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Can't get enough
A series with a really good love story, that might have even been better without it.Jang Man Wol (played by IU) is such an interesting character. Outwardly she is very vain with many flaws, but it becomes apparent why she is this way as the story unfolds. Her flaws make her even more likeable as a character. So much so that even though the story itself is really good, I think that they could have explored her character more if they were not rushing to the romance. Man Wol has been around for centuries, and there is so much to her character that it feels like we only scratch the surface before its over.
Aside from the FL, the show does a fantastic job at drawing you into each of the other characters too. The ML and all of the side characters have depth that really gets you attached to them.
My only criticism of the show is how quickly it comes to an end. The series showcases a lot of subtle character development, but when it arrives at the climax it does so almost without warning. It then quickly decelerates to the finish line, and you're just left wanting a little more because the characters (especially all of the ghosts) are just so interesting.
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Haunting, Enchanting, and Incredible
My goodness, IU, and co-star Jin-goo did such an incredible job! The production felt so clean and exquisite, and each of Jang Man-wol's outfits was astonishingly beautiful. I was hooked from the very beginning, and the drama perfectly balances romance, fantasy, comedy, and soul. Many of the side characters had touching backstories, and I'm so happy the writers gave them each a satisfying ending! The OST soundtrack was one of the most memorable things from the drama, HEIZE and Chungha (to name a few) did a fantastic job adding a haunting and emotional touch to the deeper scenes. Easily one of the best dramas I've seen by far!Was this review helpful to you?
The set-up and mythology is very different and fun to watch. From the idea of a ghost inn, to a goddess with many avatars/faces, to the beauty & the beast type romance with the genders switched. I was blown away for the first eight episodes.
But, while the historical plots tie up nicely, the modern storylines were wrapped up quickly with no real suspense making the last couple episodes complete filler.
As to actors/characters, two of the main female characters are complex and multifaceted: Jang Man-Wol and the Goddess Mago. But, the main male character Koo Chan-Seong is especially flat and uninspiring as the person who always does the right thing.
The music fits well with the show, but it doesn't linger in my memory. There were no special scenes that I feel the need to rewatch.
I grade on other criteria as well:
Complex Themes: 7.0
The biggest letdown of the show. The theme is letting go leads to peace, and you should do it, even if terrible things happened to you while alive. But there isn't a complex inspection of this, forgiveness is just always the right thing to do - and always works out for the characters that do it.
Character Growth: 8.0
The transition from vengeful to letting go is especially touching for Jang Man-Wol, the housekeeper and the receptionist. It's a shame that Koo Chan-Seong gets no complexity or real transition at all. There are also very short, abrupt plot points for the bartender, Sanchez, and Lee Mi-Ra.
Complex Female Characters: 10.0
Jang Man-Wol is great playing vengeful and cynical, with a romantic heart. She is fascinating throughout the show as she develops increasing humour and sensitivity. A very well-rounded character. The housekeeper and the Goddess Mago also have great complexity. Indeed, generally the female characters and storyline were much better developed and well-rounded then the male ones.
Cinematography/Production Values: 10.0
It's gorgeous. Truly the most beautiful TV show I may have ever seen, the colour palette is vibrant and unusual, the clothes budget for Jang Man-Wol must have been unlimited, and there's a beautiful use of camera angles, movements and framing. It has a very stylistic, fairy-tale feel.
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Loved It!!
I really enjoyed this drama and the main characters and supporting cast were excellent. I pretty much love any movie/drama that Yeo Jin Goo is in. He never disappoints with his performance. I have acquired a new appreciation for Korean Dramas which I just recently discovered about 6 months ago. I truly watch Korean dramas 90% of the time versus other shows or movies.All of the story lines in Hotel del Luna were interesting and touched my heart.
Great job to all! I will definitely watch this again.
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Ruined by ending
If i write about this drama i think this is one of the best kdrama in rom-com list. But most of the best kdrama ruined by it's stories end. I still can't understand about korean producer, director mind. They can give happy ending with alien,dity and many-more supernatural things. Only because of this kind of toxic ending many fans, hate kdrama i think. I think if a story and characters are strong enough, they deserve a good happy ending.About this drama, this is a ill-fated story with killing beauty. You can't ignore this drama because of IU's beauty in this drama. She was just fire. I could give more than 10star if last 2-3 episode didn’t spoil it. I think this drama deserved a happy ending.
I started to watch kdrama because of Korean best acting. And their style will always drag you to see their killing beauty (for female character). After watching joy ful 10-13 episode if you got last 3-4 episode like toxic, then i think anyone will stop watching this types of drama.
At the end i will say, kdrama always disappoint you with a sad or confusing ending.
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The Bittersweet Taste of Life and Death
If I spend the next 4-6 months trapped in the ancient korean drama section of asian dramaland, this show will be to blame.Don't get me wrong, I love a good ghost justice story but I honestly wish I had seen more of the backstory that brings about the Hotel to begin with LOL But that's just me. The point of this one is the redemption and forgiveness more than the ancient tragedy that create all the karma and punishment.
This show was a roller-coaster of emotions for me, right from the opening scene. We see our FL, Man Wol, wandering, injured, followed and insanely bitter and cold. This is where our tale starts as she finds herself confronted by a goddess, and suddenly becomes the owner of a ghost inn as part of her karmic debt to pay for her crimes.
Fast forward to 1998, and we our introduced to our ML, Chan, in his poverty ridden childhood. One thing leads to another and our ML's father makes a deal with our FL, to spare him in exchange for his son's service later in life.
Of course, his father isn't that uncaring. The money Man Wol sends to his father to help raise him, is explained was spent on taking him to america and hoping that he never return to Korea. Of course, Man Wol is an ancient spirit and finds him the moment he steps foot back in the country.
This drama follows two different stories that slowly converge beautifully into one. At first, it seems like a glamourous and quirky idea as we meet the ghosts, both staff and guests, and some of them even receiving justice for their death. If they are particularly noble in life, the reaper drives them off in a limo, instead of a bus towards the bridge of the after life.
It's all a very entertaining concept, until we start to see the effects of death on those left behind. Even a dog isnt spared from his pain, and chooses to join his master in death instead of run free.
This is a theme that runs throughout the show. It's the cold, harsh reality of death. Although a creative take on what happens after, the message is always the same. The pain of separation, things people leave unsaid, unresolved, how the people left behind must continue, while their loved ones fates are unknown. Are they happy? Are they free? Do they even remember us while we continue to suffer over their memory?
And it's theme, of this deep heartfelt human experience that slowly unravels what actually happened to Man Wol in her life, 1300 years prior to the plot. When we do finally learn what happened, honestly, I can't imagine anybody feeling like they wouldn't react the same way. It was a deep, traumatizing betrayal for all involved.
Everything is woven into the ultimate plan of the Goddess, in several different forms, who is genuinely trying to help Man Wol. It's shown over and over, with various characters that a divine plan may be in front of us, but the choice is always ours. We can give in to our anger and hate, and destroy ourselves with it, or we can let go and move on.
At the end, we are all connected in some way. Such as the side plot of having the Princess and Woo's present incarnations meet, fall in love and mention their plans to get married at the end. Two people who were enemies in Man Wol's life, and the reason for death, falling in love. For me personally, even though it is kind of joked about by the Goddess who connects them, it feels like a karma as well. The two see each other only once in Man Wol's life but they connect instantly. Maybe they knew each other even before that life. Maybe they knew each other at some point in the lives they lived between the past and the present. Maybe they even just past each other. It's this romanticism of reincarnation and living hundreds of times, that really pulled me in, and made me really feel Man Wol's fate because she's holding herself prisoner but we can all understand why. We see what happened to her.
While her enemy and beloved brother, are living different lives and finding happiness there, she's still trapped in Man Wol's life, and her pain. And when we reach our final goal of getting her to release and forgive, we are then faced again, with the pain of the one left behind. In this situation its the ML Chan. You could easily take the script and place it onto a character dying of cancer. They both know that she has to move on, and he needs to let her move on, but will he be ok? Is he really prepared to let her go?
I really appreciate that we wrapped up Man Wol's plot by ep.14, because it means that our side characters were also given the resolve that they deserved, rather than trying to squeeze it in during the last episode. So when they, one by one, cross over, I was also feeling the separation. They weren't just goofy side kicks, they were also fully fleshed out characters, with stories and grudges of their own, that they were finally able to put down and be at peace.
The romantic in me is a little disappointed that Man Wol chose not to go up to Woo's reincarnation because they chose to keep in the scene of him seeing her, and making an impact. Also that he cried after he had the drink towards the end, to let Man Wol see his memories and learn the other side of the story. Once again, in another way, even though Woo, in his life as detective Park, no longer remembers, the pain of that life time, is still there. He really was a side character and perhaps thats why I wanted more of his lifetime because his thoughts and feelings were reduced to snippets, despite the writing hinting that his thoughts and feelings had a lot to say. So I feel unsatisfied there.
Overall, this is a very visually stunning and very heartfelt serious that had really hit a nerve with me, and had me tearing up a few times, which doesn't happen often.
My only complaint is that I didnt feel the passion between the leads. I actually felt the love and sacrifice more from Myung in his small parts, than I did from ML Chan. The leads felt more like flirting school kids. I do like to think though, that the ending scene is a future life of the two being in love again, with other 3 characters running free in the area with lots of good fortune thanks to the good karma they built up during their time in the hotel.
Other than that, this was one hell of a ride, pun intended, and definitely one to remember as I now freefall down the ancient korean drama section LOL
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One of the best blends of fantasy and romance K-Dramas.
Story:Enthralling story that is well-paced throughout the entire show. A visually pleasing background with the story is one of the main things that you'll see in the show.
The story is one that I find to be captivating, but it does feel a little confusing at moments.
Perfect for people who are interested in a simple, gentle romance alongside a fantasy story.
Acting/Cast:
Amazing acting by the main cast, nothing to complain about here.
Music:
10/10 OST playlist. Anything by Punch is guaranteed a 99% chance to be a banger.
Rewatch Value:
This is one of the shows that I may rewatch for the funny scenes, but not much of a re-watcher myself.
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This review may contain spoilers
Original storyline and fantasy
I rarely enjoy imaginary stories and acts, however, this drama was just way too aesthetically pleasing and pretty that I couldn't help but finish it all. I remember watching it and waiting for the upcoming episodes impatiently.I'd lie if I say I wasn't surprised by Yeo Jin-goo's acting; the role he had in this drama was so sensitive and I am so happy by the outcome.
We can't forget IU's costumes and how expensive she looked througout the entire drama.
I want to talk about the beautiful OSTs that were brought up by this, below are only some of them (my fav):
- Taeyeon (태연) - A Poem Called You 그대라는 시
- Heize (헤이즈) - Can You See My Heart 내 맘을 볼수 있나요
- Chung Ha (청하) - At The End 그 끝에 그대
- Song Haye (송하예) - Say Goodbye
- Gummy (거미) - Remember Me 기억해줘요 내 모든 날과 그때를
- Ben (벤) - Can You Hear Me 내 목소리 들리니
- Yang Da Il (양다일) - Only You 너만 너만 너만
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#HotelDelLuna (호텔델루나) Review:
1) This drama is just an honest drama. I didn't prepare much on what to say. But I really like every piece of content in it.
2) Topnotch IU visuals (my bb). 🥺💙
3) It took time to finish it because I'm savoring all those episodes. And I was in-between watching and doing something else entirely so that's why.
4) IU visuals and some life screencaps below ⬇️
https://twitter.com/thatsingleR/status/1271873264441159681?s=20
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The best
I recently embarked on a captivating journey through the world of Hotel del Luna As the closing credits rolled, I found myself both elated and wistful—grateful for the emotional rollercoaster I had just ridden.
The first thing that struck me was the sheer **awesomeness** of this drama. From start to finish, it held me in its tender embrace, refusing to let go. The plot unfolded like a delicate origami, revealing layers of complexity and depth. Every episode left me hungry for more, and I eagerly pressed the "next" button, eager to unravel the mysteries that lay ahead.
**The Acting**: Ah, the performances! They were nothing short of **spellbinding**. The actors breathed life into their characters, making them feel like old friends. Their expressions, their nuances—each gesture resonated with authenticity. I laughed with them, cried with them, and occasionally shouted at my screen in frustration when they faced obstacles. It's a testament to their talent that I felt so deeply connected.
And let's talk about the **OST**. It was a symphony of emotions—a companion that underscored every poignant moment. The haunting melodies lingered in my mind even after the credits faded. Whether it was a heart-wrenching breakup scene or a stolen kiss under the moonlight, the music elevated the drama to celestial heights.
Now, I must address the naysayers—the ones who dismissed Hotel del Luna as "boring" or "awful." To them, I say: **Watch it again.** Sometimes, beauty lies in subtlety. Perhaps they missed the delicate brushstrokes that painted the canvas of this drama. Or maybe they failed to recognize the quiet power of a stolen glance, a shared memory, or a tearful confession. But I implore them to give it another chance—to peel back the layers and discover the hidden gems.
**Emotion**—that's the heartbeat of this drama. It wrapped itself around me like a warm blanket on a chilly night. The characters' joys became my own; their sorrows etched lines on my heart. When they triumphed, I cheered; when they stumbled, I held my breath. And when love blossomed against all odds, I felt it deep within my soul.
In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, Del luna offered solace. It reminded me that love, friendship, and resilience can mend even the most shattered hearts. As the final scene played out, I wiped away tears and whispered a silent thank you to the creators—for crafting a tale that transcended mere entertainment.
So, my fellow viewers, don't merely take my word for it. Dive into Hotel del Luna with an open heart. Let its warmth seep into your bones, and allow its magic to envelop you. For me, it was more than a drama; it was a **balm for the soul**, a reminder that beauty exists even in the mundane.
In conclusion, this drama was not just awesome—it was a **masterpiece**. And as I bid farewell to its characters, I carry their stories with me, etched alongside my own. Thank you, Del luna, for the tears, the laughter, and the unforgettable moments.
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
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Even some actors I fell in love with at first, but once they hit it big, they seem stagnant or disengaged from acting as they move from one project to another. She certainly held her own against acclaimed actor Yeo Jin Goo (who is good as always), and she even shone more because Jang Man Weol is a role of a lifetime.
The relationship of JMW and KCS was what I wished IOTNBO romance to be with the tortured heroine and good hearted hero, albeit I wished they had more romantic chemistry like IOTNBO leads, then it would have been perfect.
I really love the role reversal here. YJG even have that tropey damsel in distress scene, he puts himself in danger, and JMW has to save him all the time lol. The cases are otherworldly but heartfelt, and tackle how we all deal with the pains of grief, forgiveness, acceptance, and letting go.
Spoilers to follow:
The ending was sad, but it actually fits with the message of the drama, and I appreciate that the overall outlook the drama wants to leave is still hopeful and positive, despite all the goodbyes. I would have loved if it ended with JMW on the bridge to the afterlife looking back, happy and fulfilled, with no more burdens. The drama is balanced overall, but Jang Man Weol is Hotel Del Luna, and it is she who we will remember it by.
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Just wonderful show with good acting
one of my favorite dramas and my favorite. There are lots of exciting, sad and touching scenes in this drama. I like ML and FL they are very cute and compact. The other characters in this drama are also very good. One of the dramas that I like is the side characters. there are not many dramas that I like apart from the main character but this drama is different I like almost all the characters in this character. One thing that still makes me think is the ending which is a bit of a cliffhanger even though the director of this drama has confirmed that at the end of the drama it was just ML's dream (not reality) but I really like this drama. I didn't skip any scenes, instead I repeated a lot of funny scenes between ML and FL, especially when FL was jealous of ML. I give this drama a high rating. don't forget the soundtrack of this drama is all very good 10/10.Was this review helpful to you?
