Amid the arrival of the festive rush, the Philippines has come up with the quintessential culinary vibe. Replacing Chef Chico is the latest Filipino series to embrace the small screen.
With promises of inspiration, heartfelt moments, and an overall feel-good experience, this eight-episode series unfolds over a slightly more than four-hour runtime.
Is it a good investment in terms of time? I answer this question in my review.
Replacing Chef Chico Synopsis
Chico, the head chef of Hain restaurant, suffers injuries from a gruesome road accident. In his absence, someone must take up the responsibility to run the food place.
Can Ella, the sous-chef and also the most deserving contender, up her game to replace her boss?
Directed by Dan Villegas, it stars Alessandra De Rossi (Ella), Piolo Pascual (Raymond), Sam Milby (Chico), Joel Saracho (Carlon), Yesh Burce (Wena), Angie Castrence (Ditas), and others.
What Works for Replacing Chef Chico?
“Love is worth fighting for and is too beautiful to be kept a secret.”
Until I was treated to this dialogue, I had certain reservations about Replacing Chef Chico.
Initially, the show fell short of its promises, but it gradually finds its rhythm, particularly after the first hour, where the narrative seamlessly blends theoretical sweetness with practical affability.
The warmth grows with time and peaks toward the end, though not substantially.
The story revolves around Hain, a popular Filipino restaurant known for its customized food offerings.
The food parlor is run by Chico, the head chef, and owned by Chico’s parents. Enjoying goodwill among its returning visitors, the restaurant’s inability to attract new consumers puts its finances in a dire strait.
With Chico pressured by his parents to revamp the business, a tragic accident leads to the need for a replacement chef.
Is there anyone who can replace Chef Chico? Though finding a successor is the primary goal, the series’ heart belongs to the restaurant’s seating area, where unknown people come with endearing stories from their personal lives.
You will like most of them and even establish a connection to the plot. Furthermore, Replacing Chef Chico is equipped with a beautiful screenplay that is serene and quiet.
The simple storyline and the refreshing idea result in a soothing experience, away from the mostly intense world of violence in the cinematic realm.
Well, that’s all the positive things I could draw from the Filipino series.
How are the Performances?
Alessandra De Rossi is, by far, the most adorable actor in the show. In Ella, she effervescently presents a character who is cool as a cucumber.
Her screen presence is alluring and it makes you curious about the future meanderings of the individual.
Matching the core theme of Replacing Chef Chico, Rossi ushers in the much-needed feel-good vibe.
Piolo Pascual plays Raymond and his non-ostentatious screen maneuvers work really well for the show.
He drumrolls an important part while never striving for attention. His humble expressions do justice to the guy he plays in the series.
Sam Milby, in the titular role, presents an ego-laden leader who is almost a narcissist. But what I liked was his ability to bring sudden transformations, where he’d make himself likable in an instant.
What Doesn’t Work for Replacing Chef Chico?
The show isn’t wholesome. It had an amazing idea at its disposal but the series stopped at the very corners.
A feel-good narrative demands an emotional depth with a sense of sentimental acuity, which unfortunately remains elusive in Replacing Chef Chico.
The desired connection between characters is hindered by a lack of elements that could immerse the audience in their interactions.
Maybe, the writing needed to be more natural by including relatable buildups to set up for the conversations inside the restaurant.
In other words, Replacing Chef Chico lacks soul in its execution.
Even as the narrative approaches its conclusion, a noticeable absence of depth persists.
The finale should ideally serve as the culmination of the preceding episodes, providing viewers with a profound sense of belonging.
However, Replacing Chef Chico falls short of delivering this emotional payoff.
Furthermore, there is a major flaw in the plot and as much as I tried, I once again failed to get it out of my system.
There is a scene when Ella discovers that Chico has not broken up with her fiancé. This is shown as a turning point in her romantic endeavors.
However, Chico had never communicated the actualization of the breakup. He had only expressed a desire to do the same.
In fact, Ella herself had asked him to end things with his fiancé.
So, how can she expect it was done when he was in the hospital for the rest of his time?
It lacks logical sense and is a mere plot device to change the story’s direction.
Lastly, Replacing Chef Chico fails to generate an endearing ambiance as a whole.
It couldn’t make the most of the opportunity to propel a sumptuous ambiance in terms of the feelings we associate with feel-good shows.
Stream or Skip?
It can be streamed but only as an average series. Don’t expect striking emotions or extreme connections.
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