Looking for a new show? Gran Hotel is just a quick search away, and you won't be disappointed, this Spanish soap opera delivers on all fronts.
Set in the early 1900s, at the first hotel in Spain to gain electricity, is where Gran Hotel begins. The show itself is a masterfully crafted period piece about the “Gran Hotel” and the secrets held within its beautiful walls.
The story begins as a young man, Julio, boards a train to visit his sister, Cristina, a maid at the hotel. Only, he finds out on arrival that she has gone missing. Several waiters say she was fired, but Julio is suspicious, and joins the hotel as a waiter.
To be frank, Gran Hotel is absolutely stunning. As typical of many soap operas, it’s a little cheesy. What show isn’t? But if you can handle it, this show will take you from smiles to tears and everything in between.
Julio himself is a GORGEOUS human specimen. He’s easy on the eyes, and from the start, you can tell his devotion to Alicia--the daughter of the hotel owner--is unwavering. As Alicia and Julio begin to bond, they quickly become the perfect crime-busting team. They. Are. Gorgeous. Every moment they spend together makes your heart soar; it’s pure bliss.
Every 45-minute episode is chock-full of plot twists and surprises you never saw coming--even from characters you KNEW were good or bad. There’s family betraying family, and some serious backstabbing--and I mean backstabbing literally. There’s hidden murders, and scandal after scandal. But all through it there’s beautiful Julio and Alicia, just trying to find the truth.
In addition to Julio and Alicia, Julio’s best friend, Andres, the son of the head housekeeper, also works in the hotel. No joke, Andres is the sweetest person, and the way he watches Julio and cautions him against his rash ideas, is probably the best thing I’ve ever seen. Javier, Alicia’s brother, is probably the best example of a little brother; he gets into all the trouble, but also gets out of it and watching him fail over and over again, is a great comedy relief from the dark, twisted plotline. And Javier’s mom, Doña Teresa is an absolute savage. I kid you not. Her husband died and she runs the whole dang hotel. She’s completely unafraid, and while sometimes she’ll piss you off, she’s honestly one of the greatest characters out there. But her co-worker, Diego, is one hijo de puta if I’ve ever seen one. And with each character, you become incredibly emotionally charged. For some, boiling rage will fill your skin and you’ll wish that instead of them plotting the murders, it was the other way around. Others take you on an emotional journey, and you become incredibly attached to each and every one of them, you’ll love them and hate them, and wish you could’ve changed their choices. Except Diego.
Throughout the three seasons, you’ll experience the full range of emotions, and lose yourself in the magic of el Gran Hotel. Even better, the show only requires a quick search on Netflix to find, and you’ll be on a journey, it’ll almost feel as though you’re there. The only downside--it’s a SPANISH soap opera. Which means that, yes, the actors are from Spain, and, no, they do not speak English on the show. So, subtitles are your best friend. If you’re learning Spanish though, this show is a great way to easily improve, and eventually, you won’t need subtitles. I don’t anymore. But I’ve also seen this show 8+ times ‘cause it’s just that good, so that kinda helps.
But, if you’re down for a sometimes cheesy, emotional rollercoaster with all the elements of a romance, a murder mystery, and a comedy--give Gran Hotel a shot and you won’t be disappointed.
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