Is “Friendly Rivalry” A GL Drama? Comparing The Webtoon And Drama Adaptation

"Friendly Rivalry," starring Lee HyeRi and Jung SuBin, has been trending since its initial release on February 10, quickly becoming the number one most-watched show on the Korean local streaming service U+Mobile TV.

The show has had fans sparking heated debates, questioning its popularity, its GL (Girl Love) drama potential, and how it stacks up against its webtoon counterpart.

In this article, we go in-depth about why the drama became an overnight sensation and how it is different from the original webtoon.

"Friendly Rivalry": A Mystery-Thriller Drama

"Friendly Rivalry" by Song ChaeYoon on Naver Webtoon / X+U Series

Note: Major Spoilers Ahead

"Friendly Rivalry" is the story of Woo SeulGi (Jung SooBin), an orphan who gets admitted to Chaehwa Girls' High School, a high school with intense academic competition between Korea's top 1% students.

SeulGi meets Yoo Jay (Lee HyeRi), the most powerful student in school. Jay, who is both beautiful and wealthy, is known for her manipulative ways. She becomes particularly interested in SeulGi, starting a complex and unusual relationship. Throughout the drama, their encounters become more intense, mixing suspense, sexual tension, psychological battles, and high-stakes competition.

Differences Between the "Friendly Rivalry" Drama and Webtoon

"Friendly Rivalry" by Song ChaeYoon on Naver Webtoon / X+U Series

As is the case with most webtoon-based dramas, "Friendly Rivalry" does make some significant changes to fit the format. With only 16 episodes of approximately 30 minutes each, the drama must make some cuts and tweak some of the story segments.

One of the key differences is SeulGi’s motivation. In the drama, she transfers to Chaehwa Girls' High School to uncover the truth behind her father’s death. Her father was a university entrance exam writer, and his mysterious passing adds a layer of intrigue to the storyline. In the webtoon, the reason for SeulGi's father’s death is not mentioned at the start, making her transfer to Chaehwa Girls' High School no motive.

"Friendly Rivalry" by Song ChaeYoon on Naver Webtoon / X+U Series

SeulGi’s background also differs between the two versions. The webtoon depicts SeulGi as living with her mother, who always warns her about her anger issues and ensures she takes her medication. The drama changes her backstory significantly, portraying her as an orphan who grew up in an orphanage after getting lost during a school trip.

She also engaged in illicit part-time work and lodged with her stepmother when she moved to Seoul for Chaehwa Girls' High School. The series demonstrates her drug use as a means of achieving focus and hence her growing dependence on it. The dependence helped significantly in making her the top student at her previous school, which shielded her from bullies.

In the drama, SeulGi is bullied in Chaehwa Girls' High School with more realism, in jealousy as Jay comes to care for her. This makes for a more complex and richer motivation than in the webtoon, where she is bullied simply because she is new and provincial. The drama's approach adds more complexity and emotion to the dynamic, and the resulting conflict is more natural and effective.

Another notable difference in drama and webtoon is SeulGi wearing a different school uniform on her first day at Chaehwa Girls' High School, which is highly symbolic. This image is a subtle reminder that she is an outsider and does not belong with the rest. Notably, this scene does not exist in the webtoon, so this is a brilliant addition to the story.

"Friendly Rivalry" by Song ChaeYoon on Naver Webtoon / X+U Series

Jay's appearance is another notable difference. In the webtoon, Jay's hair is short and boyish style, while in the drama, she has long hair.

The bathtub kiss scene, one of the most talked-about scenes in the drama, never happens in the webtoon. The two characters do share a kiss, but in a different place and sequence.

The pressure from Jay's father to be the top student is also explored both in the drama and the webtoon. However, the drama furthers this on the basis of sibling rivalry. Jay was brought up in a sister-terror environment of a Cain-and-Abel-like relationship from which flows an ambition of greatness.

In the original webtoon story, Jay's father attempts to kill SeulGi because he believes she is threatening Jay's success. SeulGi and Jay both find a way to enter Korea University Medical School in the webtoon and remain together until graduation, even if the relationship between them is never explicitly labeled as romantic. If the drama ends similarly or not is not known yet, but given that it has a darker tone, changes are most likely.

Is "Friendly Rivalry" a GL Drama?

X+U Series

Despite the solid chemistry between the two female leads, "Friendly Rivalry" is not actually a GL drama. While there are moments of sexual tension between the main characters, the webtoon originally focuses on teen drama, psychological warfare, and high-stakes competition. The story is more about manipulation and ambition rather than romance.

Moreover, the webtoon is also in the Blue String Universe—YLAB's second metaseries webtoon universe that also has the popular series "Study Group." This universe deals with high schoolers' struggles and aspirations and not necessarily romantic relationships.

Why "Friendly Rivalry" Is Trending?

Screenshot From U+ Mobile TV App, Top 10 Series

Supported by Naver Data Lab, the reading count for "Friendly Rivalry" surged a day after the first episode was released, mirroring increased public demand. Google Trends also indicates its growing popularity worldwide, particularly in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

Naver DataLab

A main reason for its popularity is Studio X+U's marketing strategy. The release of controversial teasers before release that included the bathtub kiss scene created a buzz of interest, with people asking if the drama would be a GL series or not. The lack of confirmation did create much speculation and more views.

Additionally, the original webtoon itself already had an established fan base, meaning it already has a solid viewership for the drama adaptation.

Google Trends

The drama's thriller elements also keep audiences engaged, with each episode revealing new secrets and deepening character development. The drama provides more solid motivations for the characters. SeulGi’s tragic past and quest for truth make her more compelling, while Jay's struggle against familial expectations adds complexity to her actions.

Cinematography, acting, and scriptwriting contribute to a gripping viewing experience. The promotional campaign successfully teased the audience with the promises of a future GL story, even though the show itself is about competition and psychological drama.

Final Thoughts

With its engaging narrative, great production, and clever marketing strategies, "Friendly Rivalry" has become a must-watch drama. Whether it stays true to the webtoon or diverges from it, there is one thing that is sure: viewers are hooked!

As the drama continues to unfold its secrets, fans cannot help but wait and see if it can maintain its suspenseful rhythm to the very end.