Motel California

Korean Drama '' Motel California '' is a melodrama about family, first love, and small communities.

The drama had so many interesting themes to explore, like the main lead's biracial identity and how she was treated by the small community she was raised in, or her relationship with her father and her mother. Alas, everything was only touched upon, were never explored deeper than the surface, and was concentrated on the romance, which wasn't that interesting to begin with, other than the first episode.

At least, the performances were all great by every actor and actress of the cast. The pace, however, of the story was messy and badly handled.

So, overall, four out of ten.

Tedious and repetitive. Twelve episodes and it goes nowhere. The female lead is annoying and unlikeable. The supporting cast have nothing to pull together. The writers have failed miserably and it's one of the few dramas that falls well below standard. Lee Se-young is better than this but sadly these characterizations are long remembered, here she is mean and selfish without reason, her constant pushing away then demanding attention is tiresome and in every episode it's the same scenario. Personally, Lee So-e as Han A-reum is the only shining light.

I expected much more. Twelve episodes was too long yet I didn't bail but sadly I didn't enjoy it and now regret the time spent enduring this rambling mess.

Motel California may not be perfect to some but for me I loved it. The cinematography, leads insane chemistry, the OSTs are the best, and Lee Se Young performance. She is really the main character on the show and she slayed it! I always love her characterization of every roles she take. The Red Sleeve. Doctor John, The Crowned Clown, and What Comes After Love are some of my favorites the rest I really enjoyed it. She is brilliant, underrated actress. She may not be as popular as some over rated actress but her personality and acting skills are impeccable. I will always support her from afar. I wish you that one day you will be recognized globally. Fighting, Se Young!

This is the most beautiful series I've ever seen. From the very first episode to the last, it's an incredibly profound journey that you rarely find in Hollywood or any other country. The beginning was breathtaking, but the ending was even more beautiful and meaningful. I've both cried and slept peacefully, feeling so deeply moved when the characters overcame their challenges. This is a series I will watch many times over and cherish forever. Truly unforgettable! A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in creating this masterpiece, especially the lead characters for their unforgettable performances. You've given us a series that will stay with us forever.

Reading reviews and commentary for this show online, it seems like I'm the only person who enjoyed Motel California. But I really loved this show. This drama is messy, angsty, moody, romantic, frustrating, and lovable. The characters are all flawed, but believable. It's believable that people from a small town with various forms of trauma and baggage would end up with complex and not-straightforward emotions, which leads to battles between head and heart, all weighed down by said baggage. Every relationship (between/among the leads and the background characters) is flawed in its own way, but those flaws add nuance to the characters, without detracting from the real and obvious affection. The plot moves "slowly," but it doesn't feel slow due to the emotional richness of the characters. The show is a beautiful exploration of romantic love, familial ties, friendship, and duty vs desire.

Lee Se Young and Na In Woo are amazingly adept at conveying joy and pain, sometimes (oftentimes) simultaneously; you can really feel them struggling against the various barriers put in front of them by themselves and by their society. Kim Tae Hyeong is also a fully fleshed out second male lead; he is not just a romantic foil to our main characters, but we also learn his backstory and motivations. Choi Min Soo is very touching as Kang Hee's dad, expressing his love through barriers of pain and restraint.