If Payback is the kind of BL that stayed with you long after the credits rolled, Double HELIX is well worth adding to your watchlist.
Both series are driven by intense chemistry and a relationship that develops through constant tension, emotional conflict, and undeniable attraction. Instead of relying on instant romance, they build anticipation through charged interactions, lingering eye contact, and moments where the characters seem to say more with their expressions than with words.
Another similarity is the emotional complexity of the leads. In both stories, the protagonists are layered individuals whose growing trust and vulnerability make the romance feel authentic and rewarding. The push-and-pull between them creates a compelling dynamic that keeps every encounter engaging.
Visually, both dramas embrace a polished, cinematic style, using thoughtful framing, lighting, and close-up shots to amplify the emotional impact of key scenes. They strike a balance between romance, drama, and character development, making the relationship the emotional core of the story.
If what you loved most about Double Helix was the slow-burning tension, magnetic chemistry, emotionally charged interactions, and cinematic presentation, Payback (2026) delivers many of those same strengths while offering its own distinctive story and characters.
Both series are driven by intense chemistry and a relationship that develops through constant tension, emotional conflict, and undeniable attraction. Instead of relying on instant romance, they build anticipation through charged interactions, lingering eye contact, and moments where the characters seem to say more with their expressions than with words.
Another similarity is the emotional complexity of the leads. In both stories, the protagonists are layered individuals whose growing trust and vulnerability make the romance feel authentic and rewarding. The push-and-pull between them creates a compelling dynamic that keeps every encounter engaging.
Visually, both dramas embrace a polished, cinematic style, using thoughtful framing, lighting, and close-up shots to amplify the emotional impact of key scenes. They strike a balance between romance, drama, and character development, making the relationship the emotional core of the story.
If what you loved most about Double Helix was the slow-burning tension, magnetic chemistry, emotionally charged interactions, and cinematic presentation, Payback (2026) delivers many of those same strengths while offering its own distinctive story and characters.
Sun is a 25-year-old deliveryman with a troubled past. Violence took his brother and mother away, and guilt leads him to redemption—but not to forgetting. Entering Dream Entertainment marks the start of revenge and his reunion with Jay, the intimidating and charismatic company director. Jay believes in strategy over emotion, viewing every relationship as a transaction. Beneath his cool exterior lies a deep, unhealed wound—until the appearance of Sun begins to shake the world Jay once had completely under control.
With Jay stepping in as Sun's sponsor and quietly backing his every move amidst the fierce competition of the showbiz world, the two find themselves entangled in a complex relationship, forced to rely on each other to survive the fight.
With Jay stepping in as Sun's sponsor and quietly backing his every move amidst the fierce competition of the showbiz world, the two find themselves entangled in a complex relationship, forced to rely on each other to survive the fight.
- one main had to get involved with the mafia and became a loan shark and his love interest is an equally morally grey enemy and they have prior history
- there is some revenge and rival team up undercover work
- it's dark, contains action scenes, betrayal and violence
- dips into the entertainment business at times (Payback a lot more)
- enemies to lovers
- there is some revenge and rival team up undercover work
- it's dark, contains action scenes, betrayal and violence
- dips into the entertainment business at times (Payback a lot more)
- enemies to lovers
both have in common:
- main character named Sun is involved with the mafia / underground gangs
- people he loves get killed
- he swears to take revenge on those who are responsible
- infiltrates the rivaling side to do that
- but gets romantically / sexually involved with someone in there
- both mains are depressed and suicidal in both shows
- but help healing each other, very delicious hurt / comfort
- very rough, dark, violent, not holding back, (both contain sexual assault scenes)
- have a few neat action / fight scenes
- secret, forbidden relationship and yearning for what they can't have
- main has an ex and the parting was very painful (for different reasons)
- main couple are equally strong, physically and in fight skills
- (fr)enemies to lovers
- very graphic, insane sex scenes
differences:
- PayBack takes also place in the film industry with shady, illegal elements
- main couple starts with power imbalance and sexual favors (so far based on episode 1 and trailer)
- Bangkok Boy stays in the mafia realms
- main character named Sun is involved with the mafia / underground gangs
- people he loves get killed
- he swears to take revenge on those who are responsible
- infiltrates the rivaling side to do that
- but gets romantically / sexually involved with someone in there
- both mains are depressed and suicidal in both shows
- but help healing each other, very delicious hurt / comfort
- very rough, dark, violent, not holding back, (both contain sexual assault scenes)
- have a few neat action / fight scenes
- secret, forbidden relationship and yearning for what they can't have
- main has an ex and the parting was very painful (for different reasons)
- main couple are equally strong, physically and in fight skills
- (fr)enemies to lovers
- very graphic, insane sex scenes
differences:
- PayBack takes also place in the film industry with shady, illegal elements
- main couple starts with power imbalance and sexual favors (so far based on episode 1 and trailer)
- Bangkok Boy stays in the mafia realms
- Both are dark BL romances, not light or fluffy love stories.
- Both center on emotionally damaged characters shaped by trauma.
- Both explore obsession, control, revenge, and emotional manipulation.
- The romance in both feels dangerous rather than comforting.
- Both use power imbalance as part of the relationship tension.
- In both stories, the main relationship begins with conflict, mistrust, or manipulation.
- Both male leads are morally gray, not purely good or innocent.
- The past plays a major role in both dramas; old wounds keep affecting the present.
- Both show love as something that can become destructive, addictive, and complicated.
- To My Shore focuses more on obsession and emotional redemption.
- Payback focuses more on revenge, betrayal, and survival.
- Overall, both dramas share the same intense “toxic attraction” vibe.
- Both center on emotionally damaged characters shaped by trauma.
- Both explore obsession, control, revenge, and emotional manipulation.
- The romance in both feels dangerous rather than comforting.
- Both use power imbalance as part of the relationship tension.
- In both stories, the main relationship begins with conflict, mistrust, or manipulation.
- Both male leads are morally gray, not purely good or innocent.
- The past plays a major role in both dramas; old wounds keep affecting the present.
- Both show love as something that can become destructive, addictive, and complicated.
- To My Shore focuses more on obsession and emotional redemption.
- Payback focuses more on revenge, betrayal, and survival.
- Overall, both dramas share the same intense “toxic attraction” vibe.
After rewatching Top Form I realised that it was in certain aspects quite similar to Pay Back. I feel like Sun and Jin have resembling personalities and both Pay Back and Top Form are about acting. One of the differences is that in Pay Back Jay was a director and in Top Form the love interest is also an actors.
