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’ve started The Crowned Clown on Viki, a sageuk with Xero Nine from Absolute Boyfriend, not what I was expecting, much darker.

Bettys! Great minds! I started The Crowned Clown last night too! It's very horrible! and quite grim... however... think there's going to be "japes" as he steps into the crown prince shoes!... Kdrama really do villains excellently! Every time i start a new one I think ..."this is the worst villain ever!!!" and lo and behold the next drama has even more dastardly wickedness!!!

haha yes! I am impressed with his 'dark' side, he's not just a fluffy actor, he can be well creepy

I feel like I have been caught up in a cult with my current Taiwanese drama. Like Betty said, the production values aren’t a patch on most kdrama. The story is fairly formulaic and one dimensional (wot, no time travel or serial killers?). The leads are likeable enough and engaging, so I’m going with it, but the characters’ motivation is hard to fathom. The clinch I referenced last night was more or less a sexual assault with physical force, yet FL been bounced into a fake engagement and is currently sharing a bed with ML at his parents’ house (don’t ask). 🙄 I can’t really explain why I’m still watching, but I am. Actually, this is reminding me of 50 Shades of Grey, where I read to the end of the first book to check whether she caught on & dumped him.

Sounds like a skippitydoodah to me 😉

I’ve taken a break from Who Are You as although HH KJW looks gorgeous his role is mostly limited to staring meaningfully (he’s a ghost, not a spoiler as he dies in the first 5 mins) and he’s patently not going to get the girl (see previous point)

The Crowned Clown Is proving hugely enjoyable

Chinese language dramas (all two that I’ve watched 😄) really go large on the whole dynastic ‘business marriage’ concept, where you basically get married off to another wealthy family so they can get into/establish their firm in the widget/restaurant/whatever business. Liking the other person is seen as a positive, but not essential.

I can’t skip. It’s not in my DNA. 😩

Add a plus sign to the kdrama column in the ‘more diligent at building a good 6-pack for shirt-off scenes’ category.

Wot no decent shower scenes ?

There are shower scenes, but kdrama does it better. Yes, to the point of absurdity (showering in a towel*, anyone?) but still better.

*My Love from Another Star. 😂

I can remember which poster said on an earlier thread that C-drama is more hit & miss, but I’m inclined to agree. It’s been a useful diversion though - reassurance that I’m not missing out.

YY I like that you've done the research, now I don't have to bother (though I did quite like Meteor Garden )

Crowned Clown... Heart wrentchingly lovely! 😭😭😭😭😭😭

‘Tis v good!! Beautifully shot too

It's a good solid drama! 👍👍... Have to confess did a bit of spoiler reading!... 😱😔... I have to know how it will turn out!! 🙄😣

I'm finally coming down from my BTS Wembley cloud... I'm not wistfully floating my way around the house to Mikrocosmos (or however you spell it!)... However! I'm still losing hours of my life watching them! 💜😍

..

But I am getting fed up with the over used interviews with fans... "they've helped me thorough my dark mental times!" (commendable! 👍which may well be!)... But... How about "they're just sooo much fun and hilarious! And their songs make the housework bearable!" 😂 😂 😂 😂

How about "they're just sooo much fun and hilarious! And their songs make the housework bearable!"

Especially the ironing.

How about "they're just sooo much fun and hilarious! And their songs make the housework bearable!"

And cooking!

Yoongi is funny in that clip and RM’s ‘cheers mate!’ is perfect 💜😍

Sigh! It's their 6th year anniversary today!... I can't keep up with all the content they keep dropping! It's soooo cute and full of warm and fuzzies!... Jimin has just tweeted the loveliest video!.... I'll have to stop slicing these onions now! 😭😭😭😭😭💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

I can't do twitter very well it confuses me but I've just found Kim Taehyung and his fluffy dog - squeee!

I’ve escaped from the T-drama brainwashing centre for an evening to watch One Spring Night. It’s such a relief to be hearing Korean again. Jung Hae In is adorable. I want to give him a big maternal hug and tell FL to stop messing him around.

Anyways, back to the fangirling you two!

For you Bettys... Who can't handle twitter!,

This is lovely!

All the more touching as its said to be all footage from the members of Jungkook! 😭💜

And then was just posted on twitter from Jimin as a gift to ARMY for 6 years of BTS! 😍 💜💜

And this is from jungkook on twitter the other day! 😂 😂

I'm such BTS trash! 😂 😂 😂 💜💜💜😁😁😱😱🙄😭

Boatyard! Come join us in Ms Latte Corner! 😂 😂 😂
💜

I tell you boatyard that FL is a drag in everything she is in - well ok I’ve only seen her in Rooftop Prince Familiar Wife & The Light in Your Eyes but she is rather unsympathetic somehow.

Bea I’m getting a bit tense about Crowned Clown is it going have a happy ending? 😫