MsLatte’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #17): I need suits and dimples and questionable morals

[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 as they are peppered with pop-ups of “Olga” and friends offering a good time, which gets in the way of the drama.

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/Netflix)
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/Netflix)*

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)*
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/Netflix)*
Kingdom (Netflix)*

Mystic Pop-up Bar (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…

I showed DH Betty’s pic of the decanter and told him Bea’s tip earlier. His expression was one of complete confusion: “you talk about this kind of stuff on that thread, why?” What can I say? There’s something for everyone on here.

Does anyone have good recipes for delicious baked cauliflower, something tasty like bang bang cauliflower? A friend gave me 2 huge ones from a home delivery cock-up and I don’t think I can face it boiled every night. We only just finished off another large one from last Friday’s shop.

No viewing yesterday but chipping in with a tasty baked Cauliflower recipe.

Slice into 1inch steaks
Mix olive oil/curry powder/seasoning into paste
Smear all over
Bake for 25 mins on medium

or

As above with Korean/jerk/harissa paste

That’s a mercifully simple recipe, Aesops - thanks!

My cauli tip is to use up leftover plain boiled cauli by tossing with kimchee paste then covering with cheese and baking in oven. Et voilà - cauliflower kimcheese!
I guess would work just as well with roasted cauli & kimchee paste as per Aesops recipe if you add the cheese for the last 10 mins in the oven

Hello, if feel so out the loop. I have been trying to keep up with the thread, but RL is so intrusive! I've managed to keep up with some shows, but feeling very left behind.
I am definitely interested in feedback of MUF, as I watched it straight after 20 Century Boy and Girl, because of Kim Ji Suk. He is very good in both.
I did like it, but I felt I should've liked it more. I think it's because I went straight from one to the other, so maybe not in a place for 'slice of life' drama. Also, the sister in MUV annoyed me, and not to mention the sister's husband! The acting was good, storyline moved along, lots of intrigue and 'misunderstandings'. I wasn't too sure about the young brother's storyline, it didn't really get a full conclusion, or I missed it!
Started Into the Ring, not sure it will be for everyone, but I'm liking the quirkiness. The FL has the potential to become a bit like Hwang Jung Eum, but not stopped me from watching it so far.
Loving it's Ok, the story, cliffhangers, acting, sets, design, location, all just great. It could go into my top 10, but I would need to move something out - oh the dilemma .
Can I just check that you haven't all booked a road trip to Seoul without me - don't leave me behind

Hellooooo fifi !!! Don’t worry, the trip is not booked yet! Still adding to the itinerary 😉

I’m interested in what you say about MUF, I have reached ep 14 and it has slowed down a bit, I am quite impatient for ML & FL to resolve things.

Into The Ring is on my list & really looking forward to It’s Ok & Was It Love . Started Flower of Evil but didn’t hook me immediately

bettys I think I just got fed up with all their dilemmas, and not just clearing things up with each other, it just went on overlong. A very flawed family, but lots of normal too. It was good for touching on sensitive/taboo subjects and raising more awareness about them. I believed in the 'characters', which showed the acting was strong. I became disinterested in the parents' relationship. I'm so picky , as it wasn't at all bad.

I forgot to say that I did watch the K film Watcha Wearing, . I feel like a leftover from Mary Whithouse days.. Just not used to watching 'intimate' scenes anymore. It was fun though, and I sooo fancy Ji Sung .

I ended up rolling the florets in some deadly hot sriracha mayo, then a second dip/roll in seasoned breadcrumbs and baking the breaded florets at 180c in a well-oiled oven tray for about 30 min. (Most of my cooking is by eye/guesswork.) The breadcrumbs were seasoned with S&P, smoked paprika and garlic. Hit! The kids said they enjoyed it & would gladly have it again. Conversely, we all agreed my homemade chicken satay wasn’t worth the calories. 🤷‍♂️

I still have another giant cauli so will do the sliced spices & oil version upthread later in the week.

I see the costume dept have outdone themselves in sourcing some truly hideous polyester Korean house trousers for ep 9 of Was It Love. If we ever wanted a fair assessment of how much tidy threads contribute to oppa appeal, this is the test. Four eligible oppas, four hideous outfits...

Gangster rocks it best. Ace knife skills too.

Seconded.

The sashimi made me hungry.

I started Was it Love last night, and now hooked . Only on episode 3 so have lots of theories re 'who's the daddy' . For those further ahead, have you found out yet?
Teacher - offered to be the support when she first found out she was pregnant.
Actor - has a 'one-sided love', or he knew why she broke up but didn't tell the writer as he hoped she would fall in love with him. I'm finding him suspicious
Gangster's - two thoughts- FL helped his sister (think this is who her friend the bar owner is) so he's indebted to her. Or, she is his ex-partner and mother of his child, or is it is nephew!
Writer - FL thought he was cheating on her. or, the friend is his partner and mother of his son.
So I want to say it's none of them, but then I think it's probably the writer!
I can't wait until I find out how wrong I am.
Also, can't wait until episode 9 to see hideous polyester trousers

fifi still no reveal by ep 9 but more clues! I think it’ll be the writer though, and there’ll be some huge misunderstanding. There’s a scene where she goes to his (?) flat and sees something through the window, runs off sobbing & bumps into actor. Then she disappears from university.

Nearly finished MUF and very much like dippy patent lawyer who obv has a major crush on big noona. Surprising as he always plays a baddie in other dramas which is unfair typecasting as his eyes are a little close together but he is actually rather good-looking.

The main mystery on WIL is why the writer hasn’t even considered that he might be the Daddy. I mean, c’mon! Really?

Yeah even actor thinks it may be him )though I think he passed out & nothing happened)

oh, I'm now desperate to catch up on all episodes. It's good to see Son Ho Jun as ML, I really liked him in Go Back Couple, but goodness, he has had some work done. He looks younger in this than in Go Back Couple!
Re MUF, I agree he is good looking!. Will give an 8 for the spreadsheet - not just for the good looks , the acting was good throughout.

but goodness, he has had some work done. He looks younger in this than in Go Back Couple!

I’m glad its not just me who’s commented on this. I said he has a portrait in his attic.

The writer is back to being a bit of a dick again in today's episode of WIL, and not enough gangster

Anyone else having any problems with Viki tonight?

Finally in WIL, some major plot progress. I loved FL’s mother losing her rag.

Can’t get in to Viki.

I liked Aunt Sook-Hee saying to Ha Nee how everyone but Ha-Nee could see how Dong Chan liked her.....that’s just about every romance plot ever!!😂
Have given up with Viki for tonight