This review may contain spoilers
Friendly Rivalry was NOT queerbaiting and here's why.
It's been a while since I haven't been this drawn to a K-Drama series, and Friendly Rivalry has got to be, hands down, one of the best GL series I've encountered. Of course, this is just a personal opinion, but again, this series contains a beautifully woven intricate relationship between the two main leads, Seulgi and Jae-yi—played by Hyeri and Subin, the two actors who did an amazing job! Although there are barely any intimate scenes between the two characters (It isn't necessary anyway..), the 24/7 tension between them and the obvious admiring and loving of each other are proofs that this series is indeed not queerbaiting. I hope the audience understands what I meant by that.As a hopeless romantic and also a person who has experienced love without any kissing or intimacy, I truly believe that love stories (like Friendly Rivalry) do not necessarily need those kissing scenes or intimate scenes to prove the love between the characters. If you paid attention while watching the series, you could definitely tell that there is something going on between the two of them, not to mention the intense tension the two characters have whenever they are together.
From Jae-yi being obsessed with Seulgi and fighting off her bullies for her at the beginning of the school year to (SPOILER ALERT) her sacrificing her own relationship with her father to defend Seulgi and finally admitting that the drugs she gave Seulgi during their midterm exams were not drugs but rather, vitamins, the relationship between them is even more romantic than you'll ever think. THIS IS PURE ROMANTICISM, and plus, this is a high-school drama. We have to prove the homophobes what WLW truly is and stop fetishizing and sexualizing high schoolers.
I've seen people complaining about the ending, but honestly, in my opinion, I think it was the most perfect way to end a series that has a plot like this. (SPOILER ALERT) Seulgi has quitted her drug addiction, and both Jae-yi and Jena have found their inner peace without any interference by their devilish father or any rivalry between the two of them. Jae-yi even sends a box to Seulgi, so this basically means that the story between them hasn't ended yet!
I truly hope Friendly Rivalry becomes an exemplary to both the audience and upcoming GL movies/series. I'm also really looking forward to Season 2 (if there is one). Again, amazing job done by Subin and Hyeri! We can't wait for their new upcoming works!
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