Hotel del Luna (2019)

Visually Beautiful Series

Fantasy and this sort of drama is not my normal wheelhouse but I really enjoyed it and has piqued my interest in this genre. IU is stunningly beautiful with gorgeous outfits. The world building was amazing and there was still a bit of mystery up until the final episodes.

The series didn't have scenes where it blew me away like CLOY or Hometown Cha Cha Cha but I felt it was consistently good throughout. Some people feel there were flaws with the series but I thought it was great and definitely did not fail in execution of ending compared to other series.

I actually enjoyed some of the filler stuff in the series with different ghosts in many episodes and trying to resolve their issues. I felt they also could've spent more time focusing on the characters if the writers wish but I also like what they've done. The supporting characters don't get too much screen time but this is more of a story of the Man Wol and everyone else is a supporting character.

This has overall made it into my top 3 since they didn't flounder the ending, visually gorgeous and interesting story line.

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Action, Comedy, Drama, Horror, Romance, Suspense, Thrill - This has it all

It's a mix of all genre (excl. Melodramma!!!, THANK THE AUTHORS FOR THAT).

Acting/Cast:
IU oh the goddess plays a phenomenal FL, portraying a badass women in power to a sensitive and vulnerable person wating for the right one. She plays as an amazing proprietor, bringing a mix of comic, tsundere and warm-quirky personality to the table. With her at the center the show was full of laughter.
In terms of the ML, however there isn't much to comment on and perhaps a slightly better plot for the role could have presented more to comment on. Overall the acting was good (as usual) and doesn't leave much to comment on.
Other recurring casts weren't also fine with my favorite being the receptionist (he was too cute). The cast was well matched with IU as hotel staff and had complete backstories. They portrayed their respective roles quite well and matched to the theme of the show perfectly.

Story:
If I have to compare the storyline it is similar to xxxHolic (Anime and Manga series from CLAMP). It had all the similar vibes with a guy being able to see the supernatural and getting help from a woman. I loved xxxHolic and loved this too, especially the cast for the FL lead (if they decide to make a live-action remake for xxxHolic, IU and Seo Yea Ji are the ones to go for).
The series had new plots however didn't feel much intuitive compared to other ghost stories. Still it managed to keep me at the edge of chair, waiting for what happens next, guessing what new trouble our dear ML lands himself in, or how the devilish beauty of a FL rescues him. (slight spoiler)

There isn't much of a rewatch value for this reason alone.

The story wrapped up on a good note, however, it felt too short and could have lasted for atleast 8-9 more episodes quite easily. I still await the second season starring (starring Kim Soo Hyun). But then I feel the same for most K-dramas,

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Amazing production

This fantasy drama is very much along the same genre as the Goblin. Resentful of a betrayal that happened 1300 years ago, Jang Man Wol was trapped in a hotel by a deity who kept her there as the CEO to stop her from going berserk and turning into a vengeful ghost. Then came the kind-hearted Goo Chan Song who ended up working for her because of a deal his father made with Jang. He tried to put a stop to her excessive spending and disastrous finances, and interfered with her attempt at revenge which could affect her chance of a good reincarnation. The story was centred around their relationship and work, and his changing attitude towards her.

I watched this drama to take a break from Chinese dramas which were getting to be more of the same - repeating the same threads of scenarios which had been successful in earlier dramas. The obvious cultural differences in the dramas were refreshing. The storyline of this drama is simpler than the intense scheming, obsessive lovers and rivalries often featured in Chinese dramas.

I rated this drama highly for many good reasons. The most important is I enjoyed it and actually watched it again. The plot was interesting and developed well. The story behind Jang's unfortunate past unfolded along the drama. Mysteries involving the lives of ghost visitors and staff also enriched the drama.

The acting skills of the cast were excellent. The handsome male lead and pretty female lead had this amazing chemistry. Good looking leads always make a big difference, but they need to act well too which is crucial.

The drama invoked a range of emotions. The verbal 'quarrels' between the leads were quite humorous in many parts and made me laughed. But it also managed to make me cry - few dramas managed to do that and this has become a measure for dramas I watched. Often, I found crying scenes boring and wished they would past quickly. The drama was well paced and I could not recall any dull moments.

Lee Ji Eun (Jang Man Wol) appeared in every scene with a new outfit - almost like a fashion parade. They must have gotten a lot of sponsorships from fashion houses or designers. Otherwise, clothes would have cost a fortune to produce this drama. Yes, I love beautiful costumes.

Then, the backdrop of the hotel was glamorous - the hotel lobby, the view from the balcony, and the wine bar - I guess some might be computer graphics but done very well.

There were of course some shortcomings - mainly inconsistencies. Early in the drama, it was said that ghost could not appear in camera. Yet in a scene later, someone saw the ghost in the library through her mobile phone. Towards the end, the staff at the hotel took photos together.

The ending was bitter-sweet. When the ghosts found resolution to their resentment, it was also time to say goodbye as they moved onto the afterlife. You would feel happy that they moved on but sad at the parting. In the early episodes, Jang said she was alive and not a ghost; yet towards the end of the drama she was referred to as a ghost.

Overall, I enjoyed this drama a lot and would recommend it highly. If you had watched the Goblin and enjoyed it, you may also like this one.

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This is worth your time

This K-Drama is definitely worth watching! It has a very unique plot and has very amazing characters.
For example, Jang Man-Wol. She's the CEO of Hotel Del Luna and has a very unique personality. She likes expensive things and wants everything!

The ending was really sad though... Jang Man-Wol had to cross the Samdocheon bridge. Before that, the staff members disappeared one by one, which means JMW has to go too, leaving KCS alone in the human world. And if JMW disappears, Hotel Del Luna would have come to an end..

Though the end was really sad, it still is worth watching and has a unique plot.
The acting of the actors was also VERY impressive! They portrayed the characters greatly!

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Hotel Del Luna took me a long time to finish. Not because it’s bad or anything, but I put it on hold late last year after a couple episodes because all the dead people just bummed me out.

In ways of a monster-of-the-week-type show, every episode of Hotel Del Luna presents us with one or more ghosts of people who have unfinished business on earth and, therefore, aren’t ready to pass on just yet. In the meantime, they get to stay at the titular hotel to find out what’s keeping them here. It’s a fun angle, where most stories have a bit of a comedic undertone, but what kept me coming back was the overarching story about Man-wol, the hotel owner, going back hundreds of years, which kept things interesting.

Near the end, some of the episodes got really, really long. While I did enjoy them, especially the last couple of episodes, it’s hard for me to recommend this show, unless you’re already accustomed to shows with episodes that can exceed 90 minutes or if you’re a fan of IU, as she delivers another great performance here.

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Um drama emocionante

Eu amei assistir esse dorama, acompanhei o lançamento na época e foi muito emocionante. Ir aos poucos descobrindo as histórias de cada personagem, a bagagem que cada um carregava, as mágoas, as dores. IU estava perfeita no papel, Man Wol é uma personagem cativante, com vários defeitos mas que consegue aos poucos quebrar a casca de durona que ela criou e nos fazer perceber o quanto ela sofreu.
O que me levou a não dar nota 10: o final, achei que a última cena foi muito sem sentido, aquela cena na praça com todos os personagens ficou confusa. Entende-se que são eles em novas vidas, mas como o personagem principal ainda tá novo? achei confuso kk
e também a questão da Man Wol e o rapaz se conhecerem quando ele era pequeno em outra vida. Achei forçado, ele poderia ser alguém totalmente novo e ajudar na elevação espiritual dela kk

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Aesthetic

I watched this drama for IU and it proved to be completely worth it! IU did a good job here in a badass role. This drama has an amazing photography and very beautiful sceneries. It also has a little historical storyline. IU's outfits were also beautiful. All outfits suited her well. She looks adorable in whatever she wears! It also has a great OST.

It became really sad towards the ending. What I didn't like that the episodes were really long but it's fine. I enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing IU in more dramas.

Overall, this drama is surely worth one watch.

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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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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. ^_^

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