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…

I'm sneaking dramas in using my phone but it's not the same, is it?

No it's not the same, but better than nothing. I mostly watch on my laptop or phone if needs must. Really need a dedicated kdrama room where I can watch on an actual tv and not be disturbed by requests for food/dog walks/clean clothes.

CLOY... Is really turning out to be a top kdrama... The characters are just so well written... I'm loving how solid they are...

Finding it hard to describe but I'm enjoying how all the characters are well presented with meaningful intent and story... The bug listener Rat and his family are sooo nicely done! Just a pleasure to watch!... And I'm not even including my love for Hyung Bin in this round up!... Also! Son Ye Jin (FL) is very engaging! 👍👍... I'm almost wishing I hadn't started it so I could binge the whole lot!! 😂 😂

I’ve scrolled down so I can’t see your posts, as I got back from swimming with my boys & got stuck in making dinner. They’re currently watching Dr Who with DH so I’m biding my time until I can watch CLOY on the big telly. In some respects the wait is sharpening my appetite for it, so all good. I’m feeling super mellow after a very energetic swim too. Annoyingly, when I raced DS1 (14yo beanpole with massive hands and feet) I got thrashed & experienced the performance benefit that male puberty brings.

I think CLOY may turn out to be one of my favourites. Just watched ep8 and might watch it again...

I’m already considering CLOY may be a perfect 10 but am holding out just in case there’s a dodgy end

Ugh! If there's a dodgy ending there's going to be TRUBBLE!! 🤨😡😠

I’m already considering CLOY may be a perfect 10 but am holding out just in case there’s a dodgy end

It has been very sure-footed thus far. Let’s keep everything crossed for a consistent ending.

What ending could possible ruin CLOY? It was all a fever dream? She was in a coma the whole time?

Romantic Doctor Kim 2 is turning out to be quite lovely. I'm quite enjoying returning to the same place which is something we don't often get with Korean dramas.

I'm hoping they don't do a 5 years later etc etc hadn't thought of a fever dream/coma

I agree about Romantic Doctor Kim 2 it's shaping up nicely apart from weedy FL but the supporting characters are just ace

I've just had a bit of a sob-fest in ep 15 of 100 Days My Prince, not the first time kdrama has had me teary-eyed over breakfast. Don't panic Bea if you're not there yet, it was cathartic and overdue.

I'm having a right old game with dramas this morning. I must have started at least 6 and every one has just been a little underwhelming. I'll be running out of options soon.

Stove League, Hello. It’s whip smart and the characters are good - some compelling because they are so awful.

boatyard I started Stove League before and sort of lost track of it! You're a genius. That's my evening sorted.

Bettys That's what i like to hear!... No bad unhappy ending for me.... noooo siree!!!!

Actually Bea there’s another sad bit bit at the end of ep 15 that I wasn’t expecting 😢 .....about to head in to the last episode now!!!

Phew all done and dusted and ended well!! It's not quite up there with The Crowned Clown but definitely over 7 and safely in the green,

what's next on your watch list bettys or are you doing a boaty?

I have been saving up 2 episodes of Stove League for this evening, and then Dr Romantic if the subs are up.

Next binge watch though...hmmm... Fiery Priest? Reply Whatever? Save Me? aAll new on Netflix. Or maybe Dr Prisoner if I can be arsed with the mad ads on dramafast

Oooh really looking forward to Stranger 2, some class actors added to the cast including kickass unni from Search WWW

Soompi also has news of Lee Min Ki’s new film - an occult film where he plays a Vatican trained exorcist. And we all love a favoured chiselled oppa rocking a cassock (cf HH KJW in The Guest). Hubba hubba!

Hopefully this is the right ‘behind the scenes’ CLOY link from (spoilers for the weekend’s episodes): m.youtube.com/watch?v=jVjQQDSj2yc

Aw bollocks. It wasn’t! Have a look on Soompi. They are adorable together.

Here it is: m.youtube.com/watch?v=RhgUUVmBLwI

Awwww! It's soooo cute!... 🥰🥰🥰🥰

Ive just watched ep8 of CLOY. I won't say too much if we haven't all watched it but it was excellent! Totally agree about the well written and rounded side characters. The Rat, MIL to be, the village women.
Definitely looking like a ten!

And that video 😍😍😍