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An Honest Response to the Negative Reviews of Payback!!!
I know everyone has their own opinions, and I respect that. But I think you should be clearer with your words because there are so many things I want to clarify. I'll explain them one by one.
1. About the main character
Almost every manhwa revolves around one main character. Payback is Sun's story—it's about his revenge/healing, not anyone else's. So I don't understand why you're expecting every other character's storyline to be explored in depth. Maybe you people haven't read many manhwas or novels, which is why you're looking at it that way.
Even fitting Sun's perspective into just ten episodes was difficult, so how could they possibly include everyone else's backstory as well?
2. "His acting is not good."
After finishing both the manhwa and the novel, I can confidently say he gave the best performance possible. I don't know how you expect someone who has lost both his mother and brother to behave. He's emotionally dead inside. He has nothing left to lose, and that's exactly how Sun is supposed to be. Jay is the person who enters his life and slowly makes it bearable again. He's the one who brings back Sun's smile, and the series portrays that beautifully. Also our pookie manager and sky.
3. Their chemistry
Again, everyone has their own opinion, but for me, they had perfect chemistry. Their kissing scenes were natural, emotional, and absolutely spot on.
4. About Jay and Sun's Relationship
Jay falls in love with Sun because he's different from everyone else. He's brave, fearless, and, in many ways, similar to Jay himself. Their connection is instant. Not everyone falls in love with their school friend or a cute office colleague. We're human, and human lives can be dark while still being deeply romantic.
5. About the director
People often criticize the direction without really understanding what a director's role is. They simply say the direction was boring. But have you watched Reclaim? It's directed by the same person. A director's job is to bring the story to life, and in Payback, the emotions, atmosphere, and pacing were exactly what the story needed.
6. About revenge
There is no such thing as a "big" or "small" revenge. Revenge is only fulfilled when the person who caused the pain is left broken and desperate enough to understand the consequences of their actions. No one can truly understand that pain except the person who has lived through it.
So, more than the depth of the revenge itself, I'm happy that Sun finally found a reason to smile again. In the end, that was the greatest victory.
7. My final thoughts
If even one person decides not to watch this series because of these comments, I genuinely feel they're missing out, because there will never be another Payback like this one.
At least watch the opening credits—they alone are enough to make you want to continue watching.
For me, Payback is raw, dark, and emotionally gripping. It makes you think about life, death, relationships, guilt, regret, and healing. It teaches you to value not only the lives of the people you love but also your own. It shows how to face your fears, overcome your regrets, and move forward.
Most importantly, this story makes you realize that life isn't about taking revenge or even fulfilling it. It's about finding a reason to live again, finding happiness, and having the strength to rise from the deepest pit.
I truly believe everyone should watch this series at least once. ( Fun fact: Payback was my favorite manhwa long before the live adaptation was announced. Even back then, I always felt that if any manhwa deserved a live-action adaptation, it would be this one. And guess what? My manifestation came true.)
1. About the main character
Almost every manhwa revolves around one main character. Payback is Sun's story—it's about his revenge/healing, not anyone else's. So I don't understand why you're expecting every other character's storyline to be explored in depth. Maybe you people haven't read many manhwas or novels, which is why you're looking at it that way.
Even fitting Sun's perspective into just ten episodes was difficult, so how could they possibly include everyone else's backstory as well?
2. "His acting is not good."
After finishing both the manhwa and the novel, I can confidently say he gave the best performance possible. I don't know how you expect someone who has lost both his mother and brother to behave. He's emotionally dead inside. He has nothing left to lose, and that's exactly how Sun is supposed to be. Jay is the person who enters his life and slowly makes it bearable again. He's the one who brings back Sun's smile, and the series portrays that beautifully. Also our pookie manager and sky.
3. Their chemistry
Again, everyone has their own opinion, but for me, they had perfect chemistry. Their kissing scenes were natural, emotional, and absolutely spot on.
4. About Jay and Sun's Relationship
Jay falls in love with Sun because he's different from everyone else. He's brave, fearless, and, in many ways, similar to Jay himself. Their connection is instant. Not everyone falls in love with their school friend or a cute office colleague. We're human, and human lives can be dark while still being deeply romantic.
5. About the director
People often criticize the direction without really understanding what a director's role is. They simply say the direction was boring. But have you watched Reclaim? It's directed by the same person. A director's job is to bring the story to life, and in Payback, the emotions, atmosphere, and pacing were exactly what the story needed.
6. About revenge
There is no such thing as a "big" or "small" revenge. Revenge is only fulfilled when the person who caused the pain is left broken and desperate enough to understand the consequences of their actions. No one can truly understand that pain except the person who has lived through it.
So, more than the depth of the revenge itself, I'm happy that Sun finally found a reason to smile again. In the end, that was the greatest victory.
7. My final thoughts
If even one person decides not to watch this series because of these comments, I genuinely feel they're missing out, because there will never be another Payback like this one.
At least watch the opening credits—they alone are enough to make you want to continue watching.
For me, Payback is raw, dark, and emotionally gripping. It makes you think about life, death, relationships, guilt, regret, and healing. It teaches you to value not only the lives of the people you love but also your own. It shows how to face your fears, overcome your regrets, and move forward.
Most importantly, this story makes you realize that life isn't about taking revenge or even fulfilling it. It's about finding a reason to live again, finding happiness, and having the strength to rise from the deepest pit.
I truly believe everyone should watch this series at least once. ( Fun fact: Payback was my favorite manhwa long before the live adaptation was announced. Even back then, I always felt that if any manhwa deserved a live-action adaptation, it would be this one. And guess what? My manifestation came true.)
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