Playboyy – Series Review & Ending Explained

Story

Mystery

I'm a big mystery fan. I enjoy stories about solving murders and investigating disappearances, especially when they contain BL content. The premise of Playboyy is intriguing. A university student seemingly goes missing after a hookup gone wrong. There's a danger in using apps to meet strangers, so the plot has a catchy hook. If written better, I would've been interested in a mystery series about what happened to Nant. Sadly, Playboyy fails to create a coherent narrative.

The story barely explains who Nant is. The early episodes were an excellent time to introduce flashbacks, showcasing Nant as he interacts with each of his friends. Let's highlight his friendships, rivalries, and romances to create a complex web of relationships. Instead, Nant remains a vague figure throughout the series, making it hard to connect with the central subject of the mystery. Why should I care about Nant when I know nothing about his character's backstory?

Also, I don't know why Nont pretends to be his twin. His cover-up story is so outrageously phony, so the main characters seem stupid for believing him. Nont should've admitted his real identity without the convoluted lie. As the plot unfolds, the mystery becomes increasingly bizarre. Some moments are mindlessly fun, like interrogating suspects in a sex party. Others are too farfetched, like the fake suicide video or anything to do with Jason Lee. I struggle to feel immersed in the absurd investigation, which is supposed to be a big part of Playboyy.

Class differences

Despite the disappointing mystery, I'm intrigued by the narrative themes. I like how this drama addresses the class differences between the rich and poor. The first episode divides the characters between students from elite families and athletes on scholarships. The narrator describes those on financial aid, "They're the stains of our university." The story constantly highlights the socioeconomic disparity. The wealthy characters have all the power due to their money, whereas the escorts are mistreated by the upper class.

Money is a dangerous incentive that motivates the characters to act without dignity. Escorts like Phop and Puen expose themselves to risky sexual encounters because they desperately need cash. Phop's storyline seems ominous because he could have met a killer. He's lucky to fall in love with Nuth, but this encounter may be the end of him in an alternate universe. Likewise, Puen bleeds during sex because of his client's aggression. First thinks paying money means he can disregard another human's comfort and safety. He uses wealth to breach someone's boundaries.

Like the root of all evil, money also leads to Nant's demise. He incurs a debt as deadly as his drug habit. From Soong's assault to Aob's death threats, Nant's financial troubles cause him to suffer. He resorts to faking suicide to escape his debtors. Likewise, Nuth and Phop have tragic endings due to their desperation for money. The couple must deal drugs to support themselves, yet Nuth gets arrested for his crime. Poor Phop is so heartbroken that he overdoses afterwards. Money may not guarantee happiness, but lacking it ensures your life is hellish.

Power dynamics

Another fascinating theme in Playboyy is power dynamics. Initially, Porsche blackmails Jump into a master and slave arrangement. Porsche mistreats his love interest, escalating in cruelty. "I bought you with cash. Just do what I say." In Episode 10, he orders Jump to eat dog food! Later, we discover Porsche himself is a victim of abuse. He was groomed at a young age by Jason, who inflicted cruelty on him. The story shows how those who have been oppressed may become oppressors themselves, perpetuating a cycle of harm.

Captain, Keen, and Puen also mirror power dynamics in a group setting. The three gay rugby players must hide their sexuality from bigoted teammates. Despite sharing a common secret, they turn against each other to fit in with the straight guys. Captain joins the homophobic insults against Keen. He also exposes Keen and Puen's sexual conduct, which gets both students expelled. Keen retaliates and betrays Captain, using the same underhanded tactics to restore his reputation. It's sad how they internalize oppression and hurt one another.

Puen calls out Captain's toxic behaviour in the finale. "We're gays in a society where straight men are dominant. We should help each other out, not sabotage each other." Yes, Puen gets it! As he has shown throughout the series, his character has a lot of wisdom. An oppressive hierarchy marginalizes the trio, who are all victims of homophobia. Don't join the abusers and perpetuate the cycle of hatred. Instead, they should support each other and stand united against discrimination. I'm unsure if Captain learned his lesson at the end of the series, but he should self-reflect.

Romance

I'm ranking the seven Playboyy couples from best to worst. I'll write about my favourites first (obviously AobPuen) and save my least favourites until the end.

Aob and Puen

Oh my god, I love Aob and Puen's romance so much. When Puen first appeared in Episode 3, the shallow part of me shipped him with Keen based on their attractiveness. I wanted these rugby players to rub each other. However, Episode 5 pairs Puen with Aob, an even hotter couple with a fun rivalry. Aob is the experienced escort who feels threatened by Puen, the young, cocky newcomer. A battle of the prostitutes is everything I didn't know I wanted from a BL drama until now.

The bedroom scene in Episode 5 made me an instant AobPuen fan. I love the unusual scenario of Aob evaluating his coworker's sex performance. He sits on the bed with his tits out and a come-hither gaze. The neon red lighting adds to the alluring ambiance. Suddenly, Aob puts his hand on Puen's chin and directs his partner's eye contact. He gives pointers and instructions, including the iconic line, "My head. Every head." Aob pushes Puen on the bed, climbs over his body, and demonstrates how to pleasure a man professionally. The sexual tension is so hot that my heart nearly bursts!

After the sex scene, I love their conversation. Puen feels insecure and asks for tips. Yet, Aob gives hilariously bitchy insults. I crack up at "I'm sorry, I'm not a teacher. I'm a prostitute." and "Don't be like me, because you can never be me, loser." Puen responds by flipping him the bird. THE CLAWS ARE OUT. I also love their chat in the restroom. Aob sits between the urinal dividers like a badass. Puen approaches him and tries to defrost our ice king, but Aob remains fierce. "You're not my friend or brother. You're my competitor." Yes, this enemies-to-lovers trope is delivering!

First kiss

As the sex lessons continue, the student overtakes the master. Puen regains his mojo and taunts Aob in Episode 7. "I'll be better than you someday. But that day came so quickly. You lost." I like Puen's swagger during their rivalry, hehe~ However, the lessons have also softened Aob's bitter heart. During an encounter, Puen bends over in a thong, juxtaposed with Aob's look of realization. He must be thinking, "Damn, if it wasn't for my stupid pride, his ass could be mine." 

Eventually, Aob and Puen warm to each other over a cute chicken noodle date. For the first time, they take their relationship outside the brothel. Both open up intimately, sharing their struggles and aspirations. When Puen talks about his athletic ambition, Aob looks self-conscious. Aob has been an escort since 18, spending over a decade working in the sex industry. Now 34, he may regret not fulfilling the dreams from his youth. Aob also talks about his broken heart. Beneath his tough exterior, he has wounded feelings. "I'm old. It's too late to fall in love."

The couple shares their first kiss! They also have their first quarrel, arguing about Puen's virginity lol. It's a trivial issue, but I like seeing Aob get so emotional over love. This ice king puts on a stoic demeanour, only to reveal he's a neurotic mess~ Aob's needy side creates a fascinating duality with his tough-guy front. Aob cries over his boyfriend, yet he also beats up his clients violently. "Red light, red light!" First yelps. "SHUT THE FUCK UP." Aob shouts while threatening First with a gun from his crotch. From sensitive softie to sadistic thug, his transformation is shocking!

Enemies to lovers

Aob puts on a tough exterior, confronting dangerous clients like First when necessary. Working in the sex industry has made Aob vigilant. He must protect himself and his colleagues. Beneath his aggression, Aob reveals a gentler and more nurturing side. He treats Puen's wounds, looking after his lover tenderly. I adore their bathroom scene in Episode 11. Aob says he bathes all his clients, but Puen teases him. "If you just said you did this for me, it would've been cute." Hehe, I like how they're still cheeky with each other.

Before meeting Puen, Aob forced himself to be aloof. The emotionally distant prostitute didn't want to be vulnerable and experience heartbreak again. Since then, he has become protective over Puen. "We must take care of each other." Unlike the lone wolf from before, Aob is now willing to open up to companionship. Puen worries about safety in their line of work. "Who will take care of us?" Aob replies, "Me. At least I will." I love his reassuring response. Although they used to be rivals, this couple has grown into devoted partners. Their enemies-to-lovers journey is in full swing.

Aob and Puen face uncertain futures without employment or education. They must live in a basement, worrying about how to earn an income. Outside of escorting, neither has any promising prospects. Aob is discouraged as he lists his skills, "Massaging, working out, and fucking." Sadly, it isn't easy for a prostitute to transition into other professions due to a lack of opportunities. However, I love that Puen encourages his boyfriend to be entrepreneurial and open a business. Although not successful yet, at least it's a start. They can explore a life together beyond sex work.

Prostitution

Aob and Puen represent the plight of prostitutes. Although some aspects are dramatized, their experiences mirror the challenges faced by sex workers in real life. The series doesn't glamorize the industry. It can be a dangerous profession where the escorts get mistreated, exploited, or dehumanized. As the couple mentions in Episode 11, prostitutes don't have legal protection. The government shuns their existence, leaving them vulnerable to abuse and victimization.

Despite the dangers, Aob and Puen turn to escorting to support themselves financially. Unlike the wealthy characters, both come from poor backgrounds and lack privilege. They must resort to sex work as a means of survival, navigating a world where economic inequality limits their career opportunities. Puen is a newcomer and intends to quit after a short-term stint. In contrast, Aob has worked for years, becoming a cog in the system. While Puen still has ambitions, Aob feels jaded. His cynicism stems from years in the industry, where he grew disillusioned and resigned to the circumstances.

Aob and Puen are in severely disadvantaged positions in society. Nonetheless, they support and empower each other. I enjoy this relationship partially because of the couple's emotional bond. Two vulnerable prostitutes begin as rivals who compete for power, yet they find common ground and form camaraderie. Their romance symbolizes solidarity. Love can strengthen a couple, helping them overcome hardships. Of course, the other reason I enjoy AobPuen is their physical passion. I like them because they make out and hook up affectionately, hehe~

Phop and Nuth

Early on, I felt around 80% sure Nuth wasn't Nant's killer. The misdirection seems too obvious, making me think he must be a red herring. Still, the remaining 20% doubt lingers in my mind. I'm not confident whether Nuth's romance will end with him suddenly murdering his love interest. The danger adds a fascinating thrill to their relationship scenes. I alternate between morbid thoughts of "OMG, is Phop going to DIE???" and "Aww, this couple is falling in love~"

Eventually, my concerns vanish after realizing Nuth is a lonely soul recovering from his breakup trauma. Still, Playboyy keeps casting doubt on his innocence. The story presents random evidence every few episodes and suggests, "Hey, could Nuth be the killer after all???" Give it up, I don't want Nuth to be a bad guy! Leave him alone! Instead of believing the misdirection, I enjoy the cute scenes of Nuth and Phop in their apartment. Nuth works on his script, while Phop dotes on his boyfriend. Life is sweet for the couple, even if their living conditions may be shabby.

I like Nuth's philosophical quote about his work in Episode 5. "For porn to win awards, you must be someone famous. People will think it's art. But for someone like us, it's obscene. It doesn't matter what we create." His observation has a surprising amount of merit. Pornography (or even smutty BL dramas like Playboyy) gets tarnished with poor reputations due to stigma. Society views explicit content as vulgar unless attached to a respectable storyteller. Only then will people recognize its artistic merit. I understand Nuth's point and sympathize with him.

Lifeline

From the moment of Phop's introduction, I felt sad for his character. He poses seductively for online viewers, yet his expression darkens once the camera shuts off. "I'm not proud of myself," Phop says about his job. The opening scene shows how he must compromise himself to make a living. Later, Phop meets Nuth after being tempted by money. A price board assigns a cash value for each sexual kink, reducing Phop's body to a commodity. Worst of all, it's a scam! Nuth can only pay with drugs.

Our protagonists meet under dubious circumstances. Surprisingly, their bond grows beyond a financial transaction. Phop recognizes a kindred spirit in Nuth, who shares similar hardships. Like Phop, Nuth's life is consumed by misery and misfortune. After a traumatizing breakup, he relies on online companionship to fill the emptiness in his existence. Nuth isn't a wealthy sugar daddy with the money or power to exploit sex workers. Despite his duplicity and desperation, he has no malice toward Phop. Instead, Nuth is only a lonely soul seeking a human connection.

In a society that has marginalized them as outcasts, Nuth and Phop find comfort in each other. With the help of hallucinogens, the couple escapes the pain of reality. Their sex scenes resemble fantasies, like being transported into an ethereal dream. This couple may not have money, status, or power, but at least they have a companion beside them. It's better to suffer together than to face their troubles alone. Nuth relapses into a depressive state in Episode 6, but Phop treats him with love and warmth. Phop becomes Nuth's much-needed lifeline, guiding him out of despair.

Tragedy

Phop and Nuth enjoy a blissful relationship period. To an outsider, their love nest seems shabby. They squat inside old buildings, sleep on floors, and have no physical comfort. Despite living in poverty, they only need each other to feel happy. Nuth is motivated enough to write again. He also proposes to Phop, who accepts the long-term commitment. Their proposal scene is set against grey skies and a bleak city backdrop. Yet, their love shines radiantly amid the gloomy surroundings.

Many BL fans, including myself, root for Phop and Nuth to prevail against the odds. The characters spend most of their time cuddling in their love nest, blissfully isolated from the outside world. Their romance inspires us, proving that love endures even in misfortune. Unfortunately, reality collides with fantasy. As much as the couple only wants to focus on each other, they need a basic income to survive. From the moment Nuth claimed to deliver "the last batch of drugs", I dropped to my knees and screamed NOOOO. Nuth's ominous final words foreshadowed his impending doom.

Phop and Nuth received the tragic ending I feared Aob and Puen would get. Thankfully, my favourite couple was largely absent from the finale and survived the apocalypse. Phew, I sigh in relief! Still, I'm upset that NuthPhop fell victim to their unfortunate circumstances. I was rooting for them! From incarceration to overdoses, life is so damn cruel to the two characters at the bottom of the societal hierarchy. Haven't they suffered enough!? Meanwhile, all the evil asshats in the series run free without any justice served. Nuth and Phop deserved better!

Zouey and Teena

Besides AobPuen and NuthPhop, my feelings on everyone else range from "meh" to "eww". Zouey and Teena are my third favourite couple by default. The characters seem incompatible since they share nothing in common. Their hobbies, personalities, and sex drives don't mesh, so their attraction baffles me. While I have no strong feelings toward them, they offend me less than the problematic pairings. I don't care about Zouey and Teena, but at least I don't hate the idea of them.

Individually, I like Zouey and Teena's characters. I respect Zouey for setting boundaries with his virginity. Everyone else flaunts their active sex lives around him, yet he doesn't let peer pressure influence his decision. His conviction is admirable. Later, Zouey calls out his friends for behaving awfully. Once again, he maintains independent thinking and doesn't side with the group mentality. Likewise, Teena shows patience and understanding. Despite a few iffy moments in the early episodes, Teena seems supportive of Zouey.

Zouey and Teena peaked during their sex scene in the first episode. I'll never forget Teena grabbing his butt cheeks as over-the-top music plays in the background. However, the rest of their relationship moments are bland. Teena disappears in the second half of the series, becoming irrelevant to the plot. His character is like a piece of art. He looks beautiful, rests idly in the background, and does nothing. The finale also destroys Zouey's likability. As soon as Zouey utters, "I told Jason Lee to kidnap him," he lost my support. This romance declined from "meh" to "oh hell no".

Nont and Prom

Nont and Prom's romance suffers because it's too intertwined with the mystery of Nant's disappearance. Since the investigation scenes are so dumb, my frustration affects how I feel about the couple. From the start, Prom seems the most suspicious. Even Nant's friends won't lend him money, whereas Prom repays the significant debts. His financial involvement suggests he may be a culprit or secret ally. Either way, Nont should have doubted this stranger and not trust him with information. 

I don't find Nont and Prom particularly likeable. Then again, I don't know either character that well, even after fourteen episodes. Nont's scenes revolve around looking for his missing brother, but the series fails to define him outside the investigation. What was Nont's life before the mystery started? A few flashbacks could've given this protagonist meaningful experiences and nuanced relationships. Likewise, Prom remains an enigma until the end. His close ties to Jason have the potential for a complex backstory. Yet, the series barely addresses Prom's background.

Prom is sketchy for hiding pivotal information from Nont. We could've avoided investigating the masked man and the fake suicide if Prom confessed earlier. I also suspect he knows Jason abducted Nant. As the manager of Playboyy and a close acquaintance of Jason, Prom can't be clueless about a captive in the brothel. Nont may have hooked up with someone complicit in his brother's murder, which is creepy! Despite the red flags, Prom & Nont are too boring to evoke strong feelings in me. Their scenes are dull rather than vile. I still hate the other three couples more!

First and Soong

Out of all the couples, First and Soong's sex scenes give me the most second-hand embarrassment. They like to roleplay, which can be humorous in a campy way. However, some encounters seem too cringy, even for me. The toe-sucking in Episode 8 is a lot to handle, especially with the ketchup and the goofy costumes. Also, I'm mortified when the couple roleplays a kidnapping scenario in Episode 3, which involves recording a video of the abuse. What the fuuuuck.

This couple doesn't bother me because of their sex scenes. Instead, I'm aggravated by their constant relationship drama. They're so toxic together! I can't even keep track of their dumb conflicts after a while. My brain's coping mechanism has automatically filtered the nonsense between them. All I remember is feeling icky and emotionally drained by their tedious exchanges. After multiple arguments, they should learn to stay away from each other. Also, these two don't share anything in common besides sex. They come from entirely different walks of life.

Both characters are walking red flags. Soong has problematic conduct, especially what transpired between him and Nant. Similarly, First riles me up when he abuses Puen during sex. His exploitation feels ugly and distressing. I'm very protective over my precious Puen, so anyone who hurts him is on my shit list. As troubling as this couple may be, Soong & First have shown remorse for their actions. Their guilty conscience humanizes them to some extent. Also, I respect the audacity of these two actors. I gotta give credit for agreeing to lick ketchup off someone else's foot!

Porsche and Jump

Porsche and Jump's relationship disturbs me. Their romance began like a raunchy porn parody, but it takes a sinister turn after Porsche blackmails Jump and enslaves him. At first, I thought their power dynamic was like a sex thing. However, Porsche's behaviour quickly warps into abuse and exploitation. He gives inhumane commands, like ordering Jump to eat dog food. Porsche also puts his foot on Jump's head, a horrifying image that illustrates his cruelty.

Porsche's actor has a twinkle in his eyes, making me think he'd behave sweetly. Beneath his innocent appearance, this character has a malicious streak. He's quick to torment others and disregard their feelings. In Episode 5, Jump is exhausted after having sex for hours, yet Porsche doesn't give a damn and forces him to continue. Later, Porsche releases a sex tape of Tutor as a revenge scheme. His actions have severe consequences, yet he takes wicked pleasure in disgracing his rival's reputation. In both cases, Porsche's utter lack of empathy is chilling.

Midway into the series, Playboyy drops a plot twist. When Porsche talks about his father, he actually means his sugar daddy. Jason has groomed and mistreated the teenager at a vulnerable age. This backstory sheds insight into Porsche's mindset, helping me understand the origins of his manipulative behaviour. As a victim of abuse, he perpetuates the cycle of harm onto others, including Jump. On the one hand, I feel sorry for both characters' circumstances. On the other hand, their toxic relationship make me too uncomfortable. I can't support this couple.

Captain and Keen

Captain and Keen's romance is impossible to champion. My hatred for Captain burns with the intensity of a thousand suns. He constantly acts like a piece of shit. Keen is no angel and behaves problematically, including the hazing ritual. He coerces Puen, who needs the sports scholarship, into doing sexual favours. With that said, Keen's misdeeds still don't rile me up as much as Captain. I took out my voodoo doll and stabbed so many needles against it. CAPTAIN MUST SUFFER!!!

Captain's secret sex tapes are gross as hell. Early on, he leaks footage of Keen's hookups, outing a gay man to his homophobic teammates. Admittedly, Keen bullied him. At least I understand Captain's rationale in using leverage to protect himself. After they have grown close, he continues to film Keen without consent. Captain sells the footage online and exposes their private moments to everyone. By doing so, he jeopardizes Keen's academic standing. He also leaks a sex tape of Tutor, tarnishing another person's reputation. WTF!? Why are you doing this to them!?

Beyond his gross violation of privacy, Captain fails to take accountability. He has a vendetta against Puen and blames him for exposing the sex tape scandal. First of all, his accusations are false. Puen didn't do it, yet Captain seems convinced based on no evidence. Second of all, the sex tape wouldn't even exist if Captain hadn't filmed them. This whole saga began because of his nasty voyeurism. I'm LIVID that Captain gets both Keen and Puen expelled. Worst of all, Captain still acts like the victim, as if he isn't the culprit who derailed Keen and Puen's lives. FUCK HIM.

Nant's disappearance

Playboyy has a shock ending and reveals Zouey is complicit in Nant's disappearance. A year ago, Zouey was raped by Jason Lee, the business mogul who funds the university and the Playboyy brothel. The trauma explains why he didn't want to have sex at the start of the series. Zouey confided his secret in Nant, who wished to expose Jason's crimes. Yet, Zouey was scared to oppose his rapist. Jason is wealthy, influential, and dangerous. He could assassinate anyone to hide his misdeeds, so Zouey didn't want to be at the centre of a scandal.

Zouey advised Nant to fake his suicide to escape his debtors. However, Zouey betrayed his friend and told Jason to kidnap Nant. That way, the rape will remain a secret. For the past year, Jason held his hostage in the VIP lounge of the brothel. Since then, Zouey had a change of heart. He sneaked in and released Nant, orchestrating a plan to help him escape captivity. Nant tried to flee, but he got killed instead. Likely, Jason's henchmen found the runaway and ended his life. While Zouey doesn't know all the details, he feels responsible for his friend's death.

My reaction to the ending is WTF. That revelation came out of left field. The logistics seem bizarre, but I'm not against the plot twist. It adds an exciting layer to the mystery, especially in complicating Zouey's motivations. My issue is that the series presents the information too late. I don't want to discover Zouey's involvement in the closing scene. Instead, the story should reveal the twist sooner and expand on the details. Dropping a bombshell and concluding with a "To Be Continued" message satisfies nobody. The finale leaves us with more questions than answers.

Oppression

The Playboyy ending reiterates the story's themes of oppression. Throughout the series, the leads have inflicted their trauma on others. Porsche abuses Jump, mirroring how Jason exploited him. Captain succumbs to homophobic culture and betrays his gay teammates. First's dysfunctional relationship with his dad causes a toxic dynamic with Soong. Like his friends, Zouey was abused. Zouey feels so psychologically scarred that he acts against his best interests. He turns to his rapist for support and betrays a friend trying to help him.

Zouey, Porsche, First, and Captain are all victims of abuse. Zouey was raped, Porsche was groomed, while First and Captain suffered from homophobia. Ideally, we want them to stand up against their oppressors. Let's fight back against the rapists, groomers, and homophobes of the world! Sadly, that's easier said than done. Victims often face emotional barriers. They may feel trapped, powerless, and afraid. Instead of escaping their torment, they self-sabotage and inflict their pain on others. Zouey's betrayal is a symptom of his psychological trauma.

Beyond just a series with gratuitous sex, Playboyy is a dark and gritty story examining power dynamics. The oppressors sit at the top of the hierarchy, like Jason, First's father, or the homophobic teammates. They exploit others below them, including Zouey, Porsche, First, Captain, and Keen. Instead of fighting against their abusers, the characters impose their trauma on those with even less power than them, namely the escorts. We see how oppression trickles down the societal ladder, perpetuating harmful behaviour and dysfunctional relationships.