Every week we are introduced to additional charming points of the hero of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. So, yes, we’re all forgiven to go to the corner and be Chief Hong’s fangirls.
The series has been conditioning lady viewers to change their perspective to their yardstick in choosing a man. Aside from being a gentleman and an adorable drinking buddy, he throws relevant life pep talks and effortlessly solves Math problems. He can cook and take pictures. What more can we ask for?
abbyinhallyuland watched Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha on Netflix
Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Finale Episode + Review |
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha Episode 5 Key Moments
“Did something happen yesterday?”
After a night of drinking, Hye-jin wakes up to the sight of Chief Hong sleeping soundly beside her. Carefully sneaking out of his place, she was not aware how small a small town could be when the news of her sighting early in the morning hits Gongjin’s village grapevine.
When Du-sik wakes up, he deduced Hye-jin rushed to leave when he found her umbrella. He then proceeds to make hangover soup. Back at Hye-jin’s place, the aftermath of too much liquor hit her.
Just then, the memories from last night resurface in her thoughts. Calling Chief Hong sweetly as “Du-sik oppa” while drunkenly bragging she knows how to do pole dance, she surely had a blast playing like a child in the wee hours of the night.
“Every single girl in Gongjin had a crush on him at least once.”
Gongjin townspeople are all excited for the live romantic drama starring their new dentist and reliable handyman. When they convene at a spot and see Du-sik calling out Hye-jin for a breakfast, they follow and adorably try to eavesdrop in a pack.
Getting straight to the point, Hye-jin asked about what happened. She confirms the part she remembered with his words and gets the missing details of why she ended back at his place.
The excited eavesdroppers notice no chemistry between the two just as Hye-jin gets annoyed at how Du-sik ruined her plan of presenting a nonchalant attitude to their sleepover. Continuing the lively morning, the townspeople gather to chat about who’s better between Du-sik and Hye-jin. Casting their arguments, it was a tough call to choose.
“Chief Hong, do you like me?”
After breakfast, Du-sik invites Hye-jin to the cafe for a mean hangover coffee that he can concoct. When she responds with a question if he likes her, he responds not to throw jokes and take coffee invitation as “I like you”.
Asserting her train of thoughts of how he seems to be always there when she needs help, Du-sik clarifies how everything is coincidental. She explains she just wants to avoid disaster and how their “social position” does not warrant them to be together anyway. He replies how he pities her more than himself, he advises her to not live such a calculating life.
At the clinic, Hye-jin shares her thoughts with Mi-seon about how she’s too good for him. Armed with the gossip from the villagers, Miseon tells her friend that everyone thinks she’s luckier to have Du-sik. Pouting at the villagers’ biased opinion, she draws her “I’m a doctor” card only to be surprised when she learned Du-sik graduated from Seoul National University.
Hye-jin listens to Du-sik’s brilliant growing-up years’ stories as a model student, Math olympiad champion, and fighting champion. Mi-seon also shares how Du-sik’s five years of absence is one of the three greatest mysteries of Gongjin. Wanting to hear Mi-seon’s opinion, Hye-jin gets make-sense advice that love should not be about weighing things, but what’s inside the heart.
“It’s okay to get lost or take the long route every now and then. Every time that happened, life took me on an interesting ride.”
It’s Du-sik’s hobby day! Donning a cute checkered shirt, he takes pictures of the people and scenes at Gongjin. While doing so, he chances upon Ji Sung-hyun (Lee Sang Yi), a variety show producer who almost fell to the waters while also being immersed in taking pictures.
Seeing Du-sik’s limited edition camera, he pleads to experience taking shots offering his as well to try. Sharing the same interest, they easily hit it off. When Sung-hyun lost direction to his next destination, kind Du-sik ends up becoming his inadvertent tour guide to the place he wants to visit.
Sung-hyun reveals how he stumbled on the beautiful town of Gongjin when it was not his destination. Extending his kindness, Du-sik brings Sung-hyun to Hwajeong’s restaurant to eat. Approving almost all of the dishes he served, they reach an impasse to a dish that was served raw which Sung-hyun suggested needing fermentation for the flavor to come out.
A battle of opinions between a foodie and a man raised by the sea erupted and Sung-hyun offers to call Baek Jong Won to decide. However, the famed chef is unreachable making Du-sik take Sung-hyun as a fraud.
“Let me make this clear. I didn’t come here because I missed you. I just accepted a part-time job. That’s all.”
Back at her place, Hye-jin tries to focus on meditating to no avail. Her thoughts about Du-sik and her being stuck up nags incessantly. The next day, she meets Du-sik as the substitute Mi-seon arranged for her quick teaching stint at school.
At the school, Hwajeong struts confidently with a dolled-up face and chic clothing just as her ex-husband tries to engage in a conversation with his first love and his son’s homeroom teacher.
Knowing her previous attitude was not fair to Du-sik, she opts to be silent. But trust Du-sik to bring out her mistake and casually reckons how his charitable act was misunderstood.
Drawing a line, he declares he is only coming with her for the temporary job, nothing more nothing less. It made Hye-jin cutely annoyed as he plans to lengthen her annoyance in the coming days. Wondering how Du-sik can help him, she asks if he also has a dental license, but he replies with a meaningful smile.
It turns out that he has a recreational license which made Hye-jin’s visit lively, fully enjoyed by the young students. Adorably, the news of the Dusik-Hyejin couple also reached Gongjin elementary school. That when Hye-jin asked the students if they have questions, they transform into mini reporters bombarding them with are-you-dating questions.
Saved by the bell, the two escape the cute inquisition. Staring at the love triangle erupting at the back of the room, they gossip silently but stops when Hwa-jeong flinches in pain. After being checked by Hye-jin she was advised to visit the clinic for further evaluation.
“Life is not a mathematical equation. It doesn’t have a clear answer. There’s no right answer either. You’re just given a problem, and it’s up to you how you solve it.”
After their business at the school, Du-sik demands payment, but changes to him being fed since Hye-jin does not have cash with her. They go to a different town to eat to avoid the prying eyes of the villagers.
She takes the opportunity to apologize for her being pompous about her “social position” talk. But he dismisses it since everyone is entitled to his own opinion. Confirming he studied at Seoul National University, Hye-jin gives him a pop quiz while they wait for the food.
Solving all the questions without much effort, Hye-jin is frustrated why Du-sik is living a life that is not according to his real intellect and worth. Qualifying how people should live based on their input, Hye-jin blabs about her realistic view that money and success are life’s output.
He chides her on being narrow-minded and lectures on how happiness, contentment, world peace and love are also qualified output. When he goes for a long “life is beautiful” lecture, she stops him and accepts his challenge to answer the Math pop quiz.
Boasting her Math ability, she cooly struggles. Thankfully, the food arrives and saves her from humiliation.
“You’re bound to meet unexpected situations in life. Even if you use an umbrella, you’ll end up getting drenched.”
Pointing out the sauce stain on Du-sik’s lips, Hye-jin tries to wipe it when he can’t get the right position. Evading her touch, they head out full and happy but sees an unexpected rain.
Before she can open her umbrella, Du-sik takes her hand and drags her to the pouring rain to give another meaningful life lesson. That she should remain unwavering when life is not going her way.
Loosening up, the two play on the water with dimpled smiles on their faces while the rain pours. Calling a truce, she listens to his bragging on how getting wet in the rain is not a bad idea. When she responds to her probable cold coming up, he places his hand to check her forehead.
It made Hye-jin remember how he also placed both his hands on her cheeks when she was feeling feverish the other night. She also apparently followed her impulse and planted a fleeting kiss on his lips.
Looking straight into his eyes, she asked again if there’s nothing that happened that night and gets a reply from Du-sik that nothing happened.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha Episode 5 Musings
We sure can add another Gongjin secret which is why Du-sik refuses to come clean about the kiss he received from Hye-jin in the fifth episode of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. This chapter also opens paths to future episodes of the story like Sung-hyun’s variety show project and answers to Du-sik’s five-year hiatus. We also get a glimpse of his psychiatric treatment about his nightmares.
A glimpse of Hyejins first heartbreak probably causing her man-she-can-date standard will also be opened as it appears Sung-hyun is an old acquaintance. One striking point that made the series shine is its focus to deliver the friendship stage between the lead pair. It does not rush the romantic development, yet it keeps the viewers’ attention locked to anticipate the inevitable romance.
Along the way, we can foresee that it will not be an easy thought decision for the lead pair to be together since they have excess emotional baggage yet to be confronted. But the great thing about them is they always communicate their thoughts.
Inhabited by sprightly villagers, the quaint town of Gongjin really takes us on a refreshing virtual weekly travel. Gravitating to the side stories is easy because of the drama’s consoling vibe.
Expecting progress to Mis-seon’s quirky adoration to Eun-cheol and the love triangle involving I-jun’s parents and teacher is also in full swing.
Definitely, we also can’t wait for Du-sik and Hye-jin to acknowledge that maybe fate has really brought them together. Dismissing that idea is also futile since they complement each other’s weaknesses as well as small happiness.
Cap off your weekend nights with the captivating story of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha only on Netflix!
Photos: tvN
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