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.

Ah, a little over half way? Ever get that feeling with a really good drama that you're not quite ready to let go of it, and you're sort of dreading the end while desperate to get there?

The Dong-Mae love thang is not the main story of Dr Romantic, I should point out. In fact you have to wait a jolly long time in between romantic interludes in spite of the title and he isn't even the title character. I kind of miss the long hair & robes but he's still well-fit. Just more knitwear. It's a good series.

I’ve got to hand it to the Koreans. I’ve never seen good knitwear look sexier, especially when teamed with a nicely tailored 3/4 length coat. They seem to do really good winter clothing - warm, utilitarian and yet edgy at the same time.

Yes I’ve yet to see someone looking slightly tubby in a puffa jacket or wearing an M&S v-neck that’s gone bobbly in the wash.

I’ve got past the eoisode Mr Cha in cop mode & I concur - hawt! His best outfit and hair so far. Two more to go...

ePisode WITH...

I have finished I Hear Your Voice, which ended up being rather lovely.

Just tried an episode of Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories which show promise. Was interested to watch the chef making his ramen. Turns out I have been doing it slightly wrong, but almost right. I love the focus on cooking and eating - I am learning a lot.

Oh no, that was meant to be a

I did love the ending to i Hear Your Voice , I thought it was both sweet & realistic with her uncertainties. Interestingly, I preferred the subs on Viki to Netflix, they were a bit more sensitive & colloquial somehow.

Big work do tonight signalled end of deadline so am starting on Coffee Prince which apparently is a classic.

Did you ever see Tampopo? Classic film about Japanese noodle bar. Am now craving ramen after a wine fuelled works do.

Evening Betty!

Am turning in, but made a start on Tomorrow’s Cantabile after trying the first 10 mins of about 6 other things to suss out the vibe. Classic opposites attract set up. Both the leads are oddballs. The elite music school set-up and professional jealousies between the professors look promising. CEO chap off Don’t Dare to Dream has even popped up as v talented but undisciplined & boneheaded (in Bill & Ted mould) violinist. I think he has potential to be an annoying character and I’m starting to think him not saying much and emoting prettily on DDTD might be the extent of his acting range. However, its enough that my interest is piqued by the leads.

I’m afraid I was also deeply shallow and binned anything where the leads didn’t do it for me.

Oh I agree it's hard to get really wrapped up in a drama if you don't care about the leads.
Coffee Prince is ok, pretty good but not going to be one of my stand-out favourites.
The Howling film has been recommended, sounds a bit scary though!

Tomorrow’s Cantabile is pretty engaging and enjoyable. I don’t love it, but I like it well enough to stick with it. DDTD CEO guy has settled down and is becoming a more likeable character (dodgy hairdo aside). The campus/location it is filmed at is rather fabulous architecture- & landscaping-wise and the autumn colours c. Episode 6 are terrific. I have to close my eyes when the dodgy instrumental miming starts, especially the violinists, but I’m loving all the incidental classical music. Whoever the 2 doubles are for the piano solos and duets, they are doing a wonderful job. There is plenty to enjoy.

Two thoughts this Friday:

There seems to an over-representationof perfectly lovely, often talented and highly functional women throwing themselves at unavailable or objectionable men in Kdrama. I wish they could see what we see. The best thing about DDTD was when Na-Ri got more of a spine & gave himself as good as she got, but it was a while coming.

I told DH the other night that my Kdrama addiction is providing a combination of salve for midlife ennui/crisis and a safe, shiny place to hide out until Brexit and Trump blows over. It is very similar to a v v difficult period in my teens when I read a LOT of sci-fi and fantasy. I had been slightly berating myself for my single-mindedness, but I’ve decided its a rational response to all the shit going on in the outside world. I don’t want grimy UK/US/Nordic crime dramas with dismembered and trafficked women and arsehole men all over the place. A twenty-four hour extended rom com is exactly what I need right now.

안녕 everyone, can I join the club! As my username attests I am kpop drama obsessed and have been learning Korean for about 5 months. 저는 한국어를 다섯 달 동안 공부했어요.

I have been KDrama obsessed for a few years. I mostly watch it on Viki (the very cheap subscription is worth it!!) and Netflix. Most of my favourite ones haven’t been mentioned yet!! So can I recommend:

Secret Garden - Rich arrogant Chaebol meets humble stunt woman, body swap shenanigans ensue! Stars Hyun Bin and the best character is Oska, the 2ML - an aging Kpop idol. Worth it for him alone. He’s also in Shopping King Louis as the 2ML manager.

She Was Pretty - Beautiful and kind girl has overweight and bullied male best friend who is her first love. They go their separate ways and grow up - she grows up to be unattractive (but not really) while he turns stunning (Park Seo Joon, the lead in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim). They arrange to meet up but when she sees how hot he is now she loses her nerve. This has Choi Siwon of Super Junior in it and he absolutely steals the show!

I Am Not A Robot - OMG this broke me! Brilliant.

Manhole - Fantastic. A guy who’s A bit of a loser is devastated that his true love is about to marry another guy, but he gets given access to a manhole that lets him go back in time for a day to try and change things.

My Fair Lady Gong Shim - Worth it just for Namgoong Min

Other notable ones:
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho/ 9-tailed Fox
Fight for my way
Marriage not dating
Legend of the Blue Sea
Love Rain
Chief Kim (not a romantic one but a drama comedy starring Namgoong Min again as a hilarious Wrong ‘un trying to do good.
What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim

And I adore Korean Odyssey so whoever dissed it had better take that back!!

Not so good:
The Undateables (feel personally let down by that!)
Couldn’t get in with That’s Ok, it’s Love
Meloholic

Does anyone else watch Men on a Mission aka Knowing Bros aka Ask Us Anything on Netflix? It’s a popular variety show where the set up is 7 celebrities (the regular hosts) are students in a school and each week a boy/ girl group or actors come to join the school. It’s hilarious and has really introduced me to a lot about Korean pop culture. There’s:

Kang Ho Dong - an ex wrestler who is now one of Korea’s biggest variety hosts (there’s a lot of rivalry between him and Jae Suk from Running Man). Pompous and with a reputation for being fierce he also has a good heart and is very professional. Heechul and Kyung Hoon openly tease him and talk down to him, which shocks a lot of guests.
Jang Seo Joon - an ex basketball player - he’s huge. Very famous and usually teased for being divorced, wealthy and owning a building.
Lee Seo Geun - Ho Dong’s comedy partner, absolutely hilarious and I love him. Got caught up in a gambling scandal some years ago that the others tease him about.
Lee Sangmin - Ex lead of reggae group Roo’Ra. Famous for getting massively in debt and becoming bankrupt - he’s worked hard to overcome this, though gets teased a lot for it. Mumbles a lot. I love him.
Min Kyung Hoon - lead singer of Buzz, really funny, filthy minded and childish sense of humour. Has a father-son relationship with Jang Hoon, openly defies Ho Dong and has a bromance with Heechul.
Heechul - Singer from Super Junior. Crazy, Hilarios, unpredictable, a complete free spirit. I love him.

You gotta watch it!

I don’t want grimy UK/US/Nordic crime dramas with dismembered and trafficked women and arsehole men all over the place. A twenty-four hour extended rom com is exactly what I need right now.

Absolutely! This resonates with me too, and quite frankly Kdrama & wine put me in the right frame of mind to get on with everything else.

HeechulOppa hellooo!!

Thank you for some new suggestions! I've also got the cheap Viki subscription it's well worth it! From your list:

Secret Garden - I've watched bits of this (with Lee Jong Suk) & liked it

She Was Pretty - new to me will watch as like the guy from Secretary Kim

I Am Not A Robot - Really enjoyed this!

Manhole - Added to watchlist

My Fair Lady Gong Shim - Hmm in two minds about it

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho/ 9-tailed Fox
Fight for my way
Marriage not dating
Legend of the Blue Sea - v good
Love Rain
Chief Kim - is this on Viki? I've been looking for it
What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim - Enjoyed v much

Am also enjoying The Beauty Inside which is on air, & might give The Guest a go now it's finished.
It might've been me that dissed Korean Odyssey I was really really put off by the two male leads & their haircuts (shallow)

Sorry I meant to put ‘added to watch list ‘ against the ones I haven’t commented on, including ^Men in a Mission’, thank you for the synopsis on that😊

Kdrama addiction is providing a combination of salve for midlife ennui/crisis and a safe, shiny place to hide out

I find listening to kdrama OST & kpop while working/walking the dog/driving prolongs the upbeat mood/escapist feeling too.

I’m so glad seadays and now Heechul have joined this thread, because I think other MNers might otherwise be justified in telling me and Betty to ‘get a room.’

Ahhh! Help me! I have an unhealthy obsession with Strong Girl Bong Soon!!... Forget the ridiculous gangsters!.. Ignore the slightly creepy serial killer which jars with the cutesiness of it all... Not to mention the slightly offensive portrayal of Mr Oh and just revel in the soooo cute and lovely sparkly romance of Bong Bong and Min Min!..
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I'm a grown woman ffs!

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I'm a grown woman ffs!

Just embrace it, Bea. My friend told me recently I consume TV “like all the kids”, meaning her early 20s kids. She told me it was a compliment and I’m accepting it.

I really like Bong Soon but thought her lovely policeman friend was a better match. Her squeeze looks too much like the anime tweens in my son’s anime drawing guide to me. I like my Kdrama leads a little more rugged like Black or Dong Mae off Mr Sunshine.

Some thoughts wracking my bonkers kdrama head...

*don't they have really long spoons?? I assume to dig into the big pots?

*is it true that Korean dramas rarely go over 1 season?... I've been hoping for another strong girl bong soon... (though now I realise why the ending of sgbs was sooo finished.... Married? Children?... Thought there would have been soo much more adventures to be had before settling down! 😂)

anyone know when and where eng sub Korean remake of suits available as it's got lovely min min from sgbs in.... (a suit! 😍).. boatyardblues* how dare you! He is dazzling! 😂😳

*Korean men's fashion... They do like oversized and billowing!

*sgbs is just proper bonkers!!