Kodoku no Gourmet

(I created subs for this anime, you can find them in the forum "kitakevo" created)

There's something uniquely honest about Kodoku no Gourmet's premise - it's exactly what it says on the tin: a man eating meals alone and sharing his thoughts. No dramatic plot twists, no complex character arcs, just the simple pleasure of solitary dining, using this. But beneath this is used as a lens of urban life. Through Gorou's meals and internal monologues, we witness everything from cultural snapshots of Japanese dining culture to profound observations about work life, social obligations, and the small moments that make up our daily existence. No dramatic ... plot twists or complex character arcs here - instead, the show uses its straightforward premise to explore how food intersects with memory, routine, and the brief respites we find in our busy lives. Hahah sometimes it's just about a meal being good, that keeps our flame flaming.

The show excels at capturing the authenticity of everyday dining experiences. The attention to detail is impressive, from the ambient sounds of eating (that I didnt particularily like haha, it was like an ASMR muk-bang) to the protagonist Gorou's casual observations about life and his surroundings. His internal monologues feel genuine, reflecting the kind of meandering thoughts we all have during solitary meals.

However, this dedication to realism and simplicity is both the show's strength and its limitation. While it perfectly executes its concept, that concept is incredibly niche. It's essentially a televised mukbang with narrative elements - a man eating and describing his experience in detail. The show can be emotionally engaging through its sheer authenticity - we've all had similar moments and thoughts while dining alone - but there's no overarching story or character development. Each episode stands as its own slice of life, without building toward any larger narrative change, and it's a real slife of life, cause nothing really changes, you can describe all episodes as a man eating, cause nothing changes, there is no narrative.

While Kodoku no Gourmet is well-executed for what it aims to be, its appeal is highly specific. If you're fascinated by the cultural aspects of dining or enjoy meditative, slice-of-life content, you might find it engaging. However, viewers seeking traditional narrative progression may find it too minimal. It's not a bad show by any means - it's just one that knows exactly what it wants to be, even if that's not everyone's cup of tea.

(Personally a 6-7 because it's not for me).