Hotel del Luna (2019)

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!

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A 1300 Year Old Cycle.

My review comes three years late after finally getting a chance to rewatch it.
I had followed the drama while it was airing and remember losing interest half way, watching the final episode and skipping through the scenes around Episode 11 - 14. It was this rewatch that finally made me understand why I found certain parts less than interesting.

A young prodigious man is tricked into the service of a supernatural being, Jang Man Weol, after his father was conned into making a deal with her 20 years ago.

Then, we get to see an exclusively detailed view of how Gu Chang Sung's entire life gets turned upside down as a result. I admit, he was an unsuspecting and unconventional male lead --- half of the drama, he is stuck in a state of constant dilemma, attempting to make decisions and also learn about his mysterious master, Jang Man Weol, the owner of Hotel del Luna where he is forced to work.
Jang Man Weol had a lot of "pecadillos" rather than being a genuinely evil being. But, I consider her very first decision of tricking Chang Sung's dad into selling his son to her the most cruel one. Burdened with the punishment of running the Hotel for 1300 years, she awaits to serve vengeance to the ones who had forced her through this dark path. It is now upto Chang Sung to see that she crosses the afterlife safely and remove her resentment.

I loved the three ghosts who served the hotel -- Miss Choi, Mr. Kim and Hong Joon. They were humourous. I also adored the rapport between Chang Sung, Sanchez and Mi Ra. I sometimes wished that the story focussed more on the humans than the ghosts. The ghosts whose tales were prominently followed were all emotionally depressing. I did not find them boring, as each one had a pivotal role in changing Man Weol's view on life.

The major events in the story are pre-planned by the 'deities'. And everyone of them managed to get on my nerves except for Police woman Ma Go and Medicine Ma Go. The way they dealt with the lives of living beings like cards was difficult to watch.

Last, but not the least... I could feel why Jang Man Weol sought revenge for centuries. This was also the weakest point in the drama for me. The backstory of a very important character was almost laughable. It was a moment that I waited for as I wished that it would make me find him redeemable, but in the end, he sounded like a coward.
I suddenly understand why Chang Sung was the male lead instead of him. He might not have anything heroic happening around him, but he definitely had enough intellect and loyalty in him.

I wonder how hard it was for IU to act as Jang Man Weol. She had around more than three outfits per episode and I can't imagine how exhausting it was for her and the stylists of this show. (I loved JMW's style though!)

The soundtrack of this drama is absolutely unforgettable. I can remember almost all the songs even after three years.

I do find the drama absolutely delightful and enjoyable. It's not a masterpiece, but the brilliant performances by the cast, beautifully shot scenes and a story that completes a satisfying circle is definitely worth giving a try.

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Hotel Del Luna - A Five Star Experience

I started watching this show as something to pass time whilst writing an essay but it quickly grabbed my attention and ensured it would never leave my memory. The concept of the story is very unique and it was really interesting seeing how the show addressed themes of guilt, forgiveness, redemption and death by making some of the main characters fallible to mistakes. The story progressed and though the first five or six episodes were certainly enjoyable, they were more about building chemistry between characters with those "ghost of the week" episodes and giving us snippets of Jang Man-Wol's past. But once we reached episode 8, everything after that was really just 10/10 episodes. I found the last scenes of the finale very difficult to watch to the point where I'll revisit the entire show but never rewatch that final episode.

It also became clear by the end that the show was telling us this very crucial message: death isn't the end but merely one stage of someone's life. Separation by death doesn't diminish the value of love and relationships, but makes living through those moments all the more special knowing that they are finite moments that can end at any point. This isn't an easy thing to make peace with for a lot of people, but Hotel Del Luna beautifully crafts the message that often the journey can be as beautiful as the destination. Things come to an end but can last forever if they're moments that are lived well.

What I really like about this show is that the overarching arc of the story doesn't reach its resolution until very well near the end, with an incredible amount of tension generated along the way, but it also gives what some might call the "calm after the storm". The pacing isn't quick but I feel it's better this way. Understanding Jang Man-Wol's history over a number of episodes rather than too quickly early on protects the intrigue around her. It is also reflective of how we come to understand new people in our lives as real human beings. Hotel Del Luna, in that sense, is truthful to the human experience of fraternity and relationships.

I also really think there's a particular episode near the end that deserves an article of its own. It was one of the best episodes I've watched in a Kdrama show. It also mattered, after so much deliberating and agonising, that Jang Man-Wol came to the decision that she did during that episode. It was important that the writers had gone with it how they did because it ascribed agency and emotional weight to the significance of her decision, rather than a situation where her choices were resolved for her by the truth being revealed to her. That would have made her angst redundant and wouldn't have been ultimately Jang Man-Wol making a choice but it being made for her. The writers were conveying quite clearly to us that this was both her decision and also their way of answering a question that would have been forming both within the heads of the characters and the audience itself from the show's beginning once Jang Man-Wol's backstory became increasingly revealed.

The stories of the support cast are also quite devastating in their own rights. Really, this is one of those kinds of shows.

The acting is extraordinary in reflecting the show's main themes, and I mean genuinely extraordinary. IU is stunning and steals the show in every scene of every episode. Her character is genuinely one of the most memorable characters I've ever watched in TV. Even if you find the show difficult to enjoy, it's difficult to not appreciate just how good she was. Yeo Jin-Goo was also really good as the lead male in the show, and his character had a really good compassionate aura that contrasted well with IU's character. His morally steadfast approach could appear boring once you realised there was no room for growth seeing as he already began as this perfect, loving guy, but it made him the perfect riposte for IU's character. Whenever the two shared a screen, the show never lacked for it. They enjoyed an incredible chemistry that will live long in the memory and made those final scenes all the more beautiful.

The music. Just wow. Find me a better OST from any show, I'll wait! They enriched the tone of just about every scene, complementing perfectly. There are particular highlights from Episodes 6, 9, 12 and 14 that stand out for helping deepen the beauty of some stirring and moving scenes. They were nearly as memorable as the characters of the show themselves.

Can I just reiterate again how marvellous IU was? She might have inspired a new generation in fashion.

All in all, this is one of the best k-dramas I've ever watched, with a finale that will remain glued to your brain for a very long time afterwards.

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Beautiful to watch

This is a beautiful show to watch. Beautiful cast, beautiful set, beautifully filmed, etc. I was impressed by IU's progression throughout the show. I really hated her at the beginning (as I was supposed to), but her character really progressed and you could really see her pain and her vulnerability. Yeo Jin Goo was very good at the reluctant hotel manager. There was a sweet romance, but this spoke more to me about resolving issues in our lives, and the fact that family doesn't have to be nuclear. The hotel staff had their own lovely family.

I thought the special effects were very good and added to the enjoyment of the show.

The costuming of IU was the standout for me. Her clothes and her jewelry were always so stunning and classy. I've watched some other K-dramas recently and have compared the feeling of the clothes/cinematography to Hotel Del Luna. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

Add the cameo appearances of Lee Joon Gi and Kim Soo Hyun - bonus!

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A Must Watch of 2019

Before Hotel Del Luna can be called a "romance", it is first and foremost a drama about existing. HDL tells stories of our hotel guests' plight towards their own ends while shining a light on social issues, our faith, humanity, and humanity's inability to concretely define right from wrong.

The central core to HDL is our anti-heroine President Jang Man Wol, owner of HDL. She is as much the owner of this seemingly grand hotel for ghosts as she is an equally trapped prisoner of her own memory.
I enjoyed how the ghost's stories unravelling in each episode somehow tied to JMW's storyline, and what she learns each incidence propels her towards a new choice in her own life.

IU is evidently the star of the show as the script focuses ENTIRELY on building her character and oh boy... she does not disappoint. IU delivered a beyond stellar performance. Her styling, layered facial expressions, tone of voice... I could write an entire essay about how delicately complicated her portrayal of JMW was, I digress, she is genius here. She also opened up an instagram account for JMW as an interactive way to connect with viewers. It was fun seeing her insta posts align with what was happening in the drama each week.
I LOVED Goo Chan Sung and JMW's chemistry. Their actions and words are vital in their relationship and so powerful to them. This drama won't be for you if you're looking for a giddy, sizzling, or somewhat cheesy romance. The writers paid attention not to conform to predictable romantic tropes and antics. Their relationship is much more mature, rooted in real compassion for each other as humans.

The drama has no plot holes, isn't draggy either but well-paced for its theme of forgiveness and proper farewells. I felt so at peace with how this drama ended.

I highly recommend this drama if you like stories about human life, forgiveness, revenge and redemption with a supernatural element. The cinematography, CG, acting, and OSTs are perfection. HDL is a very touching story and a treasure in execution.

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manwol is the only interesting character

The cast list & the guest roles were amazing and acting was superb & despite being one of the most hyped dramas it was so underwhelming , i couldn't bother to watch the side stories (which takes up a lot of the episodes) lol i skipped almost all of it bc it was super unnecessary. ghost hunting and all sheesh who's got the time!

romance between manwol & chansung were Meh , manwol's characteristics was too strong for her to end up with chansung tbh they could've made him someone of her level (of characteristics) because he was so boring to me .. romance seems forced tbh don't really feel it there.

how they resolved manwol's grudge? what the hell was that 3 minutes of standing & looking at eachother? she held on to that grudge for 1300 years just for it to end like that? lol they could've at LEAST made it more dramatic. even the side characters have longer stories on how they resolve their grudges!

overall the best part of this drama is manwol (and her outfits) & the most interesting part is her past with cheongmyung & yeonu . i would've definitely rated this drama higher if they focused more on that. lee dohyun did an amazing job in portraying his character despite being a rookie at that time omg loved it so much. their story was the only one that made me cry lol

i contemplated a lot on whether to drop this drama or not but i didn't because i wanted to see how it all ends but ???? so so underwhelming. could've been so much better

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For me, Hotel del Luna really moved me. It got inside my heart, it went straight to my feelings.

The cinematography in this drama is just marvelous, the cast is perfect and the soundtrack is really beautiful and it's played in the right moments, letting you feel every emotion when it's needed. The flashbacks in this drama are so beautifully made, too, they did an amazing job transporting you to the character's memories.

This is THE drama. It's THAT drama you won't ever forget, and personally I will definitely watch it again someday whenever I feel like I can listen to it's OST again without crying, lol.

Let me say the characters are unique. Even though the most developed character is Man Wol (since she's the main character) we get to see a little about every other people staying and working in Hotel Del Luna and their stories are unique too. The plot is really different from what we've seen related to ghosts and I really appreciated that, since every episode you'll learn something new about Hotel Del Luna and its guests, and how the world of the dead works. This is a really interesting drama and deserves a watch.

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A Fantasy Drama with Impressive Story and Cinematography

It is very evident from episode one that this is a Lee Ji Eun drama. As I mentioned earlier, I have never seen her previous dramas. But during the first few minutes of Hotel Del Luna, I was captivated by how she portrayed the moody, greedy, and funny Jang Man Wol. I found myself laughing whenever she tries out food or jewelries, or when trying to justify her reasons for getting a new car. It made me look forward to seeing the other dramas she starred in. A few singers and idols have been dabbling into acting recently, some have transitioned from being an idol to an actress and has gained massive popularity for their immense skills. Take note of Kim Yu Jin or Uie, a former idol and member of the group After School. The dramas she starred in always end with high ratings and has earned her numerous accolades. Like Uie, Ji Eun is also a singer and a talented songwriter known by her stage name IU. Hotel Del Luna has cemented her as a skilled actress.

I know people might call me an ancient or old-fashioned, but this is my first time to see a Korean drama with an impressive cinematography and use of CG effects. Is this the new trend in K-Dramas? I was actually looking forward to seeing one in the upcoming series ‘SF8’, but watching Hotel Del Luna had set my expectations higher. The stunning cinematography really compliments the dark/fantasy genre of the drama, even the colors were well-chosen, from hotel’s walls to Man Wol’s garish clothing.

Overall, Hotel Del Luna is South Korea’s most popular drama of 2019 and it’s a no-brainer. It is a drama that breaks away from the typical romantic comedy genres which in my opinion has saturated the Korean drama industry. A drama that deals with death and the unseen world, it also deals with justice, healing and forgiving which are good values. For me shows that one who have been wronged will always get the justice he deserves. But sometimes in order to achieve justice, one should let go of all his grudges and learn to forgive so he can be fully healed and be free. Overall, it’s a must-see drama with great story, great visuals, and great cast.

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The part of kdrama I hate most is the romance scenes. For me, those scenes waste time a lot when they make them appear frequently. Sometimes, it takes 2 minutes per scene and I can't help but skip it. Don't get me wrong, I love romance drama. But when the scenes are too much, it will be like you put too much sugar into your milk.

However, Hotel Del Luna is different.
It's not only romance but also comedy between the two lovers. At first, I expected the scenes would be so long and was ready to skip them. BUT! As soon as I had a thought about it, they put the twist. Rather than putting kissing scenes, they made some jokes in those scenes and thus became comedy.

The story itself represents so many real-life and social problems. They did well in criticizing modern social life.
I've watched 3 latest IU's dramas and her character + acting are so gooooo0000d.

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