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.

Absolutely agree about mindful escapism. I started watching to escape the World Cup madness that prevailed in our house this summer, but soon found it was so much better somehow than what’s currently on tv. It helps to be able to get stuck in to a whole boxset & binge rather like how I used to read books. Also like that they are wrapped up in one series, more satisfying than having loose ends or not knowing if the next season will be cancelled.

Thanks for the Oh My Ghost recommendation. ‘Twere great. Who knew Corgi puppies were so cute?

No new Mr Sunshine episodes until 29 Sept! 😫

Well that alters this weekend's viewing plan!

Glad you like Oh My Ghost I developed a whopping great crush on Jo Jung-Suk as a result

Thank you MeteorGarden for the recommendation of Meteor Garden. I have romped through all 49 episodes with great glee! The male lead is just adorable, the whole thing was a hoot & I even found myself shouting 'Just get off the bloody bus!!' at one point! I am now fast forwarding through Boys Over Flowers to compare, but I don't like the two leads as much. I am very surprised at the amount of casual violence towards women shown in both series.

BettyS - A question about Oh Ny Ghost, but SPOILERISH - anyone not wanting to see the Q&A that follows, look away now...

What happened to Sgt Choi? Was the hospital at the end a secure unit/prison hospital? The memory loss was explained by the evil spirit departing, but it didn’t seem like he was being punished. I thought for a bit the others might have covered up his crimes, but it didn’t add up.

Oh My Ghost Spoilerish.....

boatyardblues my reading of Sgt Choi's situation was also that when the evil spirit left he lost all memory of what happened whilst he was possessed, and that he was in a secure mental hospital having made an insanity defence. It wasn't a satisfying end to that storyline, Eun-Hee would've been better off if he'd died then she could've started a new life after finally getting out of her wheelchair.
Also loved the corgi puppies!!
It's definitely a kdrama trope that one of the main couple has to go away for years so that the other stays faithful & is rewarded by their return.

‘Uncontrollably Fond’ is showing great promise, though I think it will also be unbearably sad.

Gah every time I start a new series thinking it won't be that good I get sucked right in....just finished I Am Not A Robot on Viki. Nice light-hearted fun about a girl who pretends to be a robot for a (obviously cute & rich or it wouldn't be kdrama) guy who has severe allergies. Half hour episodes so easier to dip in to.

I will wait for your final verdict on Uncontrollably Fond as I'm not in the mood for sad at the moment. It makes me want to do that Woody Allan/Manhattan thing of reading the end of the book first.

It’s really good, Betty, but I’m 6/16 episodes in so the sad hasn’t properly kicked in yet. There’s a conspiracy subplot and shady political/judiciary goings on, so classic kdrama potboiler. So far, the male lead is an utter dick, which is interesting from the building sympathy POV. It’s much less broad than some other series, somehow more grown up. Gwan, do it! Then we can talk about it. You know you want to....

PS So far I’ve spotted Gunner Jang & Sgt Choi. The male lead’s mother is familiar but I can’t place her.

Hahaha!! I may just do that! However I thought I'd just watch the first episode of While You Were Sleeping while I was doing the ironing, but then I got hooked and DH was watching the football so now I'm on 6/16 . It's almost as good as Oh My Ghost but is on Viki. Mind you there's football on tomorrow too so it probably won't take long to work through it. I have spotted Mrs Hamman again and the sous-chef from Oh My Ghost .

While You Were Sleeping is about a girl whose dreams become real and she tries to change the outcomes. It's an engaging mix of thriller, legal and some good funny moments. The kind of mix you can only get in kdrama!

The Oh My Ghost ghost’s family restaurant and the tech firm lobby/lifts from Strong Girl Bong Soon have both featured in my most recent episode of Uncontrollably Fond (lost count). I’m slightly troubled that so many Seoul locations are becoming familiar.

Do they actually film anywhere else? I watched an episode of Busted where they went to Jeju Island and the characters were all 'ooh look cows!!'

There was a cool island about 45 min ferry from the mainland in this one. It was very scenic. 👍

Just spotted another location from Something in the Rain. How big is Seoul? They seem to recycle a lot of the locations.

Yes I recognise several riverside scenes too, so I googled and came across this fab website where you can search locations according to the drama locations

Have finished and really really enjoyed While You Were Sleeping

I have a deadline to hit before I start a new one so I'm dithering between W - Two Worlds, Something In The Rain and Uncontrollably Fond .

Any top tips?

If you enjoyed Reply 1994, you need to check out Reply 1988. It’s based in the 80s and has a huge focus on friendship and family. Very heartwarming! It’s not on Netflix sadly but it is on Viki.
Boys Over Flowers is the classic Kdrama-a must watch and is on Netflix!
My other personal favourite is The Legend Of The Blue Sea. It was the first Kdrama I ever watched almost 2 years ago and I absolutely fell in love with the story and characters.
Enjoy! There’s so many fantastic dramas to check out-you’ll be there for hours hehe!

Thanks MoonMaybe I tried Boys Over Flowers but preferred Meteor Garden's version of the story. I've got Viki so have added Legend of the Blue Sea and Reply 1988 to the list!

I really enjoyed Something in the Rain - very engaging leads. Heavily romance led, strong on family politics and the tussle between doing what’s expected of you and what’s right for you.

Uncontrollably Fond has not been unbearably sad so far 12/16 eps in. The leads are sympathetic and frustrating in equal measure, perhaps because they are more fleshed out as flawed human beings. It’s good & pot-boilery, also unpredictable, so I’m enjoying it.

Reply 1994 is on Netflix - not watched it yet.

I meant Reply 1998! I have watched Reply 1994 and loved it.

Something occurred to me last night which I hadn’t clocked, but definitely marks Korean drama out from western TV. I am struggling to recall a single instance of seeing a woman naked or in her underwear. Even in bedroom scenes, the women usually have a slip or nightie on that covers everything. You see more bare chests (the buff men).

Oh I couldn’t be doing with Reply 1994 after the girl - SPOILER SPOILER!!! - turned down Yoo Yeon-Seok for the other guy, I mean you just wouldn’t, would you?

They do seem to wear an inordinate amount of clothing to go to bed in, I’ve also noticed and wondered if they don’t have central heating especially in those rooftop apartments 😆 . I quite like the buff male bare chests though. The only scene I’ve come across with a lot of nudity was a male shower fight scene in The K2 and then they blurred out the nether regions. Must’ve been a headache in post production 😬

I misinformed you - there are 20 eps of Uncontrollably Fond. I have got through 17/20 with only a couple of sniffles. I think 18-20 may be harder going, based on plot foreshadowing and, well, the whole premise.