Hotel del Luna (2019)
The show is a fun spin on a supernatural/fantasy tale yet it still manages to deliver a surprisingly emotional story. Reincarnation writing is always such a bittersweet experience. You, me, the audience, the characters--- we all see it coming but once it starts to set in we can't help but still feel that deep emotional jolt.While the overall character dynamics of the cast were good, at some point the chemistry between the lead pair seems to plateau and stop progressing from there. I'm not talking about the intimacy aspects per se, more like on a deep personal level. It just needed a little more of a push that unfortunately never came. It maintained the whole 'employee fell in love with his boss and vice versa' feel to the very end; maybe intentional, maybe not. Some fault probably lies with the bloated filler problems the show faced--- which is where it becomes a bit marred.
A prime example of why the 16 episode standard should not be adhered to. Filler is to be expected in any show but they're incorporated in the wrong places, at the wrong time in this one. Stuff that people stopped caring about maybe 5-6 episodes in. Once plot points get established and identified the show should have started tying things up, but it didn't. The climax should've peaked at a better time, but it didn't. Our goodbye to the characters and the show should have been beautiful, but it wasn't. What was supposed to be a magical experience became a bit of a slog at times.
Despite the show's themes relating to life and death, the overall atmosphere and presentation, both visually and audibly, really made the show come alive.
Welcome to Hotel del Luna, please enjoy your stay.
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One of my favourite Kdramas
Hotel Del Luna is one of the earlier Kdramas I've seen when I started regularly watching Kdramas in 2020 and it's one that pops back into my mind from time to time. As I'm watching this review I feel happiness that I got to watch this amazing drama as well as sadness that I'm no longer watching it.This story is about a Jang Man-Wol who is a 1000 year old ghost who loves to spend and has a grudge, she has to work at a special hotel to make amends. Koo Chan-Sung is a young man with exceptional experience managing hotels, who for one reason or another ends up at Hotel Del Luna and is in way over his head.
I loved everything about this drama, the acting from everyone is fantastic, especially IU who plays Jang Man-Wol, (I still have to check out some of her other dramas). I enjoyed the storyline that was interesting, I liked that we had the stories about the hotel quests as well as the overall story about Jang Man-Wol. I thought IU was so lucky to have an exceptional wardrobe of fancy clothes as well as nice cars, she looked beautiful in all her clothes. The sets and the CGI created breathtaking scenes of some places I won't mention because it spoils too much. I also liked seeing how the hotel has changed throughout the years.
Even though I saw Hotel Del Luna 2 years ago I still remember some of the soundtrack and I have a couple of the songs on my playlist, they are; Punch Done For Me and Taeyeon All About You. The soundtrack really enhanced the emotions of some scenes.
I found myself being terrified, laughing and crying throughout Hotel Del Luna. There was a hint of another season and I'm hanging for it, I don't normally rewatch Kdramas but I can see myself rewatching Hotel Del Luna.
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Interesting plot, flawless acting skills
This series was really good, and I enjoyed watching it most of the time.The plot was interesting and fresh. However, some parts were a bit confusing/explained poorly. When it comes to acting skills, I do not have any complaints about them. Also, I would like to underline how well-performed it was. The coloring, camera work, setting, and series visuals were just perfect.
I loved the chemistry between the main characters because it wasn’t such a cliché romance - it was something more than this.
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Great Drama
This show was the perfect mix between light hearted comedy and heart breaking tragedy. I loved the reversal of the normal gender dynamic in kdrama (the 1,000 year old supernatural being the woman and the ordinary human who needs saving being the man) and both the past and present storylines were interesting. Both Yeo Jingoo and IU were brilliant in their roles and bounced off each other really well. Although for some reason I just couldn't connect with the side couple, they were the least interesting part of the show for some reason.Was this review helpful to you?
One of the best fantasy dramas! Spooky, mysterious, overall beautiful!
I cried, I laughed, I swooned, I loved EVERYTHING about Hotel del Luna. Of course IU is one of my favorite actresses, she did a amazing job. Jang Mon Wol is a QUEEN and her and Goo Chan Sung's relationship was everything, Their growth as characters and the way they both impacted one another. Each and every single character in this kdrama was interesting, there was not one dull character. SO many back stories and details that really brought the whole drama to life. It's original, unique and mystical. HIGHLY recommend this drama, the visuals were beautiful, OST was my favorite in a long time. If you like fantasy type dramas you need to watch this one. DEFINITELY one of my top favorites. It's spooky, mysterious, majestic and just *chefs kiss* ! Amazing. Please watch this one. ^_^Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Crying my eyes out.
‼️ WARNING: THIS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS BUT NOT IN A OBVIOUS WAY ‼️STORY: In the beginning I had to be honest, I was a little confused because there was a lot of information to absorb. But as I continued to watch the story started making more sense and all the pieces were coming together.
ACTING/CAST: Absolutely perfect. Both the main cast, the friends, the spirits and the others did perfect. They portrayed their characters' emotions and stories so well that for me it was like I could feel their own emotions.
MUSIC: Perfect.
REWATCH VALUE: Would do anything to watch it for the first time but since i can't i would rewatch it again, it made me laugh and cry, and that's when you know it's worth watching again.
MORE GENERAL INFORMATION: Like I said in the beginning I was a little bit confused because there’s a lot of information to absorb, but as the episodes go on you are able to understand more of the characters' stories. It’s really funny seeing Goo Chan Sung getting accustomed to the ghosts and spirits, the whole show is extremely funny. I loved how they showed us a different perspective on what happens when someone dies, for me that was incredible and it also made me feel somehow more comfortable with the idea of people going to a hotel and having second opportunities. All the characters are extremely funny but also deeply serious when they have to be and that’s what makes this show so pretty and so full of emotions. I got a little bit confused at the end, I couldn't understand if Goo Chan Sung and Jang Man Wol were actually meeting again or not, but in my opinion I think they’ll always meet in each other’s dreams because they can’t be together in that lifetime and have to wait for their future. Personally I love to think that Goo Chan Sung is willing to wait for Man Wol so they can meet again in their next lives. I also think that what Chan Sung was seeing wasn’t a dream and the future, or in other words what we were seeing was probably his next life, where he was finally able to be with Man Wol, and where the stuff that worked at the hotel can all meet again and be in each other’s lives again. Both versions are pretty and amazing. Overall I loved this show, it was my first time seeing IU acting and god, she’s AMAZING. 10/10 would recommend watching this, and I would love it if this got a second season because the last episode left a lot of questions related to the new owner of the Hotel. And I would also love to know if Goo Chan Sung would meet the new owner and be the new manager. Last but not least I think everyone got their happy ending but my poor boy Sanchez was left “alone” again and I would love to see him happy, i would also love to see the “future” or grown up version of Kim Yoo Na.
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This review may contain spoilers
I want a season 2 or I'll sue
OMG that this was a rollercoaster of emotions. It was very aesthetically pleasing and if you love fantasy romance, with slight horror? It's the perfect thing. I was very late to watch this drama, because somehow when things are very new and popular I tend not to watch it, however, I should have totally watched this when the hype was there!In terms of plot, I really liked it! It gave me slight Beauty and the Beast vibes at the beginning with the dad wanting to give the flower to his son then the girl being like I'll leave you if you give him to me lmao. Also, I really liked this whole idea of a hotel for the dead, like if I die and I don't see this I ain't dying HAHA. For the acting, the fact that IU and P.O were in this was incredible their acting skills are amazing. Yeo Jin Goo was also really good at his role, he was definitely fun for no reason and did a good job in this drama. Since I watched this after Sulli's death makes me sad, but thank god she played someone who was alive, or else I would have probably cried for days.
For the characters, P.O's character was definitely my favorite! He was just so wholesome and his back story was so sad. The way I bawled my eyes out for him and Yu-na like my babies bro :') they were so cute together, I always thought that a ghost and a human romantic dynamic would go like this.. I love angst lmao. Move on to Sanchez, he was my man!!! He was such an amazing friend for Chan-sung and damn that I cried for him when Veronica died, they really did them dirty when they killed off his girlfriend right before he was going to proposed like angst x100. Man-wol was just the baddest bitch on the block, and that's on periodt! She was THE bitch and I really liked how Chan-sung was able to stand her character even though she always did questionable stuff, that's why I loved their relationship. She had definitely a sad past, which hurts my poor little heart so much, the way she had to watch Yun Woo, which he's technically is like a brother to her, die in front of her, thinking that the man she loved did that cuz he wanted to all along was just the biggest misunderstanding in history, which she knew after like a thousand years later. Plus the way she left for the afterlife at the end I couldn't handle it anymore I was crying~~~ Plus Chung Myung had THE saddest second lead ending lmao, the way this boy waited by her side all those years and all she had to do was say his name, then when they finally met he had to leave to the afterlife right after, my man did not deserve this :'(( I don't many things to say about Mr. Kim and Miss Choi, but I can say they were just so wholesome legit those 2 plus Hyun Joong were family for Man-wol and they had to leave :'). I'll say that I liked that Mi-ra and the cop got together even though one killed the other in their past life, they were a cute couple, that fight a lot, but still cute. Finally, some of the Ma-go sisters were HILARIOUS, while others either were so unclear with what they say or they meanies lmao (if you know you know)
I also loved Kim So Hyun showing up at the end, the way he stoled the whole show looking all sexy while I was just bawling my eyes out.
So yeah, great show the end gives mayor second-season possibility, but we can all dream, but if it doesn't happen I'll sue. It was just pain at the end like I get that the staff of the hotel may leave and stuff but MAN-WOL TOO please I wanted to see her be happy with Chan-sung at least in another life I don't know!
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A Drama you will never forget
I just watched a beautiful drama of monumental proportions. I was immersed from the first episode to the end. I’ve never watched a drama quite like this one. It was thought provoking, emotional and romantic. In total it’s about 22 hours long. I watched it in three days. It was that good.The cast was fantastic. The story was built around IU’s character Jang Man Wol as the owner of Hotel Del Luna. She was gorgeous and portrayed her character to perfection. The ML, Yeo Jin Goo, was great as the hotel manager, Goo Chan Sung. Together they supported the main flow of the story and found love as the story progressed. It wasn’t a love story of unbridled passion but it was a heart wrenching, emotional romance across generations.
The drama brought in side stories of the other characters that gave purpose to the entire storyline. There was the present and the past in every story. The characters were well constructed and supported. The script and the directing were amazing in my opinion.
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Everything about this drama was wonderful
I like everything about this drama , the characters was so amazing and the actors play their roles awesome ... I feel like i was there with them ?? at Final episodes i really crying and i thought i couldn't keep living without watching this drama ??? really hope there will be season 2 ?? and most important thing about the story was this : I do not want to regret after my death . All of them had something in the world of alive people , so because of that they couldn't let they lives go simply , they tried to do their best for their important person even when they were died.Was this review helpful to you?
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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