Grand Hotel is amazing and underrated
Today I wanted to talk about one of my favorite TV show : the spanish soap opera Grand Hotel. I've known this show for 6 years but I'm rewatching it so all the great feels are back. It is full of mysteries, plot twists, romance and humor and the main couple is one of the best on TV. I am talking about Julio and Alicia and I wanted to mention why this relationship is compelling and entertaining.
First of all, both characters are amazing. I could read about them on their own which is quite rare. They are very sympathetic, well-written and have qualities and flaws. Julio's charm is convincing and his falsely innocent personality when searching for information is endearing and funny. Alicia is split between her heart and her duty and I love how she balances it out. She is pushed to marry Diego, whom she does not love, but who is a good match for the family's interests. It's never a question of Alicia loving Diego and of a love triangle but the difficult choice of family vs love. Alicia's and Julio's determination are what pushes them to stick to their own values while helping the other. And nothing would have happened if Alicia wasn't so close to the downstairs staff in general. Her affection for the domestics and her empathy is her most beautiful trait.
Then, their chemistry is off the charts thanks to the beautiful acting : the way Julio looks at Alicia melts my heart. I love how he so obviously loves her and does not try to hide those emotions. Alicia also has incredible moments such has the time where she is with Diego but keeps her eyes on Julio. You can feel the pull and the longing between them. The difference of social status and the fact they had to keep their relationship secret helped making it spicier and more exciting.
Another important point is that they have more time on screen as a couple than pining. Their pining is succulent but they are anything but boring together. What a good surprise was that kiss near the end of S1. Earlier than what is expected in this kind of show but necessary to make their relationship progress. After that point, it was all about hiding their relationship from others and it might be even better than pining. They continue to fall more and more in love with each other as time passes. I love how the relationship's interest didn't stop at the kiss but was merely a step in their journey together. They have real discussions and communication. And sure there is angst because of the situation and sometimes their interests conflict but I thought it made the show more interesting (and longer which was appreciated). Their relationship is based on a need to help the other and they solved mysteries together. I love that there is substance to their connection and that we can feel why they love each other.
This couple feels real, not born out of pure lust or toxic attraction but something deep and sweet. They compliment each other very well as they both fight for the truth but Alicia keeps Julio grounded while he offers her a trust and freedom her family never gave her. He gives her the opportunity to use her intelligence to her full potential during their mystery solving and she makes it someone better because she keeps him from making some bad decisions. They evolve in an exciting environment, surrounded by danger, and yet they always find a moment to share their discoveries together. There is some angst sparkled across their romance and a few moments they could have broken up but they way they make up feels genuine and never out of character. I love how nor Alicia nor Julio play hard to get and how they are generally open about their feelings.
They also have a lot of moments shown on screen. Be it hugs, kisses, longing glances or small intimate moments that made the relationship very convicing and beautiful to rewatch again and again. It's obvious that they truly love each other. You can see it in their eyes, their gestures, their actions, their words. Their love is so strong you can only wish to live it. I love how they overcame the difficulties and the adversity together. Plus they have a totally happy ending and I'm a sucker for those.
So that was my rant xD if you didn't watch the show, I'm sorry for the lack of context but this post is mainly here to give great points about them so that you can discover the story by yourself :) Of course, Julio and Alicia are not the only good part of this show which is very captivating in general. I wish more people talked about it! The fandom is very small and deserves to be known.
