The Korean drama Bon Appetit Your Majesty concluded its 12 episodes on September 28, 2025, with fans in a tug-of-war of emotions. There was culinary wizardry, political backstabbing, and time travel in the series, which offered something new with fantasy and romance. But it was the bittersweet yet fulfilling conclusion that captivated everyone. In this blog, we dissect the last scenes, the character journeys, and the greater significance of the drama’s ending.

A Quick Recap of the Story

Bon Appetit Your Majesty traces the journey of Yeon Ji Yeong, a contemporary chef who somehow gets transported back to the Joseon Dynasty. She ends up in the palace, whipping up meals for King Yi Heon—a leader infamous for his cruel reputation and discerning taste buds. Through palace politics and life-threatening power struggles, her cooking turns out to be her best defense and her gateway to the King’s heart.

The show is adapted from the web novel Surviving as Yeonsangun’s Chef by Park Guk Jae and features Lim Yoon A as Ji Yeong and Lee Chae Min as King Yi Heon. The show became incredibly popular due to its original idea, solid acting, and heartfelt content.

The Final Conflict: Bloodshed and Betrayal

Heading into the final two episodes, tensions rise as Prince Jesan, Yi Heon’s ambitious uncle, orchestrates a coup. During the Grand Queen Dowager’s birthday celebration, secrets about the death of Yi Heon’s mother are revealed. Overcome with rage, the King announces his plan to execute everyone involved—including his own grandmother.

Ji Yeong breaks in, begging Yi Heon to recall his vow not to be a tyrant. Her heartfelt appeal gives pause to his rage momentarily, but it is the arrival of Yi Heon’s maternal grandmother, battered and confused after decades of abuse, that finally prevents him from going further with his violence.

The Time Slip Twist: Ji Yeong Returns to the Present

Just as it appears peace will once again reign at the palace, disaster. Ji Yeong jumps in front of a knife meant for Yi Heon, and the magical Mangunrok—a Joseon-era novel that transported her back into the past—engages once again. Electricity is sparked, and Ji Yeong is returned to the present.

In Seoul, Ji Yeong is haunted by flashbacks of Yi Heon. She discovers historical reports that tell her the King vanished under unknown circumstances, providing her with a hope that he might still be alive. However much she yearns, the Mangunrok will not accept her back.

The Reunion: A Modern-Day Miracle

In a touching turn of events, Ji Yeong becomes the head chef in a restaurant where her employees bear an uncanny resemblance to the palace kitchen staff she used to know. One night, while presenting a dish, Yi Heon enters—no longer a king but now a man dressed in a crisp suit. Their dramatic reunion comes to an end in a shared bowl of bibimbap and a tender hug, honoring the promise of the King to cook for her daily if she were his companion.

Symbolism of Food and Love

Throughout the series, food is not only nourishment—it is a language of intimacy, resistance, and healing. Ji Yeong’s culinary creations not only conquer the King’s heart but also subvert the strict social hierarchies of the palace. The last scene where the couple eats a simple meal together represents their transformation from power and suffering to love and simplicity.

Director Jang Tae Yoo explained that Ji Yeong and Yi Heon’s chemistry had to be interpreted through taste, scent, and atmosphere—and not just body movements. This way, their romance was palpable and rich in shared experience.

Ratings and Reception

The season finale of Bon Appetit Your Majesty was recorded record-breaking viewership, with a national rating of 17.1 percent and a peak of 19.4 percent. Seoul alone had ratings up to 20 percent, and it was one of the highest-rated dramas of the season.

Appreciation from the critics for the show’s emotional depth, good acting, and groundbreaking storytelling came in. Yoon A’s acting of Ji Yeong and Lee Chae Min’s realignment into King Yi Heon were individually complimented. Their age-gap couple setup also received notice, with Yoon A speaking positively about her younger co-star’s work ethic and vigor.

Redemption and Choice themes

At its essence, Bon Appetit Your Majesty is a redemption story. Yi Heon, who was once terrorized as a tyrant, becomes peaceful thanks to Ji Yeong’s love and guidance. Ji Yeong, torn between her modern life and love for the King, chooses love without losing herself.

The series tantalizes the idea that history needn’t be cemented in stone but can be rewritten by kindness, courage, and empathy. The Mangunrok is a symbol of this potential, as characters are able to move past time and destiny.

Will There Be a Season Two

So far, there is no word on an official second season. But the conclusion opens doors to possibilities. Everyone is eager to find out how Yi Heon adapts to life in the present day and whether the restaurant owned by Ji Yeong serves as a fulcrum for connecting past to present.

Given how popular the show has been on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV, a spin-off or sequel is not out of the question. The writers expressed that the series was designed to be standalone but perhaps inspired by the fan base’s interest, new books might come out.