“Friendly Rivalry” (U+tv original; TVING, Wavve, WATCHA)
Baek Seolhee (Writer, columnist): Don’t expect to see any other dramas driven by up-and-coming women actors as good as this until at least midyear. The 16-episode mystery thriller “Friendly Rivalry,” based on the webtoon of the same name, is unquestionably generating more buzz than any other series. A U+tv original that was initially exclusive to the platform, “Friendly Rivalry” aired its final episode on March 6, but shorts and other clips from the show went viral on social media, prompting it to be made available on additional streaming services like TVING, WATCHA, and Wavve. Now the show’s been gaining even more traction from binge-watchers coming in late. And the buzz isn’t confined to Korea, either—“Friendly Rivalry” is also receiving rave reviews in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Woo Seulgi (Chung Su Bin), who grew up in an orphanage after being separated from her parents, transfers to Chaehwa Girls’ High School, a private institution that trains students intensely for the university entrance exam. There, Seulgi is “chosen” by Yoo Jei (Hyeri), the school’s top student and student council president, and learns about her biological father’s mysterious death. Seulgi slowly uncovers questions surrounding how he died as she clashes and collaborates with Jei, Choi Gyeong (Oh Woori), and Cho Yeri (Kang Hyewon).

The most standout part of the series is how much Hyeri has grown to be able to portray Jei as well as she does. From her days on “Reply 1988” as the excitable Sung Deok-sun, jumping around shouting about being the Madagascar picket girl, and her role as Chu Pil-sun in “Victory,” Hyeri has moved on from her deceptively mature tomboy roles to full embody the cold, calculating, single-minded Jei in this new drama. Director Kim Taehee, a subscriber and avid viewer of Hyeri’s YouTube channel, revealed that she was convinced Hyeri “could give audiences something completely new through this entirely different character.” In an episode of her YouTube series “Hyell’s Club” with her costar Kang Hyewon on as a guest, Hyeri even said, “Honestly, when I first saw the script, I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll get to use expressions I’ve never used before.’” Those who remember her debut leading role in “Schoolgirl Detectives” might find it fun to compare her role as Lee Yehui there to Jei.

But there’s so much more going on with “Friendly Rivalry” that just Jei. Chung Su Bin elevates all 16 episodes with a steady and poised performance as Seulgi, the protagonist who has a love-hate relationship with Jei. And there’s no overlooking Oh Woori, who previously delivered a haunting performance in the 2023 film “Hail to Hell.” Other standouts include Chu Yejin as Jena, Jei’s sister struggling with mental illness; Chae Seo-eun, who has a smaller but captivating role as a pawn held captive by Jei; and Kim Sangji, whose unforgettable performance in episode eight earned nearly 1.4 million views. “Friendly Rivalry” is full of powerful performances by new actresses showcasing their incredible potential, and it’s with high hopes that we eagerly await their even brighter futures ahead.

“When Life Gives You Tangerines” (Netflix)
Lee Heewon: The Netflix series “When Life Gives You Tangerines” is a love story between Ae-sun (IU) and Gwan-sik (Park Bo Gum), as well as a look at the lives of three generations of women spanning Gwang-rye (Yeom Hye-ran), her daughter Ae-sun, and Ae-sun’s daughter Geum-myeong. In an unusual move, this 16-part series is being released four episodes at a time. This unique approach is meant to capture the spring, summer, fall, and winter of Ae-sun’s life. A textbook “willful” 1960s mother, Gwang-rye tells her daughter Ae-sun that “it’s better to be born a cow” than a woman in Jeju. Gwang-rye pours everything into survival, with no choice but to be that much more willful to feed her children, not even able to begrudge a single abalone. “Ae-sun,” she says, “I am the poor one, not you. Don’t hang back. Live your life to the fullest.” Despite her fervent wish for Ae-sun to avoid living through the same struggles, her daughter inevitably abandons her dreams and repeats aspects of her mother’s life after becoming a mother herself. At 18, she dreamed of channeling her love of literature into becoming a poet but became a mother when she lost her own. At 19, Gwan-sik resigned from his dream of winning a gold medal to become Geum-myeong’s father. “Their spring wasn’t a season to foster dreams but to break them,” the show tells us, “and they did so willingly.” Together, the two share year after year of the same four seasons filled not with broken dreams but with dreams they willingly set aside, standing firm with each other. Gwan-sik, Ae-sun’s rock, evokes the image of countless Ae-suns who had nothing and no one like him to lean on in similar times. “My impoverished childhood,” the narration goes on. “Even that humble childhood was only possible because they built such a sturdy fortress.” At this point, so many viewers may find themselves remembering that they too are someone’s child, thinking about parents they once resented or failed to understand. As the title suggests, “When Life Gives You Tangerines” is a tribute to the countless Gwang-ryes, Ae-suns, Gwan-siks, and courageous Geum-myeongs of the time, and everyone living similar lives today, who live willfully when life gives them tangerines.

“Revelations” (Netflix)
Bae Dongmi (CINE21 reporter): Min-chan (Ryu Jun Yeol), a pastor running a small chapel in the same building as an aging shopping center, spots an unusual new worshipper one rainy day. His name is Yang-rae (Shin Min-jae), and he follows middle school student A-yeong (Park Soi) inside. Pastor Min-chan, eager to grow his congregation, addresses Yang-rae as Brother and tries to draw him in in hopes of him becoming a regular church member, but Yang-rae only responds with a look of discomfort. Min-chan, though he treats this man with a quiet gentleness, turns out to actually be utterly at odds with the religious values he holds. After having a detective agency send someone to tail his wife and confirm she’s cheating on him, Min-chan explodes with rage, killing a bug underfoot. When his child goes missing from daycare, he immediately suspects Yang-rae because he was wearing the kind of ankle monitor that convicted sex offenders do. Meanwhile, detective Yeon-hui (Shin Hyunbeen), grieving the loss of her beloved younger sibling to Yang-rae’s crimes, assumes the man is behind a new missing person case and launches an investigation.

The Netflix film “Revelations” is the latest offering from director Yeon Sang-ho, known for his chilling portrayals of messy human desire in films like “Train to Busan” and “Peninsula” and TV series including “Hellbound” and “The Cursed.” With his fascinating settings, Yeon once again forgoes any detours, delivering a story that advances briskly. Min-chan, the seemingly kind pastor, crosses moral lines for personal benefit, while Yang-rae’s actions arouse suspicion, especially given his criminal record. The detective Yeon-hui, haunted by guilt over failing to protect her late sibling, is haunted by their lingering spirit. Yeon skillfully weaves a suspenseful narrative out of the push-and-pull dynamics of these three characters’ desires and intentions. Rather than driving the story solely with dialogue, Yeon masterfully crafts suspense through visuals, like an ankle monitor or ghostly apparitions. While it may lack the pound-for-pound immensity of Yeon’s earlier masterpieces like “Hellbound” and “Train to Busan,” “Revelations” still surpasses “Peninsula” and “The Cursed,” making it another solid addition to the cinematic world.