Yes, this is not "Not Me." It's "Cooking Crush."

Any reviews that compare the two series, solely because of the actors involved, are automatically suspect. One is a dark crime thriller, the other RomCom. Each series should be judged individually, within the framework of its appropriate genre. Full stop.

REVIEW -
I watch a BL with one major criteria - acting. If it's subpar - and there are many, many, a LARGE host of MANY that fall into this hole - not wasting my time. The second is script, a hollow and muddled narrative will be abandoned. Over the last 6 months, I've completed 2 series - Be My Favorite and Cooking Crush.

OffGun chemistry, the biggest seller of the series. No wobbling in character, each scene was theirs, from first glance to last kiss, Ten and Prem's attraction and story believable, they bonded over food, over family, over acts of service and sacrifice. Too often BL protags are thrown together by the script, and that's where the spark remains, on the page, not shining out from loving eyes. Every TenPrem glance has love baked right in there, and their love became real.

No silly BL miscommunication tropes - Ten and Prem spoke honestly and openly. Adversity met and overcome, hard work leads to a happy life. A solid friend group, two actually. and satisfying ending. I liked this series, warm hearts and smiles are always needed and appreciated.

Where this production stumbles is the cinematography, and editing. A moving shot when stillness called, a static on a stick camera when motion would add energy to the talky scene. Lingered too long, or zipped right on by too fast, the frame never seemed to be in the right place or angle. The edited cut on YT was an unkind thing for this series, and even with footage restored behind the WETV paywall, choppy still with odd scene transitions, and missing chunks of story padding that would have helped soften around the edges. Silly froth still must have a cohesive thru-line for the audience to engage fully.

And the script never quite rose to the original lofty goals of exploring socio-economic differences in Thai society. There kinda, sorta, maybe, briefly, then slipped in between the cracks. Rich vs. poor, doctor vs. cook, privilege vs. opportunity, money is usually also an issue. There could have, should have been SO much more to examine - they both had lost their mothers, for crying out loud! Where was that?

Also, second couple never clicked with me. What was the commonality that drew Fire and Dynamite together - stalking is not a good look.

I recommend this series if looking for sunny and happy, and will be revisiting TenPrem often.