“The suit is so fake its hilarious to see” fans find the fat suit use in Motel California distasteful

Directed by Kim Hyung-min and written by Lee Seo-yoon, Motel California features Lee Se-young as Ji Kang-hee and Na In-woo in the role of Cheon Yeon-su. The story revolves around a young woman who returns to her hometown after 12 years and reconnects with an old friend.

In the first episode, Na In-woo portrays the warm-hearted Cheon Yeon-soo and appears wearing a fatsuit and thick-rimmed glasses. As the story follows, Yeon-soo sheds weight and when Kang-hee sees him after years, she is unable to recognize her once chubby childhood friend.

While some actors undergo weight transformations for their roles, others rely on prosthetic makeup or fat suits to create the illusion of weight changes. However, this fat suit has not received much positive feedback. Fans have found the transformation unnecessary and the fat suit obnoxious.

"i mean she liked him back then and now too but the suit is so fake its hilarious to see i can't" said one fan.

"There's a lot I'm enjoying about #MotelCalifornia -- mostly our leads-- but OMG again with the fat suit..." responded another fan.

"Started this show with not so high expectations (thank god they dropped the fat suit fast). Pretty intriguing" commented another.

While the drama is receiving appreciation, fans believe skipping the fat suit could have been a better choice.

"why did they have to make na inwoo wear a fat suit" asked another fan.

"2 first eps of motel California were actually good but the thing that makes me laugh is always seeing the fake fat suit every flashback" said another fan.

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What has happened in Motel California so far?

Motel California opens with kids playing during a storm, laughing as lightning strikes one of them. In 2013, Kang-hee’s father, Chun-pil, entrusted her friend Yeon-soo with money to deliver before she left for Seoul. Kang-hee, frustrated with her father’s poor decisions, shared a tender moment with Yeon-soo, where they spent the night together before parting ways. She asked him to care for her cat and sell her teddy bear.

By 2023, Yeon-soo became a veterinarian, and Kang-hee, now a construction worker, faced setbacks in her career. After exposing her previous employer’s malpractices, she secured an internship at an interior design firm through Jeong-gu, a site supervisor she met.

Despite workplace challenges, Kang-hee impressed a client, Seok-kyung, who helped restore her confidence. She turned down a promotion, instead focusing on projects she was passionate about.

At Chun-pil’s funeral, Kang-hee reunited with Yeon-soo after a decade, sparking unresolved feelings. A heated confrontation at the funeral meal with a childhood bully, Heon-yeol, led to Yeon-soo defending her. Kang-hee later attended a wedding where she impressed guests with her resolve and professionalism.

As Yeon-soo pursued a new relationship, Kang-hee grappled with her feelings. During her annual birthday celebration with Chun-pil, she invited Seok-kyung to pose as her boyfriend. Unexpectedly, Yeon-soo appeared, recalling Seok-kyung’s past help to Kang-hee in Seoul. The episode ended with Seok-kyung suggesting Yeon-soo transfer “ownership” of Kang-hee to him, hinting at a love triangle.

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The next episode of Motel California is scheduled to be released on January 17.