This review may contain spoilers
Speechless: Top-tier storytelling that’s not your typical BL
I’m still speechless after finishing this drama last night. This is the top-tier storytelling that all future queer dramas need to take note of.
Let me start my review by saying that calling Payback a BL drama feels like a disservice to what the creators pulled off—it is so much more than that. While it has the elements you might expect from the genre, this drama isn't just a simple romance set against the backdrop of the entertainment industry. It is a raw, intense character study about guilt, survival, and redemption.
Our male lead is Sun, a young man carrying a crushing weight of grief. Five years ago, his brother was brutally killed, his mother passed away, and his boyfriend ran away after stealing every cent of his money. Because of his past as a ruthless debt collector, he truly believes he is the one who caused his family's destruction. Sun’s real journey begins when he accidentally discovers his treacherous ex-boyfriend Bank (now Sunny) is a rising star at a major entertainment agency, but worse—Sunny was the one who pointed the thugs directly at his younger brother. Fuelled by this shattering revelation, Sun decides to become an actor to look his destroyer in the eye and exact total revenge.
On paper, this setup sounds like the perfect recipe for a fun, soapy ride where a man becomes a famous superstar to publicly ruin his ex. But that is absolutely not where the show goes. In fact, Sun never actually becomes a famous actor, and he gets very little acting to do throughout the series.
Instead, Payback subverts all expectations to deliver an exquisite character study. It is about a man who rights wrongs—not even for himself, but for all the vulnerable people around him.
The drama is dark, and I’m not talking about a toxic romance. I am talking about the dark side of the entertainment industry. There’s murder—more than one actually—multiple assaults, and prostitution. None of it is being glossed over. In fact, it’s graphic so the viewer can understand the characters better. If you are into lighthearted college BL or if you like things like Jack and Joker, Payback is not it. This drama is truly dark and brutal. If you are easily triggered by those topics, this is not going to be a show for you. I recommend simply staying away. Don’t try to push through it hoping for quick NC scenes and easy chemistry. You simply don’t have the guts for everything else.
The show has absolutely amazing writers. There is not a lot said between some of the characters, and the fact that Sun does not speak much actually speaks volumes. As a viewer, you have to learn how to read between the lines and pick up on visual clues. Some things are deeply confusing and make no sense at the beginning. However, the writers masterfully feed those bits and pieces of information throughout the show. If you think that Min’s acting is stiff for the majority of the series, just wait. Once you get to those final three episodes, you will completely understand the reasons why he is the way he is. Additionally, his fight scenes are superb and first and foremost very realistic.
The acting, production quality, and storytelling in this drama are unlike anything I have ever seen in the genre. Honestly, it doesn't truly feel like a BL drama. While there is a central romance plot between Sun and his mysterious backer, Jay—who turns out to be his one-night stand from five years ago—their romance is not the core of the story. Yes, it’s very important for Sun’s character development, but Jay gets surprisingly little screen time, and the spotlight remains firmly on Sun. So I do recommend adjusting your expectations here as well.
Rightfully so, because Min’s performance as Sun is absolutely mind-blowing. He seamlessly balances two entirely different sides of the same man. On one hand, we see him in flashbacks as a brutal debt collector who only cares about hurting people for money. On the other hand, we see his current self: a man completely numb on the inside, hollowed out by intense guilt.
Yet, the best part of the show lies in the profound vulnerability during the few scenes Sun and Jay share. Their intimacy needs its own separate mention. The beginning of their dynamic is quite rocky. Jay is arrogant, doesn't take no for an answer, and is a possessive man who wants what he wants. He doesn't really care to talk to Sun about anything. As a matter of fact, these two don’t really talk about their relationship, and their romance is not a traditional one. It’s obvious that they first connected because of an physical attraction, and their relationship built on that chemistry first. Because they are both screwed up and don’t know how to communicate, they have their own quirks that somehow work for them. While it started off strangely, it developed into something meaningful and fulfilling. They are a bit codependent and toxic, but because they are both broken men, they find contentment with one another.
The chemistry itself between the actors is amazing. They delivered some of the best screen kisses and probably the best, most realistic NC scene I’ve seen in a BL. And I have watched a lot of them, and you will definitely blush watching this one. I’m glad the director didn't go overboard with too many of those; there is just one scene, and it works nicely with the romance storyline to serve the character development. I highly commend the actors for putting on such a great performance. I really hope they get more dramas together.
Additionally, the side characters added immense depth to the story. Sun’s manager Kajorn, Jay’s uncle, Jo, and Grandpa Suchat were all amazing, interesting, and funny. I loved seeing these older actors on screen. Even the minor actors did a devastatingly good job. The pool scene in the final episodes was absolutely heartbreaking, and the horror of the moment came through clearly via the incredible acting of the performer playing the drowning victim. I also absolutely adored the cameos from Max and Boss. It was great to see them showcase their acting range separately from their usual work as a fixed couple, and Boss did extremely well. He was so interesting to look at in the role of the photographer.
I need to give special mention to the music. I am a music junkie and music is extremely important for me when I watch something. In Payback music adds real depth and character to each scene. What I like is that there is a combination of different types of soundtracks from funky to heartbreaking and each one helps the viewer to understand the mood and to feel what character feels when watching a scene. The NC scene had an absolutely devastating background score.
Everything about Payback—from the sharp camera angles and dark color grading to the weird pink bunny mascot—truly made this show unforgettable. It impacted me in a way where I know I will be thinking about it for a very long time.
Is Payback perfect? No. There are definitely some things I would improve as far as the romantic storyline goes. I would clean up some of the scenes and dialogue in the first half. But is it memorable? Absolutely. It is unlike anything that has ever been done before. The production quality is top-tier. I highly recommend Payback to anyone who wants to step away from the typical BL flare and watch something with genuine depth, amazing chemistry, and dark themes that will make you think.
Let me start my review by saying that calling Payback a BL drama feels like a disservice to what the creators pulled off—it is so much more than that. While it has the elements you might expect from the genre, this drama isn't just a simple romance set against the backdrop of the entertainment industry. It is a raw, intense character study about guilt, survival, and redemption.
Our male lead is Sun, a young man carrying a crushing weight of grief. Five years ago, his brother was brutally killed, his mother passed away, and his boyfriend ran away after stealing every cent of his money. Because of his past as a ruthless debt collector, he truly believes he is the one who caused his family's destruction. Sun’s real journey begins when he accidentally discovers his treacherous ex-boyfriend Bank (now Sunny) is a rising star at a major entertainment agency, but worse—Sunny was the one who pointed the thugs directly at his younger brother. Fuelled by this shattering revelation, Sun decides to become an actor to look his destroyer in the eye and exact total revenge.
On paper, this setup sounds like the perfect recipe for a fun, soapy ride where a man becomes a famous superstar to publicly ruin his ex. But that is absolutely not where the show goes. In fact, Sun never actually becomes a famous actor, and he gets very little acting to do throughout the series.
Instead, Payback subverts all expectations to deliver an exquisite character study. It is about a man who rights wrongs—not even for himself, but for all the vulnerable people around him.
The drama is dark, and I’m not talking about a toxic romance. I am talking about the dark side of the entertainment industry. There’s murder—more than one actually—multiple assaults, and prostitution. None of it is being glossed over. In fact, it’s graphic so the viewer can understand the characters better. If you are into lighthearted college BL or if you like things like Jack and Joker, Payback is not it. This drama is truly dark and brutal. If you are easily triggered by those topics, this is not going to be a show for you. I recommend simply staying away. Don’t try to push through it hoping for quick NC scenes and easy chemistry. You simply don’t have the guts for everything else.
The show has absolutely amazing writers. There is not a lot said between some of the characters, and the fact that Sun does not speak much actually speaks volumes. As a viewer, you have to learn how to read between the lines and pick up on visual clues. Some things are deeply confusing and make no sense at the beginning. However, the writers masterfully feed those bits and pieces of information throughout the show. If you think that Min’s acting is stiff for the majority of the series, just wait. Once you get to those final three episodes, you will completely understand the reasons why he is the way he is. Additionally, his fight scenes are superb and first and foremost very realistic.
The acting, production quality, and storytelling in this drama are unlike anything I have ever seen in the genre. Honestly, it doesn't truly feel like a BL drama. While there is a central romance plot between Sun and his mysterious backer, Jay—who turns out to be his one-night stand from five years ago—their romance is not the core of the story. Yes, it’s very important for Sun’s character development, but Jay gets surprisingly little screen time, and the spotlight remains firmly on Sun. So I do recommend adjusting your expectations here as well.
Rightfully so, because Min’s performance as Sun is absolutely mind-blowing. He seamlessly balances two entirely different sides of the same man. On one hand, we see him in flashbacks as a brutal debt collector who only cares about hurting people for money. On the other hand, we see his current self: a man completely numb on the inside, hollowed out by intense guilt.
Yet, the best part of the show lies in the profound vulnerability during the few scenes Sun and Jay share. Their intimacy needs its own separate mention. The beginning of their dynamic is quite rocky. Jay is arrogant, doesn't take no for an answer, and is a possessive man who wants what he wants. He doesn't really care to talk to Sun about anything. As a matter of fact, these two don’t really talk about their relationship, and their romance is not a traditional one. It’s obvious that they first connected because of an physical attraction, and their relationship built on that chemistry first. Because they are both screwed up and don’t know how to communicate, they have their own quirks that somehow work for them. While it started off strangely, it developed into something meaningful and fulfilling. They are a bit codependent and toxic, but because they are both broken men, they find contentment with one another.
The chemistry itself between the actors is amazing. They delivered some of the best screen kisses and probably the best, most realistic NC scene I’ve seen in a BL. And I have watched a lot of them, and you will definitely blush watching this one. I’m glad the director didn't go overboard with too many of those; there is just one scene, and it works nicely with the romance storyline to serve the character development. I highly commend the actors for putting on such a great performance. I really hope they get more dramas together.
Additionally, the side characters added immense depth to the story. Sun’s manager Kajorn, Jay’s uncle, Jo, and Grandpa Suchat were all amazing, interesting, and funny. I loved seeing these older actors on screen. Even the minor actors did a devastatingly good job. The pool scene in the final episodes was absolutely heartbreaking, and the horror of the moment came through clearly via the incredible acting of the performer playing the drowning victim. I also absolutely adored the cameos from Max and Boss. It was great to see them showcase their acting range separately from their usual work as a fixed couple, and Boss did extremely well. He was so interesting to look at in the role of the photographer.
I need to give special mention to the music. I am a music junkie and music is extremely important for me when I watch something. In Payback music adds real depth and character to each scene. What I like is that there is a combination of different types of soundtracks from funky to heartbreaking and each one helps the viewer to understand the mood and to feel what character feels when watching a scene. The NC scene had an absolutely devastating background score.
Everything about Payback—from the sharp camera angles and dark color grading to the weird pink bunny mascot—truly made this show unforgettable. It impacted me in a way where I know I will be thinking about it for a very long time.
Is Payback perfect? No. There are definitely some things I would improve as far as the romantic storyline goes. I would clean up some of the scenes and dialogue in the first half. But is it memorable? Absolutely. It is unlike anything that has ever been done before. The production quality is top-tier. I highly recommend Payback to anyone who wants to step away from the typical BL flare and watch something with genuine depth, amazing chemistry, and dark themes that will make you think.
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