Reviews

BEYOND MY EXPECTATION !

I didn't expect much as it was a vertically filmed drama, but the storyline was exceptional. Let's talk about the important points-
1. Usually in this category, we see FL falls in love with their bodyguard/servant, makes him the royal consort & empties her harem only for him. But here, FL didn't empty her harem. This is what we call actual REVERSE HAREM.
2. ML was actually submissive here, he never doubted or showed his male ego to FL. This level of devotion is really rare.
3. FL was gorgeous, ambitious, strong, capable of being queen, domineering also protective. ML & FL's acting was also pretty decent, chemistry was good.
4. Characters were well written, male concubines were adorable, they were jealous of ML but never tried to harm him.
5. Cinematography & production value was decent as a low budget vertical drama.

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A captivating and worthy story to watch!!!

I was waiting for this drama to be aired from the time it was announced about it at the beginning of this year!! just seeing the cast of actors they sounded so promising and knew it won't be disappointing!! to end up binge watching it and still wanting more of leads!!!

Having Lee Chae Min the first male lead made me wondering how he would be performing here after his previous dramas which were average and less but wanted to give it a try as I had the intuition this will be something different and brilliant compared to all the dramas he was casted before!! and seeing Yoona that I watched her only in the drama the k2, she was good there and was curious to know how she will be acting here so felt that this combination of first leads together would be interesting to watch and there is a potential of great chemistry on the way...

I was amazed with the beginning of this drama that started so good and in a hilarious way with their encounter, I liked the personality of Yeon Ji Young who is strong and ideal female lead!!! not believing he is the king and talking with him casually, dragging him all the way like she wants while unaware what is waiting her after she is still not believing that he is the king and she is sent in joseon era!!

□Cooking scenes and food part:
》Though it was the main plot of this drama more than being romantic, I enjoyed every scene of Yeon Ji Young cooking and showing her true talents and wide knowledge in culinary arts that made the king falling for her gradually starting from the unprecedented and new flavors that he didn't taste before when she was preparing dishes from the modern and actual era!!! I like how they portrayed the king enjoying every bites of Ji Young's plates that was itself a worthy show to watch and how they mixed to add a funny side at everytime he is tasting her mind blowing plates!!!
》I like how she made him remembering his late mother through her plates that was carrying a touch of his memories with his mother feeding him so he grew fond of this to be a gourmet king affected with these precious memories that the sudden arriving of ji young's scrumptious plates in his life made him rekindling the moments he spent eating with his mother...
》It was so quirky and funny in fact for the king to use Ji Young for feeding him like to repeat the same past through her but I was pleased that through her plates and such interactions he realised with time and her daily cooking for him that Ji Young is more than his royal cook!!!

□ Political part:
》Really didn't expect that the story would be having such interesting facts about how the king was raised to the throne!!! though it is having a sad and tragedic background of the king's past for losing his mother in such cruel way to have a hidden story behind it where the treacherous and betraying ones were the most close to him lurking around him... but ji young played an important role to make him a wise king not being pushed with his tyrannical nature to push him doing fair judgment and rules for his surrounding when at everytime she was a crucial part to not make him doing mistakes as she is coming from the future and didn't wanted him to end up miserably like the history happened before!!!

》Second leads conspiracy against the king was so saddening to see it but when it is about a historical story there would be always the villains who are having greediness and ambition to always taking over what is not meant for them regrading the throne...

☆ It was interesting to see how prince of Jesan who is hiding behind this broad smile a deceiving intentions to make the king falling in his traps to dethrone him and making the kind going mad just waiting him to do a reckless choice for overthrowing the king while pretending to be obedient for him!!!
Choi Gwi Hwa is a another talent that I felt so convinced seeing how he played his role so magnificently, he was so successfully chosen for this role!!!

☆ The consort Kang Mok Ju who was another close one for the king deceiving him while wanting to get rid of him and behaving to be all the way jealous when seeing Yeon Ji Young around the king in his chamber so her existence was threatening Kang Mok Ju and when noticing how the king is looking at his royal cook in a skeptical way showing how he is falling for her gradually without realizing that in himself...
Kang Han Na was so great and talented in portraying kang mok ju!!! I really became interested to watch more for this actress that amazed me with her performance in playing the villain consort!!!

□Romantic part:
》I was interested to watch this drama the most for this part especially and was excited to see the wonderful chemistry of leads and how their love story will be progressing!!!
》the most scene when the romantic part played important role that impressed me was when Yoona pushed the king to be wise and not killing those who murdered his mother as she didn't want him to do it for her true feelings for him saying she loves him at that decisive moment to prevent him from doing anything wrong so she was affecting his mind to not fall in the trap of his enemies who waited him to commit such grave fault!!!
》I like too the scene when the king dragged Ji Young and hugged her even if not privately after he didn't care what his surrounding would criticize such unacceptable thing regarding to their different social classes!!!

□ The wonderful performance of Lee Chae Min:
》I think this is my favorite part I want to talk about it, the actor is the shining star of this drama that I was dazzled with every tear he was shedding and every true love feelings he was showing for Ji Young!!! I think he is the one more suitable for the role of the king that no other actor would play so wonderfully like that!!! it is obvious how Lee Chae Min worked so hard after being the substitute male lead just in one month of preparation, he excelled in swords fighting and horse riding scenes, in addition to the realistic scary tone of voice a king is having!!! just seeing him wielding swords with such perfection was breathtaking and flabbergasting!!!
》He is a complete package actor in this drama that he is the main reason for being a top notch show alongside with Yoona and all the other characters who played too so good!!!

□The amazing acting of Yoona:
》I am really admiring how she worked so hard to nail the role of a top notch chef!!! I couldn't just to believe that Yoona was made to be a chef in real life!!! she was so good and shining when portraying the wise and strong Yeon Ji Young who was sent to travel back for changing the story of joseon's king and unaware that she will be going the joseon era for finding her true love who will be the king who fell for her plates from the first dish she cooked for him!!!
》I liked how she planned all the plates she wanted to cook with the team of cooking in palace!!!

□Cooking competition: I am not going to lie but the cooking competition was long and taking part of the total number of episodes but it wasn't bad to add for the plot cause it was so enjoyable to see how two teams from different cultures are competing against each other showing high talents of what real and wonderful passion for cooking could be ever seen!!!

□The food scenes:
》I think this drama will be the most one outstanding about food plot that will make watchers hungry wanting to taste them so badly with such artistic way in presenting the mouthwatering plates!!!
》The king himself is another show at every scene of tasting Ji Young's food, portraying the magical world of every bite that is taking him to enjoy every moment of it!!! so I was amazed with that part too that was essential to make the major food plot done in excellent way!!!
》The most plate that I would remember is the pasta dish and macaroons sweet that I wished the most to taste them!!!
》What is more hilarious how the king who is from another era of female is finding it hard to pronounce the name of plates the female is doing while she is showing a lot of patience and love for her cooking career and especially she is the ideal when serving her plates to the king though feeling afraid but I like how she stood strong and confident about her talent that saved her life from the picky king!!!

□Favorite parts of drama:
》The scene when the king found the hand bag of female and gave her, was the most unforgettable when unconsciously being thankful hugged him, that was took him aback to realise female is more than a merely royal vook for him!!!
》I think when the story started to sound more serious after the cooking competition at the three last episodes, revealing more details about the death of king's mother, it was so impressive and dazzling to watch especially male lead really played in that part so fantastically that he should be rewarded!!! I like too how female lead interfered at the most crucial time to support him and lead him to not do anything wrong to not regret later!!!
》The last episode was just the most wowww especially that scene when she took the stab for protecting him and coming back to 2025 while the king was screaming wanting her to be with him!!!! though it was a prevailing bloody and swords fighting scenes but I was hooked all the time on screen for this exciting vibes the final carried!!!
》I watched it and wished to have more episodes that it will leave a deep emptiness after it wrapped up!!! I really wished to see a sequel after she turned back to 2025 and to see another romantic round for her new life with male!!!

□In the conclusion what I found after this wonderful journey of watching, was meeting my expectations and even turned out to be more amazing that I thought!!! I would prefer if the story was more about romance than food plot but in general though romance is a subplot here I was satisfied with the firing and captivating chemistry of leads!!! they will be the most ideal and greatly leads paired together of this year!!!

□The final scene of last episode was what is defining to believe that a top notch drama won't be disappointing when male lead managed to follow her after she came back to her real era!! though it sounds so fantasy the time traveling part but I think such story having a mixed of different plots food, fantasy, romance and politic made it a great combination to make such best drama of 2025!!!

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Brilliant Acting

I started this show not expecting much. Whenever there are many GLs- I watch a little of each, and then decide the order by watching the one I like least first, and saving the one I like best for last. This time- each show airing seemed so great, that I automatically assumed this wouldn't rank high, but I was wrong.

This show has some of the best acting I have ever seen in a GL. I think the characters come across as really genuine, and that is rare in the Thai GL world of overstated drama. While they can't compete with the Emi-Bonnie, Faye-Yoko level of chemistry- the overall show is pretty good, strong storyline, slow but interesting build-up, not the kind where you want to skip ahead. Side note- This is also the show where I've shipped the secondary couple the hardest- I love their screen time, and wouldn't mind more of it.

I am really enjoying this show so far. Fingers crossed.

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A Gritty, Greedy, and Gloriously Chaotic Treasure Hunt Through 1970s Korea

Low Life is like that friend who drags you to a dodgy adventure at 2 a.m. You’re terrified, exhilarated, and somehow laughing the whole way through. Imagine 1970s Korea, a treasure supposedly sunk off the coast, and a cast of humans who are equal parts charming, conniving, and just plain reckless. Now sprinkle in some greed, betrayal, and a pinch of bad decisions, and voilà, you’ve got Low Life.

Ryu Seung-ryong as Oh Gwan-seok is basically a masterclass in “how to look sinister while still making us root for you.” He’s slick, cunning, and morally flexible... if he were any more charming, he’d need a warning label. Yang Se-jong’s Hee-dong is the perfect foil: wide-eyed, ambitious, and blissfully naïve… until he’s not. Watching him learn the ropes of dishonesty and disaster is half cringe, half “aw, poor guy,” and entirely entertaining. Then there’s Im Soo-jung’s Yang Jae-sook, who is basically the human embodiment of a plot twist: calculating, witty, and always three steps ahead. You never know whether she’s a friend or foe, which keeps the tension deliciously high.

The show’s visual style deserves its own applause. The gritty streets, the sun reflecting off the sea, the smoky taverns... it all feels lived-in and yet cinematic. It’s like someone poured 1970s Korea into a cocktail shaker, added a splash of noir, and served it with a twist of tension. Every frame screams, “pay attention, there’s mischief afoot!”

The story itself is a rollercoaster of questionable choices, sudden betrayals, and chaotic brilliance. You’ll laugh, gasp, and occasionally groan at the absurdity of some schemes, but that’s the fun! Every plan has a chance to implode spectacularly, and the characters stumble, bluff, and bicker their way through it all with style. And while some subplots meander like a tipsy uncle at a wedding, it adds to the charm of watching people navigate a world that’s as unpredictable as it is ruthless.

At the end of the day, Low Life is messy, daring, and a little bit dangerous - exactly how a treasure hunt should feel. You’ll leave exhilarated, entertained, and probably questioning your own life choices. It’s clever, chaotic, and unafraid to let its characters be both idiots and geniuses at the same time. If K-dramas were cocktails, this one would be a strong, spicy shot with a twist of “what just happened?” and you’d ask for a second.

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NO DOUBT, A MUST WATCH THRILLER!

NO DOUBT, it's one of the best psychological thriller kdramas! Doubt blends mystery, emotion, and a solid storytelling.

Jang Ha Bin is one of the most intriguing characters. She is mysterious and has this kind of reserved personality that makes her presence important, and you can't help but be curious about her. Jang Tae Su, her father and a detective, gives the story its heart. His role as a both parent and investigator is handled with nuance, and gives the drama emotional backbone.

The two new officers, Dae Hong and Eo Jin brings good dynamic to the team. Their opposite personalities was good written. Dae Hong being warm and emotionally intelligent, while Eo Jin is rational and calculated which added more depth to the investigation. I like that the drama gives them enough story to understand who they are. Dae Hong especially stood out to me as genuinely kind character.

The plot is well put together, well placed twists, and sustained tension that keeps you on edge. The middle episodes, in particular, showcase the show just keeps getting better as the story unfolds.

Visually, the drama is top tier. The cinematography is so good, the camera angles, aesthetic, and details were consistently impressive. The drama for me feels cinematic, reminds me of the drama Lies Hidden in my Garden. You can tell that a lot of thought went into each scene was framed.

Performance wise, Chae Wo Bin as Jang Ha Bin absolutely nails her role. Her aura futs the character perfectly, mysterious yet assertive. And her chemistry with Han Seok Kyu (as a father and detective) was good. The reconciliation in the finale wraps up their arc beautifully. Overall, definitely a must watch!

Plot 10/10
Acting and Characters 10/10
Cinematography 10/10
Writing 10/10
Pacing 9.5/10
OST/Score 9.5/10

Overall 10/10

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A Complete Drama.

Honestly, I didn't have high expectations for this drama before it aired. Many people doubted it, especially after the lead actor was replaced. When the first episode was released, the ratings weren't impressive. However, after two episodes, amidst the saturated Korean drama market, this show suddenly became the talk of the town. People eagerly awaited Saturdays and Sundays for new episodes. Here are some highlights:

1. The storyline is solid and engaging, blending historical context with fantasy and time-travel elements without distorting facts. The research team did an excellent job.
2. The genre blend of historical, time-travel, survival, cooking, romance, and comedy is captivating.
3. The food theme is well-researched and presented attractively.
4. The acting is outstanding, evoking emotions and making the story believable.
5. The chemistry between the leads is phenomenal, conveying emotions without needing words.
6. The direction is beautiful, and the plot is effective.
7. The editing is creative, engaging, and makes even eating scenes exciting.
8. The OST is exceptional, ALL songs perfectly complement the drama. The best OST in the past 5years.

If I have one criticism, it's that the episode count is too short, leaving some parts feeling rushed. Given the source novel's detailed storyline, it's clear the episode count limited the pacing.

This drama isn't a typical award-winning show with flawless technical aspects. Instead, it's a well-rounded, entertaining drama that fulfills its purpose – to engage and delight the audience. Kudos to "Bon Appetit Your Majesty" for bringing joy to viewers! It's been a while since I've enjoyed a K-drama this much.

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HANDS DOWN THE BEST GL

I wasn't expecting much of this show. There are so many GLs airing right now- that I thought this would be my casual watch in between Whale Store or Harmony's Secret. But Shelley had me hooked. The way she acts, and looks at Pundao- the two of them together- they make this show a compelling watch. This show has everything that I wanted as an audience. It has crazy chemistry, complex emotions, genuine characters with mature human emotions that feel real and relatable. At first, I was watching it just for the chemistry and then I started appreciating other things about the show as well, like the very mature storyline, of course brilliant performances from the whole cast and finally a very real maturity that normally doesn’t exist in Thai GLs. I found myself crying with the show, like the characters actually transferred their emotions. I also found it quite refreshing how they could talk about sex and it was not a hidden and dirty term. I like the physical urgency- it was also very relatable. If someone asked me earlier, what my favourite GL was, I was normally confused between Us because of the cute scenes and the great performances or Blank simply for the chemistry or the Secret of Us for incredible acting production value and storyline or even Pluto for all of the same reasons. I think my mind switched between shows based on the mood I was in, but I never had a clear winner. After watching this show, I am certain that I have not seen anything better, including the new shows airing now. This truly has been beyond fantastic and I highly highly recommended it.

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Does Stunning Cinematography Excuse Weak Story Development

What this drama showcases best is a stone-cold FL willing to use anything and anyone to her advantage in order to achieve her revenge for the past.

What this drama does poorly is provide a ML with any defining characteristics or a romance that makes you feel invested.

Rather than a strict romance it is a revenge melodrama where every detail is only surface level and you're left to try and piece together a coherent plot behind the pretty cinematography. Things as simple as how the baby was explained to the ML are left unanswered. Details about the 2FL and her Eunuch are swept aside and only explained in the very last episodes. At no time did it ever feel like the ML and FL were a true "couple", even to the very end; rather there was a feeling of "they are attracted to each other and using each other".

By the end, all the build-ups fall flat and had me rolling my eyes. The 2FLs end scenes felt random and used to try and prove that she too was a victim; yet none of it excused how she treated either the FL or her cousin.

For me this was a one time only watch and I'm not even interested in revisiting it through rewatching clips in the future. Falls victim to "if you've seen one revenge show you've seen them all."

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Twin Fates: A Low-Budget Feast with Extra Spice (and Open Robes) Updated review

Well, well, well—what do we have here? A surprisingly solid mini drama that knows exactly what lane it’s in and speeds right through it with unapologetic flair. Twin Fates doesn’t hide its low budget—you’ll notice it quickly—but instead of sinking under it, the production doubles down on bright colors, pretty costumes, and atmospheric sets that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a fantasy-fairytale painting. It’s immersive, it’s whimsical, and honestly? It works.

The cast is all new faces for me, which is always refreshing. And while the ML might not be my “type” per se, let’s just say the directors clearly knew what they were doing when they styled him in that infamous red open robe. Did they miss a single opportunity to flaunt that bod? Absolutely not. Did I complain? Absolutely not (yes, I’m easy like that, lmao).

Plot-wise, it’s engaging enough to keep me binging—currently at episode 16 and having a blast. The FL is smart, likeable, and holds her ground, while the ML serves us one of the most entertaining jealous streaks I’ve seen in a while. Add to that some genuinely sweet chemistry, a gradual strengthening of their dynamic, and more than a fair share of kissing scenes, and you’ve got a treat for romance junkies like me.

Now, let’s be honest: the tropes are here. The corny, cringey, déjà-vu tropes we’ve all seen before. But that’s exactly the point—this drama leans into them with a guilty-pleasure confidence that makes you roll your eyes and grin at the same time.

This is best enjoyed with an open mind and reasonable expectations for the genre. I’m not claiming it’s a masterpiece—but it’s undeniably fun. At its core, Twin Fates is guilty pleasure done right: a low-budget package sprinkled with charm, swoon-worthy moments, and just enough spice to keep you entertained. Come for the fairy-tale colors, stay for the jealous ML, and don’t be surprised if you end up grinning like a fool at all the cheesiness.

Verdict? Guilty pleasure at its finest—with flavors worth tasting.

I’ll be back to update this once I finish the rest of the episodes—so far, it’s been loads of fun, and I’m curious to see if the ending keeps the magic alive.

✨Update✨

Okay, y’all—I finished it. And let me tell you, this drama is basically a cinnamon pancake: sweet, fluffy, sometimes sprinkled with unexpected spice, and the perfect comfort binge for romance junkies like me.

Cdramas already defy physics on the daily (flying sleeves, magical teleports, gravity who?), but this one had the FL sneezing on command like it’s her side hustle. Bro, that’s a superpower. I salute her commitment to the bit 😂.

Now, the romance? Chef’s kiss. If you like jealous MLs acting like territorial cats, endless smooching sessions, and cozy chemistry that feels like a blanket fresh out of the dryer, this is your pit stop. And guess what—they actually gave us a whole final episode just for the happy ending. Do you realize how rare that is in cdramaland? That’s rarer than finding a drama without a love triangle!

But let’s keep it real:

- Yes, this drama is low budget and short in length, so continuity hiccups and budget gaps are there.
- Yes, the actors did a solid job, though in a few scenes you can feel the effort to nail the expressions. Not terrible, just noticeable.
- And yes, I’m still not sure if I find the ML attractive. But listen—the directors clearly didn’t care because they kept showing him with that open robe and sometimes half-naked till the credits rolled. I, a certified shallow menace, humbly accepted this offering.

So if any of that sounds like a deal-breaker—move along. But if you can handle low budget with high fluff, jealous antics, and unapologetic guilty pleasure? Then Twin Fates might just become your new cinnamon pancake. 🥞💋

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A bunch of historical fantasies roled into one

When it first started, it resembled almost entirely like Love Between Fairy And Devil but on steroids because of how fast the story was moving. I actually quite enjoyed it. Even the romance seemed to be moving pretty quickly and I wasn't quite buying it. But as the story unfolds, a lot is explained and it was enjoyable.

Somewhere down the line it got a bit boring and then started getting interesting again later. Towards the end, I was annoyed because there were just too many twists by this point. I was a bit irritated with all the characters rather than just one or two. I didn't really like the ML's acting at this point. The FL was carrying the plot.

The FL is actually the best part of the show. She is adorable and acts well. I didn't find the ML attractive initially but he grew on me. But his acting is sometimes great and other times not worth mentioning. Partly because of the story too so I can't blame him completely. He is definitely good at emotional scenes though.

Ep23 was probably the worst for me. It was excruciating to watch but they do redeem themselves in the finale. However, by that time a lot of my interest was gone and I just wanted to end the show.

For the most part it is decent, the episodes are only 30 mins long and the story does move at a decent pace. It's an all right watch. They did mash up and get inspired by other historical fantasy dramas too but it was a good attempt.

I love the opening theme song but there are a few other songs that are nice.

Overall the show is a hit or a miss.

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This drama tries to sell itself as something bold and original, but at its heart it’s just a recycled formula: a desperate family, a terminal illness, financial ruin, and drugs as the “solution.” That setup has been done before — and better — so the show already struggles to stand on its own feet.

The female lead is introduced as a middle-class housewife facing her husband’s hidden debts and cancer. Instead of dealing with reality responsibly, she quickly slides into crime. What’s most disturbing is how the story treats her actions as sympathetic or even empowering. She isn’t some tragic antihero — she’s choosing to spread poison to young people while her husband is still alive, turning his illness into a shield for her criminal choices. That doesn’t make her strong; it makes her reckless and selfish.

The most absurd twist comes with the daughter’s art teacher doubling as the drug dealer. This isn’t clever shock value — it’s disturbing. He isn’t just a shady figure from the streets; he’s someone trusted to educate teenagers. Putting him in this role raises chilling questions: if he’s selling in nightclubs, what stops him from selling to his own students? The fact that the show brushes past this risk is careless, and pretending it’s “exciting chemistry” between him and the female lead is even worse.

Performance-wise, Kim Young Kwang does a good job shifting between friendly teacher and calculating dealer. His acting is believable, but strong acting can’t fix weak or ethically rotten writing. A well-delivered performance doesn’t excuse a story that normalizes crime while ignoring its victims.

The pacing so far is quick, but “fast-moving” doesn’t mean “good.” When the plot is predictable — the husband will die, the daughter will inevitably be caught in the fallout, and the FL will keep spiraling deeper into crime — then rushing to the end only exposes how shallow the twists really are.

If this drama wants to deserve real praise, it needs to stop glamorizing the FL’s decisions and show the consequences of her actions. Not a neat escape, not a romanticized criminal partnership, but genuine karmic justice: accountability, shame, and the destruction that drugs bring to young lives. Anything less would be a betrayal of the very world it pretends to portray.

My score so far: 4/10. Strong acting wasted on a story that mistakes shock value for depth and crime for empowerment.

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