Motel California Episode 3 Review: Can These Storywriters Stop Startling Our Hearts

In the second episode of Motel California, hilarity and drama collide as Yeon-soo’s bold attempts to protect and reconnect with Kang-hee shake up their small-town dynamics. From nostalgic flashbacks of teenage confessions to present-day confrontations with bullies and toxic gossip, the episode showcases Yeon-soo’s unexpected transformation into a confident protector.

Meanwhile, Kang-hee wrestles with jealousy, unresolved feelings, and her own fiery spirit, culminating in a tense moment when she and Yeon-soo cross paths with her colleague Seok-gyeong, hinting at a complex love triangle. The episode ends on a tantalizing cliffhanger, leaving viewers eager for the next twist in this chaotic yet heartfelt story.

– Contains Spoilers –

Motel California Episode 3 Recap

The third episode of Motel California kicks off with a flashback to 2013, revealing what drove Yeon-soo to transform his life. During a trip to Seoul, he felt insecure after seeing handsome, confident men, which inspired him to start losing weight. With the support of Seung-eon and Han-woo, Yeon-soo embarked on an arduous fitness journey. Over the years, his hard work paid off, and he successfully shed the pounds in a healthy manner. Throughout his transformation, he kept a soda can Kang-hee had given him as a token of hope and motivation.

In the present, Kang-hee and Seok-gyeong are at the hotel room. Kang-hee quickly brushes off Seok-gyeong’s advances by wiggling her shoulders and telling him to stop acting up. Yeon-soo then steps in, reminding Seok-gyeong that they’ve met before. Seok-gyeong also realizes that Kang-hee is the same girl he had once saved at a store back in 2013. Feeling awkward, Kang-hee leaves the room, with Seok-gyeong following her. He confronts her about pretending not to recognize him. Kang-hee admits that she prefers keeping her professional relationships distant from the start.

Impressed by her straightforwardness, Seok-gyeong hands her his business card and suggests she contact him if she ever wants to work together. After leaving the hotel, Kang-hee calls her father, Chun-pil, and angrily scolds him for revealing her location to Yeon-soo. Meanwhile, Yeon-soo remains in the hotel room, reminiscing about a night from their past when he had told Kang-hee to run to him if she ever felt cold. As he prepares to leave, he’s surprised to find Kang-hee standing outside the room.

For a fleeting moment, he imagines her hugging him, but reality strikes as she begins yelling at him for showing up uninvited. Despite the heated exchange, the two manage to sit down for a genuine conversation over a bottle of champagne—a gift from her father. When Kang-hee jokingly asks for her own gift, Yeon-soo hands her a necklace, confessing that he’s remained single because he promised himself he’d wait for her.

Kang-hee excuses herself to the restroom to collect her thoughts and puts on the necklace. When she returns to show it to Yeon-soo, he steps closer and pours his heart out, confessing his feelings for her. Caught off guard, her heart races, and she accidentally admits it aloud. Just as they near for a kiss, Yeon-soo’s phone rings, interrupting the moment. On the other end of the line, his mother urgently pleads for help. As Yeon-soo leaves to assist her, Kang-hee is left alone, flooded with memories of the townspeople mocking her for being abandoned by her mother and growing up in a motel.

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When Yeon-soo returns to the room, Kang-hee gives back the necklace and tells him to forget her. Yeon-soo, clearly hurt, says he’ll stop waiting for her only if she truly leaves. Kang-hee walks away, leaving him behind. As the New Year arrives, both of them begin their new lives. Kang-hee decides to take up Seok-gyeong’s offer and starts working for him. At their first meeting, she’s startled to learn that his project isn’t a hotel but a motel, triggering painful memories. She abruptly leaves the meeting but later receives a significant advance payment, which convinces her to proceed with the project.

Meanwhile, in the small town, Yeon-soo continues working as a veterinarian, managing the hospital he inherited from his late grandfather. On the night he left the hotel room, he had gone to the police station to help his mother and her abusive new husband clear legal charges. Yeon-soo despises the man for mistreating his mother but reluctantly allows them to stay in his home while he moves out to prevent her from selling the hospital.

As Kang-hee adjusts to her new job, she forms a bond with Seok-gyeong’s sister, who encourages her dream of starting her own company. Inspired, they all decide to invest in Kang-hee’s vision. One day, Heon-yeol, a mutual acquaintance, sees Kang-hee and Seok-gyeong together and starts spreading rumors that they were making out. When Yeon-soo hears this, he confronts Heon-yeol and punches him, warning him never to gossip about Kang-hee again.

Back at work, Kang-hee receives an offer to collaborate with a brand partner, only to discover it’s Han-eup, a corporation founded by Yeon-soo. Panic-stricken, she declines the offer. Meanwhile, at Han-eup, Nan-woo, a junior assistant, begins helping Yeon-soo at the veterinary hospital. Her cheerful personality and admiration for Yeon-soo draw the attention of his growing fanbase, who gather outside the hospital daily.

The following day, Kang-hee declines the Han-eup offer again, using a fake excuse about having a date. Overhearing this, Seok-gyeong becomes jealous and decides to follow her. To his surprise, he finds her with her friend Ah-reum. Seok-gyeong helps them carry their suitcases, as Kang-hee has just moved to a new house near his. During their conversation, Ah-reum expresses pride in Kang-hee for co-founding her own company.

She also teases her about her handsome new neighbor, Seok-gyeong. However, when Ah-reum mentions that Yeon-soo has moved on and is now with Nan-woo, Kang-hee’s mood shifts. Unaware of the truth, Kang-hee begins obsessing over the idea of Yeon-soo’s new relationship.

The next day, Yeon-soo teaches Nan-woo how to drive. During their lesson, she panics and slams the brakes as another car approaches. To assist her, Yeon-soo carries her out of the driver’s seat. Coincidentally, the approaching car belongs to Kang-hee and Seok-gyeong. When Kang-hee sees Yeon-soo carrying Nan-woo, she forces a smile and walks away without saying a word, hiding her growing jealousy and confusion.

Motel California Episode 3 Review

The third episode of Motel California serves up all the drama, awkward encounters, and near-romantic moments we’ve been craving. Yeon-soo’s glow-up origin story is both inspiring and hilarious—who knew a trip to Seoul could spark such a life transformation? His dedication to holding onto that soda can from Kang-hee all these years is both adorable and a little extra, but hey, who doesn’t love a sentimental king? Meanwhile, Kang-hee’s no-nonsense attitude and quick ability to shut down Seok-gyeong’s advances give us major “boss energy,” even as her past starts creeping up on her in unexpected ways.

Let’s talk about that interrupted kiss. Just when things were getting steamy, Yeon-soo’s mom had to call in with a classic plot-ruining emergency. Thanks, Mom. And poor Kang-hee—just as she starts to feel her walls crumble, her past trauma hits her like a freight train, and she’s back to pushing Yeon-soo away.

Add Seok-gyeong’s subtle jealousy, Kang-hee’s growing bond with his sister, and the hilarious twist of Yeon-soo giving Nan-woo driving lessons (cue Kang-hee seeing everything at the worst possible time), and this episode is packed with chaotic energy. It’s a deliciously messy mix of romance, heartbreak, and petty jealousy that keeps you rooting for everyone—even when they’re being ridiculous.

Motel California is streaming on MBC and Viki.

Also read: All Reviews of Motel California