“Friendly Rivalry” is friendly enough until it turns into a tell-tale of drug abuse, murder mystery and ricocheting teenagers going berserk!

What are the odds that rich, smart student’s council president will fall for a barely visible newcomer? The answer to this question sets the tone for this show which is equal parts riveting & bewildering. While you feel addicted to the budding romance between the main leads (which have obvious sapphic tones), the drug abuse and teenagers breaking under academic pressure are totally disturbing. Adapted from the webtoon “Friendly Competition” (선의의 경쟁) written by Song Chae Yoon (송채윤) and illustrated by Shim Jae Young (심재영), the show follows Woo Seul Gi (Chung Su Bin) our protagonist who has spent almost her entire lifetime being invisible. She went missing as a child and was bought up at an orphanage until her stepmother located her after her birth father’s death. As Seul Gi relocates to Seoul from a small provincial town, she is admitted to the prestigious Chaehwa High School, an elite school for the top 1% of students. Even though she was the topper at old school, Seul Gi struggles to fit in. That is until she meets until she meets Yoo Je I, the school’s top student. Their growing connection soon turns into a complex relationship marked by both friendship and obsession.

Yoo Je Yi, The Enigma

As the Student’s Council President, Yoo Je Yi (Lee Hye Ri) is an enigma. She intelligent, wealthy, and aware of her status. Most students look upto her, while others are envious of her looks & intelligence. She is aloof, reserved yet popular; everyone wants to be her best friend, but she never pays much attention to anyone. That is until she meets Woo Seul Gi, the newcomer. She is intrigued with Seul Gi, her obsession grows day by day, until it takes an unexpected turn. Je Yi is unusually competitive; so much so, that she competed with her own sister to win their father’s attention and love. You can never guess what is on her mind and the storytelling pans on her weirdness more enough. Her sharp acumen and intelligence are unmatched. She single handedly destroys her wealthy father’s business empire just to punish him for torturing her elder sister. Trust me, you would never want Yoo Je Yi to become your enemy!

The Simpleton who is anything but Simple

Woo Seul Gi (Chung Su Bin) has led a difficult life after she went missing as a child and was raised at an orphanage. To earn money, she got involved with a drug dealer and was into substance abuse for a substantial time period, so she could better her rank. After being reunited with her stepmother, she tries to lead a better life. Unfortunately, her new school is a beehive of drug addict who swallow medications to keep themselves awake, so they study hard to crack CSATs. Her life is turned upside down when the school topper Je Yi gets obsessed with her. Despite the uncertainty, Seul Gi gets closer to Je Yi, so she could climb up the ranks. But their closeness apparently leads to devastating secret that bulges them to darkness.

The Diffident Relationship

There is a hint of vulnerability in their relationship; Je Yi has spent her life surrounded by greedy people who want her attention because she is rich and intelligent. They see her as a status symbol and want to share her popularity. Seul Gi is used to be alone, she never had any true friends and is kind of loner. We don’t know why Je Yi is drawn to Seul Gi; it could be the fact that she finds her intriguing or did she get close to Seul Gi because of her father’s death case? Their relationship isn’t on a stable ground from Day One and yet as they grow close, Seul Gi grows dependent on Je Yi who protects that trust by going against her father, by helping Seul Gi gather evidence. There is a kissing scene in Ep.4 which is a dream sequence but it does establish the fact that Seul Gi sees Je Yi as more than a mere friend. Their relationship has a rocky start but as Je Yi earns her trust, they became inseparable!

Is it a Worthwhile Watch

The show is a messy concoction of murder mystery, drug abuse and horny teenagers, so I’m not sure if everyone will like it!

Lee Hye Ri & Chung Su Bin’s chemistry is the highlight of this show, their chemistry is natural even though at times Je Yi’s obsessive nature might be spooky. Jae-i’s friends, Choi-kyung (Oh Woo-ri) and Ye-ri (Kang Hye-won) might seem like unwelcome additions to the storyline, but they have their own stories to share. Choi Kyung is a nerd who has been second to Jae-i her whole life. She seems to hate Je Yi’s attitude but at the same masturbates thinking about her whenever she gets stressed or nervous. Ye-ri is obsessed with her beauty since a child but as her family goes bankrupt, she starts dealing drugs to make ends meet. They are messed up teenagers whose struggles can attributed to their strained relationships with their parents or exam pressures. In short, “Friendly Rivalry” delivers unrestrained, messy romance with interesting side characters!

Rating- 3.5 out of 5

Streaming on- Viki