Reviews

The ML in Boyfriend on Demand was transplanted into this show...

If you liked the ML in Boyfriend on Demand, this show is like that if Boyfriend on Demand’s ML was transplanted into this show and continued on. The actor that plays these ML roles in both shows literally had to do no homework. That flat, monotone, and reserved character appears again! It’s the same character in a very similar work / business environment. Additionally, both dramas revolve around AI nonsense Korean dramas have embraced.

Anyway, as a romance, it doesn’t offer anything new or original. I love the actress who plays FL but this character was not it. For the most part, she’s fine, but some of her decisions and reasoning would frustrate most viewers, including me. Don’t even get me started on her ex. I wanted to stop watching because of how dumb and annoying the brief love triangle with her ex was. I was also annoyed FL in the beginning had some comedy written into her scenes but gradually disappeared.

The second couple is whatever, I’m not really a fan of some handsome guy suddenly appearing in her life just minutes after an extremely embarrassing breakup. There’s also some discussion about an age gap, but in reality, they are only four years apart, unlike the significant age gaps of 10+ years seen in other shows. Honestly, I enjoyed watching their scenes because she’s pretty and gaining popularity along with more roles.

Setting aside the romance and characters, the business/workplace storyline is quite standard and nothing that sets it apart. The abusive boss remains abusive throughout, with no one taking action until the very end. Overall, it is fairly average but enjoyable enough for me to watch until the end.

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time period republican era in Shanghai

it is really interesting to watch. a time when Shanghai played an important role in history. comparable to ‘fall in love’ 2021. Same time period.
the push and pull between the main characters, their overbearing families, the general political affairs.
fortunately there’s one episode a day. stil at least a week to go and I hope in the end the leads get their revenge , their love or whatever.
Zhang Linghe is in this series again a joy to watch. The interaction between different characters is good, some of the roles a bit OTT for westerners. but that’s the charm of watching Asian drama as well

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I Finished Payback and Couldn't Stop Thinking About It

I honestly wasn't planning to talk about Payback this soon, but after finishing it, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

What surprised me the most was the chemistry between the leads. From the very beginning, their dynamic felt intense, emotional, and believable. The story is filled with tension, revenge, secrets, and power struggles, but beneath all of that is a surprisingly emotional journey about trust, healing, and finding someone who understands you.

One thing I really loved is that the characters feel strong and layered. Nobody feels one-dimensional, and the emotions hit exactly when they need to. The acting was excellent, especially during the more emotional scenes.

Payback is not a fluffy romance. It's darker, more intense, and keeps you invested from start to finish. Definitely one of the dramas that stayed on my mind long after I finished watching it.

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Una verdadera joyita

Me fascinó el capítulo final, especialmente el último beso que Sam le da a Jay, demostrando sus sentimientos y felicidades de estar con la persona que ama.
Me encantó cómo se fue desarrollando la historia, el proceso de sanación de san, la relación amorosa entre él y Jay, la construcción de relaciones sociales de manera inconsciente o consciente con su manager y Sky y la venganza que lograron ambos.
Felicitó a TopTap y Minlee por interpretar y dar vida a los personajes principales de la historia y cautivar con sus tremendas actuaciones.
Espero que sigan trabajando juntos y nos traigan nuevas series.
Para mí fue una de mis series favoritas del 2026.

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Precisava?

Depois de terminar Peach and Me, a pergunta que ficou foi: precisava? Honestamente, não.

Diferente de Me and Thee, que já contava a história dos dois, essa minissérie de apenas quatro episódios existe muito mais para revisitar esses personagens do que para acrescentar algo realmente importante à trama. Até porque, pelo que sei, a novel de Me and Thee não possui uma continuação focada no Peach e no Thee, e sim uma história voltada para o Rome e o Mok.

Então, Peach and Me acaba funcionando muito mais (para ganhar dinheiro), como um presente para os fãs que queriam ver mais daquele casal do que como uma continuação realmente necessária. Fizeram essa continuação justamente porque Me and Thee teve uma popularidade fora do normal.

Ainda assim, como gostei da série original, foi divertido passar mais um tempinho com esses personagens.

O primeiro episódio foi bem divertidinho justamente por trazer de volta aquela sensação que tive assistindo Me and Thee.
Já o segundo e o terceiro episódios foram mais irrelevantes e indiferentes para mim. A questão envolvendo o Rome e a personagem da Emi simplesmente não conseguiu me prender muito, pois pela quantidade de episódios, teve um desenvolvimento bem raso, então acabei ficando mais distante dessa parte da história.

O quarto episódio foi, sem dúvida, o melhor dos quatro justamente por trazer novamente a metalinguagem que foi algo que gostei do final de Me and Thee. O fato de o Thee ter comprado a GMMTV e estar fazendo a própria história dele com o Peach foi muito divertido. Achei muito legal essa ideia, porque combina bastante com a personalidade do personagem.

Além disso, trazer outros casais da GMMTV para interpretar momentos da história do Thee e do Peach em Me and Thee foi uma grata surpresa KK
Achei muito legal o P'X (diretor) ter chamado os JuniorMark, JimmySea e TayNew, principalmente porque ele já trabalhou diretamente com eles em outros projetos. Dá uma sensação de que existe um vínculo entre eles, e acho muito legal quando essas relações acabam aparecendo nas produções.

A química entre Pond e Phuwin continua praticamente a mesma para mim. Não acho que seja uma química ruim, mas também está longe de ser uma das melhores que já vi.
Na questão de eles serem personagens já casados e com filhos, não é tão crível pela atitude dos personagens, aquelas crianças parecem ser mais sobrinhos deles do que filhos. E sei que cada casal é diferente, mas eu não consigo enxergar neles a intimidade tanto pública quando particular de um casal casado sabe?

O Thee continua sendo o grande destaque para mim, porque a personalidade peculiar dele simplesmente carrega a série. Ele é o personagem que mais chama atenção e continua sendo a parte mais interessante da história, muito porque não sei o que esperar dele.

Outra relação que continuo gostando bastante é a do Thee com o Mok. Além da despedida dos personagens, senti que existia também uma espécie de despedida dos próprios atores, como se esse fosse um encerramento. Talvez eles não voltem a trabalhar juntos tão cedo, mas misturando ou não os sentimentos, conseguiram transmitir isso muito bem, principalmente o Est.

O final foi ok. Não senti aquela emoção de despedida novamente porque, para mim, eu já tinha me despedido desses personagens em Me and Thee. A série original já tinha encerrado a história deles, então Peach and Me acabou funcionando mais como um reencontro do que como uma nova despedida.

No geral, gostei até de Peach and Me, mas continuo achando que era uma continuação que não precisava existir. Não acrescentou algo realmente importante para a trama, mas foi divertido rever esses personagens, principalmente pelo carisma do Thee, pela metalinguagem e pelas participações especiais.

Para quem gostou de Me and Thee e queria passar mais um tempo com o Peach e o Thee, acho que vale a pena assistir.

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Please insert chemistry here

On paper, the story had potential.
The pacing is deliberately slow, the atmosphere is calm, and the cinematography clearly tries to create something intimate and reflective. But somewhere along the way, the drama forgets that a slow romance still needs one essential ingredient: believable emotional connection.
The chemistry between the two leads was almost nonexistent. Instead of making me root for them, many of their interactions felt awkward, stiff, and surprisingly uncomfortable to watch. Romantic scenes that were clearly meant to be intimate often had the opposite effect—they felt forced, almost as if the actors themselves weren't fully convinced by what they were portraying. Rather than butterflies, I found myself feeling second-hand embarrassment more than once.

I also struggled with the pacing. I have absolutely no problem with slow-burn dramas—in fact, some of my all-time favorites take their time developing the relationship. But there's a difference between slow and static.
Here, entire episodes passed with very little emotional or narrative progression. Characters exchanged long looks, sat together in silence, or had conversations that felt deliberately vague, yet I rarely felt those moments carried enough emotional weight to justify how much screen time they received.

Both protagonists remain emotionally distant for so long that it's difficult to truly understand them or become invested in their journey. Their motivations and inner conflicts never feel fully explored, making it hard to connect with either of them on a deeper level.
Perhaps my disappointment comes from the fact that I could constantly see the potential. The premise wasn't bad. The atmosphere was there. The visual direction was strong. But none of those elements mattered once the emotional core failed to land.

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Uncomfortable

The story is a bit convoluted with two parallel storylines, the actors’ relationship (toxic) and the characters’ relationship (toxic).
The acting is mediocre at best and the chemistry absent. But the reason I dropped is because it’s so Wang Yibo/ Xiao Zhan coded it’s to watch like one of those sleazy AI edits.
Same hairstyles, clothes and the actors were chosen for their passing resemblance from certain angles (not their skills). It’s too obvious for it to be a coincidence. Wherever you stand on the WYB/XZ ship, it’s cringeworthy and uncomfortable.

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don't bother.

i think my overall rating might be generous. anyway, i wasted my time watching this a couple of weeks ago. it was not it.

the first male lead was truly pathetic until he had a change of heart when he almost lost his chance. he let projects at work dictate his life and invade into his personal time. the former brings to light a festering issue in japanese work culture. regardless, the person who had seniority over him abused him and he just took it? fear and anxiety are understandable + reasonable / valid feelings. however, he was working over twelve hour days give or take for what months? years? then when kai entered his life, it began to have meaning and he had a real shot at actually living. he promised kai they would attend that festival together then gets bullied into prioritizing work. then he blows kai off for a month to finish a project that would have been completed if he was not there. superiors know how to make things happen just like how they expect grunts to do the same. watari did not deserve kai.

honestly, the intimacy [sexual or romantic] was just wack. some of the earlier scenes like with the relief to allow watari to sleep because he was so stressed out from work were good or funny. the kissing was boring. viewers got more chemistry from the opening credits with the characters than the actual body of work.

i quite liked nomura kota's portrayal of a defeated person who had been so disappointed with life that there were no expectations of others. he felt like a character that was true to himself and uncaring of the perception of others. he lived authentically because he was at his wit's end. otherwise, this body of work was too lacking and too short.

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A Love Letter to Love Between The Lines ?

Okay, can we just take a moment to collectively swoon over Cheng Xing Xue? Because honestly? This man was BORN to play Xiao Zhi Yu. He doesn't just act the CEO role—he inhabits it like it's his second skin. The man is so dashing I had to pause every five minutes just to recover. And that manly sex appeal? Sir, please. My heart can only take so much.

His micro-expressions are everything—one raised eyebrow, one tiny smirk, and I'm literally kicking my feet in the air like a teenager. If you haven't seen him in My Boss or My Starry Love, what are you even doing with your life?? GO WATCH. And don't even get me started on Wow the World—seeing him be all sweet, shy, and quirky off-screen? It's like finding out your grumpy boss secretly rescues kittens. Adorable chaos. I'm manifesting his next project gives him ALL the justice he deserves. 🙏

Now, Lu Yu Xiao... girl, I owe you an apology. I wasn't familiar with your game. I didn't really vibe with her previous dramas, but as Hu Xiu? SHE ATE AND LEFT NO CRUMBS. I want to be her. I want her confidence, her style, her everything. She's officially on my favorites list, and I'm about to binge her entire filmography like it's my new full-time job.

The plot? Imagine a warm hug on a rainy day, but make it a Cdrama. Comforting, low-stress, and blessedly free of those annoying tropes we all pretend to tolerate. No amnesia? No noble idiocy?? We LOVE to see it.

And the OST?? I'm literally downloading it as we speak. My neighbors are about to hear these ballads on repeat whether they like it or not.

10/10. Would cry, laugh, and giggle like a fool again. 🥰

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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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A story within a story, double the fun!

Two drama's in one, what a treat! This was so good!! The story was very different and very well written. The production did a good job, the only bad thing about this drama was the dubbing. I think the emotions would have come out even better without the voice dubbing.
I love how the screen gets smaller when the drama is filming, that makes a clear distinction between film and "reality".
The visuals and music were beautiful.

All the actors did a great job, i was surprised it was the first role for both leads.
They had great chemistry and good kisses. In the last episode we got a great kiss with a bit of tongue! The NC scenes were well done.

I highly recommend watching this great drama.

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Less About Revenge, More About Found Family

My journey with Payback started on a random Wednesday afternoon. Procrastinating because I didn't want to work somehow led to binge-watching five episodes in one go. The hype was real, and my mind was blown, and I was hooked. Needless to say, no work was done that afternoon. And I have thoroughly (and largely enjoyed) my time with this drama.

While the story begins with revenge as its central theme, the plot expands as the episodes unfold. It morphs from this simple, straightforward goal to become about Sun finding himself, forgiving himself, and, in a way, finding a home and a family to 'replace' the one he lost 5 years prior. He learns to not only love and forgive himself, but also to allow love (in its different forms) to find a place in his heart.

What I Liked
☀️Sun's relationship with Kajorn and Sky
It was the best part of this story IMO. It contributes toabout 95% of his healing journey. Forget Jay. Were it not for these two, I think Sun's journey would've taken a lot longer than it did.

And Kajorn is the MVP of this whole show. No other character made me laugh as much as he did. Someone should add comedy to the tags, coz some of this shit was funny as fuck.

☀️The Acting - Some of the side characters did leave much to be desired. However, the main characters and the major supporting roles did their job quite well. Aside from Boss (oh! and Max), I didn't know any of the other faces in the show, and they all impressed me with their performances.

☀️The Chemistry - The main leads work incredibly well together and play off each other beautifully. I am so impressed that I wish the BL gods would allow them to work together again. And please let them have a good script and a good director.

☀️Pacing & Plot - I have not read the source material, so I only have the adaptation to go off of. I was not bored once. I was stressed, I was angry, I was giggling, but I was never bored.

What Could've Been Better
🎥Episode 9 - What the hell was that? It's been a week (since the episode aired) and I'm still mad. Those were some incredibly dumb decisions that did not fit the character profiles established throughout the show, especially Sun's.

🎥The Villains' Ending - The drama does not shy away from showing the horrible things that go on behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. How it chews and spits out the innocents whose crime is to have a dream.

That part I liked. I was horrified by it (still am tbh), but I like that they didn't try to sugarcoat it.

So, based on the horrific things I was subjected to over the 10 episodes, I feel like two of the main villains, Songphon and Kongkiat, got off way too easily. I wasn't satisfied. I wanted a blow-up. I wanted them exposed to the public and shamed. Only then could they die.

The only villain whose ending I found satisfactory is Sunny's. After all the shit he unapologetically did not only to Sun but also to the numerous faceless young boys, so he could keep his sponsor happy and maintain his position in the industry, you couldn't pay me to care or feel bad for him, and where he ended up. I simply do not have that much sympathy or compassion in me.

☀️Final Thoughts☀️
Actually, I think I've run out of words for a proper conclusion😅. I've written too many reviews this week. Just go watch it. It's worth your time

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