Under The Hood

This one came in hot — and let’s be honest, the hype was real. Between the teasers and the cast (Cayman and Nic? Say less), I knew I had to binge it the second it dropped. What I didn’t expect was a story that veered off the usual Vertical Drama path… and still totally delivered.

🧩 Plot

Under the Hood doesn’t follow the usual formula — and that’s what makes it stand out.
There’s no over-the-top drama queen, no evil ex girlfriend flying in to ruin everything, no humiliation Olympics for the female lead to suffer through.

But don’t worry — the drama is still very much alive, just delivered in a more grounded, layered way.
Instead of recycling the same tired tropes, this series chooses slow-burn tension, emotional growth, and rivalry with actual stakes. It still feels like VertiLand, but with a fresh coat of paint — or maybe motor oil.

👥 Characters

🖤 Selene

She starts off with zero self-confidence, and it’s honestly painful to watch. Years of mistreatment have her convinced she’s not worth loving — a narrative that’s sadly all too familiar. But watching her slowly rebuild that confidence (with a little help from Jaxon) is one of the most satisfying arcs in the series.

🔥 Jaxon (aka Knox)

Your classic “I’m sexy and I know it” type — but make it multidimensional.
He teases, flirts, smolders… and then throws in a puppy-dog gaze that’ll melt your screen. I loved the way he balances playfulness with protectiveness, especially as his complex family backstory slowly unfolds. No info dumps — just smart pacing.

🚩 Victor

Walking red flag. Rich, entitled, arrogant — a guy who thinks money = power and women = property. His ego was even bigger than the height difference between him and Jaxon!

Watching Jaxon put him in his place? Delicious. 

💘 The Romance

It’s not exactly love at first sight — it’s more like teasing at first sight.
Jaxon comes in hot, making it clear he’s interested, but the story doesn’t rush the romance. What begins as flirty tension builds into something real. Selene learns to trust again, and Jaxon learns what it means to fight for something that matters.

They heal each other. And it’s beautiful.

🎭 Performance

🔥 The cast brought their A-game.
Cayman and Nic facing off as rivals? Yes, please.
But the real standout here is Quincey — first time seeing her, and she nailed it. Her ability to communicate Selene’s pain through subtle expressions, especially in scenes with Victor, was deeply moving. That kind of emotional nuance hits hard.

😂 Funny or Iconic Moments

Okay, not a single moment — but the height difference showdown between Jaxon and Victor? Iconic.

Victor’s bravado crumbles every time he’s nose-to-chest with Jaxon. It’s giving “chihuahua vs. Great Dane” energy, and I was living for it.

📝 Final Thoughts

Under the Hood is a fresh, emotionally satisfying ride.
It breaks away from cliché drama without losing the essence of what makes Vertical Series addictive.

That said, the only small drawback? A few too many shirtless scenes. Look — Cayman is easy on the eyes, but with a story this strong, the series didn’t need to lean so hard on fanservice. It didn’t ruin it, but it did feel like a studio decision rather than a story-driven one.