Payback

Redemption, not revenge.

This series would have been more appropriately titled “Redemption.” While it begins with Min’s relentless pursuit of revenge against the man who betrayed him, it gradually evolves into something much more meaningful. It explores the realization that a life fueled by vengeance is also consumed by anger and hatred. In Min’s case, the greatest act of forgiveness isn’t directed at someone else, it’s forgiving himself so he can finally move forward. In the end, he learns that what truly matters isn’t revenge, but the people who stand beside him.

The series does an excellent job of maintaining both its momentum and narrative consistency from beginning to end. That said, I couldn’t help but feel that ten episodes were simply not enough. Two additional episodes would have allowed for richer character development, particularly the relationship between Sky and the photographer Pakin. Arthur also deserved more depth, especially considering his mother’s pivotal role in building Dream. That aspect of the story felt underexplored. The series also shines a light on the darker side of the entertainment industry. While this isn’t a new theme, it’s an unfortunate reality that has existed for decades, and the show presents it effectively without sensationalizing it.

The acting is top-notch, and much of that credit belongs to the director, who successfully drew out deeply emotional performances from both Toptap and Min. They’re already talented actors, though I still believe both have room to grow in their craft. What truly elevates the series, however, is their chemistry. It is absolutely electric. Their NC-17 scenes are undeniably intense and will send more than a few heart rates into tachycardia. And yes… it’s nearly impossible not to notice those infamous hot buns.

This pairing has undoubtedly cemented their place as a fan-favorite ship. My only hope is that they avoid the trap that has claimed so many popular on-screen couples before them, accepting weak scripts simply to capitalize on fan service. They have proven they can deliver compelling performances, and they deserve projects that challenge them as actors rather than merely feeding the fandom.

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Delicious Romance, Engaging Plot and a few very Handsome actors!

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

Despite a plot that is not that unique, what makes “Payback” special is the chemistry between the characters, the excellent acting performances by Toptap as Jay, and Fuaiz as Sunny, and a well-paced plot that keeps interested and engaged throughout the 10 episodes.

Plot:
A revenge/payback storyline isn’t anything out of the ordinary. There are plenty of dramas seeking revenge from people who stole from you and hurt you. What makes this plot a little more interesting is the sum of the parts - the background history + revenge + entertainment industry + the initial meetings of Jay and Sun. Although revenge is central to the plot, I have to say it feels like Sun’s plan moves rather slowly and Jay’s plan advances rather rapidly. But in between the revenge, there are enough side stories and development to keep the story going. However, if you are looking for one of those dramas with exciting and thriller revenge plots, “Payback” is not that type of drama. There are a few plot holes here and there. It’s hard to imagine Sunny never found out who the ‘new actor’ he wants to sabotage is until much later. The bringing back of 2 characters in the last episode seem somewhat random. The arrest of the villain seems too easy, and not a lot of time was spent on the aftermath of everyone.

Romance
Oh, I love the main romance here. After just finished watching “The Prosecutor’s Proposal”, I can see some similarities between the two. Jay is arrogant and smug, protective and obsessive. He might not have manhandled Sun as Prosecutor Ju in TPP, but it sure does seem like he’s pestering and ‘forcing’ himself into Sun’s life. Sun is smart enough to fight back and stand up for himself, but he chooses not to and, I believe, lets Jay get his way. The interest is there from the very moment they meet at the rooftop. The mutual attraction is definitely there as they keep on running into each other, even if it’s not love at first sight. It takes a “Jay” to break down the walls of this “Sun”. The chemistry is great. The NC scenes are sexy and sensual, and the kisses are passionate and gentle and plain delicious. Even though Min is more petite, he’s just as muscular as TopTap. Their contrast is really nice and complementary. The best part? Jay is still the same arrogant, smug and possessive Jay from beginning to the end. There’s no smitten puppy personality change once he’s in love. The last few episodes deliver just enough spice and tenderness to satisfy my romantic heart.

Acting/Characters
I cannot believe Toptap is only 22 years old and this is his debut drama! What an incredible talent! He is so charismatic and charming, dangerous and devilish. He’s perfectly casted as Jay. Acting opposite him is Min, who has a little more experience under his belt but not much. I am still trying to figure out if his acting is not quite there yet, or if the role of Sun just prevents him from being more expressive. His subtle facial expressions are inconsistent. He’s pretty to look at (after his ugly wigs are off) but if I have to judge by pure acting performance, he’s not as good as Toptap. On the other hand, it’s lovely to see Fuaiz after watching him in “4 Minutes”. Fuaiz is so pretty and he’s perfectly casted as Sunny. I love his smug face and all the shady stuff he is doing. I feel like I am seeing a continuation of his evil side as Tonkla (4 Minutes). The rest of the supporting cast is pretty good as well. Veterans Manager Kajorn and Uncle Jo are both hilarious and brought some comedy to the show. It’s lovely to see Boss guest stars, but I feel like he’s underutilized and wish he had a bigger role and was used as a partner in a potential secondary romance.

Production
Although this might not be a big budget production, at least nothing looks cheap. Min’s ugly wigs could have been less ugly and luckily they disappear after an episode. Toptap looks ridiculously handsome in his suits, especially the very tight vests. I am glad music is used sparingly and not blasted at every single occasion to manipulate how I should feel. This is not a production criticism, but what is up with iQiyi’s English subs. They are not very good. And why would you translate Sun’s name for Jay in his cell phone as “Dummy”?? Dummy?? I used Google translate and it was translated as “Crazy Bastard”. This sounds so much more like Jay!


Despite some minor plot holes and criticisms, I had a fabulous time watching “Payback”. There are a few episodes that are over an hour long, and I think ep 8 was 1.5 hr-long, I never once felt that it was draggy. I am giving this a high 8.75-9.0. The rating might not be super objective and it stems from how much I love the romance in the last 3 episodes. That bumps the rating up for me.



Drama Completed: 8/1/2026 Review #709

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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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Payback — When Sex, Power and Revenge Share the Same Currency

I have watched many BLs advertise themselves as revenge dramas, only to forget about the revenge as soon as the romance begins. Payback never makes that mistake. It is one of the strongest revenge BLs I have seen in a long time because the love story does not interrupt the darker plot. Sex, ambition, corruption and revenge are all part of the same system. The Thai drama adapts the Korean Payback manhwa by samk and Fujoking, with Lee Yoohan becoming Sun while Yoon Jay retains his name. Sun enters the entertainment industry after learning the truth about the betrayal and death that destroyed his family, while Jay secretly holds considerable influence inside the company and offers the access Sun needs to complete his revenge. The official uncut version is rated for adults, and that tone is evident throughout the production.

What interested me most was the way the series presents sex as another form of currency. Powerful people can exchange roles, protection and professional opportunities for access to someone’s body, while young performers are left trying to decide whether they are consenting or simply accepting what appears to be their only route forward. The explicit scenes are therefore not unnecessary additions created only to attract BL viewers. They are part of the corruption the story wants to expose. At times, the series is almost soft pornography, and with Min Thanakorn I honestly did not mind. The production is clearly aimed at a young-adult-to-adult audience, and pretending these characters exist inside an innocent romantic world would have weakened the story. The sex scenes are physical and erotic, but they also reveal who holds power, who is trying to regain control and who sees every relationship as another transaction.

The entertainment industry depicted here may appear exaggerated, but its basic mechanisms are not difficult to believe. The Harvey Weinstein cases and the wider #MeToo movement showed how powerful people could connect professional advancement with sexual access, silence and fear of retaliation. Even years after the movement became internationally visible, industry research continued to show that many workers doubted powerful offenders would actually face consequences. What makes Payback particularly interesting is that it places male performers inside that system. It is already extremely difficult for women to admit that someone exploited their ambitions or professional vulnerability. For men, expectations surrounding masculinity, strength and supposedly constant sexual willingness can create additional shame and make disclosure even more difficult. Research into male sexual victimisation repeatedly identifies stigma, fear of disbelief and masculine stereotypes as barriers to reporting.

The series places that discomfort directly in front of the viewer. These men are not only selling performances, faces and carefully constructed public identities. They are surrounded by people who believe their bodies can also become part of the business agreement. This is not a romance filled with hearts and flowers; it is a revenge story set in a world where intimacy, ambition and exploitation have become almost impossible to separate. Comparing the live-action adaptation with the manhwa makes the strengths and weaknesses of the casting much clearer. Min is remarkably close to how I imagine Lee Yoohan in reality. Fujoking’s Yoohan is lean, sharp-featured and emotionally guarded, carrying guilt and anger without constantly displaying them. Min has that same controlled coldness, making Sun appear as though every movement has been considered before anyone else enters the room.

Min Thanakorn is also incredibly beautiful, but his appearance is honestly the least important part of what he achieves here. His performance reminded me of the cold, brilliant investigators often found in Chinese police dramas: men who rarely show emotion but always seem to understand the situation before everyone else. Sun’s revenge never feels impulsive because Min makes it look like something he has carried, studied and refined for years. He understands how to act through stillness. He rarely needs to raise his voice or create exaggerated expressions because his eyes, posture and breathing already tell us what Sun is thinking. The same control makes the explicit scenes work. Min does not simply rely on nudity or choreography to make them erotic; the desire begins in his face and body before anything physical happens. At 26, Min already has extensive performance experience through idol training and televised competition programmes, and that familiarity with cameras is visible in the precision of his close-ups. Payback proves he is not simply a performer trying acting as another career extension. I can easily imagine him succeeding in crime dramas, psychological mysteries and films where a character’s intelligence or danger must be communicated without constant dialogue.

Toptap’s casting becomes more complicated when compared directly with Yoon Jay from the manhwa. In Fujoking’s artwork, Jay is broader, more physically imposing and visibly more mature than Yoohan. He carries himself with the relaxed arrogance of someone who knows he owns the room, while his smiles can feel playful, possessive or vaguely threatening depending on what he wants. The original Jay is not merely a rich sponsor who helps Yoohan. He is unpredictable, shameless and slightly frightening, with enough power that the reader can never be completely certain whether he will protect Yoohan or become another danger Yoohan must survive. The licensed novel even introduces him as an eccentric man whose apparently ridiculous behaviour hides much more dangerous secrets. Toptap is 22, while Min is 26, and the difference matters because the younger actor was asked to embody the older, more experienced and powerful character. Toptap is handsome and performs the emotional and intimate scenes well, but his naturally softer presence rarely communicates the physical or psychological authority associated with the original Jay. His age and youthful screen image are documented even though DramaBL’s profile had not yet incorporated that biographical information.

This concern was already visible among readers when the casting was announced. Several fans questioned the missing height difference, Jay’s younger appearance and the absence of the intimidating, imposing aura established by the manhwa. After watching the completed series, I understand exactly what they meant. The adaptation effectively reverses part of the original visual power dynamic. Min looks like the more mature, dangerous and controlled man, while Toptap often appears like the softer partner standing beside him. That does not destroy their chemistry, but it changes Jay’s position in the story. Instead of feeling like an unpredictable force capable of overpowering Sun, he sometimes feels more like Sun’s lover and financial supporter. Someone such as Ngern Anupart or Net Siraphop might have created the mature, physically dominant presence associated with the webtoon character more immediately. Even Boss Chaikamon appeared more threatening during several scenes than the man supposedly controlling the entire entertainment company. Toptap was not bad, but Min’s authority was so strong that Jay struggled to feel like his equal. That imbalance gradually transformed the whole series into Sun’s story. Everyone else felt like a supporting character attached to his revenge, while Jay mainly became the man closest to him and the person sharing his bed. This is quite different from the manhwa, where Yoohan and Jay generate tension because both men are dangerous in completely different ways.

Shogun Paramee provided some necessary softness and remained as naturally charming as usual. His presence prevented the production from becoming emotionally exhausting without undermining its adult tone. I am now even more curious to see him in Not Yours, whose international uncut premiere is scheduled for September 26, 2026.

The adaptation may not reproduce every part of the original character balance, but it understands why the revenge story works. It keeps Sun’s guilt, determination and complicated relationship with punishment at the centre rather than reducing the webtoon to sexual scenes. The explicit content receives considerable attention, yet the production never completely loses the corruption, betrayals and professional power games surrounding it.

Final Thought

Payback understands that a successful revenge drama cannot become afraid of its own darkness. It uses the BL relationship as part of the corruption rather than an escape from it, asking whether desire can ever be completely free when careers, money and influence control every decision. The comparison with the manhwa also explains why the casting produces such an uneven result. Min captures Lee Yoohan’s appearance, coldness and internal control remarkably well, while Toptap softens Yoon Jay into a younger and less intimidating figure. Their physical chemistry works, but the dangerous balance between the original characters becomes far less convincing. Fortunately, Min is powerful enough to carry the entire adaptation. He makes Sun’s revenge feel more important than every other relationship surrounding him, while his beauty, restraint and extraordinary command of the camera turn an already strong character into the centre of the production. Payback is unapologetically sexual, morally uncomfortable and far more interested in power than conventional romance. Most importantly, it never forgets why its main character entered the entertainment industry in the first place.

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Payback was served hot.

Payback follows Sun, a young man whose life is destroyed by a tragedy involving his family. Years later, he discovers that the people responsible are still living their lives as if nothing happened. One of them, in particular, has become a successful actor. So Sun decides to enter the entertainment industry himself, with one goal in mind: revenge.
And this is where things get interesting.
The entertainment industry isn't exactly presented as a glamorous dreamland. Behind the cameras, fame and money are mixed with manipulation, debts, power games and people who are perfectly willing to use each other to get what they want. Sun enters this world carrying years of anger and guilt, and watching him slowly navigate it while trying to figure out who he can actually trust was one of my favorite parts of the drama.

The revenge plot kept me curious throughout. There are secrets being uncovered, old connections resurfacing, and characters whose motivations aren't always immediately obvious. I especially liked that Sun's revenge isn't simply about finding one villain and destroying him. The further he gets into the mess, the more complicated everything becomes.

But, let's be honest about one thing: Jay / Arthur.
He's intimidating, confident, calculating and very much aware of the power he holds. He doesn't come across as the stereotypical sweet BL love interest who exists solely to support the protagonist. Jay has his own agenda, his own wounds and his own reasons for getting involved with Sun. There's always a sense that he knows more than he's saying, which makes his interactions with Sun particularly fun to watch.
And then we have Sun and Jay together.
The chemistry between Min Thanakorn and Toptap Jarukit is absolutely insane.
I'm not talking about the kind of chemistry where two actors simply look good standing next to each other. These two have that dangerous kind of chemistry where even a completely normal conversation feels like it could turn into something else at any moment.
The looks.
The tension.
The way they stand around each other.
The little changes in expression.
Everything works.
There is a constant push and pull between Sun and Jay that makes their scenes impossible to ignore. Even when they're not being openly romantic, there is this underlying tension that makes you wonder what they're thinking and, more importantly, what they're going to do next.
And when the drama actually decides to turn up the heat... Oh.
Their intimate scenes work because they don't feel disconnected from the rest of their relationship. The attraction is there, but so are the power struggles, uncertainty and emotional vulnerability. Jay can be incredibly dominant and intimidating one moment and unexpectedly gentle the next, while Sun isn't simply sitting around waiting to be rescued. Their dynamic constantly shifts, which makes it much more interesting to watch.

What I also appreciated is that the romance doesn't completely swallow the revenge storyline. There is still a plot happening around them. Sun's personal mission remains important, and Jay's involvement isn't simply an excuse to create romantic scenes. Their relationship becomes part of the larger story rather than replacing it.

If I had to mention a weakness, I'd say that the revenge plot occasionally feels like it has to hurry toward its next major development.

Overall, Payback was a very pleasant surprise for me. It manages to combine revenge, crime, showbiz politics, romance and emotional drama without losing sight of what makes the central relationship so addictive.
But let's not pretend I'm going to be completely objective here.
The revenge plot got me interested. Sun and Jay's chemistry made me stay.

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A show of revenge and learning to trust people again

First it should be said that this is definitely not a series for sensitive ppl: you really get to see gruesome effects of what a personal tragedy can do to a person not only in terms of providing for oneself financially, but how it can affect a person's ability to trust and faith in other ppl. The show additionally shows the very murky and cruel side of the entertainment industry.

That being said, the previous aspects combined with the personal revenge agenda of the main character Sun are what makes this a great show. Seeing Sun make his way trough all the crap that is thrown at his way, when he is trying to reach his goal of avenging his ex who is now a famous actor got me excited and nervous to what will happen next. Instead of the show just running with the revenge plot line alone, we got to see Sun beginning to slowly open up again and most importantly beginning to find ppl he can trust. The dynamic development between him, his manager Kajorn and stage actor Sky is one of the best parts of the show.

This could have been all the way 9/10 show, but unfortunately for me the show fell short with the romance aspect, that is still a big part of the plot. Now once Sun and Jay do finally get together yes they are very cute, and there is decent amount of chemistry. Unfortunately though most of the time all the way until the last few eps, Sun just looks straight out uncomfortable with Jay's advances. It made me question a lot of times, that is he just tolerating Jay's behavior, bc he witnesses how other men holding power in the industry act and goes along reluctantly with Jay knowing it's his best bet to progress his revenge agenda.

What would have improved the romance plot for me massively would have been Jay taking some other kind of approach to gain Sun's trust, being earlier transparent about the fact that they had met in the past and about his own motives in general. I don't think Jay was necessarily all the time better than some of his adversaries, even if his agenda of of taking back what his mother lost could be considered noble. Then again the series point is clearly to show that you cannot be a saint and be at the top of the entertainment industry, so I am not judging Jay too harshly.

Despite for me the show being 7,5 I do think a lot of ppl will enjoy this one. It's a bigger budget BL with quality actors and production. For someone who likes more "darker" themed BLs this a good watch and the suspension will keep you watching till the very end.

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Compelling. Prepare for binge watching

The series draws you in right from the start.
Your eyebrows will be raised before the opening credits are starting.
It serves a compelling story about the ugly side of the entertainment business combined with a great OST (the intro song slapped. No skipping on my part 😁), good cinematography and a cast full of face cards, who displayed the necessary acting skills.
So far, so good. All in all one of the better Thai dramas out there, and definitely worthwhile to watch.

But I had my grievances with some story parts, too. So I need to rant a little.

+++ Spoilers +++

Sky's camera phobia.
His trauma response and how it got treated literally and figuratively didn't make much sense in my eyes.
He got a contract with Dreams, but both parties didn't pursue a therapy option right from the bat to broaden his prospects and to increase his market value? Really?!
Then Sun comes along, recommends it and without further ado Sky is off to therapy and his trauma gets treated. Voila.
Atp I expected at least something along the lines like "tried therapy before, didn't work" or some other explanation for Sky's untreated trauma response.
Nope.

The payback/revenge agenda of both MCs.
Got multiple times mentioned throughout the show, but felt more like lip service with each new episode than setting things up to reach that goal.
It might make sense for Sun's character development from guilt ridden self punishment to a more positive mindset, but it fell flat for Jay's arc.
After all the revenge talk at the beginning, which built up our expectations as viewers - how it got executed in the finale felt anticlimactic. Like the promise of (at least small) fireworks, but getting handed some sparklers instead.

The finale.
Aside from the too thinly fleshed out revenge plot did the story progress at a good pace until the last episode.
Sadly here the writing encountered some bumps in the road.
The revenge execution felt too much like a hastily last minute arranged strategy, based solely on legal technicalities. For viewers less enjoyable and satisfying than a good right hook.
How the villains got punished left me regarding the director and Sunny with mixed feelings too.
The director, because it felt too out of left field. A writer's cop out.
And Sunny - he was a despicable and vile character. His actions deserved a hard punishment. But is to violent r*pe him, concealed as livestreaming content, the right way? Tbh, I have no answer to that question.

While these are the main reasons, why I rate this drama only 8,5/10, despite the fact, that I liked it A LOT, I want to point out some positive things before ending my ramblings.

* The rooftop scene, when Sun acted the suicide scene purely based on his own interpretation. For me one of the most impactful moments of the show. It told us so much about his mindset.
* The small makeshift family of Sun, Sky and the manager. Our likable underdogs. I rooted for success for each of them.
* The romance. At the beginning I was on the fence, because of how Jay enforced some kisses. But after a while it became obvious, that these two had their own special dynamic going, which was working for both sides. The well made NC scenes were telling in that regard.
* How Sun's acting career was written for the final send off: a small supportive role as starting point for him as an actor instead of instant leading role in a major project.
* Boss as photographer. Tyvm. 😁 😘

Definitely a show to watch. Fully recommended from my side despite some shortcomings.

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Many Subplots, Too Much Pain, and Not Enough Real Revenge

This review is gonna be a long one so brace yourselves because there is a lot to talk about this series. I won't give spoilers much and rather talking about the story, I'll talk about some of the aspects of the story.

As you can see from this show title, Payback, this show is about taking revenge. Or at least thats how it starts to represents itself in the beginning but we see that it's actually about what grief and self-hatred does to someone and wee see the journey of this person's growth along this story. I binge-watched this series after it finished airing, but I must say I regretted it because some of the dialogues and symbolism needed to be thought about thoroughly. I wish I would take a day or two after watcing 2-3 episodes in a row. That would be better to just let the story sink in. This show doesn't treat grief and phobia lightly. It delves into it and talks about it rather openly and painfully. These two themes are spread throughout the entire story.

After Episode 1, everything becomes more complicated and complex. Sun, our protagonist, realizes its not that easy to take revenge on someone. He makes connections, friendships, relationships along the way and his actions not only affects himself but others too. He finds out being an actor is actually not easy and not something you can do quickly at all. He wants to take his revenge on Bank by being better than him and take whatever he has and wants but he can't because it is not that simple. At all. normally, in BLs we would see this journey as "he's shit at being an actor but after a couple ep later, he improves a lot and achieves his goals" or some shit (like Top Form) but its not like this here. It's realistic. Instead, he tries to improve himself to achieve his goal but everything becomes more chaotic when people around him starts to get hurt. First my baby Sky, then our lovely Manager feels the effects of being with Sun. And Sun can't do anything other than to endure because he knows he doesn't have any power against Bank and just holds on. And while all these things happening, we see that the entertainment industry is not a clean and perfect and pure industry as it seems. They didn't hold back showing that brutality, filth and gore.

Our second protagonist, Jay helps Sun in the shadows while plotting his own agenda. They form a rather "special" bond and drift from there. I gotta be honest I'm not a fan of "abusing a broken man into loving yourself" kinda thing. I admit the chemistry between our two leads was on fire and the sex scenes itself were done perfectly. And these help soften things and kind of leads the viewers to turn a blind eye about the actual situation which is "is it a sexual abuse or not ?". But also, I think, you can't call it a sexual abuse too because Sun responds to Jay's actions too, but whether he responds because he is genuinely into him or because he is simply too broken to resist is a very thin line to walk. Jay's actions were, to put it mildly, questionable for me. Yes we see the reasons behind his actions after but in his case, this sets a weird tone on story-telling.

One of the things this show makes me think about is how overcrowded its story is. This doesn't necessarily mean a bad thing by the way. While Sun and Jay tries to achieve their goals, so many other things are happening. and Our protagonists, especially Sun, drifts apart from his goals. I thought a lot about whether this hurts the continuity of the story or not and I think the writers actually intended this. It reminds the viewers how life is I think. You set on a path, things happen, situations becomes more complicated, and you rise up from a different side than you inted to. Of course this story-telling aspect would be more effective if they didn't rush the last two episodes. So many bad decisions in the last two episodes is made for the sake of dramatic effect and to finish off the series. So many. This harms the show quite severly. Because up until these episodes, everything were going on solid ground and within both accurate emotions and reason. But damn, they had to finish the series so this is the result. Quite disappointing. I had to cut out 1/1.5 points from story just because of those damn two last episodes. Because the main issue for me was what this story wants to tell becomes inconsistent with itself. From this point onward, heavy spoilers watch out: Sun wants to take revenge on his Ex; he tries, he grows, he opens up and in the end he accepts that revenge doesn't actually feel good. But on the other hand, Jay wants to take revenge from who harmed his mother; he tries, he works, he fells in love along the way, he plots, he schemes and he actually gets his revenge and damn that is satisfying to watch and I think wasn't unhealthy at all. Our sweet little Sky wants to take revenge on Sunny because what he did to his career and he achieves this by overcoming his own phobia. Pakin, famous photographer tells his own satisying revenge story. Two-O wants to take revenge on who harms him and he brutally finds out he's in over his head and realizes revenge is not a good way to move on. so many subplots clashes with what this show is trying to prove. After seeing those successful revenge stories, you feel its unfair to Sun who couldn't get what he wanted in the first place. This inconsistency eats me up fills me with frustration because damn what a wasted opportunity.

I really appreciate how brave the writers/scriptwriters were in this series. They weren't shy from talking about heavy stuff and they also didn't do it lightly. Kudos to Sammon; my girl makes her pen known with her own unique storytelling and her symbolism. Even some of the camera angles were like "Aha! my girl wanted this secene to be taken this way specifically".
Props to production team, the quality was on top notch. I only wish Thai entertainment industry would stop using stock places/musics in so many shows. Main theme was actually very good, even some music written for this series were okay but I'm sick of hearing the "we are solving a mystery" theme in every goddamn show. Actors were also very good even though this project were their first. Overall, such a good production.

There were some specific scenes that I wanted to talk about and how good they were (when Bank finds out Sun for example) but I've decided not to make this review heavy on spoilers. Maybe I will if you guys wanna talk about it in the comments. I think thats all I wanna say for now. I'm writing this review one day later I finished the series. So my thoughts may not change much but I'd love to talk about it more with you all. thanks for reading.

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Sleek, full of intrugue, electric tension and suspense....damn good!

This was a very good show and they seemed to have diligently stuck to the original manhwa content, which rarely goes wrong.

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 iQIYI

BL-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: Yes, Watch

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A notch in the Thai BL Belt that redefines what can and SHOULD be delivered

I'll start this review by stating that I have not read the source material for this adaptation. So I had no real expectations going into this and wasn't really sure if it would land anywhere in the realm of relevance in my overall year of favorites. But wow, my mind is absolutely BLOWN at how incredible this series unfolded week after week. I think seriously, this is the refresh I needed from Thailand, who in my opinion has been complacent and lazy in a lot of their releases within the last few years.

Payback dedicated itself to staying true to the source material through and through. I would see people post side by sides of the manhwa and the series and they were matching almost completely. Which is a triumph of the production as a whole, from the script, to the casting, the directing, etc. It literally proves that it CAN be done, it's just a matter of is the production of it WILLING to go the extra mile.

Something else I am stoked about is that Minlee and Toptap are newcomers to the BL world and well, they knocked it out of the park. You can see the effort from their side as well. And it's not only them, but ALL of the lively mix of actors that also brought their characters to life in the best ways. It really was a top tier crew from top to bottom and no effort was wasted. They all deserve their flowers.

This series with Sun's trauma and his story of self punishment turned to revenge, only to land on the one thing that matters most -- his want to live and THRIVE. It's beautiful really, how Sun walked through more than half of this series with an expressionless face, but his eyes held the wounded heart and all the turmoil he'd been holding in. And it's not even when his tears come that you feel relief, it's in the small crumbs of a smile that Jay worked out of him one day at a time. The way it breaks over his face and it feels like the clouds parting wonderfully to let Sun SHINE. And oh, he does.

And while the story is founded around Sun's POV, the remaining story was equally heavy. The way the entertainment works in general and those that prey on newcomers and established actors alike for the sake of an opportunity... It's not an easy thing to shine the light upon, but it does force you to realize that these kinds of things DO exist and ARE happening. And I hope there's more Jay's in the world who will destroy them from the inside out.

The series was so good that it even landed a perfectly executed finale. I was hoping for a 2hr runtime and was initially disappointed that it was it was like an hour and 15mins instead. I didn't really think they could steer the ship to the end in a way that would be satisfying enough--BUT!!! Then it did? I was shocked and gob smacked. And honestly when those credits started rolling for the last time, I teared up.

What a journey! But I'm so glad to have been a part of it as a viewer because it was well worth the weekly heartaches waiting for the next episode. This series is going at the very top of my favorites list of 2026 and I don't think there will be anything else that will come along from now until the end of December that can knock it off that shelf. I hope this series, Minlee and Toptap all get their accolades for their job well done. I look forward to the special episode and also the Payback fan tour that will also be coming the states. I hope there's a date in California. *fingers crossed*

No matter what, the future is VERY bright for both of them and I'm excited to see where they go from here.

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Lazy and stereotypical writing

Had to drop this series because of the unnecessary changes to the personality of the characters which in turn made the characters stereotypical.

Changing Sky's background from one of him naturally having his reaction to cameras due to him being born that way to him having the reaction due to bullying was just lazy and stereotypical. It also removed representation from the people who naturally have phobias or reactions without it being due to bullying.

Jay's mother was a strong and smart woman, changing her to a woman who was outsmarted and took her own life once again relied on lazy writing and stereotypes.

Jay was far more of a red flag in the manwha than in the series. The series attempted to modify this by writing him as red flag in episode 8 but the deed has already been done.

This series lost the soul of the Manwha because it just wanted to rely on stereotypes.

sun also had more friends in the manwha. Cutting out his close friendship with Jay's uncle and the manager just to give more time to Sky and pakin led to ghost ships and took away time from Jay who is supposed to be the lead. Episode 7 was the worst of this. Jay only appears for 5 minutes there.

This ghost shipping led to real life online attacks on neoul because fans wanted boss for sky.

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Rushed and not very convincing

holy fucking sex scene. okay but in all seriousness..dude what?? what the fuck was that whole cutting himself with sun’s knife? weird mf. actually thats kinda known information since he had an obsession with the guy he fucked WITH A BIG ASS BUNNY HEAD FOR FIVE YEARS? erm what. acting was atrocious but only to be expected ig, again with the people loving the non con aspect? ik it was the whole he didnt want to open up bc grief but STILL? im getting a bad smell of revenged love and i want an air freshener asap. KAJORN MY ABSOULUTE GOAT I LOVE YOU, fucking best character ever. the photographer was reaaal strange but hes hot so he gets a pass. rushed asf ending with an explaination about as completes as a 5 year old’s drawing of a sun. whatever they kissed last scene so everything is justified… obviously. the entire romance seemed to be pulled from FARRR up the writers ass with nothing to give me reason why this CEO should be so interested in this random guy apart from the fact that he was just rude to him and sun was rude back? the texts, the following, it just felt incredibly un-believable…

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