Ingredients

I really tried to love the series coz I heard so many people describe it as “healthy”. It was so boring! The story did not develop until 18th episode! N none of the characters did anything for me ... I guess Top did coz he cooked n got me hungry at odd hours. So really had no interest in this show. Kept waiting for it to get better.
+ 3 for great crying and producing snot
+ 2 for all the hand washing n sanitizing awareness creation
+ 4 for all the food
- 8 for no real story development until ep 18
- 2 for creepy dolls on gate
- 2 for all the noise Win made with spoon
- 3 for rose wallpaper and those ugly shirts
+ 3 for great cuddles
+ 6 for product placements

Grand total of 3

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This show wasn’t on my radar at all, but since I’m a Jeff Satur fan, it was recommended to me and I totally loved it! It’s the cutest slice-of-life story. I’ll admit, the beginning confused me a bit because I assumed, incorrectly, that the two leads were a couple living together. Probably because their dynamic was just so fun and effortless that it gave off major couple vibes. But honestly, the entire show is just pure wholesomeness from start to finish. The writing is refreshingly simple yet manages to strike the perfect balance between lighthearted humor and deeper emotions. And if this series proved anything, it’s that you don’t need a huge budget to create high-quality content. Jeff and Gameplay’s chemistry is so natural, easygoing, and effortless that it makes their characters feel truly authentic and brings their simple yet realistic love story to life. I really appreciated how realistic the ending was, too. Loving someone doesn’t mean you have to give up your own life for that love.
Favorite episode? Jeff, Gameplay, and the baby. OMG my sugar levels must’ve skyrocketed watching that one! Also, props to the show for using its platform to raise awareness about hygiene and health during the height of the pandemic. That kind of social responsibility is always great to see! Perfect for a cozy afternoon or a weekend marathon!

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A warm blanket of a show

You might look at this show and think that having been basically an advertisement for a grocery store chain and produced by a cooking focused youtube channel, it would be shallow on character development and short on story. Fortunately, at least in this particular case, you'd be pretty damn wrong. Ingredients oozes charm in every scene, and the slow burn flirting of the characters leads to a bittersweet ending made more bearable with chocolate. It's possibly the most engaging, rewatchable little show where almost nothing actually happens and I love it so much.

Brief premise: Win and Tops are roommates during lockdown, just trying to survive and get to know each other. Win is a student and aspiring musician whose gigs keep getting cancelled due to covid, Tops is a dedicated culinary student who always knows the right meal for any occasion (and the actor is also a Cordon Blue trained chef irl so he actually did all the cooking for real). Each episode is a new recipe for the audience, and a life lesson for the characters. From overcoming vanity and jealousy, to realizing that success means nothing if you have no one to share it with, to taking responsibility for your mistakes, they always (well, usually just Win tbh) come out the other end of the meal just a little better for having known each other. At the climax, Win gets an audition for an international music program, but it comes just as he is finally starting to realize his true feelings for Tops and is conflicted about whether he should risk losing this new love to pursue his dreams.

Production-wise, it's pretty stark and simple but effective. The cooking scenes are well-shot without feeling out of place, and the music is cutesy and charming almost to a fault sometimes (with the exception of Jeff's dulcet tones). You're not really there for the decor, which leaves your focus on the acting and food.

Of course, the biggest selling point is Jeff and Gameplay, who are ridiculously cute and have this very sweet, playful chemistry. When Gameplay's Tops breaks out of his usually reserved frankness to flirt back with Win, it's just magic. And Win claiming to hate everything from vegetables to babies to cats, but then learning to love them by seeing them through Tops' eyes melts my frozen heart every time. Their climactic fist kiss is so wonderfully executed and well-earned, but I think my only quibble with the storytelling/pacing is that I wish it had come sooner so that we had more time to develop their romantic relationship as an actual couple. JeffGame are great but there's only so much they can do with the 2ish episodes they get after the kiss to be together, and I think more time to see them actually be romantic together would have lent more weight to Win's decision on the music program. But that's honestly a pretty small nitpick, and possibly just motivated by my desire to see they make out and cuddle more.

Ingredients is a comfort show, pure and simple, where you can escape to a world where everything can by solved with a homecooked meal and acoustic guitar serenade. Go for a visit, and return any time you need some mealtime inspiration or a warm hug.

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Simple but sweet

The show is simple and sweet. Yes it's a giant commercial for a store during a pandemic, but it's only obvious because Tops is always bringing home food in the store's bags. It's part cooking show, part light drama BL. It's all domesticity, as 90% of the show takes place inside the same house. But if you want something sweet, simple, cute, and fun, and that will probably make you want to learn how to cook, then this is the show for you. Tops is genuine and quiet while Win is the definition of sweet but dumb. But their development is endearing and you root for them the whole time.

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Falling in love gradually, and charming us all the way.

“Ingredients” is essentially a low budget two hander; but that description belies the seductive charm of its two leads and the captivating way it progresses from its initial concept to its final outcome.

Initially conceived as a ten x 6 minute ep. romantic BL-themed foodie series on behalf of a Thai grocery chain to promote their products, the audience response apparently prompted a revised expanded show.

The key to its success is its casting of Jeff Satur and Gameplay Garnpaphon Laolerkiat, both experienced 26 year old actors, and both of whom were familiar with having played opposite each other previously, in the 2019 drama, “He She It”. Here, Satur plays Win, an aspiring songwriting musician, which he actually is, and Gameplay plays Tops, an aspiring chef, which he actually is also. This lends credibility to much of the action, of which, in a 6 minute episode, there’s not a lot. But, what is in abundance, is the almost accidental blossoming of a romance behind the most familiar of situations, house-mates sharing their days.

The story-line, such as it is, concerns Win preparing for his exams and Tops researching and trialling recipes for potential future use but which he uses in the present to aid or defuse a variety of problems that pop up in their lives. Tops is always there for Win during these moments and that reassuring presence creates a bond.

The show is not without its problems. There are the familiar defects in Thai productions of over-lit photography and unnatural set-ups; and the show is at its weakest when multiple other characters crowd into the modest location set used - at those times, the audio echoes and the camerawork loses focus. But these are compensated by the conversational almost improv style exchanges between the two leads in their solo scenes and the fluid camerawork responding to their dynamics. These scenes are the highlight of the show.

In between all of this, Satur entertains the audience with his casual but accomplished guitar work and songs that show off his warm and melodic voice, while Gameplay’s culinary dash in the kitchen scenes has professional flair.

Satur and Gameplay play and spark off each other with a disarming naturalness that made me feel like the proverbial “fly on the wall” observing private revelations. The progression to affection, and thence to confession, just in time for a forced parting, yields some of the most endearing and convincing of scenes between romantic leads in the BL genre. The long final meal scene in Ep. 21 looks like it was a multi-camera single take scene, but it also felt as if the two young men were genuinely sad their relationship in making this show was coming to an end. As did I.

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Food and Good Looking Guys! Can't Beat That!

This is such an interesting BL series, but it honestly left me feeling satisfied, bored, and very sad. I just did not know what its intent was. It is not exactly a love story; or is it? It started out great but then got lost or overwhelmed by its own story. It was also obvious that there was a lag between the first half and the second half of the series. Whether it was due to the pandemic or not, there is a noticeable difference in the production and even the acting. The first half was charming, cute, and sort of drew you into their lives and I liked it. The second half felt ‘different’ and it had a sense of sadness to it that almost engulfed it. This series is a worthy series because of the superb and I do mean superb acting of Jeff and Gameplay. The bantering between these two, the laughing, the touching, the glancing and yes even the eating all seemed so natural real and unrehearsed. The story is slow and the production in places stinks, but to watch these two together makes up for any negativities in this series.

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Cute

This series has 21, 10 minute episodes. I read other reviews saying it was difficult to get into with just 10 minute episodes once a week, and there were delays with when the episodes aired due to COVID. So I waited until it was completed, and binge watched it. I can see how it wouldn’t have had as much impact, or made as much sense if you had to watch it in 10 minute installments. It was cute! I liked the story, and the chemistry between the characters, which I already loved from “He She It”. Definitely a cute, light and fluffy series. I hope there’s a second season, where they’ll hopefully expand the episodes, and give us more in depth storyline!

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So Underated!

My reviews are not so detailed, there are only a few series I like to make a statement about how underrated they are. I watched this when it first came out and now Im on my 8th time. The chemistry between Jeff and Gameplay is so intense in this simple and short series. Hell, I even get the chills with Gameplay cooking scenes because you can see in his eyes why he is cooking, too make people happy. I really like to see a continuation of their story. ❤️ Rewatch value is 100% a must each time I do makes me want to see more. Ive seen them both in multi shows but they only shine the brightest when acting together. What really stands out to me is there isn't a lot of “skinship” but the intense chemistry is still there. Give this series a watch, you will not be disappointed.

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It’s a great series

I really enjoyed this series. It was great. The chemistry between the characters were great too. Win is such a great singer and Top is really a professional chef. The ending was a little bittersweet. The only thing I didn’t like is how short the episodes were and the unusual number of them. 21 episodes ranging from about 9 minutes to 20 minutes. Seems like they could’ve trimmed down the amount of episodes if they just combined some of them together. I would love a second season of Ingredients. Perhaps this time of Win’s career as a singer and Top’s career as a chef wanting to open up his own restaurant. Also throwing in a long distance relationship and somewhere in between the two of them reconnect and get back together for good. That would be a good plot line for a second season in my opinion. Nonetheless, I recommend this drama if you enjoy BL, but also for the food and music. Food and music are what brings people together after all.

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Best thing that happened to me

I love it. It's everything I asked for: Just two beautiful boys in quarantine cooking, singing and being cute with each other. For the most part it's just cuteness and happiness envolving food and music and cats so they're basically married. Totally heart warming, would strongly recommend. Jeff Satur and Gameplay make such a pretty couple I could probably cry just talking about them, especially Jeff with his hipnotizing voice. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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This Was Cute

I wasn't expecting a lot when I started this. But I was pleasantly surprised. Now, I'm gonna say it right now that I waited for the last episode to air before I started because I didn't want to wait two weeks for each short episode, therefore my viewing experience is probably a little different to those who watched it as it aired.

Story: I'm not rating this show the same way I would a full length series because that would be a little unfair (considering this is only a mini web series). For what it is, it's well produced and executed. Obviously, the story could have been developed deeper if the episodes had a longer run time, but they did a pretty good job despite that. The first half of the web series lacked some depth but as it continued, it did improve and by the end, I was fully obsessed. I love the storyline and the entire mini series is cute as hell. I loved the whole food aspect of the show and how they managed to include a different dish/recipe every episode. Ingredients was surprisingly informative too, teaching it's viewers little facts about food. I was definitely interested in that part. The content of every episode has this fluffy, wholesome vibe to it; especially the episodes with the cat and the baby, I was legitimately squealing and laughing the entire time I watched those episodes. Watching Jeff and Gameplay with the baby specifically filled my heart with every joyful emotion that exists. A lot of people are unsatisfied with the ending (maybe those people are the ones who watched it as it aired) but I think it was realistic. And technically, it was happy because they didn't break up or anything and decided to see each other as often as they could.

Acting/Cast: The only reason I didn't give a 10/10 is because there were some moments that felt awkward (in regards to the acting) but that was mostly in the first half of the mini series. However, they couldn't have casted this mini series more perfectly. Gameplay and Jeff are great actors with amazing chemistry. They felt natural with how they interacted. I also love how Gameplay is actually an amazing cook and Jeff is an amazing musician. Their talents really took this series to another level since everything felt more real and it made me so happy when I was watching this. Jeff really is such an amazing singer, like wow, I could listen to his voice forever. And Gameplay said he research about the SDG's for Tops' thesis and he explained in the comments (and on Instagram) his research and why he chose those specific ones. I really appreciate all the effort Gameplay and Jeff exerted for their roles. Amazing.

Music: All the songs Jeff/Win played and sung were amazing and why I gave the music part such a high score. However, I deducted points for how the music in regular scenes was edited. Sometimes it would just randomly come in and cut off without there having a smooth transition. And sometimes, one song (or maybe a different part of the song) would start and then it would suddenly cut straight away to a different song or part, without a logical reason for it to do so.

Rewatch Value: This mini series was so cute and relatively short that it would be super easy to rewatch any time that I want to feel all happy and mushy and shit. This just gives off a really good feeling of domestic wholesomeness that it's impossible to not smile silly.

Overall: I definitely recommend! And I recommend watching like five episodes before you decide whether or not you want to continue. Just don't judge off of one episode since they're so short anyway.

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A Unique and Satisfying Show

I decided after just a few episodes to treat the series as each episode standing alone. A separate story each time. When one ended, that was it, without any real cliff hangers. Of course under it all, the evolving relationship tied it all together. That's how I avoided the issue of episode length and spacing. I do admit that I will rewatch it sometime in the near future in a compressed binge.

I liked both actors very much and they kept me interested in the show. The embedded cooking show theme was very unique compared to any other drama I've seen.

It was a sweet show and I would definitely recommend it for the acting and the unique story. There could easily be a second season to this and look forward to one.

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