Drama Digest
Aue (Kidakarn Chatkaewmanee) has wanted to be The Chef Master champion for as long as he can remember. Aue, a very great chef, has worked relentlessly to realise his ambition. But no matter how hard he works or how excellent his dishes are, he always seems to come in second. Aue is convinced that there is something vital out there that he is simply missing, and he is determined to discover what that “something” is. Aue loses focus on his work as he searches for the missing component, and his cooking stagnates, his talents losing their highly honed edge. Aue is on the verge of giving up as his professional career crumbles around him; nevertheless, everything changes the day Aek enters his life. Aek (Siwat Jumlongkul), an average delivery boy with an amazing talent, delivers everything Aue needs to succeed and more. Aue rises to the obstacles ahead of him, inspired by his newfound friend, grateful to have Aek by his side. Will Aue be able to overcome the challenges that stand between him and his aspirations, even with Aek by his side?
The Feel-Good Part
This was an extraordinarily well-made series in terms of cinematography and set design with the painstaking attention to detail, from the depth of all the key characters to the preparation of the mouth-watering meals shot with such perfection. All of the players in this were excellent and did an excellent job in their parts. Their chemistry was flawless, and it was one of the series’ strongest parts. This was not your average BL Drama because there was a more well-rounded emphasis on the characters and their relationship development. The creators focused more on the character’s professional progression and their personal developments were simply a result of the former. In this way, they made the plot come off very natural and it appeals more to the audience.
The Disappointing Factor
Although the series came through in terms of their cinematography and set design, they missed out heavily on plot progression as well as direction. The pacing was absolutely slow and even though many people like this for character development I felt that they just unnecessarily prolonged the episodes. Nothing of consequence actually takes place except for the long stares and silent glances. Some of the elements of the plot did not make sense at all. Therefore, overall it felt like they just somehow joined a series of unrelated incidents to formulate the final outcome. When it came down to the most important scenes of the story the writers fell short by a mile. The ending and climax was grossly anti-climactic.
In-Depth Analysis
Despite its smooth and professional production, ‘Bite Me’ fails to present an engaging story. The saving grace of the show is the chemistry shared between the actors and the beautiful portrayal of Thai cuisine. Yet, this slow-paced story is devoid of drama, passion, or excitement. Even the stunning cinematography was not able to save this underwhelming series, which had so much untapped potential.
Star Power
The performance delivered by the cast was good but only if it was guided further it could have been amazing. Mark Siwat Jumlongkul as Aek and Zung Kidakarn Chatkaewmanee as Aue is the best combination you could have asked for this show. Both their acting felt very authentic and hit all the right emotions and the supporting cast was also excellent.
Overall Opinion
After watching the trailer for ‘Bite Me’, viewers will have a lot of expectations which are only half met by the actual series. Yet, I will not deny that for the length of 11 (+1 special episode), this series is quite entertaining. Most of all, the delicious portrayal of mouth-watering food is what makes this drama a must-watch!
