I love a good romance spiced with ghosts and mystery!
Hotel Del Luna is one of the first dramas in a long time that has been able to pull a strong emotional reaction out of me. I have seen a lot of good, emotionally impressive dramas before, but it's been a long time since I last saw a drama like that before watching Hotel Del Luna.The story of Hotel Del Luna is very interesting, and I was very intrigued by it right from the start. I personally really like dramas that handle the topic of ghosts, for example "Master's Sun" and "Oh My Ghostess" are some of my favourite dramas of all time. The story overall was good and interesting, but in my opinion it was a little draggy/messy/confusing at some points, which is why I scored the story 8.5. There was a lot of mystery in this drama, and I would have hoped that the mysteries could have been solved a bit more evenly during the drama. Also, there were a lot of scenes, where they used like 7 different camera angles just to show Man Whol (IU) sitting on a chair or lying under a tree for like 3 minutes straight for example, and I found that a bit unnecessary lol.
The cast of HDL was amazing. The main leads did a really good job, and all the supporting actors were amazing as well. I especially want to give a "shoutout" to Block B's P.O. aka Pyo Jihoon, I was very pleasantly surprised by his acting and I absolutely loved his character. I actually loved all of the characters that were the main hotel staff, they were so great. The only thing about the casting that I found odd, was that why on Earth was one of the ghost actresses dubbed?? I have no clue.
The music in this drama was good, I mean nothing was mindblowingly good or extremely memorable, but I didn't think any of the songs were particularly bad either. Just some quite standard drama OST songs. "Another Day" by Punch & Monday Kiz, "Done for Me" by Punch, "Can You Hear My Heart" by Heize and "Only You" by Yang Da Il were probably my favourites.
I personally never rewatch dramas anymore, but I honestly feel like this one could be entertaining to watch again some day, but not right away though. Maybe if I get my spouse to watch some dramas with me, this could be on our watchlist :D
Overall I scored this drama a solid 9. I liked the plot, I liked the cast, and even though there were some moments/people in this drama that I really disliked, (like Man Whol's personality at some points,) they didn't overshadow this drama's greatness. I would happily recommend Hotel Del Luna to anyone, especially if you like supernatural dramas with a good dose of romance and mystery (:
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ONE OF THE BEST FANTASIES!! GREAT WORK HERE!! ALERT OF MASTERPIECE!!
This was pretty much ➡️ AMAZING!Great chemistry between both leads and the storyline has a development (this is almost impossible to find in almost any drama nowadays, everything is too repetitive and dull now).
The storyline goes back and forth between the past (from her POV) to the present. It centers mainly in the romance, the fantasy theme such us, helping ghost cross to the other side by letting go of their grudges, the mystery of the past story with her past lover and the also death (as she wants to die but she can't).
The characters are well constructed, my favourite is her (IU's character) her sassy personality and her toughness are different and difficult to see in korean women.
The male character is well made too with personal development/growth, his experiences teach him something that will make better in each episode.
The supporting cast was easily enjoyable too with the funny touch, I really loved their addition to the drama too.
The OST were beautiful and easy to the ears, just like the drama.
I really enjoyed watching this drama from the beginning till the end. I highly recommend it, you'll not regret and have a great time watching it.
RATE 9.5/10
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Strong fantasy set-up and dynamic between leads with ultimately unsatisfying conclusion
I came into Hotel del Luna with several biases, but I enjoyed it for the most part (except for the ending, which I really found unsatisfying). Usually, the fantasy tag is an automatic skip when I'm looking for prospective dramas, since I think the extra layer of contrivance often sets up ridiculous plotting and a lot of fat a show could trim off. I didn't find this to be the case with Hotel del Luna, overall. I'm also not a fan of frequent flashbacks, which this has, but here it makes sense given the nature of the fantasy and the premise. The way they're interlaid into dreams makes sense and so the majority of the setup in the beginning and middle is pretty artful. More superficially, I think the costuming and set design was a definite aesthetic draw - it reminds me a lot of It's Okay to Not Be Okay in how it's used as a supplemental pleasure to the main drama. The music is also nice throughout. Overall, there's a lot of visual and auditory appeal in this.(General spoiler) I really like IU, as most going into this probably do. She does a great job, as does the ML; they have strong on-screen chemistry and their characters' dynamic works well. I do wish their romance was more intimate, though; much of their relationship is threaded through teasing banter, on the one hand, and long-term promises and commitments on the other. As the conclusion was coming up, I felt like the reality of the romance (indicated by the former) faded for the sake of the fantasy-driven resolution (the latter). They flirt but their relationship is weirdly desexualized because IU's character is somehow a 1,300 year old prude when the chips are down and the ML shows even sarcastic interest. Usually, I think shows can verge too far towards fluffy/intimate, but here I felt like the weight of their choices actually called for the sex/marriage institutionalization more than so many lighthearted shows I've seen that pursue that direction. She kisses him like 3 episodes in - or so it seemed - but that's basically the extent of their romantic intimacy besides some nice chaste hugging. Instead, we get extremely heavy romantic statements of commitment at the expense of fluffiness. Though I typically don't find it necessary (or even desirable to include it), I think having sex and more moments of intimacy in this show could've better shaped the drama at the end and added more levity as well (I think of how that would've fit within the pseudo-gossip the hotel workers had between them). In short, I think the desire to be true to the show's fantasy premise overwhelmed the desire to have a satisfying romance (with all the attendant intimacy), which is ultimately why the ending didn't work for me at all.
(Spoiler) Halfway through, my rating probably would've been closer to an 8.5 or a 9, but the ending made me rethink the parts of the show that I enjoyed from the beginning and middle. My central question throughout the run was, "are they going to be able to stay together in the real world?" But as I got to the end, the creators clearly thought more in terms of "what's the right way for IU's character to atone and thus for us to wrap up the fantasy side of things?" As someone who watched primarily for the romance, the ending was very unfulfilling and frankly didn't make sense to me, especially the ML's actions and what he says to the FL about moving on. I think having reincarnation as a facet of this drama was a fundamental mistake, though one the creators relied a lot on for conflict in the middle and end. Rather, I think the drama of losing immortality and reintegrating into society while dealing with lingering grudges would've been more compelling narrative. I don't think fated relationships - something established in this show via reincarnation - have any real stakes or emotional fulfillment (because choice is circumscribed by destiny), so having the resolution based on some nebulous possibility of meeting again in a reincarnated future does nothing for me. Here, they overcome and change in substantial ways only to lose what's most meaningful to them. Ultimately, the fantasy side of this drama, which I didn't mind for most of the run, led to this kind of unfulfilling conclusion (and on a shameless cameo no less). Like the show's creators, in the end, the main characters are more concerned with an imagined future than with the material reality of living and cultivating romance out of tragic circumstances.
(Spoiler) Rather than romantic or cute, I found the ending to be a weird mix of cynicism and idealism emerging out of the religiously-inflected fantasy. IU's character never lived a real life, never got to be someone because her life was conditioned by the cruel machinations of fate and the stain of vengeance. Once she meets someone with whom she can live and be free, she has to say goodbye because a gaggle of mercurial Fate bitches basically say so. In such a case, it's not clear what the ML should do in his regular life afterward. He falls in love with a gorgeous millennium-old demigod who he makes eternal promises to, but after she moves on, he's supposed to just live basically a regular life? His whole existence at that point is conditioned by the knowledge that his deepest happiness is contingent upon dying and meeting someone he won't remember in a reality he can't fathom. That's not the leap of faith that makes a good romance, but a religious deferral and rejection of the joy of living. The structure of the show really made me think the ending was a punishment of the FL (and the ML by extension), rather than the struggle to move on from her grudge (as it's presented). So the problem, to me, wasn't that the ending is sad (which it is), but that the basis for the resolution - reincarnated future hope - is nonsense and unfulfilling.
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WOW I was SO pleasantly surprised by this quirky, emotional, heartfelt, and CUTE show!
After admiring the ultimate puppy-dog-of-the-Korean-Industry Yeo Jin Goo in Beyond Evil, I IMMEDIATELY started watching Hotel Del Luna because I was SO DAMN EXCITED to see him in a cute romantic show.
I just wanted to see him be cute and in love and act cutely with a girl and act like he was in love and smile and giggle and be sexy and hot and funny and HE WAS ALL THAT AND MUCH MORE IN THIS SHOW!
He was absolutely adorable and the PERFECT companion to the cute little firecracker that IU was throughout, they compliment each other SO perfectly, and one thing I kept noticing was the difference in their hand sizes! Yeo Jin Goo has giant hands, specially when compared to IU's tiny ones, and I absolutely ADORED every scene which showed them hugging/holding hands etc. etc.
The ghost stories of all the guests at their hotel kept me engaged and interested and emotional. The staff all had compelling back-stories, enough to fuel me to cheer for their happy ending as well.
And another special thing about this show is that I usually end up skipping elaborate backstories of any character, specially if it relates to the Joseon Era, but for this show I saw every second of their pasts, and not just IU's, but also the staff had an unique stories and were extremely interesting to watch!
The only two people I didn't care much for were the receptionist and his girlfriend, although the little sister of the receptionist was ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE.
The fantasy element in the show was beautiful and stunning, with an extremely memorable soundtrack to boot, beautiful songs and OST. Also all the cameos were such a pleasant surprise.
In short, this show was like a hidden treasure for me, and I extremely enjoyed every element of it.
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Amazing Drama!
I love this show so much, this is probably my third time rewatching but my first time posting a review on it. This drama got everything you would need, romance, comedy, a bit of scares, and a bittersweet ending. Be prepared to cry during the last couple of episodes.Story :
The story talks about a girl/spirit, Jang Manwol, she got tied down to this magical tree and became the owner of a hotel for the dead. As time went on, the hotel developed and eventually comes Goo Chan-sung, a Harvard graduate and becomes the manager of the hotel, helping Man wol with work while allowing her to grow and let go of her hatred and learn to love. This story is so sweet, I love the romance between chan sung and man wol, though it is a bit weird that a relationship between a ghost/spirt and a human formed but the producers did not make it feel weird or different.
Music :
The songs were pretty good. Not much to say about them but they definitely sound very calming. The soundtrack was also really good, certain parts had certain feels to them. The costume design was phenomenal!!! I love every piece that Jang Man Wol wears, it really speaks classy and chic and girl boss.
Acting:
The main lead acting was soooo good. I wouldn't put it past IU because she is a queen in the acting industry and she slays every role. The actor who played Chan sung was also really good, he embodied his role really well. I love the supporting cast as well, especially the guy who makes the drinks. He was really funny. I love the different deities/versions of Mago, they really made the show entertaining. I really think the casting person did a really great job! I also like how the second leads, specifically Lee Mi Ra, she didnt hang on to Chan sung a lot and eventually moved on, which allowed for the plot to move a lot smoother without unnecessary plot holes or annoyances.
Ending:
The ending was nice and where I definitely cried the most, so prepare them tissues lol. I love how the director and producers made sure every character had a happy ending and were able to let go of their grudges and move on. It's very rare to see, I also love how we get to see everyone again at the end doing thei rown things and enjoying a new life reincarnated. Also, the way each person who worked at the hotel was sent off really tied everything together.
Absolutely loved this drama! So worth the watch.
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How to make a bad ending look good.
This drama made me cry like no other before. The last episode was a complete tearjerker.Until the very end, until the last minutes, I was expecting it to not really end badly. Even before the beginning, I found out whether it was a bad ending or a good ending, but after the opening episodes, I really didn't believe that it could end as a bad ending story.
The cast and acting were perfect. The costumes and soundtrack were unforgettable. Some of the songs are still on my playlist.
The drama was almost perfect in every way, but I don't know if I'll go back and watch it again.
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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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Beautiful Visuals Can't Save This Incoherent, Boring Story
Hotel del Luna is proof that production value and lead actress charisma can't save a fundamentally broken script. Lee Ji-eun is genuinely captivating, and the cinematography is gorgeous—it's a visual feast. But that's where the praise ends.The story is a mess. Plot points happen randomly without logic. The central mystery isn't intriguing; it's just poorly constructed. The romance feels forced and lacks chemistry despite the actors' efforts. Supporting characters are cardboard cutouts with throwaway backstories. Pacing is painfully slow in the first half, then rushed in the finale, leaving you frustrated rather than satisfied.
You're essentially watching a pretty box with nothing inside. Skip it unless you're desperate for aesthetic content.
Final Verdict: 6.5/10 - A visual spectacle that squanders its potential with lazy storytelling.
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Sanchez Deserved Better
It took me around 5 months to complete this show. That isnt to say that its bad. its just to say that i was busy and that i may have some alzheimers, so this review maybe inaccurate.
Goblin is a show where ghosts check in for therapy, and we check in for trauma. Ridiculous tsundere romance, a thousand-year-old angsty main lead, and random side plots that exist for no apparent reason other than to pad out the runtime and a swaggy grim reaper with a jawline like the jaw titan from aot.
Honestly, I came in expecting peak. Instead, there was alot of kdrama padding as usual. However it did make me think about alot of things like why are these dead people paying ghost money for five-star ghost room service? Does this hotel serve other nationalities or is it south korea only? can north koreans make it? How did Sanchez's girlfriend get tp summoner spell? The tiger made it, how come none of the other north koreans make it? Who’s managing the ghost economy? Is this going to impact inflation in south korea?
Our female lead is John Man Wol, not to be confused with The moon embracing the sun's sha-man wol. For a good ten episodes, she treats everyone around her like dirt. Whether they’re alive, dead or in transit. She eventually pivots to being a bit nicer, but she’ll still scam your ghost grandma for a lambo. Her character is abit over the top but ig thats kdrama. like yea. thousand year old angst tends to do that to someone. probably. idk ive never seen anyone live that long.
The male lead, Gucchi Sung, is pretty chill. He’s a polite, smart, hard working but did get trapped by the crusty old scam queen despite her literally treating him like a hotel bellboy with no union benefits and threatening to kill him on multiple occasions. He does have a strong character and actually stands up to the fl and sees past her facade of being a bitch. he is also sassy and funny. good fellow. The romance was ok. honestly good that they died. they def need a soft reset on the relationship
Side characters were goated. well cooked. Sanchez deserved better. Man comes in with pizza for everyone. Nice as hell. went through heaps of shit and landed a very nice girlfriend. Only to have that nice life snatched away from him. It just aint fair. Bro was the biggest tragedy in this show. Shits just fucked up with ghosts and angst, and all he wanted was a nice girl and a peaceful life. and he actually processes everything pretty nicely. like damn. he chill as fuck. The ghosts themselves were pretty nice. Dead people with regrets? Classic. Dead people who need to accept change to move on? omg. Some of them def had some over the top obsessoins, like, bitch, you died in the Joseon Dynasty. why are you still out here beefing with your ex's descendants? Surprised the hotel wasnt just full of people like that.
the way they deal with characters regrets and wants was actually really interesting. often times they wanted things their way, like how things were before they died or before something terrible happened before they died (their regrets)/ but to move on properly they needed to forget about that and accept something new. something related to their regret to like replace or help them cope with that feeling. And then they accept it and can finally accept their death. which i find is a pretty nice and relatable message that many shows dont really tackle that well.
Ending was fucking pretty peak. It’s the ending Violet Evergarden deserved. Sad, emotional, and satisfying. K-dramas never do that shit. Sure, it took a couple episodes of padding to get there, but it was just making space for it to hit different. especially how they used the ost. . "Can You See My Heart?" Yes, I can, and it’s weeping in moderation. enough to feel the peak. but not enough to get destroyed like more than blue or how to make millions before grandma dies. IU also epic (i dont actually know her too well and i forgot the song name).
Visual effects def looked goofy at times, but props for trying to experiment like with the borders of the screen. The briar scenes were pretty nice. also a shame what happened to that character, and the other like 4 that got brutalised by that one random dude that exited the server when he got chat banned (self inflicted mute/stabbed in the neck).
This show was pretty entertaining. Could have been alot shorter but it is what it is. The good parts were great. It’s not the most peak K-drama I’ve seen but its pretty nice. especially how they actually tied up loose ends in the ending.
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30% Great, 70% Boring
Plot: Unresolved pasts of old ‘ghosts’ plus a human hotel manager with some sprinkles of other ghosts stories. The premise is quite interesting and cool but the execution was poor because of too much flashback, too much slow motion and too much focus on visuals.Acting: Decent acting from main leads and some side characters.
Music: I did like some of the music, mostly by female but not sure if IU sang them.
Rewatch Value: Quite disappointed with how it turned out after episode 4 so no, i won’t be rewatching it.
Overall: 6 for concept, visuals and efforts of the actors. I think the director/producer focused on how visually appealing the drama is rather than the flow of the story. It was all over the place. The amount of flashbacks they keep on showing every episode made me lose interest. It took me more than a month to finish this even though I was fast forwarding a lot. I was not emotionally invested and most of the time bored with their scenes, I just wanted to know about the past and how it will end. Today, I decided to finish the 16th episode which took me less than 30 mins to finish because it was predictable and rushed. I’m quite sad because this has so much potential and I expected a lot on the first few episodes however it felt flat most of the time. What a waste of a good concept.
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Fantasy story with love and resolving grudges
Grim reapers, deities, ghosts - nicely woven together with romance and perfectly timed reveals. The music played a bit part in setting the correct mood and I found myself tearing up at many moments when words were not even spoken.The drama was extremely well written with many interesting little stories being introduced and solved all the while having flashbacks of the FL’s past life which made me feel so sad for her. Watching her fall in love with the ML was heart wrenching since it was already revealed early on that she would be leaving him in the end.
I loved the FL’s character, gorgeous outfits and stunning manicured nails! She had wonderful chemistry with the ML and their bickering was cute and natural. Although she puts forth a cool and strict front with her staff, she cares for them immensely as is revealed in the way she protects them and the way she is engulfed in sadness when they leave her.
The deity concept here (Mago) was interesting and it was fun to see them all look like identical sisters but with different personalities, hairstyles and dressing to suit their different responsibilities - the strict one dressed in black, the beggar-looking one in charge of poverty, the perky one dressed like Queen E and so on.
The ending was done nicely in several stages. It was good that the drama didn’t just end when the FL’s grudge was resolved (as most dramas usually do) and it went on to do very nice closures for each of her staff before coming back to end on the FL and ML. Not the happy ending I would have liked but one that fits this storyline.
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Grudges, Ghost, Friendships, Family, Laughs, Sadness, Past and Present
I like to watch things that have ghosts or mystical story's for Halloween and I am happy that I watched this drama! It didn't disappoint, it had everything that I love in a drama. It had friendships, relationship, family, comedy, sadness. One minutes I could be sad and the next smiling and laughing at what was being said or done. Yes it has ghosts and one or two may of been a little scary but for the most part when you meet the ghost you found out more about them and their background which didn't make them as scary. The story revolved around things that happened and in the past, grudges and working through your grudges to forgiveness or moving on, with your life. It even had romance in it which was sweet, and the ending had me sad but that is what the story was about moving on to the afterlife, once you are ready!Was this review helpful to you?
