Chef Fang (2017)

Easy to watch. Little frustration due to silly contracdictions you see in most mainland drama.  This drama does not waste time dwelling in nonsence and it moves quite quickly.  This drama contains love, crime investigation (just like in Justice Bao), comedy and food.  It attempts to introduce Chinese cruisine to the audience. The drama was make interesting by interjecting crime solving stories.  In addition, the subtle comedy is intesting compare to some dramas that used Jim Carrey rubbish commedy actions. The new actress Jiang Jia En is so cute and looks innocent and fits the role she played in.  In the initial episodes her acting was average but as it progresses her acting improved and kudos to her for this effort. Being a new actress as the lead main role in this drama is not easy and demanding.  Hope to see more of her in future dramas.

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I actually found this drama through youtube/instagram from a clip with the wife beating the husband and thought it was amusing and went to search for the drama.

When i found it i was quite disappointed cuz it looked low budget and i didnt recognize the actors. Because tragedy wasn't stated in the genre and the drama title had the words 大厨(chef) in it and as i am a foodie, i thought to give this drama a try.

After watching this drama i found it really interesting and all the food the FL cooked made me hungry and want to try the real thing. The story started out with the FL(Fang YiShao) being knocked out and subtituted the original bride Fang Yao and she woke up in the sedan, FL scolded FY dad and FL was curious who the husband was and if FL didn't like him she would just run away. But when she found out the husband was her saviour she stayed and started to cook and please the in-laws. Good thing the in-laws in the story is not those typically seen in other drama. Those that always hate the bride kind. The in-laws were really nice in fact too nice even until when they found out FL was a substitute she was still treated very nicely. I like the part when the couple went back to her 'own home' how she let them act as beggar using the excuse that it is their family tradition.?? too funny!

I was really surprised when there is actually crime related scenes in the drama, since i thought it would be just food and other things. But the crime scenes isn't any complicated type, you could probably guess the who the murderer is. This is one of the drama that i did not skip any scenes, it kept me laughing the whole way while watching this drama. It is really light hearted and different from other exaggerated/complicated drama. The FL and ML love progress wasn't too fast or too slow it was just right! The emperor was really different too, although he looks strict he is actually pretty funny. The scene where the emperor and ML played dice together until ML regreted asking his majesty to play dice instead of continuing to play chess?.

In conclusion i think this drama is good the ending wasn't abrupt at all it was a completed one, although the drama looks really low budget but it was really not that bad worth a shot to watch it! I totally don't regret watching it at all and if i have nothing to watch i would probably watch this again.

P.S.
This is the first time writing a review, please excuse my poor writing.

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Its a sweet story, maybe a bit too smooth for me and then again become a bit boring. I wish the writer could have spice the romance between the leads up more. But perhaps it had someting to do wirh with their chemistry (?). I dont know, but I feel is something that drags my expectation down. Maybe its due to the uneven balance of acting experiences or/and the age difference of the lead casts. I do not know what, but there is something weird here.
And it is straightforward way TOO much moral-propaganda messages in the entire series which they could have dropped!

But overall this series is not bad, it just missing out the height of ups and downs in the dramaturgy.
It has full of humor though, and I like the cute and reasonable interactions between all of the main characters. Even though my "rewatch value for the seriea is low.

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To describe the whole series, it's "Simple yet VERY entertaining." I really enjoyed watching each episode. If you are looking for a light hearted drama this is the best that I could recommend. It's fun to watch and with a bits of scenes showing how interesting Chinese cuisine is. I also love how the character of the two leads develop and mature and just how they were able to perfectly add the humor in it. You can also feel the chemistry between the two leads not to mention their age gap but they were able to handle that well! You'll end up wishing and yearning to see more of the sweetness but unlike the typical romance drama, their love story somehow portrays much of simplicity and practicality. That although how immature the character of the male lead was at first, you'll see he's a gentleman after all.

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Watched this because see the scene where Fang Yi Shao (YS) cooking. Bored with romance drama lets watch cooking drama ^_^

This drama quite funny & interesting. Never expected this drama also about solving mystery.... But it's a good surprise.

This stories also tell us how the good for nothing men become became someone when there is a women (or anyone) push him & believe him from behind and also when that man find someone he want to protect.

This drama also about chinese tradition & food. Who can cook maybe if you follow her instruction in this drama you can replicate the cooking :D. This drama a little remind me of the old drama where the chef is man & he also cook for the emperor, i forget the title (maybe king of food 1998 drama but i'm not sure because this drama have not summary what so ever), this drama also make me drolling with the food :)

In the review there is someone write about low budget drama. For me this is not low budget, they just put all the budget into food ^_^. I don't think preparing the food in this drama is cheap :)

YS is so lucky, at that era she can find in-laws that not too care about family name or line what so ever. And Fang Yao ( FY) really impudent woman. She first reject Shen Yong (SY) but in the end she want SY for herself.... No reason woman. Finally she get her punishment when she plotting against YS & SY.

What i like from this show:
- SY is really love & respect YS. He can really wait for YS to be ready before do anything with her.
- They give us how to cooked the food. Even though only little but for who want to, i think they can learn some.
- The emperor really smart & cunning man.
- How brave & a little disrespectful SY when he face the emperor when SY think emperor put YS in danger.

What funny from this show:
- SY and his dad so afraid with their wife ^_^. Especially with the case where they must go to brothel & their wives didn't give their permission. So funny...
- SY who don't wanna have son because afraid his son will be like him & his mom whose really want grandson...
- When SY and YS come back from the capital no one pay attention to SY only YS...

What weird or lack:
- the most weirdest from this show is when YS cooking no one help her, in the palace and especially in SY house. It's like in that house, no staff kitchen or cook that work in that house before YS come, the kitchen so empty... in the palace also why no one help YS when she cooked for the banquet. So much work only the 'princess' do it herself. Makes no sense right...
- They make FY and her family become antagonist with half-hearted. It's like they need antagonist character but also don't want to make them too cunning or evil.
- Both SY teacher just disappear from the drama.

Overall:
Funny & enjoyable drama. But for me this is not re-watch material. Final warning: Don't watch this with empty stomach or watch out for your drolling....

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I watched this series and I found it somewhat interesting and unique. It’s definitely different from all of the other shows that surround cooking. I also enjoyed the overall plot of this series. I must say that this is one of the first series that I have watched involving arranged marriage and change of fate that resolved itself so smoothly. I’ll be honest, I am really not a fan of series or movies that start off based on a lie but this series was unique in the sense that you didn’t feel that your main character was lying, there was no big dramatic moment as a result of it. It was just like nature took its course and everybody went with the flow because the flow was great. I really enjoyed it. I will say that the romance hashtag Should not be there. There wasn’t a significant amount of romance. In truth it was maybe about 5%. What you will see is good enough for you to watch it. If you’re in it for the romance you will be disappointed however if you’re in it for some motivation, some enlightenment and food you will absolutely enjoy this. I had a few good laughs as well.

The acting was great. The facial expressions and their personalities felt genuine.
The chemistry between the leads was OK. Although I felt like their relationship was more life coach and mentee rather than husband and wife.

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Absolutely Perfect In Every Way

I wish all dramas were like this one, beautiful costumes, amazing actors who portray their characters really well, the fighting was a little stiff, but that can easily be forgiven by how absolutely wonderful the cooking and love was. I highly recommend this show to every single person who is looking for something to watch, just don't watch it hungry or it'll make you more so. It got to the point where I couldn't watch a single episode without having something to snack on.

The mysteries are decently done as well, the audience always understands why the culprit did the crime, and while we may not agree with them on the most part, some sympathy is felt, at least I did. My favorite thing is how the MC, main couple, sort of adopt two children from two of the mysteries and treat them very well and loving.

Now, let's talk about the romance, AMAZING! The main couple is just so sweet! I especially love how she hits him every time he tries to say something negative about himself. The parents of the ML are equally as amazing and loving. However, the thing that impressed me the most was that, no matter what situation the ML and FL never wavered in their love towards the other, even when the "original" bride showed up and tried making advances on the ML. The best part in my mind, the very best part, is the ending is very happy for all parties and it is resolved enough that there is absolutely no need for a second season or movie to finish things off. We, as the audience, are not left wondering how the family is doing, if they have any kids, what their life is like after the big events of the final episode. The final episode leaves enough room to show and it's beautiful.

This show is calming to watch, and if I had the ability to understand Chinese without subtitles I would easily want to have the show on DVD so I could watch it every week, at least one episode a week.

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Unexpected, this is cute!

Light story and easy to watch, firstly random watching cz I'm bored and I interested about food, I expected this gonna be totally about food things but this story simply about underestimated husband and wife love cooking so much, even out from my expectation I enjoyed this drama till the end haha.

this drama focus about dedicated the wife and husband in love to innocent way, literaly suitable with their ages , cute and sily, I totally impresed she can changed her husband so much, whatever people said about her husband, she always has positive vibe and a brave girl, purity of love and not excessive. If you hope more sensual scene like deep kissing etc, sorry you won't get it, but their relationship more than enough to enjoy this drama. One thing I've learned from this drama similiar with what I got from 18 again, this is : you need to trust your partner and told everything so you can avoid missunderstanding and happly ever after. Honesty is the key in every relationship. Indeed.

One kind of drama that maybe nice enough to rewatch someday when bored and don't want watching heavy story. Try to watch this, maybe you will ended like me, enjoyed the story~

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Good enough!

I chanced upon this drama and decided to give it a go after reading the synopsis as it seemed interesting enough.
The female lead and the male lead are totally new to me but I decided to just go for it.
This drama was surprisingly decent enough. It’s entertaining enough. The male lead and female lead have enough chemistry.
Of course, there are annoying characters like the male lead’s mother who constantly wants a grandson (?!).
Another annoying character is the Fang manor female lead who is a total nutcase.
There are ‘small stories’ scattered throughout the drama which keeps the plot moving.
The food in the show looks really good which is a plus.
The ending is a happy one.
On the whole, give this a go. Quite ok!

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Comincia benino ma alla fine è insopportabile

Lo scambio di spose è un espediente abbastanza usato. La cuoca, che viene rapita per sposare un signorino di pessima reputazione al posto di una ragazza di buona famiglia, accetta praticamente di buon grado lo scambio e viene perfino accolta nella famiglia del suo sposo come se niente fosse. Ma che mentalità aperta!
Detto signorino, che è molto meglio di quanto la sua nomea lasci supporre, anche già prima dell'intervento risolutore della sua novella sposa, viene costretto dalla regia ad assumere per l'intero drama un'espressione da deficiente, pur non essendolo affatto. Quel che è peggio, lo fanno stare in piedi e muovere per l'intera serie come se fosse un orango. Stucchevole e irritante, alla lunga. Si sarebbe potuto supporre che, al migliorare della sua fama e col progredire del rapporto con la moglie, anche la sua postura sarebbe migliorata. Niente di tutto ciò, purtroppo.
Già molte volte ebbi a dire che i drama a basso budget non sono il male di per sé, e che ce ne sono diversi che, nonostante i mezzi limitati, sono gradevolissimi e colgono nel segno. Non questo.
Se inizialmente la commedia è abbastanza divertente e frizzante, pur senza far sganasciare, rimanendo su un registro di piacevole gradevolezza, col proseguire delle vicende il giocattolo si consuma e rompe irreparabilmente.
La signorina di buona famiglia che è stata sostituita dalla cuoca come sposa del giovanotto e, vistolo non così indesiderabile, prova a riprenderselo, è irritante oltremodo. Non si aspetta altro che sparisca dalla scena per continuare la storia.
Le cosiddette indagini delle malefatte, che vengono portate avanti dalla famiglia dello sposo, sono piuttosto piatte e spesso protratte in modo noioso. E che dire dell'infinita sequela di piatti che vediamo cucinare (e mangiare!) nella prima metà del drama? Mai visto degli attori ingozzarsi così tanto. Un po' va bene, ma poi diventa stucchevole.
Ma il peggio doveva ancora venire. Era a malapena passabile finché si trattava delle schermaglie fra moglie e marito (che comunque sono durate troppo a lungo). Ma poi ci si sposta a palazzo e la storia diventa completamente assurda e fuor da ogni logica. E noiosa, pure. Tanto noiosa che mollo alla fine dell'episodio 33, con soli altri 3 da vedere, perché non mi interessa nemmeno più sapere come vada a finire. Drop.
Inutile parlare dei costumi (pochi e passabili) delle ambientazioni (anonime) o della musica (scialba, sia pur con un paio di canzoni orecchiabili).
La performance degli attori è quella che è. La migliore del gruppo è certamente la protagonista Michelle Jiang, seguita a ruota dal protagonista maschile, Lei Mu, che si è ben adattato ad una parte poco esaltante. Tutti gli altri seguono a ruota, interpretando senza infamia e senza lode una sceneggiatura scialba e sciocchina.
Forse, se fossero rimasti su 24 episodi e avessero evitato la parte a palazzo, il titolo in generale ne avrebbe guadagnato. Invece, avendo voluto aggiungere l'inevitabile (per un drama) passato misterioso con identità nascoste e tragedie da vendicare, il tutto è scaduto in una farsa noiosa, senza suspense e senza più umorismo. Piatta.

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