This review may contain spoilers
You can hv your own ambition but don't trample others to achieve it.
Tbh I don't know what to put in the headline but I think it's apt bcs in this drama, it told a lots about the characters' ambitions and their ways of achieving it. Ill intention ambition will be met with resistance and hv their own consequences.ML, Zhu Zhanji, was a wise man and hv great aspirations to be a great Emperor thanks to his grandfather's guide and teaching. He was kind to those who deserved it and ruthless to those who betrayed his trust. When it comes to love, he has only hv eyes to the woman he fell in love. He was so sweet, very tolerant and understanding of FL. He did reprimand her when needed but also admitted his faults when he wronged her.
I love seeing their moments together, I love that they communicated their differences although it was not right then and there but only after some misunderstanding
FL, Yao Zinji or Sun, was a woman who always keep her composure, intelligent, magnanimous and bold. She was also elegant personified I wld say bcs she was trained for it, but not on her own volition, because of this, she had a hard time growing up. She tried to cope with it, entering the palace to be in the domain that she took comfort in which was being a chef and cooking foods. Her relationship with ML was complicated but she truly love him although she had to sort out her feeling bcs loving him also related to her hard times. But ML didn't give up and sincerely care about her so that moved her and she also gave it all loving him. She told him that she also was her own person with her own views so she would try her best to change something that she felt wasn't right and it was about the practice of burying the concubines alive with the dead Emperor. I like that she said that and I support it.
Supporting characters that deserve a shout-out. The Fearless Empress Dowager although I didn't like her at the start but she amazed me. Yang Ziping, loyal friend even though I was suspicious of her at the start but her character development just pleasing to watch. Chen Wu, clever man that observant of ML moods, thoughts and also credit to him that helped ML and FL communicated. Manager Fang, kind woman and very patient.
Cons: I agree with one review here (user morenokatz) that said there are gaps in the story, that some scenes jumps that made us crave for answers to some events.
I saw one review in one of the episodes about how some of the viewers expected this to be the unofficial continuation of SoYP. I am really thankful to their review (user blinky catt) that made me take a step back and think.
For those who came from the Story of Yanxi Palace including me, it took me a long time before I decided to watch this drama bcs both of their characters before hv a special spots in my heart. I don't know about you, but I am okay with it. This drama was its own story with a bit of them two. I am happy with it.
I agree with one review here from Louie G. They did a good job describing FL and ML.
- 20240318 0208
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the gentlest palace cdrama i have watched
I had no idea what to expect; I only hoped that this was NOT yanxi palace redux. While there is nothing outstanding about this drama, I think they did a good job of following through with the storylines in a rational and sensible manner. Characters acted according to themselves and not as plot devices. There were no random plot twists just to up the drama shock factor. The editing was weird in spots where I assume they snipped stuff for censorship or time constraints. No one overacted and most actors did their job credibly. No anxiety inducing melodrama or over-dramatics to induce emotions. Even the humor was understated and appropriate to the sedate tone. And I didn't mind the sedate, gentle tone at all. I loved it after watching so many insane palace dramas. Why do I care if it's realistic or not? It's a drama! I found it refreshing for my soul.The leads were outshone by the Empress (Zhanji's mom) and Yin Ziping. They were very good. They delivered their roles of feminist icon and working class hero very well. These themes were very obvious but not obnoxiously conveyed. The women in this drama were very very good. The villains either got their comeuppance or found their humanity to repent, and they did it without hysterics. All of the characters got an ending and it was a good mix of happy and not.
It's not a five star drama (nowhere near that good) but I enjoyed it and rewatched it. I liked it even better the second time around. When I need a break from the insanity of cdrama plots, I will come back to it.
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A well written yet bittersweet historical tale
I had put off watching this drama for quite some time due to the low-ish rating and because I was scared I would compare the drama to the other drama starring the same leads - Story of Yanxi Palace. After finishing the entire drama, it does not fare far behind Yanxi Palace, but it is definitely not to be compared.If you are watching this drama for a quick and easy romance, I don't think this is the right drama for you. Romance is secondary to the point the drama is trying to show. It follows the main FL's story as she enters the palace as a mere food maid. The characters throughout the drama, were well developed (although play into some cliches of palace drama and fighting) and even the so called "villains" cannot be considered entirely bad. It's rare for all the characters to all be relatable to a certain extent.
However, romance is definitely present, in the details, and hidden in the strong understanding between the two leads. I would say, it's definitely a slow burn.
I tend to start skipping parts of dramas, especially when they begin to drag out scenes and have unnecessary plot lines, this drama has definitely been a hard to skip drama. And while I understand why some might have a low rating for this drama - when considering the cast and previous dramas, it was indeed well down and worth a watch.
There's more to this drama than just the cast, you may even learn a lesson for yourself, hidden in the lessons of cooking.
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I like the way the stories behind the food are woven into the story and it is quite a visual feast looking at the depiction of the many dishes. In this respect, I think Royal Feast wins over Yanxi Palace as it has this added dimension.
Wu Jin Yan gives a spunky portrayal Yao Zi Jin; one would say that it is an almost similar character to Wei Ying Luo of Yanxi Palace. In Royal Feast, Xu Kai has a more substantial role compared to in Yanxi Palace and he pulls off his portrayal of the honorable prince and emperor Zhu Zhan Ji.
Overall an entertaining watch!
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Very underwhelming
I got here, at this series, because I followed the work of both leads in the 2018 production of the "Story of Yanxi Palace". That was a gem and a reference point to me, when it comes to Chinese dramas at their best.This is why I was shocked to see the lack of chemistry between two actors who played being in love before, albeit a doomed love, in the "Story of Yanxi Palace".
Also, the lead actress did not really look like her former self not only in terms of acting, but also in terms of physical appearence. She did not look older, but different. And that was strange.
The story line sometimes feeled like in a stop and go movement, and overall I kept on going till the last episode just hoping that I will be proven wrong in all my negative assessments.
I was not.
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A lot of gaps & unfulfilled potential
The storyline was weak & had gaps.It didn't utilize the full talent of the cast & we didn't really see a lot of dynamic roles nor extensive & significant use of different range of emotions.The casting was truly genius but the storyline dissapointed.We couldn't really connect much with the characters as all of them to a certain point were portrayed as deceitful & involved in the power struggle.I wish they could've have taken more time to truly think about the main characters' love story as it felt like it wasn't really well thoughtout. The food and how it was prepared and how it originated was really fascinating and was the only upside of the show for me.Overall i would love another drama focusing on the two main charactors and their lovestory which we couldn't really see in the Story of Yanxi palace.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Do not watch this drama when you are hungry
As the title suggests, Royal Feast showcases a lot of food, the preparation and the eating of it. I liked watching how the food was prepared and it added to the visual feast of this drama. This drama was one of my anticipated dramas partly because I wanted to see a cdrama set in the kitchen and also because I wanted to witness the reunion of the Xu Kai x Wu Jinyan cp from Yanxi Palace.The Good:
The costumes, aesthetics and song choices used in the drama were really good.
I loved the friendship between Ziping and Yao Zijin. It was probably my favourite part of the drama.
The Bad:
The storyline was not well developed, This could be due to some very obvious editing and cutting , there were points where I felt confused with the characters actions. I enjoyed the drama up to the point where the leads get together. Afterwards it felt rather flat.
The sml just seemed to be constantly plotting and there was no character development for him. There also seemed to be no character development for the sfl as well. In fact I actually would have liked to see a romance bloom between the sfl and sml as there seemed to be potential there, rather than letting the sml just pine for the fl. I liked both Wang Yizhe and Wang Churan's acting but after seeing them in better works, I think this was not their strongest performance.
The same goes for Xu Kai and Wu Jinyan . Wu Jinyan's performance felt stiff at times. It could be also due to her character seeming like such a Mary Sue. She is perfect in everything. Xu Kai performance felt alright but even his character didn't seem to experience much development.
Final thoughts:
I also thought the drama might show the story of Empress Sun more ( Yao Zijin character) and her struggles with dealing with her son. So I am disappointed that we did not get to see more of Yao Zijin as Empress. Overall giving the drama 7.5 because I liked the pretty aesthetics and the food.
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My Reaction about the drama
I love this drama so, so much!! But due to my last term test at school so I didn't have time to rewatch again. (Poor me :( )The best thing that I like in the film is the friendship and romantic story of the couple. I think Xu Kai acts really well.
And now I was looking for his upcoming new dramas! According to Xu Kai's profile on MyDramaList, he has...3 upcoming dramas...right? (not really sure about that).
Everyone, keep watching his dramas!!!!!!!!!💖💖💖💖💖
(And, how about you?)
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This review may contain spoilers
Royal Feast in Yanxi Palace!
I am pretty sure that many People will watch this Drama after being disappointed by Leads "romanticus interruptus" in Story of Yanxi Palace.So I will start my Review with exactly that.
- the Romance between the Leads:
If you expect to get satisfaction for the disappointment in Yanxi Palace, you MIGHT, but only to some degree. Yes the Leads are romantically engaged to each other but it is slooooooooooow and takes ages to take off. It had some moments but overall it did not satisfy or engage me enough to consider it worthwhile on its own. It also turns into planned/forced Relationship later on. The Romance is there but it could have been done better.
- the Story in general
this series is basically an Advertisement for Chinese Food that is disguised as a Drama (not necessarily a bad thing). Neither Actors are the "main Leads" but in fact Food is the "main Lead". Do not watch this Drama on an empty Stomach.
Overall the Story is ok but nothing to write Home about. Besides, it makes the same mistake as Yanxi Palace did and later foregoes the main Story centered around the Kitchen and Food and turns it into "Yanxi Palace light" with again female Lead ending up as the Consort of Emperor!
I didnt like it in Yanxi Palace, I didnt like it here (thats why I dropped it around Ep. 30). This might be my personal Bias but I find Romances on the highest level of Human "Status" completely unbelievable and have a hard time to suspend my disbelief. Believing that an Emperor, who basically has nearly unrestricted access to ALL the best and most beautiful women in China, would simply settle for what is the historical equivalent of "high school love" is something I leave to Teenage Girls.
- the Music
nothing Noteworthy but also nothing really disturbing. The Intro overall is great though.
Conclusion: as far as Dramas go, its nothing really bad but its nothing really good either. If its unique premise (the presentation of lots and lots of food) strikes your fancy, you might get a lot more out of it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Because Xu Kai watched drama till end
As drama was based on royal feast ,so most of the times preparing of the food had been shown in the drama . Inorder not to get drama bored ,so story had some spices to it means some fights in order to snatch the power ,conspiracies among family member and a romantic storyhad been added which also got bored. Female lead looked little elder to male lead so I didn't like the pairing .
I liked one scene in which female lead slept outside the door of prince while waiting for him . When his meeting got over . He came out of the room and saw her sleeping and carried her into his arm and very nicely laid her on bed and kissed her . Wao so romantic.
Story was confusing especially story of female's lead. What actually she wanted not cleared properly.
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Absolutely captivating. Totally underrated
This drama is, in my opinion, underrated.The plot of this particular drama revolves around the mystical world of food and the intricate relationship between cooks and their creations. The way the food was prepared and presented in this show was nothing short of an art form, and it was truly captivating to watch. The maids who worked tirelessly in the kitchen seemed to operate like a well-oiled machine, moving with precision and care to ensure that every dish was perfect. Overall, this show was a feast for the senses and a testament to the power of food in our lives.
I adored both male leads! The Prince's character development was on point, from becoming the Prince to crown prince to the Emperor, he never wavered in his love for her and gave his heart completely. His unwavering love for the female lead, regardless of her actions, was truly admirable. As for the guard, he was enigmatic and ruthless, yet still managed to be highly likable. Despite his cruel nature, he fell in love, and that made him all the more intriguing. However, I must admit that the female lead's character left me conflicted. I failed to understand how she could so easily love to hate someone who never did her any wrong.
I loved this drama, but I was disappointed by the lack of explanation for the main character's sudden change of heart from a woman in love to a hateful woman. The fact that one concubine was forced to hang herself as per the ancestral laws did not justify her extreme behavior towards others. The transition was not clear, and it made it difficult for me to understand and appreciate her character. In my opinion, she appeared like a bitch, and her later change did not make up for it.
Despite enjoying this drama, I must say that the edits were subpar and failed to ensure a smooth-watching experience. At times, the production team neglected to provide proper explanations for certain actions or decisions made by the characters, leading me to search for reasons or justifications on my own. This is unacceptable; I should have been able to comprehend everything from the get-go. While I wouldn't necessarily call it a complete disaster, it did give me pause. There was a major problem with either the scriptwriters or editors, director, or production. Perhaps they made cuts in the wrong places, but regardless, it's a shame.
I found the pace of this drama slow, but it didn't bother me as I thoroughly enjoyed the intricate character development. The absence of physical action allowed the story to delve deep into the lives of the food maids, the harem, the guards, the eunuchs, and the Royal family. I was completely engrossed in the drama and watched it in a single marathon session.
I have to point out that there were several confusing parts in the story due to poor editing, and it bothered me that the female lead never reciprocated the same love shown by the male lead throughout the drama. Although the epilogue was predictable with the villains dying, I was disappointed to miss out on the final embrace, which was only shown as a camera zoom-out. Overall, I found the ending to be average and not entirely satisfying.
Despite any setbacks or disappointments, my desire to watch and fully immerse myself in this drama has never diminished. I find great enjoyment in being swept up in the storylines, characters, and emotions portrayed on screen, and I was always eager to experience the next twist and turn.
I recently watched a few stories that revolved around the inner workings of a palace. This particular genre has always managed to captivate my attention, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them. From the intriguing plot of 'Moon Lovers' to the heartwarming narrative of 'Life Begins Anew,' and the juicy gossip of 'Palace Rumors,' each story had its unique charm and kept me engaged till the end. I do understand that not everyone may share my enthusiasm for this genre, but I relish every bit of it and eagerly await more such stories to indulge in.
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Worth Watching!
Honestly the reviews about the drama were very negative but my mum and I loved it. Yes its long but its because they actually developed the story at the right pace and did not rush it. I read a comment where they also complained about the main actress acting but honestly there was nothing wrong with it zijin has been someone who is used to holding her pain and smiling through it all...the trauma of what she went through before she entered the palace made her like that that's why she always has the same expression. And can we talk about how handsome the male lead was in the drama, he left no crumbs.Any way....ignore the negative reviews and watch it yourself and judge for yourself. I am very glad i watched it and I don't regret it one bit, I laughed, cried and loved the twist in the story.
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