All that build-up, only for the payoff to fall flat
Payback almost became one of the best BL dramas of the year, for me, at at least. The first half was incredibly promising. The story established its revenge plot so well, building tension and making me genuinely excited to see how everything would unfold.
Then things started going downhill.
The biggest issue was how the villains kept winning over and over again. Every episode felt like another opportunity for them to get the last laugh while the protagonists kept falling behind. Instead of feeling suspenseful, it became frustrating. I kept waiting for the revenge to finally hit, but honestly, that finale was disappointing.
After everything the antagonists had done, their downfall felt way too easy. That’s it? They were simply killed off without facing the kind of brutal, public humiliation and consequences they deserved. I was hoping for a much more satisfying payoff, especially after watching them torment everyone throughout the series. The revenge, which is the very heart of the story, didn’t feel nearly as rewarding as it should have.
As for Sun… he drove me crazy. For someone fueled by revenge, he constantly made reckless decisions and kept putting himself in danger without thinking things through. Instead of looking determined, he often came across as unnecessarily careless. Thankfully, his rich, handsome boyfriend was always one step ahead, constantly saving him from his own bad decisions.
That said, I can’t deny the cast carried the show. The actors were incredibly attractive, and they fully committed to every emotional and intimate scene. I absolutely loved the trio of P’Kajorn, Sun, and Sky. Their friendship slowly became the family they all needed, and those moments were some of my favorites. Also, we were robbed of a Sky and Pakin kiss. Their chemistry was amazing, and they deserved at least one romantic and intimate scene together.
There were honestly a lot of things I enjoyed about this drama, but the final stretch left such a strong negative impression that it overshadowed many of its strengths. Even so, the production quality remained consistently impressive, and the episode-ending cliffhangers were genuinely effective at keeping me invested week after week.
It had an engaging premise, strong performances, great chemistry, and solid production values. Unfortunately, it stumbled where it mattered most: the revenge itself. A revenge story lives or dies by the satisfaction of its payoff, and this one simply didn’t deliver the level of justice and emotional catharsis it spent the entire series building toward.
Then things started going downhill.
The biggest issue was how the villains kept winning over and over again. Every episode felt like another opportunity for them to get the last laugh while the protagonists kept falling behind. Instead of feeling suspenseful, it became frustrating. I kept waiting for the revenge to finally hit, but honestly, that finale was disappointing.
After everything the antagonists had done, their downfall felt way too easy. That’s it? They were simply killed off without facing the kind of brutal, public humiliation and consequences they deserved. I was hoping for a much more satisfying payoff, especially after watching them torment everyone throughout the series. The revenge, which is the very heart of the story, didn’t feel nearly as rewarding as it should have.
As for Sun… he drove me crazy. For someone fueled by revenge, he constantly made reckless decisions and kept putting himself in danger without thinking things through. Instead of looking determined, he often came across as unnecessarily careless. Thankfully, his rich, handsome boyfriend was always one step ahead, constantly saving him from his own bad decisions.
That said, I can’t deny the cast carried the show. The actors were incredibly attractive, and they fully committed to every emotional and intimate scene. I absolutely loved the trio of P’Kajorn, Sun, and Sky. Their friendship slowly became the family they all needed, and those moments were some of my favorites. Also, we were robbed of a Sky and Pakin kiss. Their chemistry was amazing, and they deserved at least one romantic and intimate scene together.
There were honestly a lot of things I enjoyed about this drama, but the final stretch left such a strong negative impression that it overshadowed many of its strengths. Even so, the production quality remained consistently impressive, and the episode-ending cliffhangers were genuinely effective at keeping me invested week after week.
It had an engaging premise, strong performances, great chemistry, and solid production values. Unfortunately, it stumbled where it mattered most: the revenge itself. A revenge story lives or dies by the satisfaction of its payoff, and this one simply didn’t deliver the level of justice and emotional catharsis it spent the entire series building toward.
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