Lovely, pleasant and very exciting. So adorable and cute too.
Such a refreshing take on the "opposites attract" plot. And the actors are really talented. The leads chemistry as the couple is one the most adorable and natural ones I have seen in years.The writing, DOP is breathtaking. Korea sure is beautiful. This series shows not just Seoul but more of Korea and its small town community's beauty and warmth. Loved this.
The love and friendship is small towns is incomparable and precious.
(I think)
If you enjoyed the Reply series, especially Reply 1988, the warmth and the ups and downs of relationships you would really really love Hometown Cha cha cha.
Shin Min-ah is obviously very beautiful, pretty and an amazing actress. What a versatile actress she is! Wow!
Kim Seon ho is totally love love love. Great actor, amazing and talented. He plays the role of Hong Banjang so naturally, it makes me feel Chief Hong is my next door neighbour and not just a character. Bravo!
All the actors are great here. They are all such a great team. Their amazing work shows in the series itself. So very talented all of them.
Looking forward to the last three weeks of Gongjin.
Thank you!
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Best Drama !
This has got to be the best Drama i have watched so far ! This all Emotional roller coaster of a ride was so fun to watch ! The story and the plot was amazing The chemistry between the leads and all the other actors were just amazing !This drama Probably did the best casting ever ! All the actors were brilliant and i could feel as if im also with them ! Loved the vibes scenery and the osts so much ! If you want to know whats the buzz watch this drama and i promise you will be hooked ! Honestly i dont want this free therapy to end but it has sadly but it will always be able to rewatch !
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This review may contain spoilers
I regret watching this just now. ?
This drama is so heartwarming ;) I got a lot of lessons from Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.I love how the drama depicts almost everyone's background, problems, and how they cope or accepts their life and fate. And how their surroundings tried their best to help, every scene felt so warm :3
The OSTs were just *chef's kiss*! If the song Wish didn't went viral as a meme I'd surely cry whenever I heard it lol.
And I loveeeee how this drama explains most women's suffering including how women with same-sex attraction suffers only because they liked someone.
I was kinda bored with how the story went at first because I thought it'd be another cliché drama + it has doctors
p.s I dont like dramas that use doctors/medical backgrounds, I just dont like them personally
so I was kinda bored with it, but when it came to episode 3, I finished the rest within 2 days.
Plus another point why i love this drama so much is how the way how Chief Hong was saved by mrs Gamri, everything felt too way too close to home.
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You’ll like it if you like slice of life.
Beautiful rural beachside scenery. A town of quirky people. Eye candy main leads. Not eye candy supporting leads so the main leads stand out even more. A simple straightforward, predictable romance. A calming atmosphere.It’s a decent slice of life. Just not my cup of tea.
TLDR expanded review;
While "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" boasts beautiful rural beachside scenery, it fails to utilize its stunning backdrop to its full potential. The visuals may be pleasing to the eye, but the overall execution leaves much to be desired.
The town's supposedly quirky inhabitants come across as caricatures rather than fully developed characters, resulting in a lack of depth and genuine connection with the audience. The attempts at humor often fall flat, leaving viewers craving for more meaningful interactions and substantial storytelling.
Although the main leads may be considered eye candy, their attractiveness becomes a distraction, overshadowing any substantive development in their performances. Furthermore, the supporting leads, lacking in physical appeal, are left with shallow and forgettable roles, further emphasizing the imbalanced focus on superficial aesthetics rather than acting prowess.
The romance in "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" follows a predictable and formulaic path, leaving little room for surprises or genuine emotional investment. The simplicity and straightforwardness of the plot make it feel uninspired, lacking the depth and complexity that can make a romance truly compelling.
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How To Seek For Happiness.
I might be the 0.1% of the audience who do not feel as attached to the drama as I should've been. It's not because the drama is bad, no, no. It's one of the most heartwarming productions I've seen. I would suggest Hometown Cha-Cha to anyone looking for an escape from real life, yet deciding to learn something about reality while doing it.☆ If I could summarise it, it would be:
A young dentist Hye-Jin, has a wake up call on the harsh reality of life after moving to the seaside village of Gongjin.
I had a love hate relationship with her character during the first eight episodes that I saw. It's ironic because I'm as closed off as her in real life with very few friends. I related to her woes of moving from a huge city to a little known town where you suddenly discover that many of the items you used to buy are nowhere to be found, people are more nosy and everyone are an overly friendly bunch who inadvertently put you in an uncomfortable position. I loved how she tried to mask her difficulties and attemped to change herself. Her character growth was gradual and a delight to watch.
☆ But, Hye-Jin needed a lot of growth during the first half of the drama. And thankfully, Chief Hong existed to throw a pail of ice cold water on her biased views about people and life. I absolutely hated how she referred to herself as someone on the 'upper elite' despite being clearly in a difficult situation and there were several instances that her own best friend (who grew up in similar conditions as hers) seemed much more perceptive about the people around her. This stark contrast between those two stood out to me and I still do not know if that was purposefully meant to be that way.
☆ I have to mention the one character whom I deeply respect: Chief Hong, the male lead and the love interest to Hye-Jin. While clearly portrayed as empathetic and a jack-of-all trades, two qualities that earn him the nickname "Chief", we see him call out Hye-Jin several times for her prejudices towards the 'common folk' and her stubbornness and refusal to understand the minds and workings of a local close knit community. While I 100% agree with her actions, I admire Chief Hong for his confidence in himself and flr striving to change her views. I wasn't deeply invested in their romance, which is definitely leaning towards the slow burn arc, but I loved how strong their connection was. I loved his openness and the efforts he made to make the people of the small town happy.
☆ The little town has a handful of characters whom we closely follow throughout all the episodes. They are the basement of the drama. We get to know their grievances and secrets, and see them slowly warming up to Hye-Jin in turn. I loved her interactions with them. I admit, I'm eight episodes in, but I'm still unable to recall anyone of their names perfectly. (In my mind some of them: Mr. Americano + Singer and his daughter Ju-Ri; Restaurant Chief who is divorced with a son, the Restaurant Chief's divorced husband who is the head of the small town, The Shop Gang, The Three Grandmas, Pyo Mi-Seong, Police Dude…
Another aspect that I loved about the show was how they stuck true to the genre. It's not just the leads whom we learn in depth about, but the supporting characters as well. I have to say, I enjoyed the bittersweet parts of the drama a lot more than the lighter scenes. I've heard that it gets quite tearful during the last half.
☆ Although I'm sometimes annoyed with Hye-Jin, none of the characters got on my nerves. There were no pressure inducing misunderstandings and most of the arguments would be smoothened out in a calm manner. There was something magical about how the most simple things in life can bring us immense joy and pain. At one point, it made think of quitting everything and living a life like Chief Hong's. Yeah… haha.
☆ The OST was fitting and had a cottage core ambience that perfectly fit Gongjin's theme. The locations were really scenic and watching the blue ocean itself left me really satisfied.
☆ As to why I dropped this. Slice-of-life dramas are not ones that I usually binge. (It took me three months to complete Reply 1988.) But, I also realized that I'm more attached to slice-of-life dramas that I could somehow personally relate to. While this drama has all the right emotions that are meant to tug at our heartstrings, I don't feel the urge or curiosity to know what happens next and did not have a strong attachment to anyone. (This might be because of how disconnected I felt to the daily life of the people. I found their struggles relatable though.) And the hour long episodes of focus on the daily life of the villagers and Hye-Jin pushed my patience. (I was exhausted watching two episodes a day and tend to fast forward a lot.)
Somethings that are meant to happen, would eventually happen. Just like how the drama portrays life as: Unpredictable and sometimes bitter. I can see why so many people love the slice-of-life genre a lot and this one definitely deserves to be among one of the best in that genre.
I bid a hearty farewell to you, Hometown Cha-Cha. Maybe, somewhere in the future, I might pick you up once again to bring me back the calmness and contentment that I felt while I initially watched you.
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In this case this drama is rated so high because people love the setting/ambiance which is a relaxing seaside vibe. It is also kinda charming the way ML loves and befriends little old ladies. (Seriously, his relationship with his little old lady friends is a major part of the show.) Take away those things and this show is mediocre at best. The first episodes were promising with lots of potential but nothing ever really happened and the repetitive formula of nothingness quickly became incredibly boring as the show progressed.
I made it all the way to episode 11 before finally dropping it, and that's only because I watched as it was airing and kept hoping with all the reviews it would get better. The backbone of the show itself was dull, there was no actual plot propelling anything forward except these people living in this town interacting and talking with each other every day. The chemistry between the leads was sort of there in the background but incredibly subtle and slow. I kept hoping for more from the leads relationship but in the end I just couldn't take such a hollow plotline anymore. FL's character was also very "stuck up city girl" and unlikeable, my guess is they were trying to portray her as a city girl out-of-towner who didn't fit into the rural life, but they completely missed the mark and instead she comes across as annoying and pretentious.
If you just want to watch something that gives a unique vibe and you don't mind slowness in your dramas and I mean s l o w, you might be into this.
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A Heartwarming and Delightful Journey
"Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" has truly captured my heart. Initially drawn to the drama because of my favorite unnie, I quickly realized that it offers so much more. The plot is refreshing and unique, taking viewers on a heartwarming journey filled with delightful surprises. The picturesque locations showcased in the drama are a treat for the eyes, adding to the overall charm of the story.One of the standout aspects of "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" is the significant role played by the side characters. They bring a great sense of comedy, injecting laughter and light-hearted moments throughout the series. The story feels grounded and realistic, making it relatable and allowing viewers to fully immerse themselves in the narrative.
My admiration for the unnie grows as the drama progresses. Her character portrays an independent and confident woman who stands on her own, serving as an inspiration to viewers. I find myself drawn to her strength and resilience, which adds depth to the overall storytelling.
The male lead, though initially mysterious, emits a positive vibe that instantly captures the heart. His cute and handsome appearance only adds to his charm. The bickering relationship between the leads is undeniably cute, showcasing their chemistry and making their interactions all the more endearing.
In conclusion, "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" is a heartwarming and delightful drama that takes viewers on a memorable journey. With its unique plot, stunning locations, hilarious side characters, and realistic storytelling, it offers an enjoyable viewing experience. The portrayal of an independent and confident unnie, coupled with the charming and mysterious male lead, adds an extra layer of fascination. If you're seeking a drama that warms the heart, "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" is a must-watch.
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Sweet
Hometown chacha... I must be dumb cause I still cannot connect the relevenace of the title to the drama.Yes it was hometown but is there other interpretation to chacha aside from the dance that is typically danced back and forth? Repeatitive hometown lifestyle....?Anyway, I was so interested in the drama because of the main characters. Oh my Venus is still one of my favorites, and I want redemption for Kim seon ho from Start Up. I am hoping there is another drama lined up for Kim heon so as this drama still kept me wanting.
The drama was sweet, and lots of scenes that made me sigh.There were times though when I thought more depth should have been added. Did others feel that too?
Hometown Chacha has good actors, nice setting, and it is essentially a feel good drama. ?????
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Heartwarming cliches, surprising depth, superb chemistry
I'm going to miss this dimple couple!!Many viewers describe this as a "feel-good" or "healing" drama, and this is exactly the case. Homcha's cozy seaside village setting already lays the foundation of its biggest themes: found family, love in unexpected places, diamond in the rough, overcoming prejudice, forgiveness/acceptance, wholesome bromance, and more. If you can ignore the product placement, the fictional town of Gongjin is a heartwarming place to visit when watching Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.
PROS
❀ Production value was A+ | The thing about romcom tropes is that depending on the way the drama shows them, they can be ridiculously annoying or pleasantly refreshing. Homcha's tropes were the latter for me, and I think it was due to the accumulation of production, acting, and directing. The music was added in expertly (seriously, I associate the best vibes when it comes to the singer going "La-la-la-la-lalalala. romantic Sundayyy" for one of the OSTs), and the cinematography was an added bonus. I really think Homcha's production elevated this romcom for me, despite the well-worn tropes and dialogue.
❀ Literal flirting since day 1 | I saw this Instagram reel with Du-Sik eye-ing Hye-Jin the day they first met, and one of the comments was like "flirting since day 1." This is accurate. Although the characters aren't officially together until around ep 10, their chemistry is off the charts at first meet! I enjoyed their romantic progression from Du-Sik helping Hye-Jin settle into Gongjin as friends/neighbors into a romantic line between similar but different people learning from each other. Du-Sik opens Hye-Jin's eyes to the charm of a small-town life (be patient with her, as her socioeconomic prejudice is pretty conditioned and it takes her a few incidents to get out of that mentality), while Hye-Jin gets to spoil Du-Sik as this king deserves.
As for the characters themselves, they're both lovable. Hye-Jin is the more flawed one (more comments about this in CONS section), but this makes for excellent character development. She starts off as a snobbish dentist with a sense of justice who's trying to adapt to the sleepy seaside village of Gongjin but ends up really comfortable with this village and its people, despite a rocky beginning. She's a character with strong morals, definitely a sense of what's right or wrong, but is also empathetic (especially to children). I love that she's strong both mentally (thinks over her decisions and makes them resolutely) and physically (doesn't take sexual harrassers off lightly).
Du-Sik is the village chief and handyman. He's hilarious, light-hearted, and doesn't take anything too seriously. One of my favorite introductory scenes is when he pulls out all the licenses/certificates he has as a handyman - LMAO! To be honest I thought this guy was way too perfect - in his house, he pretty much made everything. He woodcrafts, fixes up boats, saves people from harm, delegates jobs, makes his own wine and tea, and everything in between. This man is literally self-sufficient. Underneath that playful exterior is a man plagued by nightmares and a deep-set trauma, which this drama later goes into.
As a couple, we have the uptight and snobby dentist x relaxed and easygoing handyman. You KNOW that's a set-up for cute happenstances, lessons learned, and a slight opposites-attract love story. Love this Sikhye couple! ("Sik-hye" combines their names and is also a sweet wine.)
❀ Superb side characters who are holistically explored | Homcha really dives into the side characters' backgrounds, and each one of them faces something that makes you want to cheer for them. (Also, love the 3 mysterious of Gongjin that the script includes haha.) Some of these conflicts include the difficulties of being pregnant/having children, losing a child, raising a child as a single dad, loss of loved ones, misunderstandings in marriage/divorce, failed careers, and more. Some scenes are heartbreaking, others are heartwarming. The common denominator is that the characters grow and come out stronger, emboldened by their new experiences and lessons learned. I'm in love with the imperfectly perfect villagers of Gongjin!
❀ Happy ending for everyone!! | Seriously, I was smiling the whole time while watching ep 16. Every character you root for in Gongjin gets their happy ending. Their stories felt completed and their endings were so satisfying to watch.
CONS
✕ Don't watch if you dislike romcom tropes | Personally, I loved the cliches that the writers of Homcha used, but I know some people may find it boring (including friends of mine). Others, like me, love the way the drama utilizes these cliches to make you fawn over the couple. Some of these cliches include: coincidential childhood/teen meetings between main couple, (slight) love triangle (although the 2ML takes it very well and finds his own romance later on), ML with mysterious/tragic past, getting saved from a stalker/harrasser, surprise angst towards the end, etc. Honestly though, it wasn't too bad and didn't have tropes I dislike like amnesia or forced separation. All the tropes used had feel-good romcom energy.
✕ Inconsistent character development | As much as I loved Du-Sik and think him a perfect ML, he was TOO perfect sometimes... even the 'flaws' about his mysterious past towards the end (ep 14-15 were the angstier ones) didn't really add depth to his character. He was just perfect from start to finish. Which is fine, I guess? But in contrast, Hye-Jin was imperfect and her character showed it well, which led to satisfying character development later on. In this way, the main couple's character writing felt inconsistent and lacking.
✕ Lack of logic when it came to the "incident" revealed in ep 14-15 | Don't know why the drama decided to use this heavily hinted incident as a point of conflict, but the actual reveal was anticlimactic and made me go "wat." The people who were mad/angry/upset were pretty emotional/illogical when it came to those feelings, and the guilt Du-Sik had was unwarranted. Sure, it added dimension to his character (the trauma leading to issues such as PTSD and survivor's guilt), but the set-up was weak. Very weak. I don't know, there was just this big build-up and foreshadowing and for what? It felt like the writers just crammed those characters/their emotions in for the sake of emotional angst to lead to the finale.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 0/10 | I don't remember any that jump out (feel free to point out any). One thing I liked about this drama is that the main couple is pretty open with their communication (ex: Du-Sik calling out Hye-Jin for her superficial attributes, them saying sorry to each other when warranted, etc). The other villagers had more misunderstandings, exacerbated by the hilarious gossip group, but it was all in good fun.
OVERALL
If you love love, family, and reconciliation, then Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is the heartwarming romcom you're looking for! However, if the first couple of episodes don't capture your attention, I feel like the rest of the show won't (and this is what I tell my friends who were bored of it). Otherwise, I was in love with it from ep 1 and understand why people call it a "healing" drama. Only good vibes and energy from Homcha!
(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)
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This review may contain spoilers
A SERVE through and through
At its' core, Hometown Cha Cha Cha is about men being men: doing hard labour and being in love with a sometimes mean woman.When I talk about chemistry between the leads, this is what I mean!
This slice-of-life drama that feels so genuine and realistic that it's hard not to connect with the characters. There's something about Du-sik that I just can't pinpoint, but he's my favorite ML of all dramas. I absolutely loved the progress of their relationship, it was sooo rewarding when they just admitted their love and went from pretending to hate each other to being the most cutesy couple.
HCCC's only flaw is the divorce subplot, which no one watching cared about lol.
Either way, I now have brand new relationship goals (how tacky, I know) in my life.
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A great drama!
It's a really good show overall, it's sometimes fun, poignant, and romantic. Just at the start i was a bit confused i was wondering where it was leading, but then kdrama magic happens and we're swirled with all the characters and this pretty seaside village! I wish there were more series with such a setting. There are few bad things about this show, like other viewers i thought the ending was a bit out of tune, but then the last episode is back to the mood of the show and the conclusion is satisfying. I think they went too dark for no reason, the show was great as light hearted.Anyway, i'm totally down for more series of this type: cosy romcom in a seaside village, Korea is so beautiful and there are plenty different landscapes to discover.
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