Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)

Perfect romance

I know by the rating it might not seem like it, but this was truly the perfect romance kdrama to me, this is special for me specifically because whenever I watched romance kdramas, i always ended up not caring for the couple after they got together, but Yoon Hye-jin and Hong Du-sik are different for me. I truly was so invested and enjoyed their romance, the actors’ chemistry is literally off the charts!! Since the first scene itself, i was shipping them right away, and when they’re officially dating, they’re the cutest with each other acting like high schoolers making everyone in Gongjin sick lmao. I also loved how the girl is the one to both confess first and propose, Hye-jin is not afraid to show her love and forward-ness at all and that makes her sooo charming. She made me and Du-sik both swoon. <3

Regarding the plot, i have to admit it was too dragged on and boring, some of the side couples were sweet, like the divorced couple but eventually I wasn’t as interested in their lives as much as the main couple haha, the love triangle aspect tho almost ruined this drama for me but I’m glad Hye-jin wasn’t confused or annoying about it and KNEW who she wants, it was refreshing to see! I hate love triangles so I have to bring the rating down because of that sorry! I’m petty!! I also didn’t like it when Du-sik told Hye-jin to “compromise” when she wore revealing clothing while jogging, my guy she shouldn’t compromise! The village elders should get on with the times!

And one thing I really was shocked to see was a Lesbian character! I always got the vibe that Cho Hui was in love with the wife and that’s why she saw his husband as just a brother! I was happy to find out it’s true! I do wish she got her own happy ending but she was truly a great character as well! I loved seeing the friendship between these two women without them being pitted against each other and the countless other amazing wives in the village standing up to their dumb selfish husbands!

All in all, a good watch i will definitely keep rewatching my fav scenes, both the leads are adorable and I’m glad this is the first kdrama couple I truly adore and ship hard! ❤️

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I loved it. It made me laugh, cry, and feel healed all at once. Around episode 13 I got a bit worried about how they would answer all the leftover questions but it was wrapped up well. The plot and character development was probably my favorite thing about this show, they didn't push it too quickly and let it happen naturally unlike some other shows. Also, I liked that they showed both sides of Cheif Hong's backstory equally to allow that balance between the emotions of the characters involved. Lastly, the cast did such a good job at bringing these characters to life that you couldn't help but like them all at least once. Sikhye couple and the people of Gongjin I love you, I'll miss my romantic Sundays <3

edit: my opinions on the show have not changed despite the issue because character ≠ actor (i don't condone or defend his actions though)

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Amazing cast & osts

Yes this is a very light romcom. & as a big fan of romcom its perfect for me. Don't come to me with cliche predictable comments because most romcoms are supposed to be like this. If you don't like these then romcom isn't your cup of tea.

However this drama was a breathe of fresh air to me. It taught me about the importance of society & people around me. Sometimes i envy the neighbourhood du sik & hye jin have. I wish i lived in the same society as them. I wished i had same fun in my neighbourhood. Unfortunately people Around me are way too difficult. Real life is quite hard istg. But overall this drama made me feel really nostalogic. It made me want to go to the Countryside. The lead's chemistry was awesome. The Osts omgg. I loveee the osts. Specially "Romantic sunday". It reminds me of sea. I love seas & beach a lot. Overall a perfect drama for timepass & relieve your stress.

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Homecha-Best drama ever

So it's really true when seonho said homecha is a healing drama, even bts is healing, photoshoot is healing, interview is healing, presscon is healing, script reading is healing, reading reviews from others is healing, everyone is healing and this film has good storyline, well-written, good ensemble cast, powerful acting, and homcha is really one of the best kdrama in 2021. I used to read somewhere that " So yes, Hometown Cha Cha Cha really enveloped me in its world, I cared for all of the characters and their stories. There were times I laughed, times I cried and times I just enjoyed my time with them. Even the second lead was nicely written and it was so refreshing to see everything develop in such a mature and civil way. I also think this was the first time we saw a female lead’s previous boyfriend without him being part of the main story. Progress everyone! We are getting somewhere." Yes, I agree. I love Homecha so much, i love KSH and SMA too because they play their character so well. I hope to see KSH and SMA receive more awards with HomeCha because they deserve it

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A SPECTACULAR drama after a long time

Well, what must I say?

I didn't watch the movie this drama is based on, but I must say... I ABSOLUTLEY LOVED THIS. It had everything. I loved how the writers developed it. They not only included the main couple's stories, but also the others from the neighbours from Gongjin.
At the end of the drama you feel like you're part of it too.

I also loved how the Hyejin's (FL) character developed and grew, and also her reaction to Hong's past (ML). It was so realistic.


And what about the ending??

Well... It couldn't be any sweeter!! ?? I LOVED how everything was put in place. They didn't let any loose strings or plot holes. This ending was just PERFECTION. I mean, THE WHOLE DRAMA IS PURE PERFECTION.

They even took the chance to take care of details. ****SPOILERS AHEAD****

Chief Hong could properly mourn grandma's death, the dual proposal from Hyejin and Chief Hong plus their unique wedding pictures scenes, the 3rd mystery revealed, Director Ji didn't miss his timing with writer Wang, all the peolple watched the premier of the show together and Oh Yoon had his opportunity to make his comeback

Aah! This ending and drama couldn't be more perfect! I will definitely rewatch this in the future. ?% RECOMMENDED! ? Aftee a few years I'd definitely rewatch this drama??? (I don't usually rewatch dramas)

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idealistic yet realistic

I watched this with my mom and she summarized it best: this kdrama is "mild." I couldn't agree more!

Story:
After putting her foot down at work, the protagonist took a great leap by moving out of town to start her own clinic - which in reality is not easy to do - but her strong will and determination made it look easy. This beginning part of the story happens quickly and starts to feel far away, as the majority of the drama is set in the seaside village. We watch her follow through with her decision as she learns to adjust in the new small town environment. The main lead's appearance often lead to comical interactions, and he plays a strong role as he gradually helps her adjust to his hometown. With time and effort the protagonist grows to appreciate the village and the villagers that she seeks to be a part of. We also get a good understanding of the villagers and their stories as they come to embrace the protagonist as part of their community. The environment is overall painted with seaside hues of blue and sand, often using pale, pastel colours. It really helps with emphasizing the easygoing pace of the drama.

Part of the idealistic, feel-good aspects of this show was how little drama there was in conflicts. If you like intense drama, you won't find it here. The drama level here would be little to just enough, making it not too far from reality. Almost all conflicts were resolved in a peaceful way. What I found most interesting and enjoyable was the way the romantic relationships were handled. The drama shows us that when both sides are willing to communicate clearly, honestly, and want to resolve the issue, it is possible to stay on good terms. It seems simple but is much easier said than done. That's why I was so impressed: it was so satisfying to watch adults maturely handling their relationships, wanting the best for each other without any ill intentions.

Pacing:
This drama is more relaxed than most as it's not very fast-paced or high stakes. There are still tense moments, but nothing to stress over. The beginning half is more action-oriented, and the second half is more relationship-heavy, and perhaps a bit rushed near the end as most dramas do. Overall, this is a very character-driven drama and a lot of character development happens, which I think is hard to find, so it's nice to see.

Instead of slow-paced, maybe the better term is regular-paced as the show does a great job of demonstrating how all things take time, just like real life. This is not to say that the viewer's patience is tested, but that things will work out with effort and timing. This is done successfully by sharing the villagers' stories throughout the show, which I found very well paced. I was on the edge of my seat for most of their backstories, but many of them are tangled with each other so of course we had to wait! Being the protagonist, her growth was consistent over time since she was the main focus. What was kind of disappointing was the male lead, who remained fun and relationship-driven for the most part, until the majority of his backstory is brought into the later half of the drama. When this happened, it felt like the show became indecisive on who to focus on, or maybe I was the one who had trouble focusing. When I said that the second half is relationship-heavy, I meant that at this point most of the character conflicts were further ahead: nearly resolved, or already on the path to improvement . It was a back and forth of the other characters almost at their peak in the show, and then the male lead lagging behind, still in the middle of his conflicts. Perhaps this was intentional, as the drama did make his past to be something like the town secret, mystery, or the greatest conflict in the drama. It would have been a smoother transition if there were more hints of this at the beginning, but we were mainly focused on the protagonist and the other villagers. This left little room for us prepare for the male lead's backstory, so in the end it felt a bit forced. It didn't seem fair since he was the second most important character in the show, but he did not get the growth over time treatment like everyone else.

Additional Observations:
-How the drama may have successfully kept our attention was with the amount of short scenes it had. I noticed this around the halfway mark of the show, where there would be a good interaction and just when it seemed like there would be more, it would suddenly cut to another character. It's as if the drama didn't believe we had the patience to sit for longer scenes. Maybe that's why it felt like a lot happened.
-Something that almost all the characters did was this: when they were asked a question and they didn't want to answer, they would just change the topic, like "the weather is nice today". This didn't only happen in tense scenes, but in casual conversation as well. It was done too much, and was the only type of character interaction I did not enjoy because of how dismissive and rude it was.

Acting:
The characters and their interactions really carried this drama, especially the villagers once we met them. To see the village setting itself would be to see a deserted set, but to have the actors playing their role and feeling at home in the setting really brought it to life. I don't mean to state the obvious but I really mean this. The way the villagers interacted show how they all have good chemistry, and are an example of what a warm and friendly small town would be like. Not that they are realistic or completely accurate, but that the acting was believable and convinced me that I could meet such people in real life. Their backstories were also great at keeping the environment in focus. For a cast of so many side characters, this show was able to keep my interest in all of them.

The protagonist was impressive. I found her unlikeable at first because of how prickly, and hot and cold she was. But as the story progresses, you come to understand that she is a product of her environment when she grew up in the big city. I found her to be the most relatable character, especially with the way she reacted when adjusting to the village. It was adorable to see her rely on the male lead over time, as if she was slowly coming out of hiding behind him to eventually interact with the villagers and eventually depend on them. Once she was in the right mindset, her perseverance became admirable and I began to root for her. It's not flashy but consistent. I would say that the majority of her growth went to watching her cool down and opening up.

The male lead was a little too good to be true, but was still entertaining to watch: an ideal of a carefree, handy, community-oriented small town guy who is good at almost everything. A likeable, adventurous person that you would want to get to know. He is also a product of his environment, which shaped him to be positive, thoughtful, and ready to lend a hand, nearly the opposite of the protagonist. His interactions with the protagonist at the beginning were funny and cute, where he creatively fought back at her hot and cold attitude. I also enjoyed watching the growth of his and the protagonist's relationship over time, because they had space to go from acquaintances to friends before becoming something more. As previously mentioned, his backstory did not have the greatest pacing. So seeing him get more emotional and reactive in the later half of the show felt very sudden. The actor's performance was great and really drew you in! But it's the story's poor handling of his character that made him appear inconsistent.

Music:
I did not pay much attention to the music, but it definitely fit the mood that the drama was going for (relaxing, by the sea, etc) and did well in putting emphasis on the important scenes.

Rewatch Value:
Definitely putting this higher on the list if I ever need something chill, comforting or low commitment since I don't know too many dramas like this. To watch this again would be like visiting old friends. No drama is perfect, but I definitely enjoyed this one!

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Heartwarming show that you only need to watch once

A must watch if you are a fan of Shin Min Ah or/and Kim Seon Ho because they look gorgeous; I have watched the behind the scenes and have been following with new episodes every weekend but I hate to say despite the whole hype of this show, it won't be a show i will choose to rewatch.

PROS:
- Good acting from all the casts in the show
- Chemistry between both lead actor and actress (and VISUALS wow)
- The setting is beautiful and makes u wanna travel there
- Stories from other characters in the show
- Mature conversations with no push pull kind of thing, FL apologise for things she said/done and is not afraid to communicate with ML what she feels
- (For me was a bonus) Shin Min Ah/FL being cute in relationship


CONS:
- ML trauma is quite draggy and keep u in suspense for a long while
- 2nd ML (Ji PD) romance with the female colleague was kind of not needed and came randomly (since he liked FL)
- Personally prefer the chemistry between KSH and SMA offscreen and all their interviews, BTS, etc. MORE THAN the chemistry they have in the show (aka. Dusik and Hyejin). I was quite disappointed that i don't feel the ML's love as much as the FL in the show.. hence putting this point under the con

FINAL VERDICT: worth watching once if you have time

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"Look around yourself closely, and you'll realize that you're surrounded by many precious things" - Ms Gam-ri

Beautiful healing drama-10/10
No wonder why this was so successful.
Everything was perfect! Story, cinematography, cast and OSTs. Chemistry between the leads was stunning. All the couples were great. Yi-jun and Bo-ra were adorable. It was so sweet to see how everyone in the village care for each other, though they themselves were struggling to overcome their painful past. They bicker and gossip a lot, but they do love each other and support each other silently. Just like Hye-jin I too fell in love with Gongjin.
Last 2 episodes were really painful and heart-wrenching, but the sweet moments between the leads and other side couples cover it. Ending was great and funny.
"Romantic Sunday"is my favourite OST.

Refreshing drama. Worth the hype.

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good combination of great cinematography, directing, writing, and acting.

I watched it religiously on Netflix since its pilot episode. But I never expected to love it as much as I did now. hometown cha cha cha is a refreshing and feel-good drama. In this year of pandemic and dark-themed dramas, this drama healed me and became my source of comfort, it’s something to look forward to every weekend after an exhausting week with studies/ work. There was never a dull moment, something is always happening that could either make one laugh, cry, and make hearts flutter to the brim.

I haven’t smiled so much watching two characters fall for each other until dusik and hyejin. The romcom surely didn’t disappoint. It was written with all the clichés but also uniquely flavored. It subverted all those romantic tropes. The chemistry of the leads helped a lot too.

As to the slice of life genre part of the show, each story is enriched to the point that it makes us reflect the values we hold dear in our lives. It’s full of situations where we can relate and learn lessons. The acting of everyone makes one immerse in their stories like the characters in gongjin are so real. One just can’t help but root for everyone’s happiness especially seeing so many good people in the village. Plus, the setting itself (the sea, the nature) is healing in a way. And even though the plot may appear simple, nothing complicated, there’s the mysteries of gongjin which added to how engaging the storyline is.

The whole storyline is written with every detail well-thought of. It shows as each story unfolds every episode. It’s so engrossing that I never would’ve reacted this way if I wasn’t so attached to the drama. I love this drama, thank you for existing hometown cha cha cha.

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Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is such a refreshing drama, with more layers than I expected and a beautiful seaside backdrop. I loved all the supporting characters so much, and honestly liked their storylines more than the romance between the two leads. Hwa Jeong and Yeong Guk's storyline was so memorable, Eun Chul and Mi Seon had such a sweet storyline, Gam Ri and her friends, and the two adorable little kids and their friendship! And yes, I absolutely had SML syndrome because Director Ji was so delightful and charming. I loved his friendship with Doo Shik.

But about Doo Shik and Hye Jin: yes, I know Hye Jin is a prickly sort of character who seems superficial on the outside but is very warm-hearted inside. However, I couldn't help but wonder what if Doo Shik hadn't graduated from such a prestigious university?! Would she have changed her mind so quickly? This drama definitely saves its most dramatic, emotional storyline for the last few episodes... and yet the moment that brought tears to my eyes was actually because of a supporting character.

The cast was excellent and I really thought Kim Seon Ho shined as Doo Shik. One last thing though.. it really makes me roll my eyes when there is an overabundance of moments where it turns out the characters had met in the past. Please.

P.S. I love DOS and their song. Where is the full version!!

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