Rewatch Comments
I thoroughly enjoyed this the second time around. The series as completed is excellent and not likely to disappoint.However, this second time around an alternative version of the female lead occurred to me. I don't mean any of this to be taken as criticism and I believe the show deserves my high rating and the overall high average rating.
The lead character, Jang Man Wol played by IU, has a steep development curve as is, but given that she was a murderous, thieving, impulsive, and thoroughly sybaritic immortal being the on screen character we saw was censured leaving out certain pleasures that an immortal would not likely overlook. And, given her penchant often shown in backstory for killing people who crossed her, the young appearing lady we meet in the present day seems mild. The writers have the supporting ghosts talk about how mean she is and how foolish the young male lead is to confront her, but she seems almost meek at times. An immortal being such as Man Wol would likely not have hesitated to enjoy carnal pleasures to just as great an excess as she seemed to collect jewelry and other expensive trinkets. If in the early episodes the young male lead had confronted a more dangerous physically and more aggressive in the bedroom female lead then that much steeper character growth would have been more satisfying.
It's also true of other dramas such as The Goblin and My Roommate Is a Gumiho in which the leads live hundreds of years and remain seemingly celibate.
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Beautiful fantasy drama
**Story:**"Hotel Del Luna" weaves a mesmerizing tale set in a mystical hotel where ghosts reside while waiting to move on to the afterlife. The hotel's enigmatic owner, Jang Man-wol, is cursed to run the hotel for eternity due to her past sins. Each episode unravels the poignant stories of the hotel's guests and staff, intertwining their pasts with the present.
**Characters:**
The characters in "Hotel Del Luna" are richly developed and layered, each with their own compelling backstory and motivations. From the fierce yet vulnerable Jang Man-wol to the earnest and loyal Goo Chan-sung, the ensemble cast brings depth and authenticity to their roles, making viewers empathize with their struggles and triumphs.
**Music/Cinematography:**
The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack and stunning cinematography transport viewers to the ethereal world of "Hotel Del Luna." From the enchanting visuals of the hotel to the emotive melodies that underscore pivotal moments, every aspect of the music and cinematography elevates the viewing experience, adding to the drama's allure.
**Plot:**
"Hotel Del Luna" expertly balances supernatural elements with human drama, keeping viewers engrossed with its intricate plot twists and heartfelt storytelling. As the mysteries surrounding the hotel and its inhabitants unfold, the narrative delves into themes of redemption, love, and the inevitability of fate, leaving a lasting impression on audiences.
**Critique:**
While "Hotel Del Luna" captivates with its enchanting premise and stellar performances, some viewers may find certain plot developments predictable or pacing issues in certain episodes. Additionally, the drama's reliance on supernatural elements may not appeal to everyone, but those who appreciate the genre will find it a captivating and rewarding watch.
**Conclusion:**
In conclusion, "Hotel Del Luna" is a captivating drama that enchants viewers with its spellbinding story, memorable characters, and breathtaking visuals. Despite minor flaws, its compelling narrative and emotional depth make it a must-watch for fans of supernatural dramas.
Rating: 8.5/10
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It was ok
This drama was the definition of bittersweet. The happiness was tinged with sadness, while the sad moments had a sweet, hopeful quality.I loved the soft, romantic, dreamy feel during the emotional scenes, and the whole show was marvelously musicalized. The OST really added a considerable layer of emotion to each poignant scene.
The first half of the drama really dragged for me and I often found myself bored, but things really started moving and getting interesting once the show fully dove into the backstory of Man Weol's past. You'll reap the rewards if you're patient and stick it out during the boring episodes LOL.
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open ending story
for some reason IU likes to do a kdrama that leaves each viewers a question and wonder what ifs at the end of each story. The story is about lies that made one person so bitter, deceit that hurts through ones soul,revenge that all you can see is darkness,forgiveness that repairs your hope and atonement for the sins committed because that finally closes that chapter of ones life.All of them in the story are victims of ones self centeredness and that despair can make you do unimaginable things and regret it for a long time.
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Worth the Wait
Initially, when I got into dramas, the sole reason why I wanted to watch this drama was because of IU. I remember watching her acting on one of the random k-drama moments videos and falling in love with it. Her acting made me want to watch the drama, considering how I already simp her for her amazing songs. I remember having internet issues and not being able to watch it in 1080p. So I decided to wait because I only wanted to watch it in its prime. The wait was worth it. Hotel Del Luna did not disappoint.I found the storyline and plot very interesting. I remember feeling bored out of my mind halfway through most of the dramas I've watched to date. But the magic of this drama kept me hooked till the last episode. Everything little plotline, character, and emotion perfectly fit together like a jigsaw puzzle to give out a masterpiece called Hotel Del Luna.
The OST and soundtracks were the souls of the drama. Moonlight Sonata was the chef's kiss, breathing life into every scene. I still remember the goosebumps from Episode 5 during the wedding dress flashback. Every song I heard in this drama was so good.
There is something magical about Hotel Del Luna that I cannot describe in words. Were there things that could've been executed better? Yes. But does this make it any less enjoyable? No. Hotel Del Luna was overall an amazing experience.
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Beautiful Production Design
For some reason, this took almost two years for me to finish.There's nothing inherently wrong with Hotel Del Luna - it's certainly a solidly constructed K-Drama. IU is a phenomenal casting decision, and is absolutely the star of every scene she is in. The additional casting is also good. This has some of the best production design, especially costuming, I've ever seen in a show.
Where this series loses me is both in the overall plot and the principal romance. I do not buy the main romance of the series, in any shape or form, and it does not drive the plot forward which is unfortunate since the final episode is about 3/4ths just that. On their own, each of these performances is fantastic - together they build towards a pile of nothing. I wish I was more engaged than I was.
The secondary plots were by far the strongest parts of this, and I honestly wish there was a sign that the Hotel del Luna sequel was coming, because I would love to see it.
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The staff was the best part.
It's an okay watch. I wasn't left with amazement, but the ending was nice; it was the reason I gave it a higher rating than I planned to in the first place.I loved the 3 main staff members the most. Their struggles and stories.
Some things that bothered me:
1. It might be just me, but the romance was confusing. I don't understand how love developed, it felt out of place sometimes.
2. I had to take breaks after each episode because it was hard to watch. There were moments where people would just stand and say nothing for a couple of minutes straight. Started skipping them and in the end even watching the drama on 1.5x speed. I even stopped at episode 10, and went to watch a different drama, start to finish. Didn't want to drop this so I stuck through it.
3. The episodes had like 5 mins of something fun or cute and then it was just a story that felt draggy.
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hotel ? del luna
the first cupple of episodes I was not sure if I was going to Like it . however as far I go into it it's started to become good. I felt sorry for yeo jin woo who was forced to work in the hotel because of deal his father made. how he couldn't luve his normal life anymore. it's was sad that he was forced to work and help the dead . however it was good for him as he found his love. even though the story kinda dragged for me and was annoying at times. it was a good watch.i will reccemend to anyone who wants to watch it as it depends on the person if they like it or not.Was this review helpful to you?
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Worth to watch!
Omo! Omo! Honestly I don't really like fantasy drama except for Goblin but this one is exceptional. I like the storyline, I like all the characters, I even like the guest stars. I like all the soundtracks, I like the cinematography, I like all the set. Everything is 'thumbs up!'It's just that I don't really understand about the ending. Are they meeting again or they just hoping to get a chance to meet again? Well, whatever. As long as I am happy watching it. At first I was just wondering, why the director choose this very young Yeo Jin Goo to be the lead hero in this such of drama. I have no confidence with him. 😬 But after watching it, now I know why. He is a very good actor. No doubt about it.
So now, after finished watching them, I had my conclusion. Among all of the main characters, supporting role or guest actors, in the end I think I've got a crush with this detective! Thank you for keeping him 'alive' since the 1st episode until the end. 😬
Anyway, for those who still not watching it, you better try this one. You will not regret. Worth to watch, entertaining, cool and steady.
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now this is it !
oh boy , this was good , i don't really give 9/10 to many shows but this one deserves it , i just didn't like the captain plot , i mean , they could have tried a bit better to make us like him more , but im glad they didn't lol , also wu could not even exist i would be fine with that , anyways , all the woman in this drama are gorgeous , everyone is an incredible actor and the asthetics and music are just on point , great show to watch after the witches diner , ill miss it and will probably watch again in the future , oh i almost forgot , no kiss in the final ep ? are you trolling right ? right ?????Was this review helpful to you?
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Moments of greatness in between a lot of filler
The premise of Hotel del Luna is interesting and original - but the show could've definitely trimmed the fat.I found myself binging the series mainly because I wanted to understand what the hell happened to Manwol in her past life. Her past life was 1000 times more interesting than the present day scenes. In the back of my head, I'd be wondering when they would get back to the interesting part of the story - the scenes with Chung Myung.
And damn, was that story tragic. I am rarely a victim of the so-called second lead syndrome that I see people ranting about, but I honestly liked the broken, twisted, and destined-to-never-be pairing better than the main. Firefly guy had the saddest fate and didn't even get a hug goodbye.
Present day episodes sometimes played like an American procedural drama with some new ghost you didn't really care about. These separate ghost cases felt like filler and the story would have moved along faster and better with less. And yes, while Manwol's fashion was great, her whining and tantrums were not always cute and would have me rolling my eyes, like really? So in all, the series kept me engaged enough to see it through the end but it dragged more than it needed to.
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Love is the most powerful force in the universe!
I just finished this drama (I know I'm late to the party, 2 years later Lol)!! I've only been watching Asian dramas for a year now, so that's why. I just finished it, and it's difficult to say how I feel about it. It's not the best show I have ever seen and definitely not the worst. Watching this in 2021, after I've already seen Goblin and It's Ok to Not be Okay (hands down one of the best Korean dramas ever created), Hotel Del Luna fell a little short in comparison. Goblin and IOTNBO deal with very similar themes such as trauma, healing, letting go, forgiveness, reincarnation, etc., but I personally feel that those dramas did a better job with tackling these issues.That said, I agree 100% with what every reviewer has commented about this show: the cinematography is spectacular! Everything from the directing, camera angles, color grading, locations, and costumes are STUNNING! This doesn't even look like a television series, it looks more like a movie. I can't even imagine what the budget was for this series, it must have been astronomical :)
What I like:
-IU single handedly carried this show, without a doubt!! Nothing against the other actors, but her story was the most compelling. Her acting was powerful, mature, multidimensional, and convincing. Her backstory was so fascinating to watch.
-I've read other reviews of this show stating, Hotel Del Luna has a very Buddhist central storyline and I couldn't agree more. The themes of forgiveness, suffering, attachments, and healing from trauma are incredibly powerful.
-Like I said before, huge props to the director and creators of this show. This is a visually pleasing drama. Episode 16 where Man Wol is crossing the afterlife bridge is a visual treat! Between the stunning color grading, instrumental music, and camera angles, I wish I could tattoo that scene on my body!!! It is THAT good!
-The music is pretty good. I'm not a fan of the official soundtrack (even though I know there are some big Korean stars singing), it just feels a little cheesy. I personally think the background/instrumental music fits this drama perfectly and I loved it.
What I didn't like:
-The ML actor. Nothing personal against him, I really didn't connect with his character and I did not see the chemistry between him and IU. I also feel like his character was very one dimensional. His character was very sweet, but I didn't see any depth with him (I'm not sure if it was because of the script or his acting).
-The episodes were way too long. 1 hour and 20 minutes per episode is crazy! This led to many episodes feeling dragged out. I would much have preferred this drama to have 30-40 min. episodes.
-Some of the side ghost stories were amazing and many of the other stories felt like "fillers". This led me to feeling very bored and wanting to go back to Man Wol's back story.
-I didn't fully "connect" to this drama like I have with others. I'm not sure why, I'm only led to believe that the poor script at times is why I feel this way?
Overall, this drama was good (maybe okay), definitely not the best drama I've ever seen. I actually think when I have some free time, I might come back to this drama and try to watch it fully again. I'm wondering if I just wasn't in the right head space to watch and appreciate it. There are truly some heartwarming and amazing scenes in this drama, the problem is that they're so few and far in between. I appreciate all of the hard work that went into making this drama. I just felt that by the end, it was still missing that "wow" factor to truly stand out and I couldn't connect with it fully.
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