Literally healed me
I watched this back when it was airing in 2021, gave it a 10/10, rewatched it in 2023 and again this year in 2025. A 10/10 EVERYTIME.I HAVE NEVER FELT SO WARM AND FULFILLED WATCHING A DRAMA. Like, HomeCha wasn’t just a show, it was an experience. It was like taking a deep breath of fresh air, like a warm hug, like drinking hot chocolate on a rainy day. It was comfort in drama form.
Romance? 12/10. Chemistry? OFF THE CHARTS.
Yoon Hye-jin and Hong Du-sik??? PERFECTION. Their relationship felt so natural, so real, so deeply emotional that I could feel their love growing with every interaction. Their bickering? Adorable. Their tender moments? Butterflies. Their angst? PAIN. This is what true romance pacing looks like—no unnecessary dragging, no unrealistic jumps, just two people gradually falling in love in the most beautiful way. The chemistry was so electric it didn’t even feel scripted. Just pure, unfiltered longing and love.
That being said, I have some thoughts on Hye-jin. People say she’s rude, but honestly, I never saw her that way. What did bother me, though, was her cringy baby talk when she got into a relationship. I honestly get it because her whole life she has had to be an adult because of her family, and now she finally gets to experience her inner child, still it annoyed me a little😭. Also, around ep 13, she seemed lowkey embarrassed about Du-shik’s lack of a set job, and I was just like… girl, this is Chief Hong we’re talking about. The man can do literally everything. Also, why did Du-shik have to apologize just because Hye-jin was telling Du-shik to care of the guy who had a crush on her? It made no sense. But her character development was EVERYTHING.
But does Hye-jin ruin the drama for me? Absolutely not. Nothing could ruin this drama for me. I squealed like a kid every time she and Du-shik had a moment. Their dynamic was everything, and Du-shik as a character?? A 20/10. Kim Seon-ho ate this role UP. His smile, his little eyebrow raises, his dimples—I need a Du-shik in my life, it’s not even funny anymore. If my man doesn’t steal drumsticks for me, I don’t even want him. Like ask me to write my college essay on Cheif Hong, AND YOU WILL FIND IT DONE IN AN HOUR.
But This Drama Wasn’t Just Romance…
The side characters??? ICONIC (mostly). Gongjin wasn’t just a setting, it was a whole community that felt like home. The character development, especially with Hye-jin finally understanding why Du-shik loved Gongjin so much, was so beautifully done. That being said…
Nam-sook? Annoying.
Oh Yoon? Sir, I get that you’re a musician, but enough. Stop pushing your music on everyone.
Geum-cheol??? Bro. Your wife is pregnant. Stop being so insensitive. Like, Yung-yeong is so patient, and he’s just like, “I said sorry”—LIKE WHAT?
But on the flip side—Ji-won and Seung-hyun??? CUTEST. And that scene of I-jun crying because his parents got back together??? My heart.
Listen. Episode 14 destroyed me. Du-shik’s past… I was NOT prepared. The way this drama slowly unraveled his trauma, his guilt, his deep-rooted pain—it was SO well done. And Kim Seon-ho’s acting??? CRIMINALLY GOOD. The breakdown scene?? I sobbed.
The fact that Hye-jin didn’t “fix” him, but loved him through it?? UGH. The way she showed patience and understanding instead of trying to be his savior??? Perfectly written.
Final Thoughts: A MASTERPIECE. This wasn’t just a romcom. This was a healing drama. It made me laugh, cry, scream, melt, and reflect on life all at once. The romance was top-tier, the characters felt real, and the emotional depth was unexpected but so satisfying.
Would I rewatch it? Yes.
Would I sell my soul to experience it for the first time again? Absolutely.
Do I now expect every K-drama romance to feel this real and perfect? Unfortunately, yes.
Was this review helpful to you?
BAWLING MY EYES OUT
I AM NOT OKAY. I finished episode 16 like 2 hours ago, and I’ve just been lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, emotionally wrecked. My eyes are red from crying, and the OST is haunting me. Like, what was this show?? Why did it hurt this much??Let’s get one thing straight—this drama was special. The emotions, the storytelling, the music, the relationships—everything was crafted so well that even when it wasn’t perfect, it still left the kind of impact that lingers. But GOD, the last few episodes needed more time.
First of all, Eunyu. What happened to her??? How did her time in 1995 change her relationship with her mom? Ofcourse we can deduce that they have a much better relationship now as Eunyu understands her mom but also did her parents stay together, or did they still separate? And Jonathan—was his fate altered?? The show built up so much for her, but in the end, they just let her fade away with zero closure.
Then there’s Yi-chan and Cheong-ah. We went through SO much pain for them, and yeah, we know they end up together and the ending of them becoming so succesful was truly incredible but imagine how much more fulfilling it would’ve been to see them in university, at their wedding, even as Eun-gyeol’s parents in their new life.
And don’t even get me started on the accident. The entire show had been building up to it, making us dread it, making us fear it—and then they just drop it at the end of episode 15 like a side plot?? No time to sit with our emotions, just boom, next thing you know, we’re in clean-up mode..
The last few episodes needed better pacing. The accident deserved more time. The emotional consequences deserved more weight. And instead of just rushing to wrap things up, we could’ve gotten more moments of Yi-chan realizing his feelings for Cheong-ah. Because let’s be real—he was chasing Se-gyeong until episode 11. Which he was probably doing unconsciously tbf, because he even practiced the song for Cheong-ah like if that isnt love idk what is. But yeah more moment before they got together and even after they got together would have been appreciated. It would’ve been so much more satisfying if we actually saw it develop naturally over time.
Despite all this, I GET why this drama hit so hard. Like i dont think i have cried this hard for any show, EVER. It wasn’t just about romance—it was about family, music and fates. It was about Eun-gyeol carrying the weight of his father’s fate and trying to fix something he didn’t even need to fix. It was about Eun-yu growing into her own person, about Yi-chan’s struggles, about Cheong-ah’s loneliness.
And honestly?? Eun-gyeol and Eun-yu supremacy. Why do people not like them?? Their dynamic was so interesting, layered, and emotional. They had one of the most compelling relationships in the whole show. I love them so much it’s insane. I SCREAMED everytime they had a moment like ohmygod they are my parents.
Final Thoughts: Twinkling Watermelon wasn’t perfect. But it was DAMAGING. It hit deep. It made me feel things I wasn’t prepared for. I wish we had just one more episode to wrap things up properly, but even with its flaws, I can’t deny how much it meant to me. I don’t know if I’ll recover from this anytime soon.
Would I rewatch it? Yes.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely.
Would I sell my soul for a special episode that gives me the closure I need? 1000%.
Anddd now 1 week later, i have a viva la vida pendant and a keychain :)
Was this review helpful to you?
