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?
A Complex and Engaging Plot Keeps You on Edge
Set in the prestigious Chae-hwa High School, Friendly Rivalry explores the brutal competition among students striving for top university admissions. At the center of the story is Yoo Jae-yi (played by Lee Hye-ri), a model student with a seemingly perfect academic record, and Seul-gi (Jung Soo-bin), a mysterious transfer student with a hidden agenda. When Seul-gi’s father—who was a key figure in the university entrance committee—is found dead under suspicious circumstances, the drama takes a dark turn, unraveling a web of secrets, betrayals, and hidden motives.Was this review helpful to you?
A Deadly Obsession Behind Elite Walls
The drama sets the stage for an intense psychological thriller, blending themes of privilege, academic ambition, and the complexities of human relationships. The drama takes viewers into the elite world of Chaehwa High School, where power isn’t just about wealth—it’s about influence, intelligence, and control.The first two episodes lay a strong foundation for the unfolding tension between Woo Seul Ki and Yoo Je Yi. Seul Ki, an orphan who transfers to Chaehwa High, struggles to find her place among students born into privilege. She remains an outsider until she catches the attention of Je Yi, the school’s most admired and feared student. While Je Yi appears charming and composed, her interest in Seul Ki is anything but ordinary. What can be anticipated is the friendship soon spirals into something far more unsettling—marked by subtle manipulation, possessiveness, and an underlying power struggle.
One of the drama’s standout elements is Lee Hyeri’s portrayal of Yoo Je Yi. Whether her character’s fascination with Seul Ki is purely manipulative or has deeper emotional undertones remains to be seen. While some may speculate on a potential Girls’ Love (GL) angle, the narrative so far seems to focus more on psychological intensity rather than romance. Personally, I’m not particularly drawn to GL dramas, but I’m open to seeing how the story unfolds. If the narrative naturally incorporates a GL element and it enhances the storytelling, I’m willing to follow along. Every interaction between Seul Ki and Je Yi feels layered with unspoken motives, making for a compelling watch.
Overall, Friendly Rivalry is shaping up to be an intriguing and suspenseful drama. Whether you’re here for the psychological tension, the social commentary, or simply to witness Lee Hyeri’s mesmerizing performance, this series is definitely worth watching.
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THIS IS THE BEST !!
I LOVE THEM TO THE MOON AND BACK. IT'S ACTUALLY CONCERNING. TT THE STORY LINE AND CHARACTERS ARE ON TOP. THEIR ACTING IS FIRE, THE EXPRESSIONS AND VOICES ARE SOMETHING. I LOVE THEM IN GENERAL, SAYING I LOVE THEM IS LITERALLY AN UNDERSTATEMENT. TvT i rerally wish that it's more than 16 episodes an that Je-i and Seul-gi ends up together 'cause I might die if they don't, I can't take it if those longing stares meant nothing. AAAAAAAAAAWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
disappointed with the direction this took
i'm not done yet but i'm itching to write because i'm getting pissed off. i'll start off by saying that i came into this completely unaware of the wlw theme it would have. it was tame in that the two leads never actually shared a real kiss, but i think that touching your "friend's" lips to clean food off of them and holding her face close to yours doesn't necessarily speak platonic to me. it was a pleasant surprise, and possibly my favorite part. i wish the writers would have explored it more.on that note, je i's obsession with seul gi was pretty well-written. it's interesting to think of why she became obsessed with her at first. maybe it was a morbid curiosity, because this transfer student shows up with the wrong uniform and full luggage, with hopes to get into the best medical school in the country. whatever the reason, i loved it. the way she made sure that in the end, seul gi would rely on her, whether that's by getting her a clean, new uniform or helping her pass the drug test (after purposely encouraging her to take drugs to study for their midterms). this is obsession done well. the smug look on her face every time she succeeded in getting seul gi to warm up was priceless.
and while all of that was nice, it's heavily overshadowed by an absurd plotline. basically, this elite school is very competitive. it's normal for students there to take drugs to study, attend cram schools, see private tutors, etc. there's an entire plot where the doctor dad is some kind of corrupt surgeon with psychopathic tendencies. he digs up corpses to open them up. he pits his daughters against one another and is happy with this because he believes it will push them to study harder. instead, his daughter has sex?? with seul gi's biological father? i didn't understand this.
i found that there was a really strange level of sexual content in this drama that wasn't needed or relevant. take gyeong, for example, who has some kind of fascination with adult content. i skipped to the last episode, and there was an entire scene dedicated to her entering a sex toy shop, browsing while smiling, and leaving with a bag. this is a drama about high schoolers, right? high. schoolers. why am i watching je i get fondled and listening to her moan because gyeong is having a weird daydream? why did i just watch gyeong choke her until she falls unconscious, in her imagination?? that was so weird i just don't understand why it was even a scene in this drama??? it added NOTHING.
not to mention how slow it gets, or how strange all of the adults act, or how little sense anything is making at this point? they are trying to make this a really complex mystery but it's tacky and i don't like it. this could have been a drama about a girl who transfers into an elite school and overcomes its messed up hierarchy, teaches them all a lesson, and falls in love with her rival. instead, they've made it into this weird ass story about how she disappeared when she was like 5 and was inexplicably able to find her father, just to have him die, but also happens to get into the school he used to teach at, where he had sex with a student. i mean cmon what??? it's a HIGH SCHOOL drama. ugh.
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Remember from EP 1 to understand the show
Unbelievable! OMG IT'S SO GOOD I CRAVING FOR MORE!!!Watching this, I feel like a detective piecing everything together. Each episode pulls me in deeper, making me analyze every clue and detail. The suspense, storytelling, and even the smallest moments keep me fully invested. The twists are mind-blowing, and I can’t stop watching. It’s rare to find a show this gripping, where every episode feels like an intense ride. The characters, plot, and mystery are top-tier, keeping me on edge the entire time. Everything feels so well thought out, and nothing is wasted. This is easily a 10/10 for me, no joke!Was this review helpful to you?
IT'S THE BEST, SO WATCH IT!
I LIKE IT SO MUCH!!!!! I think I'm the one who's obsessed!!!. I really like the Story, specially the Cast. Lee Hye-ri as Yoo Jae-i is really cool, I like the way she act, sooo muchhh in this drama! For me? SHE'S SAVAGE IN HER ACTING SKILLS!. Chung Soo Bin as Woo Seul-gi, Same in Hye-ri she's soo GOOD!I really like it so much, everything in this drama. I really like how they change emotion, the twist of this drama is really good, I think when you watch this all of your emotion will be used.
For me it's a good ending, not best but it's still good though. I don't want to any spoiler so WATCH IT!
In my own opinion, ITS REALLY GOOD! THIS DRAMA IS NOW ONE OF MY FAVORITE DRAMA! SERIOUSLY! IT'S NOW MY FAVORITE! It's worth it knowing the ending. I'm really happy, this drama? MAKE MY 2025 HAPPIER!💙💛🩷💚
MAIN CAST!
💙 Lee Hye-ri as Yoo Jae-i
💛 Chung Su-bin as Woo Seul-gi
🩷 Kang Hye-won as Joo Ye-ri
💚 Oh Woo-ri as Choi Kyung
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Why you should watch it?
Speaking of variety of content I have seen I have very high expectations from a series. I have been watching THAI GL series forever and I can assure you this series is getting my attention at the pick. While I was watching this I realised the aura Yoo jei has is just killing oh my goodnness and Woo seul-gi has the calm and composed character I mean thay are just the perfect match with each other. I love that they are not making lgbt community part as a very big deal, just focusing on the chemistry of the two characters. And the kiss - oh they killed me at the kiss but I swear to god Jei literally looks at seul-gi all moon eyed like her eyes are only for her. I love that. And there are many I want to talk after I watch 4 more episodes.Was this review helpful to you?
A stepping stone for Queer Korean media?
We all know Korean GL are a rare occurrence. This title is attracting a lot of attention so I have high hopes that it may be a door to more Korean GL if the show is received well.Now why I rated it so high: The story is full of suspense and the story line is interesting. I haven’t found my self bored a single second the episode and editing is fast paced always keeping you on the edge of your seat for more. I also like the acting a lot but it is not surprising coming from an actor as versatile as Lee hyeri.
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