Our take
Given the time period, costumes, and the sets, you would think that the first Chinese Disney+ show would be one of those stuffy period dramas with court intrigue, political maneuvering, and forbidden romance. This isn’t the case with Delicacies Destiny. Some of the aspects are delightfully refreshing, with its over-the-top goofy comedy, casual court chefs, and of course, the mouthwatering food porn of classic Chinese dishes. However, these refreshing aspects are disappointingly offset by the way the show fails to establish compelling characterization for both leads, so each time Ling Xiaoxiao tricks someone, or each time Prince Zhu Shoukui throws all his dishes around, the reaction of their understandably shocked underlings is much more relatable than the leads who were supposed to win us over.
The story
A talented and kind chef, Ling Xiaoxiao, is accepted into the delicacy role of chef in an Imperial palace thanks to the appreciative appetite of the Crown Prince, Zhu Shoukui. Set on becoming the best Imperial Chef, with the Prince's help, Ling tries to navigate the pitfalls of palace life while remaining true to her goals in the face of forbidden love.
Before she can become the chef of the Imperial Kitchen, talented cook Ling Xiaoxiao wins a spot at the Delicacies Kitchen, the personal kitchen of court prince Zhu Shoukui, though she has to figure out how to win over the kitchen, as well as the palate of the notoriously picky prince.
We get that it can be tough for female bosses to gain respect from misogynistic underlings. But when Ling Xiaoxiao doesn’t even get to know how the kitchen works, or even just know her fellow workers’ names, before bossing everyone around, why would anyone, misogynistic or not, want to work with her? Is this actually a parody?
Chinese cuisine deserves better!
Who picked it
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
