Cute, enjoyable, but without a "hook"
Excessive expectations rarely lead to anything good. In the case of this drama, I ended up feeling disappointed rather than satisfied. The first episode set a trap. The ML behaved so unpredictably and made such hilarious faces that I was expecting a ride full of cuteness, cringe, and surprises. Instead, it turned out to be a pretty average mini-series — cute and predictable, but with no outstanding features.
The Characters
The FL is the highlight. She is funny, likable, and confident. She makes full use of her cooking skills and, refreshingly, isn't shy about intimacy. She was never annoying, which is a big plus.
The ML, however, is a letdown. Cui Yu Xin is a good actor capable of range, but here he was forced to stand in front of the camera with a poker face way too often. His character, Chu Jun Yao, is stuck in limbo: he's neither a brave general nor a total mama's boy, although the script hinted at both.
The Older Generation: I loved them. The General's mother cracked me up with her endless soup obsession, while the Empress was so nasty I wanted to strangle her.
The Assistant: He’s cool. Honestly, he often behaved more appropriately and logically than the main character.
Production & Details
Visuals: The wardrobe budget was clearly tight (very few costumes), but at least they looked beautiful.
Food: Since the FL is a cook, there are plenty of beautiful shots of food ("food porn").
Action: The fights are so-so. Nothing impressive.
Romance: The kisses are actually quite good.
Verdict
There don't seem to be any critical plot holes, making it a decent watch. Overall, it’s an enjoyable mini-series with excellent actors, but it lacks that special spark or "hook" to make it memorable.
The Characters
The FL is the highlight. She is funny, likable, and confident. She makes full use of her cooking skills and, refreshingly, isn't shy about intimacy. She was never annoying, which is a big plus.
The ML, however, is a letdown. Cui Yu Xin is a good actor capable of range, but here he was forced to stand in front of the camera with a poker face way too often. His character, Chu Jun Yao, is stuck in limbo: he's neither a brave general nor a total mama's boy, although the script hinted at both.
The Older Generation: I loved them. The General's mother cracked me up with her endless soup obsession, while the Empress was so nasty I wanted to strangle her.
The Assistant: He’s cool. Honestly, he often behaved more appropriately and logically than the main character.
Production & Details
Visuals: The wardrobe budget was clearly tight (very few costumes), but at least they looked beautiful.
Food: Since the FL is a cook, there are plenty of beautiful shots of food ("food porn").
Action: The fights are so-so. Nothing impressive.
Romance: The kisses are actually quite good.
Verdict
There don't seem to be any critical plot holes, making it a decent watch. Overall, it’s an enjoyable mini-series with excellent actors, but it lacks that special spark or "hook" to make it memorable.
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