This review may contain spoilers
everyone jumps on the gay train bc of money but they never truly commit....
spoilers!!!!would have been a 10/10 but the queerbaiting was more important.
bc queer love has to be pure. bc queer ppl don't have desire, bc the plot was not providing a time to explore it.
oh wait it did ... and it did for 2 scenes from straight couples.
stop jumping on a train you won't commit to.
stop giving ppl hope with a small scene that was probably a dream.
it's just cruel.
stop treating queer stories different from straight ones !
love stories are love stories and even if the focus wasn't the love part, if thriller shows and crime shows manage to incorporate it with straight dramas it shouldn't be such a hassle.
I am very disappointed, bc this show had everything... almost.
anyway I won't watch another KGL again. good job !
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A unique and captivating watch
I absolutely loved this show. This is a drama that I will remember for a while.It's definitely different from most dramas I watch. I liked the focus on the main storyline instead of just a couple going through the usual drama arc. I personally don't care for the overdone kissing and cliches, which is why this show stood out to me. This has left me wanting more of this type of production.
This is one of the few dramas that had me dying to know what was going to happen in the next episode. The cast also did an excellent job. This show had all the suspense and mystery to keep me interested, along with the hints of GL (another thing that made it unique).
I do wish the ending was more fleshed out. That is my only complaint.... or just make another season.. I'd like that even better.
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Another doomed Yuri
Like all other dramas, the start is the best.The screenwriters use an interesting choice of narrative to start each episode up until Episode 8, but after that, it starts to feel like a completely different genre.
I went into this wondering if it might be another Pyramid Game, but unfortunately, the world-building in Friendly Rivalry is not contained whatsoever and keeps expanding on subtle intuitive shots that lead you down dead ends.
That being said, I was hooked and continued to be hooked until around Episode 13/14 when I really felt that drop off in terms of there being so many questions but not enough time to develop meaningful answers. 16 Episodes is plenty of time, but they didn't quite use it wisely in my opinion.
For example, why build up so much between Yeri and Byeong-jin? If Byeong-jin wanted to take over J Medical Center what was the point of working in tandem with Tae-gun? Why did Jae-yi suddenly cherish Je-na only when she did something bad?
Acting:
Phenomenal acting from Hyeri aka the Nation's Little Sister, and from Oh Woori. Chung Soo-bin played well as Seulgi but I wish we saw more emotion from her. (Like what we saw at the end). Seulgi cares deeply for Jae-yi towards the end of the show, and I wish we got to see her unravel as her past and present come colliding. The chemistry between Seulgi and Jae-yi is beautifully done in the first four episodes, setting up their complicated relationship, PARTICULARLY, Episode 3 (if you know, you know).
Music:
Good music choices all around.
Rewatch value:
Best believe I will be rewatching. And visiting Ao3 for some Jaeyi/Seulgi content that will feed me better than this show. I'm just disappointed we got yuri-baited this hard. They built up so much, and seemed to switch it up towards the end.
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doomed yuri that is not actually doomed (?)
was so great at first, then started getting super convoluted around episode 11 or 12, and i constantly felt like i was missing something i was supposed to be following. the main plot points were all easy to keep up with, but there were smaller details that kept leaving me confused. loved the ending tho; the last episode was good and brought back the interest i had watching the first half of the show. really just wish the gl subplot was a more major part of the show :( but hopefully it being a part at all means therell be more gl stuff popping up in the future <3. lets go lesbiansand shoutout choi kyung my g
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Good Enough
Korean Drama 'Friendly Rivalry' is a school drama about an obsessive relationship between two classmates and a dark secret.The drama has impressive cinematography, especially when it came to presenting the characters. The psychological drama was also well handled and presented, and that added to the dark mood of the drama.
The plot was also enjoyable, though the finale was rushed and the twists, some of them at least, didn't make a lot of sense.
The characters were also interesting and the performances were all great by everyone in the cast.
So, overall, seven out of ten.
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Decently good watch!
TLDR BELOW!! | Spoiler safe! | Includes some character discussion but NO spoilers!I'd like to categorize Friendly Rivalry as a perfect show for eating to/after a long day of work or school/reward episodes etc. The episodes are about 30 minutes and for the most part, they are organized well. I really enjoyed the first half of the season and it honestly had such a good hook so it's pretty easy to get in to. I also liked how many of the episodes kinda had like a flashback/context scene for different characters before the intro cut scene (it gave a lot of character context and I'm so grateful for it). Downside though, the last few episodes of the series felt a bit rushed IMO... They brought up a lot of potential problems in the middle of the season and I think it might've not been completely necessary because it made the ending seemed too rushed. For example Nam Byeong-jin AKA the drug provider thug guy TT, I was geniunely so confused with his impact. Like I couldn't tell exactly what his motives/who's side he was on besides the fact that he just wanted to be rich. Which I guess in hindsight would be his ultimate motive but for me it got a bit confusing at points. IDK might just be me though. I think this show was definitely good and enticing but it's ending failed in terms of what it could have been (based off of how good the beginning was)
Moreover, the acting in this show was phenomenal. I specifically want to point out how I LOVE Lee Hye-ri's acting (actor of Yoo Jae-i) Like her micro-expressions are just perfect. Plus her character as a whole was also so interesting. I do agree that it was more fun deciphering who's side she truly was on in the beginning as I feel like it was more obvious towards the end.
I wish there was more context behind Jae-i's father though... (ifykyk) I don't think a season 2 is necessary but if they really focus on one singular point then I think it can be executed well.
BTW If you wanted to watch this for GL I would say this specific show does not go super in depth with that so take with that as you will. However, I don't think it was overdone or anything if anything it was mostly underdone. Disclaimer: I don't watch GL's so what I say might not be completely accurate!
TLDR:
1. Easy, digestible watch!
2. Some rushing towards the end - some parts of the story not completely explained IMO
3. Beginning of the show is great, great hook, acting, plot
4. GL components are primarily tension based except for one scene that is dream based
Other notes: Good music, cinematography, camera skills etc.!
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Slightly sapphic thriller
The show is a full steam on brutal school bullying, drugs, academic pressure, and murder mystery, packing a lot of story into every half hour or less episode. There is a dream kiss scene. They also hug and hold hands. They don't do that with anyone else. That's about as much for the hetero romances too. That's certainly more than mainstream dramas with a lesbian character *cough GenieMakeAWish cough*. I hope this is a step closer to quality dramas of this caliber with full sapphic romance within it's storytelling too. For a darker show about high school girls, it's really refreshing there is not a single hetero romance. There are also the topics of self pleasure and abuse of teenagers without being exploitative.Seulgi and Je I are such a fascinating pairing to watch. Seulgi is suspicious, but is warmed by the attention that Je I gives her. Je I is ever ambiguous in intentions, always keeping Seulgi on her toes at the same time as drawing her in. It's usaully Je I surprising Seulgi, but I enjoy the moments where Seulgi is the one being surprising like leaving print outs of her own essay that other people wanted to steal in every one's desk. All the girls are morally grey and look out for their self interests. Choi Gyung also takes so pill helpers to study, her drug of choice to destress for a test is jerking off in public places. She's her mom's visual mini-me and out of everyone has the healthiest home life comparatively. She really learned she needs no man, just career and alone time. Ye Ri has a savvy business sense, but she's not in the situation to put it to the best use.
A couple things that's of character silly though is the girls going through the night club touching their ear like they are playing pretend spies and the psychopath Dr. Yoo's scheme to remove the CSAT pill from the stomach instead of just giving the guy a laxative to remove the pill from the stool. The teacher did abuse his daughter, but not the most efficient way for the scheme if revenge wasn't the point. It's interesting that Dr. Yoo realizes that his eldest daughter Je Na has psychopath or sociopath tendencies like him, but he still favors his second daughter as his project for perfection. He doesn't give the same attention to his Je Na, but still expects the same, maybe as a pacemaker like how he refers to Seulgi.
Je I does also possibly have sociopathy, though she's the only one that hasn't murdered anyone. Her upbringing could have also made her express emotions and love in the way that she does. Her most unhinged moment was when she filmed the threat video to make that girl move schools. She's utterly has no shame or fear when it comes to moments that would be embarrassing or scary to others. She does absolutely care about her sister, her dog, and Seulgi. She thinks about their deaths and she tries to save them. She wins the game against her father, but the system is ultimately unfair, despite the huge scandal csat scandals, kidnapping and faking the death of his daughter, falsifying the identity of the dead orphan, there is nothing to tie the murder to him, so he only has four months of prison and his free to harass and stalk Seulgi and her step mom.
It's lovely that Seulgi did form a little family unit with her step having already lost both her parents and the step mom never getting to have a child with her late husband. She also gets a cryptic photo from Je I of a scene by the sea side where Je I is land surfing. May the sapphics get their sea side happily ever after.
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Hoping for Season 2!
The first time I watched Friendly Rivalry, I had no expectations at all. I was interested in watching it because some people mentioned that the drama had GL elements. I also didn’t know anything about the Webtoon version or how the story would unfold.But after finishing two episodes, I found myself naturally enjoying the story. I started liking the plot, the characters, the actors, and their acting. In my opinion, from episode 1 to episode 16, everything was a solid 10/10.
However, there are some flaws throughout these episodes that were a bit distracting. The pacing felt somewhat rushed at times. Some scenes felt incomplete, yet suddenly transitioned into another, making the viewing experience a little confusing. Oh, and the episode duration was also very short—only around 30 minutes per episode, with some even being under 30 minutes.
But this is understandable, maybe they are still testing the waters with this drama, which is why there are some minor shortcomings.
With the open ending in the final episode, I really hope they produce a second season. Hopefully, with a bigger budget, slightly longer episodes, no abrupt scene cuts, at least English subtitles, and a legal streaming platform for international fans.
At first, I only liked the actors who played Seulgi and Jay, but in the end, I found myself enjoying almost the entire cast—including Beomsu 🤭.
I hope more people become interested in watching this drama and that it gains even more popularity!
The GL scenes in this drama aren’t many—there’s only a kiss scene between Jay and Seulgi, and even that happens in Seulgi’s dream :). Compared to other GL films, it’s quite different because this drama doesn’t focus on that aspect. However, even though the GL scenes aren’t as strong as in Thai GL dramas, every interaction between Jay and Seulgi is enough to give you butterflies 😉.
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Characters and themes are so important and integral to this triller
I think it's important to note that the story/plot and the themes are very integral to the flow of the story and how it showcases each character's personality and flaws. To me the building of relationships, with each character's backstory and the complexities of it all then ties in, to why those relationships (including the GL) are how they are. So, I think every scene is important and makes sense as to why the story story is as. Also I totally understand why many people wanted the specific main characters, Jaeyi and Seulgi to be together, clearly and confirmed but to me the representation and the complexities have to be taken into consideration.Was this review helpful to you?
Lee Hye-ri delivers a powerful performance as Je-yi, effortlessly portraying her character’s charm, intelligence, and underlying darkness. Chung Su-bin shines as Seul-gi, capturing the resilience and vulnerability of a girl striving to survive in an unforgiving world. Their on-screen chemistry adds depth to the narrative, making their evolving relationship both gripping and unpredictable.
Visually, Friendly Rivalry is stunning. The cinematography contrasts the grandeur of Chaehwa High with the tension lurking beneath its polished surface. Every scene is meticulously crafted, using lighting and framing to emphasize the characters’ emotions and shifting power dynamics. The drama’s pacing keeps viewers on edge, balancing moments of psychological intrigue with raw emotional depth.
Beyond its aesthetics, Friendly Rivalry is rich in themes of ambition, identity, and the pressures of societal expectations. It poses thought-provoking questions: How far should one go for success? Is rivalry a driving force or a destructive one? The drama does not provide easy answers, instead offering a layered and immersive experience that lingers long after the final episode.
With its stellar performances, sharp storytelling, and emotionally charged narrative, Friendly Rivalry is a must-watch. It’s more than just a school drama—it’s an intense, beautifully crafted exploration of power, trust, and the cost of winning.
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A season 2 will make our mind stop thinking what happens after the open ending
What makes this drama good is that they'll make you go crazy because of how unpredictable the plot is. The first 8 episodes was good and very exciting, but the following episodes gets messy because there's lots of unresolved problem but still interesting because it will make your mind crazy thinking what happens next, what happened in the specific scene that has been cut and never resolved it. My favourite scene is probably the time where jaeyi confess that the medicine she gave to seulgi during the midterm exam was just vitamins, it melts my heart so bad. This just proves that jaeyi's intention towards seulgi is pure to the point she sacrificed her luxurious life just for seulgi to get justice about her father's death. But still I'm not satisfied with the ending, badly need season 2 or just a special episode so we can fully understand everything.Was this review helpful to you?
This series made me crazy
The series is so good that it made me want to rewatch it. Every episode has a cliffhanger that gives audience the curiousity on what's gonna happen. i don't know if it's GL but i don't care it's so good. The whole casting specially hyeri and subin is so good in acting, it really made me like them. The music however is good but i didn't really care about it. The plot twist is mind blowing it made me go crazy, like seriously what's going on, what happened what the heal was that.Was this review helpful to you?
