This review may contain spoilers
Flawed but Under Rated.
This wasn't on my radar. It dropped into my FYP on Tik-Tok. Out of curiosity, because it was Song ZE, I watched the first episode. In the first 24 hours, I did 20 episodes.The ML, Ethan Juan, is totally IT. He fitted the role of a broken wing bird incredibly well. This is one CDdrama where the ML actually shone for his acting merits and not for his big eyes, flawless plastic job and posing. He carried his role of total commitment to art beyond personal and emotional needs incredibly well. Especially of his relationship with Elise. He was fine until Ep 35. But then its not his fault but that of script for putting him into an impossible situation with his second sudden disability.
I don't think anyone could carry the FL role better than SJE She was ditzy. She was innocent, naive and petulant as required. She is adorable and literally melted her way into his heart. Its not a slow burn romance. Its melting butter to caramelised his heart. Her expressions are priceless and spot on. When she announces, "I am back", its heartwarming. She matured nicely in her role from being in a crush to a shared romance in delightful sequences. A lowly apprentice in art to a responsible partner in life.
My first exposure to Augusta XH. I am impressed by her. Especially in the initial episodes. Again her later parts is impaired by the later script.
Most of the supporting casts played decent roles. Especially Nina, Uncle Feng and the mentor Mr Huang. Nina deserved a more prominent part and she was sorely missed until her reappearance. The shenanigans of Victor was so irrelevant. Obviously he can't sing. Whoever is doing the dubbing did an incredibly bad job. Whose bad idea was it to introduce that bicycle shop girl into the plot? Was it to make it to 40 episodes? Blu got a little irritating. Equal honours with Boris. The evolution of Xiaoyu was psychopathic. She deserves a better script.
The OST is emotionally numbing. For any foodie, the food sequences would be delightful, especially those of the street food.
I really enjoyed the series, reveling in the developing roles of the ML and FL until Ep 30. As the script evolved beyond Ep 30, the plot holes got bigger culminating in the final episode 40. Overall it was entertaining. Of course this will be compared to "Dating in the Kitchen". DITK would is a better drama but here SJE and EJ shined brighter.
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Annoying side casts yet again ;(
I read somewhere that this drama was underrated, and that it was really good. So starting it off, it had promise.But as most Cdramas of late, it just went sour. I started skipping and FF a lot...
1) Annoying side casts - Elise, Victor, Boris, Xianyu.. childish, overly dramatic and their characters were just poorly written.
2) Plot- I understand that the ML was betrayed and was slowly being poisoned. If he was smart, he would have quickly changed doctor and gotten a 2nd opinion. His mistake was putting too much trust in his ex-gf / also business partner. I read many reviews that the ending was just terrible.
3) Makes no sense- any person found cheating in a competition would be reported & disqualified immediately. Any crime committed also would be punished, but apparently not in this drama. How does the writer expect the audience to watch this??!!
4) Romance- too slow burn for me. I didn’t mind the age gap at all, and the chemistry between both leads was quite convincing. It just took too long for them to kiss (let’s be honest here ;) ) I dropped this at episode 21, but I JUST HAD TO SEE some spark between them. So I skipped to Epi 35&36 where there was a somewhat confession and kisses. Haha
5) Too many episodes - yep. 40... could have just done with 24.
Ethan Juan was a real eye candy though ;) Hope he chooses better scripts in future.
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It was okay.
I have a love hate relationship with cooking dramas. The cooking aspect was okay, but regarding the characters, She seems very immature to me, and so many aspects, and then someone what snobbish. When characters are like this, I have a hard time trying to figure out why the ML is falling in love.I really couldn't fall in the love with the FL. I really need to in these dramas. The story was a little far fetched, but I liked the ML. There was a tremendous age gap which for me was also unsettling.
Overall, I believe it could have been better.
Best I can say is 4.5
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Don't Get Me Wrong, I loved It! But...
Don't get me wrong, I loved it! But... what the hell was that? The secret to enjoying this is to fast forward. Fast forward like you have never fast forward-ed before. There was a lot that was unnecessary to the heart of the story (so much so that I feel as if the drama would have been told far better in 20 episodes). And by skipping those scenes that try to humanize vain and useless characters, the story is tighter and far more enjoyable (hint: you'll know when to skip when you see them).Without those scenes, there is much to enjoy; especially with the male and female main leads, and even with Chu Ting and Yi Ran.
My main problem with this: VERY SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD
My main problem with this isn't even the useless scenes that I had to skip (in order to protect my waning sanity). My problem is with the kumbaya-ness of the entire thing. The villains aren't punished. Like not even in the slightest. The petty ones are rationalized and then they get redemption arcs which probably would have been fine if the redemptions weren't being handed out left, right and centre. And then the actual criminals (the miraculous duo) are given slaps on the wrists and their premeditated crimes are pardoned, while the poor guy who was roped into the entire thing because he needed money (who's only actual crime was breaking and entering to get the poison out of ML's house) is never addressed. He was on the run for a crime he didn't commit and then arrested for the crime he didn't commit. Where is Li Yan's redemption and happy ending??
And let's not even go into how ridiculous the characters' motives are, or just how extreme they (looking at the male lead here) behave in so many circumstances. But once again, if we pretend the scenes we've skipped and the ridiculous motivations don't exist, there is so much fluff to enjoy. (We are also going to pretend that the last few minutes of the final episode does not exist. If you ask me, the drama ended at everyone walking into his comeback banquet with a voice over of ML and FL saying their I love yous.)
In the end, I'm satisfied (in fluffy chemistry we trust!) yet angry because I feel like I've been led by the nose to a beautiful mirage in the desert and now all I have to show for it is a mouth full of sand.
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Recommended Culinary Drama ❤️❤️❤️??
The Mixed Character of Jian ChianFang and Lin Kesong Are Perfect. The Mature, Cold Mentor, perfectionist Executive Chef who is definitely has a fragile heart meets his young cute, lovely, loyal, sweet, funny student Lin Kesong. I love them❤️❤️.ALL Food Scenery are PERFECT. How interesting.
The antagonist role are perfect too : Boris, Elise, and Xiaoyu 😁❤️.Thats Drama. There are protagonist and antagonist. No antagonist will be Bored isnt it?
And the dance scenerey, i think related to happy moments, right ?? Yuxuan Restaurant is finally meets Sugar 👍👍❤️❤️❤️.sugar food will bring happiness.
Well done
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This review may contain spoilers
Eye Candy, Good Casting and Learning to Live with Frustration
Warning: If you get emotionally invested in your Asian dramas - install a acrylic panel in front of your TV or, computer screen before you start watching this. The way the writers handled this story and its characters - you may find yourself throwing things at the screen when the bad people keep getting away with everything they do. Or, keep trying to manipulate your favorite characters.Better than most Chinese dramas. I thought they spent some major bucks on this one until I started seeing them use the same stock shots/scenes over and over. Basically, time filler while they make you listen to the soundtrack. Gotta stretch 16 episodes of story into 30! I guess if you think of this as more soap opera and less drama - you will be more patient.
While some dramas have made the food another character, this one keeps food as a backdrop. It is discussed as if it is important to everyone but, while we do learn some things as the too many episodes plod along - we just watch people cut, prep, cook and eat while they go through the motions. There are some amazing moments between the main characters when he is teaching her. He is such a good actor and so into the part, you can see how she falls for him through these cooking lessons. I still wish the food was more than something to be judged and consumed. Compare to Bite Me where food scenes were sensual, gorgeous and presented to be as important as the characters themselves.
I agree with some of the other reviews that this story has too many bad people getting away with what they've done. I figured out the main evil person (who cares why she is doing it) so early that I've grown frustrated with the revelations and hoping/waiting for her to get hit by a bus. At least in The K-2 we see the villain have to take responsibility for all the evil he has done - by his own hand - and, accepts it.
After 25 episodes, I have finally stopped yelling at the TV "Stab her in the heart." every time Elise has screen time. Why does this pyscho not get anything coming to her. The Chinese society is very well known for corruption and letting money talk but, you don't see any of that here. In fact, evil is glorified unless you are a small business. Use food additives to your fish? You are going to jail. Poison, embezzle, steal, lie, cover up, coerce - you're fine. In fact - we'll reward you!!!
Love the main characters and a couple of the side stories. This was clearly made to be a travelogue type story for the upcoming Olympics. Get people interested in visiting the area and trying all the different kinds of food. It takes time to get used to Song Zu Er - she can be quite annoying and immature - her growth takes much longer than traditional Asian dramas - she seems to backslide into the childish realm a bit too often - petty. Ethan Juan is at his best at both when he is in control and when he is most vulnerable. The in-between stuff gets a bit messy. Loved the main characters interactions when they were just normal and their guards were down.
I'll stick with it through all the episodes but, I am starting to fast forward through the time filler stuff so, I can focus on the main stories. I don't care if a character has to look at outfits and pick out products for 20 minutes. I get that you want us to believe they have an important job. You can do it in five minutes. LOL Love the side story of the immature heir coming to grips with having to mature. Love seeing his growth and struggle and his fiancé is a perfect casting choice - in today's Chinese society - should she have to put up with him?
Just finished episode 25. Still love the main characters and after reading reviews - I have an idea of what to expect. So, I don't think I will be throwing anything at the TV anytime soon.
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Did not live up to the preview and potential
Amazing preview and potential, but once you start watching it, the potential unravels and cringey angst on what these characters do startsLife is too short for stressful drama. Why spend all that time watching and be stressed? Don’t our lives already provide enough of that?
Summary of the series:
- an attempt to somewhat Light hearted rom/com; series’ flow was slow
- a bit of stress watching it, had to fast forward some due to the many mis-opportunities, cringey things that these characters go through and no guts from spitting out your feelings
- FL and ML was annoying at times; so many times they are close to coaxing the other but decided to do something to tick them off
- beautiful filming of the culinary parts
- some struggles, add bad guys, calamity or miscommunications to cause more drama, stress to extend the series
- cant finish and had to drop it; its not the non-stressful rom/com I was hoping for and its very awkward and slow
If you are looking for slow pace story about culinary, good visuals with gratuitous stress/drama, frequent cringey out of no where throw-in jabs, insipid side stories, then this is for you.
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