So, to the makers of "Grand Hotel," we thank you for keeping us on the edge of our seats for 30 days. With your artistic vision, sincere hard work and deep awareness of viewers’ anticipation, you put together a drama worthy of praise from start to finish.
Yes, it is inspired by a Latin drama with the same title and plot line however, the Arab "Grand Hotel" team managed to adapt this plot and even own it, presenting an incomparable show this Ramadan season.
"Grand Hotel" team, we salute you for:
1. Not dragging the plot on and on and boring us with useless scenes
Every action and reaction is meticulously calculated to deliver suspense and intrigue in good time, solving one mystery only to find another cliffhanger lurking in the end of every episode, creating a chain of thrilling experiences over a whole month.
2. Not taking our intelligence as viewers for granted
The script is well thought out. The sequence of events and their logical progression all take into account viewers’ watchful eyes, which cannot be deceived any more in this digital scrutinizing age. We are so convinced of the reality of this plot that we feel we are actually living with the characters in their day-to-day life.
3. Attention to details is the jewel of the crown
"Grand Hotel" really transports us on a time machine to a fabulous 50s era with the carefully designed costumes and hairstyles. It is very obvious that the team researched their subject well and managed to recreate that era using accurate accessories, costumes, furniture and decor.
4. Amin raised the bar really high
After dwindling in several comic and lightly dramatic roles, Mohammad Mamdouh finally delivers the role of his life! And viewers could not praise him enough. He is the talk of the town after portraying the role of a slightly retarded accidental hero.
5. No stretching methods…
Most Ramadan productions resort to this in order to stretch the length of a 30 min episode into a 40 min one. They often use a prolonged intro song that could last up to 5 mins, or they begin the episode with a 5 minute replay of previous episodes.
6. Music... sweet music
The "Grand Hotel" musical score is very creative and hits all the right notes across each episode. It delivers the intended dramatic effect in every scene be it suspenseful, joyous or distressed melody. The music is orchestral, posh and grand just as its namesake.
7. Cramming all the action in the last episode? Not "Grand Hotel"
The series succeeded in giving us something new every episode, and stayed away from Ramadan cliches where all mysteries are hastily resolved and all secrets revealed in one single 5 minutes last scene. This is the formula of success that "Grand Hotel" knew too well and delivered a grand Ramadan drama.