Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching (March 8, 2025)
Friendly Rivalry (5-16): A rollercoaster of a teen drama. All 4 of our main characters are messed up people, doing messed up things, and the drama fully embraces this, which is exactly what makes them so interesting, and also likeable. Hyeri is an absolute highlight, as she effortlessly manages to make Je-yi into a rather fascinating character that feels almost impossible to dislike. It’s also a drama of two halves. The first half is very focused on setting up the mystery, and developing the dynamic between Ye-ji & Seul-gi. Episode 8 is a great turning point, as the drama then kicks it up 2 notches: the thriller & suspense elements become more present, the pacing is faster, and the plot twists keep on coming, all the while Ye-ji & Seul-gi remain at the heart of the whole experience. However, the fast pacing can sometimes lead to confusion as they don’t always take the time to explain all the details, so you better pay attention. The second half might be more contentious among viewers, but I still really liked it, and it all leads to an ending that I actually really love. It might not win any prizes in the plot department and such, but as far as teen thrillers go, this one does exactly what it should do, and proves to be a winner. Oh, and it’s also undeniably queer, and every scene between Je-yi & Seul-gi is an absolute joy to watch.
The Potato Lab (1-2): This was a fun start. I don’t love it, but I enjoy it enough to keep watching.
Undercover High School (4-5): I swear, every scene between Ye-na and her mom turns this action comedy into what feels like a horror show. It’s so unsettling. Also glad that Hae-sung immediately spoke up when he saw Ye-na order Yoo-jung around, and my heart really breaks for Yoo-jung here. Oh, and Hae-sung is definitely catching feelings for a certain teacher!
Newtopia (6): I didn’t like Jin-wook, but I certainly didn’t expect him to get caught in a stampede and then get run over by a train. So cruel. Speaking of cruel: the scene of Young-joo giving her spot on the train to a little kid, only for them to reveal that the train was full of zombies. In more fun stuff, really glad they gave Young-joo a chainsaw, which she immediately put to good use. She’s finally starting to feel like she’s more than just a damsel in distress, and I’m here for it! Also, Soo-jeong better survive, darn it!
The Witch (5-6): I want an ending where Mi-jung doesn’t end up with Dong-jin, but I know I’m not gonna get it. Ugh.
Idol: The Coup (9-10): I do hope Jenna means it when she said the other song is better, because I actually really liked the original song. Also glad we seem to be getting more of Stella’s story, as I’ve been waiting for that.
