K-DRAMA RECAP: “Motel California” Episodes 3 and 4

January 19, 2025
K-DRAMA RECAPS

We have another separation on the horizon, followed by yet another reunion. Between our heroine’s insecurities and external factors, our leads keep getting torn apart, though they are both in love with each other.

Jealousy and drunk confessions are also on the table this week when our heroine hears that our veterinarian male lead is seeing someone else and goes to check for herself what kind of person that woman is.

Bunny S. watches Motel California on Viki

Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 & 04 |

Motel California Episodes 3 and 4 Highlights

“My ownership is mine. I won’t give it to anyone”

Through flashbacks, we return to that night at the convenience store. Assuming Kang-hee sent him away because she is ashamed of him, Yeon-soo settles to lose weight. Cue: Yeon-soo’s long journey to get in shape. Having finally achieved his goal 10 years later, Yeon-soo is now ready to face Kang-hee and confess his feelings to her. But the sight of Kang-hee with another man left Yeon-soo too shocked to utter a word.

An equally shocked Kang-hee tries to get out with Seok-kyeong, claiming they entered the wrong room. But it is too late since Yeon-soo recognizes Seok-kyeong as the same guy from the convenience store 10 years ago. In fact, all three of them remember that encounter, though Seok-kyeong only remembers meeting Kang-hee before and not the whole thing.

Overwhelmed by this reunion, Kang-hee rushes out of the room. Yet, Seok-kyeong follows her out, acting all excited to meet her again after all those years. Kang-hee tries to shake Seok-kyeong off but he is already infatuated with her and won’t give up this easily, offering Kang-hee a job as a designer at his father’s hotel chain so that he can keep her close to him.

Just as a heartbroken Yeon-soo is about to leave, having lost hope that he can confess his feelings that night, Kang-hee shows up at the door. Welcoming her with open arms, Yeon-soo tells Kang-hee that he is now ready to get together with her. Gifting her a pretty necklace as her birthday present, Yeon-soo declares he can come to Seoul too if she wants. The smitten guy only wants to be with Kang-hee.

Deep inside, Kang-hee wants to be with Yeon-soo. But she can neither return to the village with him. Nor can Kang-hee accept Yeon-soo’s sacrifice and have him give up on everything for her. We don’t have the full story yet, but we guess there is more to this than the gossiping villagers and how Kang-hee hates her hometown. Something that might have to do with Chun-pil’s relationship with Yeon-soo’s overbearing mother. Either way, Kang-hee turns Yeon-soo down, arguing their first love is over now, so he should stop waiting for her.

“Is the offer to work together still valid?”

Having ended matters with Yeon-soo, Kang-hee resolves to focus on work. This time Kang-hee wants to take on designing hotels for a change, considering Seok-kyeong’s offer positively. But the thing is: Seok-kyeong got inspired by Kang-hee and now wants to be successful on his own before inheriting his father’s business. Which is a good sentiment and all. But Seok-kyeong wants to work on renovating motels. And Kang-hee wants nothing to do with motels.

Being born to a motel owner as a father, the motel was both home and business for Kang-hee. So, she had to deal with all sorts of rumors while growing up. Thus, Seok-kyeong’s offer takes a big “No, thank you so much” from Kang-hee. Still, Kang-hee comes around, and their start-up company gains recognition. It is all going well until Kang-hee receives a request to renovate a motel in her hometown, none other than our titular Motel California.

Covering her hair with a scarf and putting on sunglasses, Kang-hee tries to keep her identity hidden. Needless to say, Chun-pil recognizes her at a glance but plays along for Kang-hee’s sake. When she was young, Chun-pil shared his plans with Kang-hee to buy another lot of land and expand the motel. Though Chun-pil managed to buy the land, he ironically doesn’t remember the pool he promised to build for Kang-hee or the other details. Instead, it is Kang-hee who remembers everything and bases the new design on their past dreams.

On the way to their accommodation (Kang-hee refused to stay in the motel), Kang-hee runs into Yeon-soo. But he isn’t alone this time. Nan-woo is by his side and the situation screams misunderstandings, especially given the rumor that Yeon-soo is getting married soon. Not that Kang-hee’s situation is any better, since Seok-kyeong tagged along with her to check out the site.

Flustered, Kang-hee attempts to leave, but Yeon-soo follows after her. He is happy to see her but gets downhearted after learning Kang-hee will leave after Christmas. Yeon-soo is reminded of the heartbreak that he underwent the year before and sad to have to say goodbye to Kang-hee again when they just met after being apart for almost a year.

“You haven’t kept a single promise you made to me.”

For someone who asserted they are over, Kang-hee takes an interest in the woman who Yeon-soo is “dating”, dropping by the animal hospital where Yeon-soo works to watch Nan-woo from up close. (The animal hospital was originally owned by Yoon-soo’s grandfather. But after he passed away, Yeon-soo took over and brought Nan-woo on board.)

Likewise, hearing people claim Seok-kyeong is addicted to gambling and does drugs, Yeon-soo drops everything in his hands and follows Seok-kyeong around. Poor Yeon-soo is worried that Kang-hee wears sunglasses because Seok-kyeong beats her. His imagination is running wild indeed! But to his credit, when Yeon-soo realizes Seok-kyeong is a good guy, he defends Seok-kyeong when people badmouth him, though they are rivals in love.

Deluding herself into thinking Nan-woo is a better match for Yeon-soo, a jealous Kang-hee drinks her sorrow away and passes out in a restaurant. Cue: Yeon-soo rushing over there after hearing the news and carrying her on his back. Since he doesn’t know where Kang-hee is staying and doesn’t want to call Seok-kyeong, Yeon-soo takes Kang-hee to the motel, her original home.

Still drunk, Kang-hee grabs Yeon-soo and asks him to stay by her side. When she wakes up briefly, Kang-hee scolds Yeon-soo for breaking his promise to her and losing weight. Then again, it doesn’t matter now since Yeon-soo is dating another woman now, says an annoyed Kang-hee. Which isn’t true in the slightest. Back then and even now, Yeon-soo only has eyes for Kang-hee.

Kang-hee’s jealousy reaches its peak, though, when she spots Yeon-soo treating Nan-woo to ice cream, the same gesture he used to make when Kang-hee felt down to cheer her up. As we end this week, Kang-hee is mad and berating Yeon-soo just as he shows up before her.

Motel California Episodes 3 and 4 Musings

The drama visuals are enchanting, especially with the wintery vibes and Christmas setting. Meeting and getting separated has been an ongoing occurrence in the drama, but we wish the drama balances this soon since this arc is about to get boring. We mean, Christmas is just near the corner, and soon it will be time for Kang-hee to return to Seoul. Can’t something happen and make Kang-hee stay there for longer? Or can’t Yeon-soo follow her to Seoul?

Going into the drama, we had our worries because of the love quartet issue. But we want to commend the drama for its layered and beautiful characterization of the second leads. Both Seok-kyeong and Nan-woo are good people who can’t get blamed for catching feelings for our leads as long as they don’t cross the line and turn aggressive.

So far, Seok-kyeong is the only one aware of Kang-hee and Yeon-soo’s relationship while Nan-woo thinks Kang-hee is just a client. But the cat will probably get out of the bag soon, making us curious about Nan-woo’s reaction. Will she step back and keep it professional with Yeon-soo? Or will she try to get between our leads? Hopefully, it is the former because we like Nan-woo and don’t want that feeling to change.

As for Seok-kyeong, he might seem childish, but he respects Kang-hee’s feelings and doesn’t force his feelings on her. He is clingy but not pushy. When she was sad after spotting Yeon-soo with Nan-woo, Seok-kyeong followed Kang-hee quietly and waited until she was ready to speak, listening attentively to Kang-hee as she talked about how she met her first love when they were nine though he was annoyed.

On a lighter note, It was hilarious watching Seok-kyeong go to the police station and ask them to look for Kang-hee when he couldn’t reach her and then go to the motel and make a scene after learning she was there, unaware that this is Kang-hee’s home. He then went on and stood guard by Kang-hee’s room all night to stop” the thugs”, a.k.a Yeon-soo and the rest of Kang-hee’s childhood friends, from going inside. Chun-pil kept his mouth shut deliberately as he had fun watching Seok-kyeong make a fool of himself, wholly oblivious to the truth.

Photos and Videos: MBC Drama

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Bunny Sonaki

I am Bunny. Just like you, I am smitten with Kdramas and look forward to watching every Kdrama out there, but is that dream ever possible since they keep showering us with new dramas every day? For me, Kdramas are my comfort zone and a warm hug that makes it possible to face up to whatever life throws my way.

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