MsLattés Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #19): Our noona days may be behind us but the ajummas of darkness will unleash their inner Gangnam leopards as the festive season approaches

[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)*
Stranger - 2 seasons (Netflix)
Suspicious Partner (Netflix)*
The Lies Within (Netflix)*
Tunnel (Netflix)*

Historical/Period drama (“sageuk”)
100 Days My Prince (Viki/Netflix)
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)
It’s OK Not To Be OK (Netflix)

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 Handmaid (film, Netflix - content warning: explicit sexual content)
The Package (Viki)



Straighter ‘Slice of Life’ dramas on universal themes
Hospital Playlist (Netflix)
Into The Ring (Viki)
Itaewon Class (Netflix)
Live (Netflix)
Misaeng (Netflix)
My Mister (Viki/Netflix)*
My Unfamiliar Family (Viki)*
Prison Playbook (Netflix)*

Once Again (Viki)
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)
Kiss Goblin (Viki, webdrama)
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)*
King: The Eternal Monarch (Netflix)
Kingdom (Netflix)*

Mystic Pop-up Bar (Netflix)
The Guest (Netflix)
Train to Busan - film (Amazon Prime)

W: Two Worlds (Viki & Netflix)*
Zombie Detective (Viki)


Guilty Pleasures (for the joy, not the quality)
Bride of Habaek (Netflix)
Hwarang (Viki/Netflix)
My Secret Romance (Viki)
The Last Empress (Viki/Netflix)
Sassy Go Go (Netflix)



Mad as a box of frogs/uncategorisable

Strong Girl Bong Soon (Netflix)
School Nurse Files (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)
Find Yourself (Netflix - Chinese)
Go Go Squid (Viki - Chinese)
Instead of Tipsy Why Not Get Drunk (Viki - Chinese)
Lost Romance (Viki - Taiwanese)
Love O2O (Viki - Chinese)
Morning Call (Netflix - Japanese)
Put Your Head on My Shoulder (Netflix - Chinese)
The Romance of Tiger & Rose (Viki, 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…

That last episode of DDSSLLS has fucked me RIGHT OFF!!!

What the actual fuck??

Fedup I know!!! Ok it was by the worst case scenario but it still pissed all over the loveliness that had been building up. I mean, what a waste of time!!! 🙄

Rama’s time I meant (although to some extent ours for watching too )

Ra Ra not Rama 🙄

@polkettle here's my maekgolli baby all wrapped up for its first fermentation

Oh 🥰! Look at your bonny baaabbby! Sing it lots of lullabies and rock it gently before you cold heartedly scoff it in adolescence @rowdythree Bravo.
I suppose the fact that she didn't run screaming out of the apartment after seeing his artwork rendition of her just proves the depth of their lurrve in HPL. Bless.

That’s a beautiful woollen scarf or shawl, Rowdy.

Thank you Boaty, only the best for my baby I really hope it works out!

Does anyone have any good movie recommendations, I fancy a movie whilst sampling my Korean booze tonight, needs to be DH friendly 😂

Korean film, or other? What kind of stuff does your DH like? Are you OK with more adult stuff? DH watched Red Carpet with me and was surprised to find such an explicit film about the porn industry could be so warm-hearted.

New today to Netflix is Call a thriller with Park Hin Shye

Anyone started Start Up? Any good?

@bettys

Fedup I know!!! Ok it was by the worst case scenario but it still pissed all over the loveliness that had been building up. I mean, what a waste of time!!! 🙄

Shocking. And all in the last 5 mins of the show. The whole town fooled. All his family and friends. No explanation about the Mum's role.

The last 4 episodes have reduced the rating on this show from an 8 to a 4...

FedUp That should've read it wasn't the worst case scenario.

I agree with you though, I am going to have to reduce my rating on the spreadsheet.....
.....I wonder if they changed the ending at some point? It was very rushed, maybe after reaction to the age gap they extended the time bit. From what little I know, half that time would be sufficient to be sure you were in the clear.

Bettys yes it did feel rushed. I think that at the point where Secretary Moon was "good" it lost its way a bit. And they peaked the stalker plot too early.

@polkettle I'm watching Start Up I want you to watch it so I can see what you think of the mistaken/pretend identity love story. The ML is adorable and the side characters v good too. I'm up to ep 12. 👍

Excellent. Thanks @TheGirlWithTheArabStrap ! I shall apply myself when I've finished wafting myself with the fridge door after another episode of Secret Love Affair Anyone else watched that? Aigoo! 🔥💔🎹 I need a little lie down...

Started Melo is my nature last night - it's a bit more emotional than expected and I'm only 2 episodes in! Might have to combine it with something lighter in the week!

DDSSLLS - WTAF - I am so at loss about this. How could they even come up with that storyline and think it was ok. . How could they do that to everyone - and he even laughed at her reaction . I bet the actors were also thinking WTAF. So embarrassing for them.
I loved this show, it was funny, sweet, loving, charming, and caring - then it turned into some kind of extreme Grimm faerie tale.
It's put me in a foul mood. I need to watch something to uplift me - might need to re-watch Strong Woman Do Bong Soon to feel happy and warm

Totally agree Fifi! Very disappointing...

Technically it's a bee-friendly ending but in every other way it is a right pisser. It might work if you skip the last few episodes and go straight to the last 5 minutes when she is playing the Welcome music.

It is very dreich here today so I have just started a rewatch of CLOY and am already feeling happier

Can I ask a stupid question? What is a bee friendly ending? Is that a thread term or a global term?

It’s really a Bea (fellow poster) friendly ending. Bea cannot abide unhappy or unresolved endings. It slipped into emoji shorthand (🐝friendly) & now back to longhand.

@boatyardblues

It’s really a Bea (fellow poster) friendly ending. Bea cannot abide unhappy or unresolved endings. It slipped into emoji shorthand (🐝friendly) & now back to longhand.

Ahhhh that makes sense! Thank you x

I have to write it in longhand when I'm on my laptop as I don't have emojis, I should have written Bea-friendly ending blimmin' autocorrect