MsLatte’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #14): Special welcome to any MNers stuck at home who need escapist boxset recommendations

[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 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)
The Fiery Priest (Netflix)

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)
My Secret Terrius (Netflix)*
Signal (Netflix)*
Suspicious Partner (Netflix)*
The Lies Within (Netflix)*
Tunnel (Netflix)*

Historical/Period drama (“sageuk”)
100 Days My Prince (Viki)
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)*
Where Stars Land (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)**
Descendants of the Sun (Viki/Netflix)
Doctors (Netflix)
Fight For My Way (Viki/Drama bus)*
Go Back Couple (Viki)
I’ll Go To You When The Weather is Nice (Viki - currently airing)

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)
Romantic Dr Kim - seasons 1&2 (Viki)
Search: WWW (Viki)*

Something in the Rain (Netflix)
The Package (Viki)



Straighter ‘Slice of Life’ dramas on universal themes
Live (Netflix)
My Mister (Viki)**
Prison Playbook (Netflix)*

Stove League (Viki)

Supernatural/zombies/vampires/fantasy/sci-fi - lighter & fluffier

Extraordinary You (Netflix)
Goblin (Viki)*

I am not a Robot (Netflix)
Legend of the Blue Sea (Viki/Netflix)
My Holo Love (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: Two Worlds (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)
Go Go Squid (Viki - Chinese)
Instead of Tipsy Why Not Get Drunk (Viki, Chinese)
Love O2O (Viki - Chinese)
Morning Call (Netflix - Japanese)
Put Your Head on My Shoulder (Netflix - Chinese)
Tientsin Mystic (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)

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/ML is too dense to realise the 2ML/2FL is better)
🥾🍑 (boot, peach) = kick up the arse to go to bed



We also abbreviate titles if they’re long, but usually with an obvious abbreviation. Some favourite actors & actresses have been abbreviated for speed/efficiency, eg Park Min Young (PMY), Kim Jae Wook (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…

Well that’s new! Netflix PP in a Netflix show. (King ep 2)

Where is that temple cut into the mountain? It’s amazing! I want to visit...

Ginger - I have no concentration too and then when I do sit down the child or the husband needs something 😡

I can't for the life of me remember the name of the drama, but there was one where Bojack Horseman was playing in the background and I couldn't stop laughing because it was an episode that I had just finished watching with DS.

DS requested I watch Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom with him, so no drama for me this afternoon. I'm cringing at the "romantic" bits. DS is loving it though.
I caught up with Weather yesterday. PMYs character is a bit cold but I don't mind her. I love the bits with the Aunt, I really hope she gets it together with the Editor

I'm thoroughly enjoying Eternal Monarch, WDH is swoonsome and even LMH is attractive

I'm just hoping giving the writers track record that we don't have a bitter-sweet ending there's some sadness there too. I actually felt sorry for him standing there alone in the garden

Although Harrison Ford from 1984 with no shirt on 😁

and even LMH is attractive

I know. Weird, isn’t it? I like WSL guy too. I’m enjoying it waaaaaaay more than I expected. I had to stop 15 min before the end of ep 2 to make dinner & now I’m watching Avengers Endgame (again!), my boys’ film night pick. It’s over 3hrs. 😩

Could this be a nice new ⛵? Are we in for the next Search: WWW or Be Melo?

Although Harrison Ford from 1984 with no shirt on 😁

Oh yes.

We watched Crystal Skull over Easter (family tradition to watch Indie at Xmas & Easter & all agree 3 is the best) and even now all craggy he’s not bad.

We even as a family spent a holiday in Venice hunting down the church they come out of (found it too)

I haven't seen Crystal Skull but it is on iplayer so that might be tomorrow afternoons entertainment.

I'll also
try out Eternal Monarch tomorrow hopefully. I'm having video drinks with friends in leiu of a birthday party tonight 🎉.

Is your birthday Girl? If so 생일 축하해 🎉🎂🍾

Ahh thanks bettys it's next week but tonight is my cancelled party night!

In good news DH has got me that Jinzu gin!

In good news DH has got me that Jinzu gin!

You’ve just reminded me that DH still hasn’t sorted out my birthday present. 🙄

Has it been your bday yet boaty or has you DH got time to sort it?

He is overdue. 😡

Oops!!

Breeches Ahoy!... Thoroughly enjoying it all so far! 😂

Is Lee Min Ho objectively handsome? They’re making such a fuss of him in this. He is clearly good looking, but is the fuss justified. Is he the Korean equivalent of Thelma & Louise vintage Brad Pitt?

Ooooo! It's good! 🥰🥰 I'm sooo excited to find a new drama that I'm eager to get through!

Bloody typical we have to wait and I can't binge the lot... However I'll save ep2 for tomorrow as I'm on another Bangtan Marathon!...💜💜💜💜

I think Lee min ho is rather dashing!.. 😁😳😊... I liked him in legend blue sea and endured the bad hair in city hunter...😂 (which I watched on a boobage channel then gave up hoping it'll appear on viki or netflix!..
But that was ages ago! Still waiting!)

girl... Happy cancelled party night! Xx

I’ve got ask Bea. When did you sleep? Have you had an afternoon nap?

KLAXON: Rowoon is on Running Man tomorrow.

boatyard... Nope! I've had 4 hours last night and meant to go to bed around 9 tonight but.... Those damn Breeches caught my eye!!

Sleep is for the weak!!!!! 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪

😭😭😭😭😭🤤🤤🤤😴😴😴... Me tomorrow!

Lovely Calm Rowoon!! Run! Run! 😂 😂