It’s not hard to explain why Grand Hotel is the perfect summer show, though honestly, to call it a “summer show” would be to imply that one is only allowed to have light, fun and diverse TV in shows that aren’t serious, the types we only watch during “summer.” And no, Grand Hotel isn’t truly serious – it isn’t trying to be – but for too long we’ve been led to believe that the only way for shows to be good is for them to be a specific sort of drama, or for them to have blood and pain and suffering.
Looking at you Game of Thrones. Or you, Outlander.
But Grand Hotel is a good show, and it’s a fun show, and it’s a light show, and yes, it is absolutely over the top at times, but it does a hell of a show of showing us what a family is like – good and bad – and also a hell of a job at showcasing a city and a community that hasn’t really had a spotlight on TV.
So hey, I’ll have my fun “soapy” show, and I’ll toast to it, and if you want to tell me it’s less than the “serious dramas” out there, I’ll just roll my eyes and continue to enjoy it. I’m not the one missing out.
GOLD DIGGERS?
This episode did a good job of showcasing the fact that these characters, the ones that might seem stereotypical at times, are, in reality, very much three dimensional, and very, very easy to relate to. Take Gigi, for example, a morally grey character if we’ve ever met one, and Ingrid, someone who is actively lying to someone who is basically a cinnamon roll, and yet …we like (and relate to) both Gigi and Ingrid.
In this episode, the two of them saw eye to eye, as we learned that Gigi saw herself in Ingrid. That’s not just why she was so nice the whole time, and why she stood up to Santiago to support Ingrid, but why, at the end, when Carolina mentioned Mateo, all her alarms went off. Gigi knows what she’s capable of, and she understands Ingrid, which means she knows there doesn’t have to be more behind this whole story…
But there could be.
Knowing Gigi, she won’t rest till she finds out. Knowing Ingrid, it won’t be as easy for Gigi as she thinks. I didn’t see this particular battle of wills coming, but now that it’s here, I gotta say, I absolutely dig it. It’s got drama written all over it.
RELATIONSHIPS
ANNE WINTERS, BRYAN CRAIG
I appreciate Danny not leading Alicia on when he’s basically a mess WITH A GIRLFRIEND, I do, but I’m not sure if I appreciate that more or less than Javi and Ingrid finally getting close or the revelation that Yoli had a THING WITH SKY. I’m not even sure how to process my feelings on all the information I got from these people’s relationships this week, but I do have one thing to say: I’m in.
For everything, really. For Danny suddenly discovering that the hotel has changed him, or more importantly, Alicia has, and though his sister is still his north, Heather isn’t his safe place anymore …he’s found a different one. For Javi and Ingrid getting to a point where the idea that the kid she’s carrying isn’t actually his, that all of this was a scam, is gut-wrenching. And yes, of course, for more information on what the hell was going on with Yoli and Sky, and if she has something to do with what ended up happening to her.
As someone who loved the original, I expected this show to be full of twists, I expected it to be funny, and I expected it to be over the top, but I’m not sure I expected to care so much. But hey, I’m really, really glad I do.
Things I think I think:
- “You’ve got blackmail” is a pretty good title.
- It is.
- “She’s pretty cool, once you get to know her.”
- Don’t you worry, Ingrid, Javi wants to get to know you.
- I do agree about the uniform, though.
- “I didn’t know you were such a good reader.”/”It’s an audio book.”
- HA
- But Javi is doing baby research, I have feelings.
- “IT’S ME! Also, you’re out of dish soap.”
- I know this is wrong and all, but I love Ingrid.
- “It takes two to tango” INDEED. Go Gigi.
- Mr P!! Nooo.
- This boxing scene is the best scene in this show.
- Ever.
- Nothing is ever going to top it.
- Literally everyone in this family is dating an employee.
- And the ones who aren’t just haven’t found one who wants to date them.
- Yoli and Alicia should get along. They have a common enemy or two.
- Look, WE all know Ingrid is lying. But Santiago doesn’t, and the way he went about this whole paternity test thing was ….eh, dumb at best.
- The look on Gig’s face.
- “NOW I GOT MY OWN FAMILY TO PROTECT.”
- I got heart palpitations.
- Well, the whole Ingrid and Javi not having had sex before thing is now not an issue.
- Nelson, you idiot.
- Heather is a horrible name.
- “Just you, though, I’m not ready to claim Carolina.”/”I struggle with that too.”
- Now that we’re sisters.
- I LOVE IT.
- Go to Belgium.
- He does, really like her.
- Danny.
- That’s why he’s saying no.
- I know Santiago is trying to do the right thing, but he gets on my last nerve.
- ALSO DID HE KILL SKY?
- Very Scott and Kourtney Kardashian omg.
- Wait, not your first relationship with a woman? Whaaaaaaat Yoli?
- O
- M
- G
- Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
- ARE YOU?
- Fuuuuck. It is true.
- Sky AND Yoli.
- Fuuuuuuuuck.
- Okay, THAT’S A TWIST.
- You win, Grand Hotel. You freaking win.
- Hats off.
Agree? Disagree? Share with us in the comments below!
Grand Hotel airs Mondays at 10/9c on ABC.
