Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Miami version of Spanish soap has lots of drama, sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Grand Hotel
What's the Story?
Executive produced by Eva Longoria, GRAND HOTEL (2019) is a U.S. adaptation of the Spanish hit series that tells the story of the last family-owned hotel in Miami Beach. Santiago Mendoza (Demián Bichir) owns the Grand Hotel Riviera, which is struggling to keep up with the corporate hotel chains that dominate the hospitality industry in the area. While he and his second wife Gigi (Roselyn Sánchez) work hard to keep up appearances to the staff and the guests, there is constant strife between Gigi's adult twin daughters, Yoli and Carolina (Justina Adorno and Feliz Ramirez, respectively), and Santiago's adult kids, Javi and Alicia (played by Brian Craig and Denise Tontz). Meanwhile, the less privileged, but loyal, hotel staff, overseen by the strict Helen Parker (Wendy Raquel Robinson), has its own set of issues to contend with, including trying to keep from fraternizing with colleagues, guests, and younger members of the Santiago family, But after the mysterious disappearance of a young line chef during a hurricane, it seems that everyone is keeping a different secret, even newcomers like Danny (Lincoln Younes). However, few are prepared for what will happen when they're revealed.
Is It Any Good?
This soapy prime time remake is based on a real Miami hotel, but offers a complicated, fictitious world that features an extensive Latinx cast and multiple storylines. It also has enough beautiful people, family dysfunction, mysterious criminal activity, and illicit liaisons to give even the best telenovelas a run for their money. Granted, a lot of these stories are predictable, but the strong cast is able to move them along, often in indulgently entertaining ways. Grand Hotel isn't as charming as its Spanish parent series, but it's still a satisfying guilty pleasure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about adaptations. How can a show produced in one country, and in a different language, be adapted into a series that will tell the same story, but reflect a different culture? What changes and what stays the same?
Why do you think people like soaps like Grand Hotel or other very dramatic shows? What's fun about seeing lives that are different than your own?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 17, 2019
- Cast : Demian Bichir , Roselyn Sanchez , Wendy Raquel Robinson
- Network : ABC
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 4, 2022
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