Summary
Nothing memorable happens in the series. With past lifestyle shows having more excitement, Motel Makeover is likely to be among the reality shows that are soon forgotten.
This review of the Netflix reality series Motel Makeover season 1 contains no spoilers.
Reality/lifestyle series Motel Makeover follows the journey of the two best friends and business partners April Brown and Sarah Sklash. The pair are moteliers, and as they say, “take gross, old motels, and bring them back to life”. Motel Makeover follows them as they continue with their quest of following their dreams and building their motel empire.
It’s very impressive what April and Sarah have achieved so far. Not only did they have zero experience before starting, but their efforts have got them featured in publications such as the New York Times and Vogue. But what follows, and what Motel Makeover invites the audience to watch, is the two BFF’s embarking on the next challenge as they attempt to expand on their business.
They’re starting from scratch again. Except for this time, April and Sarah are heading to the Sauble Beach on Lake Huron: aka three hours away from Toronto. As is the norm with lifestyle shows, there’s always plenty of challenges that need to be overcome. After buying a motel for $1.4 million, they are left with a budget of $600,000. But with 24 rooms, a pool and a restaurant to revamp, April and Sarah have their work cut out.
In the six episodes that each have a 30-minute runtime, Motel Makeover shows the struggles that the pair face. There are the more obvious struggles, such as budgeting issues and leaks. However, the biggest challenge for them is Covid-19. As Motel Makeover got filmed in 2020, the worldwide pandemic derailed the opening of the Sauble Beach Inn. With all work at a standstill and with no income, it’s a worrying time for April for Sarah as they face the possibility of losing their business. To find out whether they overcome the challenges that they face, you’ll have to watch Motel Makeover and find out!
But does Netflix really need Motel Makeover? It’s not the most original reality show that the streaming service has done, nor is it the most interesting. The stakes don’t feel that high, and it’s somewhat hard to feel invested in the journey. But as the episodes are short in length, Motel Makeover may provide the audience with a “watchable” series as they do their chores.
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