I loved Fermat's Cuisine at the beginning. As a fan of food movies, this was an indulgent experience beautifully plated dishes, deep discussions on food techniques, and stunning cinematography that captures the art of cooking. With 80 percent of the show taking place in the kitchen, it fully immerses viewers in the world of gourmet cuisine.
The origin stories of the characters were good. It centered around the protagonist Gaku, a math prodigy who lost his love for mathematics. He then met a culinary genius, Kai, who encouraged him to use his mathematical skills to cook perfect food. Kai took Gaku in as a protégé at his fine dining restaurant, where Gaku became a successful cook incredibly fast. In just two weeks, he surpassed everyone. I was on board the idea of rapid progression, and his initial demeanor wanting to take in everyone's ideas and maintain harmony in the workplace made him likable. This led to him being elected as the Chef de Cuisine in Kai's absence.
But then what the heck happened? His attitude shift was way too abrupt. In what felt like a flash, he became this irrational, disrespectful, and irresponsible person. It has only been one year. How is it possible that his colleagues, especially Ranna, allowed him to to spiral like that? They could have easily kicked his butt the first moment he started displaying that attitude. This development in Gaku's character was poorly handled and his eventual redemption felt entirely unearned. The speed at which everyone forgave him was so unbelievable. As a viewer, I did not forgive him for his super prick behavior. After that outburst, I completely stopped rooting for him.
There is a strong gay undertones in the male characters, especially between Kai and Gaku. Even how the scenes angled and shot made them seem in love. I did not read the manga, maybe I should. I wonder if the manga has the same implication or if this was amplified in the adaptation with the popularity of woke culture during the time it was shot. Then there's Mr. Shibuya, the supposed legendary genius chef who trained Kai. I don't understand his demeanor throughout the show-he is always in a bad mood and frowning. Why is he not happy with Kai's accomplishments as a chef, especially as his mentor? "You must not stay away from me" he said in one of the scene when Kai was ill. What does that even mean? Does he want to keep Kai for himself? This dynamic is really bizarre, as if he is in love with Kai and jealous of sharing him with the world. It almost gives an incestuous undertone since he is a father figure who adopted Kai when he was a child.
The dining room scene where Kai is serving two older men-the obsessive mentor Mr Shibuya and a topless man, their investor-in a dungeon-like space with fire, really gives off a creepy vibe. Some of these elements felt misplaced in what is otherwise a heartfelt and visually stunning series about food and passion.
Overall, Fermat's Cuisine is an enjoyable watch for food lovers, but its character development and some of its themes gives me the creep. Despite my frustrations, I still enjoyed the first eight episodes immensely and would recommend it just be prepared for some questionable storytelling choices along the way. Maybe other people is not as malicious as me. So enjoy!
