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…

All for a sizable discount on an apartment you don't want, with a man who won't let you share your relationship with anyone, doesn't want to spend money on basic things like a good dinner and won't sleep with you unless it's a saturday... She seems to attract the worst men.

Nailed it! That’s a peerless summary of the situation.

WWW is eveything that Before We Get Married isn’t. Great writing and acting. Brilliant female roles. Very lovely ML - manners and “visually strong” , playful, flirty, funny. 👍

I am in two minds about continuing with Before We Get Married. If it was just me watching, I would be having a word with myself round about now, but I’m enjoying the collective critique. 😂

Im waiting for the climax, because lord knows the 2FL is going to have her moment when she find outs what's happening. Maybe she'll turn out to be the only sane one? Place your bets now!

No her sister is the only sane one! I'm in for the whole trip now

Might restart WWW so can jointly discuss that, where are you up to boatyard?

Though the weds/thurs episodes are out so i need to catch up on Absolute Boyfriend and Angel

Busy busy....

I watched ep 8 of WWW last week. The office flirtation scene (hot) was in ep 8. I could give you the timestamp (may have rewatched a couple of times 😉) but its better if you build up to it.

I'm going to start WWW while cooking dinner. I don't think I've seen the main cast in anything else but ML sure looks good.

No her sister is the only sane one! I'm in for the whole trip now

Spot on about 2FL’s sister. She often says what I am thinking. Randy flatmate is also quite astute. The hospital thing is mean but funny.

My question about marital rape a few pages ago is being addressed in One Spring Night. Shithead BIL is taking legal advice “on behalf of a friend’s acquaintance”. His lawyer friend is explaining that his law firm receives many queries about marital rape, that even if its sex between a married couple it can be prosecuted if threats or coercion were involved that it is an offence - its seen as a violation of self-determination in law. I really like the lawyer guy: “don’t make friends with this guy. He’s not a nice man” (paraphrasing).

Uh huh so maybe he'll get what he deserves? Hope so!

It may be the two (okay three) glasses of rose´ but now we're past the shades of grey shock value pervy bit of Before We Get Married I am revelling in it. I thoroughly enjoyed the hospital ruse and sassy flatmate is good value.

I like the ML’s buddy and his extreme fondness for randy flatmate. I’m confident he’ll win her round in the end.

Dunno how many episodes here are though, it may have a saggy middle.

Wheeee subs are up on Absolute Boyfriend

ML’s still a dick though.

One Spring Night was lovely tonight. The pay-off for the slow start is proving to be immense. The younger sister was the arsey colleague in Something in the Rain who went off to Jeju Island to open her cafe.

One Spring Night was a great episode today. Liked seeing BIL getting told he had no chance of winning court case, and the line from his friend that you put above Boatyard. Good to see FL standing up to him and just a heart warming episode in many ways. Horrid dad at the end, thought he was changing.

I may also be a bit sunk into BTS World. I don't even really like much BTS music, but the game is fun. Currently supposed to be mending the practice room floor as they've worn a hole in it! 🤣. I'm ahead of my dd but she has more 5* cards than me (and can actually tell the boys apart!)

Still enjoying Arthdal Chronicals, ML has certainly grown on me, especially with him mostly covering his face and getting competent at strategy and fighting in recent episodes, which reminds me of Healer. I like that it reminds us people's names too, as it helps me keep track of what's happening in a fairly large cast.

and can actually tell the boys apart!

I’ve got RM and Suga sorted and possibly V they stood still so I could have a good look at them all, but the others are still interchangeable. (Sorry Bea.)

if they stood still...

🤣 I was like that at first but now they are indelibly fixed 💜💜 although my bias wrecker keeps swerving... I did s Soompi quiz sheet it come out that I should go on a date with RM not V 😱😱

It's extra confusing in the game that it uses their real names and stage names. So I'm never really sure who is who. Made me laugh out loud quite a few times. I'm noticing a slightly worrying theme about them not being able to eat things without it making them fat though.

Yikes sorry for grammar I am on phone with fat rosé fingers

I should go on a date with RM

I have a soft spot for RM. Do I need to add him to the Venn?

I've noticed in a few dramas too a theory about not eating noodles/wheat last thing at night or before filming as it makes you bloated

He may need to be added to the Venn - although Bea would insist they all have to be on there as you can't have just one BTS member

ginger you are way ahead of me on the game, I must work harder at it

I’m still trying to get my head around the idea that being a single parent is such a massive “flaw” as to make Jung Hae In’s character undateable or unmarriable (except to divorcees with children), or that pressuring your adult child to stay in a violently abusive marriage is preferable to the social death of having a divorced child. I think the team behind Something in the Rain & One Spring Night do a really good job of shining a light on Korean social mores. I’d love to know how widespread these attitudes are or whether they have been exaggerated for dramatic effect. In some respects it sounds like the right laws are in place, but actually enforcing them may be another matter - as with rape laws in the UK’s criminal justice system.