Hotel Del Luna: A Combination of Dark Fantasy with Romantic Comedy

Hotel Del Luna tells the tale of a mysterious hotel, located right in the heart of Seoul. Invisible to the human eye, this ghost hotel is a resort for lost spirits, looking for help to move on to the afterlife. But here’s the twist; the hotel is run by a beautiful, centuries-old hostess, played by none other than IU, who is looking to free herself from a mysterious curse while her manager, a gullible human, played by Yeo Jin Goo, has been tricked into the crazy job.

This 16-episode cinematic marvel came out in 2019 and soon became one of the highest-rated shows in South Korea’s history. Instead of a simple, linear plot, each episode in the show has a subplot narrating the perils of an individual ghost still clinging to their worldly affairs, unable to move on. While the larger plot focuses on how IU’s character, Man-Wol, as she navigates through her unusual life. Not being able to live like a normal person nor being able to die. That is, until she meets the Doe-eyed Goo Chan, forced to work as the hotel manager, to pay off his father's debt. This unlikely relationship that starts as a business partnership between the two, leads the former to develop empathy and the latter to embrace his own demons as the audience is introduced to one gruesome ghost after another.

The supporting cast features Shin Jung-Geun as a wise bartender, Bae Hun-Sun as the middle-aged Chief housekeeper, and Ji Hyun-Joong as the sweet but silly receptionist. All of whom are also stuck in the hotel, paying for their sins. However, they are not bad people and frequently rise, to help Goo Chan as he struggles against vengeful and manipulative spirits, adding both comedic and horror elements to the show.

What Worked?

The highlights of the show were undoubtedly the clothes, the cinematography, and the characters. Man-Wol wore about 100 different outfits in the show, changing one approximately every seven minutes. It was reported that 10 million won was spent per episode on Man-Wol’s costumes alone. Since the character was supposedly over 1300 years old, her outfits were often modern re-interpretations of vintage designs such as short capes and embroidered hanboks.

With Dutch angles, bloomy highlights, and mesmerizing sets, each episode was carefully crafted to be a visual treat. Looking at the color grading, intricate transitions, and lens flares, it was obvious that the show was laced with heavy symbolism and that no shot was in vain. While the CGI did occasionally feel too much, it was never unnecessary - the hotel featured a whole ocean on the top floor and a mystical garden on another, making it impossible to use real production sets for every scene.

Of all the great things about Hotel Del Luna, the greatest was without doubt the characterization. Each character was unique and showed great character development as the show progressed, ultimately reaching a satisfying and rather appropriate end. Man-Wol for instance, was once a ruthless warrior and later a greedy, self-indulgent hotelier. But she was never your typical damsel in distress. If anything, she was fierce, decisive, and resilient, saving the worlds of both the dead and the living. As the show goes on, however, we see her become more vulnerable and real with her struggles. As she falls in love with Goo-Chan, the audience appears to fall with her owing to IU’s unparallel acting abilities.

Another surprise element in the show, that works rather well was the famous cameos. From the handsome Lee Joon Gi to the teenage heartthrob, Nam Da Reum, and the multi-talented Sulli. Each cameo left the audience in awe. What’s even sweeter is that most of these actors volunteered to make an appearance because of their long-standing friendship and admiration for IU.

What Didn’t Work?

For a romance show, Hotel Del Luna isn’t your typical K-drama. It’s more subtle and endearing and with not-so-much skin-on-skin action. Of course, it is sweet, but for hardcore romance fans, it might be a letdown.

For some fans, the show might be a little too slow as well. The subplots are generally fast-paced, but the larger plot twists and backstories are very slowly unveiled, making audiences impatient as each episode runs over an hour.

Another near miss was the show’s somewhat inconclusive ending. While for some fans an open ending is usually a sign for a potential second season, it can be annoying for others who have already invested too much of their time and emotions in the plot line.

All in all, however, Hotel Del Luna strikes all the right chords and leaves audiences yearning for more. So, if you haven’t watched it already, head over to Netflix right now, and you won’t be disappointed.