Rivalry (2022)

Masterpiece

This is definitely a masterpiece.. A beautiful story like this needs an equally talented cast to complete it which is thankfully the case here. Stellar performances by the cast just takes this drama to another level. The story shows a lot of flawed characters and how each character deals with it.. Some positively, some negatively.. It has portrayed all those emotions so perfectly that although you might not like each character you are able to sympathize with them and understand why they react differently.. Everyone has different life experiences and hardships but that doesn't mean one's own hardships matter the most and the rest are insignificant. Everyone's struggles are equally important and needs to acknowledged. This drama is able to portray all these complex feelings in a believable simple way. This drama also shows importance of family and how each family struggles to keep them together in their own way (whether by force or through love according to the different family dynamics present here)
The main leads (Nychaa and Alek) have an undeniable amazing chemistry.I can see why they have been repeatedly cast together before. They portrayed all the emotions so beautifully that sometimes even dialogues were not necessary to understand them. Hoping to see them together again sometime in the future.
All other couples too have good chemistry. No toxic relationships thankfully (except for one maybe that too is not glorified) .
There is also a very powerful moment of women standing up for one another even though characters hate each other. It is such a good example of women empowerment. Kudos to the writer for that heartbreakingly touching scene.
Pop has such a great magnetic presence on-screen. His character is one of highlights of the show and takes the show forward. He deserves a lot more main lead roles for his acting and charisma.
Ending was good, though I wish some characters had slightly better endings but at least every character found peace in their own way. I think this is an amazing drama worth your time.

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The Best Thing About This Drama? The Main Couple

Revenge, revenge upon revenge. This lakorn is a never ending parade of revenge plots, until the very last episode. My brain is exhausted. The only time I thoroughly enjoyed the drama, where I smiled from ear to ear, and when my brain could rest, is the beautiful island time for the main couple. Here on the island, we get rid of all external forces, meddlers, 2nd leads, etc., and just have the chance to enjoy seeing the main couple be in love and solidify their relationship. The FL and ML have such good chemistry with each other and look comfortable doing these intimate scenes together.

I really enjoy watching the main couple. Even though there are people around them who are toxic, they, as friends and then as lovers, never really waver about their loyalty to each other and love for one and another. For the most part, they have a healthy adult relationship where they talk to each about their insecurities and worries. They are not reluctant to express their love. The FL is also very open about her feelings; she faces problems and obstacles head on. These characteristics of a main couple are kind of rare in dramas. So, a lot of situations where there could have been misconstrued or misunderstood, the ML and FL work to resolve them and these misunderstandings don’t hang around for long. I appreciate that the FL is truthful with the 2nd ML about her feelings and never leads him on with false hope.

The OSTs in this lakorn are pretty nice listen.

The acting is very well done: not cheesy, cringey, or overly dramatic. The production, location, props, and wardrobe/styling/make-up are so much better than most lakorns. I appreciate that when the actors are in the office, they’re in appropriate business attires, and not dressed like they are in a nightclub or some hi-so dinner parties. I know that although the FL (Nilin) and ML (Anawin) have known each other since young, the ML in the beginning is not in love with the FL. But, to see him kissing the 2nd FL (Wianna), in the present (Ep 6) not when they were lovers, is hard to stomach. Future family dinners must be awkward AF. The poor FL having to know that both your father and your boyfriend have slept with the same woman. I feel awful for her. In the world of lakorn I guess this crazy relationship/dynamic is not the worse offender: there’s one where the ML falls in love with his young widowed grandmother, another where the FL is the ML’s stepmother, or a number of step-sibling love.

Rivalry or Game Prattana is an entertaining watch, with some scenes that can be FF without missing much, but other than the island time, not much else for me is a re-watch.

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