“Culinary Class Wars” episodes 8~10 were released on October 1st. With unique formats such as “Black Spoon Chef Selection” and “Black vs. White Chef Duel” as well as team challenges, the show has captivated viewers. This time, the show raised the stakes with a convenience store mission and invited 20 mukbang creators as judges, further cementing its popularity.
The inclusion of a consolation round and the discovery of the TOP 8 have increased the excitement about who will win. Previously, the show attracted attention with its “blind tasting” conducted by celebrity judges Baek Jong-won and Ahn Sung-jae, who judged solely on taste.
Renowned chefs such as Choi Hyun-seok, Fabri, Yeo Kyung-rae, Oh Se-deuk and Lee Young-suk, along with emerging talents and hidden masters, competed, providing viewers with a dopamine-rich experience.
As of Oct. 2, according to Netflix’s TOP 10 website, “Culinary Class Wars” had 4.9 million views (calculated by dividing total viewing time by the show’s length) from Sept. 23-29.
The show ranked first in four countries, including South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong, and entered the TOP 10 in 28 countries, marking a significant achievement. Since its release on September 17, it has held the top spot in Netflix’s TOP 10 Global TV (Non-English) category for two consecutive weeks.
Additionally, according to integrated OTT content search platform KinoLights, “Culinary Class Wars” maintained a favorability score of 97% out of 100%, securing the top spot among variety shows in 2024.
The show even surpassed the films “Officer Black Belt”, “I, the Executioner” and the drama “Love Next Door” in terms of buzz.
SNS has exploded with fan art of Baek Jong-won wearing a blindfold, and parody content is surfacing everywhere. Fans have also rediscovered the show’s contestants’ past appearances on various other programs, turning them into viral content.
From Choi Hyun-seok’s appearance in “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator” to Choi Kang-rok’s time in “MasterChef Korea 2”, to Edward Lee’s judging role on international cooking shows and Lee Young’s victory -suk in “Korean Food War 2”, long forgotten cooking shows are revisited.
Auntie Omakase’s viral YouTube videos, appearance on God of Seasoning’s program, and Cooking Maniac’s participation in “MasterChef Korea Season 4” also attracted attention, highlighting the past successes of these “black spoon” chefs .
Many viewers shared their thoughts, “I signed up for Netflix again just to watch “Culinary Class Wars”“, “I love cooking shows and this one is perfect” AND “I hope my favorite contestant makes it to the end.”
Additionally, discussions have emerged about why celebrity chefs such as Kim Poong and Raymon Kim did not appear on the show, sparking continued arguments regarding “culinary class wars.”
Similar to idol survival shows, fans choose their favorite contestants, and some have tried to book tables at restaurants run by show participants months in advance.
One netizen shared a screenshot showing thousands of people waiting to book a table, leading to comments like: “I even tried and couldn’t get a reservation” AND “Everyone must be curious about taste.”
There is also an online list of restaurants operated by competitors. Some participants have closed their businesses or no longer operate them, but viewers are calling for them to reopen.
As the show nears its finale, “Culinary Class Wars” is showing wide-ranging influence, and many are eagerly watching to see if it will make a lasting mark on Netflix and the country’s variety show industry.
Source: Daum
