Grand Hôtel

"Gran Hotel" is a Spanish series that has everything: sumptuous production values, engrossing story, and eye candy. It also has Spanish subtitles - after 42 episodes, I can practically speak Spanish like a native.

The story concerns a fancy hotel, which is the first to have electric lights -- we open on New Year's 1905, when there is a huge party that introduces the lights. Also, one of the maids is murdered. Very soon, her handsome brother appears, incognito, and takes a job in the hotel, determined to find out what happened to her.

He becomes involved in the machinations of this highly dysfunctional family, full of murder, blackmail, infidelity, power struggles, illegitimate children, betrayal, treachery, family secrets, reversal of fortunes -- in short, everything you need for a top soapy drama.

The acting is fantastic. Top honors go to Adriana Ozores as the manipulative Dona Teresa, matriarch of the family; Concha Velasco, as staff head (and much more) Angela; Llorenç González as her son, Andres; and Pedro Alonso as the ruthless Diego. Many others -

I could not find the name of the police detective in the cast list, but he was wonderful. No one hits a bad note. The love interests, Amaia Salamanca and Yon Gonzalez, are gorgeous. She looks like Michelle Pfeiffer and he's a dreamboat. Salamanca is an excellent actress; I think Gonzalez is not as good, but then again, their roles are not as showy as others.

I only saw what is available on Netflix, but I understand there is a third season. I look forward to seeing it. Once you're involved with the Alarcon family, it's hard to break away.

Gran Hotel is an amazing TV show, that contains all the right elements in perfect balance: Mystery, drama and comedy. I have concluded watching all the episodes, and I was impressed by the fast pace of the most of the original 75-min episodes. The pilot episode can make even the most demanding viewer addicted. I had never watched a Spanish TV show, and I decided to give it a try. And I was instantly hooked, I remember my face when the first episode finished. I was amazed. The script is fantastic, the most characters on the show are unique and unforgettable, the actors that are playing them are top, the costumes are well made and the mysterious scenery is breathtaking! The direction is exactly what this series needs. As many of the viewers, I thought that Gran Hotel would be an imitation of the Downton Abbey. I'm glad I was wrong, it is one hundred times better. If you have the chance, simply watch the first episode. I guarantee that you will not move your eyes from TV!

Rewatched this show numerous times and it gets me every time. The setting of the show (early 1900's), the clothes, a forbidden romance and no character without a secret or two. It all fits together somehow and makes me want to watch another episode and another and another. And each episode ending with a major cliffhanger doesn't help either! The two main characters, Alicia and Julio, forbidden love is the main story of the show and the chemistry beteren them is obvious. The actors are well-casted and really convinced me of the story they're telling

Out of curiosity I watched an episode on Netfilx and immediately fell in love with the series. The cinematography, acting, costume, location all was most beautifully and convincingly done. The story line is wonderful, and the sexual tension and connection between the romantic leads just draws you in. Some of the story lines carried on a bit (there are a Lot of episodes) and I felt that they sometimes took a turn that was too much out of character, It's wonderfully cast and there is a new standard for portraying simmering evil! the leading couple stayed magnetic and now can't wait for the final season 3! A beautiful period piece.

Fun Spanish series, which owes quite a lot to "Downton Abbey". Great villains (almost everyone is morally dubious at some point), interesting characters and a nicely twisty plot line, with emotion, suspense and humor all mixed in. With slight reservations over to the number of people who found themselves lurking in exactly the right place at the right time and the fact that the hero never actually seemed to do any work, we really enjoyed the whole thing....until the last 5 minutes of the last episode which were (a) inexplicable (b) unexplained and (c) a real letdown. However, don't let this detract from the other 30 odd hours of entertainment. Thoroughly enjoyable and borderline addictive.