Gourmet Affairs (2023)

A hitman and a policeman walk into a bar...

The premise is simple: two guys on the opposite sides of the cops vs. mafia war accidentally become foodie best friends without knowing who the other is, chaos ensues.

This show is exactly 1/2 gratuitously-filmed yummy food and 1/2 the unwinding of a gangster sob story. If that sounds like a winning combo to you, then watch this show right now, you won't be disappointed!

Fu Meng-po plays a gonzo police detective with big feels.
Wang Po-chieh plays a fastidious loner assassin with a heap of trauma.
Jian Man-shu plays a spunky rookie cop determined to solve her own past's riddles.

The three bond over a shared love of food and this friendship becomes a source of support as they wrestle through their personal baggage.

The gangster plot arc isn't anything highly unique, at times it feels almost like a half-remembered dream of a gritty cop show as it whizzes past explanations to deliver only the most dynamic highlights. This may be a flaw if you're expecting a cerebral mystery procedural, it's not that, but anyone easily bored by exposition will appreciate the fast-paced spectacle packed into each episode.

The cinematography is playful and fun, the action scenes feel fresh and quite satisfying. I'm a sucker for wildly-unrealistic color-contrast lighting, and there's plenty of that here. The 3 main actors constantly outdo each other with humorous expressions, and the side cast is endearing as well.

Equal opportunity flirting! A lot of it! No romance plot line is explicitly developed, but the show still reeks with interpersonal emotional intensity. Honestly, it's open-ended, you could ship in any direction you wanted. To me, the boy/girl relationship ultimately reads more like siblings/buddy cops and is even sweeter with that interpretation. As for those wondering about the bromance and/or BL vibes, I will just leave this (paraphrased) tidbit from a Marie Claire Taiwan interview:
Interviewer: so, many viewers came away with a strong BL impression...
Wang Po-chieh: yah, the director basically told us to make eyes at each other the whole time.

But at it's heart, this show is about found family and the healing power of food. Some of the most memorable moments are simple and sublime pairings of food and music. There are many dramas about food, but this one consistently delivers with flair and variety throughout.

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