Reviews

not for me

Plot and progression
I thought the plot was interesting enough to start watching. But I didn't enjoy how it progressed. The story was narrated to viewers for most of the beginning parts, which I didn't enjoy. That took me out of the show a little bit, simply because I think it's better to just show us, instead of talking us through it. I understand the plot intends to touch upon economics and society's corrupt ways, but the dialogues were delivered in such a way that it didn't feel like a normal conversation between people, but a bullet point statement of rights and wrongs that need to be fixed. If I could put it into feelings, I'd say it felt like I was watching a documentary with very well acted parts to showcase different conflicts (and personal grudge) within society.

Pace/flow
I thought the pace was actually alright, for the most part. The narrating bits in the beginning did happen quickly, but afterward, it got to exploring the characters and flowing accordingly toward the goal.

Character(s) dynamic/development
I thought the main character white was kind of wishy-washy. I had a hard time believing he could achieve anything with his mentality. It just feels like he bit more than he can chew and I wasn't really able to connect with his character either. I don't know if he will get better, I assume he does get better, but I won't be sticking around. I understand this kind of story isn't focused on the relationship, and that is very evident, because I didn't really feel any real connection between the main leads. Not that it matters per se, but just thought I'd mention it, since.....I assume they end up together?

Acting
Great acting, nothing really to say about it.

Overall enjoyment
I found myself skipping a lot, because as mentioned, the dialogues felt stiff. I wasn't really enjoying it as much as I thought I'd be. I really enjoy Gun and think he is a great actor, but this story just didn't pull me in.

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Very Flawed

It’s a shame; the story could have been nice if it weren’t for the many flaws it has.
Even if it was a web novel adaptation- a drama is a different format, some events that may look fine in the web novel will look out of place in the drama format. were there even screenwriters? its their job to adjust things to fit the drama format.
and Even though it’s a fantasy, it should still make sense and be coherent.

Let me mention the flaws or annoyances i noticed:
- The show is called The Tyrant’s Chef, they shouldve shown some acts of tyranny at the beginning to introduce him.
- after some denial FL realised she is actually in joseon (ep1) but she kept denying it later on
- Queen Dowager's grey gache (wig): seriously? without being too strict on historical accuracy because she wouldnt wear it - especially not at all times... there were only black ones because they symbolized youth among other things, why would she wear grey? to look even older?
- why did they force facial hair on kitchen men? it looked so fake on some of them
- i felt kinda disoriented seeing some actors i'd seen before doing very similar and memorable roles: Park Joon Myun as a court lady in "under the queens umbrella", and Jung Kyu Soo in "the face reader".
- even though FL was in joseon she kept using french and english words until the end when explaining dishes, i felt she was talking to us the viewers not her listeners.
- some cheesy romance and the generic falling together thing.
woahhh episode 9 was a big downgrade
- even after FL was proven innocent the prince mother kept stalling and doubting her risking her son's life - FL made a magical dish- with just a spoon the king felt energy flowing and the dying prince was back to life.
- i did like the reaction to the good FL dishes and found them funny when they showed them once in a while, but they showed them TOO much in the ming competition that i didnt like them anymore.
- right when things feel peaceful what do historical dramas use to make you anxious? poison ✔️ (generic)
- in episode 11 the king's grandma regained her LONG lost sanity after eating a chocolate 😂 LOL
- In episode 12, the FL was being defended beside the king, and then, out of nowhere, she was on his uncle’s horse on the other side🤷🏼‍♂️
- FL side of love was rushed at the end.
- the way she talked to the king was inconsistent, sometimes so bold and sometimes too shy even in similar situations.
- since she knew the history she could've told him about people plotting against him but she never did.
- an explanation on how the king time traveled is missing.

The acting in general was excellent, FL was alright but sometimes not convincing, the ML was amazing 👏🏼

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Sweet story about age gap / class difference romance with likeable leads

I was in the mood for vertical dramas about unplanned pregnancies so I chose this drama. I enjoy the acting of Zhao Zhen Dong & Zhang Ruo Chen. I liked this drama.

What I liked:
1. FL characterisation - I liked that she was kind, resilient & self-reliant. She knew she had to stand on her two feet that's she couldn't easily accept ML's allowance. Zhang Ruo Chen was good in this role.
2. ML characterisation - He was skeptical but mystified by his attraction to her. I liked that he was caring & protective of her.
3. Romance - Slow burn & sweet. There were a few affectionate moments & some kisses though I wish there were more cultivation of relationship scenes.
4. Supporting characters - ML's assistant Han Lin was the MVP. His presence brightened the drama. I also liked the Huo elders - I liked when 3 elders as a collective scolded ML. Wow 4 generations living togather. FL's new classmate who was protective of her was cool too. The maids were nice too especially the lead.
5. Styling - I liked FL's outfits because they were age-appropriate and fit her quiet personality. ML looked handsome in his work clothes.
6. Tone - Despite the bullying, the drama was lighearted & easy to follow.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - FL's family took advantage of her kindness. I didn't like that they were abusive, physically & mentally. The jealous factory workers and high school / uni friends were insufferable too.
2. Screentime - The drama is 1 hour 35 minutes, which is the length I like. However antagonists got too much screentime. I would have liked more time for cultivation of relationship.

Favourite scene
When ML & his assistant eavesdropped on FL's conversation with her uni friend

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Tastefully Fun, Until Overdone

I enjoyed this fun, fresh take on an old story as I don't watch a lot of food based dramas. The acting was good, and the story was nice with a good balance of action, and comedy in the beginning. For the most part this is an enjoyable watching experience, however, I really didn't enjoy the final 2 episodes. The final episodes felt like they strayed from the original story line, music scores, fun, quirky parts. It went from zero to hero with no real investment, and the final episode was laughable in its laziness in terms of writing. I seen this tastefully overcooked lol (-l

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Fast-paced story; good indie soundtrack

The action, developing romance, and some frustration with the boys’ decisions kept me engaged enough to binge this show in a weekend. What started out as a cute high school romance shifted quickly into a crime drama, and the two main characters had to grow up quickly to meet the challenges that they faced.
the pros:
-The indie soundtrack really complimented the show—many of the songs’ lyrics perfectly matched whatever emotion or action was playing out onscreen.
-I also appreciated that there were *some* moments that blurred the lines of the traditional “top” and “bottom” tropes in Palm and Nuengdiao’s relationship. Of course Palm was Nueng’s protector, but director made sure that their characters weren’t *always* designated to stereotypes of “strong” and “weak.” There were also dancing scenes in which both Palm and Nueng took turns as being the lead. I’m not sure why that struck me so much…
-There were cute flashback scenes of PalmNueng’s love story throughout the show; flashbacks that filled in the gaps of what we hadn’t seen the first time around. I thought this was a great way to add lightness to the intense, heavy episodes toward the end of the series, while also reminding the viewer of the passage of time.
The con:
both Nueng and Palm were far too young and immature for the intense kind of love that they fell into. Both boys couldn’t see past themselves and their own weaknesses to work as a couple. For a show called Never Let Me Go, they left each other a lot…and always for selfish reasons. The constant seesawing between promises to stay together forever and then running away from one another when times got tough gave me whiplash.
overall this BL was definitely worth the watch, but I’ll also look forward to a PondPhuwin series with older and more emotionally mature characters

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best show about life

I expected this show to be wholesome — but it went far beyond my expectations. When Life Gives You Tangerine is an absolute gem. Beautifully written and masterfully acted, it’s easily one of the best portrayals of life and adulthood I’ve ever seen on screen.
This series captures it all — the ups and downs, the sweet and the sour — much like a tangerine itself. It reminds you that the life you dreamed of may not unfold exactly as planned, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be beautiful in its own way.
The characters didn’t have much in terms of money or luxury, but wow — they had love, friendship, and a strong sense of community. And sometimes, that’s more than enough.
When Life Gives You Tangerine is tender, real, and full of quiet wisdom. If you’re looking for something that will make you reflect, smile, and maybe even cry and cry — this is the one.

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"Love Untangled" acerta no romance, mas erra no drama

"Eu fiz um ovinho para cada vez que pensei em você."

Love Untangled é um filme leve e extremamente agradável, que acerta muito ao entregar um romance adolescente simples e fofo. O roteiro do filme constrói de forma tão delicada a relação entre Park Se-ri e Han Yoon-seok que o casal se torna incrivelmente autêntico e envolvente.

Conseguimos sentir o amor e a conexão dos protagonistas florescerem em cada cena, demonstrando um encaixe perfeito. O desenvolvimento individual de cada personagem também é notável: Park Se-ri é a onda de esperança que resgata Han Yoon-seok do caos de sua vida, e, em contrapartida, ele a ajuda a abraçar e gostar de si mesma. Essa jornada mútua é o ponto da obra que realmente conquista o espectador.

No entanto, o filme peca ao abordar o drama familiar do protagonista. Essa subtrama parece pouco desenvolvida e deixada de escanteio ao longo de toda a história, resultando em um conflito dramático exagerado no final.

Por ter sido negligenciado, o desfecho repentino — a partida de Han Yoon-seok — falha em causar a sensação de aflição que deveria. O drama não parece real, soa apenas como um artifício forçado e sem criatividade para gerar um obstáculo na vida do casal e dramatizar o encerramento. É um detalhe que prejudica o impacto emocional da reta final, servindo apenas como um empecilho superficial e inorgânico para o relacionamento.

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What a mess...

I have no idea why someone thought to have two 3 minute episodes and a 5 minute final was a good idea. The cut of this is so hectic and the scenes are so short, it is hard to follow what is happening and why. The chemistry was lackluster, the acting was ok, but nothing more.

I wasted 11 minutes on this, but I needed to take a break from "Alice in Borderlands" but instead of switching my brain off, I had to think about the story. The music choices were at least "strange" and production quality can be described as medicore with unbalanced sound and subpar microphone quality.

This story needed at least five minutes more (which would not be that expensive) and a more elaborate script and of course a real kissing scene. Overall, quite bad, but maybe you like it more than me :)

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Complex people are not for everyone.

When I first heard about this drama, I did not really understand the title. But now I see that she wanter her friend and everything else around her
I wish I could say I didn’t understand Sang-Yeon. I wish I could say I hated her. But the truth is... I do understand her.
Cheon Sang-Yeon wasn’t evil. She was broken. Most of what she did came from fear and insecurity — reacting to a world she didn’t know how to trust.
Eun-Jung, on the other hand, was almost too kind, too naive. She just wanted to be loved by everyone. Maybe if she had set firmer boundaries from the beginning, things wouldn’t have gone as far as they did.
Each of them was flawed in their own way. That’s what made it so real. Still, as much as I sympathized with Sang-Yeon, I don’t think she deserved Eun-Jung’s forgiveness — and perhaps, she didn’t even deserve a happy ending. Sometimes, remorse comes too late.
This review might seem conflicting — because my feelings are conflicting. But I think that’s exactly what this show does so well. It makes you sit with the uncomfortable truth that not everyone who’s hurting deserves a second chance... even if you understand why they’re hurting.

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My reviews UpTo episode 8 ( to be continued )

I devoured the first eight episodes in one sitting. It was completely to my liking. It's a rare show with a compelling narrative, starting with a bang.

The first 6 episodes, without any drag, pull the audience right into "Xu Yan's battle." We're treated to Zhao Lusi's portrayal of Xu Yan, a woman trying to rise from the bottom of society and escape the pain of her family. She navigates the treacherous workplace and the struggles of love, refusing to lose herself in her own desires, refusing to be sentimental, and facing her desires with a clear "want" written all over her face as she pursues her life's purpose.

The high-energy scenes of Xu Yan tearing apart her competitors in episodes 7 and 8 are incredibly satisfying, stress-relieving, and truly captivating. They're another highlight of the series, highlighting Xu Yan's ruthless character.

Love's Ambition narrative rhythm, its immersive narrative style that keeps the audience on edge, represents the innovation and breakthrough that Chinese dramas so desperately need. Xu Yan has finally broken free from the stereotypical heroine. Imperfect but perceptive, she maintains a strong and courageous demeanor, personally embracing the game and orchestrating its strategies.

Of course, Xu Yan's ruthlessness isn't aimless; it's the inevitable result of the intertwined narratives laid out in the first six episodes.

Xu Yan dares to look directly into her heart, her undisguised desires written across her face. She exists to defy the traditional Chinese drama stereotype of women being "subtle and tolerant." She eschews the clichés of the self-admiring "sacrifice for love."

Instead, she possesses a clear sense of purpose and a knack for leveraging resources. By observing the conflicts within the wealthy women's circle through ball-picking, and by helping Mr. Qu connect with resources, she transforms "favors" into tangible leverage.

The freshness of this characterization lies in her unwavering resilience and adaptability.

Of course, Xu Yan's attraction stems from her charm, not just her ruthlessness, but also her underlying kindness amidst the jungle of lies. She changed her surname to "Xu," taking her grandmother's as her sole support, unwilling to let her participate in her "scam," forcing her to regretfully miss her wedding. Seeing her grandmother's self-deprecating self-deprecation, Xu Yan rarely reveals her inner emotions, tears welling up in guilt. Meanwhile, Shen Haoming, attentive to her and considering her career, arranged a surprise for her. The deep affection she expresses towards her lover and the emotional struggles she endures are vividly portrayed in scenes where she smiles and cries.

In these episodes, Love's Ambition not only allows us to witness Xu Yan's ruthlessness and determination, but also, through the director's masterful camerawork, embodies her inner struggles in light and shadow. When she discusses her grandmother, the camera illuminates the sincerity in her eyes. The interplay of reality and illusion precisely depicts her oscillation between the facade of "Xu Yan" and the true nature of "Qiao Yan." Furthermore, clever transitions and clips of flowing sleeves suggest that her composure stems from foresight and hard work.

The greatest success of Love's Ambition lies in its portrayal of an imperfect heroine. Xu Yan is resourceful and capable of lying, but every decision she makes is driven by her instinct for survival and her desire for dignity. In a market where a sense of life is a rarity, this ruthless character, who doesn't mince words or hide her true intentions, is undoubtedly a powerful force in the industry. After all, women who dare to admit their desires and take control of their lives should be so dazzling.

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Overhyped, Lacking Substance

While Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is clearly a cooking-focused show as suggested by the title it felt like it should’ve been more than just food and kitchen scenes. The premise had potential: a royal figure, time travel, and an unexpected dive into culinary arts. But unfortunately, the show fell short in execution.
The romance angle was underdeveloped, and the backstory of the deposed queen didn’t go deep enough. There was so much emotional and historical weight they could’ve explored, but instead, the plot just stalled.
After the first two episodes, it started feeling repetitive. Every episode followed nearly the same formula, with very little actual plot progression. One major frustration was the lack of explanation for how his Majesty ended up in the present time — a huge plot point that was glossed over entirely.
Overall, the show had great potential and a unique concept, but it lacked depth and forward momentum. With better storytelling and more character development, it could’ve been something really special.

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The best kdrama 2025 !

This whole year I have been in a drama slump for so long until this drama came out and OH GOD I WAS HOOKED!

Since the beginning, the storyline and plot were so engaging to watch, not to mention our visual couple with insane chemistry! Yoona and Lee Chaemin’s acting and performance throughout this whole drama was AMAZING, they deserves all the love they got from this drama! No episode was boring for me as I love cooking and romance, this was a perfect combination imo.

Now that I finished it, I was just left in awe of how beautiful it ended. I was worried it might have been rushed but it was not, they concluded it very well. THANK YOU TVN !! This whole 6 weeks of this drama journey was so amazing, I cant describe how empty I am now that it ended. I’m not gonna spoil anything more and if you havent watched it, what are you doinggg?? Just go watch it nowww !!

Highly recommended, 10/10 for me !

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