In Review: Hotel Del Luna (호텔 델루나) Episodes 1-4
July 26, 2019
Famed Korean drama writers The Hong Sisters (think Master's Sun and My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox) have returned to the small screen with an already visually euphoric delight and a promising script sprinkled with dark comedy and intriguing characterizations.
Hotel Del Luna is home to freshly deceased and wandering ghosts, serving as the rest stop before their heavenly final destination. Jang Man-Wol (portrayed by IU aka Lee Ji-Eun) is the deeply cynical, prickly, ethereally gorgeous, and fashion-forward owner of the establishment, and has been for thousands of years. A comatose man enters the hotel accidentally and stumbles upon the garden, picking a flower from an otherwise barren tree for his young son's birthday. In a scene reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, CEO Jang storms in and agrees to let the man live only is his son comes to work for her when he's of age.
Fast forward 20 years and the boy, Gu Chan-Sung (portrayed by Yeo Jin-Goo) has blossomed into a successful hotelier who's been evading his father's promise to Manwol by taking jobs out of the country. Within hours of returning to Korea, Manwol seeks Chansung out and bestows upon him the ability to see and communicate with ghosts which of course initially sends him running and screaming for his life. As the story progresses, focus is placed on Chansung's accustoming to the spirit world, his relationship with Manwol, and an increasingly deeper glimpse into Manwol's origin story.
It's hard to imagine Jang Man Wol was always a materialistic, shopaholic, brazen narcissist. In flashbacks from her past (originating sometime in the Goryeo dynasty) we do get to see she's always been a bit rough around the edges, and even Mago (portrayed by Seo Yi-Sook), the otherworldly figure who bestows the responsibility of managing the hotel on Manwol, often notes that she still hasn't changed her ways after thousands of years. It is important to also note the significance of Mago's character in Manwol's story as a part of Taoist mythology who is often associated with immortality and the protection of women. This provides some insight as to why what Manwol sees as prolonged suffering could actually have been what saved her soul.
Going back to what we've learned of Manwol's background, we know she was some sort of self-trained rebellious thief and head of an entire pack of likeminded folk. Her closest companion being Yeon-Woo (portrayed by Lee Tae-Sun), who we've yet to get any valuable information about yet could be a key player in the unknown fate that led her to Hotel Del Luna in the first place. Running into Chung-Myung (portrayed by Lee Do-Hyun), the captain of the royal guard and "friend" of the princess, seems to have been a vital gamechanger as we see Manwol become vulnerable and softer in front of him. It seems possible that he could be the source of her bitter and lonely demeanor, but as caused by love or betrayal?
Jang Man-Wol's life operates on feeling and instinct whereas Gu Chan-Sung is a man of logic and skepticism. Manwol constantly refers to Chansung as "weak" and it's hard to tell if it's due to him not having supernatural powers or his inexperience with matters of the heart and emotional intelligence. The pair clash when dealing with ghoulish guests and financial issues, but it's easy to see how much the two can learn from each other.
Chansung's incessant prying at Manwol's past is elevated by Mago's meddling. When he brings up the dreams that reflect the memories Manwol suppressed or forgot, he questions if he is the reincarnation of Chungmyung and asks if she's been waiting for him all these years. It would be a bit too obvious if this were true, and Manwol also blatantly denies it after feeling his heartbeat. There are a few allusions to their likeness in the way Chansung takes Manwol's hand to sign a document the way Chungmyung took her hand to teach her to write her name long ago, but once again appears intentional, as if to throw us off the scent of what's really coming. In the coming weeks, I wouldn't be surprised if a connection between Yeon-Woo and Chansung begins to surface.
Manwol's vow to protect Chansung carries a similar, less outwardly expressive, vibe to what we saw in episode 4 when Yeonwoo is dragged out by guards. The flowers she sent Chansung every year for his birthday were evening primroses which are known to symbolize protection. It makes me wonder if she's trying to protect him from someone as well, which gives me the sense that she failed to protect her dearest friend and has had to live with that for a millennium.
Aesthetic splendor aside, Hotel Del Luna teaches its viewers a lesson in empathy with each new sub-plot. Giving comfort and closure to those who have faced injustice and tragedy is CEO Jang's unexpected form of hospitality. Chansung's steady development as he starts to see past the superficial and finds joy and satisfaction in helping others is a strong message to society to have more compassion for those around you, even if they're different.
I'm excited to see what more there is to explore beyond the hotel's walls (and those Manwol has built around her heart) and what twists are in store for those of us who cannot stop theorizing. Catch up on Hotel Del Luna Saturdays and Sundays with English subtitles thanks to the volunteer team at Viki.
Happy watching! Let me know your thoughts and theories in the comments below. xo
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