Reviews

What a disappointment… saved only by the excellent performances of the cast

I have never in my entire life watched a drama as toxically written, ridiculous, and narrative-breakingly absurd as Overdo. The only reason I managed to survive the absolute torture of sitting through all 33 episodes is out of pure respect and love for Zhang Linghe and Wang Churan. They are a truly magnificent cast who deserved a masterpiece, but instead, they were handed a pathetic, trainwreck of a script featuring characters who completely fail to evolve.

The toxicity of the writing is entirely rooted in how the main couple is fundamentally broken. The writers present Susu as an entirely manipulative, heartless, and cold person driven solely by bitter revenge. She is pathologically full of lies, pathologically deceiving people even about the most obvious things—including the paternity of her own child. On the flip side, Qingyi is portrayed as an emotionally weak, completely obsessed man who remains pathetically in love with the exact person who actively sent him to jail. There is no genuine character growth; they simply cycle through the same toxic behavioral loops for 33 episodes.

By Episode 26, the pacing completely implodes. We are subjected to a bizarre, rushed, and incredibly poorly directed fake-wedding-turned-real-marriage that gives the audience total whiplash. If that wasn't absurd enough, the script suddenly decides to turn Susu into a high-security wartime espionage spy overnight. The writers threw every single pathetic trope into a blender—toxic family whippings, a sudden rare child blood disorder, secret drug cartels, and wartime explosions—just to force unearned high stakes because they didn't know how to write organic character development.

To make matters worse, the technical production values are an absolute eyesore that completely ruin the viewing experience. The show is plagued by relentless, constant flashbacks that treat the audience like we have no short-term memory, grinding the pacing to a halt. Visually, the entire series is buried under a bizarre, sickly greenish tint that drains all the life out of the scenes. Combined with the cheap camera angles and rapid-fire editing, the entire production gives off the low-budget vibe of a vertical micro-drama rather than a high-end, premium television series.

The finale package dropped by iQIYI is the ultimate proof of how chaotic this production was. In a matter of minutes, the script literally blows Murong Qingyi up in a horrific warehouse fire, only to immediately resurrect him and place him on a train with Susu and Le'an for a rushed "Happy Ending" quota. It is pure narrative whiplash.

The saving grace of this entire disaster is the leads. Zhang Linghe delivers an acting masterclass; his emotional restraint, his signature "one-tear" crying scenes, and his transition into "dad mode" were incredibly moving despite how weak his character was written. Wang Churan matches his gravity flawlessly, delivering heartbreaking vulnerability even when the script forces her to play a deeply unlikable, manipulative woman. Their chemistry and professional dedication are the only reasons this show is remotely watchable.

To the cast: I respect your hard work immensely.
To the writers: this script was an insult to the viewers and a complete waste of a gold-standard cast.
Watch only for the actors, but prepare for mental exhaustion.

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All in all, a bit disappointing compared to other seasons.
It’s already hard enough for viewers to remember the participants' names, but they made things even more complicated with those nicknames (Salty Bread, Busy Hamster, Yellow Dog, Tired Camel...).
I found the soundtrack quite inappropriate. Often, the music didn't match the mood—piano pieces drowning out the dialogue—which really bothered me.
As for scenes like the dog peeing or the bedraggled cat, other scenes could have been added.
There are awkward, dead-air moments, followed by endless eating—just eating, eating, eating. I know Korean culture revolves largely around food, but I would have gladly watched something else.
Then, at one point (Episode 9), the single contestant Guy-Ri seems to have vanished. One might have even thought she had withdrawn from the show, yet things just carry on as if nothing happened, and not a word is said.
It is even stranger that, during the final selection, she ended up pairing off and leaving the show as part of a couple.
Especially since I was rooting for the couple Kim Seo Won and Choi So Yun. They were sweet, sincere, honest, and straightforward. I really wanted them to leave together.
I admired Seo Won's kind heart throughout his journey; he was respectful and friendly toward everyone.
I felt so sorry for Kim Min Ju, who invested everything in the dermatologist only to end up hurt.
The other final couple —Kang Yu-Kyung and Park Woo-Yeol— makes sense. However, I didn't like the way he acted, giving false hope to two other single women.

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A Strong Beginning That Couldn't Stay on Track

OVERDO started off on a really strong note. At first, it was engaging, the pacing was solid, and it felt like the story knew exactly where it was heading. Unfortunately, everything started to fall apart after the fall of Huo. It was as if the driving force behind the story disappeared, and the plot just kept moving because it had to rather than because it had something meaningful left to tell.

The middle portion was honestly the weakest part of the drama. It became unnecessarily messy, frustrating, and overcomplicated. The main couple also felt quite toxic at times, but since they were the central pairing, the story kept pushing them back together. Their relationship never fully convinced me emotionally. The ending was decent enough, though Qingyi's death added a bittersweet touch.

One aspect I genuinely loved was Qingyu's relationship with his brothers. They brought warmth and emotional depth whenever the main plot started losing its direction.

The biggest disappointment, however, was what the writers did to Li Boze. After the seven-year time skip, his character felt completely different, almost as if all of his earlier development had been forgotten. And then they killed him off. His death genuinely made me cry. I absolutely loved his chemistry with Boss Hai, and their storyline had so much potential.

From a production standpoint, the editing was a hit or miss. Some scenes felt overly dramatic with excessive zoom-ins and exaggerated transitions that made it resemble a soap opera. I've even seen people refer to OVERDO as one, and I can understand why. On the brighter side, Ren Susu's wardrobe was absolutely stunning throughout the series.

Overall, OVERDO is a drama that begins with a lot of promise but gradually loses its footing. If you're looking for a drama with an excellent opening, an emotionally frustrating and chaotic middle, and a fairly acceptable ending, this might still be worth watching. However, if you prefer a consistently well-paced story with strong plot twists and satisfying character development from beginning to end, OVERDO probably won't be your cup of tea.

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The goodbye they deserved

I really liked the idea of giving Me and Thee one final chapter, and I think these four episodes did a good job of bringing the story to a close. It never felt like a separate drama, but rather the ending these characters deserved. Seeing them again felt comforting, and it was nice to spend a little more time with people I'd already grown attached to. Their chemistry was still as natural as ever, and the emotional moments landed because I already cared about their journey. Of course, with only four episodes, everything had to move a little faster, and there were moments I wished had been explored a bit more. Still, as a spin-off and conclusion, I think it achieved exactly what it set out to do. It gave me the closure I was hoping for while reminding me why I enjoyed these characters so much in the first place.

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An Exquisite Culinary Feast Paired with a Profound, Thought-Provoking Take on Political Ethos.

"Lower your head when ridiculed, tolerate grievances, and no one can defeat you." - Yao Zijin

Having just finished the show, I genuinely have to ask: how could anyone give this a score lower than 8.0?

Like, seriously? Sure, there are aspects that I found puzzling myself, but I don't think those shortcomings are enough to justify any score lower than 8.0, let alone a 5.0 or below—considering neither the narrative nor the production ever went off the rails. I understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but sometimes it won't hurt if we try to be a bit more thoughtful and responsible on how we express them, since negative feedback can heavily discourage prospective viewers from giving a good show a chance if they are greeted with such unfavorable reviews.

Right off the bat, I want to shower this show with high praise for its brilliant execution in showcasing the rich, vast, and exquisite history of Chinese cuisine in a way that feels authentic and natural through the ever-rigorous culinary preparation and processing, capturing genuine craftsmanship while highlighting true artistry without relying on excessive artificial enhancement and explosive CGIs. This decision not only emphasizes the intricate and unstudied perfection of food making, but also showcases how impressively beautiful, mouthwatering, and satisfying the whole process is in general—which doesn't just boast the massive collection of Chinese culinary culture, but also tells a story of its rich history, heritage, and legacy.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end. One major element I greatly appreciated about this drama was its commitment to staying true to its title, Royal Feast, by maintaining a clear, sharp focus on the Imperial Food Services—highlighting their daily work, conflicts, and trivialities. Frankly, they were my primary source of entertainment and delight. I thoroughly enjoyed their dynamics and was particularly looking forward to their cooking showdowns, which regrettably turned out to be an absolute disaster, because despite the impeccable buildup maintained from the start leading up to the climax, the writers progressively undermined them at highly critical junctures, reducing them to mere instruments used for plot convenience.

Imagine the frustration of watching the very elements that made you excited and fully engrossed in a story getting repeatedly sabotaged into mere plot devices. It is deeply disappointing how high-stakes climaxes meant to showcase the chefs' culinary prowess were repeatedly ruined—and ultimately hijacked—by the writers' obsession with throne succession schemes. Watching the major culinary showdowns between the two rival teams of the Imperial Food Services get sidelined and reduced to such a wasteful conclusion was such an anticlimactic narrative choice that truly annoyed me. They could have easily allowed the culinary battles to finish before switching to the political subplot, granting the competitions their proper spotlight, but instead, they consistently ruined those moments right at their peak, rendering all the accumulated anticipation useless and leaving me in utter bewilderment.

For the record, the political schemes and conspiracies were nicely laid out, intricately woven together, and brilliantly executed. So, I could never discredit or undermine the writing for that. My only frustration is how they were constantly used to interrupt the culinary competitions—aside from that, I have no other complaints.

Another aspect that caused widespread dissatisfaction among critics is the show's light enforcement of punishment. While I completely understand the frustration regarding the lenient consequences imposed on the antagonists for their misdeeds—and felt that same annoyance when major perpetrators repeatedly walked away unscathed and were granted multiple second chances—my perspective differs on one fundamental point: I choose to analyze "why" the writers made this creative choice in the first place. Because only after deeper reflection can anyone finally understand and see clearly that these decisions were not writing deficiencies, but rather the writer's true intention and deliberate thematic choices to drive the drama's foundation toward a heartwarming, lighthearted, and wholesome direction that naturally fosters leniency, forbearance, understanding, and forgiveness—one that relentlessly promotes harmony across familial bonds and relationships, ultimately proving that this forgiving approach isn't just a writing oversight, but the very foundational philosophy driving the entire narrative from the very beginning.

This philosophy is equally evident in the portrayal of the three emperors' reigns throughout the show. It illustrates how the narrative places paramount importance on familial ties, to the extent that even severe transgressions are forgiven in hopes that leniency and a second chance will inspire redemption. However paradoxical this approach may seem, careful evaluation reveals it to be the true bedrock of the drama's premise. Viewing the narrative through this lens was an eye-opener that finally allowed me to understand the writer's underlying vision for this story.

"I considered you as my good friend. Yet, you only cared about Yin Ziping who's good for nothing. What's so great about her?" - Su Yue Hua

The same logic explains why I didn't harbor much animosity toward the main antagonists, Su Yue Hua and You Yi Fan, until the latter half of the show and instead held out hope for a redemption arc—far from excusing their despicable acts, I recognized that they were fundamentally good individuals driven down a crooked path by relentless mistreatment and exploitation. It was precisely this moral ambiguity—standing right on the border between good and evil—that made me eagerly anticipate how their character arcs would unfold.

Su Yue Hua, in particular, was a character I held deep faith in at first—partly out of my fondness and adoration for Wang Churan, but primarily because her early actions and intentions were rooted in doing good and causing no harm. She left an indelible mark on me through her consistent projection of a complex blend of desire, longing, gentle melancholy, affection, regret, and a faint hint of jealousy all at once whenever she looked at Yao Zijin and Yin Ziping together. It broke my heart thinking about how she might never have gone down the evil path if only she had a figure like Yao Zijin right beside her. It may sound like I am justifying her actions, but whenever I look back at her confrontation scene with Yao Zijin, a wave of logic takes over, prompting multiple "what if" scenarios in my head. She is the perfect example of a character who was led astray because she tended to retreat rather than advance to show her determination and resolve to befriend Yao Zijin. This is also why I felt so much pity for her when she finally fully embraced her villainous turn, for she simply wasn't built to be evil. In the end, she really had no one to blame but herself. Personal bias for Wang Churan aside, Su Yue Hua is truly a character I was glad to see get a chance to turn over a new leaf, even if it took Matron Meng immense sacrifices to guide her back.

"When someone set a trap for a rat, why did you have to be the rat and get yourself caught in the trap?" - Yin Ziping

Meanwhile, my only regret regarding You Yi Fan's character is that his feelings for Yao Zijin weren't thoroughly explored. It makes sense, given that he is a man who values his convictions over love and affection. Still, he was a character with immense potential to be led down the right path if only Yao Zijin had shown him enough attention and guidance—after all, the story's ending proved he was redeemable.

The last baffling point I want to talk about is the "seduce, conquer, and run away" tactics Yao Zijin used to catch Zhu Zhanji's attention—especially since she claimed she never wanted to be tied to him in the first place.

She frustrates me so much! God knows how hard I tried, but I still couldn't understand her, to the point that I wanted to smack her in the head. I understand she refused his proposal because she wanted to continue pursuing her passion as a chef and didn't want to be caged in the Forbidden City, but my question is: why did she exert so much effort to catch Zhu Zhanji's attention, if she didn't want to be committed to him at all—knowing full well what the consequences would be if she succeeded. What's even crazier is that despite being forced into the Forbidden City, she was never tasked or required to interact with him at all—in fact, all of their initial interactions were out of her own free will. I have also considered every logical reason—like how she could have grown attached to him or even fallen in love with him, given that she was his designated princess consort back when they were younger. Yet, her true intentions remain a complete mystery to me. I refuse to believe that it wasn't intentional because despite looking meek and detached, she is in fact a highly intelligent, meticulous, and strategic person.

Ultimately, I deeply admire her wisdom and hold her moral principles in such high regard—with the sole exception of this specific tendency of hers. She is confusing and complicated as hell.

"Power should be exercised with caution. With that power, you should respect life. One doesn't gain respect from their birthrights. What makes your place in the world is your every word an action." Zhu Zhanji

Story - 9.0, Although my review focuses heavily on the drama's flaws, it was, on the contrary, an incredibly entertaining watch. The story’s ability to consistently pull its main plot together from start to finish greatly compensated for its shortcomings, delivering a seamless and well-grounded conclusion. What truly set this show apart was the flawless execution of its finale. It provides a lenient yet logical resolution that ties up every loose knot, inspiring deep reflection on the story's core message. Ultimately, this allowed me to fully appreciate its strengths and moral direction, leaving me with a genuine sense of warmth, comfort, and peace.

Acting/Cast - 9.5, This drama boasts a fantastic cast. Seeing so many familiar faces in the lead roles gave me immediate relief and assurance that I was in for a thrilling, enjoyable ride. The single detail that bothered me, however, was Wu Jinyan’s creepy, theatrical laugh, as it didn't entirely suit the tone of this drama the way it did in Story of Yanxi Palace. At times, it felt so jarring that it actually sent shivers down my spine, leaving me genuinely creeped out and wondering if her character had gone completely insane. Hahaha! Sorry, Wu Jinyan—I still love you a lot, though!

Music - 9.5, The soundtrack complemented the show remarkably well, but what I liked most was how it instantly invigorated and elevated the mood every time they played, taking the emotional impact of each scene to an even higher level.

Rewatch Value - 8.0, A rewatch-worthy drama for its fascinating culinary and political subplots, though not so much for the love story. I still feel baffled whenever I think back on Yao Zijin's "seduce, conquer, and run away" tactic.

Overall - 9.0, A drama that genuinely stood out to me for its culinary focus and political intrigue, though it was those very elements that kept it from earning a perfect score. The political subplots often felt ill-timed, repeatedly killing the momentum of the exciting culinary showdowns. Stress!! Hahaha!

IF you find my review helpful please let me know.

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Revenge is easy, letting go is the hard part

I went into this with almost no expectations, and it ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the year for me. What I thought would be a straightforward revenge story turned into something much more engaging, where every decision had consequences and every character had their own reasons for doing what they did. I constantly found myself questioning who I should actually be rooting for, and that's what kept me invested from beginning to end. The pacing never slowed down, the twists kept me guessing, and I was always looking forward to the next episode. I also loved how the relationships evolved throughout the story, with shifting loyalties and trust being tested over and over again, making every emotional moment feel earned. And I have to give credit to the cast because they completely exceeded my expectations. Every actor fit their role perfectly, bringing so much intensity and emotion to their characters that I became far more attached to them than I expected. If I have one small complaint, it's that I would have loved a little more time with the characters after everything reached its conclusion. Still, this was such a wonderful surprise and a reminder that the best revenge stories are never just about revenge, they're about the people behind it.

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It had the right ideas, but not enough depth

I kept waiting for this drama to fully dive into the story it was trying to tell, because the premise had so much potential. One of my favorite aspects was how, at a certain point, I genuinely couldn't tell what was part of the performance and what was reality anymore. That blurred line kept me constantly questioning the characters and made the story much more intriguing. I just wish the drama had leaned into that idea even more. The characters and their chemistry were enough to keep me invested, but some conflicts were introduced and resolved too quickly, leaving a few emotional moments without the impact they deserved. I still enjoyed the journey, but I finished it feeling like it had only scratched the surface of everything it could have been.

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Home is wherever TayNew are

One thing this drama got right was making the journey just as enjoyable as the destination. The story mixes adventure, comedy, and romance in a way that never feels too heavy, and I had fun following the characters as they kept finding themselves in unexpected situations. At the heart of it all, though, was the relationship between the leads. TayNew are my parents, and once again they reminded me why I'll never get tired of watching them together. Their chemistry is so effortless that even the simplest conversations feel special, and they bring so much warmth and comfort to their characters. I do think a few plotlines could have been explored a little more before wrapping everything up, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the ride. It may not be their strongest drama, but it's another reminder that some pairings just have that magic you can't fake.

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Sometimes things start with a lie

I really liked how different the premise felt compared to the usual university BL. A fake childhood connection, fortune telling, and a romance built on a lie sounded like a recipe for chaos, but it ended up being a fun and surprisingly charming watch. I enjoyed seeing the relationship gradually become something real, and the second couple added a nice layer to the story instead of feeling like an afterthought. My biggest complaint is that everything happened a little too fast. I wanted more time with the characters, especially once their feelings started becoming genuine, because the emotional moments never had enough room to fully land. Even so, it was an easy drama to binge, with likable characters, good chemistry, and enough heart to keep me invested until the end.

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i just love everything about this drama

at first i actually debating with myself whether to watch this or not, just because im not into too fantasy kinda drama,, but like i give it a try for the first and second ep!! IM HOOKED!! yall just pleaseee watch if u ever considering. to begin with the actin, it was top, i dont actually get it why people be saying esther yu’s acting was so annoying here, but like for me, honestly speaking she acted so well, her character completed the storyline so good like it blend well with the male lead. ughhh now i want to rewatch this again. okay moving to dylan wang ,, do i need to say more about him?? he just good, i cant even think about any male actor that can replace his role in this drama. both leads match eo that makes this drama so perfect

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NO REGRET WATCHING IT! You enjoy Dark Romance & Toxic Love? You will like this!

DISCLAIMER: The most overdo thing about this drama is the hate it received. If you're interested, watch it to make your own opinion. I usually also check reviews to see if I should watch a show or not, but I never saw a show receive this much hate by people who dropped it so they don't even know what's the story is about anymore.

REVIEW: It was one of the show I was anticipated the most this year and I'm so glad I watched it! Since last year, the story and the trailer promised toxic love and red flags leads then guess what? We got served toxic love and red flags lead! I'm very happy about that. Is the drama top notch? No, we can tell the editing is not all that. But not one second I regret watching it. The setting and the fashion are beautiful, we really feel in the republican era.
This drama type is nonsensical over the top dramatic soap opera-like. A bit too much when it comes to the story, like how they purposefully make the leads suffer but it's not that bad of a show. We get that it's just part of the story, lol. The story is a mess and somehow that's what makes you want to keep going, because you can't guess what's coming next. It's a very entertaining show with a cast that have great chemistry and embody their characters well.
The characters are complex and it seems some people can't handle when characters are not good or bad but actually both because of their own trauma. We see the leads hurting each other more than loving each other, while also knowing they really are in love with each other and would die/kill for the other. Despite their toxic love, they are really made for each other.

I don't think you missed anything if you have not watched it, like it's not a must watch, but I do not believe it's the worst drama of the year nor of Zhang Ling He and you will waste hours of your life watching it either.
To me, it felt like the closest show one could get if you enjoy mafia/dark romance and want that in a cdrama. It's very unique in its genre and I appreciated the time I spent enjoying this drama and wondering what was coming next. ^_^

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Loved it!!!!

The show is great. I know it had a lot of controversy for not being true to the source material. I found a lot of those complaints disingenuous, especially the colorism one. The BL watch community is notorious for refusing to watch shows if the main lead isn't attractive. I'm not saying people with darker skin, like myself, are unattractive, but I've been a receiver of some of the BL community's harsh comments. If you want to laugh throughout and really enjoy a show, I would definitely recommend this one.

The last thing I don't get is people complaining about a fictional story not having enough fictional politics and fictional controversy. It's a fictional story.

Story: I actually found the story very entertaining. I enjoyed all of the characters, even the bad guy. I also liked that a lot of the cliffhangers weren't dragged out. A lot of the scenes and questions about who the traitor was weren't dragged out either. It was a great, easy story to watch.

Acting: Everyone was in their acting bag! Everyone's performance was spectacular. The villain's performance was spectacular. Of course, Wandori/Prince performance was spectacular. The star of the show was definitely Banjorn. I did not like the character, but the actor really brought him to life, and he made me laugh. I was literally crying tears laughing during the prison scene.

Music: Not going to lie, the music was trash. (3/10) I just didn't want it to screw the rating even lower.

Overall:This was a great show, and it really pulled me out of my BL drama slump! Don't take it too seriously, and you'll truly have a fun time!

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This is not best story. Its story of boy named best ?

I started The Best Story right after finishing Jack & Joker. At first, I thought the title meant it was going to be the best story. Then I realized it literally meant the story of a boy named Best. 😂

What I wasn't expecting was how heartbreaking it would be. It's only three episodes long, but it still managed to make me emotionally invested. Just when I was hoping to see them finally get together... it ended.

No happy ending, no relationship, just pain. 💔

It's a short drama, but it leaves a lasting impression. If you're looking for a sweet BL with a satisfying ending, this isn't it. But if you're okay with a bittersweet, emotional story, it's definitely worth watching.

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Payback did NOT do Payback well

To be honest, I'm confused how to rate this drama. There are parts that I enjoyed and several things that I didn't enjoy. For it's hype, I'm quite disappointed. 6.5 feels a bit too low yet 7 also feels a bit high. Maybe this is a 6.8 but I'll round up.

Trigger warning - this drama depicts sexual assault, self-harm and rape which did make me uncomfortable so keep that in mind. These scenes didn't affect my ratings (with 1 exception). Details and several spoilers ahead.

The drama's main protagonist is Sun who has a violent past but since losing his mother and brother, he decides to change his life and works as a delivery man. While making deliveries, he meets a manager who would like to scout him as the next actor at their company. Soon after he finds out that his ex-boyfriend was actually the one that got his brother killed but he's now a big shot actor. So he swears to get revenge and decides to take up the acting offer. While at the company, he meets Jay who is narcissistic and they end up butting heads. Unbeknownst to Sun, Jay is actually the director at the company and he ends up needing his help at various stages in order to get his revenge.

So far the plot is great, the set up is great but nothing about Jay was worthy of liking. Not only does he behave horribly towards Sun for no reason, he even beats him up later. Eventually he progresses to kissing him forcefully and practically molesting him at one point. Considering the power dynamics, this is sexual harassment and assault and the reason why I did not like Jay. What frustrated me is that Sun is capable of fighting extremely well but he could never seem to overpower Jay. The drama failed to coherently explain why Jay even started liking Sun and likewise why Sun ended up liking Jay beyond needing his help at times. It was explained to me by people who read the novel but the drama was useless at relaying that important information. I'll add an additional spoiler related to this in the comments.

Sun and Jay's relationship mostly feels forced because of this power imbalance and Jay's actions. I actually felt uncomfortable even during their NC scenes. Especially since Sun seemed miserable. The actors were performing bottomless and I did question if that was really necessary. Also I wish they had highlighted safe sex practices. Another triggering scene was Jay forcefully making Sun cut Jay's wrist. Despite all this, Jay does have softer moments were I liked him. Just wish there was more of that at the end but it was quite rushed which was another disappointment. They were also joking about jumping off a building which was in poor taste.

There are like 3 good characters in the drama - the kind manager who scouts Sun, a trainee with trauma named Sky and a sweet director. I swear I shipped Sun and Sky at one point. I also thought a photographer and Sky might start dating but the vibes I was getting went nowhere. Majority of the show is filled with horrible characters which made me pity Sun a lot. There is one main man who is running a prostitution racket by supplying budding actors to other men. He also expects sexual favours for himself. All this was happening right under Jay's nose. He even mentions that he has recordings of everyone's conversations, yet till the end he never used those to destory that industry and everyone involved.

Jay also has his own reason for seeking revenge and the show ended up focusing more on Jay and how he manages to get what he wants. Meanwhile Sun's payback completely took a back seat. His desire to be the top actor just never happened. He didn't even really start his journey as a lead actor. His ex, Sunny, stayed unapologetic until the end and his end just felt cheap and unrealistic. The bad guys were toppled easily which seemed like it could have happened earlier and too many people were hurt for nothing. Nothing needed to wait till episode 10. Because all the wrap up happened in the final episode, it all felt rushed and lacked impact and satisfaction.

The main reason I could watch Payback is because the pacing of the show was fast and there was never a dull moment even if it got a bit predictable towards the end. The thing I liked is the use of humour to cut through several of the tense scenes. However it's not the kind that makes you laugh till your stomach hurts. It's the kind where you feel relieved that the thing you dread is not about to happen. All the actors did well. There were some actions scenes that were decent.

IMHO I don't think Payback is for everyone. I feel like there were plot holes because the novel probably wasn't adapted well enough which is a shame. If you do decide to watch it, you might like it more than I did.

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