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…

Thanks Bea for the tipoff about the BTS article in the Telegraph, it was very good though there were some sceptics in the comments section. Also read the review on the Wembley gig Korean boyband BTS storm Wembley Stadium in a show that pulsed with erotic energy and to think that you were there

Ah yes, also plausible.

Have I calmed down yet!...?.....

Nooooo! 💜😭

send help!! 💜😭

I’m no help I keep looking at the clips, especially V singing Singularity 💜💜 Just lost another half hour on YouTube 😂

Kim Taehyoung stop it!!!!!! 🤣🤣💜💜

Just nipping in to note my appreciation of the stature of 2ML in Angel. I do love a tall, handsome oppa. 👌 (Not fit to lick KJW or JKH’s boots, mind.)

He always seems to play baddies when he's actually a rather nice looking man, a bit like Park Hae-Jin.

Angel is now my favourite among the current on-air dramas.

Still enjoying Secretary & Absolute Boyfriend too.

Gutted that I’m busy tonight and won’t be able to fill my boots. I’m really enjoying Angel and the subs weren’t up in time for Absolute Boyfriend. I may ditch a bit early tonight so I can watch some kdrama before bed.

Just popping in to say I haven't disappears anywhere, just life is stupidly busy.

And the last ep of my JP series isn't working anywhere .

Disappeared. Can't even spell anymore.

I feel your pain Cheshire, hate it when you can’t get the next ep! I am saving Witch for the weekend when there may be football on

I really did enjoy Witch actually, looking forward to part 2.

I'm flying over to my mum's on Monday so hoping to get her to watch Kingdom with me

Interesting that Angel is tackling eating disorders. We had a family friend when I was in my teens who was a sculptor that worked with ballet companies and she said eating disorders were rife amongst the dancers she worked with, men and women.

I know one should not wish one’s life away, but I can’t wait to get home tonight. The kids are up for a trashy pizza dinner and DH is out at a work dinner, so I will be able to flop and catch up on all my favourite shows.

Sounds like a plan!

I have caught up on Angel (enjoying this so much) , Secret Secretary and Absolute Boyfriend and am now dithering over what to watch as am saving films for the weekend. Was not inspired by first episode of WWW, seemed a little lacking in something.

Haven't started Well-Intended Love yet boatyard, did you finish it & is it worth getting stuck in?

I need to finish The Guest and maybe find Voice for HH KJW but am in frothy mode.

Glad you enjoyed BTS Bea 😁 DD was almost late for school today because she found a load of YouTubes with them.

I've finished Healer 😥 and got sucked into I'm Not A Robot which I'm really enjoying despite rather ableist theme which is bugging me. I've had to rewind a few times when subtitles don't appear at crucial moments which is really annoying. Half way.. just going to put on another episode.

Cheshire, I'll be impressed if your mum watches and enjoys Kingdom. My mum didn't think much of healer! 😲 She kept talking.

Haven't started Well-Intended Love yet boatyard, did you finish it & is it worth getting stuck in?

I kind of hit a wall around ep 15 and am currently on a break. Part of me wants to berate FL for not booting the ML after “hard to overcome IRL” twist that I mentioned before. It has a car crash soapy fascination and I was curious to compare and contrast, but its not holding me. Also, I’m trying to remember whether I struggled with the language as much when I first started watching kdrama, because I find I have to be in the mood for Mandarin and I am more often not. Also, a lot of the Mandopop ballads are so squeaky they sound like Alvin & the Chipmunks.

You're not selling it to me here.....

Isn’t that the purpose of these threads? We’ve got each other’s backs. It makes sorting the wheat from the chaff easier.

I had to chuckle earlier when I saw Netflix have rated One Spring Night as ‘teen.’ No self-respecting teen would have stuck it for more than half an episode. Glacial pacing aside, the frumpy clothes would have killed off any lingering interest. I keep remembering Jung Hae In in Prison Playbook, so I’m holding out in the vain hope of bedroom fireworks/kit off scenes later. 🤞

I think Absolute Boyfriend’s head would explode if he did the dust test in our house.

Isn’t that the purpose of these threads? We’ve got each other’s backs. It makes sorting the wheat from the chaff easier.
Abso-bally-lutely!!

re dust, I need Zero Nine to come & dust in his pinny the housework has got out of hand here. His sad little face is pulling at my heartstrings at the moment, I can't tell where this story is going to go

Oh thank goodness Angel eps are up!

Absolute Boyfriend.... Yes! I have no idea which way its going... Although I think zero nine is going to sacrifice himself as The Happy Prince did! Think it's going to be sad! 😭 😭 😭
I'm up to date with secretary and boyfriend now.. Just started angel... But might go to bed! If I start something now I'll drop off!! 😂