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…

We also forgot Seo Kang Joon and Park Min Young’s new melo, which starts airing in mid-Feb.

Ooh yes, lovely Seo Kang Joon 😍

As soon as that starts airing, it will bump other shows because it’s such exciting casting. I can’t say definitively (because I swerved Melting Me Softly on the basis of your early feedback), but I think I’d watch this one even if it is shit. Perhaps just with the subs off. 😉

It would appear that racehorse legs SKJ has replaced Grrr JCW at the centre of the Venn Diagramme.

I have stalled on Moon Embracing The Sun , partly because I have a lot of RL stuff to do and the on-airs take precedence, but also because the story has now shifted to the grown up actors and the chemistry between them is distinctly lacking whereas the younger pair had it in spades. The grownup FL was not a good casting choice as she seems to act by just opening her eyes wide and staring stupidly 🤷‍♀️

Hello again, and thank you for the welcome and suggestions. I might give the Lies Within a go, that sounds like my sort of thing. I came across Kdrama after I ran out of European/ Scandi stuff. I tried a couple of Russian things but couldn't get into them. I have netflix and Amazon Prime. I'm reluctant to get another subscription, but we'll see :)
I'm on a 55 day streak with duolingo Korean, but I'm not sure how much I've actually learned!

You can always test your skills here sophie I'm not saying we'll be anything like native speakers but we can try. (maybe watchingthemoon will pop back in soon and show us how it's done)

SKJ replacing JCW????? Bettys... I know Melting was an absolute stinker... but we can't chuck him out yet!!!! Aaaand isn't Hyung Bin also in the centre... I'm still tempted to make a venn diargam ... for the larks!!!!

you’re right Bea .... it’s just that Melting was such a stinker, even he couldn’t save it.

I'm still tempted to make a venn diargam ... for the larks!!!!

How would you collate the information? Do we give you a list of our top ten oppas?

Is Terrius coming to viki or netflix? I really like the sound of that one - plus, you know, it's him in the tub and all

And, for those of us like me who have NO chance of learning Korean ...

Netflix frogs.

Ooooh, lovely thanks boat

The Terrius recs have reminded me that I have never seen Oh my Venus so I just watched the 1st half of the 1st episode by 10 sec skipping through till I got to the gym/hot tub bit.
Im definitely watching Terrius now 😍.
I feel a bit grubby now, due to the shameless skipping and visual checking 😂

I'd need to spend some time on my top ten list but I'd love an actual Venn diagram 😁

I feel a bit grubby now, due to the shameless skipping and visual checking

I dunno. I’ve watched the first 15 min of OMV a few times when I’ve needed a pick me up. It never disappoints.

I think if I did create a Venn diagram... It couldn't be the regular circle sort of diagram!... Don't get too excited... But I'll think on it! 😂😂

Thanks boatyard I feel better knowing Im not alone 😁

Bea Venn diagram galore! I'm imagining it'd have to be something like this.

Just put netflix on!I knew Itaewon was coming but really hadn't twigged it was this weekend!
2 X eps of Itaewon (please be good! Please be good! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏)
2 X eps CLOY
Dr Kim 2

Oh! But ambassador! You are spoiling us!
😂👍

hello...!! 😱😱😱... I think it might be like that! 😂😂😂

I've got clean glasses, a fresh haircut and some fuzzy socks. I am prepared for this weekend of drama viewing!

Arghh!! I want to watch it!! Flipping social life!
That Venn diagram is amazing!

I have a whole day to myself on Sunday!
Please rain🙏 That way I can justify not moving from the TV

Friends over tonight to celebrate end of dry and low carb January (yes early but c'mon!)

Rice cooker on and wine chilling 👍🏽

I should probably make up a social life at this point to make me sound less boring.