KDrama Addicts Anonymous (#7)

[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 (non subscription, possibly dodgy) and AmazonPrime.

The previous thread is linked below, but our ‘Addicts Recommend’ list is cumulative so includes recommendations and favourites from all of the previous threads:

Thread 6

Shows marked with asterisk(s) are more uniformly loved or admired. 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 best approximate & ask if you need guidance, eg about suitability 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)*

Historical/Period drama (“sageuk”)
Crowned Clown (Viki)
Mr Sunshine (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)
Radio Romance (Netflix)
Romance is the Bonus Book (Netflix)**
She Was Pretty (Dramabus/Netflix)*
The Beauty Inside (Viki/Netflix)
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 themes
Because This Is My First Life (Viki)*
Chicago Typewriter (Viki)*
Descendants of the Sun (Viki/Netflix)
Fight For My Way (Viki/Drama bus)*
Just Between Lovers (Viki)**
My Strange Hero (Viki)
One Spring Night (Netflix)
Red Carpet - film (Netflix, very adult content)
Search: WWW (Viki)*
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)
The Last Empress (Viki)

Not Korean but just try it
Regulars occasionally branch out into Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese drama. The Chinese & Taiwanese stuff is much more variable quality-wise, so we’ve noted anything decent here:

Love O2O (Viki - Chinese)
Morning Call (Netflix - Japanese)

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 fangirling. If you’re still reading, please say hi.)

We are generally fans of all things Korean, so equally happy to talk about Korean food/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 dense 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 or an obvious shortening. Some of the regular favourite actors & actresses have been abbreviated too for speed/efficiency, eg Lee Jong-Suk (LJS), Park Min Young (PMY), Ji Chang Wook (JCW) and his hotness Kim Jae Wook (HH KJW). 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…

ML has a personality transplant before the end, as I currently want to the FL to spot all the red flags and run for the hills.

Thank you Cassini! I thought the ML in WWWSK was a right controlling arse, but was the dissenting voice when it was just me, Bea and Betty.

I coaxed my SIL and DS2 into watching some Goblin last Christmas. They both really enjoyed it. SIL said she could see why I enjoyed it so much, because it was so fresh and unusual/different to what she’s seen before.

I am feeling the need to point Secretary Kim to the Freedom Programme

High five Cassini!

Awwww! Sec Kim! I'll always have a soft spot! I still love 😍 Park Seo Joon!... Ladies!... He has isshues!! 😂 😂

"some poisoning" 😂😂😂😂bettys... That made me smirk as well hello!.

Romance is A Bonus Book is a good starter... It's not completely out there and has delicious Toasty LJS! 😍 😍 (altho he's in W as well!!)

WWW Search is also excellent!

God! There's sooo many... All delicious in their own way!

Bettys ... Have you got to the end of Come and hug me yet!? 😱😭😭😭😭😔

I remember Bettys or Boatyard posting the Korean starter pack poster in my kdrama early days and it's even funnier now I know and get ALL the references!! 😂 😂 😂 😂

Still plowing through watcher.. EP 11... It is good!... But just slooow!.. It's got the best opening titles!! I love the intro music and then the slo mo! Epic!! ❤️ ❤️

Bea I'm hoping to get back Come and Hug Me tonight, I was stalled on ep 29 by travelling and mounds of washing and RL 'stuff' to do

RL!!??.... RL??.. When there's a psycho on the loose??... There's hammers flailing everywhere!.... And Sad Park Morgan to be comforted?! 😱 😱 😱

Oh yes! vikiI was having probs on the computer watching.. Restrictions etc but fine on phone and telly so assume something to do with them!.. Xx

When there's a psycho on the loose??... There's hammers flailing everywhere!.... And Sad Park Morgan to be comforted?!

I know, right? What was I thinking? 🤣🤣

Chief prosecutor in Watcher is called Min Yun Ki... Which keeps making me laff... (Suga! Bts!)

Bad Guys movie! With jang ki Yong! Hmmm!

Yes Cassini Chinese drama ML all have very expensive shoes with ankle grazing trousers and no socks! The weirdos. I'm hoping they have those socks that cover just the heel and toe otherwise they're dirty gurties who need to wear socks!

I once again got distracted by My Strange Hero, but spent most of the day faffing with doctors (yay for chronic illness). Seems I'm on bed rest for a few days so hopefully I'll get a chance to finish MSH and binge Come and Hug Me. Might even rewatch some of Goblin with its smile inducing fluffy goodness.

Awee just finished Come and Hug Me !! So good! 👍👍Angsty & thrillery and very satisfying ending! Lots of hammers 🔨🔨

Really recommend it in spite of the title which doesn’t let on how angsty it is, though I do get why it’s called that. ML & FL very good (Park Morgan looking tip-top in police uniform) and the boy playing young ML has just been in Hotel del Luna as the well god.

Great rec Bea thanks!!

Hmmmm now I want to watch Park Morgan as a bad guy.....prob have to wait a while before the film pops up online, may have to spiral back & watch Go Back Couple

Cassini & hello the no sock thing......I have seen them with those tiny socklet things on when they have to take their shoes off to enter the house.... always seems to defuse the dramatic look. Same with the slippers/mules.
Is it rude to go barefoot in someone’s house? There seem to always be slippers to hand for unexpected guests

Ooooo! Soooo pleased you enjoyed it bettys it really is a good un and I'm surprised it's not available on viki or netflix... It's really well done with a cracking story! Jam packed! Angst filled and tortured!! Good stuff! 😂 There's a web series "the boy next door" which is supposed to be fun... Will search for it!..

www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIjGUblyJQin127fIM-fOD5iu6XE_zmK1
The boy next door

I had a quick look around bettys and apparently it's not rude to go barefoot but people don't want you getting anything nasty on your feet because apparently your feet are important to your health (the article said something about reflexology being widely believed) or getting anything nasty from your feet on the floor because a lot of Asian households still sit on the floor to eat and things like that.

I've never really thought about it. We go barefoot/socked in the house but always thought about getting slippers. Japanese homes have separate slipper type things for the bathroom too. So you change from your house slippers to your bathroom slippers, go to the loo and then reverse the process. I guess it makes sense though

Separate bathroom slippers? Makes sense if you live with someone who ‘misses’ or have a wet room type thing I suppose

On episode 15 of Something in the rain. It's good but quite slow.

considering what to try next but we have guests this weekend so won't be able to binge (thank goodness, my day literally stops between 7-11pm for viewing)

DH moving from amused to slight concern at my new obsession, I have a Korean colleague at work who is taking me out for lunch today for traditional K food!!

my day literally stops between 7-11pm for viewing

I think a lot of us on this thread would recognise that!🤣🤣

Oh boat I think I am about to jump ship (pun intended), wwwsk ML is growing on me in episode 5! Is he related to the older guy in a Korean Odyssey? He has all the same mannerisms even down to the suit coat flicking.

The fashion thing is really interesting to watch, the men are much more stylish than here.

I have had to stop watching come and hug me as I was crying to much in front of other people

I didn’t like him in She Was Pretty either, so I won’t be moved by peer pressure. Fight over him between yourselves, ladies.

I am not sure I would go that far boat but I wouldn't try an Intervention anymore with Secretary Kim

I think I am about to jump ship (pun intended), wwwsk ML is growing on me in episode 5