Hotel Califórnia (2025)

A complex story with many more deep-seated conflicts and emotional drama than it initially reveals

Prologue:
"Motel California" piles up drama in reverse, so to speak. The more we learn about the past, the more we understand of the tragedy...
Dramatic. Grievous, too, yet rounded in itself. Not joyful, yet the ambivalent emotions subtly creating a strange kind of warmth, because it's about human beings. Deeply hurt, insecure, imperfect and even embittered human beings who try to put aside their suffering, even suppress it, and still live their lives as best as they can.
Demanding, because as audience we might initially be somewhat reluctant to open our hearts to these people in "Motel California". (But we should, it´s worth it.)
A bitter, moving, and yet beautiful story about despite their defect nevertheless lovable people.




"Motel California" is a healing story amidst a structurally sickening, toxic work and living environment. It's primarily about the 'good, true and proper' origin, the outer impression, the 'right' educational institution, the 'right' gender (male). Additionally it is as well about exploitation, discrimination and bullying. It is also a story about love. Primarily between a boy and a girl. The girl ultimately struggles through life as a deeply sad lone fighter after having to leave behind the only much loved, loyal companion – the only one who, in her eyes, ever made her feel warmth, unconditional trust, reliability, and care in a cold, rejecting world.

"Motel California" is a complex story with many more deep-seated conflicts and emotional drama than it initially reveals. The recurring flashbacks gradually provide more valuable insights. This helps us better understand what is presented to us "today." Accordingly, only over time do we get emotionally closer to the protagonists, i.e., in the course of the second half.
"Motel California" tells of complicated life, of great pain, and above all of the FLs pain, who barrels through life with a disturbingly repellent shell. But many others also carry injuries and scars. Wonderful actors help us feel the drama within the drama through their strong performances.

The story, based on a novel, tackles demanding material. Quite courageous, because what torments and drives the two protagonists internally is not always pleasing on the outside. Especially the FL, with her incorrigible defiance and exorbitance, is sometimes hard to bear. Moreover, her deep pain, which sometimes almost spills out of her eyes, can be quite intense. Respect!!! For daring to uncompromisingly and soulfully tackling in a KDrama the distressing, uneasy dark side of emotional realities in an otherwise highly polished South Korea. And for Lee Se-young to take on the difficult, deeply wounded, ambivalent, and insecure character of Ji Kang Hee, who fights against the rest of the world from a seemingly lost position.

This is not a light-hearted KDrama. "Motel California" is not easy fare. Nevertheless, the latent severity is repeatedly dissolved by soul-warming scenes or channeled through pointedly inserted, humorous scenes. Additionally, there are soothing details between the lines, e.g. in dialogues, mise en scene, and atmospheric lighting.

What ultimately turns out to be a love story, at first starts of somewhat clumsily. At times, it might feel like a study of an almost toxic emotional dynamic between a man and a woman. In their rather awkward addictive habit and sometimes inappropriate ambivalence the love between them still seeks its way in difficult terrain. Over time we get to know the characters a bit more – their motives and backgrounds, as well as their unresolved, unredeemed feelings of guilt. Compassion may spread. And quite a lot so. This is KDrama par excellence. It's worth sticking with “Motel California” and not abandoning the two main leads (nor everyone else) along the way.

Layer by layer, the cloak of forgetting and suppression is gently removed over the 12 episodes. This cloak protectively covered the unresolved feelings. Yet, ultimately it turns out as emotional prison that has long prevented authentic, sincere encounters and healing communication.

The 'Motel California' ultimately represents a nurturing vessel for such encounters and healing. It is a symbol for origin, stigma and opportunity alike. The 'Motel California' forms an island in the sea of cruel rumor mills, social control, social ostracism, and discrimination. The name of the motel – "California" – represents the dream of another world. The motel as an establishment, in turn, stands for what the protagonist was always ashamed of in her childhood. For what caused her to experience painful 'othering' as a child. She was different and grew up under shattered, disreputable, and ultimately tragic family circumstances. I.e. that she is different – not as she should be – was (and is) mercilessly mirrored by her environment. She was not recognized as a full member of society in a small world where everyone seems to know everything about everyone else . And the 'disreputable' that clung to her was inevitably linked to the 'motel' in her eyes – the motel as a mirror of her inconsolable, almost unbearable, and still unresolved injuries of her childhood and youth. Nevertheless, the motel is also her home and witness to her forgotten (including good) childhood memories. "Home, Bitter Home", so the title of the original novel. At last the Motel also becomes a social hub for those who are ready to find redemption. This is thanks not least to Kang Hee's father, who, with his liberal, unmistakably patient, and trusting manner, opens the field for it.







Nevertheless, I also have criticism:
Quite inappropriate in view of the difficult, emotionally complex theme of this KDrama are, in my eyes, the really intrusive product placements – almost as if a commercial break is being inserted every now and then... Cringey!

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Motel California in Korea

For this story, the beginning might start out a little slow, confusing, irritating, at some parts. Two childhood friends, as different in personality as night and day, yet their closeness as fluffy as a teddy bear. Bearing the “shame” of parental uncompromised relationship resulting in tragedy, the pair bore the scrutiny, gossip, pointing fingers of the small town they lived. Unbearable to her, their friendship ended when she left town. With this outline builds this story. It’s a story of overcoming barriers, stigma. It’s a story that gives us a glimpse of life in real time through that of Kang Hee, the main character. There’s the saying that children shouldn’t bear the mistakes of parents. That’s definitely a theme here. KH is definitely a complicated character in the beginning. Stick with her as you will understand. With so many other life lessons, this story unfolds like a beautiful budding flower that by episode eight, I legitimately have adopted myself into it.

Lee Se Young (Kang Hee/Gang Hui) is such a versatile actress. Historical, modern, cross cultural, she has really made her mark in acting. I like her in this role. She’s headstrong, stubborn and determined not to be undermined by her painful past and problems of present. Her character is somewhat similar with that in What Comes After Love. Those hard stares can freeze the bones. She really does shine in this character. Her emotional scenes are very well done. Had me teary too as I can identify her pain in those moments.

Na In Woo (Yun Su) plays the character that is hard to adjust to. He’s quiet, slow to respond. However, as it progresses, he grows into you. His role as the foundation to Kang Hees emotional roller coaster life is heartwarming. Kind, understanding, and patient, he’s her solid rock. Episode eight is so beautiful. He is very clear, concise, and becomes a man. You’ll see.

Kang Hees father in the drama is the father everyone can want. Charming, humorous, slow to anger, not a pushover. Yes, his relationship with his daughter is strained yet, their bond and love for each other is obvious.

There’s many other great themes here. Orphan. Childhood bullying. Stigma. Forgiveness. Everything is resolved and by the end i continue to smile. Yes, very satisfying end. Be patient in first few episodes and you’ll be happy you stuck through to the end.

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THE RATINGS ARE WAY TOO LOW

Motel California is a beautifully crafted drama that delves into the complexities of first love and the emotional distance that can come between two people who are meant to be together. The story revolves around two characters who reunite after a long time apart, only to find that unresolved feelings and misunderstandings create a barrier between them. While the initial episodes are filled with angst and longing, it's essential to take the time to appreciate the gradual development of their relationship.

The frustration that arises from their inability to communicate is relatable, and the dual perspectives provided by both leads allow viewers to empathize with their struggles. Unlike typical dramas where one character pines away while the other moves on, both leads in Motel California are deeply invested in each other, which adds a layer of depth to their story. The slow burn of their relationship is both heart-wrenching and rewarding, making it a captivating watch for those who appreciate emotional storytelling.

The female lead in Motel California has sparked a lot of discussions, with many labeling her as a red flag. However, it's essential to recognize that her complicated feelings and reluctance to fully engage in her relationship stem from a deeply rooted backstory. Her experiences of feeling hated and abandoned, coupled with a strained relationship with her father, shape her character in a way that makes her relatable and real. It’s not uncommon for someone to protect themselves emotionally, especially when they’ve faced such turmoil.

What I appreciate about her character is the depth and complexity she brings to the story. She's not just a simple love interest; she embodies the struggles many face when trying to reconcile their past with their present. Her journey reflects the reality of being human—feeling vulnerable while also striving to be strong. The internal conflict she experiences, especially as she sacrifices her first love for her own emotional safety, showcases her strength and vulnerability.

While it’s easy to get frustrated with her actions, it's crucial to understand her motivations. She’s a character who evolves throughout the series, and her development is a testament to the writers' ability to create a nuanced portrayal of a young woman grappling with her identity and choices. This complexity makes her journey all the more compelling, and it’s refreshing to see a character that feels so authentically human...she is a character who embodies the complexity of being human—making mistakes, feeling regret, and attempting to mend those errors while sometimes needing to take a step back. This frustration is a reflection of real life, especially when she stands in contrast to the flawless male lead, who is calm, collected, and unwaveringly loyal. While she may appear villainous to some, her struggles add depth to their relationship, which is both thrilling and heartwarming, infused with a palpable angst.

The chemistry between Na Inwoo and Lee Se Young is palpable, and their performances convey a range of emotions from longing to love. Their eyes tell a story that is both heart-fluttering and deeply emotional, capturing the essence of their characters' journey from fear to a warm embrace. This drama is beautifully crafted, with a cinematic quality that feels like a movie experience. The soothing OSTs enhance the magical chemistry shared by the leads.

While the pacing may be slow at times, it is undeniably addictive as the story unfolds. It may not resonate with everyone, but it’s worth giving it a chance—don’t just rely on ratings. The acting is exceptional, and the overall experience is one that leaves a lasting impression....

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If frustration had a name, it would be "Motel California"

This was a one-woman show, all other characters are pretty irrelevant. Lee Se Young was stellar as the cinematography was, too bad her character was an understandable frustrating mess not helped by a shitty script.
Pace is draggy and all over the place. Drama sucked my energy dry.

#I've_got_melo_trauma
#Not_watching_ANY_melo_for_6_months
#Gimme_Back_My_HOURS

I was wondering how they were going to wrap up this thing up given how everything remained messy up to the middle of episode 11...

Turns out, THEY DIDN'T DO SH***

They didnt' resolve anything, they just used a magic wand and all the shitty villagers and classmates did a 180 in the last ep and everything is ok and let's laugh under the (grey) sky after years of bullying? ARE. YOU.KIDDING.ME ? ? ? As somebody who has had experience with some of the issues faced by Kang Hee I can tell you this :

1. Racists gonna remain racists, it's not because they do good things on the side that it changes the fact that they're filthy racists.

2. Even if they did a turnaround, I won't forget and I won't forgive, but in this drama, all these prejudices are treated like it's nothing.

3. It takes a lot of courage to apologize to your former victims. Most bullies would rather die than admit their wrongs that leaves (most of) them with two options: 1. Make up excuses to justify their past behaviors, usually by victim blaming 2. Just ignore the victim and act like they don't exist since these bullies are cowards who can't even look their victims in the eye.
And we're not going to have a "party" together UNLESS they PAY the whole bill!

Didn't care about the Esther story line. From the moment they showed the cheating it was either she aborts or she gets with glass-guy : they also swept under the rug that he's filthy rich hence it's very likely Esther and him are being pressured to abort the baby by their respective families. They have the same background so it makes sense they're allowed to be together, but even if glass-guy's family is ok with him getting with Esther the divorcee they definitely are not for her to keep the baby. BUT this show is doing a Love Next Door thingy so screw these issues I guess. She's gonna keep the baby and get her first love and not be outed by her family because they're not living in South Korea, they're living in Lalaland where genealogy and tracing one's ancestors have no importance whatsover.

Yeon Soo's mother got a new beau... but I haven't forgotten what two women said about him loosing most of his money gambling BUT the show sure did. Another Problem Non-Problem.

Ah Reum left her house and that was it. If it was THAT EASY why didn't you do it from the start? Another Non-Problem.

We never got to learn why Seung Eon didn't even get a Middle School degree given he's been raised by Jung Pil (Chung Pil whatever) since he was 7. But Whatever again I guess. He would have made an interesting character given his backstory but since this was a one woman show, he faded unfairly in the background.

Han U also faded in the background... But he also had an interesting story. It's not everyday you meet someone who gives up everything to restart from scratch in my home country, I can't even imagine what it is in South Korea... But I guess dragging Kang Hee's storyline was more important.

Kang Hee and her father's relationship problem has been solved by the power of his incoming death by the cancer of doom. I guess. Still she doesn't call her father "Father" by the end of the show and she says that "He raised her well"... When the show spent a whole lot of time to show she had to raise HERSELF since her father was always busy taking care of the villagers in particular Yeon Soo's mum but WHATEVER I guess.

And Yeon Soo... Well. Basically a doormat from start to finish. He did get some b*** by the end of the show but not that much. I get it, in recent months the faithful male lead with puppy love - Seon Jae in Lovely Runner, Sa Eon in When the Phone Rings, Ji Hyuk in Marry my Husband, Ji Hwan in My Sweet Mobster, Ji Uk in No Gain no Love and so on... - enamored with the ONE AND ONLY girl has made lots of women - me included - swoon. So it seems we're in for a lot of this type of male leads coming onto our screens...

HOWEVER, you do need to make your ML 3 dimensional if a guy is only defined by "I love Kang Hee", well that's not a person let alone a character. Your "character" is just and empty shell.

We never even got to know if Yeon Soo the doormat ends up going to Seoul to live with Kang Hee. BUT I guess he doesn't need to because from what we've seen, Seoul isn't that far from this village and "everything is forgotten and forgiven" by the power of K drama so Kang Hee doesn't mind coming to this shitty village by the end of the show.

Overall a happy ending that only works if you decide to play the amnesia card.

Well I'm sorry I CAN'T.

Suggested Rating based on the different criteria: 5

Personal rating: 3 Too must frustration, no satisfying conclusion... I loathe this drama even more than "Love Next Door" and that's saying something.

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This show is like an abusive partner - gaslighting you into thinking the trauma was not that bad.

What an emotional journey it was. This is how you write a complex female lead and realistic portrayal of how hard it is to deal with your past traumas and fears. Sometimes after moving forward one step, you go back two.

This is a one woman story. Kang Hui is the main character and everyone around her is just an accompaniment to her solo performance, and it’s great. She was a deeply hurt, scared, insecure, but also strong-willed and brave person. Yes, you can present the opposite characteristics depending on the circumstances you are currently in. That duality was what made her unique compared to many other kdrama characters.

She was so beautifully flawed and frustrating to watch. Constantly making mistakes, not knowing how to stand up for herself, lying, running away, pushing forward. I wanted to slap her back to reality, and hug her to console her. But when you frame her behavior in the context of her life, it all makes sense.

She faced abuse and neglect since childhood. She had the whole town against her. Adults telling her she is the reason her mother died. She felt unwelcomed whenever she went. She was blamed for her mother's actions. She was blamed for others’ mistakes. The town treated her as a plague that brought misfortune, even when she was just a small child.

The way they presented her get back on her feet and then crumble over and over again was painful to watch, but also so refreshing. She felt like a real person.

However, as good as the journey was, the conclusion could not have been more trash. Since when do we show victims of years of abuse apologize to their abusers on their knees? The whole last two episodes were kind of insulting. The way one beautifully shot scene of Kang Hui apologizing to her younger self was a conclusion to years of abuse, bullying and built up trauma she faced in that town just made me angry.

Why try resolving and fixing the extremely unhealthy relationship between father and daughter and make the father take accountability of the neglect, when you can just give him cancer and make the daughter feel guilty about it?

I honestly feel gaslit. With the last two episodes and how casual everyone was about Kang Hui’s past and how everyone treated her, I started questioning if I imagined parts of the plot. The same people who screamed at her and told her she is the reason her mother died are now saying her father raised her well? Am I losing my mind, or is the drama truly showing this? WHY WERE THE BULLIES INVITED FOR THE DINNER AT THE END?

Every time they showed one of the town people acting nice I kept asking - Why? What happened? What changed? Did you all have group therapy behind the scenes and reflected on your actions? Why now? Ladies and gentleman, the credits are about to roll - smile and act nice, we need a happy ending. It does not matter if it makes sense or not.

You CANNOT make a whole drama focused on how hard it is to heal from your traumas, with the female lead who keeps going back to her bad habits, running away, pushing people away. Showing how poorly she was treated not only as a child, but also as an adult. How none of the people in her life truly understood how abusive they were. To then magically heal everyone and make it the peaceful happy town where everyone is friendly and they all support each other.

The whole show was filled with hypocrisy that was never addressed. Love cures it all was the ridiculous approach to this story. Probably one of the worst conclusions I have seen in the past few years.

Back to the good - the performances. To be honest, I picked this drama to get over my unreasonable dislike towards Lee Se Young, and the magic happened. Her portrayal of Kang Hui was truly stunning. Perfect in every area. There was nothing I would change nor improve. On the other hand, Na In Woo was kind of there, filling the space. Maybe because they never truly developed his character to the same extent they did with Kang Hui, his take on Yeon Su felt a bit flat. While I disliked Chun Pil as a person, I adored Choi Min Soo’s portrayal of him. What a vibrant performance it was. The role was painfully hard to present. He had to show both the nonchalance, but also the seriousness of his personality.

For the visuals - it is a show that you will want to take screenshots of every few seconds. Beautiful.

Overall, I might have been traumatized by the laughable Disney ending. Magically everyone was cured, everyone was nice, pretending like the past never existed. I loved Kang Hui, I loved her journey, but the express trip to Happy Ever After by the end, kind of made me angry.

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Not a motel, not a hotel, but otel.

Objectively, I can see and understand why people find it tiring and even irritating to watch. Subjectively, I vibed hard and couldn't care less.

Of course, at some point, the constant push and pull can get frustrating, but that's exactly what Motel California did really well, it provided enough context to truly understand the characters' actions and decisions.

Did I agree with or like every decision they made? Obviously not. But that's part of its charm. You stay curious even when you don't agree, and you understand even if you don't always support them.

I have a big crush on Lee Se Young after she absolutely killed it in What Comes After Love last year, so I was really curious to see her here, and once again, she delivered. Kang Hee was not an easy character to play, but I think she truly did her justice.

Na In Woo has always been just an okay actor for me, fine, nothing more. But here? I actually really enjoyed him. I can't even explain why, I was vibing, and I think he was too.

I also absolutely adored the rest of the cast, especially Nan U and Seung Eon.

All the beautiful shots, combined with the incredibly atmospheric music (that one BGM was so hypnotically calming, I was in heaven every time it played), created such a good experience. A story about people who want to be together and love each other, yet still need to face their demons (both internal and external). A story that could have been frustrating, but for me, it ended up feeling calming and even relaxing.

I'm really happy with this show. Obviously, it's not perfect, as some things could have been executed better, but looking at the whole picture, I think it's still one of the good ones.

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A combination of melodrama and angst, but with so much complications.

This is one of those dramas where the leads are very wounded since they were kids and they are heading towards finding healing, but that is painful anyway.

The first 4 episodes showed a glimpse of their past and how the leads are as adults and how the FirstLove trope has been present with anticipated misunderstandings, BUT these flawed characters are very lost.

It has a melancholic vibe to it and the cinematography is on-point with this mood. The OST is also beautiful.

Yet by episode 11, i dare say the story is sad, frustrating, painful and agonizing. They are healing but with too much pain.
If you have sensitive nerves, refrain from this drama as it will tear you heart apart.

The finale tried to wrap up everything completely and it did, but, the story dragged for too long and the ending seemed like a temporary drug for the pain the leads went thorugh.

overall, an average drama. The romance is not that bad but could have been better.

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Chata e cansativa

Custamos terminar esse drama aqui em casa. A princípio parecia legal mas foi um drama extremamente chato, cansativo, a história não se desenvolvia, quando parecia que ia caminhar alguma coisa, voltava ao ponto inicial. A sensação é que ficava rodando em círculos e a história não chegava em lugar nenhum, os protagonistas são insuportáveis, os secundários nem sei o que dizer, os únicos personagens que ainda salvo na real é o diretor, a ceo lá, a Esther e as crianças, de resto é um amontoado de chatice, gente tóxica e gente sem sal. Não vou condenar 100% pq eu aproveitei uma coisinha aqui e ali na série, mas tem mais coisa negativa do que positiva, se a gente aqui em casa não tivesse acompanhado em tempo real de lançamento, talvez pelos comentários eu nem começaria kkkkkkkkkkk minha esposa disse que merecia um 6 pra ser generosa, pra mim é um 5 e um 5 tá generoso até demais pra chatice que foi ter que aguentar 12 episódios dessa série, e ainda bem que foram só 12.
Ao mesmo tempo que tava vendo essa, tava vendo Love Scout, que é uma série muito boa por sinal, gostosa de assistir, já essa .. pra terminar ela foi doído demais.
Tem que ter coragem pra terminar, porque foi um porre 😂

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lack of communication between characters wasn't the worst thing going for this show

The first couple of episode of this show were really really promising and had me wanting more; however is went down hill rather quickly after that. The lack of communication between characters wasn't the worst thing going for this show, rather the lack of chemistry between the main leads. The story just went round and round in circles for what felt like an eternity to then just give an oddly unsatisfying ending. It felt rushed and sloppy; too many unnecessary 'side-plots' added to the story to then either be forgotten about to never be mentioned again. Or to be finished in a rush and sloppily finished.

I don't oppose miscommunication tropes, however when over half the show is filled with them and not properly resolved it really makes me wonder what was going on while the writer was writing this.

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Eps 1&2 thoughts: Idiotic ML and "Strong" FL

The fat boy ML plot is extremely tired and a turn-off, but at least it only takes a few minutes till it's gone. Another way overused plot is the ML having only one love interest in his whole life, whereas the FL has him as her first love too, but has moved on / tried to move on with other people. It's just not realistic to see people loving their childhood friend for the rest of their lives even after a long time off. Sure, it's just a drama, but it's also way too many other dramas lately with the same trope.

Also, the way they made it look almost made me think she had superpowers. I had a hard time figuring out whether her amber eyes were just lighting or part of the plot. I get that she is "different," but they're doing too much.

I don't know how I feel about this pilot ep. I've anticipated this show for Lee Se Young, she never disappoints so I trust her, but I'm not feeling it. Let's hope it picks up because the preview made it look like she's only going to make him suffer more.

-----

After finished Ep 2, I'm even more convinced that these drama was written by idiots. The ML is an obsessive idiot who can't get no for an answer. It's frustrating to watch such a dumb ML and I don't remember the last time there was such a dumb male character in a drama. He truly is winning in that category.

The FL is toxic as hell, your typical not letting him go but also not getting with him. She's also a dumbass with a very outdated and unrealistic "pride over money" mindset when she lives in a tiny goshiwon where water and heating don't work properly, but she obviously needed to keep her pride instead of taking the payment of her work. Just stupid in general.

Such a frustrating drama. I really hope they wouldn't get together and just stay as friends. Meet new people and move on with their lives, though that's not really realistic in kdramaland.

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Best Drama which has both the childhood and adulthood stories including romance !!

*ending was best with multiple couples and with no death of her father .
*story plots are great with "bitter sweet " romance .
* some exciting seens are there so watch it without hesitation.

"Motel California" is a heartfelt drama that beautifully explores themes of love, loss, and personal growth.
The compelling performances by Lee Se-young and Na In-woo bring depth to their characters, especially their poignant reunion after years apart.
The series’ nostalgic atmosphere and emotional storyline keep viewers engaged, making it a memorable and touching watch.
The narrative is adapted from Shim Yoon-seo's novel "Home, Bitter Home."

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