"Hotelier" (2001) TV series

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Yong-woo Chung

Release Date:

2001 (South Korea)

Genre:

Romance

Cast

Yong-jun Bae
Jin-hie Han
Jun-ho Heo
Jun-ho Jeong
Seung-woo Kim
Steve Myung	...	Pete
Hye-kyo Song
Yun-ah Song

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Color:

Color

Thoroughly enjoyed It!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I wouldn't say I was dragged kicking and screaming to watch this series, but it wasn't anywhere near my list of shows to view. My parents, especially my dad love to watch shows on the International channel. Lately they are into Korean series. They had seen a few, which were primarily tragedies. Not exactly my cup of tea.

Until one night, being bored I watched an episode of Hotelier with my mom. I caught it almost mid-way into the series, but was able to pick up very quickly the story-line and the cast of characters. What information I did not know, my mom supplied the answer. How can I say this, it just caught my attention and held it. I found myself wishing I could have seen the earlier episodes so I had to go out and buy the whole series. It was well written and well acted and very interesting to watch. Even though I had some difficulty with the names, I was able to follow what was happening.

The only Korean movie I had seen so far was "A Tale of Two Sisters" and I just loved that film. The acting in Hotelier was good as a whole and the story was quick and well paced. The guessing game of who Jun-young would end up with, the General Manager Tae-jun Han or Frank "Dong-hyuk" Shin, aka "Mr. 300 Roses" kept me in suspense until the last few minutes of the story. As for how he got the nickname three hundred roses, well I think it's better to see than have me tell you.

The story is about the people who work at the Seoul Hotel and those who try to take over. The hotel is in financial trouble having over extended their budget in constructing a new wing. When the president dies of a heart attack, he leaves a note asking that a former manager Han, who resigned three years earlier due to a scandal be reinstated and promoted to the head/general manager position. The late president's wife, who is temporarily taking over control sends Manager Jin-young to Las Vegas to try and bring Han back. But it's not that easy since Han doesn't want to go back, having his pride and reputation damaged by the scandal.

A depressed Jin-young, eats out one night and ends up complaining to the restaurant manager about the terrible service and horrible food she is served. Sitting at another table, Frank "Dong-hyuk" Shin, a Mergers and Aquisitions expert over hears and seeing the lovely Jin-young, his interest is caught. Thus, one of the two love triangles is created as the characters head to Korea and the Seoul hotel.

One draw back was in the incredible coincidences that occur in this story. Just too many to be believable. The American actors weren't all that good either. Still I would recommend this very much.