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…

It says 'Limited Series' so that may mean it's a one-off with all episodes - hopefully!

Save Me is very dark but also quite different. It features a cult, is set in the countryside and has also just shown bull-fighting (like cock fighting but with bulls) which I didn't know was a thing

Hey Bea what's the Army reaction to BTS at the Grammys? It looked like they had a whole lot of fun and they obviously love collaborating with other artists but it was very very short!!

They looked mighty fine on the red carpet

Bettys!.... Am out and about at the moment!... But that question deserves access to a keyboard! 😂 😂 😂 So will post later!... But just saying!.
. Park Jimin on that stage is just sooooooo oooo cool and swaggy! 😂

Had to look up the original song and it was only RM on the collaboration, so great that they had all of BTS on the Grammys

Nah nah Taehyung owned it!!

......they all looked like they were having a ball & Mr Worldwide Handsome rocks an all black suit!

After watching a few clips of upcoming dramas on YouTube, I can only commend the people who have the job of lightly spritzing the chest and backs of actors who have workout scenes. To stare at those muscles for that long and not say something stupid is a feat I'd not be able to manage

😁😁😁 Any particular ones to look out for?

Yes please let us know I need some light relief from the unrelenting grimness of Save Me. It's very good but just when I think it can't possibly get worse something else awful happens, and I'm only on episode 3!!

bettys

Hey Bea what's the Army reaction to BTS at the Grammys? It looked like they had a whole lot of fun and they obviously love collaborating with other artists but it was very very short!!

Right.....

There were lots of differing opinions on this! Needless to say BTS twittersphere has been very very busy!

BTS (esp Yoongi) have never made it a secret that they absolutely love The Grammys... that for them... a group from South Korea to be even mentioned in the same breath as The Grammys is a huge huge honour... Min Yoongi has been gunning for the Grammys ever since the very beginning ... usually said in a self deprecating way... like Yah! as if that's ever going to happen...
I think to RM and Yoongi (who are such musos) they really see The Grammys as like the Oscars of music so being just there is so so huge to them.

Last year they were nominated for Artwork (i think) for Love Yourself and presented an award to HER... they promised they would be back!!! They were sooo excited the footage just shows how much in awe they were... so obvs they were dying to perform and mentioned lots of times they would love love to be on the grammy stage performing,
Leading upto Grammys... it was obvs BigHit were hoping for some nominations for Map Of The Soul:Persona... Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop/Duo Group Performance, Best Music Video, Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album.

to be honest i wasn't too hopeful for the big categories but i though they'd get at least one nomination due to the Huge Huge year and success they have had... needless to say they got nothing...Armys were furious!!!

Armys talk about how RM had obvs stayed up till the middle of the night for the nominations to come out as he posted on Twitter or Weverse as soon as the noms came out with..."I miss you!" and "“Don’t worry, at least this planet still has Namjoon.” ... sob!

Anyway so obvs lots of Armys were furious as well you know BTS are so huge the numbers they can provide to viewing figures/sales are not be joked about... and Grammys had obvs been touting and hinting that BTS would get a nom before they came out... clickbait and all that and just social media trending...Armys saw it as a huge snub AND were furious that they were obvs using BTS for Clout/Publicity.

Then... BTS announced going over to states to perform Black Swan On James Corden Show (world exclusive) a whole two weeks before the show... flying over sooo early for a tv show (and some event with IheartRadio) is unheard of soo of course twitter explodes again with rumours of them performing at Grammys (unlikely i thought as they haven't been nominated!!!)

Meanwhile BTS the cheeky buggers don't say anything and then start posting pics of them obvs rehearsing in a HUGE studio on their Instagram account (they hardly ever post on there)... Detective armys come out with all sorts of therories... maybe they're doing a huge performance for Grammys?

Grammys announce BTS performing with Lil Nas Old Town Road as part of his main performance... RM had done a remix with Lil Nas Seoul Town Road (though even if the original is quite annoying it's quite funny as RM has included lots of his funny pun word play in it to give it a Korean slant - Hence the tilte - RM you are too funny!!! )

Armys furious again as some see it as another snub and clout thing as BTS will effectively be back up singers!???? They are aghast at how rude this is!!! and did they just invite RM how dare they leave out all of BTS?!!!

More sensible ARmys understand the hurt and snub but also recognise how much BTS have wanted to be at Grammys and to per from and know they will be just sooo happy to achieve this and yet understand there is a hill to climb with regards to sort of thing! sometimes the West just doesn't get it!
Also i think BTS do see it as a Huge honour but are willing to see it for what it is...they understand there is a process to getting the big stages and are willing to play the game... i think RM has said a few very subtle shady things in the VLive broadcast afterwards (you can read it as that or not... you choose!)

I'm peeved that it was soo little (just because I can't wait for the rest of the world to see how magnificent their stages can be - see the perfromances at the MAMA / MMA awards this year! ) but they looked to be having soooo much fun (crazy armys think they were forced to do it by the Company! Honestly!!!!????) and their VLive (which i have only seen snippets of) is full of awe and genuine sincere enjoyment from being there...

It's soooo hard keeping up wth the Kdrama and BTS Drama!!!

Phew! Hope that answers your question Bettys... was it a little too much???? [{blush}

Apologies to all who are not interested in this!!!! [sad}

Fantastic ! Thanks Bea 👏👏I knew you’d be able to give a proper précis of the situation. I loved it for what it was but do feel sorry for Namjoon & Yoongi as I don’t think they get the appreciation they deserve as songwriters and producers.
I’d read about Army’s mixed reaction but didn’t really have the backstory, and had never even heard of the track before.
I watched some of the VLive after show stuff sans subs, and thought Taehyung looked knackered but hey! his English has really improved 😉💜

Can you imagine if it had only been RM? 😱😱

Park Jimin! Swaggy AF! 😂 😳💜😁💜💜

Bettys! Subs are up on VLIVE! 👍

Ok yeah I’ll give you that one Bea 🤣💜

Dammit I am supposed to be working I can’t possibly go on VLive just ‘cos the subs are up........

However V is trending as The Man In Black and The Man in the Headband

"I feel like covering my face and running away, squealing."...

me, always when BTS appear! 😳 😳 😳
Nice Article!

She cracks me up!! "I AM NOT OK" (quote)

Excellent Grammys coverage people! Loving the links to all the videos 😍

Save Me is gripping but it's not an easy watch. On episode 4 now and it's still very sad

The Grammy's was really short. Hopefully next year will work out better for them. I saw a tweet about an interview with them on the red carpet where the reporter sounded rude. Thought Namjun dealt with it well, saying there music has always been Korean. Made me realise how much of a fight they have to be recognised properly there.

Did someone say they are watching Ghost bride? I've realised it's based on a book I and dd have read. We will probably watch to see what they've done with the story.

ginger... Yes! That interview...

I)... Blah blah your new albums coming out?...
Namjoon) yes!
I)... Mostly Korean?... But some English?
N)... 🤔🤔.. It's always been Korean...!...

Namjoon must have the patience of a flippin Saint!

Evening all. I am about but we all seem to be doing our own thing before the quality kdrama wave comes crashing in this weekend, tsunami-style. I wonder if I’m going to get any sleep next month - so much I want to see. Anyway, it’s good the drought is about to end.

I’ve started watching The Page Turner on Viki. It’s only 3 hour-long episodes, so a mere snack, but it’s pretty good. Ji Soo is very likeable and his usual hangdog, adorable self. FL from Nokdu is the second part of the main triad, then some bloke I half recognise but can’t place. It’ll do.

I’ve been properly sucked in to Save Me now, it’s pretty tense (OCN of course 🤷‍♀️) I really want Wu Do Hwan to save the girl but it’ll probably be Taecyeon. Excellent acting, and instead of secondary characters you love, I just hate them all (which you are meant to) apart from the other 2 lads in the friendship group.
Page Turner is on my list, hello recommended it I think ages ago

The Page Turner is lovely (thus far). Ji Soo always comes across as a lovely chap. I’ll be gutted if he ever bobs up on Soompi for heinous doings, though it feels like that would be unlikely. I want him to come on the hypothetical pub outing because he seems like he’d be affable, agreeable company. My feelings towards him are most definitely at the maternal end of the spectrum.