I sometimes enjoy watching school drama, but unfortunately, Friendly Rivalry left me disappointed.
What is Friendly Rivalry About?
Friendly Rivalry is a school drama that follows Woo Seul-gi, a new student who joins a competitive high school after being bullied at her previous school.
Seul-gi, raised in an orphanage, finds herself crossing paths with Yoo Jae-i, a perfect student with dreams of getting into Korea’s top medical school— a goal Seul-gi shares.
While facing a cutthroat college entrance exam competition, she gets entangled in the mystery surrounding the suspicious death of her father, who was a member of the CSAT committee.
Is Friendly Rivalry Worth Watching?
Sadly, Friendly Rivalry doesn’t live up to its potential. While it starts off promising, the series loses its way halfway through, turning into a complete mess.
The characters, including Seul-gi and Jae-i, are often frustrating— Seul-gi is overdramatic, and Jae-i’s obsession with her is never fully explored.
The title is sorta misleading as the rivalry between the two main characters is weak and lacks the intensity you’d expect.
The plot is all over the place, and the side characters are forgettable at best.
While the show does manage to depict the brutal reality of Korea’s school system, the lack of clarity in the storyline and confusing character dynamics make it hard to recommend.
If you’re looking for a satisfying school drama, this might not be the one.
Disclaimer: All options are my own, just my personal take and not influenced by anyone else.
Trigger warnings: sex and nudity, suicide, alcohol, drugs, smoking, swearing.
Where you’ve seen Lee Hye-ri….Lee Hye-ri is a South Korean actress and singer, best known for her work in both television and film.
She is a member of the popular girl group Girl’s Day, where she serves as the lead vocalist.
Hye-ri gained huge fame for her acting career too, particularly for her role as Deok-sun in the hit TV series Reply 1988 (2015).
In addition to Reply 1988, Hye-ri has starred in several other dramas, including Two Cops (2017) and My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021).
Where you’ve seen Chung Soo-bin….Chung Soo-bin is a South Korean actress best known for her roles in various television dramas and films.
She made her acting debut in the 2010s and has since appeared in dramas such as Rookie Cops and Revenge of Others.