Ms Latte’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama Addicts #12)

[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 [[
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/streamed_tv/3758420-Ms-Latte-s-Daebak-Cybercaf-Kdrama-Addicts-11?topicid=16582&threadid=3758420&pg=1 here]] but our ‘Addicts Recommend’ list below is cumulative so includes recommendations and favourites from all previous threads.


Shows marked with an asterisk 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)
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)
Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung (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)
The Secret Life of My Secretary (Viki/Netflix)
Thirty Not Seventeen (Viki) or as Still 17 (Netflix)

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/Netflix)
Chicago Typewriter (Viki/Netflix)
Crash Landing on You (Netflix - still airing)
Descendants of the Sun (Viki/Netflix)
Doctors (Netflix)
Fight For My Way (Viki/Drama bus)*
Go Back Couple (Viki)

Just Between Lovers (Viki)*
Melo is my Nature (Viki)/Be Melodramatic (Dramafast)
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 (Viki & Netflix)*



Guilty Pleasures (for the joy, not the quality)
Bride of Habaek (Netflix)
Hwarang (Viki/Netflix)
The Last Empress (Viki/Netflix)
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)

Thread Regulars’ Top 5 Dramas of 2019 (courtesy of Hello’s kdrama spreadsheet, scores range from +10 if very good to -10 for truly awful)

1. Her Private Life - 9.40 (5 votes)
2. Melo is My Nature - 9.00 (5 votes)

3.= Crash Landing On You, The Crowned Clown, The Lies Within, and The Tale of Nokdu - 8.75 (4 votes)

1. Hotel del Luna - 8.50 (4 votes)

5.= Romance is a Bonus Book, and Search: WWW - 8.17 (6 votes)

The Most Disappointing Dramas of 2019

1. Melting Me Softly -4.17 (3 votes)
2. Abyss -3.33 (3 votes)
3. When The Devil Calls Your Name -2.33 (3 votes)
4. Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency - 0.33 (3 votes)
5. Vagabond 1.25 (4 votes)

Honourable mention for the worst drama of the year goes to Chinese/Mandarin Well Intended Love on Netflix, which scored -10 (2 votes). It beggars belief that Netflix commissioned a second series, but there you go. 🤷‍♂️

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.

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…

Dear God, I’m blubbing along with Nam Mingoong at the end of ep 9 of Stove League. His character has had so much to bear!

^Goodness that's the second time today I've welled up, Stove League this time sad
It's such a good drama and Namgoon Min's performance is very finely nuanced.
And he looks good in a polo neck and three quarter length coat^

Totally agree boatyard and bettys episode 9 of Stove League was excellent, but tear jerking.

I’ve been trying to catch up on ep 11, Girl, but keep nodding off as I was up and out early today. That episode was so well done.

Well this is just totally lovely: m.youtube.com/watch?v=x4l1Dcieyjc They seem very comfortable together.

That is lovely boatyard! 😊😊

I need to go to bed now but I’m going to watch again tomorrow for body language now I’ve watched for the subtitles, as there was a lot going on.

They look so perfect and wholesome 😁

KLAXON!! KLAXON!! KLAXON!!

Coming to Netflix on 1st Feb

Come & Hug Me - superb angst with Park Morgan

Tempted - Woo Do Hwan & Kim Min Jae 😍

Extraordinary You - Comic book meets school life fantasy with Rowoon

and.....drumroll for boatyard ... MY SECRET TERRIUS with So Ji Sub but not in a tub 😂

TheGirl they do.....

...he must be the only man that can carry off white jeans & a yellow sweater with such aplomb

MY SECRET TERRIUS with So Ji Sub but not in a tub

Hurrah! 🍾🥂🎉

Ooooooo! So ooooo excited! I can rewatch the angst and tragedy of Come Hug Me without the ads and bad quality!

Extraordinary You have read many good reports!! And my kdrama addict who I rate for her reviews on Tumblr absolutely loves it!.. And.... My Secret Terrius!!... Hurrah! Hurrah! 😂 😂

bettys.... Dr Kim... Keep meaning to say isn't the F Anaesthiologist from the rival team absolutely hateful! Now there's a woman who could do with a good slapping! 😡😡😡

Bea I loved Extraordinary You it was fun and zipped along!
YY rival anaesthesiologist in Dr Kim is horrid, she’ll get her comeuppance 😉
Have been skipping through Great Doctor. LMH changed his hair 😞h and have mostly been trying to see if the turquoise handbag she won’t let go of is a Mulberry (it’s not)

mulberry bag 😂 😂 😂 everytime she runs out of somewhere I keep shouting... Don't forget your fancy bag that no one has exclaimed surprise at!! 😂 😂

I got really confused why everyone was talking about The Great Doctor and why I'd never heard of it considering it stars LMH. Finally took the time to Google and it seems the naming curse strikes again, it was called Faith when I watched it but clearly Viki had different ideas.

I love this quote... And think I should tattoo it on my forehead!...
Bong Joon Ho
“Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films,”.... But for me add in.... Dramas / music / shows... 💜❤️💜

“Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films,”

Never a truer word spoken!

My youngest son (11) started watching subtitled stuff with me about 18 months ago. He struggles a bit if the dialogue rattles along, but we’ve watched some great stuff together - Argentinian, Indian, Chinese. I love that he’s willing to give it a go.

Article about Jang Ki Yong’s (Park Morgan) recent Vogue photoshoot on Soompi. The photos are great.

Also, have copied and saved the Korean music award shortlist (with categories) to inform future forays on Apple Music. That’s also on Soompi.

Addicts, I need opinions on whether I've made a silly decision. I started watching The Ghost Bride on Netflix and it's wonderful. I've watched 3 episodes already and am thoroughly enjoying it.

However, it's a Netflix produced series, with only 6 episodes, and instead of 'Series 1' it says 'Volume 1'. Do you reckon I've signed myself up for a cliff hanger and a couple of month disappointing wait?

This is a rhetorical question Hello, right? Of course it will frustrate you.

I think you already know the answer hello

I am simultaneously looking forward to and dreading Kingdom 2 as I believe there is possible a third series

This is NOT what we sign up for when watching kdramas! Argh! 😡

I was just searching to see if Netflix have a customer services email and discovered they have a page where you can submit titles of stuff you want to see on Netflix. It’s titled ‘Request TV shows or movies’. Oh. Em. Gee. If they hadn’t already bought Terrius, that would be on the list. What about the chicken shop film by the Melo writer/director?

To clarify, I plan to tell them why serialising kdramas is all kinds of wrong and please desist.