Learnings from Hometown Cha Cha

 

Finally had time to take time and watch Hometown Cha Cha. I was too indulge with crime-fighting kdramas that I have forgotten this gem existed. 

It was such a fun ride of all episodes. I was smiling from ear to ear at Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho's chemistry. But what has even amazed me was the chemistry with everyone in Gonjin.

I was laughing at one scene where Hong Du Shik had shown Hye Jin his certificates, I remember my younger self telling my dream employers my skills hahaha ANYHOOOO>...

Hometown Chacha is one of the kdramas I could really add to my list of healing series. It's a kdrama full of quotes and lessons. 

1. Learn to apologize. 

“If you can’t pick up split milk, you should at least apologize to them for spilling the milk, rather than avoid them.” – Hong Du Sik

Apologize by heart. Sometimes as the elders say, it's easier to say sorry but not really mean it. At the same time it's always a huge thought process to admit that we are wrong and we are sorry. As humans, we are not perfect, we commit mistakes, we are sometimes wrong, because in the end we must take responsibility for the actions or words we have said or make. 

2. Life isn't fair for all of us. 

As everyone is taking on different paths; everyone is on a different phase, with different struggles, and different successes. But at the end of the day always choose to be kind, and just like what my mom keeps on saying "always put yourself in someone else shoes". Before you say anything, think about it first. 

3. You are bound to meet unexpected situations in life. 

We cannot control everything. There's this line Hye Jin said “I’m one of those people who plan every second of their lives” this reminded me of my teenage self who had her planner next to her at all times. But despite of planning, a lot of the notes I had wasn't really followed. No matter how hard you try, things wouldn't really be in the place you wanted them to be. I felt Hong Du Sik in these lines, whenever something didn't fit right, I never had the thought process of why. 

Sometimes I didn't like it about my personality, I was always going with the flow. I was making too much notes but ending it will postpone schedules and all. hahahahahah 

But in the end it always give me that will power of not losing hope and always think that "this is not my bus" so I really have to wait. One of the best things in life are the things we never expect, and the things we never expect are also the things that could hurt us. But in the end, we must always welcome the rain even if we'll end up getting drenched. 

4.  Money and Success aren't the only valuable things in life. 

   

My mom kept on reminding me of these words ever since I was growing up. But as a youngster, I used to retaliate with an answer "Pero money can buy dolls! So I am happy". Funny thing is that my parent never spoiled us with material things that whatever we have, learn to appreciate it, accept it from your heart. For me, I was blessed that it wasn't something a big of deal if I can't have anything. But of course when reality strikes, you will be really needing money. But at the end of the end it is money with contentment. 

5. Every day is full of excitement

Have you ever feel that? As I age, I started to act less and less and just thank everything that my eyes are seeing. For years it was all about finding what I wanted, reading a lot of self help books, having real time understandings in  life, etc. But now that I have aged, I feel like despite of what is going on Every day is always a good day :) I know that in the end I will always need this life lessons, but it's also nice to go with the flow once in a while. I can hear my younger self who really loved the word Every Day! She really believed that all every days are magic. 

Weak Hero Class 1

"What is this feeling? I'm getting goosebumps. What's your deal? You're being so soft right now. I mean the way you are looking at me, your behavior, the way you talk, your facial expression... It's making me feel gross."

— Soo-Ho to Shi-Eun

 Weak Hero Class 1 is based on a popular webtoon of the same name; features top-ranking student who seems so weak, but uses what he has learned in his lessons, to fight back against the bullies in his class.

Cast

It's my first time watching Park Ji Hoon, actually seeing him  (despite of tons of time that I saw him on Wanna One, my poor eyes, I'm so focused with Dae Whi and Jisung hahaa). His character portrayal didn't have any lose ends. He gave everything from episode 1 to 8, I really didn't see him as the boy who says Nemaum Suge Chong ja, he was really Shi Eun. I can't help but to feel sadness in his eyes, he really looks like a lead anime character with a tragic past that you wanted to help and you just can't really help but to protect him with all of your heart! 

Cho Hyun Sook, I saw him in Taxi Driver and he was the bully there! This kid has a photogenic face that his character changes the way he looks. I am kinda confused. I was like all throughout the series I was like I have seen this kid somewhere! ahahahha

His character is so angelic in this one. He is really the sunshine of the drama. And we all wanted to have a little spring of sunshine in our lives. He is the epitome of a friend that would always have your back  no matter what. 

Hong Kyung, I remember him in Innocence, (he's sooo goood there!) but before realizing it was him hahaha it took me until the episode he removed his glasses, and all I could say is I knew it! I love him first, he really gave that appeal to the audience that you'll really going to love him. And he did, and he really made a big mess up in his character that gosh the plot twist! From his young childlike look to an a**hole! 

The series starts with our protagonist Yeon Shi Hoon (Park Ji Hoon), that was introduced at Byeoksan High star student. His appearance may tell you his really a studious student, meek and quiet, but out of silence he suddenly proceeds to the back of the class and hit a student with a book. 

13 days prior to the book hitting incident, it showed the timeline of how everything started, and why he did what he did. Shi Eun's character showed that he is really a model student. His good in his studies, watching his mom (whose an academic lecturer) in between breaks and receiving a gold prize in a math competition.  Meanwhile, his excited, happy classmate (whom I thought was a happy child), Jeon Yeoung Bin (Kim Seo Gyeom), who got the bronze award, out of nowhere, he just threw a shoes at Shi Eun and that how everything between them got a bit out of hand. 

One of the best thing about this scene is when he told him to stop, a group of baseball players started looking for Soo-Ho (Choi Hyun Wook). 

I'll stop from here because I don't want to spoil anything for you guys. 

Verdict:

I have always loved school dramas, I feel like I am too old for school dramas but school dramas have a lot of learnings and realizations that sometimes I wish I have watched when I was younger. 

But since Weak Hero Class 1 has a rating of 18+ for violence and profanity, I guess this won't hit the watch list parents want their children to see, and it's eye-opening to watch it now that I am older. 

The main core of Weak Hero Class 1 is friendship, school violence, and bullying. And according to International Statistics (stopbullying.gov, Sept 2021), one-third of the globe's youth is bullied. In the Philippines, in the year 2018, 6 out of 10 Filipino students are bullied regularly, 

School violence is not a new theme for a K-drama. But instead, it diligently followed the characters' struggles by focusing reasons of the lasting effects of violence on a victim. Students, victims, experiencing this types of abuse may struggle not only outside the school walls but also outside their homes. 

Through the course of the series, we see each main character grow particularly Shi Eun, Soo Hoo, and Beom Seok, but we also have witnessed how their friendship grows and lasts. I must say that since Weak Hero Class 1 streams through the comforts of our home, I was shocked by the gritty, intense, dark imagery of violence that was captured through the camera lens. From its cinematography to the change of visual colors, to the emphasis on emotions of happiness, pain, and friendship, the series really showed moments per moment of guilt, triumphs win, and sanctuary, specifically the "hope" they give to one another. 

(SPOILERS AHEAD and my own point of view) 

The drama is rich with roller coaster emotions that you'll be wanting to finish the next episode. There's angst, there's friendship, there's betrayal, there's love, excitement and the cast had perfectly delivered everything that you couldn't ask for more. 

1. Social Media (it was slightly focused on Instagram follows) = COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY!

I just really felt bad that Beom Seok's approach to the friendship he built with Soo Hoo and Shi Eun was based on an Instagram follow. I just felt that this had something that could be talked about, but I also couldn't blame what's going through his life, I feel like this scene was a little touch on how social media could mess up with our brains. Who followed who, whose friends with who. But honestly speaking, social media could really mess up a friendship (because misunderstanding could follow). There will be some point where "why aren't you following me?" or why aren't we friends on FB. But at the end of the day, it is something to be talked about. No problem could be fixed without communication. 

2. When the weak fight back

As I was watching the first episode, without watching the trailer nor reading the manhwa or summary, it already gave me the gist of our weak hero. My heart was bouncing with glee when he had fought back but much to my amusement, I was shocked by how brutally bloody that scene was (if you guys know what I mean, and if you are going to watch it). I may say this kid may look weak but he is not! Looks are really deceiving. 

The fun thing about his character is he fights back with the knowledge he learned from books, basically science, and it's all gravitational forces and yes I have understand you Isaace Newton!

But as the weak fights back , there's also this connotation in the series which I could say "kapag tahimik nasa loob ang kulo", it's a Filipino thing when someone's quiet, there's something boiling from within them. As for Shi Eun, I couldn't blame him for fighting back, he warned them so many times, and he had enough. I thought as soon as the fight ends he will be the one being "suspended" or kick-out in school. Good thing that the school, his teacher has taken his side. 

3. Not all homes are safe. (What happens in the corners of our homes is not what we think it is.)

They say that our home is our sanctuary, our safe haven, a place where we could be whoever we want to be without the judgment of the world. But what if you are broken inside your own safe haven, that what seems to be a sanctuary is a place where you are unsafe, being scrutinized and judged. 

As we dwell into each character's progress, we found out that Shi Eun's family seems to be dismantled (his dad is an athlete or a coach, while his mom is a lecturer or a teacher that has videos online), and despite his dad being quite present, the echoes of silence that lingers in his home is deafening. And the only thing he could be good at is his grades. 

On the other hand, Beom Seok had it worst. Imagine being adopted and all you wish was a family that could care and love you like their own is far more worst than you could ever imagine. I am so angry watching his dad beat him, (I remember Nam Kyu Man in Remember; those beating gave me chills and anger) I feel his pain;. His actions may seem relevant due to what he is suffering at home, but at the end of the day, it's his choice to do good, and his choice to do bad. His really a good friend, really, it's just that his character was far way more than just a good friend. "Sayang" 

4. Family can be our friends = Surround yourself with good People.

As the series centers around friendship, we can basically see the love of these kids for one another, from forgiveness to excitement, to protection, to an unforgettable brotherhood. They say that friends are also our soulmates, and this series had shown us that in between all our fights and struggles friendship is remedies for broken souls. 

5. A little Kindness goes a long way

If it wasn't for Soo-ho's kindness to Shihoon and Beom Suk wouldn't experience having the fun of being with friends. Soo ho's kindness extended to Shi hoon that he would like to understand what's is going on in his life, and he would want to understand his feelings. But at the end of the day despite of the kindness the two friends showered Beom Suk, it's his prerogative (and the way he sees his friendship from the two of them). 

Overall, I really love the series! 1000/10!!!!