in some ways this drama was a role playing game like each stage of his life he had 2 options and he needed to choose between them.
if he chose to open a restaurant, he'd have been unsatisfied and might've taken it out on his wife for tying him down.
if he chose to stay in france he'd have married francis(?) they'd have both lived happily enough but he'd have had that same hole from not realizing his dream and when his brother died he'd have lived in guilt

tbh I think he was all in all very selfish and self centered, his family and wife always put his needs 1st, his wife was responsible for 99% of his success but he never realized it until it was way too late
he in the end kinda chose to live for the emperor instead of himself/his family or his dream. he cooked becasue it made him happy, he learned becasue he wanted to prove others wrong, he became the emperor's chef to show the world he made it, but was he happy? did he spend enough time with his family? would he have been happier in a small restaurant? would he have been happier in france? would it have been better if he took Takahama Toshiko to france with him before the angst happened? if he wasn't the emperor's cook maybe he'd have taken better care of his wife and she'd have not died so early.. his sons were in the army but where was his daughter? he was not a good father or husband..
and thought TT was a great wife she was too great that he was able to take his hands off of the family matters and live only focused on himself


the title and the promise made me think he'd live a luxurious lifestyle with his family around the emperor, like he'd have been maturer as time went by but he never changed, his house was modest or "rich" enough as his parents were, did being the emperor's chef really benefit him? did he really "save" the emperor? did the emperor thank him? was he "honored".....

also, the ages were really over the place, like sure the actor was around 26 and he was a believable teen (though they only used his shortness to make him young, and he was just short) to 30 year old but later, especially the last ep he reeeaaallly did not look around 50s? especially around the other actually older actors.

anyway, it was interesting to see that time period, and I actually liked it until he cheated with his boss's wife though they seemed to have an open marriage but he lived with them for like 5 years afterwards I started to dislike him then. he was just lucky, he met the right people, the right mentors that even when he had obstacles and hardships it was not that hard for hard work to get him out, unlike the painter who was alone and never achieved his dream

also I never rewatch stuff