The drama was pretty ambitious since it wanted to mix the divorce-couple-reunion theme with the killer-mystery theme, it could have been a great drama if they are both done well but sadly, the killer-mystery part was done so badly, it became a complete back story.
(I LOVE HOW THE POSTER GIVES THE MORDEN RETRO VIBE)
2013 was the year of couples giving each other a second chance, from divorced couples in Cunning Single Lady, Emergency Couple to ex lovers in Discovery Of Romance. There is a popular saying, "Don't ever go back to what once hurt you", I totally agree with it but these dramas choose to go by the theme of giving a second chance to the ones that hurt you, I think Discovery Of Romance did it best while others were just alright. With that said, My Secret Hotel is probably the weakest out of the batch, having to add in unnecessary elements that made it worst.
THE CHARACTERS
Yoo In Na as Nam Sang Hyo
Nam Sang Hyo is a 32 year old hotel wedding planner manager, she is adopted in America but is a Korean. She started off as a small hotel employee in Las Vegas since working in a hotel is her dream (Well, there was once when I wanted to do the same thing as her), she manage to climb up to a higher position after years of hard work so when her then "husband" (they weren't exactly legally married since they never actually register despite having their own private wedding ceremony and living together) wanted her to leave Las Vegas for his sake, she was reluctant since it was her dream and she worked hard for it so it is one of the reason why their "marriage" never worked out. (THERE WERE A LOT OF REASONS BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE A SPOILER SO....) Nam Sang Hyo has a sassy personality, she is strong and a confident women and a rather likable character since she is also practical and thinks of the consequence for her actions. (other than her shotgun marriage)
Yoo In Na is one of my girl crushes ever since QIHM so despite her playing the bitchy girl in You Who Came From The Stars and Greatest Love I still like her. Her role here was alright, likable but not girl crush worthy, the character does get a little annoying towards the end (OR maybe I am just annoyed with the storyline) Her acting here isn't fantastic nor her best but still good enough.
Jin Yi Han as Goo Hae Young
Goo Hae Young is the ex "husband" to Nam Sang Hyo, he is quite opposite in terms of personality as compared to Sang Hyo, he is more playful and childish which is cute but hard to handle. Goo Hae Young is a Harvard University graduate which of course makes him a genius, he is also from a rich family and he owns his own construction/design company...... (AND HE IS GOOD LOOKING) so much perfection. He seems to be at fault for their breakup or "divorce" but the drama slowly then reveals that they are both at fault and the fact that they were at the wrong place at the wrong time made their relationship even worse.
Am I slow? I JUST DISCOVERED JIN YI HAN. I recognise his name since he has gotten quite popular with Empress Ki which I didn't watch. Initially I felt that Jin Yi Han seems to be too young to be paired up with Yoo In Na but I searched about him and he is actually in his late 30s.. WHAT?!?!?! He looks soooo young, he can play a 20 year old youngster and I will still totally buy that. He is really good looking and doesn't look anything near his age (I thought he is around Ji Chang Wook's age), his acting wasn't fantastic but I think he was still great. This role consist of many emotional struggles in these two characters and they both did it pretty well.
Nam Goong Min as Jo Sung Gyum
Jo Sung Gyum is a hotel managing director whom is popular among female employees since he is good looking. He is harsh and serious when it comes to work but becomes a caring, nice man after work. He started liking Nam Sang Hyo after a while and they started dating despite him knowing that she hasn't completely get over her ex husband.
I find Nam Goong Min a pretty forgettable actor (SORRY TO HIS FANS, IT'S JUST MY OPINION). He acts well but he seems to lack screen charisma, he is quite stone is some scenes and has the same facial expression theoughout. (This is my first time seeing him so I don't know about his past dramas sorry).
STORY AND DIRECTING
Title: 마이 시크릿 호텔 / Mai Sikeurit Hotel
Genre: Romance, comedy, mystery
Episodes: 16
Broadcast network: tvN
Broadcast period: 2014-Aug-18 to 2014-Oct-14
Air time: Mondays & Tuesdays 23:00
Original Soundtrack: My Secret Hotel OST
FROM DRAMAWIKI
This show is written by two different writers because the first writer whom planned and wrote the first 4 episode died of cancer. (RIP writer Kim, I enjoyed the first 4 episodes so thank you for your hard work) The second writer wrote the rest of the story with reference to the planning by the previous writer. The first few episodes started off well, it was interesting and laid the premise of the story well, I can't say the second writer did a terrible job since she probably ran out of stuff to write about so she spend most of the episodes making the characters go round and round and the story goes no where. (Sure the characters are battling with their feelings for each other emotionally but the writer spend so much time focusing on that, it became irritating at some point) The mystery part was done badly as mentioned, in the beginning I had nothing against it since it is part of the main story and it just started off but it ended up being barely expanded on and I couldn't care less on who died, who killed and what happened. (The explanation of the murder story was quite dumb too) One reason why I really enjoyed the drama was because of the two lead characters, they both did annoy me at one point or another but I wanted them to be together so badly. The two leads are nicely cast since they do have chemistry and look good with each other and that's important since second-chance-in-love drama often have to make one party the asshole so in order to forgive that character, viewers must end up loving both of them right?
IN CONCLUSION
Loads of flaws, story was pretty bad but still worth the watch since it's quick and fun.
Personal Ratings: 9/10 (I like it more than what it deserves)
How much it deserves: 8/10 (Murder part spoilt most of it)
(I LOVE HOW THE POSTER GIVES THE MORDEN RETRO VIBE)
2013 was the year of couples giving each other a second chance, from divorced couples in Cunning Single Lady, Emergency Couple to ex lovers in Discovery Of Romance. There is a popular saying, "Don't ever go back to what once hurt you", I totally agree with it but these dramas choose to go by the theme of giving a second chance to the ones that hurt you, I think Discovery Of Romance did it best while others were just alright. With that said, My Secret Hotel is probably the weakest out of the batch, having to add in unnecessary elements that made it worst.
THE CHARACTERS
Yoo In Na as Nam Sang Hyo
Nam Sang Hyo is a 32 year old hotel wedding planner manager, she is adopted in America but is a Korean. She started off as a small hotel employee in Las Vegas since working in a hotel is her dream (Well, there was once when I wanted to do the same thing as her), she manage to climb up to a higher position after years of hard work so when her then "husband" (they weren't exactly legally married since they never actually register despite having their own private wedding ceremony and living together) wanted her to leave Las Vegas for his sake, she was reluctant since it was her dream and she worked hard for it so it is one of the reason why their "marriage" never worked out. (THERE WERE A LOT OF REASONS BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE A SPOILER SO....) Nam Sang Hyo has a sassy personality, she is strong and a confident women and a rather likable character since she is also practical and thinks of the consequence for her actions. (other than her shotgun marriage)
Yoo In Na is one of my girl crushes ever since QIHM so despite her playing the bitchy girl in You Who Came From The Stars and Greatest Love I still like her. Her role here was alright, likable but not girl crush worthy, the character does get a little annoying towards the end (OR maybe I am just annoyed with the storyline) Her acting here isn't fantastic nor her best but still good enough.
Jin Yi Han as Goo Hae Young
Goo Hae Young is the ex "husband" to Nam Sang Hyo, he is quite opposite in terms of personality as compared to Sang Hyo, he is more playful and childish which is cute but hard to handle. Goo Hae Young is a Harvard University graduate which of course makes him a genius, he is also from a rich family and he owns his own construction/design company...... (AND HE IS GOOD LOOKING) so much perfection. He seems to be at fault for their breakup or "divorce" but the drama slowly then reveals that they are both at fault and the fact that they were at the wrong place at the wrong time made their relationship even worse.
Am I slow? I JUST DISCOVERED JIN YI HAN. I recognise his name since he has gotten quite popular with Empress Ki which I didn't watch. Initially I felt that Jin Yi Han seems to be too young to be paired up with Yoo In Na but I searched about him and he is actually in his late 30s.. WHAT?!?!?! He looks soooo young, he can play a 20 year old youngster and I will still totally buy that. He is really good looking and doesn't look anything near his age (I thought he is around Ji Chang Wook's age), his acting wasn't fantastic but I think he was still great. This role consist of many emotional struggles in these two characters and they both did it pretty well.
Nam Goong Min as Jo Sung Gyum
Jo Sung Gyum is a hotel managing director whom is popular among female employees since he is good looking. He is harsh and serious when it comes to work but becomes a caring, nice man after work. He started liking Nam Sang Hyo after a while and they started dating despite him knowing that she hasn't completely get over her ex husband.
I find Nam Goong Min a pretty forgettable actor (SORRY TO HIS FANS, IT'S JUST MY OPINION). He acts well but he seems to lack screen charisma, he is quite stone is some scenes and has the same facial expression theoughout. (This is my first time seeing him so I don't know about his past dramas sorry).
STORY AND DIRECTING
Synopsis
Nam Sang Hyo (Yoo In Na) and Goo Hae Young (Jin Yi Han) are a divorced couple. They meet again after seven years when Sang Hyo, a hotel wedding planning manager, has to plan Goo Hae Young's second wedding. Things get complicated when they get sucked into a murder case in the hotel.FROM DRAMAWIKI
This show is written by two different writers because the first writer whom planned and wrote the first 4 episode died of cancer. (RIP writer Kim, I enjoyed the first 4 episodes so thank you for your hard work) The second writer wrote the rest of the story with reference to the planning by the previous writer. The first few episodes started off well, it was interesting and laid the premise of the story well, I can't say the second writer did a terrible job since she probably ran out of stuff to write about so she spend most of the episodes making the characters go round and round and the story goes no where. (Sure the characters are battling with their feelings for each other emotionally but the writer spend so much time focusing on that, it became irritating at some point) The mystery part was done badly as mentioned, in the beginning I had nothing against it since it is part of the main story and it just started off but it ended up being barely expanded on and I couldn't care less on who died, who killed and what happened. (The explanation of the murder story was quite dumb too) One reason why I really enjoyed the drama was because of the two lead characters, they both did annoy me at one point or another but I wanted them to be together so badly. The two leads are nicely cast since they do have chemistry and look good with each other and that's important since second-chance-in-love drama often have to make one party the asshole so in order to forgive that character, viewers must end up loving both of them right?
IN CONCLUSION
Loads of flaws, story was pretty bad but still worth the watch since it's quick and fun.
Personal Ratings: 9/10 (I like it more than what it deserves)
How much it deserves: 8/10 (Murder part spoilt most of it)
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