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La Cuisine thai drama review
Completed
La Cuisine
1 people found this review helpful
by labcat
Jul 19, 2022
13 of 13 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

One of the sweetest BL series ever if you can ignore its flaws

There is plenty to like about this BL series. The BL parts are done in a way I love. The main characters, Ram and Lukchub, are lovable, and I didn’t quite mind the relatively slow development. (This is one of those BL series in which I don't find myself partial to one half of the main couple. Both the characters who form the main couple are attractive and lovable.) Each of them also has good friends who are wonderful people. Yet, perhaps the series is a little too bland because of this. I like it that Ram is characterized as a popular guy who is kind and friendly, a departure from a more typical portrayal of a cold, bossy male lead who is loved despite behaving like a jerk. However, for a few episodes, it’s not clear where the series is heading.

The main source of tension eventually comes from this jealous woman who is in love with Ram. But her villainy, together with the acting, is over-the-top. (It may not be the fault of the actress. I think she has been instructed to act like some deranged villain, and the script doesn’t really allow for much nuance.) This woman is basically the one character that allows La Cuisine to have a story and yet, she is also a little out of place in the series.

There is some foreshadowing in the earlier episodes, but it is not very well done. It’s not clear why Ram’s friends and even his sister keep warning him not to hurt Lukchub intentionally or unintentionally. It’s not like Ram is the type of person who toys with other people’s feelings. He doesn’t flirt with all the women who are interested in him, and we only see him having a soft spot for Lukchub–he even tells Lukchub’s grandmother that he does not have an ex. Their warnings do foreshadow some events later, but there seems to be no good reason for them.

When Lukchub gets bullied after becoming Ram’s boyfriend, I’m not sure why some characters blame Ram or expect him to be able to prevent it from happening again. It’s not as though it is within his control that some jealous person tries to hurt his boyfriend. The scenes occasionally also don’t flow well, such as when Lukchub’s brother looks like he is about to confront Ram but in the next scene, he’s merely visiting Lukchub. (I’m guessing his manager stopped him from being impulsive, but it’s not directly shown.

In the end, the BL keeps me going. It’s so sweet but never to the extent of being sickening or cringy (at least for me). Despite the lack of an impressive plot, I find myself wanting more of Ram and Lukchub. I’m sad that La Cuisine has ended and that not many people seem to like it. It’s one of those BL series that gives me the feel that I love, never mind the only okayish plot. I'm also sad because, while I may watch technically better BLs, it will probably be a long time before another couple leaves me with the sweetness Ram and Lukchub have left me.
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