A Rare Adaptation That Doesn't Lose Its Soul
Going into Payback, my biggest concern was whether it would do justice to the manhwa. Thankfully, it stays surprisingly faithful. While a few minor scenes and details were left out—which is pretty much expected in any adaptation—the core story, the characters, and the overall atmosphere remain intact. As someone who read the manhwa, I never felt like the drama betrayed the source material.What impressed me the most was how well the casting worked. The leads fit their characters, and their chemistry felt natural instead of forced. They handled both the quieter emotional moments and the more intense confrontations convincingly, making it easy to invest in their relationship.
The production quality also deserves credit. The cinematography is polished, the pacing is mostly consistent, and the soundtrack complements the scenes without becoming distracting. It feels like the team genuinely cared about bringing the story to life rather than simply capitalizing on the popularity of the original work.
That said, the drama isn't perfect. Some emotional beats don't hit quite as hard as they did in the manhwa because a few smaller scenes that helped build the characters were removed. They're not major omissions, but if you've read the source material, you'll probably notice them. There are also moments where the adaptation plays things a little safer, which slightly tones down the emotional intensity.
Even so, these are relatively minor complaints. The adaptation understands what made *Payback* enjoyable in the first place and focuses on preserving that. It never tries to reinvent the story unnecessarily, and I appreciate that.
Overall, *Payback* is one of those adaptations that respects its source material while still working well as a drama on its own. Whether you're already a fan of the manhwa or going in completely blind, it's an easy recommendation. Faithful adaptations are harder to come by than people think, and *Payback* is proof that staying true to the original can absolutely pay off.
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✨ DON'T BE BLINDED BY THE LOW RATING ✨
To anyone who wants to watch this but hesitates because of the ratings, please don't be fooled by them. I really recommend this — it's honestly pretty fun! I'll finish my full review once all episodes are out, but the 8 episodes I've watched so far are good and heartwarming. And Tian Xiwei really did well in this role — she's so cute and innocent! 💛Please don’t let the low rating stop you from giving this a chance. Ratings are just numbers — they don’t tell the whole story. This drama deserves so much better than what the current score suggests. It’s sweet, it’s smart, it’s heartwarming, and it’s full of beautiful moments that will stay with you. If you’re looking for something that feels like a warm hug, something that makes you believe in kindness and love, then this drama is for you. Trust me, once you start watching, you won’t regret it. 💛
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This review may contain spoilers
I watched Heart Signal 4 last year and I found it soo boring that I had zero plans to watch Season 5. But then I thought, I’ll just watch the first three episodes and decide. Surprisingly… I enjoyed it.Maybe the problem was never the format, it might have been the cast. Since half of the cast this season is in their early 20s, the overall energy feels much more lively and proactive.
The funny thing is that most of the romantic storylines revolved around just two participants. Normally, that might bother me, but somehow it didn’t this time because both of them were genuinely adorable to watch. Yu Gyeong and Wo Yeol really gave off that “most popular guy and most popular girl in school falling for each other” vibe. It felt like watching a cute rom-com unfold in real time..
The most unexpected participant was WOO YEOL. At first, he gave off bit of a “player” vibe. But watching the way he slowly changed for Yu Gyeong was honestly such a treat. It felt like seeing someone genuinely fall in love and become a better version of himself because of it.
Yu Gyeong, on the other hand, is just the sweetest little lover girl. What I admired most was that she wasn’t afraid to take initiative and I found that really refreshing especially because she’s someone who is popular herself. Seeing her openly express her feelings was really admirable.
The almost Couple “MINJU and SEONG MIN” was a disappointment. I didn’t like them together because he was so passive and dry with her. Still, I kept hoping maybe he would start seeing her differently. Unfortunately, that never happened. Good for Minju thou as she deserves better.
Also, the biggest “what if” couple for me was definitely SEO WON and SO YUN. I really wish So Yun had entered earlier because I genuinely think she could have stolen Seo Won. She had the confidence and charm to do it, and I would have loved to see that dynamic play out. Seo won was more adorable and lively around her.
Lastly, Maybe that was just my impression, but I couldn’t fully connect with Gyuri and Seowon as an end couple especially after that truth and dare episode. It seemed like she really didn’t cared about him.
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Why? Just why?
Dear readers, this is not a serious review. More like a rant. I apologise in advance.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Edit after 6 eps: It has stabilised a little. The storyline is still borderline nonsensical. It randomly decided to go big on "romance" by setting up a fictitious Bachelor Show on TV which is mirrored in their holiday house. Why? Are they that desperate?
The Grim Reaper character is still an enigma. Is a goth country bumpkin a thing? OBTW, they just introduced a Sea God who spend all day fishing. Do all the demi-gods go there for a vacay? I'm hanging in there, just.
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Is this show based on a thought experiment handed out in a drama class? That would explain the weird grab bag of quirky/cringey characters and a back-of-a-napkin plot. :p
Their dialogues largely consisted of talking fast at or shouting over each other. I'm getting a headache just from trying to decipher if they are talking nonsense or something relevant to the A-plot. They need to bottle the air there because they seem to be on a permanent high.
Overacting? There are so much you'd think there is a competition going on.
Don't get me started on their version of the Grim Reaper. How can that manifestation be the Angel of Death?! He looks like a spaced out goth dude. Why? He has two speeds. Slow and glacial. I cry when I think of Death in the Disc World series. (sob)
There are supposed to be 18 X 15mins episodes to be released in 3 blocks of 6. From my experience, you can forget about being hooked after the first EP. My mind is still wheeling. (help me . . .)
Japanese are masters in exploring quirky subject matters, but this show just seems to pile on the extremes without a care. What is in their playbook? Taken in isolation, a few of those moments are sort of funny. As a whole it just assaults your senses. BTW, I have written down my prediction for its finale and put in a sealed envelope. ;)
Oh yeah, something dramatic is going to happen in a month's time. Is that why it is being released over the next 3/4 weeks? Can't wait!
I don't want to dismiss this out of hand. Netflix must see something in this show, right? I shall watch the next 3 eps and pray to all the drama gods. I think I'll need a hug. Peace.
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Not a BL...
You make a boy as girly as possible, you make a masculine school bully and a masculine silent one. You heteronormalize it together and make sure the girly boy denies being gay all the time. You produce some drama between the bully and the silent one and have an "happy end" between the girly boy and the silent one as being friends.In 2026 such a queer baiting series is not needed.
In 2026 such a series should not have been produced
In 2026 everyone who thinks this series is fun should think about what the series tell us. If you protect the girly boy from bullies it's ok if he's hetero.
Of course there are girly boys who are not gay. They could be anything from hetero, bi, pan, gay, asexual or everything inbetween but the series was not structered that way. For me it was 100% queer baiting and not commiting as a BL. Besides being in vertical format and good production quality, I can and never will support such a series. It still makes me sick that such a series is even produced. It sends the wrong signal to all the people watching it - or what is more probable girls consuming it will not even think about the aspects. I rate this series just for the queer baiting and the MDL tag "gay romance" is 100% misleading.
Update: The biggest question of all: Why is this shit show on GagaOOLala. I remember the outcry of the community when they tried to put "Wu" on GagaOOLala. But this show is even worse and it's on it.
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They Were Just Doing Their Jobs - Sure.
On paper, Deep In sounds almost absurdly simple: two actors are cast opposite each other in a BL drama and gradually develop feelings off-screen.That description is also wildly misleading. Because Deep In isn't really about actors falling in love.
It's about an industry that demands intimacy, profits from chemistry, and then panics the moment that chemistry threatens to become real.
As BL fans, I think many of us have wondered about it at least once.
"How do actors create chemistry that feels this believable?"
Deep In doesn't just ask that question.
It turns it into the entire story.
The production pushes Zhang Zhun and Zhen Xin closer and closer together. They rehearse intimate scenes in private, they're expected to blur professional and personal boundaries, and they're repeatedly placed in situations where vulnerability becomes part of the job. There are no meaningful conversations about boundaries, no intimacy coordinator, no real concern for what constantly performing desire might actually do to two people.
And then everyone acts surprised when those boundaries begin to disappear.
That irony is impossible to ignore.
The series almost feels like a quiet critique of the BL industry itself. An industry that sells queer intimacy, encourages audiences to obsess over chemistry, and yet often exists within environments where genuine queer relationships remain deeply uncomfortable or even dangerous.
That tension is what fascinated me most.
The series constantly asks:
"Where does the performance end?"
"Where do the characters stop and the actors begin?"
"What happens when you genuinely can't tell anymore whether you're in love with the person or the role they're playing?"
I loved that uncertainty.
Not because the answers are easy, but because the series refuses to make them easy.
And then there's the story inside the story.
Watching Fang Chi and Gao Zhun while simultaneously watching Zhang Zhun and Zhen Xin creates this fascinating mirror effect where both relationships begin reflecting one another. One is fictional, one is "real," and yet both slowly become impossible to separate. It's almost like getting two BLs unfolding at the same time, each quietly commenting on the other.
That said, Deep In absolutely isn't afraid to venture into uncomfortable territory.
Some of that discomfort is intentional and dramatically effective.
Some of it genuinely troubled me.
The biggest example is the non-consensual sex scene.
Yes, Zhang Zhun tells Zhen Xin to kiss him.
But Zhang Zhun is heavily intoxicated and incapable of giving informed consent. Zhen Xin knows that. The next morning, Zhang Zhun barely remembers what happened, and for me that's where every alarm bell started ringing.
What I appreciate, however, is that the series doesn't simply brush that aside.
It understands that this moment fundamentally changes the relationship because it destroys certainty. Suddenly every feeling becomes questionable. Was anything real? Was it love? Desire? Manipulation? Performance? That emotional fallout felt honest, even if the event itself didn't sit comfortably with me.
The same applies to the fictional relationship between Fang Chi and Gao Zhun.
A psychiatrist becoming emotionally involved with his patient, overwhelming dependency, sexual violence, trauma — none of this is presented as healthy. It's difficult, morally messy, and intentionally uncomfortable.
What impressed me more was the way the series approached queerness itself.
Neither the actors nor the characters hide behind familiar excuses like "You're the exception" or "I'm not actually attracted to men."
Instead, we watch something far more believable: internalised homophobia, fear, confusion, denial, and eventually acceptance.
And importantly, that fear isn't limited to the characters. It exists throughout the entire production.
Deep In understands the contradiction at the heart of its own industry.
These actors are allowed to portray queer love. They're just not really allowed to "be" queer.
That distinction feels particularly meaningful in the context of Chinese BL, where censorship has shaped not only which stories can be told but also how openly actors can exist within them. Deep In doesn't turn that reality into a political speech. It simply lets the pressure seep into every interaction, every hesitation, every silence.
The ending made me happier than I'd like to admit.
It reminded me of Heated Rivalry—not because the stories are particularly similar, but because both ultimately arrive at the same emotional destination.
After spending so much time hiding, performing and negotiating other people's expectations, both stories end with something beautifully simple:
"We're done hiding."
Sometimes that's all I need.
Deep In certainly isn't perfect.
The time jump at the end isn't really my thing, and some of its narrative choices ask a lot of the audience. But I haven't stopped thinking about it. Not because it gave me an ideal romance.
Because it asked uncomfortable questions about performance, intimacy, identity and authenticity—and trusted me to sit with them rather than offering easy answers.
And somehow, that's exactly the kind of BL I want more of.
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Top-tier
A lot of people recommended this one, but I didn't start watching until Episode 5... and that's honestly one of my biggest regrets. 😅 CBL did it again.Can we start with the visuals? Is Ollie even real? That face is a gift from the heavens. And Shu Yuan? I totally understand why people joked that he was AI-generated because of how ridiculously handsome he is.
Now the chemistry? Top-tier. I'm obsessed. Not just with their characters, but with them in real life too.
As for the story, it felt like a mix of familiar and fresh. Their relationship developed pretty fast, but I just accepted that they're simply meant for each other. Sometimes love doesn't need to take its time. 😌
And Zhen Xin... I love how possessive he is (minus the drunk scene, of course). His jealousy was on another level. 😂
One detail I really loved was how they changed the screen ratio whenever they were filming compared to the "real" Deep In timeline. Such a simple touch, but it made it so easy to tell the difference. And the acting? So good. This didn't feel cheap at all. They can really act, especially Ollie.
As for the loopholes... the therapy aspect felt a little odd and not very realistic, even if the idea was that he was genuinely falling in love with Gao Zhun. But you know what? I'll gladly turn a blind eye because I'm biased. 🤣
And the plot twists? The plot just kept plot-twisting. Hehehe.
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Sizzling chemistry of enemies turned lovers, beautiful leads
Strong exciting start where we are plunged into the thick of the action, and the chemistry between the leads was electrifying. They really were two crazy heroes at the beginning, claws out at each other kind of vibe which slowly mellowed out to a beautiful pairing of love and understanding between them. It is especially satisfying to watch both of them as they were equally matched either in combat or intelligence, which was a nice contrast to other shows were the couples are also compatible, but not necessary both battle hardened.However like what other reviewers mentioned, the interactions between Feng Xi Yang and Xia Jing Shi were so...bland. But then again he really was supposed to portray an utter lack of interest in her. At least the chemistry between Feng Xi Yang and Xia Jing Yan was crazily toxic but made for an engaging watch.
Plot wise was decent, the show keeps you engaged by trying to find out why the FL got injured and her relationship with Xia Jing Shi, then you get hooked by the chemistry between the FL and ML...and then the Feng Xi Yang arc comes in and the story tapers off a little and I had to skip some scenes which felt too draggy. Just fast forward those, with the added typical historical cdrama tropes just to highlight the bond between the leads...TLDR the show had a strong start which fizzled towards the middle to end of the series.
Set and costumes were pleasant on the eyes but nothing too spectacular, though some costumes worn by the leads were particularly stunning. I usually love the OSTs by Sa Ding Ding but the OST here was not as memorable. Nonetheless it was still fun to see her acting in the drama too! Her bantering scenes are always so entertaining.
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Taynewwww
I love seeing TayNew in their working era. A content creator explained the title of the series, and it made me appreciate it even more. The "dog" isn't just about acting like a dog. It represents someone from a lower social class, while the "plane" symbolizes someone from a higher class. Knowing that adds another layer to the story.I like how this series made me smile. Toto is one of those rare characters who's an absolute a**hole but somehow still a total green flag at the same time. 😂 While the story doesn't have much depth and a lot of the scenes are pretty predictable, it's still an enjoyable watch if you're looking for something light and fun, especially if you're an avid TayNew fan.
And let's not forget MondRyu. I've loved them ever since That Summer. ❤️
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Sweet love story that is easy on the eyes
What can I say ZLH looks really good here and his character is mostly a green flag! Xu Ruo Han's acting feels a bit flat to me sometimes but it's otherwise a generally pleasant one time watch. The feature of a specific TCM ingredient and link to the plot was also a thoughtful touch which added another layer of detail to an otherwise straightforward modern romance plot.Was this review helpful to you?
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Bad script
I watched it for the second couple and the main couple's parents because the scenes with them were better. The main couple was also great, but at one point, the scenes alternated between happy and sad, filled with tears. At one point, it was very predictable. I love the entire cast, but the script could have been written differently. I especially enjoyed the scenes with the main couple's parents. Their fathers' friendship was funny, two allies hiding from their wives. The mothers had a slightly more complicated relationship because of Seok-ryu's mother, but they overcame their problems. Dan-oh's story was touching, and his relationship with Mo-eum was very charming, without too much drama. Seok-ryu's brother could have been more present. At one point, the neighbors were home more often than he was, like having dinner together, etc.I liked the fact that the issues with ex-partners weren't complicated and had been completed earlier, and didn't drag on throughout the series. I liked the main actor's ex-girlfriend because she didn't cause unnecessary problems and even rooted for the main couple.
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a must watch bl and heavily recommended as a first to any newbie bl watchers
bro i do not write reviews for bls and i do rarely watch bls but i watched this since i was rlly interested in the pilot when it was released and i know geminifourth wont ever disappoint meI do grew up with religion and eventually fell out of it and basically I felt the exact same way as how barth feels about religion. It really hits alot more harder when i see a mirror reflecting me when i see barth.
the music itself also was beautifully composed and introduced into the series. Not many shows could do that lol
overall its a really well written bl, kinda sad it has only 6 eps tho
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.
Another series that I'm really going to miss watching every week. 🤍For their first series together, they did an amazing job. The chemistry, the story, and the emotions all came together so well, making it easy to look forward to each new episode.
I truly hope this won't be the last time we see Ollie and Shu Yuan working together. ✨
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🌸✨🌈 Hiii~ Welcome to my kawaii corner~ ♡(≧▽≦)ﾉ✨🌸
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First off, if you want a procedural series about advertising, this really isn't it. Half the time they're actually doing their ad work, it barely even feels like they're making ads, more just excuses to advance the plot and bring about character revelations. This is far more about chaebol power struggles. Also known as the same thing every drama set in a big office building, but thankfully we get a really really good performance out of Lee Bo-young that brings the whole thing together. Certain topics are tackled in a way that mostly feel refreshingly undramatic.
Ah-in is flawed, and has a tragic backstory, yet works through her issues with ups and downs. She's not a villain, she's not a perfect hero with an explanation for everything, she's a human being dealing with a brain that functions slightly different to ones that others have. I do slightly wish we could have a character like her without the overly tragic backstory explaining things, but I also have to admit that as someone suffering from chronic anxiety, it's not just something that my brain decided to do one day either.
And the side characters around her aren't totally annoying, thank God. I'm sure there's someone out there that dislikes Eun-jung's chipperness here, but she's just enough of a good foil to Ah-in that it works. I wish I could say I liked some other aspects of the way her character is written... but I can't say I like any of the scenes with her family. I just hate them so much. A five year old is going to be five years old, sure, but my God, if this is how Korean husbands and mothers in law tip toe around their son's bad behaviour, no wonder such a significant chunk of the male populace are avowed misogynists. And it seems we're supposed to just forgive both of them and act like they were well meaning or something.
I do think there are also some pacing issues with the way some characters are prioritised in the back half, specifically Ha-na. Her character was a minefield of potential annoyances, yet Son Na-eun had just the right blend of insecurity and bravado that makes it work, but it just goes a little too far into being about her when it feels we haven't spent a lot of time with the actual main character in a while. The finale especially feels barely about Ah-in, and that's a shame. Couldn't really care for Ha-na's PA either, though I don't outright hate him and think the way things ended was satisfying enough.
Speaking of satisfying, this entire drama is basically a sixteen episode Choi Chang-soo humiliation ritual, it was so fun seeing episode to episode what enormous rake this moron would step on next. Not entirely happy with his ending, but there is something poetic about the nature of how corporate life corrupts, tying in well with the epilogue. As for how I feel about that epilogue? I'm okay with it. It makes sense for most of the characters, a little bit too precious and saccharine in a way only K-drama endings can be... but Eun-jung, leave your damn husband.
Really liked Jung-min's five minutes of screen time as a supporting character and I think I've settled on my ship dynamic for Ah-in because of her. Sue me. I'm always thinking of one. Another win for the "female lead doesn't really date any men, so you can't say she's straight" crowd (me) though.
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The biggest downside for me was the plot. It felt a bit messy, and I just wasn't really into the story itself. There were moments where it seemed to lose direction, so I found myself watching more for the characters than for the plot.
Another thing I didn't enjoy was the comedy. Even during serious or emotional moments, the friend group would suddenly do something that was supposed to be funny. Unfortunately, those jokes didn't work for me—they felt forced and a little childish. I wanted the drama to stay serious instead of interrupting emotional scenes with unnecessary comedy.
The main reason I kept watching was the acting. I especially have to talk about War's performance. I've watched Yin and War's previous dramas, and I usually ended up falling for Yin's character more. But this time, Jock completely stole my heart. War has improved so much as an actor. His smile is so warm and beautiful, and whenever he cried, I found myself crying with him. He delivered every emotion so naturally, and this is easily one of his best performances.
Overall, I enjoyed this drama because of the incredible chemistry and the strong acting, not because of the plot. It's not one of the best dramas I've watched, but it's definitely watchable. If you enjoy amazing chemistry and emotional performances, I think it's worth giving a try.
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