This review may contain spoilers
Beautifully Plated, Emotionally Underseasoned
I love shows centered around food, and Bon Appetit, Your Majesty completely delivers on that front. It’s artistically and aesthetically stunning, every meal looked so delicious it had me wishing I could reach through the screen and taste it. Full points from me for that aspect; they absolutely nailed the presentation.
But once you take the food away, the show doesn’t have much to lean on. Im Yoon-ah was exceptional, she’s truly come a long way from being barely noticeable in The K2 to confidently leading a series built entirely around her. As much as I liked Lee Chae-min, I think the story needed an older actor to pull off the tyrant king aura. The pairing felt mismatched, and the romance never developed naturally. The show just suddenly expects us to believe the female lead is deeply in love.
I’ve also never been a fan of “evil tyrant kings” getting redemption arcs just because they had tragic childhoods. Trauma doesn’t excuse cruelty, and Bon Appetit, Your Majesty really wanted us to forgive him too easily just because the female lead softened him.
On the brighter side, I loved the supporting characters. They were earnest, endearing, and the most human of all. Watching the evil ones get their due was deeply satisfying. And honestly, I appreciated that the show didn’t waste time trying to justify how the king ended up in the future. It’s fantasy, no one needs a scientific explanation; we just want a happy, satisfying ending. More fantasy dramas could definitely take notes from that.
A drama that looks five-star but tastes more like a simple comfort meal; satisfying, but not unforgettable.
But once you take the food away, the show doesn’t have much to lean on. Im Yoon-ah was exceptional, she’s truly come a long way from being barely noticeable in The K2 to confidently leading a series built entirely around her. As much as I liked Lee Chae-min, I think the story needed an older actor to pull off the tyrant king aura. The pairing felt mismatched, and the romance never developed naturally. The show just suddenly expects us to believe the female lead is deeply in love.
I’ve also never been a fan of “evil tyrant kings” getting redemption arcs just because they had tragic childhoods. Trauma doesn’t excuse cruelty, and Bon Appetit, Your Majesty really wanted us to forgive him too easily just because the female lead softened him.
On the brighter side, I loved the supporting characters. They were earnest, endearing, and the most human of all. Watching the evil ones get their due was deeply satisfying. And honestly, I appreciated that the show didn’t waste time trying to justify how the king ended up in the future. It’s fantasy, no one needs a scientific explanation; we just want a happy, satisfying ending. More fantasy dramas could definitely take notes from that.
A drama that looks five-star but tastes more like a simple comfort meal; satisfying, but not unforgettable.
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