Fermat no Ryori (2023)

Culinary Alchemy: Cooking up self discovery with side of food and formulas!

Fermat no Ryori—where culinary arts meet math, two things I'm about as skilled at as a fish on a bicycle. Yet, surprisingly, this quirky blend managed to hook me in with its mix of food and formulas.

Onto the main course—the food and math combo. The series isn't just about cooking up dishes as I expected but it emphasized more about cooking up some self-discovery. Our main leads Gaku and Kai are as complex as a recipe with too many ingredients.
Their attempts to adapt to each other's ways, followed by failures and subsequent self realizations kept me hooked. The narrative emphasizes on the importance of personal growth within any kind of relationship.
Honestly I came here looking for all the food talk (which I did get) but stayed for the stories of those who made it.

While it was an unconventionally tasty and intriguing concept, sometimes it felt forced and a bit gimmicky. And speaking of issues, the pacing was a bit like Swiss cheese—full of gaps. I don't mind a slow-paced drama, but at times it felt a little draggy.

The bromance between Gaku and Kai was the dessert! It was entertaining to watch especially the hug where Gaku comforts Kai. As for the ending, it was happy and melodramatic, but that smile while cooking in the last scene made me swoon.

Overall, the drama serves up a strong premise, with execution as uneven as a lumpy gravy, but with decent acting!
Bon appétit!

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Not the type of cooking drama I was expecting

Cooking dramas aren't really my thing but this kept jumping on me every time I opened Netflix so I thought why not? The visuals interested me and I thought it would be good to try something new for once. I do not know why but I was expecting something sweet and feelgood after all my experience with jdramas. Yo, it was a trauma. I was crying like a baby in the last two episodes. And although it has a good ending, kinda, I wasn't ready for this type of ending. But I have to admit that I binge-watched it even tho I knew from the beginning that it was going to be sad. It was written all over (but still subtly) that something was wrong with Kai. The storytelling kept me interested, especially with the hints about Gaku going sideways. I fell in love with these two and I am so happy that it had turned into a sweet bromance in the end. I will probably never watch it again and even tho I complained about the sad stuff I am glad I watched it.

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A full course meal that’s worth it in the end.

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

This was a very interesting series. The first few episodes may scare some individuals off, but it’s worth sticking around. The way they introduced all of the stories was very compelling, for me at least. The overall theme is that learning, self-discovery, and individual evolution is an on-going, never-ending process. However, there were so many other little lessons incorporated into this series. In essence, the only constancy in life is change. Although there were some week elements, the script was still excellent. It spent the right amount of time introducing the backstories of most of the side characters. It also had the right amount of drama and quirkiness that I’ve become to love with series from Japan. All of the actors were outstanding and did a wondaful job portrayed their characters. They also did a great editing job with the flashback scenes.



******Potential Spoiler Alert******

I don’t necessarily agree with Kai’s methods, but everything he did was for the benefit of others.

It was very smart with switching between Gaku’s personality of 2023 and 2024 in the beginning of the series which is the reason that compelled me to keep watching.

The friendship development between all of the characters was great. I also love the undertone bromance in the series.

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This show is worth watching

I watched the whole series when it was ongoing and I absolutely loved it. I’m a really big fan of Jun Shison and I fell in love with Kai Asakura . He was just so perfect. Also I really loved his bond with Gaku and Kai. Also Kai’s mysterious nature made me more intrigued to continue watching every Friday. I was really looking forward for Friday to come because of that. I was quite worried when I discovered that Kai had an illness and I literally cried when I thought he was going to die . I really miss it and I want a season 2 if it’s possible cause I want to see more of Kai-san! Also the last episode when Shibuya-san told Kai that he thought of him like a son and Kai started crying was so heart touching. I definitely recommend it and some people might find episode 1 boring but please don’t stop there! Since I found out to not judge a drama by it’s first episode.

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I just like the main Two Lead..

Hi, I watch this drama just randomly. Most of the time, when I watch some drama or series randomly, I skip most of the scenes, but this time I held myself. You can say it’s really good. It’s interesting to see how math and cooking come together. I know it’s a fantasy kind of thing, but you know everyone has their own imagination depending on the things they like.

I personally don’t like these cooking shows, but the lead in this drama attracted me to watch. And honestly, not only the lead is good, but the story too. I like how he has a strong connection with his dad, that dad who always supports his son no matter what.

And this reminds me of the last thing I want to say: “Inspiration”. Watching this drama made me realize how small and little things inspire someone for the good. That girl, his classmate, the strong father, and his coworker—when these people support, I really feel that emotion, and sometimes I cry too. That’s the thing I love the most about this drama.

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An Endearing Bromance Between A Genius Chef & A Young Mathematician

“Fermat no Ryori: Where Math Meets Culinary Excellence in a Flavorful Drama”

In the realm of Japanese dramas, where stories often sway towards romance or mystery, “Fermat no Ryori” emerges as a refreshing anomaly, seamlessly blending the worlds of mathematics and culinary arts. The series, a captivating journey of self-discovery, brings together the unlikely duo of Kitada Gaku, a gifted mathematics enthusiast, and Asakura Kai, a renowned chef, setting the stage for a unique exploration of life’s intricate recipes.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/10/fermat-no-ryori-series-review-ep-1-to-10/

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Unexpectedly very bingeworthy

Started this without much pre-knowledge, except than for the little preview. I pretty much went in with nothing, but I have seen Takahashi Fumiya's acting and in my opinion he striked again. But I also got swept away by Shison Jun's acting skills and visuals. But idem for the other actors. They all delivered, especially when they had to express how delicious the food was. ^^

The story got me interested. I do like dramas with a cooking aspect so for me it was a joy to watch. Maybe it's not for everyone. I loved how they added Gaku's ability in this drama. And in my opinion a lot of lessons to learn. I recently wondered about one a lot. In this world there is a lot of competition. With us being connected worldwide at all times.. Everyone showing off their talents or jobs, it can turn both ways for people who thought they were talented. Or they get the strength to improve or they will think they aren't more special than they thought. They will lose their purpose in life. Which is what happened with Gaku. It was beautifully expressed. Luckily Gaku meets Kai who gives him a new goal he could aim to and use his talent for another purpose. It's one lesson I picked up from this drama. But there are way more to experience. But no need to spoil the whole drama here hehe ..

Also don't know if the math Gaku used though is really trustworthy. Sometimes it seemed a bit too exaggerated. Nevertheless it was a nice story concept.

About the music? Well, Re方程式 by 10-FEET is just a pearl. I can't stop listening to it. I could listen to this song on repeat, no joke. Do check it out and I bet you'll drop it in your favourites playlist.

************** Might be a spoiler, as in do you want to know if there was a lgbtq-factor? See below.



spoilers below

*** I mean there was really something in my eyes, but it was more brotherly. But the ending ... I liked the ending. ***

*************BIG SPOILER ENDING ***

The one thing that I found a bit weird and is actually also one of the reasons why I kept being intrigued to watch this show.. Gaku's personality changed totally. I couldn't believe what would have caused this and I can find myself in the reason, but not entirely. I can accept that he could lose himself but turning in someone so rude because of him wanting to be a divine creature, a leader that accepts no help and can't explain things more clearly to his staff? Also I don't get how Kai's sickness could really be okay for him to cook. At the end he kinda almost fainted. How can he then be cooking with Gaku? Although it did seem like a small restaurant. But still.. Nevertheless I do liked that ending obviously. ************************

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"People cannot live alone. You need comrades."

Fermat’s Cuisine combined mathematics and French cuisine for an entertaining drama though one with a rather narrow view of success for most of the episodes. I could tell it was based on a manga from the male lead who was overly enthusiastic both emotionally and physically while everyone else played it cool.

“Less than perfect is meaningless.”
High school student Gaku gives up on math competitions when he realizes his skills are not extraordinary despite how much he loves mathematics. While Gaku is making lunch at a diner, Chef Kai jumps the counter to taste the food he’s prepared for the staff out of leftovers. Kai hires Gaku to work at his two-star Michelin French restaurant and pushes him to use his math to excel at cooking. The other chefs do not welcome the new favorite as they’ve seen many supporting characters come and go. Kai wants Gaku to become peerless and as isolated as he is, a problem for Gaku who has a tendency to draw out people and their strengths. Kai is hiding a secret that might push all of the chefs over the edge.

“Those who aren’t superior are the evil of this world.”
The concept of the drama was pushing the limits of believability. Kai hired the best chefs from around the world and used only the best ingredients. He spent more than he made and relied on special patrons to supplement the restaurant’s income. It was also difficult to hear over and over again that in order to be successful you had to be the best and be able to open the door to truth or else it wasn’t worth trying. If you couldn’t be the smartest mathematician, time to quit. If there was a chef better than you, time to hang up your apron or at the very least, go to work for that chef. Being the best meant being alone. Gaku was almost destroyed by the push to become “peerless,” as if that was some noble cause. In reality it probably rings true, but there so were so many big egos in the battlefield of the kitchen there was barely room for the pots and pans.

“The higher we reach, the more alone we become.”
Aside from the delicious looking meals the chefs whipped up, and there were many, the strength of this drama was the journey the Japanese chefs took to develop as individuals and as cooks. The international chefs were left in the background for the most part. Gaku, Kai, Ranna, Hotei, and Magoroku all had character growth, learning about themselves and how to collaborate and work with others. Their relationships were a rollercoaster ride of distrust, becoming comrades, distrust, and comrades again. The acting was a bit of a rollercoaster ride with some stronger performances and some weaker ones. I found it interesting that as much as Kai preached “The peerless have no one,” that he had enormous financial support. Most restaurants have narrow profit margins and somehow he was able to keep his open through the help of friends.

“Do what you love.”
Despite some of the over-the-top acting and relentless creative arrogance, I enjoyed this drama. Watching people make delicious dishes, even Naporitan/Napolitan with ketchup, is always fascinating to me. The camaraderie that developed between the kitchen staff was heartwarming as well as the road to bromance and culinary enlightenment. So, lettuce celebrate friendship, food, and math, but have a snack nearby because this drama will make you souper hungry.

1 June 2024

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Enjoyable

This series was enjoyable although a little boring at times. The first few episodes were all the same with Gaku being assigned a dish and then struggling with it until he had an epiphany using math. The math calculations got old and confusing.

Loved the whole kitchen crew and how they worked together so well. Kai and Gaku are just beautiful human beings and were a pleasure to watch. But too bad the writers had to throw in a mental breakdown (so to speak) for sweet Gaku. He would have never acted like that. And (no spoilers) too sad what happened with Kai.

Overall, I liked this but was just a little too complex with all the flavor and dish harmony talk. I got the gist but I had to work too hard for it.

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Icarus meets Mozart

This review will sound a bit arse backwards because it is a back-to-front type of drama for me. 

If I had to sum up the plot in a few words then it would be Icarus meets Mozart. This is a blessing and a curse.

Cooking is about as real as it can be from my perspective. You combine real ingredients into something that is totally tangible. Sure, there may be some smokes and mirrors when it comes to some high concept dishes but fundamentally taste doesn't lie. If a dish taste good then it is meant to be.

This series mystify the cooking process to the point that it is akin to magic. We are shown mostly typical preparations yet the results are S tier and to die for. I know you can play tricks with the flavours and textures but time and again, this is done by our untrained "amateur" ML. Even the show calls this out when one of the chef stated that a staff in his father's restaurant practiced filleting fish for 3 years before he is trusted with that task. Yet our young ML went from high school graduate to a Michelin star chef within a year (and still without any formal training). I get that he can see ingredients and recipes from a different angle (cue special effects) but things just don't add up. We have to just accept it. This pulls me out of immersion repeatedly as I try to see what is so special about the dish and how come he can create it and I can't (for obvious reasons). ;)

I'd have enjoyed the show more if his development is more relatable rather than just put down to him being the "chosen one". That is such an old trope. I would have similar problem wrapping my head around a plumber being promoted as the next genius physician in a hospital just because he knows how plumbing works.

The show did grow on me in the second half and that is largely because it moved more into character growth and their backstories. Honestly, the whole show finally makes sense in EP 9 and 10. All the ducklings line up and the motivations of many characters became transparent. It is still a bit of a stretch but at least I can accept the rationale within that paradigm. I also enjoyed the changes in the young ML as he decent into madness but it didn't last long and he was his old innocent self again. In one sense, the show became "normal" towards the end, if that makes sense.

I'll be the first to admit that this is not an unbiased review as I just finished Grande Maison Tokyo which is so good and well grounded that it makes this looks like a flight of fancy. However, if you like the male leads then you will swoon. If you like angsty dramas then you have hit paydirt. If you are looking for food porn then it can still work. The gorgeous dishes were created by a Michelin star chef IRL. I have to score this show based on my own POV and that's a reviewer's lot. Peace.

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A food topic drama that focuses on relationships (food, maths, friendships).

This is a drama about what happens when your passion is extinguished then re kindled in a different direction.
Gaku is obsessed with maths. His way of comprehension is depicted in visual fx so we can see the complexity of his thinking. When he can no longer believe that maths alone will bring him to the pinnacle he was aiming for he is devastated. Enter the 2ml Kai who is looking for a genius successor. He challenges Gaku with more and more difficult culinary challenges and each time Gaku breaks through his own beliefs of limitations to create stunning food results.
Gaku is a pure soul and others are attracted to him and support him. There is an underlying problem with Kai that he has hidden and this has a profound effect on all the main characters.
Each actor stays true to their character and enough time is spent on revealing the back story of Kai to ensure our sympathy.
Gaku is now obsessed with Kai's goal and this drives him in a way that alters his basic sweetness to become a driven person who is unable to relate to those around him, leading to the inevitable alienation.

The ending is lovely after all the angst and a hint of bromance shows our to MLs encouraging each other in a supportive. caring environment.

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Polished TV Production Honours Manga Origins

I loved the series and watched it twice over the 2024 new year. I particularly enjoyed the culinary conversations and even learned a few new tips. Jun Shison oozes sex appeal ... and appealing arrogance. Some viewers may be unaware Takahashi is a trained cook and Shison has recently directed a couple of short films. They are both absolutely outstanding actors on an ensemble of amazing talent in front of and behind camera. Would be wonderful to see a Season 2. But please, Director ... lose the awful Gaku bowl cut wig! Hiding the most handsome man in Japan! 😆
I would have liked more scenes of Ego Gaku, that period of the show serms too brief but
is very intense and Takahashi Fumiya again cements his potential as an amazing, emotionally powerful and broadly skillled actor at just 22 years of age. He typically plays brooding, moody types; check him out in the new movie release Our Secret Diary. I personally believe he could be a significant talent beyond Japan if he so wishes. Enjoy 👋

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