Pots and Pans

I need someone to talk to about Payback the series because i feel like im going insane. specifically about how it connects and compares to the manhwa. i cant tell if its a good show and a bad adaption or just a good adaption and im overthinking it.

THE MANHWA:

so essentially i read the comic before i finished watching the show cuz i was intrigued by the characterization of sun in the show. i wanted to see how they played off the same character archetype in the comic. so i read it. and god i gotta say its a good read. it was a BL but if im being honest i didnt exactly stay for the romance. it was a plot focused on revenge, connection, and forgiveness. it was good but it has its flaws.

I liked the characters and the family dynamics surrounding them and the overall theme of accepting the past and moving forward. I especially loved Sun's, named Yoohan in the manhwa, character. he is a young adult plagued with angst over his role in his families death. he is so clearly passively suicidal and subconsciously abuses himself mentally and physically to make up for the grievances of his past. I love his dynamic with his manager and Sky(Hansoo?) because it wasnt always smooth sailing. he liked his director because he was a hard worker who cared about his family but aside from that, he was just a boss at the beginning of the story. Also he and sky had a rocky relationship early because he had the same name as his brother(which was such an important arc of Yoohan's character and it was completely written out of the show wtf). him and jay were always weirdos (Jays name didnt change(Much)). Jays uncle (the love of my life) is truly intimidatingly intelligent but hes also too empathetic for his own good which is why he adopted Yoohan in the first place. its has a few flaws but thats not what i came here to yap about.

Jay(who i wish was deeper than "a bitch with a backstory")

The schemes were well thought out and explained. Yoohan was an idiot but hes also recklessly devoted to watching Sunnys Downfall. even though it tried to be darker than it was, it was interesting through and through. You always knew what was going on, who was fucking who(in every sense of the word), and the state of all businesses involved. we dont talk about the ending but other than that, it keeps you intrigued and informed. the reader is almost never out of the loop. almost.

im not a big comic relief girl so i was happy when they decided on bits instead of gags. an ongoing bit is better than a one and done gag(uhmm...) like wacko pop quizzes or the fact that Yoohan doesnt know a lick of English but knows bastard MUST be the most evil word out there.

Jays Uncle(Perfection)

THE SHOW:

I know the shows not finished airing but i really do have to air out a few grievances. first though, a few things i appreciate about the show.

Sun in the first two episodes is what made me wanna read the manhwa in the first place. hes not the same character but hes still interesting in his own right. especially with the actor who plays him taking his screen time and running with it.

I like that they acknowledge the ongoing bits in the manhwa even if theyre not greatly done. its the thought that counts i supose

Jay

Adding new characters takes balls and i love when an adaption makes space for their own ideas (but only after the main ideas have played out or in progress)

My Greivances

first of all, the character suicide. it has to be stopped. while Sun is still an interesting character, hes like a 2d rendition of what was. same with all the other characters. Jays uncle(his name slips my mind. sorry sweets) is just a silly guy in the show. Uhm?? yeah hes a silly guy but hes a silly guy whos smart and is in a position of power. he never stops being scary to Yoohan. actually Yoohan was still intimidated by him after he learned he was just a doofus with a big heart and a big brain. Sky wasnt nerfed all that bad actually, if anything they expanded on his character slightly more than the manhwa did so... good for them. And Jay. my beloved. im so upset rn. where are my sweet sleepy jay moments. the moments where hes honest and tired and overworked. Jay is, if nothing else, passionate about his job. he likes his job. he works day and night, in and out. why havent i seen him pass out even ONCE in the show?? like show me a good time wont you??? but agian. proving my point Jay is no longer a person but a love interest with power. he doesnt get tired and he shows up when hes needed( which is whenever Sun is in trouble). i could go on and on but ill stop here.

second of all, simplifying the plot. As of right now i can think of one blaringly obvious example. 1. the acting class camera plot. originally(in the manhwa) Yoohan doesnt even realize his camera is missing. hes just walking to the bathroom with a few of his classmates when he finds it. Yoohan has an inkling about who puts his camera in the toilet but doesnt know for sure because anyone could be out to get him fr. this incident shows the cowardice of the real perpetrator who continues to hide behind other people doing the deed for him until he is forced to come out into the light because he was found out and promptly knocked out(yikes). but in the show, when suns camera get stolen, you know the first thing he does?

WRONG! youre all wrong. Its D. He rushes straight to the bathroom. why? we dont know. he even hits the right stall on his first try. which would be understandable if it was the first or last stall, but it was one in the middling. who tf kicks in the second stall first?

third of all, the pacing. it feels like were rushing through major plot points just to get them over with. theres no savoring here. Ik were running on a limited run time and a season two is probably not in the budget so they had to fit it all in one, i still wish i had a little more time to really sit and stew in the harder moments. the times where

ANYWAYS...