Thoughts on Hometown Cha Cha Cha Episodes 9 and 10 + Update

Hey, everyone! I'm sorry for the lack of posts and reviews. I've been sick the last two weeks and doing anything just felt like a chore. Not only was I not able to go to work (just so sick, thank goodness it wasn't COVID), I also didn't feel like watching dramas. Reviewing episodes and recording videos were too burdensome. I didn't have the motivation to do them. While typing this, I still haven't seen the latest episode of Hometown Cha Cha. Sigh.

I did watch up to Episode 12 though. Usually, I write down notes while watching so I could remember what I wanted to talk about for the review later on. However, I couldn't do that for Episodes 11 and 12 because I was so sick to even get out of bed. I watched the episodes in bed, not thinking much, and wow, I enjoyed them so much! That's why I'm thinking I'm probably too stressed out about having to record video reviews. Either that or I'm just so lacking motivation. Weather's been really gloomy here as the season changed to fall. That probably contributed to all of this.

Anyway, I still want to finish HomCha so I'll just be typing my thoughts here.

In my last review, I said I jumped ships and I prefer Seong-hyun over Doo-shik. I guess that really clouded my judgement while watching Episode 9. lol It was frustrating because I wished it was Seong-hyun pretending to be Hye-jin's boyfriend instead. I mean, Seong-hyun was so nice, polite, and pleasant. Doo-shik's banmal philosophy really ticked me off during this episode because I didn't think it was right to talk to someone way older who he's meeting for the first time that way. Thank goodness Dad called him out in the end! I understand his philosophy but it was borderline rude how he kept using banmal to Hye-jin's parents. It was okay when he does it to villagers since he's known them his whole life or to people closer to him in age. Also, he was talking to his doctor formally so he's capable of doing that to other people. Why was he still talking to Hye-jin's parents like that? Loophole? Hmmm.

The whole fake dating was hilarious to watch though! It was awkward but funny at the same time. The whole village was in on the secret and I love how they just go for it. It's nice to see Hye-jin and Mi-seon really be a part of the community like this. Also, Hye-jin is now running while wearing less revealing clothes. People probably won't say anything now even if she wears her usual outfit but she adjusts her wardrobe anyway. It's a small detail but I'm grateful they added it.

The family go around the neighborhood like Hye-jin is introducing her new life to them. The more they spend time together, the more Dad starts to like Doo-shik as well. Maybe Doo-shik was feeling the same because he confessed to him later that he's not really Hye-jin's boyfriend. Even Dad said "But it could be you." and there's really no other better confirmation from the universe than that. The only problem is that Dad wishes that Hye-jin could have a big family because she didn't have one growing up. Doo-shik is alone and that's an issue to him. To be honest, the whole Gongjin is like family to Hye-jin so Dad's wish is technically a reality now.

I also love how Stepmom is a very nice person. It must have been hard getting married into this family where everyone's broken when she got there. Hye-jin even ran away from home when she started dating her dad. Their relationship is still a little bit awkward but it's nice to see both of them working to get closer to each other. Stepmom is also not afraid to speak her mind in front of Hye-jin. She's not condescending, just honest. I love her! Stepmoms in kdramas are usually awful so having a loving one here is a welcome surprise.

It got confirmed in this episode through a flashback that my boy Seong-hyun tried to confess to Hye-jin back then. Unfortunately, she was already dating scumbag ex even before my boy could say anything. It really broke me when he said "I can't be late again" because dang, the moment he said it, I knew and he probably knew he's already late. I was yelling at my screen as he drives to Seoul, talking to Hye-jin on the phone about wanting to meet later. Like dude! Do it now! He even did a U-turn!!! A FREAKING U-TURN! But he was already late. Doo-shik already got the lightbulb changed in front of her house. Damn it!

Episode 10

Hye-jin's house got infiltrated by resident pervert but Doo-shik came to her rescue. At this point, they both should know that they really like each other. Doo-shik got stabbed while trying to protect her! This sent them both to the hospital and my boy Seong-hyun saw firsthand how late he actually is. He did get there but you can't really go against something the universe has put together.

Because Hye-jin's house is literally a crime scene, they decided that she'll sleepover at Doo-shik's. Still shocked from what happened, Hye-jin couldn't sleep so they had a heart-to-heart talk instead. Doo-shik opened up about his grandfather and how he thinks that he died because of him. He was out watching the World Cup when his grandpa collapsed due to a heart attack. If he didn't go out and just stayed at home, would his grandpa survive? Hye-jin said that what ifs are meaningless and that it's not Hong Banjang's fault. That probably meant a lot to him considering how all he heard growing up was that he brings death to people around him. Seriously though, we can blame ourselves for things we feel guilty about but sometimes, things just happen and it's not really on us. Hye-jin's line reminded me of Six Flying Dragons where Yeon-hee tells Ddang-sae that it's not his fault. It's just how the world works. He says it later on to another character to comfort her like how it comforted him all these years. Okay, I'm crying now. Watch Six Flying Dragons, y'all.

Doo-shik mentioned that today is his grandpa's death anniversary and that Hye-jin is the second person he's opened up to about this. I'm thinking the first one is his best friend (this is headcanon) who died. Last episode, we were shown through the epilogue that Doo-shik attended a funeral of someone who seems very close to him. It was a man and Doo-shik was devastated. It seems to be the root of his nightmares and why he's seeing a psychologist for. I think the guy was his best friend and he died due to something Doo-shik has done or has not done. He's still thinking it's his fault, just like how his grandpa's death was because of him.

Anyway, I'm really glad Doo-shik has the whole village as his family. They were so sweet to bring him food to put on his grandpa's memorial table. They all came with something and pretended like those were just leftovers or things they picked up from the street. So sweet! They didn't want to burden him but they still wanted to help. Hye-jin stayed to help out and ended up greeting Doo-shik's grandpa as well. She ate with him after and even peeled crabs for him. She slips and says "It takes a lot of love for someone to do this for someone else." No truer words had been said! Crabs are tasty but they are really bothersome to peel. Even my parents won't peel it for me. I've never peeled them for anyone else before. May a Doo-shik come into my life and maybe I'll want to peel crabs to feed him.

Seong-hyun, not wanting to lose his chance again, stayed in Gongjin to confess his feelings for Hye-jin. This was heartbreaking. We as viewers know where this is going so it was hard to see him be nervous and try to get the words out. He even had to psyche himself that this is just a show. He asked Hye-jin to give him his cue and when he was done, he's the one who yelled "Cut!" Ah my poor boy Seong-hyun. It's just not meant for you. Hye-jin couldn't say anything to him at that moment. She obviously likes him enough to feel bad having to reject him but not to the extent she'll say yes.

With both Hye-jin and Mi-seon feeling down, they decided to go to Seoul for a girls weekend. However, Hye-jin obviously wasn't herself. Instead of shopping for herself, she keeps on looking at men's clothes. I totally feel for her here. She's just totally into Doo-shik. It's insane. Mi-seon wins best friend of the year as she let Hye-jin go back to Gongjin despite not having a ride for herself. We all need a Mi-seon in lour lives. I just love how Hye-jin got the realization that she IS in love with Doo-shik. It was such a beautiful moment of her getting drenched from the rain, understanding exactly what she's feeling.

The episode ended with Hye-jin confessing her feelings for Doo-shik and him reciprocating it. They kiss!

I'm so happy for these two! They finally succumbed to the feelings! It's nice to see them meeting each other's families and opening up more before they got together. I'm just worried because we still have so many episodes left and things can get so wrong still. We still don't know what exactly happened to Doo-shik and the implications of his trauma.

Seong-hyun really broke me during these episodes though. I mean, we've all been there. Going for someone but always a step late. I'm really happy for Hye-jin and Doo-shik but I can't help to sympathize for my boy here. I'm hoping for happy days ahead!