KDrama Addicts Anonymous (part 6)

[boatyardblues]

A quiet corner of MN for serious addicts of Kdrama, or the Kdrama-curious. Most of our viewing is drawn from Netflix and Viki, but there other sources, including Dramabus and AmazonPrime.

Previous Threads, with discussion of what we’ve enjoyed and what to avoid:

Thread 5 (previous threads linked from OP of each preceding thread)

There are suggestions for shows that we’ve enjoyed - those marked with asterisk(s) are more uniformly loved or admired. Cautionary note: in categorising series, its important to note most Korean dramas have multiple strands - e.g. romance and thriller; supernatural, romance and a thriller, crime series with blossoming relationship aspects. Genre-busting mash-ups are normal. Series that are tagged as dark may also have moments of comedy or the absurd, likewise fluff can have heavier elements. View the categories below as approximate & ask if you need guidance, eg for younger teens.

Comedy (with a side order of absurd)
I picked up a celebrity on the street (Viki)
My Fellow Citizens (Viki)

Crime/Thriller
Healer (Netflix)*
Heartless City (Viki)
He is Psychometric (Viki)
I Hear Your Voice (Netflix /Viki)
Life on Mars (classy remake of BBC series, Dramafast)
Live (Netflix)
Pride & Prejudice (Netflix)*
Prison Playbook (Netflix)*
Suspicious Partner (Netflix)*

Romance - lighter & fluffier
Beating Again (Netflix)
Coffee Prince (Netflix)
Don’t Dare to Dream (Netflix, or as Jealousy Incarnate on Viki)*
Happy Once Again (Netflix)
Her Private Life (Viki)*
His Master’s Sun (Netflix)
Love from a Star (Netflix)*
Pinocchio (Netflix)
Romance is the Bonus Book (Netflix)**
She Was Pretty (Dramabus/Netflix)*
The Beauty Inside (Viki/Netflix)
The Last Empress (Viki)
Thirty Not Seventeen (Viki)
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (Netflix/Viki)
What’s Up With Secretary Kim (Viki)**
You are my Destiny (Netflix)

Romance - heavier weight/more grown up
Because This Is My First Life (Viki)*
Chicago Typewriter (Viki)*
Fight For My Way (Viki/Drama bus)*
Just Between Lovers (Viki)**
Mr Sunshine (Netflix)
My Strange Hero (Viki)
Red Carpet - film (Netflix, very adult content)
Something in the Rain (Netflix)
The Package (Viki)

Supernatural/fantasy/sci-fi - fluffier
Goblin (Viki)*
I am not a Robot (Netflix)
Legend of the Blue Sea (Viki/Netflix)
While You Were Sleeping (Viki)*

Supernatural/fantasy/sci-fi - darker
Black (Netflix)*
The Guest (Dramafast)
W (Viki & Netflix)*

Zombies
Kingdom (Netflix)*
Train to Busan - film (Amazon Prime)

Mad as a box of frogs/uncategorisable
Strong Girl Bong Soon (Netflix)

We have some lovely occasional posters who have lived in Korea, are Korean or have Korean partners/family members who pop in from time to time to provide the context for some of the more baffling cultural references. (Although its possible we have scared them all away since our early threads with the incessant fangirling. If you’re still reading, please say hi.)

If you want to know your oppas from your unnis and other Korean terms of address and honorifics, there are good resources online.

We are generally fans of all things Korean, so equally happy to talk about Korean cookery, film and kpop when the mood takes us. To get to grips with the lingo, try dramaloveaddicts.proboards.com/thread/24/korean-word-day?page=1

We have a few frequently used acronyms:
FL/2FL = female lead/2nd female lead
ML/2ML = male lead/2nd male lead
SLS = Second Lead Syndrome (where the FL/MLis too thick to realise how much better the 2ML/2FL is)

We also abbreviate titles if they’re long, but usually only after using the full title & acronym together. Some of the regular favourite actors have been abbreviated too for speed/efficiency, although “him off Black” seems to have stuck for Song Seung-Heon. Don’t be afraid to ask for help/clues if we’re not making sense or have descended into acronym soup.

If you want to join us down the kdrama rabbit hole, welcome! Pull up a chair, say goodbye to early nights and get stuck in…

I don't understand why the title sequences are always 90 seconds long. I could get if it was just in this first one as a taste of the series but on every blooming episode? Drives me batty. I always skip it

Yy the Netflix 'skip intro' button is a very handy device. I'm going to give it another go today but I'm kind of hoping I don't get sucked in. I can't decide if the ML is good-looking or not, I think he is but my eyes keep getting drawn to his adam's apple . I definitely think the FL is a bit plain

He is confusing to look at. Sometimes I think he attractive other times I think he's upset someone on the lighting team because he looks a bit odd.

The wall pinning scene wasn’t as grim as I’d expected but the whole thing is a bit odd, especially his aproach to negotiating on the apartment.

I'm stuck at the moment and not really watching anything!!!!!

just waiting for Absolute Boyfriend and Angels Last Mission.... but not really watching anything else... I'm not binging anything!!!! Yikes!

Am half heartedly watching My Love Eun Dong (on viki) as the beginning of that got me intrigued will continue....

Might start with Emperor Owner of The Mask ....

There you are!! I thought you were lost in BTS World!! 💜💜

I watched a bit more Tdrama in lunch break. The sexual politics of the Mandarin language dramas I’ve watched so far are appalling. The wealthy men feel entitled to paw and acquire the much younger/economically disadvantaged women. The women grumble and have a half-hearted attempt at asserting themselves and resisting, but seem to end up being browbeaten/“charmed” 😤 into submission. I think I’m supposed to be dazzled by how wealthy and good looking the MLs are, but they are rank chauvinists with zero sexual restraint and Not a care for consent. It’s really quite depressing.

The kdrama oppas are so much better behaved and (for the most part) fanciably decent guys. Also, kdrama does fully rounded, admirable/kick-ass women so much better.

In fact, I enjoy kdrama for the well-written women as much as for the beautiful men.

I haven’t made enough headway into tdrama to compare properly, but on my brief foray i did think that the production values weren’t as good, the MLs not as hot and I agree the FLs aren’t as witty & sassy. In a lot of kdrama like Romance IABB the FLs are very relatable

Looking on it I think I've been a bit rose tinted glasses with it. It was entertaining and got me out of a funk but it had glaring problems, including the ones you pointed out. I guess I'll have to have a little think on it

Yeah but to be honest it doesn’t do to overthink these things too much 🤣🤣 for me kdrama is pure escapism and fun with a side of quality

Bettys... I have been lost in BTS World!!... 😂

Poor old Jimin needs some first aid but I can't complete the mission!... 😱😭

And poor jin needs his "condition managing" / feeding but I haven't got anything for him!...😣

. It's a hoot but some of the videos are quite sweet!! And touching!... The one where they try and cheer jungkook up! 😍😂😂😂😍😍😍😊😊😊😊😊😊💜

Yes! I'm in need of a good binge watch... I'm quite distracted and busy at the moment so I've not been able to settle down and pick something! 😂

Think I'll stick to the kdrama!... I just love the way they tell a story! Not to mention the visuals... And the bonkerness! 😂

Sorry hello. I clearly spend too much time on the FWR board. I need to let go & go with it. 😄 Also, if I’m going to emulate Betty’s shallow post, the ML isn’t all that. I don’t mind the FL because she is distinctive and I usually struggle with all the identikit leggy, long-haired lovelies.

I love Puff Guo, the FL. When I was considerably younger, I watched her in the international version of We Got Married with Kim Heechul and thought she was just so lovely. I can't help but watch things she's in now

I've yet to get back into good old korean dramas and I have so many to catch up on that I'm too scared to even start. Can anyone recommend some to get me started? I haven't watched anything in about a year/18 months so any recommendations would be great.

This is the first time I've come across the FL so I feel a bit guilty about what I said .
What kind of stuff do you like helloswellow? Romance, police, scary, fantasy? You have both Viki & Netflix? I'veonly been watching for a year so am not an expert but have managed to watch quite a few in that time

Bea I haven't got very far into BTS World - YET !! I need to catch up

I am getting close to the end of The Guardians & it's all a bit tense. Kim Young Kwan has impressed me with his acting in this, I may have to seek out Room No. 9 which is the one he did before Secret Life of my Secretary

I've got Netflix and Viki bettys. I can watch most genres. Soft spot for medical and school dramas, although I can watch anything as long as the acting is good.

I’m still watching Before We Get Married. It’s televisual BBQ Pringles. Please send help!

2ML is turning out to be more appealing than the dick ML. Who woulda thunk it?

Well I've just finished Guardians and it was much better than I thought it was going to be! The young lad was chillingly good, and the ending was about right, really.

helloswellow, I haven't watched many medical dramas but the reviews for Dr Prisoner have been good so it's on my list of ones to seek out on Dramafast. Dr Romantic and Blood (Netflix) aren't that new so you may have seen those. Also haven't watched that many school ones but My Strange Hero is set in a school with school flashbacks & is thoroughly enjoyable.
Two of my most recent faves to recommend is Her Private Life and Absolute Boyfriend both Viki and Prison Playbook on Netflix. For sheer ohmygodhowmadisthis drama I also enjoyed The Last Empress on Viki. I know what you mean about watching anything with Puff Guo, I'll watch a drama if it has Park Min Young or Jang Nara in....and there is a whole list of oppas whose work I make a bee line for

Have you seen the 2FL yet? If you have, what do you think? I can't figure out if I'm being unreasonable to dislike her

Now off to take a proper look at Before We Get Married......

The only reason I said I have a soft spot for medical/school dramas is for Jisoo. He was in Doctors and Sassy Go Go which started the soft spot for those settingsn. Between him and Park Hyungsik, I nearly died watch Strong Woman Do Bong Soon.

He's one of those actors I'd watch anything for.

Oh he IS good! Have you seen My First FIrst Love yet? I’m waiting for season 2 to be up then I can binge it all!

Haven’t seen 2FL yet I fell asleep at the karaoke booths and have been finishing off guardiasns - there is every chance I might fall asleep again ....