But Even though I am complaining right now, there were also some parts I really enjoyed. For example the staff interactions. These were definitely the most enjoyable scenes for me, the staff playfully surpressing each other, yet being there for each other and making me laugh. Also, Lee Da Hae's character was interesting. I really didn't like her at first but in the end, she and Lee Dong Wook had a really good on-screen chemistry, which I really enjoyed.
Overall, the best about this drama was, for me, the cast. The number of episodes could have been also 20 or 24, but not 32, which is way too many episodes for such a complex drama.
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I do love it so much, my first drama ever, Hotel King.
This was my first Korean drama that I've ever watched. It's too much for a start, maybe for those who are newbies, even though it is a very good choice if you wish to fall in love with Korean dramas and series. I keep remembering that time, I mean just two and half years ago it has occurred. I keep it in my mind as the first contact with a beautiful world, as a total pleasure, as an unique journey and memorable experience.As the hype up of a revelation, this drama is all about struggling, infamous secrets and vendettas. Sometimes this play seems tremendous, but mainly it is sharp, tough, worrisome and sadder than anything in this world out. At first it could be a tangled puzzle, but after watching the revealing episode you'll have a complete insight.
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It's definitely NOT one of the best dramas of 2014 for me anyways - but it was decent...
Cast: Lee Dong Wook (Jae Wan) - yes he was my favorite even from episode 1 - there were a couple things I didn't like (his coward side) but overall I understood him. Lee Da Hae (Mo Ne) - to be honest I hated her up until almost episode 7 - and from then on I like and didn't like her off and on - (Roman Lee) - probably the best part of the drama is when he came on the scene - I really liked him ;) I didn't care for anyone else except a tach for the 2 young lovebirds who worked at the hotel...
Music: Pretty good but nothing I would really listen to outside of this drama....
Re-watch value: probably Not going to happen....
-------on a side note------- LDW looks SO much better in casual clothing with his bangs down than he does in a suit with his bangs up. and I wish (don't get mad at me for saying this) LDH didn't have the nose job - it really bugged me throughout the drama...
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Direction was good,Story was interesting,Acting was good by all cast beside ( one men side Character male Act funny but he done very over acting) story have lot of great unexpected Twist & turn (story have some Flaws) but overall drama was sooo good if drama was not this much long as 32 episodes then can be much better & interesting
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This review may contain spoilers
[There is one spoiler in this review that is clearly marked.]As much as I adore Lee Dong Wook and Lee Da Hae, especially together – this series did, at times, feel like a chore to get through. I watched it once around the time it came out, and had a favorable impression of it overall, but I forgot most of it and felt it was time to watch it again. At the time, I'd only seen a handful of k-dramas, and by this point, I've seen dozens more. Perhaps that has had an impact on my perception/expectations, because I didn't have nearly so positive an impression of it this time.
I watched this drama both times because of the main actors, and really... I feel like that's the only reason I would actually recommend it to anyone. If you loved their dynamic in "My Girl," then it's more likely that you'd find this drama worth watching. When Mo Ne and Jae Wan are on good terms, they are a sweet, cute couple – and for mostly the same reason that made the main characters from "My Girl" so cute together. They compliment each other well.
Although her stereotypical "bratty, entitled rich girl" behavior is a bit grating in the beginning, Mo Ne's positive qualities gradually become more apparent as she is humbled by hardships and betrayals. She is exceptionally compassionate, loving, and forgiving. Moreover, she has an enduring childlike, joyful quality that helps balance out the overly stoic and deeply wounded Jae Wan. Likewise, it is because of Jae Wan (and their mutual friend/assistant, Soo An) that Mo Ne learns to be more structured and responsible so that she can rightfully take over her deceased father's hotel.
The main problem with this drama is length and redundancy. The main characters repeatedly make the same mistakes – namely, trusting people they have very good reason not to trust – and their relationship fluctuates between hot and cold so many times that it just becomes tiresome. There are also a couple of supporting characters with one-sided crushes on the main characters who are a bit tedious to watch because their unresolved feelings never seemed to get fully resolved, and thirty two episodes of that is just a bit much. I would have liked to see them really move on before the drama ended, but at least in the case of the male character who has feelings for Mo Ne, he never pushes them onto her or expects anything from her. That is pretty rare in dramaland, so it's quite refreshing to see. (Alas, the second female lead, while often otherwise likable, does not act so reasonably when it comes to her feelings for Jae Wan.)
On the positive side, the relationships between the older main characters and younger main characters (Jae Wan, Mo Ne, and Roman) are complex and interesting. Lee Duk Hwa (Lee Joong Goo) and Kim Hae Sook (Baek Mi Nyeo) portray their characters quite well, in my opinion – especially Kim Hae Sook, whose character undergoes many dramatic changes throughout the drama. Although it is dramatized, the abusive relationship between Joong Goo and Jae Wan feels authentic in the way that they both love and hate each other, and they both feel bound to one another in spite of how toxic they are for one another. Even after Jae Wan discovers the extent of Joong Goo's deception, he isn't able to stop caring about him completely, and there isn't ever really a miraculous recovery from the years of abuse he has endured. It is implied in the last episode that he still has a long way to go in terms of healing emotionally from everything he's been through, and although I wouldn't say the drama is very realistic overall, I did appreciate at least that much being realistic. (I've seen too many instances of PTSD being completely, instantly overcome by the power of love. It's become a pet peeve of mine.)
The supporting characters who worked at the hotel were usually quite fun to watch and provided much needed comic relief. There are also some side romances among them, but unfortunately that aspect of their role in the story was not as enjoyable.
[SPOILER] There's one more thing I'd like to cover, but it's really impossible to do without getting into spoiler territory, so consider this your warning if you haven't watched this drama and intend to do so. Early in the series, Jae Wan is led to believe that Mo Ne is his biological sister. Many people were freaking out about their relationship in the Viki comments; for many episodes, questions such as “is this really incest?” and “but are they really siblings???” were frequently asked. And really, it depends on how you look at it, I think. They aren't biologically related, but when Jae Wan finally caves and initiates a romantic relationship with Mo Ne, he does so believing that they are siblings.
This is kind of addressed but mostly swept under the rug towards the end of the drama. Mo Ne is shocked to discover that when he first confessed to her, he thought she was his sister. When she brings it up to him, she makes light of it and then moves on – which, like many of her choices, seems just a bit too unrealistic. (If you found out that someone you love and trust had hidden such an important fact that would have likely influenced your decision to be in a relationship with them, I'd think you'd feel pretty hurt and betrayed at the very least...) [/SPOILER]
So, tl;dr...
Main relationship is very cute when it's good, but it sometimes feels tedious because of its many ups-and-downs
There are aspects of the plot that are interesting, but it is ultimately exasperating because of its repetitiveness; this could have probably been resolved by significantly trimming it down
The acting is mostly good, although sometimes too over the top
The OST is reasonably good, but not outstanding
The "incest" subplot may be too squicky for some viewers
Conclusion: A time consuming drama that is sometimes cute, sometimes funny, sometimes intriguing – but far more often frustrating. If you like one or both of the main two actors, it may be worth watching – but otherwise, I wouldn't recommend it. There are better dramas to spend your time on.
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Lee Dong Wok and Lee Da Hae
First of all, this is my favorite drama showing about business rival , forbidden love and secret among the big Hotel , also the chemistry between the two main actors. If you are a fan of Lee Dong wook, you totally SHOULD NOT SKIP it. His acting is really worth watching. Although it’s a kind of heavy drama, Ah Mo Ne (lee da Hye) makes you laugh by her role. The conflict among them is very interesting and exciting. More than that, the love between the main leads make me amazed. All 32 eps is no long. In every single episode, I feel different feelings. I love it so much. Hope we can see this couple again on the screen.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Its entertaining but then tiresome after a while
The actors did an amazing job but it was hard to form a connection with the characters, I felt like there always had to be drama and the pacing made it very monotonous. Plus the ending of the drama was very disappointing and seemed rushed. The drama didn't come to a conclusion. I think this drama would have been better if it didn't have 32 episodes and didn't have so much conflict between Hyun Woo and Mo Ne in the last episode.But overall I would say that the chemistry between the two actors were very cute and the scenes between them are worth watching, especially if you love watching actual acting. The acting in this drama was superb. So its worth the watch
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A Test of Patience with Classic Tropes
Hotel King proved to be quite the challenge to get through, with its extensive 32-episode run, each lasting an hour. The length of the episodes felt particularly taxing, making the viewing experience more of a commitment than a leisurely pastime. The drama itself leans heavily on old-school storytelling techniques and narratives, embodying many of the traditional themes and plotlines that have been seen time and again in the genre.This adherence to classic drama tropes could have been a comforting throwback for some, but it ended up feeling rather repetitive and predictable, lacking the innovation or fresh takes that modern audiences might look for in a new series. While there's a certain charm to traditional stories, it struggled to infuse new life into its prolonged episodes, making it a difficult watch for those hoping for something more contemporary or briskly paced. Overall, it's a drama that may appeal to die-hard fans of classic K-dramas, but others might find it a test of patience.
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A definite recommendation from me, although it does trail off towards the end.
I'd recommend Hotel King to anyone looking for an interesting hotel drama to sink their teeth into, and enjoyed its unique, fairly dark story line as well as the "whodunit" mystery we get to uncover as the episodes progress.I will stress that the story really does get quite dark at times, including murder, medical distress and violence towards children, so if you are affected by any of these things I would advise caution when watching. Most of these scenes are quite short so you should be able to skip them without missing much, but I wouldn't recommend skipping any of the opening sequence as it establishes the main character's back story.
Where this series really shone for me was in the relationships between the hotel employees as a whole, which felt completely authentic. I particularly loved all the stories that came from the cleaning and reception staff, as they were hilarious and kept me moving through the drama even when the main couple's story seemed to stall. It truly felt as though I was privy to the inner workings and gossip of a real hotel and its staff, which is where I tend to get my enjoyment from dramas like these.
I also think the two older actors in this drama, Lee Deok Hwa and Kim Hae Sook, did a phenomenal job with their roles and stole every scene they were in. It's impossible for me to elaborate on this without spoiling anything, but just know that you will come to love them both - however begrudgingly - and their stunning performances are worth the price of admission alone.
Like many of the reviewers before me, I agree that the series starts strong but trails off towards the end. I imagine shortening the series to 24 episodes would have nicely contained all the main plot points without the unnecessary fluff and same-episode flashbacks, which start to happen with a vengeance towards the end. However, please don't let that put you off; if you enjoy hotel/work-based dramas and are intrigued by the idea of a dark story line, you will definitely get a lot of enjoyment from this series regardless.
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