6
1
1
1
The inherent homoeroticism of having a frenemy
School 2013 meets Gokusen 3 meets GGMTV. That's it, that's the plot. The storyline of Go Nam Soon and Park Heung Soo was legendary in 2013 and it was not only because they were played by Koreas two biggest heartthrobs. The depth and rawness of their relationship is timeless and definitely worth revisiting.
The problem of High School Frenemy is that the plot, focused only on Shin-Saint, was going in frustrating weakly written circles. In Gokusen and School2013, the real leads are the teachers (adults). Their direct and constant involvement makes individual stories more impacful and level-headed, no matter how over the top or reused any students' storyline is. Where the teenage characters go crazy, teachers provide reasoning and almost-realistic solution. This doesn't happen in HSF. The true leads of High School Frenemy are Shin and Saint. While S2013 weaves the frenemy story between numerous other plots, HSF builds 90 % of the drama on their relationship and gives space to other classmates and teachers almost as an afterthought. When they finally focus on other stories (last 4 episodes!), the actual writing is, aside from one exception, just silly and lacking depth. And adults in this story? All of them are selfish, simple-minded, one-dimensional beings who shouldn't come near children.
Anyway, Shin and Saint are actually good teenage protagonists. Emotional trainwrecks, rowdy, imperfect (and closeted). And so everything between Saint and Shin lasts for too long and gets annoyingly convoluted. It was one step forward, two steps backward type of thing with them. The "chasing" arc takes forever and then they Misunderstand (again), Break up, Make up and have THE SAME. FUCKING. CONVERSATION again and again and again and it gets frustrating/boring to watch despite their great chemistry as characters/actors.
This drama is not bad, i swear. The components are there, but it lacks clear vision on directors and scriptwriters side. Was this about friendship? Pre-relationship? Were they gay? Was this queerbaiting? I choose to interpret it as gay pre-relationship, but I feel the director cannot give confident reply on this because they wanted it all.
Had this been a BL drama, Saint-Shin's 'will they/won't they' relationsip would lead to one epic kiss and make up session. And it would be so fucking good. To quote other user "if this was mainland China drama, this would be an adaptation of same-sex novel". BUT, unfortunately, as this is NOT a BL drama and neither it is from mainland China. There is no heterosexual or other explanation for their behaviour other than queerbaiting. Please director and scriptwriter, first make up your mind on the direction of this story. We DO NOT need this level of queerbaiting in 2024 drama. Like… what was even that last scene?!
As it stands, the (main) story feels somehow unresolved. The real emotional climax, that would somehow elevate this story of Saint-Shin situationship, doesn't happen (except for, you know, platonic bedsharing, platonic eye contacts, SEVERAL platonic "i love you"s, platonic headpats and platonically raising a child). They are superbestfriends, ocassionally roommates and always soulmates(?!). And while i can appreaciate good platonic friendship (especially in dramas of this genre)... These characters are written in such romantically charged way, there's no other explanation. These guys are gay and they don't know they are dating. And it felt so frustrating to watch at some point (and not in a good way).
The stories of other kids in Class 2 were also botched. I guess they are now all close friends..? But if you think about it, the only person who got their story fully developed was Chadjen. Others? Cable's storyline? Not revisited. The competition plot? Not revisited. Airy-Eve? Not revisited. Peeta's story? NOT REVISITED. So many plots that deserved more time than dealing 5x with the drug gang.
So yeah, this a two-man show. Sky (Saint) and Nani (Shin) are actually doing great acting job while the rest of the cast is giving amateur theatre. Honorable mentions for good perfomance go to Mark (Chadjeen) and Bonnie (Peeta) - perhaps because they were the only other characters who had stronger script.
For large part of the 16 episodes, i enjoyed the drama. But at the end, it was just frustrating to watch due to all i have said in previous paragprahs. I truly wish High School Fremenemy had clear vision because it could work. But they chose the only one way im not willing to truly accept. The queerbait way.
PS: What was with those super long eye-contact+silences scenes? That was definitely a choice.
The problem of High School Frenemy is that the plot, focused only on Shin-Saint, was going in frustrating weakly written circles. In Gokusen and School2013, the real leads are the teachers (adults). Their direct and constant involvement makes individual stories more impacful and level-headed, no matter how over the top or reused any students' storyline is. Where the teenage characters go crazy, teachers provide reasoning and almost-realistic solution. This doesn't happen in HSF. The true leads of High School Frenemy are Shin and Saint. While S2013 weaves the frenemy story between numerous other plots, HSF builds 90 % of the drama on their relationship and gives space to other classmates and teachers almost as an afterthought. When they finally focus on other stories (last 4 episodes!), the actual writing is, aside from one exception, just silly and lacking depth. And adults in this story? All of them are selfish, simple-minded, one-dimensional beings who shouldn't come near children.
Anyway, Shin and Saint are actually good teenage protagonists. Emotional trainwrecks, rowdy, imperfect (and closeted). And so everything between Saint and Shin lasts for too long and gets annoyingly convoluted. It was one step forward, two steps backward type of thing with them. The "chasing" arc takes forever and then they Misunderstand (again), Break up, Make up and have THE SAME. FUCKING. CONVERSATION again and again and again and it gets frustrating/boring to watch despite their great chemistry as characters/actors.
This drama is not bad, i swear. The components are there, but it lacks clear vision on directors and scriptwriters side. Was this about friendship? Pre-relationship? Were they gay? Was this queerbaiting? I choose to interpret it as gay pre-relationship, but I feel the director cannot give confident reply on this because they wanted it all.
Had this been a BL drama, Saint-Shin's 'will they/won't they' relationsip would lead to one epic kiss and make up session. And it would be so fucking good. To quote other user "if this was mainland China drama, this would be an adaptation of same-sex novel". BUT, unfortunately, as this is NOT a BL drama and neither it is from mainland China. There is no heterosexual or other explanation for their behaviour other than queerbaiting. Please director and scriptwriter, first make up your mind on the direction of this story. We DO NOT need this level of queerbaiting in 2024 drama. Like… what was even that last scene?!
As it stands, the (main) story feels somehow unresolved. The real emotional climax, that would somehow elevate this story of Saint-Shin situationship, doesn't happen (except for, you know, platonic bedsharing, platonic eye contacts, SEVERAL platonic "i love you"s, platonic headpats and platonically raising a child). They are superbestfriends, ocassionally roommates and always soulmates(?!). And while i can appreaciate good platonic friendship (especially in dramas of this genre)... These characters are written in such romantically charged way, there's no other explanation. These guys are gay and they don't know they are dating. And it felt so frustrating to watch at some point (and not in a good way).
The stories of other kids in Class 2 were also botched. I guess they are now all close friends..? But if you think about it, the only person who got their story fully developed was Chadjen. Others? Cable's storyline? Not revisited. The competition plot? Not revisited. Airy-Eve? Not revisited. Peeta's story? NOT REVISITED. So many plots that deserved more time than dealing 5x with the drug gang.
So yeah, this a two-man show. Sky (Saint) and Nani (Shin) are actually doing great acting job while the rest of the cast is giving amateur theatre. Honorable mentions for good perfomance go to Mark (Chadjeen) and Bonnie (Peeta) - perhaps because they were the only other characters who had stronger script.
For large part of the 16 episodes, i enjoyed the drama. But at the end, it was just frustrating to watch due to all i have said in previous paragprahs. I truly wish High School Fremenemy had clear vision because it could work. But they chose the only one way im not willing to truly accept. The queerbait way.
PS: What was with those super long eye-contact+silences scenes? That was definitely a choice.
Was this review helpful to you?
