We get some progress on the romance front this week as our leads go back and forth between claiming they are just friends and acting on their real feelings.
Also, a big revelation is disclosed regarding our leads’ past. Thus, giving us context as to why one certain annoying character is set against their relationship.
Bunny S. watches Motel California on Viki
Motel California Episodes 7 and 8 Highlights
“Was it so insignificant and trivial to you?”
Unsurprisingly, Kang-hee wants to brush off the kiss as nothing and become “friends” with Yeon-soo. But Yeon-soo isn’t taking it. When Kang-hee plays I-am-leaving-soon card, Yeon-soo asserts that he offered to come to Seoul, but she turned him down. After arguing over it for a bit, Yeon-soo declares it is all over between them and avoids Kang-hee when they run into each other.
At this point, Kang-hee is coming off as annoying and selfish. We can understand why Kang-hee finds it hard to be with Yeon-soo and we can’t blame her for it, given how awful his mother is. But, make up your mind, girl! Either be with the guy and put up with it all or leave him alone so he can move on with his life. This blowing hot and cold thing is annoying. When Yeon-soo clings on to Kang-hee, she pushes him away. And when Yeon-soo shows the slightest clue of moving on, Kang-hee gets jealous and starts pursuing him again.
[모텔 캘리포니아🏩 7회 선공개]
누가 복수를 이렇게 귀엽게 하지요?#모텔캘리포니아
금토 밤 9시 50분 방송🏩#이세영 #나인우#최민수 #김태형 #최희진#mbcdrama #MBC금토드라마 #MBC #MotelCalifornia pic.twitter.com/DBvpjDYBWJ— MBC DRAMA (@mbcdrama_pre) January 31, 2025
“If you had followed me to Seoul, we might have been finished a long time ago.”
After mulling over it, Yeon-soo agrees to be friends with Kang-hee. (Okay, now we have two frustrating people, not just one!) Neither party really wants to be just friends. But since they are afraid of losing one another and lack the confidence to deal with the obstacles getting in their way, they choose the easy way out, claiming they are friends but acting like lovers.
With all the nonsense going on, it is unsurprising that where we land with this silly arc is another kiss! Or, more precisely, it is just a kiss attempt since Yeon-soo pulls away. Not that it changed anything. Our leads continue with this silly charade until Yeon-soo’s mother gets wind that Yeon-soo and Kang-hee are hanging out together and throws a fit about breaking them off.
It was confusing why Yeon-soo’s mother hated Kang-hee so much. But we get an answer to that question this week. As it turns out, Kang-hee’s mother survived the miscarriage and only Kang-hee’s younger brother died that day. Afterward, Kang-hee’s mother and Yeon-soo’s father developed feelings for each other and planned to elope together with the kids. But they died after getting into an accident. The shocking part is that Yeon-soo and Kang-hee knew about the affair yet kept silent because they liked the other person more than their parent.
Being her usual insufferable self, Yeon-soo’s mother blamed everyone but herself for her husband’s affair. Deeming it Chun-pil’s fault that her husband cheated on her, Yeon-soo’s mother had Chun-pil look after her family so she could get remarried and live carefree. Further, she became obsessed with Yeon-soo and tortured him. Going with the adage that like mother, like daughter, Yeon-soo’s mother projected her hatred on Kang-hee, believing Kang-hee will “steal ” Yeon-soo” from her just like her mother stole Yeon-soo’s father.
Nothing can condone having an affair. But Yeon-soo’s mother should have reflected on herself before blaming others for her husband’s affair. It is telling Yeon-soo’s mother didn’t see her husband smile even once. On the other hand, Chun-pil ignored his family and focused on others until he lost that family. At least Chun-pil is reasonable enough to realize that our leads shouldn’t take responsibility for the adults’ faults. It was pretty satisfying watching Chun-pil put Yeon-soo’s mother in her place when she went to complain about Kang-hee stealing her son.
If we had any sympathy for Yeon-soo’s mother, it went out of the window when she filed a complaint against Kang-hee’s company and got the construction suspended to force Kang-hee out of the village. Cornered, Kang-hee decides to return to Seoul so the construction can resume. But Yeon-soo beats her to it, confessing to his mother that he knew about the affair (He cleaned after her all those years out of guilt) and declaring that he won’t let her control his life anymore. As we end this week, Yeon-soo races to the motel to see Kang-hee and asks her out.
미리 보는 모텔캘리 7회👀
친구 사이 이런 눈빛 유죄 아닌가요?
강희 집에서 무슨 일이..?#모텔캘리포니아
금토 밤 9시 50분 방송🏩#이세영 #나인우#최민수 #김태형 #최희진#mbcdrama #MBC금토드라마 #MBC #MotelCalifornia pic.twitter.com/5QvNPul0rd— MBC DRAMA (@mbcdrama_pre) January 31, 2025
Motel California Episodes 7 and 8 Musings
Yeon-soo confronting his mother is a big step in the way, but that woman won’t give up this easily and will try harder to have her way. So, Yeon-soo had better come up with a plan to deal with her. As for Chun-pil, he seems to respect our leads’ feelings and hopefully, his stance remains the same.
The family drama aside, Yeon-soo should clear up the rumors first about his relationship with Nan-woo before getting together with Kang-hee. To her credit, Nan-woo suggested they tell everyone the truth. Yet, Yeon-soo stopped her, worried they would blame Kang-hee for it. While we understand Yeon-soo’s concern, he shouldn’t drag this out since he is unwittingly hurting Nan-woo by his actions. The girl got her hopes up after receiving a bouquet of flowers and concert tickets from “Yeon-soo”, only to learn later they were from his mother.
Likewise, Kang-hee should tell Seok-kyeong that she likes Yeon-soo and that she has no feelings for him. Not that Seok-kyeong doesn’t sense it already. But Kang-hee should clarify things and stop the fake boyfriend thing before things turn uglier.
Photos and Videos: MBC Drama
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