4 Things We Loved About The Final Episodes Of "Motel California"

And they lived happily ever after!

After 12 episodes of misery and yearning, Kang Hee (Lee Se Young) and Yeon Soo (Na In Woo) are finally together and happier than ever before. Not only that, but their friends also found love, happiness, and family in each other. No matter how frustrating it was to watch Kang Hee and Yeon Soo grow closer only to drift apart in every episode, the ending was worth all of it.

So, here are four things we loved about the final episodes of “Motel California.”

Warning: spoilers for episodes 11-12 ahead!

Kang Hee and Chun Pil

Kang Hee’s relationship with her father, Chun Pil (Choi Min Soo), has always been a topic of discussion among “Motel California” viewers. Her indifference toward him and refusal to call him “father,” instead using his full name, initially led viewers to assume Chun Pil had been an absent father, preventing them from forming a bond. However, the reality couldn’t have been more different.

While Chun Pil might not have been the best father in the world, he was nowhere near as bad as the early episodes suggested. His biggest mistake, however, was prioritizing helping others over fully dedicating himself to his wife. This ultimately caused a rift between him and Kang Hee’s mother, leading to the death of Kang Hee’s unborn brother and leaving Kang Hee unable to call him anything but Chun Pil.

In last week’s episodes, everything changed. Chun Pil, who had always worn a smile, finally revealed the struggles he had been facing alone for years. He had been diagnosed with leukemia a few years ago, and though doctors initially thought it was gone after treatment, he relapsed and had no intention of undergoing chemotherapy again.

But when Kang Hee learned about his illness, she finally realized that whether she called him “father” or not, she loved him and always will. She reconciled with him at last. Though the final episodes did not confirm whether Chun Pil recovered, the other characters frequently reassured him that South Korea’s medical technology is advanced and that he could fight leukemia again. This leaves us hopeful that he will recover and live the rest of his life happily with his one and only daughter.

Seung Eon is not an orphan anymore

Seung Eon (Koo Ja Sung) was abandoned at the doorstep of Motel California by his mother when he was just a child, and he has been waiting for her return ever since. Even in recent episodes, when Kang Hee offers to take him to Seoul with her, he refuses, saying that his mother promised to come back for him, and he wants to be there when she finally does. Though he has grown taller and become an adult, in his heart, he remains a child, holding onto the hope that his mother will return so he could finally have a family. What he didn’t realize was that he had always had a family.

Kang Hee and Seung Eon had always been close, like siblings. When Kang Hee asked to see a picture of Seung Eon’s mother, he even showed her a photo of Kang Hee’s own mother. And, of course, Chun Pil had always loved him like a son.

The only thing left was to make it official—and Chun Pil did exactly that. In the final episodes of “Motel California,” Chun Pil officially adopted Seung Eon, making him his legal son. While a part of Seung Eon may always wait for his mother’s return, he now has a father to lean on and call family.

The bullies finally apologized

This was one of the moments in the final episodes that felt a bit too idealistic and unrealistic, but it was still satisfying to watch. “Motel California” opens with Kang Hee being bullied for her foreign appearance, and this mistreatment continues throughout the drama for various reasons. However, in the last episode, her former classmates—who had always tormented her—finally come forward to apologize and acknowledge their mistakes.

Seeing Kang Hee receive a long-awaited apology for everything she had endured was heartwarming. While some viewers found this resolution unrealistic, many appreciated the moment, as it gave Kang Hee the closure she deserved.

Kang Hee and Yeon Soo are finally together

Since “Motel California” falls under the romance genre, it was no surprise that Kang Hee and Yeon Soo ended up together. However, just because this ending was expected doesn’t make it any less satisfying.

Kang Hee and Yeon Soo had loved each other their entire lives—even before they fully understood what love meant. Despite years of yearning and running away from each other, believing that their love alone wasn’t enough, Kang Hee finally let her guard down and allowed Yeon Soo into her life.

And just like that, they got their happy ending.

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Javeria is a binge-watching specialist who loves devouring entire K-dramas in one sitting. Good screenwriting, beautiful cinematography, and a lack of cliches are the way to her heart. As a music fanatic, she listens to multiple artists across different genres and stans the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN. You can talk to her on Instagram @javeriayousufs.

Currently watching:  “Study Group,” and “The Witch,” “Coffee Prince.”
Looking forward to: “Reborn” and “Weak Hero Class 2.”