Reviews

Revenge & Chemistry Done So Well This review may contain spoilers

I went into Payback with high expectations for the revenge plot, and it absolutely delivered, plus so much more.
The dark, cutthroat entertainment-industry setting is vivid and immersive. Every power play, hidden deal and tense standoff feels grounded and real. Sun’s journey of pain, anger and quiet determination is portrayed so grippingly; you can feel every weight he carries as he plans his payback.

What makes this series shine even brighter is the dynamic between Sun and Arthur. Their bond doesn’t feel rushed or forced. Beneath Arthur’s bold, intense obsession lies genuine care and understanding for Sun. Their push-and-pull chemistry is electric, the way they slowly become each other’s safe haven amid all the chaos of revenge is beautiful to watch.

The acting carries every scene perfectly. The leads bring layered, nuanced emotion, turning complicated characters into people you care deeply about. The soundtrack also fits the mood perfectly, amplifying the suspense and soft, tender moments between them.
It balances thrilling revenge stakes and tender romance wonderfully. This is a rewatchable gem for anyone who loves sharp, atmospheric drama with unforgettable on-screen chemistry.

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nice

Those fucking bitches who deliberately give low ratings, your mom and your whole family are dead, your idol will never be famous.


Dasar kontol memek lu, bangsat asu bangsat! Muka lu kayak tai kerbau yang busuk, kontol lu kecil kayak cacing mati, memek ibumu longgar dikentotin anjing jalanan seharian! Mampus lu, pepek bangsat, mati aja sana, kontolmu kubilangin pake tai panas biar busuk sampe ke tulang!”


“ไอ้ควยเน่าหีเน่าแม่ง มึงนี่หน้าเหมือนขี้หมาเน่าๆ ที่หมาเย็ดทิ้งไว้ ควยมึงเล็กเท่าหนอนตายเน่า หีแม่มึงหลวมเย็ดหมาทั้งฝูงทั้งวันจนน้ำเงี่ยนไหลย้อย กูจะเย็ดแม่มึงให้ร้องลั่น แล้วยัดขี้ร้อนๆ กับน้ำอสุจิหมาเข้าไปในควยมึงให้เน่าเปื่อยถึงกระดูก มึงตายซะไอ้ลูกหีเน่า กินขี้ตัวเองแล้วตายไปเลย ไอ้สัตว์เลว!”

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This is hands down the best BL series of all time.

It is completely different from any other Thai BL series I have ever watched. Everything from the actors, dialogues, and storyline to the cinematography and music left me utterly spellbound. We need to understand that what the series wants to convey is not just about revenge, but rather about forgiveness and self-redemption. Sometimes, turning your resentment into a powerful motivation to move forward and live a truly happy life is the ultimate form of revenge.
Furthermore, I cannot pass over the highly artistic NC (No Children) scenes. They are not vulgar at all; instead, they beautifully portray two deeply scarred souls who are simply trying to give each other a fierce, passionate love. I don't think there will ever be another series with such magnificent NC scenes. After watching Payback, my standards for BL series have been raised so high that I don't think I can watch any other Asian BL series anymore.
It is absolutely wonderful that I got to encounter and know Payback in 2026. Thank you so much for this masterpiece!"

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Good characters, in a meh plot

This was a pretty fun watch; the premise is really interesting and I liked the juxtaposition between Day and Night's worldviews. I think the characters are the strongest aspect of the show actually — not just the Day/Night contrast but also the dynamic between every combination of duos — how tightly Day cared for Ozone because he was all he had vs. how Night pushed Dream away out of fear and wanting to protect her, as well as how Dream and Ozone ended up bonding and having the cutest friendship ever.

The plot, on the other hand, is definitely a little weak. When I actually think about it, the team's investigation into the Leap Day curse becomes very flimsy. They flip some drawings around, ask some people some questions and are told some things, and that's just kind of it? It felt like an overly simple way to get the right answer but I'm not sure I even follow the logical progression of how they got there.

Overall, if I don't think too much I still enjoyed this one, but definitely more for the characters than for the story.

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Ashamed to be addicted to this HOT as hot, 'hot mess'!

REVIEW PART TWO:
Ep 6-7 And Now I'm (Ashamed) Hooked.
I hate myself (only idiomatically -- not in real life!) I originally thought this was cr*p -- (See review Part One) but others were rating it so highly; so I watched another couple of episodes. The NC has got more consensual but it's still on the Less Consensual end of the Consensual continuum. Ing is still creepy -- but also s3xy hot in a trainwreck kind of a way.

The acting, while often puzzling, is convincing (I'm just not sure what I'm being convinced of...) Usually the music in BLs just passes me by but the soundtrack in this is really matching the action well. And EVERYONE is conflicted and confused and manipulated.
I was particularly struck by the performance of the two escorts; Force with his resilience and ability to face life head on and poor sweet little Junior - in the tiger's den with a very self-indulgent tiger...

The storyline is a bit of a trainwreck too - zig zagging back and forth from; "It's all on" to "It's all off" repeatedly. The business stuff is cartoonish. (And I think Ing's ruthlessness to poor little Jelly Bear reminds us all that he may be playing cute with Yok - but when he fights (it's completely believable that he can hold his own with a boxing champion) because he fights like a junk-yard dog.)
The whole thing is, as they say, a hot mess. But to my shame I'm finding it a HOT hot mess!

Episode 7 & 8: I AM SICILY P -- AND I AM A FIL ADDICT!
(Everybody is very consensual about everything!)


REVIEW PART ONE
Ep 1-5 I feel like I need a shower (and not in a good way.)
Struggled with this since the beginning -- this is creepy. The supposedly gorgeous Ing is a top tier businessman who looks like a wasted rock muso who spends every night till the wee hours, in a seedy bar. His clothing style is sort of camp hero*n chic. In what universe would any businessman say, "Yes this is a solid guy I'd like to do business with him."?
All the NC so far has been the other NC -- as in non consensual.
I'm only halfway through and it makes me feel like I need a shower (and not in a good way.)
This rests on the foundation of one of the nastier BL tropes -- force someone to have s*x with you often enough and they'll fall for you. Sorry guys it doesn't actually work that way. And did I mention Ing is seriously creepy...

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First Impression: The Sound of Sugar Cubes

Overall: I'm a bit confused, but trying to be optimistic. Based on a webtoon that I haven't read and I review adaptations based on their own merits. 10 episodes about 22 minutes each. Airing on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/the-sound-of-sugar-cubes-episode-1-2b0ftinf328?lang=en_us ; GagaOOLala & Wavve

Content Warnings: there are major ones (stop episode 1 at 21:15 and start episode 2 at 15 seconds to skip), blood, non con touching, non con kiss turned consensual

What I Liked
- hopefully there is adequate revenge
- no dead fish lip press

Room For Improvement
- why is he acting like a jerk, it's a stupid approach
- I am somewhat confused of how everything is related

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Please spare no effort to save yourself once again

A sincere drama, overall, very positive. The intention is that good and evil will eventually be rewarded, and living itself is meaningful enough. The protagonist's journey from self exile to regaining the value of life is through the accumulation of various loves around them, not limited to the redemption of love for people. Therefore, the intention is elevated. There are also many other advantages, such as fast pace, excellent acting skills for each character, well handled details, high fidelity, high emotional concentration, and handsome men and beautiful women. It is worth mentioning that NC dramas can make people cry and fully understand the protagonist's emotions and feelings. The director and screenwriter really have something that cannot be separated from the brilliant performance of the lead actor. In short, the whole drama looks very comfortable.

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I’ll miss my baby anarchists

I refuse to debate this. I have witnessed the best performance of my life. GUN?!

This man managed to play twins. My very naive brain was genuinely shocked to see the same person standing in the same room twice. (But HOW do you even do that?)

I simply have to highlight his talent for playing Black so brilliantly, then White, then White completely stepping into Black’s shoes, and finally White taking on his brother’s persona while still making it his own. I was absolutely blown away and completely absorbed by his performance. Everything felt so sincere, fragile, powerful, and tangible.



I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into Not Me. I’ve seen plenty of BLs that wanted to engage with political issues, only to eventually drift away from them and turn into neatly packaged, mainstream action dramas. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here, even though I do feel like the series could have gone a little further.

Through Tawi’s character, it’s clear that the real target is an entire system, a government that fails to protect its most vulnerable citizens. I think a little more explicit exploration of these issues could have made the message even more impactful, particularly in terms of its real-world implications.

Still, I grew attached to the characters and their fight. Watching young people rise up, organize themselves, and fight for a future in which they don’t have to watch themselves slowly waste away is incredibly relevant to the world we live in today.

That being said, I’ll be completely honest: a lot of things went over my head. I knew absolutely nothing about the Thai judicial system, and I still don’t know much about it. But I think I got the general idea that things were unfair.

And anyway, all the corruption scandals, the drugs, the plans... I didn’t always understand how everything fitted together. Like White at the beginning, I struggled to see what impact these plans were actually supposed to have. Later on, I felt like they became less coherent and served more to build tension and keep the plot moving.

But anyway, just for that scene under the LGBTQ+ flag, where everyone walks alongside their partner and stands up for their rights...One of the most beautiful scenes I’ve ever watched.

It’s filled with so much emotion. Sean refusing to let go of White’s hand, looking at him with those shining eyes... And watching White shout for rights that Thailand had yet to fully recognize at the time makes the scene even more powerful, knowing that it was filmed before same-sex marriage was legalized in the country.

I could talk about this scene for the rest of my life. It doesn’t even last that long, yet I can only imagine how deeply it must have resonated with so many people.

Obviously, I also have to talk about OffGun’s performance.

This drama takes such an intense turn, and I imagine that’s what happens when you tell a story about fighting for freedom in a world full of corrupt powers and constant danger.

But when you manage to make a love story bloom in the middle of all that danger and ugliness?

I was emotionally DONE.

To be completely honest, I remember finding the first half of the drama a little slow. I didn’t always understand the logic behind certain things, and some of the character dynamics felt a little simplistic.

Your brother has just fallen into a coma. What do you do? Stay by his side until he wakes up and ask him who hurt him so you can get revenge together?

NO, absolutely not...

Obviously, the much more reasonable option is to steal his earrings, then his tattoo, and why not his identity and his apartment while you’re at it? Like... come on.

There were moments like this when I genuinely felt like the show was asking me to swallow something that made no sense so we could move on and get the plot going.

And that’s why, throughout the first half of the series, I wasn’t entirely sure where we were heading.

And then came White and Sean.

I still couldn’t tell you exactly how they grew closer, and honestly? I don’t even care. Watching their love story unfold felt just as revolutionary as the movement itself. They’re so beautiful together, and it’s incredible to watch something so fragile become virtually indestructible.

I loved everything about them: the way they look at each other, those soft little kisses when they can’t fully reveal themselves yet, and the way their care for each other shines through in every little thing they do.

However, this whole twin waking up from a coma situation?

NEVER DO THAT TO ME AGAIN.Top 10 most stressful moments of my life. I was literally screaming at my screen.

The chemistry between Off and Gun deserves all the recognition it gets. Their work is insane. I’m starting to think they’re almost too good at acting. 👀

As for Yok and Dan, I’ll be honest: I was pretty indifferent to this couple. I didn’t dislike them, but I didn’t find them particularly interesting either. Actually, I found most of the other characters rather insignificant because Gun genuinely stole the show.

That being said, as a huge First fan, I still thought his performance was incredible. But I wouldn’t go as far as saying that his love story with the police officer really captivated me.

I do, however, still have one question.

Were they actually signing (with his mother), or were they just messing with us?

Because honestly, I have my doubts. Even First seemed to give up halfway through. He was practically abandoning his sentences mid-sign. 😭

Beyond that, I also want to highlight the absolute SHAME of how female characters are constantly made to suffer, only for the story to expect us to just move on as if nothing happened.Eugene and Namo, I haven't forgotten about you. They were real pillars in their own way, and they deserved better.

#JusticeForThem #LOL #PATRIARCHYATITAGAIN

To conclude, I genuinely think this series deserves all the attention it gets. It brings together a talented cast, with Gun in particular leaving me completely stunned by his abilities, and a powerful political message. This is the fight of a rebellious generation finally finding the words to express a history of oppression. But it’s not just the fight of young people. It’s also the fight of workers, disabled people, and minorities.

Not Me doesn’t represent one isolated struggle. It represents a collective one.

Tawi, the drug trafficker? We don't give a damn about him. What matters is that he represents a rotten system in which power corrupts those at the top.

So yes, we have to make sure that even in the darkest moments, ideas continue to shine. Not me, not you, but everybody.

I believe in it too.

Freedom is the oxygen of the soul.

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Issues with Female Lead

Do not watch it if you haven’t already seen it!



My thoughts on the female lead in Between Steps so far… 👀



Honestly, I’m not a fan of the female lead because I feel like she’s become obsessed with the male lead, and she struggles to respect his boundaries.



In Episode 4, she bought him shoes, only to run away when she realized he was disabled. Later, she asked him out, and he said no. If I remember correctly, she asked him out around three times, and he continued to reject her. At some point, you have to respect someone’s answer and stop pushing. No means no, even when you have feelings for that person.



What confuses me even more is how the male lead developed feelings for her along the way. I genuinely don’t understand what made him fall for her when she has repeatedly shown questionable judgment around him. Earlier in the season, she literally broke his robot, yet there were no real consequences. Instead, she even received a new computer! 😭 How does she get rewarded when she hasn’t really been held accountable for her actions?



I’m also not a fan of how she seems to be pushing the male lead toward a falling-out with his best friend. The scene where she says, “Your girlfriend should be your best friend. Me,” really bothered me.



I understand that she’s his girlfriend and wants to feel important in his life. I also understand wanting your partner to establish healthy boundaries in a relationship. However, there’s a difference between asking for boundaries and making someone feel like they have to choose between their girlfriend and their best friend.



His best friend was already an important part of his life before she came along. Why should their friendship suddenly become a problem just because he has a girlfriend? A romantic relationship should add something meaningful to your life, not require you to diminish the other relationships that matter to you.



What bothers me most is that I don’t see her making enough effort to understand the importance of their friendship. She should be able to communicate her needs without making him feel guilty for having a close friend.



Maybe the male lead sees something in her that I’m missing, and I’m open to seeing how their relationship develops. But right now, I’m struggling to understand his feelings for her. I want to see a female lead who respects boundaries, takes accountability for her mistakes, and understands that being someone’s girlfriend doesn’t automatically mean you have to become their entire world.



Am I the only one who feels this way about the female lead in Between Steps? 👀

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Serious story with comedic undertone

"Small Town Remedy" deals with pretty serious PTSD themes. The story is well-paced, the character introductions are done well, and the comedy timing is so good!! The surgery scenes are pretty realistic; the cases are handled well...
Xiao Zhan is very good at portraying the socially awkward role; It is believable. His character is both likable and unlikable at this moment, but that is what makes the show realistic. Not only Xiao Zhan but other actors are doing their jobs so well too.
Ni Da Hong, Jiang Yan, Shi Peng Yuan, Jian Ren Zi; to be honest, every one of them is doing great!!
The cinematography, the scenes from the small town, the people, and their behaviors are done realistically.
It is a refreshing slice-of-life drama.

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A Raw, Realistic, and Immersive Gem

For hardcore romance lovers, this is absolutely a 10/10. But for a normal adult looking at it objectively, a solid 9/10 is fair.
It is just so cute and fresh that it honestly makes you feel young again ❤️. The characters interact in a very human, very convincing way. One of the best things about this drama is that it doesn't spell everything out for you; it gives you subtle hints and leaves the rest to your imagination. There is very little dialogue, which means the lines had to be carefully picked. Every word is either deeply meaningful or cheerful, with absolutely no B.S. This stripped-back approach feels like a nod to classic cinema and drama.

The Production & Audio Design

The cinematography is beautiful and highly immersive. If you have a decent audio setup, you are in for a treat:
• The Music: The soundtrack is incredibly impressive. It brings a bright, positive vibe and kicks in at the exact right, exciting moments. I invested in a Hi-Fi system, this show is pure eargasm.
• The Atmosphere: The background sound design is surprisingly raw. They included everyday noises like background chatter and machine buzzing. It adds an extra layer of realism that makes you feel like you are actually living in the drama, not just watching it.

The Cast

• Ito Sairi (Sayuri): Believe me, this girl can absolutely voice Doraemon without fail! Her voice is so uniquely expressive. I’m honestly just too in love with her acting and her voice at this point lmao.
• The Support: Sakuma Yui (Yui), Ito Kentaro (Nao), and Yoshikawa Ai (Mirai) are awesome as well. The entire core cast is just so incredibly good.

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