Payback Delivers Everything I Love: Dark, Intense, Emotional, and Absolutely Addictive
What a fantastic start. This is exactly my kind of drama. I love stories centered around violence, revenge, and the mafia world because they create such an intense and thrilling atmosphere, and Payback delivered that from the very first minute.This is my first time watching Min as Sun, and I am genuinely impressed. His performance is incredible. From his facial expressions to the changes in his hairstyle and hair color, he makes every version of Sun feel distinct and believable. I especially love how the series uses Sun's changing hair color to clearly show which timeline we are in. The constant transitions between the past and present are handled so well. The flashbacks never feel confusing or unnecessary. Instead, they gradually answer questions while introducing new mysteries, allowing the audience to piece everything together naturally. It is such a smart storytelling choice and one of my favorite aspects of the episode.
Sun's story immediately pulled me in. After years of carrying guilt over the deaths of his mother and younger brother, he continues to blame himself for a tragedy that was never truly his fault. The real betrayal came from someone he once trusted, and that pain fuels the revenge at the heart of the story. The title Payback feels fitting because every emotion, every wound, and every act of betrayal is building toward something powerful.
It is also my first time watching Toptap, and he made a strong impression as Jay. Their first encounter was unforgettable, and that bear-riding scene was incredibly hot. The chemistry between them was instant and natural, making me excited to see how their relationship develops. Sun has already suffered so much in just one episode that it honestly feels like the writers are determined to put him through endless pain. It even reminded me of The Bangkok Boy at times. I'm hoping Jay will become the light in Sun's dark and miserable world because this man seriously deserves some happiness for once.
The first few episodes started incredibly strong. The acting is excellent, the story is engaging, the dark and intense tone is exactly what I was looking for, and the fight scenes were well executed. I also loved the music, which elevated many of the emotional and action-packed moments.
The kissing scene at the end of episode 3 was so hot. If you watch closely, you can even see the saliva dripping. I'm so glad it was a real kiss and not a fake one. The chemistry was intense, thrilling, and completely captivating.
Overall, Payback has everything I want in a drama: compelling characters, emotional depth, revenge, chemistry, action, and a dark atmosphere that keeps you invested. If the rest of the series maintains this level of quality, it could easily become one of my favorites of the year.
10/10. I cannot wait for the next episode.
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it's good series.
so far it's good I'm not complaining about the storyline it's mature enough for me. I love the acting. the The partnership is okay too with this series. I would rewatch it it's on my list of BL's too rewatch and that list is very small it's not that many I would rewatch but this may it on my list. can't wait for the next episode to play out. I'm really enjoying the series and the way the storyline is going. and the actors are doing an incredible job. so I will be continuing to watch this series it will not be dropped by meWas this review helpful to you?
Go watch it right now
Bro, I’m telling y’all it’s worth the watch read the manhwa and then watch it it’s worth it or just be reading the manhwa and be watching it at the same time. Like so far there was only like one difference from the manhwa than the actual show but it’s not a big difference. I mean it is but the difference is so good like you generally love it and like the plot is so good and like the characters look so good everyone looks good in the show. The show was good. Acting is good. Everything is good.Was this review helpful to you?
THE KISS
ONE THING: THE KISS IN THE END OF EPISODE 3, PLS I DIED.LIKE GOSH DANG, i was not expecting anything but That kissssssss just proved that this is gonna be a banger. No NC scene can compare rn. I'm just so excited to watch it now, and the leads look really good together.
P.s i need to fill some words because mdl wont let me post the review unless it's 300 words like shutup
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Finally a solid thriller Thai BL
Gonna start by saying this is unlike many other thriller Thai BLs, by which I don't mean the story (I know that's Korean) I mean the production quality. A lot of time thriller Thai BLs aren't given enough budget to produce a good series, though its changing in recent times and this one is highly impressive. My friend even said she couldn't believe its a Thai BL lol.The atmosphere is amazing, I'm glad they're not inserting too many gags or silly sounds to make it funny. Humor is good but it can ruin the vibe especially when this deals with a lot of heavy themes. The casting is fabulous, having read the manhwa I can say this is one of the best casting. Both actors have amazing tension, the side characters are adorable and frustrating where they need to be.
I know many people are review bombing this which is frankly pathetic. This is an independent production and they're already giving more than some big production companies. I hope more people give it an honest try because this has a lot of potential.
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OFF TO A GREAT START!
I love revenge stories when they’re done right, and so far it seems like this will be done right.this is the story of Min, a 25 year old guy with a troubled past. for years he had been blaming himself for the death of his family members, until one day he finds out the real culprit behind their deaths was someone else. then he sets out on a journey to get revenge.
this is my first time seeing any of these actors. and I’m blown away by how amazing Min’s acting is. I was ready to hate on his character when we started the drama with him holding a knife to an innocent child. but by the time the episode ended, I was rooting for him and ready to fight alongside him😂
Fuaiz as the villain was also amazing. I didn’t even realize at first that he was the same guy that had a past connection with Min until they showed a flashback. it’s safe to say that I will be HATING his character 😂
I absolutely loved the cinematography and the color grading. it’s so gritty and dark, very fitting for the stiry. I love the non linear story telling too, even though it might feel a bit confusing at first. I haven’t read the manhwa, but inwas able to follow the story along. (feel free to comment if you wanted me to explain!)
so far this is looking VERY PROMISING! idk how I’ll survive the wait for a whole week till the next episode drops!
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First Impression: Payback
Overall: the first episode is gritty and promising. Note: this is based on a manhwa/webtoon of the same name. I haven't read the source material and will review the series based on it's own merits. 10 episodes about 45 minutes each. Airing on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/payback-uncut-episode-1-1h8pgey90dg?lang=en_usContent Warnings: there are a ton in episode 1, I'm keeping this spoiler free for now
What I Liked
- unique, gritty vibe
Room For Improvement
- I was a little confused due to multiple timeline jumps and characters who changed hair color (update: note that the source material does this as well so it is a faithful adaptation in that regard)
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Wooof!! Red hot I say...this one is so much better than some of the more hyped ones
After episode 3, I must say that I love the tension and intrigue and the build-up for the 'revenge'......I started this only because I liked the dark storyline, to an extent Fuiaz, and the colour palette ...and am surprised how good the first episode was!! I guess this one will turn out to be one of those good story, good acting, gripping tales from iQIYIBL-needle Score: 7 Moderate BL-ness so far
The story, script, acting and production values - all of them are just right for this one, a least for now. The dark story, the stench of intense betrayal, the clueless guy turning the schemer and reaching his goal with powerful allies...and then, the allure of a romantic pair that seems intense, power and angst-craving driven, is a sure shot add-on......it definitely looks set to bang!! Glad that I decided to watch it.
Verdict: Watch
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This review may contain spoilers
I started watching this mainly because of Fuaiz.At first, Sun believes that his mother's death and his younger brother's murder were the consequences of his own actions as a debt collector. For five years, he lives with guilt, working himself to exhaustion and simply surviving day by day.
Then he discovers a shocking truth: someone deliberately manipulated the tragedy that destroyed his family.
That moment completely changes the direction of the story. What began as a tale of guilt becomes a revenge drama.
The entertainment industry setting is interesting, but what caught my attention most was Sun himself. He is not a typical heroic protagonist. He is broken, exhausted, and burdened by years of self-hatred, which makes him compelling to watch.
Fuaiz once again plays a character with a darker edge, something he seems particularly good at. Ever since 4Minutes, I've enjoyed seeing him portray morally complicated people.
The first episode is heavy and tragic, but it successfully sets up the revenge plot and leaves me curious about what will happen next.
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A BL That Actually Has Me Invested in the Story
What I really like about this series is that it has a compelling storyline beyond the fact that it's a BL. I'm genuinely curious about what steps he'll take next in his quest for revenge, rather than simply wondering when he'll fall in love with the other lead.There are so many unanswered questions that keep me hooked. Is the bunny actually Sun? Does the director/partner, Jay, have his own hidden agenda? And in all of this revenge, what exactly is Jay's motive?
That's why I'll be watching this weekly. My curiosity simply won't allow me to wait until all the episodes are released before finding out what happens next.
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