If you are looking for an extraordinary story with constant twists, highs and lows, then this is not the right K-drama for you. But yes, if you are looking for a no-stress show, something that you can binge-watch while binge-eating and lazing around, then Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is your go-to-series.
Korean drama, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is very typical when it comes to its story. A love story that unfolds in the hometown of the lead pair, Gongjin. While Hye-jin is a dentist who opens her clinic in Gongjin after losing her job in Seoul, Du-sik, also known as Chief Hong, has willingly taken up the role of the village’s helper after quitting his corporate job. Though he takes up odd jobs, this orphan is family for the entire village. The opposite is equally true. Gongjin becomes Du-sik’s life after he returns to the town to erase the memories of his traumatic past.
On the other hand, there is Hye-jin who even after having a family feels alone as her father couldn’t be himself after her mother’s death. As he regains his senses, he remarries while Hye-jin, though cordial with her step-mother, could accept her as family. When the two bruised souls meet, sparks fly – not immediately, but as time passes, they fall head over heels in love with each other. As their bond deepens, events unfold in a way that they heal the trauma they have been individually carrying.
If you look at the story of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, it’s no different than our TV serials. Stretched unnecessarily! But here’s the catch… It is not a TV series where the dead come back to life or a vamp is out there to destroy the peace of this beautiful small town. No, the writers find sane twists and turns to keep you hooked. There will be places where you get bored but I think this is also because there is always a huge difference between watching a show in its original language and watching its dubbed version. Some things might not look or sound as fit in the translated version as they will in its original version.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha covers up for every time you thought it wasn’t going anywhere in the last two episodes. Here is where the trauma comes to the surface and Du-sik is forced to look it into the eye. As he gets the much-needed support from Hye-jin and all the residents of Gongjin, he finally finds the courage and strength to tell the truth about where he had disappeared a few years ago and why he was such a mess when he returned to the town. What breaks your heart is right when he comes out of one trauma, he faces another. The good news is only to heal himself forever.
These last two episodes are where you will either fall in love with Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha or simply not like it at all because they jam-packed everything in these episodes. Having said that, you won’t lose anything if you skip this show but as I said earlier, if you have to simply sit back and enjoy a Korean Drama while you have fun with friends and family, this can be your show.
Just a word of caution! This K-Drama, like Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a 16-episode show where each episode is about one hour twenty minutes long. So, one episode every day after a long, hectic day at work would help you destress and refresh your mind.
Available in: Korean and English
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Streaming On: Netflix