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…

@Cassini Before my kdrama enlightenment I would have watched them through the lense of my own cultural references and thought they were odd but now I watch them in a different way, does that make sense?

It makes perfect sense! Broadens your outlook and all that . My equivalent of Christmas movie schlock is Taiwanese drama, although I am very much looking forward S2 of Home for Christmas (Norwegian)

I am very much looking forward S2 of Home for Christmas (Norwegian)

Me too! Henrik FTW, with crocheted blanket in hand and sad news about the redemption addict.

Could be Stein though.....she was warming up to him (prefer Henrik although do doctors wear such low-cut t-shirts under their white coats?)

Was Stein the enthusiastic cross-country skier? I’d discounted him for being so annoying, but her papa likes him (they are basically the same person) and she likes her papa lots so maybe. Damn, I’d completely dismissed him, perhaps prematurely.

I think I'll check out Home for Christmas. I need something to watch as I'm upto date with Nine Tailed and Start Up and I'd started DDSSLLS but now I know it's got an annoying ending I don't think I want to carry on.
I also need to get out of the BTS fanfiction rabbit hole. It's like haribo, I just can't stop!! There are a few really good writers in amongst the weirdness though. Just finished one where Taehyung is a merman and Jungook is a Marine Biologist 😂 that was towards the stranger end of what I can handle. There is vast swathes that is too weird 👀

None of you need this but made this for my friends today. Not in any way being distracted from my proper work. Not in any way...

That is genius polkettle!!!
I love ‘Hang on I’m an intellectual why am I doing this quiz?’ which leads to ‘I like Shakespearean comedy’ (Coffee Prince) and ‘ I like French Art House cinema’ (Secret Love Affair) 😂😂

Plus you’ve come up with a v good reason for watching Reply 1988 ( ‘Yes! I loved 30 Something’) . I’ve never really fancied the Reply series somehow but I’m going to give that one a go now.

That is brilliant Polkettle!!!!

@bettys 🙇‍♀️ 😂 I have to make the confession that I have yet to watch Reply 1988 (or Prison Playbook) myself yet so they were cheeky inclusions but are endorsed by a good friend who I have been sharing this adventure with and on my radar for next watch. I loved Hospital Playlist very much so excited to watch more in the same vein.

I like the extra info on best snogs too 👍 very useful

@polkettle you have to watch Prison Playbook although it might seem odd at first as there several HP characters in different roles

@bettys Yes - I'm sort of palate cleansing with other things first but can't wait. I love the warmth and mosaic story telling of that team.
@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap All about priorities innit?

How clever @polkettle. I will be saving this for future use. I never know what to watch next!

That's amazing @polkettle, I will best snogs info for future reference there's a lot on your board I haven't watched, all useful info! Thanks 👍👍

How sad am I? I watched What's up with Secretary Kim over the weekend, and now I'm re watching it 😎

Ok so I was just checking out the best snogs on @polkettle ‘s diagram and there is no mention of WWWSK 😱😱 Biiiiiiig mistake. Huge. ( 😂😂😂)

@bettys

Ok so I was just checking out the best snogs on *@polkettle* ‘s diagram and there is no mention of WWWSK 😱😱 Biiiiiiig mistake. Huge. ( 😂😂😂)

In your opinion.

Great diagram, Pol!

😮😭😂 hangs head in shame Now that IS a cracking snog. WUWSK didn't quite make my top somethings for different tastes A3 (controversially Itaewon Class and Fight for My Way are my fave PSJ's) but it is a very partial flow chart! There should be fantasy and historical ones on there too but I've yet to get into those. Just made it for those friends who keep asking what to try 🤷‍♀️ I always suggested CLOY as that was my revelatory gateway but have come to realise that it's not right for everyone.

@polkettle I'll definitely make use of that flow chart!
Up to date with tales of nine tailed and the brother is still my favourite character, I need to see more of him and the kid!
Watching masters sun as I wanted something light- it's ok but the CEO clearly shops at the same place as the art director her private life- pastel suits and no socks - chilly ankles all round!

I’m only joking really, polkettle & boaty . There are many possibilities, and we all have our favourites. Fight for my Way is higher on my favourites list than WWWSK actually, and PSJ’s best acting is in Itaewon IMO. Stranger was my gateway drama and would also fit in to the ‘I like Scandinavian dramas with woolly jumpers section’ which is EXACTLY where I was pre kdrama (with a side of French shows like Spiral & Call My Agent)

Ah we have very similar tastes! I need to do more of the thrillers. Partly just not been the year for watching murrrdrrr. Almost like I've been distracted by snogs too...

@polkettle Itaewon Class and Fight for My Way are my fave PSJ's Me too!! Much prefer non-chaebol PSJ 😍

I've started Hospital Playlist (well episode 10 already...)

Really enjoying it and loving all the Reply 88 references. Must watch the other Replys and Prison Playbook.

Up to date with tales of nine tailed and the brother is still my favourite character, I need to see more of him and the kid!

I agree @Hydrogensonata ! I'm pretty meh about the loveline between ML & FL, there doesn't seem to be any chemistry. But I really like the brother & puppy boy, while psycho russian fox & vet fox have much more spark in their interactions.

I know what you mean @bettys they just don't seem to have much chemistry- definitely more between the vet and the Russian fox or even the samdochean elders! I love all the supporting characters though it's just the love line I'm not really 100% buying

@polkettle

😮😭😂 hangs head in shame Now that IS a cracking snog. WUWSK didn't quite make my top somethings for different tastes A3 (controversially Itaewon Class and Fight for My Way are my fave PSJ's) but it is a very partial flow chart! There should be fantasy and historical ones on there too but I've yet to get into those. Just made it for those friends who keep asking what to try 🤷‍♀️ I always suggested CLOY as that was my revelatory gateway but have come to realise that it's not right for everyone.

You’ve done enough Pol. There are enough crackers there to hook them in.