K-Drama recommendations

[boatyardblues]

A K-drama thread was suggested on the Netflix subtitled gems thread so we can discuss in more depth without swamping the other thread. There are a lot of Korean films & boxsets on Netflix and I’m discovering the quality is variable, so I thought this would be a goid place to swap recommendations (and ‘avoids’). So far, I have hugely enjoyed:

• Something in the Rain
• Mr Sunshine (new episodes still dropping weekly)
• Live

Would also love to hear how closely these dramas represent real life in Korea from anyone who has lived there. Its fascinating learning about another culture.

I keep forgetting to take the clocks going back into account. Feeling a bit jaded this morning, but only 5 episodes to go.

I have now seen the opposite of the full sun/rain shower thing, which is snow continuity issues. Plus someone needed to reset the clock in the cybercrimes office.

Snort!!

The clocks going back were useful in giving me that extra hour to stay up & binge. I really enjoyed Because This Is My First Life, more than Discovery of Love / Something In The Rain but not quite up there with Don't Dare To Dream

However I have a big work deadline looming so am trying NOT to start a new full show & just make do with updating the on-air shows I'm watching.

Clenches fists & repeats to self while rocking I will not start a new show, I will not start a new show

OOH OOH!!! They've just added I Hear Your Voice & Pinocchio to Netflix! I saw them on Viki, I loved them both but I Hear Your Voice was soooooo addictive, good job I've already watched it phew!

I know I know I shouldn't even be looking, but it is nearly lunchtime....

Damn you Betty!

I’m struggling a bit with how everyone is putting up with the cold at the mo. Boss man’s pagoda is so cold he makes vapour when he exhales. Same for Healer’s loft. Get some partitions up Healer & spend a bit of that tech budget on underfloor heating. 🙄 He’ll never make it to his tropical island if he dies of hypothermia first.

Am also finding the future mayor’s henchman/right hand man hard to take seriously when he’s shuffling around the mansion in slippers.

Haven't you noticed how Healer wears all his polo necks over his chin?

I also think they film at weird hours as I've noticed the cold breath in many dramas.

Haven't you noticed how Healer wears all his polo necks over his chin?

I think it must be the Korean way. The fading star in Uncontrollably Fond was the same.

As drinking water from mugs at home, rather than glasses, seems to be. It makes sense, I suppose, when small earthenware cups are used for drinking sake etc. Just looks odd to Western eyes. I only use a mug when all the glasses are in the dishwasher.

True about the mugs and henchmen in slippers!
I don’t think Healer pops them on though when he breaks in.

No, I believe Healer wearing his outdoor shoes in other people’s houses is one of the main reasons the authorities are so keen to catch him. It’s the worst kind of behaviour. There was a scene near the end with his booted feet up on his leather sofa in the lift. I can only imagine how shocking this would have seemed to Koran viewers, but excellent shorthand for his lack of social conformity and grace.

I am all done BTW. Cooling my heels this eve. I may even waych something in English to train up the new Netflix profile that DH created to quarantine my viewing preferences. The algorithms on our shared profie are utterly kaput after several months of Kdrama.

Lift = loft.

I tried Sabrina but it was pants after Black & I got bored of her randomly snogging her boyfriend - at 15!! Seemed shocking after so many kdramas.

I watched the first episode of Sabrina recently doing the ironing and thought the same. Fortunately DS2 wanted to watch Das Boot instead as they are doing WW2 at school. Although subtitled, the dialogue is minimal and sparse, so its perfect for ironing.

Das Boot is a classic, well worth a rewatch.

My algorithms are totally skewed. They go Kdrama Kdrama Kdrama The Good Place Kdrama Kdrama Kdrama.

On a somewhat refreshing but middle-aged note DH & I watch Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year together and shout at the dodgy choices the judges make.

My algorithms are totally skewed. They go Kdrama Kdrama Kdrama The Good Place Kdrama Kdrama Kdrama.

Ha ha ha. Same here. Except my new profile just goes Kdrama Kdrama Anime Anime (thanks Ds2!) Kdrama Jdrama Kdrama Kdrama Kdrama Chinese film Kdrama

I watched the first episode of Fantastic this evening. Headline plot: gifted female screenwriter forced by production company to accept crap male actor with whom she has unspecified history for lead role in her new thriller. Masses of antipathy. On the side, we learn she has advanced breast cancer, but no one in her family bothers to ask how she’s doing as they all see her as their cash cow/fixer of problems. One of the friend subplots also seems pretty gloomy. Jury is out on whether I’ll continue. Lead actor is just such a dumb, one-dimensional character, I can’t say I will be convinced by their relationship (assumed plot development). So, I went back watched ep 1 of Don’t Dare to Dream to see it done properly and realised I’ll have to watch the whole thing again because the whole cast are so damned likeable and the script is classy.

Hmm might give Fantastic a miss.

In my efforts to avoid starting a new full series for a week while I have this deadline I have been soothing my ravaged soul by rewatching Don't Dare to Dream & I Hear Your Voice. I looked up other work by the writer and director of DDTD and came across Wok of Love for the writer (jury's out), and Distorted for the director which is on Netflix so may give that a go next week.

I am hugely enjoying The Beauty Inside which is on-air at the moment, and stars Lee Min-Ki (also in Because This Is My First Life ) so last night I watched Spellbound which is an early film of his. It's a charming mash-up of romance, thriller and comedy and feels like a condensed drama. The feel of cinema releases seems to be subtly different to here, more akin to French light films than big-budget heavy hitters we just seem to get.

I started watching DDTD again last night and had to tear myself away from it this morning. It’s reminded me how lovely Hwa-Sin’s best friend is. Am off to research where I can stream Reply 1988 from...

Yeah, but if you absolutely had to choose between Hwa-shin or Jeong-Won surely it would be Hwa-Shin

He is lovely in Chicago Typewriter too, though that is on Viki, although Netflix seems to be getting quite a few series that were on there, maybe to do with Dramafever stopping services.

Reply 1988 not readily available in the UK it seems, although I saw mention of a code to access other Netflix regions in my searching. Having looked at Kyung-Pyo Go’s imdb entry, I know Strongest Deliveryman is on Netflix UK. He’s also in Chicago Typewriter - Betty, was that Netflix or Viki?

Ha. Xposted

Sorry, joining this very late without time to read the whole thread. Are there any of these which would be suitable for a 12 year old? Just starting Korean club at school, so it might help to watch some with subtitles to get used to the sound of it (but the few Korean films I have seen are all extremely unsuitable!!) Thanks

Hi Filmbuff - if you have Netflix, there are lots of 12 rated and teen options. If you find one that looks suitable, ask & it should jog our memories. I’ve watched so many I’ve slightly lost track.