Ms Latte’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama Addicts #11)

[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 Dramabus (non subscription, maybe dodgy) and AmazonPrime. 

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)
Graceful Family (Viki) - potboiler!
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)*
The Lies Within (Netflix)*
Tunnel (Netflix)



Historical/Period drama (“sageuk”)
Crowned Clown (Viki)*
Mr Sunshine (Netflix)
Tale of Nokdu (Viki)*



Romance - lighter & fluffier
Beating Again (Netflix)
Coffee Prince (Netflix)
Don’t Dare to Dream (Netflix, or as Jealousy Incarnate on Viki)*
Gogh, The Starry Night (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

Another Miss Oh (Netflix)*
Because This Is My First Life (Viki)*

Chicago Typewriter (Viki/Netflix)*
Descendants of the Sun (Viki/Netflix)
Doctors (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/zombies/vampires/fantasy/sci-fi - lighter & fluffier

Goblin (Viki)*

I am not a Robot (Netflix)
Legend of the Blue Sea (Viki/Netflix)
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: Two Worlds (Viki & Netflix)



Guilty Pleasures (for the joy, not the quality)
Hwarang (Viki/Netflix)
The Last Empress (Viki)
Sassy Go Go (Netflix)



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


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:

Before We Get Married (Viki - Taiwanese)
Love O2O (Viki - Chinese)
Morning Call (Netflix - Japanese)
Put Your Head on My Shoulder (Netflix - Chinese)

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 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 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…

Boatyard - she is really happy about it but confessed that she finds them too Melo and prefers western dramas? I guess it's novelty for her to watch non K drama. When I mentioned Nokdu she announced I was going hard core if dipping into K period

I do think a lot of Kim So Hyun. I'll automatically give anything she's in a shot. It's led to some gems like Page Turner which I wouldn't normally watch. I thought how can you get a complete, emotive story in 3 episodes but they did it.

I can't find The Contract on Netflix so I don't know if I've watched it?

Speaking of Netflix, Triad Princess is out today! I'll be watching it soon but there's only 6 episodes released and it says 'Watch Season 1' now. Why do I have scary feelings that they've left it on a cliff hanger and I'll have to wait months for a season 2?!

Sorry, its called Marriage Contract.

boatyard In that case, I've watched it and the bulk of it is crying and sadness. It's a heavy drama with good acting, but a bit lackluster.

In that case, I've watched it and the bulk of it is crying and sadness. It's a heavy drama with good acting, but a bit lackluster.

Glad to hear my instincts for joyless slog are sharpening. Thanks Hello.

Why do I have scary feelings that they've left it on a cliff hanger and I'll have to wait months for a season 2?!

It's up! But you're right only 6 episodes and short ones at that. Doesn't bode well, but I am going to watch it anyway can't wait any longer for Jasper Liu's dimples

I've watched the first one bettys and it's alright. I'll enjoy it either way

Just been perusing Drama Eurovision Spreadsheet and Bettys and Hello you've already watched the whole of Pretty Proofreader!!! ... You two really go for it... I'm being a bit slow with my drama watching at the moment ... too many award shows with BTS where I have to catch up and watch over and over again.... all I can say is JIMIN!

Bettys I seem to recall you saying you've watched "Extraordinary You" it's not on Viki... where oh where did you watch... i've read good reviews on it... also anyone watched Catch The Ghost? that seems to be worth a look... not on Viki as far as I can tell...
Once Pretty Proofreader done... I'll have to start looking again! Might delve into 100 Days My Prince (Viki) i started ages ago on Non Boobage site... but I hate watching on those so glad it's popped up on Viki... However I feel like a need a break from historical at the moment!

Bea Not all episodes of 100 Days are u yet on Viki so I am going to wait until then.
Extraordinary You is great fun, I watched it on dramafast

Have so far watched first ep of Triad Princess, it is a little slight but has potential.

bettys I might have watched 4 eps of Triad Princess already I'm enjoying it but it's a bit pants in reality.

Bea I agree with the historical break. It's been heavy with the sageuk lately but it's mostly been so good. I saw some of the stages from the MAMAs and I can see why you're distracted.

hello... Yes! There's been a real run of really good sageuk... And they're brilliant but I need a slice of real life for a bit!! 😂
Once I start watching BTS at award shows then I watch ALL of them!! What a spiral! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

OK, what do I watch tonight?

Ideally something romantic at the sassier/flirtier end of the spectrum with a racehorse ML and great supporting cast.

Is School 2017 any good? Features Nokdu ML...

Do a boaty shuffle & tell us - if the ML from Nokdu isn't Nokdu-ish it may not be worth ploughing through school angst

I have my work cut out trying to catch up with hello on Triad Princess...

Although I was wondering about The Producers - anyone seen it?

bettys I've had a accidentally well placed day off due to car issues so I've managed to sneak it in.

The Producers is lovely if not a bit run of the mill. You really have to push through the first couple of episodes before it gets good.

I started The Producers a while ago and it had a very promising cast, so I’ll give it another go.

Somehow I talked DS2 into letting me watch kpop MVs until his bedtime. I put on a collection of all of BTS’ MVs in chronological order. I am enjoying their early stuff - lots of hip hop, rap and louche vibes. It has a lot of attitude. Weirdly it’s quite good for my Friday night grumps.

boatyard Ahhh! the early mv's... war of hormone is hilarious!... And just one day is so cute! They all look sooo young! 😂 😂 You're Beautiful is also really funny!! 😂

Early BTS. = Guyliner Galore!! 😂 😂

Halsey with Suga... Is lovely... With the loveliest heartfelt lyrics from Min Yoongi! 💜

Mmmmm I have a soft spot for Suga...he & Jimin are my bias wreckers 💜💜

It could be the Friday night Rioja but I am rather enjoying Triad Princess

RM seems to have done quite a bit of solo work & collaborations with other hip hop/rap stars from early on. I read an article a while ago about the artists with significant career longevity being the ones who collaborate well & often, for example Bowie. RM strikes me a someone who has cultivated networks beyond BTS. He also seems pretty astute. From my limited exposure to the band, he and Suga seem like the ones with much longer careers in the business ahead of them.

I’m loving ‘Do You’ by RM. 👌

Oooo! I highly recommend Mono Playlist by RM its the most soothing mellow music ever... It's my goto calming evening music!..
Yes Suga and RM have got the smarts in the music world... Very astute and self aware... But they're all lovely!.. 😊🌹😍💜

I love Mono Playlist by RM 💜 and also Suga’s work with Suran - very talented musicians both of them 💜💜