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.

SO bad! It was like 10 minutes of the Hallmark Channel TV movie tagged onto the end of the final episode of The Wire. Fuckers!

I share your outrage 😡it was so so good up until that final point.

DH has made me a new Netflix profile, as I’ve absolutely corrupted our shared one. DS1 was laughing last night because it mostly (75%) offers Asian subtitled options & the remaining 25% is split between English language and European subtitled stuff. I have ‘listed’ all your kdrama recommendations under my new profile.

Good job, separate profiles are the way forward.

I also have a whole list ready on Viki for when the netflix options are exhausted....

On the subject of endings, I have been whizzing through Something In The Rain but it started dragging so I read through the recaps and decided the ending sounded frustrating so have dropped it. Good decision or not?

I liked it. There’re no fireworks, but the leads are transformed by their journey - in an older/wiser sense.

I liked it too, the leads were engaging and I found the sub-plot of casual sexual harassment interesting if a little troubling. The mother was awful, though! There was a lot of shilly-shallying about so I did skip a couple of episodes then made it to the end and am pleased it all got resolved even if it took a long time.

On a side note I went to a Korean supermarket today and bought some kimchi and soju - at least I hope that’s what it is!

There were no delicious Mr Black lookey-likeys hanging around though

I did the same a couple of weeks ago and am currently working my way through a bottle of unflavoured soju. DH decried it as foul and said we use it like surgical spirit to clean cuts etc, but I quite like it. You have reminded me to visit again, as I love nosing around in there. Our local Korean grocer also stocks Japanese supplies too, from small jars and packs to giant catering packs - I was marvelling at a pillow-sized clear sack of pickled ginger.

Ooh I’ve found my people! Let’s eat is a my all time favourite kdrama but always makes me ridiculously hungry!
Not a drama but I’ve been rewatching mr house husband on YouTube lately as kbs world uploads loads of full shows on their YouTube channel!

I feel strangely comforted that there’s now 4+ on this thread. There was a stage when Betty & I were straying into “get a room!” territory, metaphorically speaking.

Anyone watched Misaeng yet? I was doing some dabbling last night to get a flavour of a few options. Misaeng has a fly-on-the-wall realism with fewer immediate tugs on the heartstrings & I wondered how quickly it hooks you.

I'm debating between starting Misaeng or Let's Eat suggested by seadays - thanks to whom I have just disappeared down a YouTube kdrama rabbit hole!

I have started on the soju and I rather like it

Soju strikes me as something you could drink a LOT of and get very drunk without it filling you up & spoiling your dinner. The lack of flavour also means it doesn’t detract from your meal.

I'm hearing only plus points so far

Report back on the hangover, will you?

Peach soju is delicious!

Mr Sunshine’s Hina is in ep1 of Man to Man in modern attire & a bob about 25 min in. It’s a bit frenetic, but I may stick with it.

I’m on ep. 3 of Let’s Eat and quite enjoying it . Lots of foody close-ups

I realised last night as I logged off that Hina is probably the female lead in Man to Man. I like her heneral vibe so much I plan to stick with it a while longer.

I started Man to Man a while back but stopped after the first ep. as it was just after I’d seen Healer and it couldn’t compare (no Ji Chang -Wook in it ) I’ll be interested to know how it turns out.
Lets Eat is zipping along nicely with some humour, romance, and a mystery/thriller element. Shorter episodes too.

OK, its driving me mad and google translate has been no help. What does “opahh!” translate as? Is it honey, bro, pal, love, dear or something similar?

Best way to describe oppa so it means older brother but it’s used in a jokey flirty way to older guys. Probably the equivalent is something like bae

I’m watching wok of love tonight only up to episode 3 but it’s good so far, I love food based dramas!

Thanks seadays. That makes sense.