Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)

A mature, healthy romance to keep you hooked from start to finish

While waiting for new episodes of King the Land I just picked something from my list on Netflix to watch inbetween, and the summary of this one looked interesting, even though it doesn't seem to be as highly hyped and promoted as some of the other K-dramas on Netflix. Don't let that discourage you from watching this. This is definitely a shiny jewel among k-dramas. I've been binging it now over the last week. It has just the right amount of drama and intrigue without most of the toxic/cliché tropes that are so common in kdramas, with a healthy sort of love triangle and a realistic relationship between mature adults. The acting feels natural and genuine, especially between the two main lead actors.

I was absolutely gobsmacked by Kim Seon-ho's performance in this. First drama I've seen him in and yet I'm willing to say he's one of the best Korean actors I've ever seen (and I say that with about 15 years and hundreds of dramas under my belt). I'm sad I haven't discovered him sooner, but now I'll have to catch up one some other of his work.

Leia Mais

Phenomenal acting saved this drama

After reading so many conflicting reviews I wasn’t sure what to expect. Was it touching and sweet? Yes. Was the acting good? I was blown away by the acting skills of this entire cast. Did the main leads have chemistry? Absolutely! So why didn’t I give it a perfect 10? Two reasons: the pacing of the drama and the storyline. (Don’t worry, I’ll be addressing a lot of good stuff about this drama later. But let’s get the bad out of the way first).

First, let’s talk about the pacing. Yes, I know it’s a slice of life drama which is typically slow paced, which I expected. I love slice of life dramas and adored You Are My Glory (my all time favorite slice of life drama). But it wasn’t the slow pacing of the drama that bothered me. It was how the drama started out a little slower than normal, then continued at a very relaxed laidback pace, then suddenly out of nowhere it had major drama and angst in the last few episodes. I felt like I was watching a melodrama. I’m not talking about small misunderstandings or love triangles. It got much deeper and darker. Not only does a beloved character die but someone almost committed suicide. It was such a light, fluffy, relaxing drama that I never expected death and suicide to be the main topics of discussion in those last few episodes. If they had paced things better it would have been a far better drama. It was very slow for a good deal of the drama with very little excitement. Then there was too much excitement and angst crammed into the last few episodes. If the excitement and angst had been sprinkled throughout the drama in little bits it would have been perfect. I appreciated all of the various topics that were touched upon. Like death, mental health issues, the effects of divorce on both parents & children, and alternative lifestyles. But most of these issues were hinted at and slowly built up throughout the drama but didn’t really come to light till the last few episodes. So it seemed like everything happened all at once near the end. If each issue had been dealt with separately throughout the drama it would have been more interesting and more evenly paced.

Now let’s address the main problem of this drama, the storyline. I think the reason it felt slower than normal for so long was because of the basic setting of the story. The female lead is a dentist, which is not a very exciting job. Then the male lead doesn’t really have a career, he just fills in wherever he’s needed all around town. Most of his jobs are uninteresting like waiting tables or making coffee at the local coffee shop. And since slice of life dramas mainly focus on the lead characters daily lives, I found it a bit slow and uninteresting at times, especially when it involved their jobs. And since it was set in a laidback quiet little town in the countryside, there wasn’t much excitement. I normally enjoy a laidback drama, I find them relaxing. But this one was just too calm and sedate for my tastes. If the main leads had more interesting careers or had it been set in a more exciting location, the drama would have been much better.

Now for the good stuff: the acting. The acting of the entire cast was far above average. I’ve watched hundreds of dramas and it’s extremely rare for me to like the entire cast. But they acted their butts off. I think that’s why this drama has such great ratings. These amazing actors took a drama with pacing and storyline issues and elevated it to one of the top dramas of the year. I don’t expect it to get drama of the year, but to have everyone talking about the possibility is a testament to their fine acting.

One of the things I always look for in a drama is character growth. And I was thrilled to see lots of that in this drama. All across the board each and every character grew and changed. They learned from their past mistakes and became better people. I enjoyed watching them become better versions of themselves.

With a romance drama the chemistry between the leads is essential and these leads oozed chemistry. They are both gorgeous and seemed very attracted to each other. There’s lots of kisses, flirting, and hand holding. But I wish there had been a little more skinship. And the kisses were too light and delicate. The sweet delicate kisses are more appropriate for youth dramas. When the actors are more mature then steamy kisses are expected and much more realistic. That being said, I still loved their romance and looked forward to their romantic moments. Just don’t expect a real life romance between the two. The female lead is already taken. (Shout out to Kim Woo Bin.)

My favorite thing about this drama and what I think makes everyone like it so much is that it has some deep underlying messages, such as:

First: don’t judge a book by its cover, the image people portray may not be who they really are.

Second: Burying a pain deep inside will only make the pain worse. Just like an impacted wisdom tooth, if you don’t pull it out it will just hurt more.

Third: No occupation or lifestyle is superior to another.

Fourth: Appreciate the small things in life, they are what brings true happiness, not money or fancy careers.

In conclusion, I now understand why the reviews are so varied. Slice of life dramas are not everyone’s cup of tea. You will only like this if you’re into slice of life dramas that are slower paced. Yes this is slower paced than most slice of life dramas but the acting is phenomenal, the leads have chemistry, the side characters are interesting, there’s lots of character growth, and it teaches some valuable lessons. I probably won’t watch it again because it’s a bit too calm and sedate to bring me back a second time. But I loved how fuzzy and warm it made me feel. The ending is so touching and sweet and not cheesy at all. I would definitely recommend it but only for those who like slower paced slice of life type of dramas.

Leia Mais

This show was definitely out of my comfort zone of k-dramas I usually watch, bur I'm so glad that I gave it a chance.
It made me laugh, cry, get annoyed, be angry. I fell in love with every single one of the characters, and even if I had iffy feelings on one of them, I ended up loving them in the end. It made me wish I lived in a small town where everyone knows and cares for each other. It felt like one huge family, and made me wish I had that close of friends as well.
I loved that every single character mattered and they each had a story and a past that went into an episode. All of their relationships were given so much time, and it helped create a bond with each and every one of them.
If you want a show that can have you laughing, but then also have you crying so hard then def give this show a watch. It's so wholesome, but has moments where you have your head in your hands in embarrassment. You'll be laughing and then crying.
The story flows so well and has many call-backs to things that help give you more answers and insight onto what was happening.
10/10 amazing.

Leia Mais

I liked it!!

I liked it a lot. Especially, since I've been watching too much of suspense, thriller and dark kdramas, this was extremely refreshing and nice. Cute and nice, this drama was really fun. It gave me butterflies in my stomach. Plot wasn't that strong, but you know what? Sometimes the plot doesn't have to be breathtaking, super duper intersting and all to deliver the little messages of life. Those kind of dramas stress me out (although I do enjoy them). I took my time to sit on a cozy couch and watch as much as I was comfortable with. Really enjoyed it. Strongly recommended!

Leia Mais

Heart-warming storyline with realistic romance

I thought the setting in a small-town with "weird side characters" would bore me, but this is now one of my favorite dramas for it's realistic approach to how 2 individuals slowly get to know each other as well as what it takes to settle into a new home/community.

Very heart-warming story with great romantic development between the main couple as well as nuanced side characters with their own backgrounds (i usually think the latter is a waste, but not a scene or line was wasted in this drama!).

Upon first glance, it doesn't seem like Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho have chemistry, but you'll get small glimmers of his growing affection for her, which makes it such a satisfying slow burn. Additionally, they both judge each other off the bat but you'll watch them change their judgment of each other the more they get to know each other.

Both are warm-hearted, talented individuals who keep themselves guarded: one with a demeanor of a high maintenance ice-queen while the other keeps himself busy with work. Little by little, they become vulnerable with each other and realize that you don't have to be "whole" to genuinely be loved.

Additionally, each of the side characters have a story line that makes it easy to understand why they are the way they are.

tldr: If you want a drama that shows the power of a small community uplifting each other and how vulnerability can lead to love, this drama hits those points.

Leia Mais

Absolutely beautiful ❤️✨

I wanted to watch this when it was airing but couldn't. Now that I have watched it, I loved it.
The story is not complex or extraordinary. It's a simple, sweet and fluffy show. It's been days since I genuinely enjoyed any drama but I loved this one.
Location, OST, cinematography, visuals, cast, everything about this show was amazing.
It ended so soon. I don't know when will I get a chance to watch something this good again.
There are only some shows that make your heart warm and giddy and makes you feel good and this show is one of them for me.
Also, I'm officially crushing on Kim Seoh Ho❤️✨

Leia Mais

They did not lie when they promised this drama would be healing

This drama is one of the most refreshing things I've watched in awhile. It's fairly light hearted (though there are episodes that will hurt), and full of good communication and character growth and so many of those lovely things. Every couple is a delight to watch, even the ones that frustrated you in the beginning. The town and the people who live in it genuinely feel real and complex, and they get as much screen time as they deserve.

It's not nothing but fluff, but this is a good thing. This is well written and soothing and I absolutely recommend it to anyone.

Leia Mais

Wholesome drama

While I was watching this show I thought: My mum woud love it! It is just so wholesome and positiv and its bascially stories about normal life. Stories about friends and family, divorce, falling in love, jobs, expectations of society, missunderstandings, raising a family, parenting, getting old, dealing with some kind of trauma etc. It is entertaining and kept me engaged until Episode 14... OK maybe also 15 as I did want to know what happened to Chief Hong... But like many Korean Dramas it just streched out a bit too long and the end there was just too much happy endings so I stopped 10 minutes into Episode 16. By then the story was told and nothing in Episode 16 added to it (apart from making me cringe a bit).
But yes if you are looking for some wholesome story with nice acting and beautiful scenery its the one for you.
My mum would love this and its a shame they didnt synch it in German.

Leia Mais

Just watch it already!!!!

Hometown Cha Cha Cha... the mere feeling of having watched this drama finally makes me feel two things: Happiness & Regret.
Happiness because it's such a beautiful drama with equally beautiful characters portrayed by some of the best actors.
Regret because I left it in my plan to watch list from 2021 until last week, when I realised that my list was getting longer and that I had to start somewhere.
But the fact that I decided to start with HCCC and not another drama makes me happier.

This was without a doubt one of Kim Seon Ho's best portrayals.
Sure, I knew he was good but after watching him play Hong Du Shik, I see him in a different light altogether. (I'm actually scared to watch Start Up now and get my heart broken over Han Ji Pyeong's story. But will that stop from watching it, No, absolutely not!)
Shin Min Ah is great, as always. I haven't watched her previous projects properly but I like her way too much now to not binge watch them.
Hong Du Shik and Yoon Hye Jin are such couple goals (*insert crying face*)
And all the other characters, were wonderful. (I wish I could specifically praise each character, but I don't want this to get longer and vaguer). I cried, laughed and felt all sorts of things with them.

If I were to describe this drama in a word, it would be 'Heart-Warming'.
Like a cup of hot coffee on an icy cold morning. That's what Hometown Cha Cha Cha makes you feel. It makes you happy and satisfied when you're watching it. But that's not the only thing. It leaves you longing for more each time and when you realise all the episodes are over, it leaves you feeling empty.
I mean it when I say re-watching a drama is not my thing but I also mean it genuinely when I say, I will definitely be re-watching this multiple times in the future. This drama is the true meaning of a healing drama. It healed me of my K-drama slump.
(If you've also had it in your PTW list for a long time, it's time you put it under currently watching and eventually under completed. )

To put it briefly, watch Hometown Cha Cha Cha. I promise you it's most definitely worth the time.
Happy Watching! :)

Leia Mais