Friendly Rivalry Episode 9 Recap: Father’s Dark Deeds

Another week, another whirlwind of twists in ‘Friendly Rivalry.’ But Episode 9 was more than just a collection of shocking moments; it was a deep dive into the devastating long-term effects of parental pressure and fractured sisterhood. While recaps are great, let’s analyze the why behind the characters’ actions.

This episode wasn’t just about revealing who has the teacher’s phone—it was about exposing the psychological scars that drive every character’s desperate choices. Here’s a breakdown of the key themes that made this episode so powerful.

In Friendly Rivalry, episode 9 reveals a heartbreaking truth about Je-na and Jae-i’s childhood. Je-na, the elder sister, always protected Jae-i. When they were kids, Je-na purposely answered test questions wrong to prevent Jae-i from getting beaten by their strict father. She cared for her like a baby.

But as teenagers, things changed. Jae-i was told to compete with Je-na, and she began ignoring her. Je-na couldn’t handle the sudden distance. Feeling hopeless, she turned to prayer. She wished for an incurable illness, hoping their family would finally pity her. Strangely, her wish came true—she was diagnosed with narcolepsy.

Even after the diagnosis, expectations didn’t change. Jae-i would visit but quickly leave to study. When Je-na started recovering, their father’s response was cold.

He told her that now that she understood her illness, she should have no problem ranking first in school. This crushed her. The pressure to succeed pushed her to a breaking point.

Je-na’s Painful Past

Je-na’s flashback isn’t just backstory; it’s the key to understanding the entire series. Her childhood sacrifice—failing tests to protect her sister—establishes her core need: a reciprocal, loving relationship. When that was taken away, her psyche interpreted a drastic solution: an “incurable illness” to force the family’s affection.

The fact that this wish manifested as narcolepsy (a condition often linked to stress and trauma) is a brilliant narrative choice. It shows her mind and body literally shutting down under the pressure.

Her subsequent actions—the theft, the manipulation of Teacher Woo—aren’t acts of a villain, but of a tragically broken individual who learned that honesty and hard work are worthless compared to manipulation and desperate measures.

A Desperate Act and a Dangerous Secret

Je-na returned to school with heavy expectations on her shoulders. Overwhelmed, she took drugs. One rainy night, she broke into the school to steal an exam paper. But she got caught by Teacher Woo Dae-ho, Seul-gi’s father. She fainted in front of him.

When she woke up, the teacher was still there. Fear gripped her—had he contacted her father? She begged him not to. Desperate, she embraced him. Then, in a calculated move, she turned on her smartwatch camera, secretly recording their encounter. The video changed everything.

Present-Day Confrontation and a Deadly Truth

At present, Je-na and Jae-i are meeting in the print room. Je-na asks if Jae-i knows their father killed Teacher Dao-he. Suspicion rises when Je-na spots a phone in Jae-i’s hand. Realizing it belongs to the dead teacher, Je-na tries to grab it. The phone slips and falls outside the window.

Jae-i runs, but Je-na, desperate, jumps after the phone. Before she can find it, a guard arrives. Overcome by flashbacks, she panics and flees. Meanwhile, Jae-i searches the bushes and retrieves the phone. The school’s anniversary event ends with Seul-gi being injured.

Chaos, Drugs, and a Viral Video

Elsewhere, Beom-su, drugged and disoriented, is interrogated by a teacher. Ye-ri hides in the corner, listening. Meanwhile, Jae-i rushes to the hospital where Seul-gi is being treated.

Her father is inside the operating room with Seul-gi. When Jae-i arrives, her father gives her a shocking command—perform surgery on Seul-gi to strengthen her skills for medical school. Jae-i obeys.

Back in the classroom, a teacher confiscates vapes, & medicines many such things, and orders students to open their lockers. Jo-ah panics, fearing she will be caught for selling drugs. She calls Jae-i, asking what to do. Jae-i tells her to stay quiet.

Meanwhile, Choi Kyung’s mother sees her holding a knife and starts searching for it. Choi Kyung insists the school will cover up the situation, so she took matters into her own hands. At the same time, a shocking video of Beom-su injuring Seul-gi spreads across social media.

A Terrifying Discovery

Seul-gi wakes up and sees the viral video. Suddenly, Jae-i enters and hugs her from behind. Jae-i tries to comfort her, but lies when Seul-gi asks about her father’s phone.

Their conversation turns tense. Jae-i mentions a rumor about Seul-gi’s father having an inappropriate relationship with a student. Seul-gi, angry, walks away.

Unable to return to the hospital due to locked doors, Seul-gi witnesses something horrifying—Jae-i’s father dragging a body with two or three men. She later sneaks inside after receiving a call from Byeong-jin, asking for painkillers. But what she finds is terrifying.

Inside the hospital, she stumbles upon a room with a familiar black bag. A foot hangs out. Fear sets in. Before she can react, a figure appears behind her. Her heart pounds. The episode ends with Seul-gi frozen in terror.

Central Themes of Episode 9:

• The Cycle of Pressure: The episode brilliantly shows how parental pressure isn’t just about grades; it warps morality (Jae-i performing unauthorized surgery), creates mental illness (Je-na’s narcolepsy), and fosters a culture of corruption (drugs, cover-ups).

• Sisterhood vs. Rivalry: The core relationship is now a battlefield. Je-na’s desire for connection clashes with Jae-i’s conditioned drive to compete, making their every interaction charged with history and pain.

• The Sins of the Fathers: The actions of the parents (the abusive father, the possibly murdered teacher, the corrupt doctor) are directly causing the chaos in the children’s lives. The younger generation is literally cleaning up—and being destroyed by—the messes of their elders.

Final Thoughts

Episode 9 of ‘Friendly Rivalry’ successfully shifted the drama from “who-dun-it” to a poignant exploration of “why-they-did-it.” By fleshing out Je-na’s heartbreaking past, the show gives context to its present-day chaos, reminding us that villains are often victims who never found a healthy way to cope.

The lines between right and wrong are completely blurred, leaving us to wonder: in a world built on impossible expectations and lies, what choice did any of them really have?

What did you think was the most tragic moment of the episode? Who do you think is behind Seul-gi in that final scene? Let us know in the comments below!

📌 Bookmark