4
10
1
2
This review may contain spoilers
loss, revenge and love
Overall: unique premise with solid chemistry. Note: this series and review have several very disturbing images/scenes. I noted timings to take out the most severe ones. The series was based on a manhwa/webtoon of the same name. I read the source material, but I reviewed the series based on it's own merits. 10 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/payback-uncut-episode-1-1h8pgey90dg?lang=en_us
Content Warnings: past (murder, suicide, manipulation, coercion, blood, death, beaten up, severe bullying); present (punches, near sexual assault, non/dub con turned consensual/it's complicated*, mental health struggles, coerced oral sex/sex trafficking, kidnapping, beaten up, drugging, murders, torture, self harm, rape, gang rape)
Skip Suggestions (to take out the most severe content warnings, I might have missed some flashbacks with his brother)
- episode 1: 7:10-7:40, 23:20-24
- episode 6: 43:30-43:45
- episode 7: 12:15-12:45, 42:50-44:05, 50:55-51:20, 55-56:30
- episode 8: beginning-3:40, 49:50-51:510 (part of a movie they are filming)
- episode 9: 2:15-2:30, 36:30-42:05, 1hr-end is a violent fight scene
- episode 10: 26:25-27, 45:30-46 or continue to 48:30 though 1 character gets his cummepence), 1hr1min40-1hr1min55, 1hr5min30-1hr6min40s
What I Liked
- unique, gritty vibe
- supportive friend and manager
- acting (normally low affect is tricky, but the actor has done a great job and I understand why the character was that way)
- chemistry
- the uncle was funny
- that the manager suggested a therapist
- evildoers got their cummepence
Room For Improvement
- I was a little confused in the beginning 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)
- music too loud at times or doesn't completely match the vibe of the scene
- the leads needed more screen time, they could have reduced some side characters/plot to better explain the plot
- exposition dumps
*my take on the physical intimacy with the leads - It didn't feel non-consensual to me.
Sun - he says he is guilty for what happened (others had a role hence the revenge). I don't think he thinks he deserves to feel, especially happiness/pleasure. From his dream, the viewer sees there is attraction. So the non con didn't feel as much as non con to me. In the past with the crying while being intimate, one part was emotional sadness and another may have been physical pain; however, he wanted physical pain, he did not think he deserved a pleasurable experience.
Jay - I believe it started as a game to get Sun to feel things and then changed to genuine love/caring especially after he learned something. Jay's interest in Sun crying makes me think that Jay has not cried (ever/in a long time) and was fascinated by it in the past and wants to see Sun having feelings again, including happiness and pleasure.
Content Warnings: past (murder, suicide, manipulation, coercion, blood, death, beaten up, severe bullying); present (punches, near sexual assault, non/dub con turned consensual/it's complicated*, mental health struggles, coerced oral sex/sex trafficking, kidnapping, beaten up, drugging, murders, torture, self harm, rape, gang rape)
Skip Suggestions (to take out the most severe content warnings, I might have missed some flashbacks with his brother)
- episode 1: 7:10-7:40, 23:20-24
- episode 6: 43:30-43:45
- episode 7: 12:15-12:45, 42:50-44:05, 50:55-51:20, 55-56:30
- episode 8: beginning-3:40, 49:50-51:510 (part of a movie they are filming)
- episode 9: 2:15-2:30, 36:30-42:05, 1hr-end is a violent fight scene
- episode 10: 26:25-27, 45:30-46 or continue to 48:30 though 1 character gets his cummepence), 1hr1min40-1hr1min55, 1hr5min30-1hr6min40s
What I Liked
- unique, gritty vibe
- supportive friend and manager
- acting (normally low affect is tricky, but the actor has done a great job and I understand why the character was that way)
- chemistry
- the uncle was funny
- that the manager suggested a therapist
- evildoers got their cummepence
Room For Improvement
- I was a little confused in the beginning 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)
- music too loud at times or doesn't completely match the vibe of the scene
- the leads needed more screen time, they could have reduced some side characters/plot to better explain the plot
- exposition dumps
*my take on the physical intimacy with the leads - It didn't feel non-consensual to me.
Sun - he says he is guilty for what happened (others had a role hence the revenge). I don't think he thinks he deserves to feel, especially happiness/pleasure. From his dream, the viewer sees there is attraction. So the non con didn't feel as much as non con to me. In the past with the crying while being intimate, one part was emotional sadness and another may have been physical pain; however, he wanted physical pain, he did not think he deserved a pleasurable experience.
Jay - I believe it started as a game to get Sun to feel things and then changed to genuine love/caring especially after he learned something. Jay's interest in Sun crying makes me think that Jay has not cried (ever/in a long time) and was fascinated by it in the past and wants to see Sun having feelings again, including happiness and pleasure.
Was this review helpful to you?
