La Cuisine – Series Review & Episode Guide

LukChub is a talented culinary student with a gift for preparing tasty meals. He lives with his grandmother, who taught him excellent cooking skills since childhood. When LukChub participates in cooking competitions at school, he often defeats the other students. However, there are no hard feelings between him and his classmates. PhaiTong, Pangji, Kitty, and Super adore his cute, sincere personality. LukChub is close with his close-knit group of friends.

LukChub has a crush on Ram, the campus heartthrob from the architecture faculty. Ram comes from a wealthy family. His father runs a famous jewellery line. Due to his affluent background, handsome looks, and kind personality, he is like a celebrity among other students. He is best friends with Sky and Titan, two friendly jocks. The trio resembles the cool kids around school. Despite their popularity, they don't act snobbily or carry pretentious airs.

LukChub is too shy to confess his feelings to Ram, who has many female suitors. He only admires his secret crush from afar. One day, Ram appears on the culinary faculty's campus. A notoriously picky eater, he doesn't know what to eat for lunch. His friends recommend this cafeteria, famous for its menus. Ram stumbles upon the food stall run by LukChub and his classmates. Ram tries LukChub's delicious desserts.

Ram raves about his sweet treats on social media. The next day, many female fans arrive with the same desserts, hoping to win over his heart. LukChub's friends encourage him to do the same. Yet, he feels too shy to initiate a move. Eventually, LukChub prepares another treat for Ram, who loves his cooking. Ram boldly asks if the culinary student can make lunch for him over the next few days. LukChub agrees. They meet daily as LukChub prepares a homemade meal for their lunch dates.

Ram and LukChub bonded over time, developing a close connection. However, Ram's friend NamNing is annoyed by their relationship. She also has romantic feelings for the wealthy student and perceives LukChub as a pesky rival. NamNing is a shrewd, assertive schemer who uses underhanded tactics to get Ram's attention. Despite maintaining a friendly facade, she secretly bullies and sabotages LukChub. Her tactics become increasingly dangerous, putting LukChub's well-being at risk.

La Cuisine has an okay start, introducing a cute relationship between a chef and a picky eater. While the plot is frivolous, the series displays a gentle and relaxing atmosphere. I appreciate the sweet protagonists, the mellow interactions, and the positive messages. This wholesome love story seems sincere, so I want to be lenient and forgive some of its narrative flaws. Early on, I made many excuses for La Cuisine and tried my best to enjoy this casual, lighthearted BL drama.

After the first few uneventful episodes, my frustration sets in. This fluffy series lacks excitement, grit, or substance. Although pleasant, the flimsy storylines never venture beyond the characters cooking, eating, and smiling vapidly at each other. I have given up on expecting a complex plot, but can there be more meaningful dialogue or funnier scenes? It doesn't help that both leads have bland personalities. LukChub's shy and soft-spoken manner doesn't capture my attention. Likewise, Ram shows little charm and charisma for a campus heartthrob.

The mild-mannered love story doesn't excite me. LukChub and Ram have gotten along since the first episode, never clashing despite their opposite personalities. Their harmonious interactions result in a saccharine romance with no sparks. They flirt like awkward pre-teens in adult bodies. None of their cutesy scenes show passion or chemistry. Also, Ram's jealousy in Episode 5 soured my opinion of his character. I dislike how he patronizes his love interest and makes LukChub feel guilty over a fun night out with friends. Of course, LukChub is too meek to stand up for himself.

Both inexperienced leads contribute to the persistent mediocrity of La Cuisine. LukChub's baby-faced actor (Mick) is acceptable when portraying a bashful, innocent role. Yet, he shows limitations and struggles to emote persuasively in dramatic encounters. Similarly, his costar (Pop) seems forgettable. Ram should have been a suave protagonist dazzling viewers with his irresistible confidence. However, the performer lacks enthusiasm and doesn't command interest. Several supporting cast members try to be lively, but they're rarely in the spotlight and don't make an impact.

Worst of all, La Cuisine goes off the rails near the end. After a long stretch of uninteresting episodes, NamNing and her insufferable drama take centre stage. This one-dimensional antagonist dominates the narrative with her offensive antics. She terrorizes the characters in outrageous scenarios that are stupid, ridiculous, and vile. As NamNing plots her latest scheme, she distracts from the love story. La Cuisine has gotten sidetracked and forgets it's supposed to be a BL drama. Where's the romantic content? Why am I watching this villain instead of the couple?

La Cuisine has a happy ending as NamNing is punished for her misconduct. The narrative shifts back to carefree fluff in the remaining minutes. However, it can't undo the unpleasantness. The last few episodes are shockingly horrific, clashing with the soft, soothing vibe at the start of the series. I'd rather have zero plot than endure such a disastrous story arc. This terribly written BL drama wastes time on nonsense instead of developing the flat characters or strengthening the barebones romance. La Cuisine has lost all my goodwill, leaving me with a bitter aftertaste.