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Original poster

K-Drama recommendations

997 replies

boatyardblues · 16/08/2018 06:42

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.

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boatyardblues · 17/09/2018 22:39

It was definitely an acquired taste. Personally, I thought the cop friend was the better bet.

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bettys · 18/09/2018 07:42

Well thank goodness for that! I was at the point of not watching any more, but how did he survive that? Am rather loving the even rougher look Blush

MeteorGarden · 18/09/2018 07:46

As my name suggests, I would highly recommend Meteor garden. It’s a remake (sort of, of boys over flowers) and definitely has some abuse triggers (although this seems to be just a culture difference)

After watching the first couple of episodes in beaumused horror I got TOTALLY addicted and binged watched the whole 46 episode season!!!

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boatyardblues · 18/09/2018 08:40

After watching the first couple of episodes in beaumused horror I got TOTALLY addicted and binged watched the whole 46 episode season!!!

God, tell me about it! Kdrama is TV crack. I haven’t yet worked out the formula, but I have enough lost weekends and evenings under my belt to recognise I’m in deep.

Betty - I would now like Dong-Mae to go full People’s Resistance Army,to cut his lovely hair & ditch the robes. I also found Hotaro’s wish to “kill that woman so you can live your life” very poignant.

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bettys · 18/09/2018 09:58

Meteor Garden - I will give it a go based on your recommendation although I couldn't get on with Boys Over Flowers - dunno why, I think I am past high school romances. Slightly worried about the 46 episode length as my kdrama addiction is taking over from normal tv - the only thing I am watching live is Killing Eve (vv good!)

Boatyard blues - No no no Dong-Mae can't cut his lovely hair! And where would he hang his swords if he wore normal clothes? How would we see his chest? Hotaru's wish was poignant but she hasn't reckoned on Hina being in the frame. It was so sad when she stroked Dong-Mae's robe in the abandoned Mujin house.

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boatyardblues · 18/09/2018 17:09

I like Hina too.There are many great charcters in Mr Sunshine.

I have it bad too - about 75% of my current viewing is Korean. I am even beginning to be able to discern common phrases and formal vs informal variants. Blush

I just started a v promising Korean novel. Will report back when I have a better feel for whether the quality is sustained.

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bettys · 18/09/2018 20:16

Aaaaargh!!!! I have spent all evening watching Meteor Garden thanks to MeteorGarden! If you hadn't said to get past the first 2 episodes I would have given up but now I have been sucked in even though it is a little different in style being Chinese. I prefer the male lead to Lee Min-Ho in Boys Over Flowers whose face I just want to slap for some reason.

I've been listening to a lot of Korean OST music; DS & DH are not amused. Also been picking up some phrases - kamsahamnida! (sp)

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boatyardblues · 19/09/2018 00:37

Well I just watched the first 2 episodes of Oh My Ghost, Betty & its all your fault I am turning in. Same lead as Bong-Soon, but this suits her better.

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boatyardblues · 19/09/2018 00:38

Turning in late...

(Not really, the lack of willpower is all mine.)

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bettys · 19/09/2018 07:30

Hahahaha! Oh My Ghost is one of my absolute favourites! I became a huge fan of Jo Jung-Suk the chef and signed up to Viki so I could watch him in Jealousy Incarnate Blush

Have you spotted that the Shaman is Mrs Hamman from Mr Sunshine?

AlbusPercival · 19/09/2018 07:34

Not a drama but I’ve been watching busted.

I’m equally fascinated and confused with it. Is it a game show, a drama? What is going on?

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boatyardblues · 19/09/2018 08:47

Have you spotted that the Shaman is Mrs Hamman from Mr Sunshine?

How did I miss that? She can run really fast for a larger, middle aged woman.

This has just reminded me of Ae-Shin & Mrs Hamman’s heartfelt embrace in the cemetery, which was wonderful.

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MrBeansXmasTurkey · 19/09/2018 08:59

I love K-drama too. I agree you watch the first few episodes in a sort of bemused horror then get addicted.
I enjoyed Oh my Venus and Love in the Moonlight which is a historical one with very nice sets and fabulous costumes.
My dd is the one who first found the K dramas so we have watched a lot of teen ones. I quite liked Dream High which is the Korean version of Fame.

bettys · 19/09/2018 09:00

AlbusPercival thanks for the recommendation, I just IMDB'd Busted and saw it has Yoo Yeon-Seok (Dong-Mae) in it so that's definitely on the list now! Wink

CookieDoughKid · 19/09/2018 10:53

Anyone watching k drama Suits?

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boatyardblues · 19/09/2018 13:34

I love K-drama too. I agree you watch the first few episodes in a sort of bemused horror then get addicted.

I felt sure DH was silently judging me for sticking with Strong Girl Bong Soon, because it was properly bonkers, but he said last night he’d enjoyed the bits he’d seen and liked the quirkiness. My boys pottered in & out during my Saturday marathon, so “Bong Soon strong” is now a cultural reference in our house, eg when jars need opening.

I will definitely cue up Busted if Yoo Yeon-Seok is in it. I think the male lead from Live is also in it - odd looking but a decent actor.

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boatyardblues · 19/09/2018 13:34

Is kdrama Suits a remake of the US one?

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CookieDoughKid · 19/09/2018 14:13

Yes, it's a remake with the same actor from Strong Girl Bong Soon (Park Hyun Sik) who's rather dishy ;) I'm up to episode 5. There are some differences compared to the US one but it does follow the same theme and story line so far.

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boatyardblues · 19/09/2018 17:30

Shame. I would have watched if Bong-Soon’s taciturn policeman friend was the male lead, but not Mr Tech Magnate.

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AlbusPercival · 19/09/2018 20:02

Oh yes Yoo Yeon sook is hot

CookieDoughKid · 19/09/2018 20:39

boat I know what you mean. Policeman friend is beautiful!!

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boatyardblues · 19/09/2018 23:02

I thought the scene on the bench in the final episode of Boon-Song where Taciturn Policeman confessed his long-standing admiration for her & talked about what a thoughtful person she was was actually the best bit of the whole series. That’s love, right there.

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boatyardblues · 20/09/2018 19:10

After walking part of the way home this evening with a former colleague who has THE RAGE over Brexit, I reflected that my recent plunge into kdrama was proving to be an excellent escape from Brexit, Trump and the current mountain of shit going down at work. It is so unlike anything I am used to watching and I have to concentrate reasonably hard to keep up with the subtitles as they rattle through dialogue, I’ve realised I am watching telly in a more present way. Certainly can’t MN on the side like I do with English language shows.

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boatyardblues · 20/09/2018 19:11

A kind of mindful escapism if you will.

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MrBeansXmasTurkey · 20/09/2018 19:14

Oh yes I agree with that about being forced to concentrate on the subtitles. It does take your mind off things. A form of mindfulness Grin

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