Cha-cha-cha la Malul Mării (2021)

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.

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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!

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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.

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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❤️✨

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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.

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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.

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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! :)

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LA LA LA LA LA ~ RO~MAN~TIC SUNDAY~~

This show brings fluffy sweet scenes and tropes galore! You'll enjoy it as long as you don't take it too seriously. You'll find corny wrist grabs and stumbles, sudden fevers, childhood connections, and even a white truck of doom. That being said, even hearing the opening notes of "La la la la la Romantic Sundaaaay" instantly brightened up my weekends over the past couple of months. Kim Seon Ho brings all his Good Boy charms here, down to his soft spot for a local halmeoni.

At its best, this show delivered emotional scenes depicting all sorts of interpersonal relationships. Bora's Umma stole the show during the typhoon, and I-Jun stole my heart during his moment in the park. I never expected this show to elicit tears from me, but here we are. Gongjin is a charming small town with a whole slew of excitable busybodies. Whether you find yourself squealing over DOS (dare I say... "In the Soop"?!) or clapping along with the town's festivals or parties, anyone can easily find a home in this little seaside town.

My main gripe with the show comes from the minimal conflict. After roughly the halfway point, the plot dragged for a while. The Ji PD storyline was such a non-issue; I don't know a single person who felt SLS for him. We knew where things were going, and we only had the PROMISE of three mysteries to keep us going: Why did Hwa Jeong and Young Guk divorce? What happened to Dushik during the five years he lived away from Gongjin? Who won the lottery? ...And each of these were resolved right near the end, with just a little bit of time devoted to each. I wish we got more on Dushik especially — his story ultimately made sense, but I wish we got to see him wrestle with these demons more. It almost felt like he fled and compartmentalized everything instead of learning to cope with his demons head-on. I didn't appreciate the resentment from the other parties; their non-apologies fell flat to me. Imagine if he had a scene with Do Ha's father directly!

Instead of dangling these plot points in front of us for episodes without a conclusion, I wish we got there sooner and then spent time exploring the fact that Hye Jin and Dushik came from pretty different worlds. We saw shades of their compromises: Dushik putting in effort with Hye Jin's "friends" on the golf course, and Hye Jin setting other opportunities aside. While that may be realistic, the feminist in me was hoping that SHE hoped for more. Her compromises felt way bigger than his, and I wish we saw a bit more give-and-take, or at least a bit more of the moments that changed their perceptions and goals.

|| SPOILER: I wish that the ending of ep 15 actually set Dushik free, so that he would be energized to try again in Seoul. Practically, it would've made sense to me if their careers flourished there, especially considering the fact that their (future) children would've had more opportunities in the big city — yes, I was hoping for a time-skip that involved kids. Of course, this alternate ending in my mind would've still involved frequent trips to Gongjin. I think I merely wanted Hye Jin and Dushik's lives to open up a bit more as a result of their connection, but I suppose I'll have to recognize that not everyone has such lofty dreams. Some people are content to live in a small town surrounded by a doting found-family, and I suppose I can respect the coziness in that slower walk of life. ||

Still, this show offered some thoughtful messages beneath its bright, shiny exterior. I especially liked the sentiment that small actions can make a world of difference to others, like a simple text message or call during a time of turmoil; the fact that asking for help can actually support the giver more than the recipient (@ both Nam Sook and Dushik); and the powerful role that bystanders can play in someone's life (like helping someone smile in a photo that will eventually mean the world or calling to help a stranger and making sure they are safe before driving away). Sometimes kindness comes from ignoring someone's feelings rather than acknowledging them (@ Cho Hui). But beneath it all, empathy and care for one another is truly what brings a community together.

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A beautiful and warm drama that will definitely bring you joy!

I just loved it. Hometown cha cha cha caught my attention because it seemed as a simple and funny drama, i watched the first episode and right after i knew it was going to be a favourite. I love everything about it either it being the characters, the story or the music everything was top tier to me.
I loved how every character had a story and how that story contributed to the build up of the whole drama. I loved how Hyejin and Dushik learned how to accept and love each other. I loved how Hyejin helped Dushik get over his own struggles and she helped him be happy again.
This whole drama made me cry not only of sadness but mostly of happiness, as i got to see everyone have their story told and as well get their happy ending. I couldn’t stop smiling on the last episode, it was pure happiness to me.. i hope that anyone who watches it will get the feeling of this warm drama. I guess i would say it helped me a lot to unravel my feelings.

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Feel too good you'll dance cha cha cha

At first, I was kinda prejudiced and thought this was overhyped.

I was shocked about the casting and was doubtful as I thought they'll not be able to blend but I was wrong.
The editing was fine except you can notice when they retake some scenes. The shots were also too tight.

Personally, the main leads don't enchant me that much but I can agree they have chemistry.

Even though you're just watching you'll also feel the freshness of Gongjin.

Overall this drama was fantastic and indeed recommended if you want to refresh and feel good.

P.S: You might pass on this one because you'll think that it's just pure Rom-Com but no there's more than that so you better check this drama out.

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