MsLatte’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #16): Serving up guaranteed corona-free escapism throughout lockdown to lurkers, passers-by and regulars.

[boatyardblues]

A quiet corner of MN for serious addicts of Kdrama, or the K-curious. (MsLatte is a Her Private Life reference.) Most of our viewing is drawn from Netflix and Viki, with a sprinkling of AmazonPrime. There are also platforms streaming content illegally if you go looking, but we don’t promote them.

We also dip into Japanese, Taiwanese & Chinese drama as & when. 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, no major site yet)
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 (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/Netflix)*
Go Back Couple (Viki)
I’ll Go To You When The Weather is Nice (Viki)

Just Between Lovers (Viki)*
Melo is my Nature (Viki)/Be Melodramatic (other sites)
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

Hospital Playlist (Netflix)
Itaewon Class (Netflix)
Live (Netflix)
My Mister (Viki/Netflix from June)
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 (no mainstream platform yet)
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 decent quality
Regulars also 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 Scoring Dramas of 2019
(courtesy of Hello’s kdrama spreadsheet, which are updated by/for thread regulars)

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. Quite a few of us are learning Korean, Japanese and/or Mandarin (some more diligently than others admittedly), so we swap tips and links to language resources. Basically, anything topical goes.


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…

Didn't itaewon class start with an age inappropriate relationship?

I have a full day dedicated to watching Nokdu DD sat down with me to admire the costumes and out of the blue said "Gosh Mum the ML has the most kissable lips, even when he wears a dress"🤣

Hello he does!

the ML has the most kissable lips, even when he wears a dress
men who are graceful and dance

A combination of things we just don't get anywhere but kdrama!

I took one for the team & watched the first ep of Backstreet Rookie
The predator is most definitely the FL
The writer character is a bit creepy but otherwise there's nothing too salacious, but it's not very good
It may improve but JCW should maybe take a break from romcom and go back to thriller

JCW needs to find a new agent.

I've a whole day dedicated to Kdrama - trying to ignore the sunshine and thoughts that I should be going outside!
What are you all watching? Or, are you invested in RL today?
Bea, I've updated spreadsheet, as I've watched, WLFKBJ. I'm thinking Dr Romantic 2.
I've been reading the comments about Backstreet Rookie. Watt surprised me in reading the synopsis, was the fact that he bought cigarettes for minors .
I'm hoping that in closing the age gap to only 7 years makes it a more balanced relationship. I was hoping this drama would be sweet, comedic and frothy - with your normal helping of, childhood trauma, misunderstandings and 'baddies' .
It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
RE Mystic - how far off the mark was my guess about how young leads being able to touch one another . I now have a new theory about who the young ML is, and his relationship to ML/FL!
in Oh my Baby, I am so hoping for a nasty shock for Jae Young and that he buggers off back to ex-wife - they so deserve each other. I'm developing a intense dislike of him, even his relationship with his daughter is not softening me I prefer out and out baddies (almost panto-esque) who you can really hate. The characters who think they are 'good people' - but, are not very nice people, really annoy me. Not talking about 'shades of grey', where I think to myself, "what would I do". Obviously, the Jae Young character has triggered something in me

I definitely think the issue my other drama friends have is based off the source material. I've tried to attach some of the conversation so you can see the thoughts for yourself.

fifi I'm spending my day cooking and working through Chinese dramas. I've got The Romance of Tiger and Rose on right now and it's the perfect balance of silly and beautiful. Script writer and actor who are at loggerheads get sent into the screenwriters script to play out the historical drama and fall in love. Silly but welcomed right now.

hellos . I have to say, I was one of those who really enjoyed Goblin. I did think about age, but somehow it seemed to be okay due to the fantasy element, and nothing happened until she was older. Plus, she did have the upper hand in being able to set him free.
I should be batch cooking today, but I have no motivation!
You are selling CDrama to me, silly and beautiful is where I'm at.

fifi where are you? Cool & grey here in London...sun coming next week though

I agree with everything you have said re Mystic and especially Oh My Baby - Jae Young is the pits even though his relationship with the daughter is adoring (but slightly inept given his job)

hello I like the sound of the CDrama!

Backstreet Rookie is NOTHING like the webtoon given that synopsis & images!
He doesn't even buy them cigarettes, he gets sweets instead. I can see why some people may be put off it, but actually it's made clear that FL falls for him at first sight 'cos he looks nice & takes flowers for his date, and it is her that manipulates the situation. It looks like she may be given a hard luck backstory as well as she seem to be looking after her delinquent sister.

I think we need to start a Kdrama management agency. We need to find good roles for JCW and Sung Hoon. Who else could benefit from our expertise, wisdom, fabulous taste, and passion?

I didn't enjoy Goblin, the age difference was too much. Weirdly I did enjoy I Hear Your Voice although the age difference was really big, but maybe 'cos it was reversed & Toasty LYS was younger by 10 years it (sort of) seemed to work.

What is the fascination with noona romances though?? Are they all written by older women?? Like women writing BL?

bettys, sunny-ish Edinburgh . It will be pouring down after today!
Glad to hear about BSR. I just need to find a place to watch it now!
My daughter just ate something really hot, then started to say, "oww, it's hot, it's hot". She then laughed and said, "it's like I'm in a Kdrama" .
There may be hope for her yet!

bettys I think they're noona romances are made by people who think 'older women' want to be chased and loved by someone young and innocent. So that they can rediscover their freedom and identity. Whether that's what women want is a different question entirely.

@bettys

What is the fascination with noona romances though?? Are they all written by older women?? Like women writing BL?

Is it the fantasy of the older woman being more experienced? We definitely don't see it as much in western drama/films. Re I Hear Your Voice, I struggled more with that, as he was so young, and didn't age in the drama. Isn't interesting how different reactions can be to dramas.

BTW I got over my struggle because of LYS, and good story line.
Beginning to question my own morales

I think a lot of drama would never get off the drawing board if they were completely faithful to the source material and there are several that could have done with being adapted better (Mischievous (Playful) Kiss being one). Personally, age gap isn't a problem for me if there is a balance of power. I enjoyed Flower Boy Ramen Shop but didn't like that the FL was a teacher, even though ML had the money and status and was the more predatory one.

I have said to my friend that if anything happened to DH I wouldn't rule out a younger man but with no baggage or strings attached. I've done the SC and DC thing, so just want the romance lol

I've finished Queen: Live & War. Quite enjoyable, although a bit confusing because a) it was my first Kdrama & there are a lot of actors, none of whom I'm familiar with (plus I'm not really great at remembering new faces anyway), b) the vast majority of the characters are in particular styles of costume/uniform, such as maids, soldiers, etc. Also c) the first couple of episodes were a lot of back-and-forth in time, scene setting which was a little confusing at first, & there was a whole thing with the main FL Eun Bo being twin sister of Eun Ki, which may have been properly explained near the beginning, but if it was, I missed it. It was explained in the last couple of episodes but I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Someone earlier in the thread did suggest a reason why the twins had to be hidden but... that wasn't it. Hope I'm not giving spoilers.

I'm onto Because This Is My First Life now. Enjoying it so far. Sweet, funny, & a bit sad too.

Sorry, that should say Queen: Love & War. Stupid tablet changed it!

Oh LYS totally sold me on the romance line and being tall he doesn't seem quite so young < shallow and nonsensical>
RIABB also has him in a noona romance

I think for me as well if the real life age gap is big it feels a bit icky if they have kiss scenes no matter which way round it is. At least in Mr Sunshine there was no physicality so the huge age gap didn't impact so much. Same in My Mister - although that was perfectly done and I had no quibble with it at all.

Plus, also, I have short-term memory loss. Probably should have mentioned that. There are so many people to remember in QL&W!

Morals - can't even spell it, that's how questionable they may be

fifi 😂😂😂

Just seen the trailer for Sung Hoon's first Chinese period drama Bodyguard-Oath in Jade. Available in September. Interesting to see how he'll fare with swish robes and sword play.