Grand Hotel Review: Love Thy Neighbor (Season 1 Episode 6)
Grand Hotel Season 1 Episode 6, “Love Thy Neighbor,” allows us to pause and catch our breath after the high impact Grand Hotel Season 1 Episode 5, “You’ve Got Blackmail.” In the breathy pause, we are able to soak in more of the emotion from the show’s key couples.
The episode embraces intimacy.
This helps us get to know Javi, Ingrid, Yoli, and Danny more deeply.
But, I admit that I miss the action and suspense and I hope the next episodes swing more toward the excitement side of the pendulum.
Another layer of the mystery is unpeeled when Yoli confesses that she is the one who snuck into Sky’s room and knocked Jason out. The confession is simultaneously heartwarming and breaking.
Yoli went to such lengths because of her fear of being outed as a gay woman. This plotline is a keen reminder that LGBTQ communities still grapple with fear and judgment, often from those who they most seek approval and acceptance.
Carolina’s instant acceptance of Yoli and Marissa’s love is really sweet and joyful.
That warm flush doesn’t last long as Gigi’s icy reaction to seeing her daughter dancing with her lover hits hard.
It is truly refreshing to see that Yoli’s storyline is so central and pivotal to the overall plot of the series. On the original Grand Hotel, minor characters never received that kind of centrality or focus.
Grand Hotel knows a good thing when it has it.
That brings us to Danny and Alicia.
Danny realizes what he has with Alicia, but it is a little too late. Even though I am a little disappointed that my theory about Heather being Sky’s girlfriend, not his, is a big fat miss, I like that relationships on the show are moving forward quickly. We don’t have to wait episode after episode to know who the mystery girl is or how Danny will react.
Grand Hotel rips the band-aid right off!
Alicia has great chemistry with the charming and handsome Oliver. I grin wickedly when I see Danny witnessing their passionate kiss.
A little jealousy never hurt anyone, at least not on primetime TV, right?!
Danny and Alicia need a little spice to their dynamic, so I am very enthused by this development.
The part of the episode that elicits the most enthusiasm from me is when I realize Mrs. P is a double agent!
This works because we have come to recognize Mrs. P loyalty to the hotel as a core part of her identity and this story honors that. It also works because it brings to the forefront legitimate workers rights issues that blue-collar and “gig economy” workers face on a daily basis.
While the story repeatedly brings up workers’ issues, it never hammers them. The treatment is light, almost glossy, and for this show, it is the most effective way of getting the message across without sacrificing glitz and drama.
I never thought I would be this invested in Ingrid.
She has reeled me in and I am now hardcore rooting for her and Javi to somehow find their way back to each other.
Yoli and Marissa are sexy and sweet, but Javi and Ingrid have that THING that I’ve been yearning for since the pilot; Javi and Ingrid smolder.
Ingrid could have continued to trick Javi. I have no doubt that Ingrid has the skills to trick the entire family that the baby is Javi’s.
But, Ingrid doesn’t want to trick them.
Javi fell so quickly, but because of the very wonderful performance by Anne Winters, we really understand how he could be so in love so soon.
These two really get each other and we get the real sense that Ingrid has found a person she could really be herself with. But the baby isn’t Javi’s, however much she wishes it is.
It’s complicated and won’t get any less twisted by Javi breaking-up with Ingrid. He’s already fallen.
I simply can’t wait to see all the drama to unfold.
What did you think of this episode of Grand Hotel? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Grand Hotel airs Mondays at 10/9c on ABC.
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Janelle Ureta
Janelle Ureta is equal parts Veronica Mars, Raven Reyes, and Rebecca Bunch, but she aspires to add some Tammy Taylor to the mix. An attorney turned teacher, Janelle believes in the power of a well-told story. She is currently exploring how to tell short stories, 140 characters or less, on twitter. She loves to talk about TV, and right now she can't shut up about Timeless, Dear White People, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The 100, or Younger.