My only attraction to this series was based on the rumour that it was similar to Mr. Queen, and trust me, anyone who’s seen that series would be searching for something similar to feel a semblance of how it made them feel. So, I learnt that this series was similar, and since most members of the cast are actors whose films I’ve seen, I said, why not?
Bon Appetit, Your Majesty (2025)
Yeon Ji Young is a talented French cuisine chef, and the series begins with a national cooking contest hosted in Paris, which is more or less marks the pinnacle of her career. After the contest, while on the plane, there’s an eclipse, and right there in the bathroom, as Ji Young is trying to get rid of a stain, she’s transported to the Joseon era, during the reign of the tyrant king.
The tyrant king, King Lee Heon, is taken by her cooking outside the Palace walls, and immediately makes her head chef at the Palace. But Ji Young is not prepared for the enormity of hurdles that await her, hurdles that she must overcome with more than just her cooking skills.
My Thoughts and Rating
I liked this series for a lot of reasons, but it didn’t start immediately. In the beginning, I was disgruntled because it felt like every word, mannerism and gesture of the female lead mirrored that of the lead actress in Mr. Queen. It felt like the directors had given her the playbook of the lady in Mr. Queen, and told her to master everything that made her, her. It was unsettling, but I soon got over it.
I realized that the actress playing Ji Young brought her own uniqueness to the show, and she wasn’t a push over. I liked how she portrayed and interpreted her role with such finesse that it was immediately endearing. Also, the chemistry between her and the king were superb. I’ve seen a lot of Korean actors, but it feels like they made the perfect choice casting that particular actor. He was charming, easy on the eyes, and an excellent actor, through and through.
I also loved the plot. If you’re familiar traditional Korean films, you’ll recognize the usual plot lines that characterize it. Envy, treason, spite, and so on. But this storyline was fresh, and had a lot of beautiful moments that made the plot gravitate from the regular story to something much more scintillating. I enjoyed almost every moment of it.
My best part would have to be the cooking in itself. A sudden idea that comes to the head chef’s mind which she whips up and turns to a delectable meal, that is captivating, as it is mouth watering. I made it a point of note to always have a steaming bowl of noodles, or some other nice dish, so that my longing for the sights on my screen won’t push me to attempt to jump into it, lol.
Frankly, the only thing I resented was the ending. In the typical K-drama way, it moved fast, but that wasn’t my issue. There were issues that were unresolved, and the fact that they brushed over it, and made it some grand secret we were never going to uncover made the entire thing look shabby. Like the directors didn’t know how to give it a befitting end, so they decided to tie it up in a convenient gift box, and call it a secret.
All in all, it was quite an enjoyable series. No way near as amazing as Mr. Queen, but is more enjoyable than the average series. A strong 6.5/10. Would definitely recommend to any and every lover of traditional Korean drama, and more than anyone else, any lover of good food.
Jhymi🖤
Images from IMDB.
Posted using CineTV
