I've contacted them a bunch of times, too. I think the key to all this is,
"Season 3 is supposed to be available on Netflix later this year, so we have to ask you for your patience."
So, whatever "later this year" means, it doesn't appear that Netflix has the rights to show it yet or they would.
I know I'm not the only one watching this. I've even run into a friend who had watched it without telling me and we were both thrilled to know we had both found it and enjoyed it so much. We had some great conversations about the characters, too, and she came over to watch the first episode with me and helped me figure out some of the Spanish expressions I was interested in. The waitresses at the Mexican restaurant we go to have watched it and then went on to watch season 3 on YouTube though my friend said the last three episodes aren't available. It's nuts. I've never been so obsessed over a show I couldn't get my hands on. Very frustrating.
I have no idea why this isn't available in this country as a DVD set. I know it would sell. We have a huge Spanish-speaking population where I live, and this is ten times as good as any of the novelas on TV.
My edit: I've now watched all the episodes so far broadcast on Sky Arts on other websites online. With my Apple TV and iPad, I was able to watch them on my TV, which made it much better though the picture isn't quite as good as it is on Netflix. Here's a link to the first one. It takes some doing to get it to play, but I think the formula is to click towards the bottom of the black window, not on any of the arrows, and it will play after it buffers.
http://www.alluc.com/l/Gran-Hotel-S03E01-Hardcoded-Eng-Subs-Sno-watchs eries-online-ch-mp4-mp4/xdyi6fck. I have links to sites that show all the others (VidLocker seems to be the best site with the fewest hassles). Tomorrow is the tenth show on Sky Arts, so it should come up on video online soon after.
The third season is great! I can't believe after all these months I'm finally able to watch it. From what I can tell there are only three more episodes left. All of these episodes are long, about an hour and a quarter. If Netflix ever gets it, they may change them to shorter episodes as they apparently did with the first two seasons. We'll see.
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hlisy
10 years ago
For me the worst part is that Netflix hasn't replied to me or anyone I know who's contacted them by email, facebook, etc. Even if they were to say that they don't have the rights yet, would be better than the silence treatment. Especially since they left off half a season. I'd rather have had them wait until Netflix secured all the rights. You'd think that the company would want to be more customer friendly so we watch all their new series.
I've tried to watch without English subtitles and though I get the gist, I learned Spanish a long time ago and I learnt the Latin American type-so the vosotros form and the lisp "th" instead of "s" always throw me. But GH is better than most Spanish TV since there is very little slang. Especially compared to Velvet which I can't understand nearly as well. Plus the lead actors really annoy me. Lead actor has one facial expression as does the lead actress. I only watch that show for the other cast members-and the clothes. But Gran Hotel is much crazier and fun-what with the police detectives and the bromance between Julio and Andres. It just seems like a show that doesn't take itself too seriously.
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wendycscott9
10 years ago
Interesting post! 😊 I kinda know what you mean about Velvet. And sometimes they get talking so fast, it's just impossible to even keep up with the English subtitles, especially when they get excited. I think the most fun thing about it is recognizing so many of the actors, which would not have been the case before I'd seen Gran Hotel. And I've now watched Netflix's 42 episodes eight times through almost (I have two episodes to go) whereas I've only watched Velvet once (of course, it's only recently been available). Still, I think I will go back over that for the Spanish before going back to Gran Hotel, for a break if nothing else. I do what I can to keep it in my head all the time while I'm also studying it using Fluencia. It should be noted that the 39 episodes IMDb speaks of are all an hour and 15 minutes, as shown on TV originally in Spain.
The rest of this has some edits I added: The seasons are confusing for this show. I believe they combined the second and third seasons when it was run on TV in Spain, making it all a long second season. We're waiting for the third season on Netflix, which may have 22 episodes if they continue showing them 45 minutes long. The original shows were an hour and 15 minutes, and there were 14 episodes in the third season as shown in Spain. Most of the third season is available on YouTube, but I couldn't get much out of watching it there without decent subtitles. I did, however, find the rest of it online at clicknwatchonline.com/grand-hotel-s03e1 for the first episode. You have to put in the URL for each episode separately, i.e. clicknwatchonline.com/grand-hotel-s03e2, etc. And yes, they have English subtitles! I really loved the ending, btw. It was incredibly satisfying!
You might try live-chatting with someone from Netflix. If you click on Contact Us, I think it will become obvious what to do to start a chat with someone there. I've done that several times and stressed how important it was that we get the rest of Gran Hotel. If all the GH fans start doing that, it's going to make an impression. At least it should, seems to me. Even having seen the rest of the series, I'd still like to see it again on Netflix since the picture is better, and we all know how gorgeous everything is to look at, so we want to see it clearly.
¡Buena suerte!
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Doeeyes63
10 years ago
it doesn't appear that Netflix has the rights to show it yet or they would.
You have a lot more faith in Netflix then I do. I do think they have the rights, after all, part of season 3 is already on there only added to season 2. One might argue that happened with Breaking Bad, but that show was still airing so that's probably why that season was broken up. I think the fact that the licensing agency said they have no control over when Netflix puts up the show is directly implying that Netflix could any time.
My gut feeling is that they have it has a very low priority for this show. It is a fast moving show and packed with dialogue that needs translation. Netflix is very busy right now with their original productions as that will make them more money and that has always been what Netflix is really about. They would never admit this though, so they blame it on not having the rights because it doesn't appear to be their fault then.
Sorry to be a Debbie Downer about Netflix but I've had the service since almost the very first day it was offered and have learned a thing or two about them. What people want is almost never a reason for them to do something. How much they will make always is.
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wendycscott9
10 years ago
Actually, the original season 3 was added to season 2 when it was being broadcast in Spain, making season 2 one long season. The season 3 we're waiting to see would originally have been season 4. It either is being or has been shown in the UK with English subtitles beginning last month. And now it is available on some obscure website although I didn't find it very satisfactory and gave up because of buffering issues. But the point is, it is ready to go. Perhaps I am having more faith in Netflix than is warranted, but I still hope pressure from their viewers will get us the remaining 22 episodes. Did you ever contact them about that? It couldn't hurt.
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Doeeyes63
10 years ago
Yes, I have contacted them on several occasions to request the remaining episodes and several family members who also watched the show did as well. Unfortunately, I have significant skepticism that will do any good. The most frustrating part of the Gran Hotel availability is that we are slaves to Netflix for it. Amazon has DVD's but they won't work on US players. Otherwise I would have bought the DVD's instead of waiting on Netflix.
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