Reviews

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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Emotionally grounded. Entertaining yet heartbreaking ride.

I love this drama so much. Sun and the flashbacks were the heart of this show. I thought that they tied the past and the present so well. They left a little bit for mystery for people that didn't read the comics, like me, and we were able to piece things together. And I thought it played out so wonderfully. Sun's character was truly Godsent. His character reminds me so much of Sieun from Weak Hero. And I adore angsty bottom main characters. I thought that the story handled and explored topics of loneliness, loss, grief, and suicidal ideation so well. It continuously surprises you and lets you connect deeply through Sun's story.

I love the message of found family and even the aftermath, after all the revenge. It's not always sunshine and rainbows, but there are blessings. I'm surprised with Jay's character as well. He aggravated me so much in the beginning, simply because I didn't understand what stake he had in messing with Sun so much (like thats baby). But everything gets re-revealed and it makes you think back to previous episodes on why certain characters act a certain way. It was a super enjoyable watch and really well written, and I believe does the original comic justice from what I hear from fans. The only thing I was a little bit iffy on was Jay's casting. He didn't really seem attractive to me personally and with his behavior I was loving hating on him on my screen lol. But I think throughout the role, Toptap did his best job making me fall in love with his character and his portrayal of the character in relation to why Sun needs him emotionally. So I think it was mostly a slow burn, although I still have some concerns whether or not he was best fit for the role.

But of course, I'm not in charge of casting. MinLee, on the other hand, was PERFECT and truly Godsent for this role. The way he expresses emotions through his eyes (SOO sieun coded) and the way that you feel the heaviness with the little that he speaks, but the most that he's experienced. A truly wonderful actor and a wonderful character that I love so much.

My biggest concern was that they might have done some sort of redemption arc or certain things would play out to where characters would be let free or forgiven or excused. And I can just say that I am very pleased with the ending. Yet, I want so much more from jaysun, and I love their slightly toxic dynamic. I love toxic things in general, but I love how serious and personal Jay got with the heavy emotions that impacted Sun. And honestly, I think they were treated very well and written pretty decently compared to many other BLs, if that's a concern for you. It might be triggering, to say the least, but if you skip some scenes, I think it would be very enjoyable, especially with how much "payback" is in it for the viewer.

All to say I love Sun and love this fun emotional wild ride he took us on and I am pleased with the ending a show, but I NEED MOREEEEE OF HIMM, god i love angst while it lasts. AHHH SUN IMMA MISS U AND UR ANGSTY BOTTOM ASS SO MUCHHHH

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Tragic, Beautifully Poignant, Yet Absolutely Riveting.

This drama is a complete surprise and shock for me. And it is definitely one of the best dramas I've watched to date. (And it is not solely limited to Thai LGBTQ+ dramas either.)

I remember watching the trailer, which to me simply looked like a montage of images as I had no knowledge about the original story and began this completely on a whim. Payback is something to be experienced from start till the end. It's cruel and equally comforting at the same time. Cruel in the sense that it makes you ponder a lot. Deeply emotional as it depicts both grief, romance and acts of transgression.

The outstanding and riveting performances by the cast, the script and the direction further prove my point. There is not a single actor who doesn't leave an impression. Particularly the actors for Sun, Jay, Sunny, Sky and Kajorn and the villain. Everyone gave truly memorable performances which I won't be forgetting anytime soon.

Starting right off the bat, the first episode begins with an audition where a man named Sun aggressively uses his balisong after he fails to impress the judges. A flashback sheds more light on his character--- Sun had previously been an illegal debt collector who had terrorized and traumatised many. When fate strikes back in the worst way, snatching everything that he held dear, time comes to a standstill.
But, revenge springs alive when he overhears that his ex-boyfriend who was now a rising star, had played an integral role in shattering Sun's life. He joins Dream Entertainment with this sole purpose of outsmarting Bank.

Sun, played by Minlee, is a tragic character. I have to appreciate the actor because he manages to bring the dead character to life. Sun is literally dead on screen - he has a single facial expression throughout the first episodes. The one scene that captivated me is where a photographer, Pakin, forcefully triggers an emotional response purely through his eyes.

Sun's innocent and hardworking manager, Kajorn and another actor under him, Sky somehow become a newfound family for the lonely boy. It's evident that his life as a past criminal and the tragedy that followed had made him a shell of who he truly is supposed to be.

But, the question stands. Tragedy would have hit Sun, regardless of whether his ex-boyfriend played a role in his downfall. His lawless and unempathetic actions were the ones which ultimately led to the situation he was in. So, what was the point in taking revenge against Sunny?
The character of Sunny is portrayed as a remorseless sycophant, so I think that he does deserve a lesson.

But, where the series took its hold on me is that the same question kept lingering in Sun's mind too.
When Sun encounters Jay, a powerful man of Dream Entertainment, he is forced to face the ugly truths about his life.
Jay is by far, one of the most dominating characters I've seen onscreen. Hats-off to Toptap because Director Arthur is someone enigmatic, perspicacious and an absolute scene stealer. He exudes confidence, grace and poise onscreen.

While Jay serves as an anchor although a rather harsh one, who often crosses limits and attempts to utilise Sun's skills and simultaneously tether him back to life, the deeply ingrained guilt and grief never fades away.
Sun's 'revenge' persists till the end, but the story is more than just payback.

It was beautiful, seeing someone who once loathed himself and lost all purpose in life rediscover his identity.

Stepping away from the emotional aspects, the story does manage to imbue a sense of humour. Even in unexpected places. Starting with Kajorn and Uncle Sia, who is the first one to truly make Sun smile.

The lovelorn Jay's attempts to woo Sun through his coercive methods was definitely one of the interesting parts of his life, aside from Kajorn and Sky.
(And an interesting part for me, the viewer as well. Their interactions on certain rooftops, particularly Alice's Labyrinth, were the ones I looked forward to every week.)

Even the menace-like Pakin, behind his stabbing words, hid someone wise.
The story is peppered with incidents that serve as the impetus for Sun to make certain choices.

Setting aside how well written the story was (from my point of view, as I have no knowledge about the novel or the manhwa adaptation), the soundtrack was beautiful.
I admit, I felt like a fool after discovering that a certain song used in EP7 wasn't a real song, because it sounded absolutely magical to me and I spent hours searching for it.

I found the last episode satisfying. Even though it had a few speed bumps, it managed to avoid any major trenches and brought the whole story to a complete denouement for almost every single character. Except for the villains. (The speed bumps that I mentioned fall into this category.)
One small piece of conversation between two characters hammer the final point in. Because ultimately, thriving against all odds is much more difficult and something you have to be greatful for. I don't know why, but it struck a cord in me. The series answered all my questions and left no loose threads.

Payback is definitely not for everyone. But, I for one, am glad that I stumbled upon this little gem and discovered Sun and his family. A solid 9.5/10 from me.

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A Writer's Hopeless Cruelty

Payback opens like a standard revenge plot, but beneath the surface, it’s a dark study in karma, corruption and exploitation within the entertainment industry, and human pain.

We are not gently guided into Sun's world, we are thrown into it, face down into the mud, with our bare asses in the air.

We first meet Sun pulling a knife out at a talent audition, not for a role but for revenge. In a story driven by grief, that impulsivity defines him.
Flashbacks reveal a brutal past. He worked for a loan shark to support his aspiring actor boyfriend, Bank, only for the violence to backfire when a ruined debtee stabs Sun's younger brother to death. On top of that, Bank then steals Sun's savings for his dying mother and flees.
​Five years later, Sun is a hollowed out delivery man who ignites his quest for vengeance after learning that Bank (now an actor called Sunny) redirected that debtee toward Sun's brother. Sun infiltrates Sunny’s agency, aligning with company outcasts and recieves the help from a man called Jay, a mysterious figure with his own dark agenda.


Set up as a fast paced, action heavy revenge show, it is in fact, the opposite. The core engine of this story isn't revenge, despite being titled Payback. It’s the destructive cycle of playing God. Ironic considering where the writers take this.

When the ruined debtee warns Sun that karma will catch up to him, it is in the form of himself, killing Sun's brother.

Sun later emulates that exact same impulse. Naive, blinded by grief, and impulsive, Sun sets out to tear down Bank, completely blind to the fact that Bank is just a tiny cog in a massive, sickening web of sexual abuse, trafficking, and executive exploitation.

What starts off as a hell yeah! narrative, quickly shows us how out of his depth and powerless Sun actually is, and in essence, us the viewer.

​The show never shies away from the crime, the poverty or the violence. I can sit with that for a while, as long as there's hope.

It was the first time I actually sought out the OG manhwa so I didnt have to stew in my own anxiety waiting for weekly episodes.

For eight weeks, that grim tension held me on the edge of my seat.

​....And then came Episode 9, and a heartbreaking narrative choice that completely shattered any enthusiasm I had maintained up to this point, and never recovered.

By then, we knew who the villains were and how utterly evil and sick they could be.
That information had been fully established, and episode 8 ended with the most sensual and realistic portrayal of sex I have ever seen from a BL.

I was on a complete high for this show.
Then came episode 9's pool scene, and all enthusiasm and defensive arguments for it fell away, and I saw the writing for what it truly was: Gratuitous torture porn.

​All that building up towards a satisfying finale was just ....gone, collapsed under the writers' desperate thirst for pure shock value.

We already knew the sponsor was a monster. We already knew Sunny and the executive were abusing their power. We had seen at least three upsetting scenes of assault already at that point.

Doubling down on that with a very explicit and violent assault and murder, without offering a single breath of reprieve, stepped past a darker plot and slid straight into shocking and triggering the viewer.

Worse still was the sheer pretentiousness of trying to mask that shock as emotional resonance. The following scene of Sunny's panicking and laughing off tears in a mirror, right after that horror felt like a slap in the face.

Why should I care more about his feelings, more than the kid who's been raped and strangled, and is now floating dead in the swimming pool? Where was his justice in the end?

In cinema, there's a line between true Horror and Splatter sensationalism. Good horror is a delicate plucking, carefully curated to give you a thrill while maintaining the illusion of control. Torture porn or Splatter, drops the art entirely for the full on, unearned exploitation of the worst of humanity.

'Because it's reality' isn't good enough or acceptable to me. If I wanted that, I would watch the news.

I gained zero new narrative insight from that scene. It didnt need to be there. It's not in the OG manhwa either. It served as nothing more than an extra layer of misery stacked on top of Sun continuing to be helpless and somewhat more useless than normal, while nearly getting killed twice. I was convinced and bracing to witness a third assault in the same hour.

We were Sun in those moments. Helpless victims with no way out. No hope, no reassurance, nothing.

​In another scene, my skin nearly crawled off my bones watching poor Sky, a previous target of sexual violence, get pushed straight into Satan’s arms while Sunny laughed in the background.

And where was Jay? The one person with an ounce of authority? He vanished into a cloud of his own sleep farts, apparently. Man had the rock music theme song playing, smirked with all the information he had gathered, ready for his move and then....poof.....gone with the wind. A sticky note would have been nice, Jay.

Turns out, in a quick step flash back, he was just buying out copyright of a song. No grand scheme or the CEO of a finance company. Nope. Just owns a song because the human traffickers can't switch to any other script to push Sunny's career. Huh?

They swapped genuine plot progression for shock value, and then tried to gaslight the viewer into thinking it was deep character development and realism.

In the end, they just threw a bunch of random band aids onto the missing information to wrap up plot threads as fast as possible. A taser, legal documents no one bothered to look for and debt porn because trauma is a toy in this show, rather than solid, earned justice.

What stung the most is what they did to Two O. He vanished with no one knowing what happened to him or where he was. He was just forcefully dragged back into this show, solely to serve as a plot device for the sponsor's absurd death, and then be left physically scarred and traumatized out of his career.

If anyone was to be given a redemption arc, it should have been him. He deserved something other than being the quiet and sad little moral lesson for Sunny.

​They didn't solve the trauma they spent nine episodes inflicting on these characters. They just swept it under the rug, kissed on the roof and promised to travel the world.

Every viewer has an emotional line of trust a writer should never cross. Unfortunately, Payback put its foot on the pedal and drove right over mine, leaving me feeling as empty and as disappointed as Sun was when I first met him. Bleak, depressing and shallow.

The only good thing was Toptap, Min and the music.

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i'll miss them.

hi everyone omg, can you believe it's goodbye, again? 🥲 - and hello after quite a few days of no reviews (i have watched 9 eps of bittersweet love but it's not on here so i couldn't add it just yet lol.)

peach and me is by no means a perfect, extremely rounded and flawless story. and i didn't expect it to be, it's a special four episodes with no original source material other than picking out and taking things from the novel to add in here and there, yeah, it may have lacked in quite a few ways but it's by no means horrible, it's a fresh breath of air, something to enjoy and continuously laught at and something to feel entertained by.

throughout these four episodes i've loved and enjoyed seeing the relationship between thee and peach and how they've continued to change (not really) over time - especially with thee trying to say he's gotten a grip (even though he hasn't 🤣). i also really, really loved seeing the bond between rome and thee, seeing them bicker, argue and then make up again is truly so beautiful and i adore how well pond and william were able to play these two characters and give us these fun and crazy siblings, as a sibling myself - i really loved to see them together and the way they teased each other but equally, protected each other.

gosh, romemok mean so much to me and i could say so many things about them and the way williamest were able to portray these characters but i'd much rather keep it short and just say, i loved romemok through and through, the way they love each other, care for each other and are completely devoted to one another is the most beautiful, painful and sweetest thing i've seen. i love how william portrayed rome, he was able to create both a fun character but also had the ability to showcase the complexity of rome and him being the next leader, and how that affected his love for mok. est did extremely well in portraying mok and how sacrifical, loving and just how devoted he is to rome - don't let me start with that scene between thee and mok bro omg, that had me dead, their friendship will forever be my favourite.

emibonnie did so well with miraplub and they were so adorable together, that little scene with mira washing plub's hair, OH MY GOD. they're so perfect together.

perthsanta were so funny in that bathub scene lmao, tawan and aran did NOT have the ability to play that dialogue out lmao, but then again, the only people who can have always been thee and peach hahha. omg, the ensemble of freaking taynew, jimmysea, jujumark and forcebook to play theepeach killed me - though i do have to say, juju as thee was fucking hilarious omg (but then again, he's got it in him). SEA LOOKED SHITTING GORGEOUS (but when doesn't he 😭).

ok, i shall cut it out already and stop yapping, me and thee and peach and me will always hold a special place in my heart - both of these have been such a great and enjoyable time and they've shown us that not everything has to be too serious or too heavy or just about anything to be intriguing (because obviously, we've covered very deep topics too). i love this so much and i'll always appreciate this and the cast and crew of this series.

guess we're at the[e] end (for real this time) 🤣.

"a whole week without any bedroom action."

bro, thee and rome teasing each other about sex and then peach saying they look cute so he thinks they were talking about something NICE 😭.

"i want to love you."

I FUCKING SCREAMED SO LOUD WTF.

"thank you... for making my world just the two of us. just me... and thee."

"my world too. there's only peach and me."

BYE BYE GUYS AND SEE YOU WITH MORE REVIEWS AT THE NEXT SERIES (I NEED YOU MANIAC ASAP BRO WTF)

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You won't regret watching this series, 3 happy endings.

I don't watch a lot of reality shows, but this series and the Japanese one, Terrace House, I really enjoy. I think i liked this season better as the cast members were all unique but respectful of each other. To have 3/5 couples at the end is a win win. The couple that didn't become one is a mystery to everyone I think as we were all shipping Si Won and Yu Jin until...one didn't show up for the week later couple date. Sigh. We saw a player, there's always one eh? who until the last night played with both womens' feelings to the point that the non chosen one cried so you had to feel for her. Luckily the guy who comforted her became a couple with her in the end, and well deserving as he's definitely a keeper.
Am still trying to understand the reason provided by the female from the 4th 'non couple' when their dates were the ones I rewatched the most. Aigoo!

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A Wish Worth Making

I don't usually watch fantasy dramas, so I started *Genie, Make a Wish* without expecting it to leave such a lasting impression. But by the end, I realized the fantasy was never really the point, it was simply the perfect way to tell a deeply human story.

This drama is about love, healing, sacrifice, and the choices we make for the people we care about. It explores what it truly means to put someone else's happiness before your own, and it does so with so much heart that every emotional moment feels earned. Rather than relying on its fantasy premise, it uses it to ask questions about selflessness, fate, and what we're willing to give up for the people we love.

Every episode was beautiful. The cinematography is stunning, the scenery is breathtaking, and every frame feels carefully crafted. Combined with a beautiful soundtrack, the drama creates such a warm and comforting atmosphere that I found myself completely immersed in every episode.

The chemistry between Kim Woo-bin and Suzy is one of the strongest I've seen in a long time. Their relationship feels effortless, built on trust, understanding, and quiet moments that say more than words ever could. They made me laugh, they made me cry, and they made me root for them from beginning to end.

What surprised me the most is that this drama changed my perspective on fantasy as a genre. I always thought it wasn't for me, but Genie, Make a Wish proved that when a story is written with this much care, the genre becomes secondary. What stays with you it's the emotions, the sacrifices, and the characters.

By the time I finished the final episode, I wasn't thinking about wishes or magic. I was thinking about love in its purest form: the kind that asks for nothing in return, the kind that sacrifices, heals, and changes people for the better.

This is one of the most heartfelt and comforting dramas I've watched, and I know I'll be thinking about it for a very long time.

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It's good but a lot of things are different from the manhwa

I came here cz I've read and loved payback manhwa. During the initial episodes i felt they were pretty much in line with the manhwa but later they did divert a bit which did land a little off at some places hence the 9.5

Like they do show the car scene where sunny buys the same one as his competitors but they didn't show him selling it. That for me was one of the important scenes. Also sunny's downfall happens wayy before his sponsor and before sun gets hurt that's the reason he accepts death cz he is done with his revenge. That's also the reason his family's soul talks about him being done with his revenge but here sunny's fall comes after so that kinda lands off.

Sunny and Phakin were 2 characters they changed a lot compared to the manhwa. They also turned Jay into a green flag🤣🤣🤣 yellow at worst.

But yeah I liked it. It's a good watch. A really good one. Not the exact copy of the original but does justice to the story

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My typical type of drama, it totally passes my standards

Don't get too excited..
It's so good, I like dramas containing absolute red flags or maybe blacks..
Story is so engaging, just continue and you'll understand what I mean.

But the coincidence of the lovers having same names is quite common.

The OST is excellent " you're red flag, but I'm colour blind " , I got extremely excited after the first time I heard, this drama is totally my typeee.

That devil looking guy is so toxic, but I like itt.
And the little Jane is too softt, totally opposite to each other.

I'm just excited to know the reason why big Jane manipulates human minds.
And make those blood contracts.

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When the chemistry is this good, eight episodes just aren't enough.

Harmony Secret reminded me why I enjoy Thai GLs in the first place. During the first two episodes, I genuinely thought, "This might become the first GL I ever give a 9/10." It had me hooked immediately. The production looked polished, the wardrobe was excellent, and the overall presentation felt like it had a solid budget behind it.

One thing that never disappoints is LookmheeSonya's chemistry. While I still think 'Affair' has the stronger intimate scenes overall, Harmony Secret definitely delivered. Their romantic moments felt natural, and Lookmhee officially earned a place on my celebrity crush list after this drama. (Yes, I'm a sucker for beautiful women in tailored blazers with CEO energy.)

The styling deserves a special mention. Not just for the leads—even G, the secretary, had amazing outfits. I also ended up liking the side characters quite a lot. I remember thinking that if G and Jam improved their acting just a little more, they could easily lead their own series. It was nice to later find out they actually got one.

The strongest part of the writing, in my opinion, was the first breakup.

When Ai discovers that Mewika planted a bug in her room, the relationship genuinely feels broken. Both of them had crossed lines during the bidding war. Ai secretly checked bidding information, while Mewika planted a listening device. Trust had been damaged on both sides, so it made perfect sense that they couldn't continue the relationship until everything surrounding the bid was over.

That's the kind of conflict I enjoy because it grows naturally from the characters' own actions.

Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the final breakup.

After the bidding war ends, both characters openly admit they love each other... and then Mewika suddenly decides to break up anyway. It felt unnecessary and existed only to create one last emotional moment before the ending. A few months later they simply get back together, making the entire breakup feel pointless.

My other issue is the runtime.

Like many Thai GLs, Harmony Secret only has eight episodes, and I really wish it had two more. The relationship already worked well, but I wanted more time to simply live with these characters. K-dramas often spend entire episodes letting relationships breathe, while eight-episode Thai GLs usually have to rush through introductions, romance, conflict, breakup, and reconciliation. Harmony Secret handles this better than most, but I still felt those limitations.

The side couple also didn't work as well for me. Their relationship seemed to mirror the main couple too closely. They basically broke up because the main couple broke up, then got back together because the main couple got back together. I wanted their relationship to have its own reasons instead of simply following whatever the leads were doing.

Despite those flaws, Harmony Secret succeeds where many other GLs don't. The conflict mostly feels earned, the chemistry is strong, the production is polished, and I found myself genuinely invested in the characters. It's one of the few Thai GLs that gave me emotional moments I actually cared about instead of relying solely on romance.

The OST deserves a special mention. I almost always skip drama intros and endings, but 'Secret Deal' by LMSY completely changed that. Five seconds into the opening and I was like, "Wait... this is actually a banger." I ended up watching the intro every single episode and immediately added it to my playlist.

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I love you, I love you so much. I love you more than anything, more than my own life.

Edge of Horizon delivers one of the most intense and emotionally overwhelming portrayals of love I’ve seen in a BL. The relationship between Phob and Tin feels raw and all-consuming-truly, madly, and deeply felt, to the point where even the characters themselves seem overwhelmed by it.
The series balances emotion, storytelling, and performance so well that it’s hard not to get completely immersed. Every element from the writing to the acting comes together beautifully, and the chemistry between the leads is absolutely incredible.
This is the kind of show that stays with you long after watching. It deserves all the recognition it can get, and if you haven’t watched it yet, you’re seriously missing out. As of now, it easily ranks as my number one.

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