atleeing

As soapy as they come

Summary (VERY dramatic): While there were some interesting elements of mystery, action, and tear-jerkers, the first half of the show reeked of American soap opera, in which the main characters were getting targeted every few seconds by an overwhelming number of villains and circumstances felt intense all the time. The scenes were just missing the dissonant organ music. Lol. I do appreciate the overarching theme of water (and how it tied into the plot), the short episode length, the redemption of certain villains, and the subtle address of Asian oppression by umm certain other races. The story also keeps the audience guessing who the real culprit is.

The first few and last few episodes had lots of interesting story and character development. However, the nonsense in between could have been removed. There were too many contradictory elements thrown together. Many scenes were overly dramatic in the beginning with multiple slow motion replays, which took away from the story. The plot twists felt unbelievable to me, crossing professional and personal lines in all sorts of ways, and possibly entertaining inbred(?) romance. Not sure how the guy got over the fact that she had nearly the exact same face as his sister.

The female lead was portrayed as timid, needy, and naive; whereas, the male lead seemed so put together, always coming to the rescue. Also, some of the supporting characters were a bit annoying. I got sick of the juvenile dialogue and immature character behavior by Episode 9 and nearly dropped the show by Episode 16 when some weird scenarios were introduced.

I ended up pushing past Episode 16 to finish the show but feel the episode count could have been condensed to 3/4 the amount. I personally wouldn’t re-watch this show.


Details: The international espionage scenario in the beginning got my attention but unrealistic scenarios made me want to stop watching. It was strange that everyone, including the competitor company, was watching Shen Man Ning like a hawk because they already believed she was a fake? Also, HOW MANY TIMES does Yan Xing Cheng have to rescue/pick up Shen Man Ning and carry her??? I was starting to feel bad for the guy. Lol.

The main characters were really smart in some ways and really stupid in other ways. Considering that Yan Xing Cheng had several years to perfect his revenge, he somehow missed a lot of details in preparing the unfortunate Shen Man Ning for her new identity, which often led to their peril. I wonder what would have been Yan Xing Cheng’s original plan with his blood sister for getting back into the Zhuang family. Still pretend they were engaged?

One contradictory and disturbing scenario was how they tried to play it off as romantic that a woman was getting choked by a guy who looked like he was about to kiss her as well. If he was a true gentleman, he wouldn’t have laid hands on her no matter how much he hated her.

It felt unfair that Shen Man Ning was portrayed as timid and naive, about to fall apart at any moment, while everyone else around her (including her own family) seemed so strong and domineering. On top of that, she was also getting threatened by Yan Xing Cheng when she wasn’t getting bullied by her new frenemies. It’s also strange that all she could think about was her romance after getting kidnapped three times and not to bǎohù zìjǐ (like when they were looking for the brooch). They did a lot of staring and hugging and kissing in time sensitive situations, which could have been spent figuring out the truth.

As far as the supporting characters, I could barely stand the selfish, immature, and idiotic bff Rao Mei Na whose rude and loud behavior seemed out of sync with the movie. Why would you NOT be concerned that your childhood friend hasn’t gotten back to you in such a long period of time? Most sensible people would check with others on the missing person’s whereabouts, then report it to the police if they couldn’t find them. When she does finally see her friend, she totally loses all her manners and ignores professional etiquette in front of everyone. She was also super mean to her friend, seeking apology, instead of finding out what exactly happened to her, how she went missing.

Zhuang Jia Kai and Tang Lin were also annoying to watch (although Tang Lin was better towards the end). Also, why did the female supporting characters keep harassing and throwing themselves at men they barely know, who also thwarted their advances? Reeks of raging teenage hormone type stuff.

Towards the end, the story finally started to get interesting and make sense in relation to their past. However, they threw in some last minute plot twists and left little room for Yan Xing Cheng to have a meaningful conversation with his beloved relative as well as provide more backstory. And since Shen Man Ning kept talking about being together forever, they could have thrown in a wedding scene at the end rather than fill up the time with more staring and cuddling.

Side Notes:
- What’s with all the candles in a lot of the scenes? In the company office, in the garden, etc.
- The constant hair changes of the male lead (professional vs. casual) is so much like K-drama; one of my pet peeves. Lol.
- Why did Shen Man Ning bite Yan Xing Cheng’s hand? That part makes absolutely no sense and adds nothing to the story.
- How it took 10 years (or was it 17 years?) for EVERYONE to seek/find Zhuang Xin Yan; considering their access to technology and an abundance of henchmen, it seems it should have taken much less time than that
- How the female lead’s best friend Rao Mei Na got a job at the same jewelry designer even though she majored in animation(???); one would think that they’d be more qualified to work at a gaming company rather than a high-end jeweler
- Liu Group having power to barge in LH Star’s office, set up meetings with any employee, and force a collaboration contract; how were they able to get past the security gates in the lobby in the first place??
- I realize there’s only three of them but it seems like Yan Xing Cheng’s henchmen were a bit clueless when it came to convert operations (like getting bitten by a dog, or getting spotted easily in front of a restaurant or inside a parking garage); they often seemed unprepared…

Read More

Like Watching Paint Dry

Summary: At first, the Netflix description hooked me: baker by day, demon hunter by night. I thought, “Wow, that’s fascinatingly different!” Unfortunately, the title and description are about all the action you get from this drama. From the dry dialogue to the lackluster ghost busting to the low budget acting (mostly with supporting roles), I can’t stomach any more of it. There’s folks out there who are more patient than myself and I commend them. But I can’t do it, I just can’t! Therefore, this review is incomplete since I could only finish up to Episode 8. Even after taking a break to watch a different drama, it still gave me the same feeling…Snoozefest.

Details: The premise of the show got me really excited and Episode 1 delivered some action (with special effects) and plot development but the storyline sort of dwindled after that (despite a few interesting ghost backstories). Then there was a spark of romance between the leads with the Zhong Kui making every excuse he could to be near Meng Hsin-yu (which was really sweet), then that also dwindled. Then there was a possible romance between some supports and that was sabotaged by the annoyingly overbearing and arrogant best friend Li En-hsi. Only the budding romances between the leads and between their supports kept me watching as far as I have. The attempts by the supposed expert exorcist team to chase the villain seemed to always fail without much clues available. Also, the side stories just made things confusing to me as I was still struggling to figure out where exactly the story was headed (which was probably nowhere). Also, many of the humorous moments weren’t that funny to me, but that could be a cultural thing.

I hate to be so critical of a show, as a lot of work went into making it. But I also can’t overlook a flat storyline and dialogue that falls short of its namesake. Rather than The Devil Punisher, it should be called, “Chasing Ghosts, Maybe.”

Read More

Not a coincidence

Summary: This short but loveably sweet mini series captures the heart with unshakable devotion between the two main characters. I like that the storyline was straightforward (with easily solved misunderstandings), tying the past to the present in a way that builds retention for the audience. Love the soundtrack as well. And surprisingly, no blatant ads? Amazing. An easy re-watch, if you want some simple entertainment.

Something that irked me though is that the Viki synopsis is totally off; it was not a heartbroken crush for the female lead as was described. In fact, it was the other way around.

Details: Let’s just be clear. The real reason Lee Hong Ju was “deeply skeptical when it comes to everything love-related” wasn’t because Kang Hu Yeong, it was because of someone else. I wished that was captured in the synopsis because it changes the color and expectations of the story. That aside, I found this drama an enjoyable mini series, which I’m starting to think all Asian dramas should be (like eight episodes or less, lol).

There were funny bits like Lee Hong Ju’s heroic stance on fighting for global warming vs. her own love llfe; and when she forced Kang Hu Yeong to do ancient Korean dynasty cosplay dress-up, with her as the king and him as the servant. Lol. Also, the plot development reminds me of that classic Hallmark formula in which their fates are tied together wherever they go - nothing is a coincidence. XD

I got a bit antsy at the last episode because they literally left less than 10 minutes to resolve a plot twist. But they did it, and they even had time to fill in more of the backstory as well. Impressive. I’m happy with this show. :)

Side Notes:
- Episode 1: I was annoyed by the unrealistic dialogue between Kang Hu Yeong and his friend who was harassing him about “dumping” a blind date. It was one date and it’s HIS life to make those kind of decisions.
- Episode 1: I found it strange and cringy when all the other supporting characters spoke better English than the main character, who supposedly lived in the U.S. for several years. It irks me when filmmakers create a storyline but don’t use people with matching skills for the scenarios. Why even write that type of scenario then? They could have faked it much better with him having gone off to some other country (like Singapore or something).
- Backstory throughout: The way that Lee Hong Ju came at Kang Hu Yeong in high school was straight up harassment and bullying. I get that she was simply protecting her friend but he totally had the right to ignore the situation rather than give an answer, if that’s what he preferred. He shouldn’t have to be humiliated while doing P.E. or attending class or trying to do research in the library or…
- End of Episode 8: Realistically, if someone broke their foot, wouldn’t they be on the ground in excruciating pain instead of being able to walk away? I’m surprised Kang Hu Yeong didn’t even make a face, and that Lee Hong Ju didn’t try to help him but just stood there.

Read More

An Easy Binge Despite Its Length

Summary: I really LOVE this incredibly romantic fantasy period love story! Although the series was 36 episodes long, I easily gobbled up this true romance (like it was half that length), which provided a generous helping of hilarious, touching, and edge-of-seat moments with an epic, bittersweet soundtrack in the background. Despite the classic protagonist-in-peril scenes in almost every other episode, there was always an interesting storyline or plot twist or visual until the very end except for some strange story holes (explained below) and the last episode left me disappointed. I still give it a 10 and would definitely watch again. Also, the illustrations in both opening/closing credits are STUNNING (wish I could find where to buy a poster).

Details: Only through a Viki viewer recommendation was I introduced to this amazing drama (watched on Netflix to avoid commercials). I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story creator Jiulu Feixiang also inspired “The Legend of Shen Li,” another drama I liked, and she’s easily becoming one of my favorite story makers. I’ve also seen Dylan Wang and Esther Yu separately in other shows and really enjoy each actor’s work, so it was no surprise that I’d love this show as well. Dylan Wang and Esther Yu did amazing jobs playing contradicting good/evil characters with some cringe-inducing scenes.

You can feel the natural sparks between the leads with such cute/sweet interactions like cooking for each other and coming to the other’s rescue. One of my favorite scenes (among many) is when Dongfang Qingcang put his hand around Orchid’s waist and commands everyone to stop messing with HIS woman! And Orchid's nicknames for Dongfang Qingcang are so adorable.

Some critiques I do have are:
- the fact that they introduced a new concept towards the very end and then dropped it like a bad habit, a power called glazed fire; I would have loved to see how that tied into the storyline and connected the main characters to their real destiny
- the episodes toward the end dragged out and were overly dramatic, leaving little time for a solid ending in the last episode
- the last episode felt rushed and empty, and a bit inconsistent with previous scenes in the beginning and middle of the show; for example…
- the strange, contradicting dialogue between Orchid and Xunfeng in which Orchid doesn’t think Qingcang will return but asks whether Xunfeng believed in miracles
- why it took 500 years for Orchid to have to see Qingcang again when it seemed like he only had to wait a few months for her return; the filmmakers could have given them an actual 500 years of marriage instead and expounded on those scenes, like showing Dongfang Qingcang / Orchid teaching their children the power and legend of glazed fire (which I’d also like to learn about :D)
- when they were reunited, Orchid’s reaction seemed out of character; I was hoping Qingcang would put the two-finger smile on her but the scene was so anti-climactic

I did check out the epilogue which was also disappointing, unless you like montages of past scenes in a show. I was hoping for some new material.

Read More

Royal Feast Deja Vu (or maybe the Remix)?

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

Read More