Hotelier2002 [ Home | About... | Senses... | Beyond... ]

I am a Korean living in New York. I grew up watching K-dramas. Once in a while, I would fall in love with the character/characters from the dramas, and this would bring me to "dreamland" for the time being. However, this feeling will usually fade soon. Some examples are Jang Dong Gun ("Last Match") and Ahn Jae Wook ("Stars in my Heart").

In 2001, I watched Beautiful Days as I like both Ryu Shi Won and Lee Byung Hun. But I started to get bored. It was then that I saw the commercial for "Hotelier" and headed to the internet for details. I saw four big faces on the screen who are real big stars. Kim Soong Hun, the hero of "Cinderella" and "Mr. Duke" as well as the good-looking ex-husband of the #1 movie star Lee Mee Yun. Song Yun Ah, smart and talented, who started off playing "evil" roles, rises to the top through "Bad Friends" and "WangCho" (King of Beggards). Song Hae Gyo, the little princess, comes back to reclaim her fame
after the previous year "Autumn's Tale" syndrome. (My friends were crazy for her then.) Last but not the least... Bae Yong Jun was back.

Actually, it is BYJ that inspired me to check out "Hotelier". I couldn't finish watching his previous works like "Have we really loved" (1999), "First Love" (1997) and "A Sunny Place of the Young" (1995). I did complete "Papa" (1996) but could hardly remember anything...

Nevertheless, I felt happier to see BYJ coming back rather than seeing either JDG or AJW. I thought I had forgotten "Barefooted Youth" (1998), and how YJ had impressed me with his righteous manliness. However, that scent was still lingering subconsciously in my mind, more than I could have admitted.

Thus, I started watching "Hotelier" just to see "him". This may be the reason why I wasn't too hooked to the drama at first as I was seeing just too little of BYJ. Besides, he had taken the role of "enemy" of the main characters. Through the "Hotelier" official site, I had learnt that SYA would (supposedly) end-up with KSH. I also learnt that BYJ's fans were complaining that he has appeared in too few scenes. In the end, these fans' outcries were so loud that MBC changed the story, in favour of BYJ.

Overall, I was satisfied with the show, especially with BYJ's performance. In fact, he "brought" me to "dreamland" once again, even though it was just for a short period of time. I had never been anyone's fan yet. It was only after WLS hit, I became a true fan of his. "Winter Sonata" by itself wouldn't have impacted me so much if it wasn't for "Hotelier." Shin Dong Hyuk and his cold and sharp personality was still fresh in my mind when I became acquainted with Lee Min Hyung. As soon as I was done with WLS, the first character that came flashing to my mind was Shin Dong Hyuk. So I watched it all over again, this time, with a greater heart (you might say deeper obsession =D).

The following is what I found as I re-watched:

1) The plot is not smooth. The change in the character's personalities happens too fast, too soon. Love makes Shin Dong Hyuk, a "cold as iron" man, show his weaknesses not only towards Jin Hyung, but also towards Tae Jun ("I would like to befriend you..."). What about Jenny? She changes too fast from the troubled drug-addict to a nice roommate and promising cook. And yet, she remains very "cool" about her new found family, sort of distant... Dong Hyuk was supposed to be "cool" cuz he's a man, but aren't women supposed to be more emotional? (I know I am not being politically correct here...). The spoiled President's son also changes too fast. The vice-general-manager, who is bad at first, gains Tae Jun's complete confidence too soon. And Mr. Kim (Yoon Hee's father) [ is unreal also. He doesn't strike me as that evil. He seems like someone from a comic book.

2) It is entertaining though. The House-keeping manager and even the house-cleaning ladies brighten the stories with lively humour. The vice-general-manager shows through great acting that a person can be good
and evil at the same time (like all of us are). The little girl with her "woman's sixth sense" is really cute. Although it is not very dramatic (many K-dramas tend to be dramatic), the romantic scenes alone make the entire show worth watching... a hundredth times. Shin Dong Hyuk and Suh Jin Hyung's love should be made a classic love story. The world would be a happier world, as so many women would be in Cloud Nine.

3) Most of all, the main characters are the best. I did have my reservations toward SHG, whose character I disliked. Kim Yoon Hee is a spoiled brat who has no respect for "sunbaes" or convention. She is a bit rebellious because her mom had committed suicide (a very lame excuse). As she did looked spoiled and rich, so I guess her acting is good. In her defence, I must say also that her role is relatively small as the focus is placed on SYA and BYJ. KSH is very natural in portraying "everyone's best friend" and the most comfortable guy next door. Some would say he is real. SYA is known to act well, and I've seen her before as a hooker or as a "smart" lawyer. Indeed, she is in "her act" here too. BYJ, well, he said in an interview that he felt as nervous as a beginner, but even so, people are still looking at him through their critical eyes, "Let's see how well he performs now, after two years." His fans say that he is not a natural-born actor, but came this far only through hard work. So far, so good.

In conclusion, "Hotelier" is a 5-star Drama, entertaining and fun. The 4 big faces I first saw in the commercial shine like 5 Stars in the night, making the entire Hotelier Production a worthwhile adventure. I've watched almost all of YJ's works by now. I can confidently say that Shin Dong Hyuk is the most charming and romantic character of all.