K-Drama
dropped
this is honestly one of the most disappointing series ever. i had high expectations after watching MAT because it was genuinely so good. this is exactly why i’m not a big fan of special episodes sometimes, because they end up ruining the overall quality of a series.i really hoped we’d get to see the kids build a close relationship with their parents, but instead, they kept introducing so many actors into a series that already had only four episodes. the kids honestly seemed better off at the orphanage if we’re not counting the money they received. 😭
what disappoints me the most is how little they actually showed the parents bonding with the kids. that was one of the things i was looking forward to the most, and they barely gave us any of it. such a wasted opportunity, especially after how good MAT was.
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no pressure no drama.
introthis is one of those intros i never skip. it almost feels like a reality show, especially with the “i’m just a fanboy” part. it’s so good, and i’ve been listening to this song over and over again because the vibe is so entertaining and somehow feels personal.
episodes 1–6
i loved episodes 1–6 so much that i genuinely couldn’t wait for the next saturday. i was literally counting the days. every episode left me with new questions, hidden details to overanalyze, and theories that somehow still managed to get proven wrong by the next episode. i love all the tricks they used to keep us guessing.
the series also does a great job of showing different sides of the thai entertainment industry. one of the biggest shocks for me was finding out that time was renji’s lover and was also the mastermind behind recording the swimming pool scene. and then there’s nine and north’s relationship. idk if they’re genuinely lovers or if they’re both just using each other, but something about their dynamic makes me suspicious.
also, the way someone is constantly watching or recording almost every scene says so much about how little privacy these actors seem to have. there’s always someone watching, and it makes you question how much of their lives is actually private.
episode 7
episode 7 was still really good for me because we finally got to see that renji and north are brothers and how they view everything as a playground. 😭
and wan is SO PRETTY. i genuinely couldn’t write this review without talking about how beautiful he is. but what i love even more is how comfortable third seems around him. seeing him smile genuinely and act so naturally in front of wan is honestly heartwarming.
wan’s best friend and sister are another highlight for me. they’re so funny, and i love them so much.
episode 8
now, i don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but their relationship felt a little off to me in this episode. and that’s purely my personal opinion. i understand that lovers can act like puppies around each other, but when third did it, something felt off for me. also wan acting like a cat , acting overly cute. specially in their first date.( hide and seek part in Ayutthaya )
as for the nc scene, i really enjoyed it, and it was definitely spicy, but i felt like the emotional depth was missing. and i want to make it clear that this isn’t the actors’ fault. i genuinely love nc scenes that carry deep emotions, intimacy, and a sense of connection between the characters rather than focusing only on the physical tension.
overall, apart from those few personal criticisms, this series is a solid 10/10 for me. the plot, the mystery, the constant twists, and all the little details that keep us theorizing make it such an entertaining watch. i love a series that makes me question everything and keeps proving my theories wrong.
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Time travel
Love upon a Time (awi6e) is an absolute visual and emotional delight that solidifies the incredibly high bar that period dramas are setting for the genre. The series immerses us in a beautiful story about two souls trapped out of their own time, whose eternal love feels so real it transcends the screen.Visually, it's a masterpiece thanks to Den Panuwat's direction. The cinematography is gorgeous, every backdrop looks like a painting, and the costume design is meticulously detailed. But beyond its technical beauty, I found the way it addresses its context to be very brave. While I don't know if homosexuality was well-received in Thailand 400 years ago, l deeply appreciate that the series shines a light on homophobia and the suffering of those who aren't accepted.
It's a necessary reminder that we should all be free to love whoever we want.
To my surprise, the show completely hooked me from the very first episode; there wasn't a single boring moment. It has a bit of everything: romance, tension, and mystery. It's so well-written that it leaves no loose ends, featuring a perfect pace where every scene feels intentional and drives the story forward. The balance between humor and drama is impressive, with absolutely no unnecessary filler.
The heart of it all is, without a doubt, its cast:
Nett (Phop) is an incredibly talented actor. He fascinates me in every role he plays, and he is spectacular here; he has a brutal ability to convey a whole world of emotions with just a single glance.JJ (Klao) makes the perfect partner for him and is utterly charming. Although his performance might seem a tad forced at first, he completely wins your heart in the end. His natural charm is captivating and his sense of humor is impeccable.
As someone transported to a completely different era, his reactions of confusion and curiosity are both hilarious and endearing.
Latte (Jom) and Kim (Kaew) are the ideal complement. Kim is gorgeous and completely captivated me. Together, they make the perfect second couple, bringing a wonderful and highly enjoyable dynamic to the story.
This is definitely a series I will rewatch. If you haven't seen it yet, it is 100% worth checking out.
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Series That Deserves Every Bit of Praise
Payback is genuinely one of the best series I have ever watched. As someone who has been watching Thai BL for six years, I can confidently say that this series left a lasting impression on me in a way very few others have.I actually stumbled upon this series completely by accident. I was scrolling through Twitter when I came across a post of someone getting excited about the special episodes. I had nothing to do at the time, so I decided to give it a try just to kill my boredom. Little did I know that I was about to get completely obsessed with a series I knew absolutely nothing about. I went in without knowing anything about the plot, the actors, or the manhwa it was adapted from, and honestly, I think that made the experience even better.
I was hooked from the very first episode.
One of the things I loved most was Sun’s character. The raw emotions, the expressions, everything felt so convincing. There was something so compelling about his character that made me want to understand him more with every episode. He really brought Sun to life, and I genuinely couldn’t imagine the character being portrayed any better.
And then there’s Jay. His character is so unique and fascinating in his own way.at furst his deep voice and appearnce made me so impressed. I loved how he was written, how he carried himself, and how he fit into the overall story. The dynamic between Jay and Sun is easily one of my favourite aspects of this series. They are not the typical couple where one person is always helpless and the other has to come to their rescue. They feel more like “I will protect you, but I can protect myself or more like I can protect you too” kind of lovers, also the height and size difference of these two characters made me so impressed. becaus teh dofference is so huge. and I absolutely LOVE that. They can stand on their own, but they still choose to stand beside each other to take their revenge in different ways. There’s something incredibly satisfying about that kind of relationship.
The revenge plot was another huge highlight for me. This was my first time watching a BL with a revenge driven storyline like this, and now I genuinely want more series that explore this kind of plot. The betrayal, the tension, the unfolding events, and the way the story keeps you guessing made it such an addictive watch. I can guarantee that I never found myself genuinely bored during an episode. Every episode left me curious about what would happen next, and the way the story kept building its tension made it almost impossible to stop watching.Also I loved most of all the characters . no bored characters that made me want to skip a clip bc its that important.
I’m usually not someone who watches an entire series in one sitting, especially when I’m watching it as it airs. But Payback had me so invested that I ended up watching whole episodes back to back without even realising how much time had passed. That’s how much this series pulled me in. I wasn’t just watching to see the romance unfold. I wanted to know what would happen to the characters, how the conflicts would develop, and how everything would eventually come together.
Another thing I really appreciated was that the series wasn’t entirely romance centred. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the chemistry between Jay and Sun, but I also love that their relationship doesn’t overshadow the actual plot. The story gives room for its revenge storyline, character development, tension, and individual personalities. The romance feels like an important part of the story rather than the only reason the story exists. I also appreciated that the series didn’t deliberately make the bottom character the innocent, helpless one. Sun and Jay have their own strengths, and their dynamic feels much more interesting because of it.
And can we talk about the chemistry? Jaysun chemistry is SO GOOD. Their interactions, their dynamic, and the way they complement each other made me love them even more. They have that kind of chemistry that makes you want to keep watching even when they’re not explicitly being romantic. I love the balance between their individual strengths and the way they connect with each other.
The production, cinematography, aesthetics, atmosphere, and overall presentation deserve praise too. Everything felt so well put together, and the series had a distinctive identity that made it memorable. I loved the overall theme and the way the story was presented. It wasn’t just the plot or the couple that kept me invested; it was the entire experience of watching it.
And the TITLE. PAYBACK.
I absolutely love how the title connects with the story, especially the way its significance is brought into focus between the first and last episodes. Looking back at that connection made me appreciate the storytelling even more. I love it when a title isn’t just something chosen to sound cool but actually carries meaning within the narrative. For me, the way Payback brings that idea full circle is such a satisfying touch.
Honestly, after six years of watching BL, this is the first series that made me download kisskh specifically to write a review. I usually just watch a series, enjoy it, and move on to the next one. But Payback made me want to sit down and put my appreciation into words. I wanted to leave something behind because I genuinely believe this series deserves more recognition.
From the production to the acting, the writing, the revenge plot, the characters, and the chemistry, everything came together so well for me. It managed to surprise me, keep me invested, and make me care about a story I had discovered completely by accident.
Payback went from something I started out of boredom to a series I will remember for a long time. I came in knowing absolutely nothing, and I left completely obsessed. This is exactly why I love giving unfamiliar series a chance. sometimes, you unexpectedly find something special.
A solid 10/10 from me. Thank you to everyone involved in bringing this series to life. You made something that genuinely stood out to me, and I am so glad I decided to give it a chance. Also later I ended up reading the manhwa which made me wonder because the adaptation is 10/10 everything on detail. even the characters. it felt like manhwa stepped out to the teal life. one of the best adaptation ever. hope everyone give it a try.
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