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…

That video 😊😍😎

Loved CLOY!
I'm still a little confused about the chap who is in hiding with regards to his alliance though 🧐

I think his allegiances follow the money, Aesops. He has zero moral conscience, or at least that we’ve seen thus far.

That should have been moral compass, but either works.

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! 😭 Some great acting this week. Along with CLOY, its the best thing on at mo. Really good stuff. 👍

Very cathartic!

Goodness that's the second time today I've welled up, Stove League this time
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

Crosspost with boatyard obv. both have a late-night weepfest [grin[

It would help if I could get him name right. 🤦‍♀️ There was another bit that made me sniffle in that episode - it might just have been the shot of him asleep on the hospital chairs, like a lost soul.

Yes, it was just what I needed. When you think you’ve had a crappy day, seeing what other people have to endure - even fictional ones - brings a sense of perspective.

And even his trundle case thing )forgotten what they’re called) broke! 😢
So pleased his brother held his own with the horrible coaches.

I loved all the deep sighs outside the conference centre that turned to high fives.

I can’t wait for the shitbag in the plum suit to get his comeuppance. The viewer payoff will be IMMENSE. I can feel my cheer brewing already. It may forment into a roar.

the shitbag in the plum suit
👍🤣 nailed it!!🤣

I would never have guessed the reason why he takes photos of food either, such good writing

It’s exactly the kind of show that showcases great Korean drama writing. So, so cleverly done.

Decided to make some spicy kimchi ramen for lunch. I may have overdone the heat, i don't think my face will ever recover 😂

Sounds good though hello! I have been having kimcheese toasties recently which are fairly spicy.

I may have been sucked into The Fiery Priest. I wasn't getting it but then I snorted with laughter a couple of times so I think I'll stick with it

Just christened my Korean street food cook book . I bought industrial quantities of Korean chilli paste and flakes so think we'll be having something weekly - thankfully husband liked my first attempt (he usually cooks so the pressure was on).

Everyone over to your house once a week then Brambly?

I'm making gyōza tomorrow. I already feel this was a terrible decision but I'm going with it!

DS2 and I bought frozen gyoza skins at the Korean supermarket a couple of months ago. We’re planning to have a go at making some this weekend.

Romantic Doctor Kim 2 is pretty much an exact repeat of series 1 but I really don’t care it’s so enjoyable! Plus ML is so much better than he was in Abyss. Drippy FL is showing signs of being a doctor at last too, and Head Nurse & Chief Admin are just fab. They look like everyone has fun making this, maybe that’s why they mostly all signed up for a 2nd series, even Kim Min-Jae in a supporting role when he’s just been a ML in his own drama. 😊

I thought the same bettys but I find the supporting cast so enjoyable that I don't mind the almost carbon copy story. The head nurse is currently my favourite, especially in ep 2/3 where she mentioned the reason she was getting feisty was the menopause!

😋 Mmm the food plans sound good!
I finally finished Jekyll Hyde Me last night. I did skip a bit in the last few episodes. I'm not sure I would have finished it if it wasn't for Hyun Bin (actually who am I kidding, I always finish them 😂)

A woman after my own heart, Girl. Not like all those skippedy-doo-dah flibbertigibbets. Yes, Betty and Bea. I’m looking at you.

🤷‍♀️🤣