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…

I just watched the trailer on YouTube @Andante57 it looks fascinating! I hope the kids might watch and learn something too 🤞

just going through the eurovision drama list... can someone more capable than I pop on Search Korean Viki for 2020 Drama... I really liked it and I love the list as I can keep track of what I've watched... Thank You Very Muchly!!! xxxx

Well spotted Bea I have just added it!

@fifilacklustre I have been watching My Girlfriend Is An Alien and I think my brain has melted, I blame you!

I have added my score for Search! Thanks Bettys for adding in for me,....xxx

@polkettle how does the walking tours thing work? Do you stream or is it on actual tape if you're projecting it?

Just YouTube films streamed @Bettys But surprisingly soothing and effective when shown on a big screen in a dark room. Almost a mini break. Almost... Have to pick the ones where they get the pace nice and smooth and don't add music over the top or anything.
I continue to very much enjoy snippets of When We Write Love Story in 15 min chunks. I like how the subtitles actually fight against any understanding you might have without them.

We are under 100 posts from the new thread. Start proposing your additions and tweaks for the OP. If its a new drama, I need category too.

I suggest Misaeng is added under ‘Slice of Life/straight drama’.

Betty I still can’t get on the spreadsheet to edit. If I send you my scores are you OK to add them in? If everyone else does the same, we will have the verified top-scorers for 2020. I was surprised My Unfamiliar Family didn’t make into the top 5 when Hello posted the earlier summary.

OK so I have succumbed to Viki already as I really wanted to watch Whats Wrong with Secretary Kim. On episode 5 already .

You're going to fit right in here @LarryUnderwood

@boatyardblues yep do that I'll stick 'em in. Plus hello has very thoughtfully added a 2021 sheet so we can add new dramas for this year. If currently airing ones started in 2020 I suggest we leave them there.

Agree with Misaeng

Unfamiliar Family was good but you know what, it hasn't stuck in my mind like Once Again has..

@LarryUnderwood

OK so I have succumbed to Viki already as I really wanted to watch Whats Wrong with Secretary Kim. On episode 5 already .

Hahahahahaha. Yes, you’re officially kBorg* now.

• That’s a Star Trek reference for the non-sci fi nerds on here.

I continue to very much enjoy snippets of When We Write Love Story in 15 min chunks. I like how the subtitles actually fight against any understanding you might have without them.

That about sums it up @polkettle

Hmmm, I might look in to projectors it sounds v soothing, although don't really have a blank wall.

I can see I’m going to have to bite the bullet and watch Once Again.

Plus I had SLS in My Unfamiliar Family and just loved the characters in Once Again

@LarryUnderwood

OK so I have succumbed to Viki already as I really wanted to watch Whats Wrong with Secretary Kim. On episode 5 already .

You won't regret it Larry! After Secretary Kim, I'd recommend watching Her Private Life

Yup: WWWSK followed by Her Private Life followed by Melo is my Nature!

Hey! I’ve been more of a lurker on MN for the past few years, but saw this thread and needed to join in!

Currently watching True Beauty (I love the WEBTOON and it’s interesting to see how they’re adapting it), Mr Queen and What’s wrong with Secretary Kim on Viki.

Was watching Strong Girl on Netflix but can of lost interest towards the end so didn’t finish.

Just looked up Once Again... 100 episodes! 😯 I suppose that's what lockdown is for.
Spent a happy hour wandering around Seoul. Can report excellent mask compliance, incredibly clean streets and, in the section we "walked" an unbelievable (except entirely believable) number of skin product shops.

Hi @madamecake 👋 I'm 3 episodes in to Mr Queen and very much enjoying it. Still a little lost on who's who and who wants who/what in palace politic terms though.

Hi madamecake 👋👋

Interesting re Once Again comments. I really enjoyed it, and it has really stuck in my head much more than Unfamiliar Family which i also really liked. Maybe it's spending 100 eps with the characters 🤷‍♀️

Glad you've gone for Viki Larry Enjoy!!

Hi madamecake 👋

Hi @madamecake

A friend just introduced me to this chap and his handy Korean language tips www.instagram.com/p/CJ5-Vbqje8L/?igshid=1r6h1d4l9e25y

I especially like that he watches kdrama www.instagram.com/p/CJ48Tn6JD1S/?igshid=oigbfmex0ykc

Hello to all new posters! 👍👋👋
I'm currently re watching sec Kim and I'm aittle sad to feel its a little outdated already! I love it... But it just feels a bit 😱😱😱... I've always known lovely Vice Chairman was arrogant and slightly controlling and knew Sec Kim was too obliging and subservient... I know they have their reasons! And it is a drama.. But I've found myself bristling a bit! 🤣😖... But I still love it as it was one of my very first kdramas!
Waiting for new Uncanny Counter (superb!!... Very very good fab plot! Solid chatacters! Right mix of drama and fun!)
And
True Beauty... Which is lovely funny and warm!
Just started Mr Queen... It looks good!... So will continue! 👍👍👍

BTS news! Rumours abound on twitter about JK dropping his Mixtape soon!... Very very exciting!... But we've all been fooled before! So I'll believe it when I see /hear it!... But he's looking very cute with his new blond hair! 😍😍😍💜💜💜🤣