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 think I'm going to pass on Uncontrollably Fond then, thanks for the warning.
There was a blubby bit right at the end of While You Were Sleeping, but it was cathartic rather than distressing, if that makes sense. Funny how a cheesy kdrama moment gets to me more than most English language dramas on TV at the moment.

I might have to wait until Monday morning to watch Mr Sunshine so I can binge both episodes together.

I finished it last night. Unsatisfying conclusion IME. I’m still not even sure he died, it was so oblique. I can only conclude they demurred and dodged the heavy stuff because the lead is a real life Korean popstar and they didn’t want to send half a million squealing tween superfans over the edge. Bit of a curate’s egg, that one.

I started a new one but I can’t remember what it is called. Shows promise - will report back.

Discovery of Love. That’s the new one. Its more adult.

More adult in Kdrama terms I’m guessing means shots of two people in bed together but still fully covered up

Oh yes, Betty - no absolute nudity, although the dialogue is much friskier. One of the male leads (inevitable love triangle) is vair handsome, looks almost hispanic and possibly the stubbliest man I’ve ever seen in kdrama. Most of them look like they shave as often as DS1 (currently every 4 weeks). 😆

I’m intrigued by the frisky dialogue! I’ve started watching Pinocchio on Viki and there is a surprisingly hot moment where two characters nearly kiss while sharing a piece of toast - typically inventive Kdrama romance moment I don’t know why we can’t seem to come up with this stuff.

It starts with a family‘s tragedy being further torn apart by media lies & rumours but is very endearing & funny so far. I’m on 5/20

True the male leads don’t seem to be very hairy, I am hypnotised by their use of BB cream & guyliner

OMG Betty - tonight’s episode of Mr Sunshine was the last. 😫😭 I thought there were 28 episodes for some reason.

What? I thought there were two more?

Nope. 😕

Well that was an emotional roller-coaster from Mr Sunshine.

I'm glad I've seen Chicago Typewriter which is about the resistance in Japanese occupied Korea in the 1930's as the ending makes more sense. Grim part of history.

Is Chicago Typewriter on viki, Betty?

Agree the last 2 eps were hard-going. Hina and Dong-Mae’s final scene together was very sad, as was Dong-Mae’s final showdown with the Musin Society heavies. I found the scene on the train implausible - why stand in the line of fire like that gawking?

I thought that, then realised he was blocking the line of fire so she didn't get shot.

Poor Hina with her unrequited love, and Dong-Mae so so sad he ended as he did in the dust, although I liked the shot of him glancing down at his body and not caring before he floated off. I did love his line about not aiming to kill but being out of shape! And Hui-Seong, though not my favourite out of the bromance, that was a wasted end.

Chicago Typewriter is on Viki. It shifts between modern-day and the 1930s. I subscribed to Viki & am getting a lot of use out of it, although not everything is licensed for Europe.

SPOILERS FOR MR SUNSHINE

I know what you’re saying, but there were an awful lot of soldiers behind him & gaps around him. 🤷‍♂️

Dong-Mae’s demise and that last conversation with Ae-Sin really got to me. He was the one I was saddest about, which is strange as he killed an awful lot of people & really shouldn’t have been a sympathetic character.

I agree, Dong-Mae was probably the character I was most invested in. His last conversation with Ae-Sin made me think that his childhood comment was a big factor in putting her onto her path she chose.

I found the scene with the emperor and the translator reading the newspaper and realising no one else in the world knew what was happening upsetting.

Oh yes, that was sad.

I’m thoroughly enjoying Discovery of Love. It’s more nuanced than the usual kdrama potboiler. If I was to distill it down, its about how poor communication kills relationships with a large side order of regret. One of the things I’m most enjoying are the 2 peripheral characters who really ought to be a couple but are clueless muppets & their journey towards enlightenment. They are almost as much fun as the central love triangle/quad.

I should add, it starts out pretty straightforwardly but then there are some twists that put a completely different complexion on things. Worth sticking with if you find the first few episodes a bit too obvious. One of the twists literally made me gasp.

Right you’ve convinced me, I’ll give it a go once I’ve finished Pinocchio which I’ve enjoyed very much, although it has its darker moments.

Contain your excitement about the friskiness. It’s tame to Western sensibilities but more overt in kdrama terms.

On the plus side, the ghost from Oh My Ghost is one of the key group of characters & enjoyable in this role.

Ohhh. Yeoreum means Summer in Korean. Penny finally drops in ep 11 - not a spoiler, but the name of the business now makes sense.

I see what you mean about the friskiness! I’ve watched up to episode 4 and I’m not sure how they can make this last for 16 episodes.

The girl from Oh My Ghost is my favourite character in this so far, and possibly the rabbit

I’ve watched up to episode 4 and I’m not sure how they can make this last for 16 episodes.

Like I said, stick with it. The bunny is cute. I was glad to see it survived a soaking in the shower scene, as it vanished for a bit & I thought it might have got hypothermia/pneumonia.

I think the scary Mum’s nervy assistant would be perfect for Director Yoon, but they haven’t even met yet (ep 12).