Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

YEEEES A HEARTWARMING KDRAMA

i just watched it... and it was so good tbh????? for those who said that this kdrama is cringe and super cliche, go get a life BITCH because this kdrama is so heartwarming and refreshing. the conflict isn't that serious and turns out they got their happy ending!!! I cried because of several episodes but it ended happily.... i love how hong and yoon is destined to be tgt... i was just amazed when hong actually the one that took yoon's family picture on the beach :( AND ALSO WHEN THEY MET AT THE CONVENIENCE STORE T_____T literally amazed.... i'm so happy for them!!! T_____5

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Sweet & Heartwarming

After watching some amazing horror and fantasy k-drama shows, I was hesitant to choose something more lighthearted. I will be forever grateful to my husband for pushing me to giving it a try because it is now my favorite k-drama to date! Below lists all the ways I fell in love with this sweet and heartwarming show.

❤ It’s easy to fall in love with Hong Du-sik (or Chief Hong as most of the residents of Gongjin call him). He’s easy going, intelligent, hard working, and charming. The actor, Kim Sun-ho, shines at creating this affable character without his performance coming off as forced or insincere. You can see how much Du-sik loves his town and the people in it. It’s not till the end of the season that his story is revealed, but the last few episodes really hit home the reasons behind his lifestyle decisions.

❤ It’s a lot harder to connect to Yoon Hye-jin. She is initially portrayed as materialistic, judgmental, and remote in the first few episodes. And yet, when her guard is down, you also see she’s compassionate, driven, and decisive. It’s utterly fascinating watching this woman who has built up walls for most of her life slowly allow the residents of Gongjin into her heart. Kudus goes to the actress, Shin Min-a, who is able to pull off such a complex role.

❤ The romance is so sweet and giddy. When the story starts, it was difficult imaging Du-sik and Hye-jin falling in love as they were complete opposites. The show spends time building up their friendship before any other feelings are expressed. Their romance teeters between giddy and sweet, making for fun moments and memories between the two.

❤ Typically I detest love triangles, but I actually adored the execution of it in this show. The show excelled at creating separate moments for each of these relationships individually and as a group. It created an interesting tension between the three as they began to express their feelings mid-season. I also appreciate the love triangle is quickly wrapped up once everyone is open and honest with each other.

❤ The heart and soul of this town is the relationships between people. While they don’t always like each other, they do put their conflicts aside to be there for one another during times of crisis and celebration. All of these various threads come together to create such a rich tapestry that truly make Gongjin feel alive. I can’t think of one character I didn’t absolutely adore by the end of the series.

❤ This show brings together so many elements to create the perfect and charming small town setting. It had a fantastic score filled with whimsical and lighthearted music, which set so much of the overall tone of the show. Who will ever forget DOS and Yoon-Oh’s songs? Not me, that’s for sure! The snippets of the beach, the docks, the vendors, and aerial shots of the entire town were absolutely gorgeous. I couldn’t help but feel as if Gongjin were a real and bustling place, one I can’t wait to visit (even if it is only on my screen).

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Absolutely brilliant - one of my favourite dramas in 2021

This drama had me hooked from the beginning. They did such a great job in introducing the characters, showing their development and completing each story line. It was a refreshing, feel-good and realistic drama. Each episode was exciting and I was never once bored.

The relationship between the main couple was very well developed. They showed us that they talked a lot, they laughed together and first became friends before anything else happened. Also, they did not use the typical plotline of misunderstanding because they actually talked with each other.
I really enjoyed that they fought society's stereotypes such as the man has to confess, the man has to propose, the woman has to do all the house chores and even that they both wanted to be intimate with each other and not only one person. Their relationship felt genuine and they had awesome chemistry. Additionally, I enjoyed that there was a lot of skinship. It made everything more realistic.

The only thing that bothered me was that once the couple got together firstly, that the female lead changed a lot. Of course, it was to show that she was in love but it did not do justice for her strong and fierce character that she was before. Also, that they included her hitting him because they did not want the others to find out about their relationship was too much for me. You should never hit anybody to that extent.

Furthermore, the other storylines kept the show interesting. The ratio between the main couple and the side stories was well done. They included topics such as sexual harrassment, marriage issues, being old, sexuality and many more. In general, the stories of the neighbours were interesting and also well thought-through.

All in all, the show was considerate of the current times and more advanced than other dramas I have watched. It was refreshing to see a more realistic story. I absolutely enjoyed this drama and it became one of my favourite dramas. The last few episodes made me cry so much but in a good way. It is definitely worth the watch.

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what most romcom kdramas aspire to be

If you want a high quality romance kdrama with a good buildup, then Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha will not disappoint. The atmosphere and setting is beautiful, the leads are flawed but charming, and the story between them and the town is so heartwarming to watch. While there are definitely some sad parts (read: obligatory traumatized male lead), it never strays into heavy angst that feels hopeless or overtly dark. This is a drama that is first and foremost about healing, and it never forgets that.

Now a few reasons why this is almost a 9/10 but not quite:
- After ep 10, it's not as good as the first episodes
- While I liked Gongjin, I never became super attached to any of the stories of the townsfolk
- There was a really good opportunity for a wlw couple to take the stage but the love story was instead given to a less-than-stellar ex-husband
- Dusik's past was built up a bit too suspensefully for the pay off

Despite this, it wasn't enough to bump the rating further down, especially since it never got boring, which, to me, is one of the biggest flaws a show can have. It's still a great kdrama to watch when you just want something fun, sweet, and romantic, and I'd highly recommend it, especially if you're the type to be picky over romcoms. The ending was also very satisfying to me, which is a rare find.

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One of the lightest and most touching dramas of the year!

In a world where everything is stressful, I’m so thankful for a drama like HCha to exist. It’s such a breath of fresh air seeing everyone interact in their own way. The characters are all fully fleshed out with their own side stories to make you fully immersed in the village of Gongjin. At moments the drama touched on several life lessons, each of which where very touching- you could feel the characters’ emotions (and admittedly I teared up quite often). The sad moments were contrasted by lighter moments to have you ROTFL 😂

Props to Shin Min-ah and Kim Seon-ho for bringing Yoon Hye-Jin and Chief Hong to life! I loved seeing all their bickering and banter turn into a light and fluffy romance~

The drama did hit a few minor snags along the way, such as a few characters making questionable decisions. However, it was very in character- so although there could have been different decisions, everything flowed together naturally.

By no means is HomeCha a perfect drama, but for what it is, it’s excellent. If you’re looking for something to destress, have at it!

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Another Drama I Struggled Through

I usually watch my dramas at work when there's down time, or when I'm eating, so depending on the day and how much I like the drama, it could take anywhere from a week or two to months to finish. It took me months to finish Doom because I was just so not into it at all.

This was sort of like that but different. I felt like this couple definitely had more chemistry than the Doom couple, but they got together pretty early so I was concerned that the show was going to do multiple break up/get back together story lines, but luckily they didn't.

This is the first review I'm writing immediately after finishing a drama, so I actually remember everything. lol Something that was super annoying to me in this drama was the motivation for the FL and her relationship with ML. So, I understood her initially requesting they don't tell anyone until she talks to the guy who has a crush on her, that's it. That makes total sense and is totally respectable.

Then she spoke to him, cleared the air, and then still requested they keep it a secret... for no reason. Literally none. After specifically saying, "Just until I speak to him." (Ji Seong Hyeon's character). It's like the writers wanted some wacky montage of them getting "caught" by the towns folk but couldn't be arsed to come up with a reason for why the secret needed to continue. lol

Also, SO MUCH happened the last episode or two, meanwhile almost nothing important happened throughout the rest of the show. It felt super rushed (not as rushed as the BOF ending but still lol). And those things were actually interesting, exciting, and emotional things. Why not spread it out?

Final complaint is very superficial but they did Yoon Hye Jin (Shin Min A) sooo dirty with that wedding dress. I get they live in a small town, and they had a little nothing wedding, but my first thought was, "Wow the budget must have been GONE by this point." It was not attractive, not flattering for her at all, and looked paper thin and cheap. I bought a nicer wedding-like dress for $40 that I used to play the Corpse Bride. They could've done better. lol

Also, side note but why is there a music rating on these things? The only KDrama music that has ever, and will ever matter is the BOF music and that's because it's now used as THEE quintessential mocking KDramas music. lol

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Fabulous start with a ‘just good’ ending

- This series is divided into two parts that are so different one another. The first one is the longest: the story is almost perfect, really. Nothing to say, it is just perfect. I’ve fallen in love with the peace sensation that infuses, with its lifestyle. Everything is loose how I like it, and the fact that the female lead moved to the island from the city is as amazing as the sea setting. She slowly becomes a better person, surrounded by friends, joy, and understands her genuine feelings for the male lead with bravery and maturity. Doo Shik is a fabulous character, unique I’d say: sincere smile, great personality and special sensitivity. Everything is happiness, the island seems almost like heaven. Additionally, I have to mention the brief lesbo story (I'm so happy lgbtq is included): nothing is accomplished but I find it so loveable. To sum up, this part of the plot is complete, it has everything that is needed. Music as well, it perfectly matches the shining, high-spirited atmosphere. I like two songs in particular from this first section (my romance and romantic sunshine).
- As for the second part, things shifted: the female lead completely changes her behaviour, all we talk about is the male lead’s trauma and everything slowly becomes black, repetitive and depressing. Hye Jin is too much, her maturity is completely gone, her exaggerations clash with the path she followed from the start. Sometimes it feels like she’s back to her previous self, not in a good way. Doo Shik’s past is important, of course, but is too concentrated in this second part of the story so the whole plot seems unbalanced. His trauma absorbs all the light I mentioned before, leaving us with nothing, not even tears. Also, some group scenes felt redundant: after all these episodes, seeing the same people every time may be not as impressive as it was at the beginning, more made-up and less genuine. There are some marvellous moments though: they’re so moving and extremely heartbreaking I cried my eyes out for fifteen minutes straight watching them. Additionally, I have to mention a sad event, something I can’t tell right now, for the spoiler thing. I can only say that it wasn’t necessary. At all. I’m sure you’ll feel it. The music is, again, matched with the atmosphere. Good job.
- The cinematography is as good as always, maybe two or three flaws but nothing more. I particularly appreciate some close-up shots during dramatic or crucial scenes. Again, I love the sea setting and the old fashion and simple lifestyle. Doo Shik’s house is just fabulous: I went crazy seeing all the books and vinyl records he has. Not to mention the clinic in front of the sea (yeah, the sea again).
- The acting is good as well. All I’m thinking about is Doo Shik’s smile and tears as well as anger, this character is so hot and cool his own way, you know. I’m serious. The actor (Kim Seon Ho) is so genuine and real, fantastic. However, everyone did an awesome job. I especially appreciate the grandma’s trio, they are cute and funny. Additionally, I have to mention Jang Yi Jun’s crying in episode fifteen and the ‘baby delivery’ scene some time before. The only negative thing I can think about is the female lead: for me, it was more the character than the actress (as I said before), but some scenes felt unnatural. Also, I’d appreciate at least one intimate scene between the main couple: they are adult, we’re not in high school. Again, it felt not real. I doubt I’ll watch the whole series again, maybe just a few scenes. But I definitely recommend it. If you haven’t watch it, please go do it now.

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Great complement for weekend relaxation.

Personally, this theme feels like a breath of fresh air since we've been fed with a lot of dark-nerve wrecking dramas for the last 2 years. (Vincenzo, Flower of Evil, Mouse, The Devils Judge, Beyond evil etc).

Too put it simple, it doesn't stress you out. A lot of happy moments and a little here and there of every other emotions.

Pros:
A lot of life lesson. Warm and touching. This drama perfectly present POVs from a hardworking wife, a husband, a single dad, a stepmom etc that people always bottle up and avoid talking about it.

Aesthetic-served. Cinematography is similar to Lovestruck in the City.

OSTs just stuck in your head.

Cons:
But, I personally felt like there's something missing towards the end of the story. We've been reminded on every episode how Du Sik suffers from trauma but it was just at ep 15 when everyone half-assedly apologize and he seemed rather fine all of sudden? I don't know.

Every conflicts seemed to be unfold and resolved on ep15 and 16 like and that's it?

Some episodes on second half felt like fillers.

Also SikHye romantic moments are a little too much/cringey for me.
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Anyway, I'd still recommend this to someone who needed something light for their weekend.

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Easy Watching Feel-good Romance

This was the first K-drama that I actually watched through to completion so I wanted to watch some more (I am now a complete addict) before writing a review so that I might have something to compare against. I've been rather spoilt by the series I subsequently watched, picking those with the highest ratings here on kisskh so Hometown Cha-cha-cha has some stiff opposition to be compared against and overall it came out well enough.

Like many people I suspect, I turned to K-dramas for some much needed escapism durin these difficult times. In particular I wanted something feel-good and "easy watching" where I wasn't going to be put through the emotional wringer and this fits the bill perfectly. The downside to this would be if you are wanting to be challenged, thrilled or otherwise stretched in some way then this probably won't do it.

So the basic storyline is straight-forward enough: Yoon Hye Jin, an intelligent and successful Seoulite dentist who is likeable but somewhat uptight, makes an unfortunate drunk internet posting mistake which sabotages her job. She therefore ends up in the seaside backwater of Gongjin where she meets Hong Doo Shik, a jack of all trades and the cornerstone of the village. Despite being a well educated professional he has ended up making this village his home doing simple jobs for a minimum wage in order to escape from some dark incidents in his past. The story follows the obvious arc with the charm of the town and the warmth of "Chief Hong" gradually softening our heroine who learns to relax and prioritise different things in her life. As they are drawn together she in turn tries to persuade Doo Shik to face his demons so that he can move on.

As I said above, this is "easy watching" - there are no blinding plot twists and everything proceeds and an enjoyable gentle pace to its obvious conclusion. There are a lot of the standard K-drama cliches: a love triangle, the usual standing and staring into eachother's eyes for an unrealistically long time, lots of "will they, won't they", some falling over and being caught in the arms of the other etc. There is a bit of drama with a serial stalker menacing the town but never anything too taxing. There are enjoyable side stories from the various villagers whom we get to meet and as our heroine learns to love the town and its inhabitants so do we too.

Like a lot of K-dramas, I find that there is a certain amount of "fat" in this that could have been trimmed. The necessity of spinning things out to the stanard 16 episode did make for a couple of really poor episode in the middle which really jarred. They were supposed to be cutesy-wootsy as the two leads start to do things together but Hey Jin behaves so out of character that Doo Shik must have been left wondering whether he actually wanted anything to do with this person! Still, after that bump we are back on track and everything proceeds smoothly. The pace does race ahead toward the end with a lot of chief Hong's back story to get through at break-neck speed but it all wraps up smoothly in the end.

The cast were great with our two leads having good on-screen chemistry and both fitting their roles perfectly. The supporting actors all did a great job despite an occasionally creaky script. So all in all, it's a very enjoyable, untaxing easy-watching romance and if that is what you are after then it fits the bill nicely.

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Best rom-com and slice of life!

~One of the best mix of romantic comedy and slice of life drama
~Beautiful character growth and engaging plot lines
~Few cliched plots but executed to perfection
~Powerful female-centric characters
~Amazing narration and handling of sensitive issues and stereotypes
including mental health, LGBTIQ, pregnancy, divorce, aging parents etc
~Filled with life lessons and beautiful outlook on life
~Second male lead storyline handled impeccably well

I laughed , I clapped, I squealed, I screamed and I also cried a lot. I was thoroughly attached to the Gongjin villagers by the end of the drama. This drama will stay with me for a long long long time. Thank you to the amazing writers and directors and the talented cast who made possible this heartwarming show in the middle of the pandemic and gave us all so much comfort.

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