3 Moments That Made Us Sad In Episodes 7-8 Of “Motel California”
Motel California has only four more episodes left, and viewers' emotions are all over the place as the K-drama keeps getting more intense. We finally learn the real reason why Yeon Soo (Na In Woo) rejected Kang Hee's (Lee Se Young's) proposal to go to Seoul with her, along with more details about what happened to Kang Hee's mother—making the story even more complex. From Kang Hee being ostracized for her mother's past to Yeon Soo missing out on the life he wanted, here are three moments from episodes 7 and 8 that left us heartbroken.
Warning: spoilers for episodes 7-8 ahead!
One cannot change one's parents
Since the start of Motel California, each episode begins with Yeon Soo and Kang Hee as friends—if they can even be called that. Throughout the two episodes of the week, the couple grows a bit closer, only to return to square one by the end of the second episode. On one hand, Kang Hee's indecisiveness and her inability to stay away from Yeon Soo while also being unable to fully commit is frustrating to watch. However, episodes 5 and 6 provided some insight into her childhood that explains her behavior.
As a child, Kang Hee's mother was pregnant with her younger brother, but when she went into labor, no one was there to help her. Kang Hee's father had left to help Yeon Soo's mother in Seoul, and as a result, the baby died. This revelation makes one thing clear: Kang Hee believes she cannot be with Yeon Soo as long as he remains tied to his mother, who was indirectly responsible for part of her suffering. However, episodes 7 and 8 shed light on why Yeon Soo's mother despises Kang Hee so much and refuses to let her near her son.
With four episodes remaining, the full story has yet to unfold. However, it's revealed that after Kang Hee's brother died, her mother fell into depression and found solace in Yeon Soo's father. The two began an affair and attempted to run away together, but they got into an accident that killed Yeon Soo's father. This adds another layer of complexity to their relationship.
Yeon Soo's mother refuses to let him be with Kang Hee because she is the daughter of that woman—the one who seduced her husband and caused his death. Yet, at the same time, she still loves Yeon Soo, who is the son of the very man who betrayed her. The entire village has ostracized Kang Hee, bullying her and spreading rumors about her since childhood for being the daughter of a vixen. In contrast, Yeon Soo is seen as the golden child, and his future wife is expected to be the luckiest woman alive. It's heartbreaking that the village's cruelty is solely directed at Kang Hee, who did nothing wrong.
Yeon Soo's guilt
One of the more confusing aspects of the show has been why Yeon Soo didn't go to Seoul with Kang Hee. Initially, viewers assumed it was because he didn't have the grades to get into a good university in the city. However, he could have attended a community college, just like Kang Hee did.
In recent episodes, it was revealed that Yeon Soo stayed in Hana-eup because his grandfather was terminally ill and he wanted to be with him. But in episode 8, the real reason is finally unveiled, and it wasn't just his grandfather's illness.
Yeon Soo confesses that he knew his father was secretly meeting with Kang Hee's mother, likely having an affair. As a child, he even preferred Kang Hee's mother over his own because she made his father smile in a way his mother never did. However, because he never told his mother the truth about the affair, he has carried guilt, believing he played a role in ruining her life. As a result, he has spent years doing everything she wanted out of guilt. But now, he believes he has paid the price for keeping the secret and refuses to let his mother dictate his life any longer.
A life never lived
One of the saddest moments in episodes 7 and 8 of Motel California is when Yeon Soo and Kang Hee unexpectedly run into each other on a bus to Seoul. Yeon Soo asks her to give him a tour of the city so he can see the version of himself he could have been if he had left with her years ago. At first, this sentiment doesn't seem all that emotional. But after we learn that he stayed behind because of the guilt he carried for not exposing his father's affair, the moment becomes deeply melancholic.
Yeon Soo could have had a completely different life with Kang Hee. They might have dated throughout their youth, or, as Kang Hee suggests, they could have moved on from each other naturally. What's truly sad, however, is the loss of time and opportunity, something he can never get back. Even if he and Kang Hee end up together by the end of Motel California, Yeon Soo will never get to relive his teenage years, move to Seoul, and experience the life he never had the chance to live.
Every week, we learn more about Kang Hee's mother, shedding light on why the villagers have ostracized her for her entire life. However, considering Hana-eup's tendency to spread rumors, is it possible that Kang Hee's mother and Yeon Soo's father never actually had an affair—that it was just another story born out of the villagers' boredom?
Start watching Motel California:
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Hello Soompiers! Do you think Kang Hee will finally accept Yeon Soo in her life, or do you think we'll have to wait until the finale week to see them being happy together? Let us know in the comments section below.
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: Love Scout, Motel California, and Study Group.
Looking forward to: Reborn, Weak Hero Class 2, and The Witch.
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