Bon Appetit, Your Majesty

GREAT MODERN/TRADI KDRAMA !

On my list from the start because I really like Lee Chae Min in everything he does, and Yoona, I like her more and more; her acting is improving, and the emotions are there. Not being a big fan of cooking dramas, even though I've seen a ton of them, I was thrilled to launch a story that blends modernity in 2025 with the old times through time travel.

The first episodes won me over! Whether it was Lee Chae Min, with her undeniable charisma as King Joseon, or Yoona, radiant, on point in her emotions and performances, not to mention the dose of humor that made the whole thing sparkle with kindness. Kang Hanna's acting didn't really touch me; the writing for her character was relatively cold, so she left me neither hot nor cold.

The dishes were visually exquisite, and the arrangement of each dish was mouthwatering! It was beautiful, colorful, and appetizing. Although the culinary complexity was too much for my taste, to the detriment of the romance, I still loved seeing the King stuff himself, haha.

Exactly, let's talk about the romance!

I found it sublime. There was good chemistry between the two, but in a "sweet" and "caring" way, like two people who have been together for a very long time. Like a habit. However, I didn't feel any passionate or sensual chemistry, which was 200% due to the age difference, for sure. However, that didn't stop me from loving them immensely together and also laughing at the old-couple snark they would make at each other.

Overall, I loved BON APPÉTIT YOUR MAJESTY because it's a story that exudes positive vibes. Despite the corruption and internal conflicts, I didn't feel the war politics were very present. It's still a rom-com, so nothing to give you a headache. I thank the entire cast for their nuanced and remarkable performances. I loved the music and can't wait to get the soundtrack album.

I would add a small criticism at the end for the unanswered questions regarding Monsieur's arrival. Indeed, in 2025, there are things that can't be magical without administrative oversight! In short, let's let magic exist anyway!

I obviously recommend BON APPÉTIT YOUR MAJESTY! This year's favorite for me.

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Episode 3 was amazing!

Episode 3 was amazing! It’s been such a long time since I’ve felt this much excitement while watching a series, and waited so eagerly for the next episode 😍🥺😍🥺😍🥺😍

As for Choi Min’s acting, I really have to say I’m impressed. At first, when I heard Park Sung Hoon had stepped down from the role due to the controversies, I was disappointed. But now, I’m actually glad it happened, because it gave Choi Min the chance to shine.

His proud expressions, that crooked smile, the tone of his voice, the aura he carries, even the way he goes ‘oohooooh’—it honestly feels like he was made for this role. Even though he’s 11 years younger than Yoona, his performance is so strong that the age gap doesn’t show at all.

Who would’ve thought that the cute little bartender with a short role in Alchemy of Souls would end up here, playing such a capable king? 🥺😍😂

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Loopholes, We've Got Your Loopholes of All Sizes Here!

Nothing was explained or made sense: why was a modern woman outrageously, belligerently fearless in an isolated area when a man repeatedly tried to kill her (with arrows, sword, and knife!); if she was from the future and had foreknowledge, why didn't she make better choices or give out warnings; why would cooks well-known for their knife skills choose wooden spoons as weapons to save their lives; and why was the king's mother killed? The ending is equally nonsensical, and the writers even admitted in a sideways fashion that they couldn't come up with a viable explanation. As for loose ends, the whole drama garment was frayed! If you don't need logic or explanations, this is the drama for you.

Even so, I enjoyed myself. The leads and supporting cast were fun. I enjoy food dramas, and I could happily watch the ML eat in slow motion for an entire drama. Which is, basically, the main reason to watch this show. I've added an entire star for the ML's acting skills in relishing each bite.

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Kept me interested.

Nov/Dec 2025
Some very funny moments, in the early episodes especially, but as the story moves on, there are much darker elements.
I found it easy to watch and stick with.
I liked the cast a lot ~ including supporting and didn't feel there were any irritatingly weak or stupid characters ~ though some were very naive.
I didn't like the ending, which felt rushed and, in many ways, quite a big cop-out. What followed a tense and distressing culmination, was a too light and half-hearted finale.
I also thought that the character of said His Majesty, was far from sweet or romantic; yes he changed on falling in love, but he was a maniacal, controlling tyrant before, who had a lot to make up for. That was readily glossed over, which didn't fit a lot of the FL character's principles, I felt.

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Good start, no follow-up

Oh well, first off, I really like Lim Yoona, I think she was exceptinoally good in 'King the land'. One of her qualities for me is that she dares to play comedy roles, something most beautiful Korean actresses rather don't do as it often isn't elegant as a given. She does play comedy, and given a good storyline and director, I think she is doing it very well.

So, I started to watch 'Bon Appetit', and the first two episodes didn't disappoint, it was funny, the slaptstick wasn't too much, and the banter between the FL and the ML was interesting.
So, taken into account that this of course is a fantasy drama with time travel, I don't feel the need to look for historic accuracy in this and watched it for fun.

Sadly, from epidose 3 on, I realised that the actual very thin plot of this show after the good intro episodes is just 'there is a cooking competition in every episode'. There is modern dishes filmed in food porn style, and there is historic figures tasting the modern delicious stuff and having orgasmic experiences every single time. That .- is funny once, but if that is all that happens in every episode that's just not enough.

It's also a bit absurd that the writers created these unbelievable stories over and over again why the FL has to compete in cooking in every episode. I took it when she had to compete against the former royal cooks, ok. But now some Chinese royal is there and things are actually about trade dealings and all of a sudden it's a cooking competion again because the Chinese guest said he doesn't like Joseon food? So what? That doesn't have any gravity for the trade dealings, but they somehow managed to absurdly build a plot where the future of the Joseon empire lies upon the FL and her cooking. Nah, sorry, that's just nonsese and flat storytelling with no creativity and no real plot.

And, not knowing the ML at all, I have to say he is not good enough an actor to carry this historic role for my personal taste. His acting actually seems a bit forced and has no depth as I can hear he is acting and is not able to give the historic Korean lines naturally. Maybe I am biased though, as I had just rewatched 'the red sleeve' where the ML was absolutely convincing in his historic ruler role and even brought me to tears.
So sadly, I'm dropping this, I'd rather rewatch 'king the land' again, where Yoona could shine with her comedic talent placed in a good storytelling.

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