MsLatte’s Daebak Cybercafé (kdrama addicts #9)

[boatyardblues]

A quiet corner of MN for serious addicts of Kdrama, or the Kdrama-curious. (MsLatte is a Her Private Life reference.) Most of our viewing is drawn from Netflix and Viki, with a sprinkling of AmazonPrime and search engine-accessible content available on shady non subscription streaming sites (listed as ‘alt site’ below). The subtitling on alternative sites is variable in quality and the pop-ups can be adult themed...

The previous thread is here but our ‘Addicts Recommend’ list below is cumulative so includes recommendations and favourites from all previous threads.

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. supernatural, romance and a thriller; crime series with fantasy elements. 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 moments. 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
Come and Hug Me (Dramafast)
Healer (Netflix)*
Heartless City (Viki)
He is Psychometric (Viki)
I Hear Your Voice (Netflix /Viki)
Life on Mars (classy remake, alt site)
Live (Netflix)
Pride & Prejudice (Netflix)*
Prison Playbook (Netflix)*
Suspicious Partner (Netflix)*
Watcher (Viki)*

Historical/Period drama (“sageuk”)
Crowned Clown (Viki)
Mr Sunshine (Netflix)
Rookie Historian (Netflix)

Romance - lighter & fluffier
1% of Something (Viki)
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)*
Morning Call (Netflix - Japanese)
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)
Fight For My Way (Viki/Drama bus)*
Just Between Lovers (Viki)**
Melo is my Nature (Viki)/Be Melodramatic (alt sites)**
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/zombies/vampires/fantasy/sci-fi - lighter & fluffier
Absolute Boyfriend (Viki)
Are You Human (Netflix)
Goblin (Viki)*
I am not a Robot (Netflix)
Legend of the Blue Sea (Viki/Netflix)
Love O2O (Viki - Chinese)
Orange Marmalade (Netflix)
While You Were Sleeping (Viki)*

Supernatural/zombies/vampires/fantasy/sci-fi - darker/more grown up themes
Black (Netflix)*
Hotel del Luna (Viki)*
Kingdom (Netflix)*
The Guest (Dramafast)
Train to Busan - film (Amazon Prime)
W (Viki & Netflix)*

Guilty Pleasures (for the joy, not the quality)
Before We Get Married (Viki -Taiwanese)
Hwarang (Viki/Netflix)
The Last Empress (Viki)
Sassy Go Go (Netflix)

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

We have some lovely occasional posters with links to Korea who pop in from time to time to provide the context for some of the more baffling cultural references. (Although we may 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 cookery, language, film and music when the mood takes us.

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)
🥾🍑 (boot, peach) = kick up the arse to go to bed

We also abbreviate titles if they’re long, but usually only after using the full title & acronym together or an obvious abbreviation. Some favourite actors & actresses have been abbreviated 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…

Do you watch your favourite actors in dramas and films even if you don't like the genre?

It depends. For a film (limited time commitment), I might but I have abandoned When the Devil Calls Your Name in spite of really liking Jung Kyung Ho’s work because I wasn’t feeling it.

Do you watch your favourite actors in dramas and films even if you don't like the genre?

Yes!!!! The only reason why I would not watch a drama with a fave in ... is if the ending is not to my liking... I like everything tied up neatly and happy endings... thus I still haven't watched Hymn Of Death with lovely lovely Toasty LJS ... and The Third Charm with Race Horse Legs Seo Kang Joon....

bettys I might persevere even with PSJ. Who knows he might be brilliant and convincing in the film, I'll report back.

I think I'm less inclined to force myself to watch things these days because there will always be another drama or filn. (She says while sitting down to watch 2 hours of PSJ just for Woo Do Hwan.) However, I have forced myself to watch shows just because I like someone acting it in. Looking at you, Siwon in She Was Pretty.

So can’t remember if it was on here or on a FB page someone asked about the greatest love, have finished it and loved it. It gave a slight view into what being a celebrity in Korea means and how the fans can be vicious.

Haven’t fallen down the black hole of kpop, but found that dance video knackering to watch - my goodness those boys have stamina and can move their hips!

Someone suggested suspicious partner - I couldn’t finish it, I may have to give the last few episodes another crack one day!

Is Melo - melo is my nature ?

@helloswellow park seo joon not a favourite of yours? He makes me smile esp when his character was being chased by Yo-Na

@castieldeansam yes Melo is Melo is my Nature.

I'm not a fan of PSJ and this film isn't helping. I have odd moments where I think he's alright but then 5 seconds later I snap out of it.

Is Melo - melo is my nature ?

Yes. It’s fab. In the unlikely event it doesn’t immediately grab you, stick with it because the relationships are beautifully developed. I find it really funny. DH comments that I laugh a lot when I’m watching it.

hello and so far no shirtless Woo Do Hwan 😡
Mind you it’s so dark I wouldn’t be able to see a thing

It turns out he's mostly shirtless while he turns into a weird swamp beasty thing? So it's ruined by the scaly nature of his post transformation self.
Plus there's a weird story of a child getting beat, possessed and then 'set on fire' with holy fire not real fire to get the spirit out of him and he's fine afterwards but it's definitely a no from me.

It turns out he's mostly shirtless while he turns into a weird swamp beasty thing? So it's ruined by the scaly nature of his post transformation self.
Plus there's a weird story of a child getting beat, possessed and then 'set on fire' with holy fire not real fire to get the spirit out of him and he's fine afterwards but it's definitely a no from me.

Well that was disappointing! Shirtless swamp thing didn't do it for me and where did PSJ go at the end?
At least PSJ was shirtless

i was promised shirtless WDH, 0.1 second while he was ripping open his robe before becoming a swamp monster doesn't count. i can see why the film has a 6.2 rating on Google though.

I think I'll have to go watch some The Great Seducer clips to make me feel better about WDH with the added bonus of Kim Min Jae.

Top plan hello. Currently enjoying Kim Min-Jae in Flower Crew plus apparently he is reprising his role in Dr Romantic

There's sure to be some shirtless WDH in My Country

There best be now! I'll watvh My Country either way but I'll be sorely disappointed if there's no shirtless business.
I need more Dr Romantic It was always a favourite of mine. I read 2020 and thought that was miles away. It's barely 100 days away. That's madness.

Does anyone know what the drama pecking order is on the Korean TV networks? Is the Weds/Thurs slot more prestigious than a weekend one? Is the 9pm slot better or 10 pm?

bettys... How are you watching flower Crew! Its only at 40%subs on viki!?...

I am really enjoying wall-to-wall Seo Kang Joon in Human. He he has such a beautiful face and there are so many beautifully tailored suits and designer jumpers to enjoy, his sidekick Mr Ji’s outfits included. I also like mountain/lakeside house which they’re using as the chaebol mansion - the design is interesting and the views are spectacular. (I’m sure the decking/pool area featured in Man to Man.) All in all it is a visual cornucopia. So much to enjoy!

I am really enjoying wall-to-wall Seo Kang Joon in Human. He he has such a beautiful face and there are so many beautifully tailored suits and designer jumpers to enjoy, his sidekick Mr Ji’s outfits included
Totally agree Boatyard ☺️

Just got up to date with Melo , it's so lovely. I really really hope it has a suitably great ending.

I thought we’d get to see lots of action on set/around the filming of FL/Director’s new drama in Melo, but we’re running out of episodes.

Ahhh! Seo Kang Joon! I await his return! 💜👍

Bea I’ve been watching Flower Crew on dramafast

I look at Seo Kang Soon and wonder how anyone could be so goddamned good looking. He’s like a work of art. He has amazing skin too (or a really good make-up artist).

I always thought I was an impatient person but Betty is waaaaay worse than me!

🤣🤣 I always have one or two I am just soooo impatient to see I can’t wait! Currently it’s Flower Crew & Melo
Plus if I watch it early in the morning then I can crack on with the rest of the day

I'm like that too bettys I watch something while pottering about in the morning and then I've got my little fix for the day.