I definitely have a love/hate relationship with dramas by the Hong Sisters, which often have a fantasy/fairy tale element to it that can sometimes be too much for me, but I think they got this drama just right. Hotel del Luna creates a unique world of the dead that I didn't expect to love as much as I did. There are so many elements to this drama (fantasy, folklore, action, mystery, romance, horror, and comedy) that seamlessly come together to tell a memorable story. The storytelling may have not always been perfect, but visually it was perfect, and it sucked me into a world that I really wanted to believe in, with stories that kept me entertained from the beginning to the very end. However, the main reason to watch and the true star (or rather moon) of this drama is IU as Man Wol... and her outfits!

I loved the entire main cast of this drama, but IU's character is so amazing that I became a fan from the moment she appeared on the screen. Yes, I've liked her in other dramas (especially in My Mister), but in this role, she is not only a bad@ss, and funny (I loved her sarcasm), but she had an elegance that was epic and even regal! I also love a good villain and Man Wol was the perfect balance of heroine and villainess which made me never quite sure what she would do. She is matched with the super talented Yeo Jin Goo as way too empathic hotelier Goo Chan Sung, who I thought was a good match, but I admit that there were moments when he seemed a little out of his league with her, but that also worked for their dynamic in the story. He mostly plays the straight man, which I'm sure isn't easy to do in such an over the top drama, but he has the right kind of likable innocence to make him perfect for his role too. As far as romance, it definitely plays a large part in the main story, but it's pretty platonic. Their chemistry is basically some cute flirting, funny banter, and eating so don't get your hopes up beyond that.

I also have to mention the rest of the hotel staff Bae Hae Seon, Shin Jung Keun, P.O, and Mina. Instead of just being comedy relief, these characters each have strong stories of their own, and by the end, I became attached to each of them. Then there are the flashback sequences, the stories of the hotel guests, poor rich Sanchez, The Grim Reaper, and of course Seo Yi Sook as the many faces of Ma Go Shin... and every single person in the cast is great! With a story this over the top it can be hard to make certain moments not feel too silly to be believed but they really pulled it off. The fun visuals also helped. Many of the stories are light horror stories, or are mysteries that need to be solved, but mostly centering around revenge or longing. I unexpectedly connected emotionally to a few of the stories. Maybe it's because death is a touchy subject for me, but I also think it's because the writing in each episode was good, and made me think about how precious, and sometimes cruel life can be. So keep this in mind if you have recently experienced a loss. This show may be comforting in some ways, but it may also be too much to handle.

The only reason I gave the overall story a 9 instead of a 10 is because some of the explanations and resolutions seemed convoluted. The overall story is so ambitious that I think they sometimes missed the mark in tying loose ends in the story. The last episode is a perfect example of that. I loved most of the last episode, which resolved things so beautifully in so many ways and had me in tears throughout, but in the final moments, I was just left scratching my head. It didn't make me like the drama any less. I'd rather watch an imperfect but original drama like this than a predictable and boring drama.

Would I watch this again? Yes. I know a lot of people seemed to want a second season (Oh, make sure you keep watching past the credits), but I'd rather just watch this again. It may seem less mysterious with a second viewing, but maybe I'll catch some things that I missed the first time.

Overall I liked this drama a lot. It's not going to make my favorites list, but it's certainly one of the most memorable dramas I've seen in a while. I usually don't like dramas that focus on random side stories too much, but I guess these stories are my taste (I admit Halloween is also my favorite holiday), and I loved the repeated theme of making peace with the past at the end of life. It's also surprisingly lighthearted considering there are so many dark aspects to this drama. Think of it more like an old school fairytale and you will have a better idea of what to expect. It really is a beautiful world, full of amazing imagery (That bridge!) and a gorgeous hotel (I really wish it was real!), so the director definitely deserves praise for that. I also love that it all centers around such a strong female character, and her amazing wardrobe! Seriously, every single outfit deserves applause! This is not your average ghost story, and even if I loved The Hong Sisters Master's Sun more (So Ji Sub has A LOT to do with that though), I understand why this drama has so many fans! I recommend adjusting expectations and giving this drama a chance. Who knew that a drama about death and deep resentment could be so cute?