love can both heal and complicate, especially in a world that isn’t safe for girls who step outside the lines.
💬 Final Thoughts
If you're craving a K-drama that centers on real emotional stakes, lesbian tension that doesn’t cop out, and a mystery that ties it all together, Friendly Rivalry is a must-watch. It’s one of the rare GLs that goes beyond fluff and fantasy—delivering raw, layered storytelling with a core romance that will stay with you long after the final scene.
Would I recommend it to GL fans? Without hesitation.
Would I fight someone for hurting Seul Gi? Already have.
Would I rewatch the rooftop scene for the hundredth time? It's on loop now.
NEXT SEASON I NEED MORE SPICE!!!!!!
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This review may contain spoilers
Subtle GL more towards Mystery
One of the best kdramas i have ever watched. I love the mostly female casts❤️Everyone really brought out the best of their characters. The plot is, i would say, 60% different from the webtoon, which makes watching the drama more interesting and entertaining since its not predictable.
And i love love love the chemistry between the main leads. They were able to portray that they both meant a lot/are precious to each other without explicitly saying it.
The only bad thing about this drama is that its too short! Its an open-ending and it makes me feel really desperate for another season (or just a special episode. ) This drama is a 1000/10!!!
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A wonderful thriller with a powerful ending!
This is one of the coolest dramas I've ever watched, not only because it has elements of GL and suspense, but because the actors are incredible and the school setting and rivalry are very well The plot is well-developed. It's not a repetitive drama, the narrative isn't tiring, and everything is very, very good! Secondary braids are a current and important point to discuss, especially considering the teenage audience represented in the series. The series' filmography is absolutely beautiful, cinematic.Was this review helpful to you?
A Thrilling Start That Lost Its Way!
At first, Friendly Rivalry had me hooked with its suspenseful buildup and intriguing character dynamics. The psychological tension between the leads, Yoo Jae-i and Woo Seul-gi, was gripping, and the cutthroat school setting added a compelling layer to the story. The performances, especially by Lee Hye-ri, were strong, and there were moments that truly stood out.However, somewhere along the way, I lost focus. The plot started feeling unnecessarily complex, making it hard to stay engaged. While certain scenes still had that spark, the overall flow became inconsistent, and I struggled to keep up with the direction of the story. Some subplots felt underdeveloped, leaving loose ends that didn’t tie back meaningfully to the main narrative.
Despite these drawbacks, Friendly Rivalry isn’t a bad drama. It had its high points, but the execution could have been smoother. If you enjoy thrillers with psychological twists, it’s worth a try—but don’t expect everything to stay as engaging as the beginning.
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My favorite show ever
This is my favorite show ever created, I am begging them to make a season 2🙏 I’m obsessed with the cast and the characters and the tension is CRAZY. I am so invested. This is the best show I’ve seen in so long, I love everything about it. I really hope they make a season 2🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏Was this review helpful to you?
Should've leaned more into it being a GL
I liked the story, and the girls had really good chemistry with each other! They should've leaned more into the GL side of the story and I think it really would've amped it up a bit. It kept me interested the entire time I will say! I enjoy stories like this a lot and this one didn't disappoint. The acting was great, especially from our two leads. I feel like my biggest issue with it, is the trailer made it seem like they would be diving into the GL side more than they did. Would love to see these two girls together in a GL someday!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Very unique story and very beautiful connection between the lead actresses
SO GOOD TENSION IS INSANE THE ENDING MADE ME SOB MY EYES OFF JAEYI AND SEULGI ENDGAME ppl saying it’s queerbait need to go back to thai land yes we didn’t get them making out full on handmaiden but their relationship is way deeper than that seulgi was jaeyis reason to live she was planning on ending it but seulgi made her not want to she faked her death and later when she was ready revealed herself that she’s alive to seulgi and to seulgi only proving how much she trusts and loves her despite the fact she knows her father is still after her she’s willing to reveal herself to seulgi as she can’t live without her, and jaeyi who healed seulgi we see multiple scenes of jaeyi healing seulgis inner child she’s used to being abandoned and forgotten by people but jaeyi changed that in her, and even though jaeyi was a little late she still came for seulgi and seulgi waited for her jaeyi keeping her promise she made early in the series, and the shoes telling seulgi to run away with her. truly a beautiful story between the two yes the plot was quite up and down but in the end it’s about them and their journey together growing closer and more vulnerable with each other they might not have kissed which it what everyone wanted but their care for each other proves their love like jaeyi giving seulgi vitamins instead of drugs proving to her she can be top 1 without them and that she is capable and also curing her addiction along the way. Wish i could watch this again for the first time.ps. if u don’t believe jaeyi liked seulgi watch hyells club episode on yt with chung soo bin where lee hye ri confirms it herself
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