atleeing

Summary (heavy violence from middle to end): A show about cooking with science, time travel through a recipe book, royal romance, and an unrealistic but intriguing storyline with cheesy, upbeat background music? All check. Hallmark, Korean style! How does that differ from regular Korean dramas? Well, the introduction had that similar background music and feel, set to a cooking competition, that I’ve experienced in one too many American Hallmark movies. Of course, it’s not complete without those familiar K-drama elements incorporated, like a high-profile and tyrannical (or narcissistic) but dashingly handsome male lead. Another check. The frequent close-ups of the his perfect lips as he savored each morsel of food was like 😳 It was also nice to see a lot of cultural tie-ins to Korean history, with heavily ethnic music and dance numbers showcased throughout.

As the episodes went on, I started to get a feeling that I’ve seen this show before…a fastidious ruler with a super refined palate that picks on the lowly but beautiful palace cook, who’s also his fated soulmate, as they navigate a swarm of conniving trickery by other palace residents? Ah-hah. Royal Feast (2022). And the mystery surrounding the execution of a family member? Story of Yanxi Palace (2018). AND, the crazy blood bath towards the end of the movie while shrouded in some type of espionage against the main characters? Fateful Love (2024). Perhaps it was just a coincidence but all those aspects of this show gave me a bit of deja vu. Lol

However, the story got sloppy towards the middle with some inconsistencies (like storytelling approach) and holes (like lack of explanation on some key points) in the storyline that the filmmakers never bothered to resolve by the end.

Overall, I did enjoy Bon Appétit, Your Majesty! Rewatch? Yes, please. Even though I was balking at the inconsistencies and holes in the storyline, I still wanted to go back and catch the details I missed from the beginning. Looking back through the show, I realize I loved most the part when they first met and kind of hated each other. ^_^ That smack to the head in response to his ummm piggish offer to her was woahhh… 😂

My respect for Im Yoon-ah’s work is growing. Apparently, she underwent months of culinary training for this role. She also speaks multiple languages, and her Mandarin is pretty good (King the Land, 2023). I also love the mini music video nod to Seo Teiji & Boys "Come Back Home," one of my favorite scenes of the show!


Details: Despite its undismissable plot holes, I was quite impressed by this fantasy, sci-fi, mystery romcom themed around cooking. The flow of the story was very smooth for most of the show. And what began like a Hallmark evolved into a much more complex plot akin to the likes of Chinese period dramas Story of Yanxi Palace (2018) or Fateful Love (2024), both of which intensities are hard to top in my book. I mean those dramas had ALL kinds of wrongness (diabolical villains in every corner)! But Bon Appétit, Your Majesty! is a good contender. There was plenty of “Whaaaa???” moments in the plot development. And although it’s hard to believe that they fell off a tall cliff and floated to a shore pretty much unscathed (especially after he was shot by an arrow), it made for a great setup. Good thing Yeon Ji-yeong knew a bit of first aid. 😂

The aspects of the show I appreciated were:
- how Yeon Ji-yeong was a tough and determined woman, who spoke up for herself or others; she was the perfect partner for the king — go, go, go!
- incorporation of scientific explanations with the cooking, not just showing fancy dishes
- showcasing ancient dishes with some modern twists (having had multiple culinary experts in their arsenal to consult with), along with the euphoric reaction from different characters when they tasted the food; I actually wouldn’t have minded being the poison checker if I could taste all that lovely looking food. ^_^ My mouth was watering the whole time!
- how the filmmakers tied in certain time-space tidbits between episodes, like the origin of King Lee Heon’s historical name Yeonhuigun and consistent comparison between modern Korean and ancient Joseon terminology
- the Seo Teiji & Boys Come Back Home sample, Mangunrok remix performance 🎉; the bonhuuuuu part kinda killed me. Lol
- punchy cultural background music, along with the traditional dances
- funny and cutesy scenes like the playful paper fan fight between King Lee Heon and Im Song-jae
- the slight dabble in steam punk with the eccentric and reclusive inventor who could only be won over by Chef Yeon’s charm and passion for cooking; love how he comes to the rescue at the end
- that they reincarnated her whole culinary team in the future

The aspects of the show I didn’t like were:
- lack of explanation of key points, like where exactly the magic of the recipe book came from; yes, their love created it but what made it work? Or the half-baked explanation why Lee Heon’s mom was executed; what was her crime again? I didn’t get that part.. also, why was the Mangunrok hidden away without inciting anyone else’s curiosity, including the king’s?
- inconsistency with their storytelling method, like addressing the audience directly in the beginning and then not following through. I wish it was more like Wayne's World (yes, different animal I know) in which the characters kept checking in with the audience throughout. It would have been cool to have both leads directly addressing the audience occasionally as a comedic shtick
- how the dialogue got sloppy towards the end and suddenly the show was more of a blood-spilling spree
- inconsistency in character behavior, like how the whole group of culinary/jesting rebels turned from brave and victorious to dumb and helpless right after Prince Je San captured Cook Yeon. Seriously? You had no more arrows or bombs left to take him down with? But I guess the show would have had to end... 🤦🏻‍♀️
- less and less scientific explanations for the dishes, as well as less details, in later episodes
- the overused dumb leads scenario of stubbornly returning to danger AFTER being warned not to do so...WAYO!? Like Cook Yeon in the forest after being rescued from the massacre in the palace, or King Lee after surviving an ambush and then looking for Prince Je San only to reveal Chef Tang’s riddle/warning to the guy

There was a blood eclipse...but what made the book magical and time transcending? Apparently, it wasn’t their tears or words. Was it her blood splattered on the book? And why did the book only transport HER back through time and not him? I thought the whole point was that the magic of the book was centered around their deep love for each other. C’mon, people, get it together! Ije geu-man! (I heard that a lot in Dramaworld 😂)

I also got a bit annoyed with the Cook Yeon in later episodes, especially in the stand-off between King Lee and Prince Je San. Seriously? The guy's in the middle of an intense sword fight and you're calling his name, trying to get his attention? Why don't you be useful and crack a jar over the enemy's head?? Oh, and love how she's taking her sweet time to read the recipe book too, while he’s fighting for his life, like it's an ordinary day in the neighborhood. Wow 😂

I don't know if the filmmakers got flustered with how to end the story but I didn't appreciate the lackluster way of refusing to explain how he finds her in the end. It felt kind of like a slap in the face to the audience to say, "It's a secret…” rather than conjuring up a little backstory for that. Lame. For example, a blood eclipse while holding the ripped page of the book and thinking about one’s true love would have been good enough. Or clicking their heels together and saying three times: "My dearly beloved, if you were to read this someday...may you come back to my side." OR nannn jigeumm… muuu eos-eulll… chaj-eulyeo go! aeleul sseuneun geolkka… Mannngunrok, eooo-di-sseo? You must come back home… 😂😂😂


Side Notes:
- Why was Lee Heon not curious as to why Yeon Ji-yeong’s outfit was way different than the hanboks of that period? Why didn’t anyone look in her handbag and notice something unusual about the items?
- How does the guy have strength after being shot in the chest with an arrow?? And what was the point of burning the house down like that, just because you felt insulted? Sheesh
- The dialogue with the envoys in forced Chinese was killing me... just don't even bother if you're not gonna do it right. Lol. Although, Jo Jae Yoon did do a pretty good job speaking Chinese.
- The chin guard window mask never made any sense to me, in any drama. Really? That small thing's supposed to prevent germs from transferring?
- How did Lee Heon have the means and the know-how to get a new outfit in the modern world?? Also, what happened to Yeon Ji-yeong’s precious handbag in the end? Would have been cool to do an outtake of its outcome