Cooking Crush (2023)

From BL as a social and cultural phenomenon to Thai series and their hidden meaning

With dozens of productions each year, Asian BL dramas have skyrocketed international audiences, winning the hearts of global audiences.
From the bustling streets of Taipei to the no less noisy universities of Bangkok, passing through El Nido beach, on the Philippine island of Palawan; bordering the Han River, on foot or by bicycle, before flowing into the Yellow Sea, or exploring the luminous avenues of Shanghai or Hanoi, the series from that distant continent transport us to a world full of drama, romance and intense emotions.
But what is it that makes these television productions have captured the attention and obsession of people from all over the world?
Convincing performances that touch the heart, acting talent as a strong attraction, ingenious scripts that combine romance with other genres, actors and actresses recognized for their convincing and emotional performances that manage to connect deeply with the public; The use of popular idols, the skills to transmit emotions, whether love, hate, rage, joy or sadness, make viewers feel part of the story and become emotionally involved in each chapter.
High quality works that rival the best produced in other latitudes, Asian BLs have raised quality standards in the television industry. With high budgets in most cases, and a passionate dedication to excellence, these productions manage to compete with European, Australian, Latin American, North American and Canadian homosexual-themed series.
From the stunning cinematography to the detailed sets and impeccable production techniques, each episode can be a visually stunning experience. On the other hand, they also stand out for their focus on cultural diversity and the representation of different ethnic groups and religions.
The visual aesthetics and attention to detail in each scene transport the viewer to a fascinating world, presenting characters and plots that reflect the rich diversity of Asian societies, connecting with audiences from different backgrounds.
For many, perhaps, it may seem like something totally new and strange, but it is not for millions of young consumers of these series around the world. With production companies in charge of creating and adapting literature in live action, BL series emphasize the not-too-distant cliché scenes of love between heterosexuals seen in novels and television series from any country.
The contrast arises when on this occasion the story is transferred to a different social context. One, due to its geographical and cultural position distant from many of the spectators. And two, because it deals with romantic relationships between young men (particularly high school or college students).
The representation of lesbian love is practically non-existent on the television screens of BL-producing countries. There has not been the same interest and dedication on the part of manga and anime authors, as well as television screenwriters and directors, to reflect these stories, as there has been with the romance between boys.
However, GL series (i.e. Girls Love), which feature romance between women, have slowly made their way in recent times. To do this, first a couple of loving girls were inserted as friends or study partners of the male protagonists, within a BL series. We can now count on dramatizations where they are the true protagonists.
The interesting thing about these works is that they address a theme as universal as love, which resonates with a global audience. Very everyday themes that show youth, disappointments in love, fictitious loves, the bad boy, the family, interest in sports or the arts, studies in secondary schools or universities, entry into the world of work after graduation, office work or love, friendship, cooking and typical dishes, fantasy, the supernatural, the dynamics of youth, first loves, the discovery of sexuality, power, political and administrative corruption, and fight for justice are just some of the recurring themes that run through these productions.
With their universal stories, people from different cultures and nationalities make us identify with the characters and immerse ourselves in the complexities of their lives, no matter how foreign they may seem to us at first glance.
There is no doubt that the Asian BL drama fever is a social and cultural phenomenon that was born at the beginning of this century.
The BL inside
At the beginning of the 1970s, BL content could only be found in Japanese anime, manga, or novels. At an accelerated pace, this genre spread to other Asian countries, mainly South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, China and Taiwan, and has led to new formats and fashions.
Its objective is to represent the romantic relationship between two male characters. Generally, the profiles of the main character are that of the high school student, university student, or young heterosexual professional who meets love for the first time in a boy of the same sex. On many occasions, they exhibit social differences.
With the premiere of a weekly episode, lasting approximately half an hour to an hour, Japanese, Thai and Taiwanese television has broadcast popular BL dramas. Other countries spread the word through online platforms, as this phenomenon also comes to life on social networks, when millions of followers from all over the world share their opinion on X, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook, adding new followers as these discover the works.
Most BL are written from a female perspective. They reflect everyday problems, such as the stereotypes that exist in society about homosexuals, the complexities of gay men when coming out of the closet, the fear of rejection from family and society, the representation of women (familiar or close to the protagonist). in the sad role of decorative object in the home, in the role of being a mother or dedicated to domestic tasks.
Due to the conservative social atmosphere, the discrimination that still exists towards the LGBT+ community, the series rarely mention the problems and conflicts of its members and the struggles for their rights. However, the popularity of these dramas has promoted society's openness to BL culture and understanding of the situation of the LGBT+ community.
Despite BL being mostly known for content created in Japan, it is in Thailand that it has had the greatest boom. While in many nations it remains taboo, in the Thai kingdom it is quite normalized and consumed. This is mainly due to the fact that a very significant sector of the LGBTI+ community resides or is passing through this nation.
The reality is that, despite homosexuality appearing to be such a normalized issue in audiovisual media and in everyday life, legally it is not. Issues such as same-sex marriage or adoption between people of the same gender are not legalized in Thailand. On the other hand, these programs serve to promote sales of items from companies, such as those dedicated to the cosmetics and beverage business, responsible for providing money for serial productions, thus imposing their interests, as well as promoting the country as a destination. paradise tourist.
Its plots do not escape a certain homophobia or misogyny. The above is confirmed when one of the protagonists believes he is heterosexual until he meets the other and realizes that only with that male character does he feel happy and fulfilled. It is also very common to find characters who justify their sexual orientation based on their dislike of women after having been deceived by them.
On the other hand, it is extremely common to encounter clichés that also occur in series and movies whose main characters are a heterosexual couple, only, for some reason, this predictable plot is mostly accepted by the public when the genre is BL. For example, the romanticization of violence between partners.

Cooking Crush
Unlike audiovisuals from other latitudes in which the acting couple rarely meets again in another program in the same role, Thai BL series usually pair the actors, especially when there is chemistry and they are popular with the public.
This is the case of Jumpol Adulkittiporn (Off) and Atthaphan Poonsawas (Gun). With the formation of OffGun, both have participated in numerous projects, from the first of them in 'Senior Secret Love: Puppy Honey' (2016) and 'Senior Secret Love: Puppy Honey 2' (2017), 'Theory of love' ( 2019) and the critically and fan-acclaimed 'Not Me' (2021), and in the special anthology of couples boys love titled 'Our Skyy', from 2018.
With the drama 'Cooking Crush', of the romantic comedy, food and BL genre, released in November 2023 on the GMM25 network, the two reappear. Like good wine, both actors, now 33 and 30 years old, respectively, underpin their artistic talent and consolidate themselves as ships within the BL universe.
The series reminds me of one of the most famous romantic comedies in history, 'Pretty Woman', from 1990 and directed by the American Garry Marshall. In it, the protagonist (Richard Gere) hires a prostitute (Julia Roberts) to accompany him for a few days, and they end up loving each other.
In 'Cooking Crush' the characters also come from two different social strata: Ten (Off), a rich medical student, hires Prem (Gun), a humble cooking student, to teach him how to prepare exquisite food dishes.
Prem dreams of becoming a chef who revolutionizes the culinary art. Determined to compete in a reality show that will choose the best chef in the nation, he must improve his culinary skills. That is the reason why he accepts Ten's proposal. Prem uses this as an opportunity to make money. The clash between both worlds will end up causing both of them to end up deeply in love.
A skilful script written by Pong Pattarawalai Wongsinwises, Noolek Sureechay Kaewses, M Rittikrai Kanjanawiphu and an effective staging, in addition to the good work of the two protagonists, allows us to find ourselves before a sentimental and romantic comedy with a lot of fairy tale and little of everyday reality.
The main characters add depth and emotion to the plot. The series promises a mix of touching moments and immersive drama, as both boys navigate between Ten's causes of stress and Prem's desire to overcome challenges.
The Thai setting adds a unique cultural backdrop to the seductive love story between medical consultation rooms and kitchens, offering viewers a captivating journey through the complexities of discovering sexuality and romance. While the information provided provides insight into the series, watching it will certainly offer a more complete and immersive experience.
'Cooking Crush' stands out with its tone of sentimental and romantic comedy and a talented cast, also composed of Pakin Kunaanuwit (Mark) as Dynamite, and Jaruwat Cheawaram (Dome) as Samsi. These two, along with Prem, will make a trio of friends. It also features Trai Nimtawat (Neo) as Fire and Warawut Poyim (Tum) as Metha, who make up the other friendly shortlist.
The members of these groups, who are not united by anything at the beginning, will not only find love in each other's members, but also strong ties of friendship and companionship. Together they will contribute humor to the program.
Rounding out the cast are Chatchawit Techarukpong (Victor) as Changma, Bhasidi Petchsutee (Lookjun) as Jane, Sukhapat Lohwacharin (Suam) as Bun, Pimwalee Phunsawat (Pim) as Paeng, and Lapisara Intarasut (Apple).
The trust in the ability of each of the members of the main couple in the other, and the way in which they promote each other, is striking. An example of this can be seen in the fact that Ten does not believe he has what it takes to succeed as a doctor and Prem encourages him. Prem, for his part, operates in a very competitive world such as culinary art, and if he has any doubt or circumstance, Ten supports him. Ten's love for Prem's cooking is what finally convinces him to sign up for Super Monster Chef.
Without being the best in the filmography of this acting duo, 'Cooking Crush' is a visual delight and fulfills its purpose as a romantic comedy, showing Off and Gun's undeniable chemistry while Ten and Prem flirt adorably in every interaction. . Theirs is a charming, beautiful, fun, natural and wonderful couple.
Although dynamite is so stable that generally new dynamite cartridges in good condition do not explode even if exposed to fire, Dynamite will not need a detonator and detonator to explode as soon as he meets Fire and encourages a fun game of cat between the two. and the mouse with a slight and subtle harassment on the part of the former at the beginning of the plot.
Without a doubt, 'Cooking Crush' is guaranteed to be popular for various reasons. The breadth of social media, such as YouTube and others, allows more people to connect with this and other BL series. The Western mentality is today much more open to viewing (without prejudice or hatred) content that is part of the LGTBIQ+ community. And finally, a growing need for the viewer to have the possibility that all sexual diversities can be expressed through the artistic formats within their reach.
Just as 'Cooking Crush' is another successful Thai BL by being a media product with an undeniable communication effect, we, as viewers, must be able to appreciate the content without ignoring its hidden meaning.
However, I must add the following criticism: throughout the history of film and television, homosexuals have been portrayed in a stereotypical way or in roles of ruthless killers, disturbed suicides, caricatures of human beings. On many occasions their effeminacy was exaggerated so that an audience could distinguish the gay characters without words. In this way, the audience could easily identify them as homosexuals because they reflected the clichés that still existed in society towards them. These consisted of portraying them as extremely mannered, prim characters, with thin mustaches and often grotesquely made up. In addition to repudiating this “perverted behavior,” filmmakers and television channels or film companies seek to provoke laughter in the viewer, since in comparison to them, men could feel more masculine and women more feminine.
This has been the case since the short film 'Lot in Sodom', by James Sibley Watson and Melville Webber, produced in 1933, which treated homosexuals as depraved sex-hungry satyrs. A film like 'Brokeback Mountain', by Ang Lee, from 2005, had to arrive, already in the 21st century, to present homosexuals to the general public as "common" men, with traditionally masculine appearance and without any type of pathology. that justified the presence of the character himself in the film.
This situation has been gradually transforming to the present day in which the major film and television production companies, especially European ones, pioneers in this subject, make films and series aimed almost exclusively at the LGBTIQ+ audience, showing more realistic characters and settings, films that are shown in commercial theaters or in the numerous film festivals on this theme that are held on all continents, or series broadcast on television channels in much of the world.
Although these current audiovisuals show how difficult it is to “come out of the closet” and project to the viewer the reality in which homosexuals find themselves, series like 'Cooking Crush' do not escape from reveling in stereotyping queer characters. Thus we see how Prem's three fellow students and also participants in the culinary contest, only with competitive, malicious objectives, are able to constantly harass and mock another member of that human collective.

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so cute

This series is so cute! I love Gun and Off and "Cooking crush" is another favorite bl with these actors. I dont know why, but this time i couldnt see the chemistry between them, but it is ok. Maybe i expected more.
The plot is interesting, the concept with cooking is lovely.
Ten`s love is pure, he fall in love with Prem at first sight and always encorage him in everything he make. This is the type of boyfriend that i want, haha. And I want to add that Ten is so cute with this glasses!
Fire and Dynamite, on other hand, is so cute together. I cant believe that Neo play such a role in this series. When it comes to Neo, his role in Only friend immediately pops up in my head and wow, he was so different in Cooking crush. He is great actor too. Im happy that his mother finally undertand him and he was free to be himself.
I totally like this series and of course I will watch it again. Off and Gun are my favorite couple!

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Cutest drama

This series was so good I finished within 2 days I’m big big big fan of offgun couple finally they got series after a long time happy with the script music and chemistry between all characters like love friendship family I enjoyed it also thanks to the drama I got to see fire because he got a negative role in only friends which doesn’t suit him but this role is made for him also the dynamy character is so good and happy to see such a great and cute actor never seen him before although I watched this series because of offgun but this couple made be to watch again again I love firedynamy chemistry a lot so happy to see actually main couple doesn’t have any main playing twist it was kinda boring they shud have given more highlight twist for main couple unfortunately they didn’t satisfy me but the second couple is so good having comedy , cute, chasing another person and no toxic between them happy to see such series with no much intimate scenes but only filled with happy and cute scenes all the best to them team I wanna see again those couples in new series please please please?❤

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They WILL NOT BREAK UP ?.

You know when they say the first chapter of the novel should be eye capturing to keep the reader attention. The first episode was like that for me. The Ten's part where he doesn't eat anything and the stuff happens to him was so much fun ? ? ?.
I like this story and how they maintain it. I was thinking on every bad situation that now they're gonna breakup and but they didn't was total a thumbs up. But I totally don't get today's people love life. Like yeah I like you and I can KISS you but still I need to make it OFFICIAL to call you my girl/boyfriend ?.
But still some things really bothered me also. I hate these kind of stuff where everyone's telling the main character that what he's doing is right when he actually DID wrong. Like how Prem's sister asked him to take money from doc and THEN she ACTUALLY wrote "money scammed from doc" as fun just for everyone to see and blamed him.
Like how the Chef Chang Ma were actually helping the group when he was actually the judge of show. He didn't consider that. I know he has feelings for Prem and still he should've known better.
But thank God Prem is matured and didn't do any stupid stuff.
If they won the competition when they show us from the very start how clumsy they were, I would have disappointed but they did the right thing.
All in all I liked it. I was kinda got bored on the 8th episode but they still somehow got my attention. ?.

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change in dynamics

I loved this and thought it was adorable. I really enjoyed the change in dynamic for offgun where off was the one pursuing guns character. it’s a nice change of pace.

this wasn’t ever supposed to be a dramatic angst filled show. instead we got sweetness and some laugh out loud moments. I truly enjoyed this change in dynamic of OffGun. and the OST is chefs kiss. I think I listen to it a few times a week.

if you’re looking for a low angst, light, fluffy, show give it a go I don’t think you’d be disappointed.

also this was probably they most intense kissing these two have done

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now THIS is camp done right

i don't usually enjoy campy shows, so i was shocked when i was hooked on cooking crush instantly. i really like that in typical offgun series fashion, queerness was not treated as if it's some fantasy experience. they openly acknowledged the presence of homophobia and allowed the characters to fear rejection without watering their entire character down to how much they struggled.

the jokes almost all landed for me, the camera angles were fun, the acting was obviously incredible, and the plot was a bit lost on the cut version but honestly i personally didn't find it too bothersome.

overall i think this series deserves more appreciation. it's sweet, funny, and almost every character is extremely unique and lovable.

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Made you feel like 18 again

This is slapstick comedy style, so if you're not into this, then this might not be for you. For me, I had a great laugh that's much needed! Some scenes might be a little lame, but some scenes just hit the spot

I've come to learn that beside his known crying skills, apparently Gun has a knack for acting shy too. Each time he blushes, I find myself blushing too lol.. This is a pure innocent cute show, almost showing puppy love, and it's heartwarming to watch

NC scenes lover, you're getting none, sorry! Lol

I really enjoyed the show, especially last episode, My jaw is sore from smiling ear to ear.

As for OffGun chemistry? Never disappoint as usual!

Pls don't let MDL comments/ratings affect you too much. Watch the trailer or 1 episode, and decide for yourself since everyone likes different things. It might just be the show you needed to watch, or maybe not....

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Its so fluffy and cute and nice watch

I really waited so long for this and didn't disappoint at all. Its was really nice to watch off and gun together with a story not too good or bad(haha) which i enjoyed to the fullesttt

Actually,the plot is queit average and the actors did their best. Am not saying its the best out their. but for me it was really warm and i needed something sweet and cute,and they were perfect at that. Baby crush OST is one of my fav. Apart from some logical troubles at some point, it was a nice ride with occasional hottiness and cute romance.

The second leads were such a treat. I really really wish i could see them again.

Main points that i felt they all improved are
* the chemistry.
i know they have been together so long. still cooking crush had one of the best chemistry they shared after not me and theory of love.
*quality
the content have nice making(so glad )

Overall, go watch it if you need a lighthearted happy bl which makes you blush and go awww.

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A comedic relief

This is the perfect series to watch after we had just gotten some darker themed dramas such as Only Friends and Dangerous Romance. It’s the perfect drama to watch right now alongside Last Twilight because of the perfect contrast between the two. OffGun have shown us exactly what they’re capable of with Not Me so it’s so refreshing that they can have such an easier laid back series. The entire cast are just so hilarious and I’m enjoying the comedy aspect of the show.
I’ve waited a while for this show and can not wait for more from OffGun in the future.
You should watch it because OffGun has great natural chemistry and you can see Neo act as a “straight” man *insert crying emoji*.

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A step backwards for OffGun after ‘Not Me”

I love OffGun and watch everything they are in, whether it’s together or their solo projects, but I really have a soft spot for them, as they are one of the 1st BL couples that I fell in love with, in both dramas and reality shows.

Cooking Crush is not a bad BL, it is a rom-com BL, heavy on goofiness and comedy, but very light on storyline and character development.

My beef is mostly with GMMTV, for using veteran BL couples who have proven their worth- starting their careers with several lesser roles on several so-so series, and have now worked their way up to a certain level of stardom and credibility.

I feel like their apex was definitely hit with last year’s Not Me. Not only was it worthy of OffGun, it had substance, serious subject matter, and was thoughtfully executed by these the entire amazing cast.

I thought “great! now that everyone has seen them at their best, they won’t have to do high school or college roles anymore.” SMH ?‍♀️

GMMTV has such a huge catalog of teen- early 20’s actors that could have easily slipped into these Cooking Crush roles.

IMHO, it’s a waste of OffGun’s talent to put them in these types of series that they have already done many times and now can do in their sleep.

Just one fan’s opinion..??‍♀️

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Off the OffGun ship

I really want to support OffGun but I can’t. I have watched Theory of Love and Not Me. Usually the reviews and comment section are a pretty good gauge of whether I’ll watch an old series or not. I had watched Not Me and based on the reviews , I went and watched Theory of Love. Those were both good OffGun series.

I have watched 10 Years Ticket for Ohm and Off as someone who isn’t just a Bl fan but a fan of good actors in BLs unlike a lot of these crazy ass BL fvck fans who will only watch BLs and go into the comment sections to ask if it’s a BL or not before they’ll watch a series. You know fake delulu fans of ships who live breathe and worship at whatever temple of shipwork is delivering fake queer shit. Like JoongDunk, ZeeNuew and the like. The same kind of dipshit fans who will go protest OhmLeng because they are OhmNanon shipper and not fans of the actual actors. Fake fvck fans.

I have been waiting for this series to end to start since I could not get past the first episode to see if it got any better. Sadly, from the comment section and reviews, it seems like this is just a series for the shipper fans. The amount of people who said they only watched it for OffgGun and little else with the criticism of this being a shitty show is going to help me not waste my time with a shitty GMMTV series which solely relies on shipwork to sell the series. I cannot support good actors being put in a shitty series whether hit is a BL or not. Such a waste of talent. I don’t want to give GMMTV any idea that they can put out shit shows like Hidden Agenda and now this and think fans will put up with anything as long it has our favorites. I don’t care if I am in the minority who hates it when. GMMTV set such a low bar for fvck fans with this drivel. I didn’t like 2gether despite its popularity and I sure as hell don’t want OffGun to be labeled shitty actors by being associated with shitty shows. We as fans need to set the bar higher and not defend the indefensible just because we like a ship and the shipwork. Delivering grade A ship work like JoongDunk while giving us a total shit show with Hidden Agenda isn’t where I want BL to be.

Also, ruining the track record of talent actors like OffGun with this kind of dumb series isn’t where BL needs to be headed too. I need GMMTV to do better because I expect better.

Maybe the series deserves a higher rating but since it failed to get me interested despite wanting to watch it. I can’t give it a higher rating. This is a message to GMMTV and not about OffGun. It’s also a message to crap series won’t be tolerated.

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