MsLattés Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #20): With Hyun Bin off the market, the ajummas off darkness begin researching his ‘oppa fabulous’ replacement in earnest

[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)
Some Day or On Day (Viki, Taiwanese)
The Romance of Tiger & Rose (Viki, Chinese)
Tientsin Mystic (Netflix, Chinese)

Thread Regulars’ Top Scoring Dramas of 2020
(courtesy of Hello’s kdrama spreadsheet, updated by/for thread regulars. Marks out of 10.)

1 - Parasite - 9.05 (10 Votes)
2 - It's Okay To Not Be Okay - 8.88 (9 Votes)
3 - The Uncanny Counter - 8.50 (4 Votes)
4 - Once Again - 8.40 (5 Votes)
5 - Hospital Playlist - 8.21 (7 Votes)

2019’s top scoring dramas:

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
🥾🍑 (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…

@Dontwanttobeyourmonkeywench the translations were just so good I thought it might be you
Hope work is going ok

What next after Misaeng, wise Addicts? I need something cheery, well written with a sparky FL and good ML/FL chemistry. ML preferences at the mo leaning towards a racehorse, ideally not a recently arrived boyfaced idol.

Mr Queen!! Mr Queen!!

Although ML isn’t a racehorse & it is sageuk the FL is fantastic. And bucketloads of chemistry .... although sometimes misdirected 😂😂

The ML is CJH I think, Betty? I’m in.

Ummm.....you’ll see!!😂

OK, so I've finished CLOY, SITR and WWWSK. Loved all of them although felt something in the rain dragged a bit and I got sick of the same 2 songs. What next? I started its ok not to be ok today, like it but I think I want something lighter and more obviously romance. Also started strong girl bong soon, also liked but it hasn't grabbed me in the way the first 3 did. So what next? I want swoony, romantic and comedy.

I didn't rate SITR personally it got annoying for various reasons.
Her Private Life
Melo Is My Nature
Search: WWW
The Beauty Inside
Don't Dare To Dream

Because This Is My First Life (BTIMFL) is on many of our top 5 lists, if hou’ve not watched it yet Larry.

Mr Queen an easier pitch than Misaeng. "Life on Mars meets Hell's Kitchen in the Joseon era"

Life on Mars meets Hell's Kitchen in the Joseon era

Ha!Ha! Yes! From this week's episode I loved the misdirected 'texts' and also the fan dance / sparring.

Hello hello 👋
Wow new thread - I’ve made a mental note to post my ratings but got side tracked ... Prison Playbook is to blame.

In other news Hospital Playlist - Season 2
The entire script reading of the production crew and actors of Hospital playlist season 2 will be held on the 18th and filming will begin on the 20th of January.
Whoop whoop 🙌🏼

@boatyardblues

Damn. I accidentally revived the last thread. Reposting here.

It’s awful and kind of gross, but all the deputy managers fawning over/leching the pretty young woman from head office is making me laugh. They have taken complete leave of their senses. Misaeng ep 19.

I am very disappointed to see steel team’s D.Manager behave like that. I was expecting better from him.

@bettys I'm only up to episode 6 (trying to pace myself so not too frustrated waiting for end) and very intrigued to see how all the different chemistry/gender confusions can be resolved to everyone's satisfaction. In the meantime 12 episodes in to Once Again wobbly sets, cheesy background music, plot points you can see the pay off a mile away... delighted by it Possibility of a full fist fight over inadequately sorted recycling exactly what I'm looking for in a drama.

@polkettle I think that's one of the things that makes Once Again so enjoyable. All the plot twists are v clearly signposted so you can just relax and enjoy. The kimbap ladies are excellent 😁

I've finally started CLOY! What a delight it is so far! I'd forgotten how handsome Hyun Bin is 😍

I so wish singing train sellers were a thing here, it would make train travelling much more enjoyable! I'm finding the North Korea story line so interesting. I wonder what it's like there really? I'd love to learn more.

Hope everyone is having an enjoyable weekend!

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap Definitely. Totally soothing. Still a bit daunted by the quantity of it but 💪 fighting

I so wish singing train sellers were a thing here, it would make train travelling much more enjoyable! I'm finding the North Korea story line so interesting. I wonder what it's like there really? I'd love to learn more

Rowdy, there are some YouTube videos of N Korean defectors discussing CLOY which are really interesting.
One of the things that was wrong apparently was Dan’s very colourful fashionable clothes. The defector said there are strict rules about what colours are allowed - though maybe it’s different for the elite.
I’ve read articles which say there are serious food shortages and poverty - such as the little beggar in the village - but the village ladies and the soldiers seemed to have plenty of food.
I thought it was such a wonderful series and the best depiction of unrequited love that I’ve ever seen.
I think I’m right in saying that none of the ducklings were famous actors and dishy Lt.Park was a rookie, but of course this has launched them to international stardom.
I WISH they’d make a series 2!

@JinBhoot

Hello hello 👋 Wow new thread - I’ve made a mental note to post my ratings but got side tracked ... Prison Playbook is to blame.

In other news Hospital Playlist - Season 2
The entire script reading of the production crew and actors of Hospital playlist season 2 will be held on the 18th and filming will begin on the 20th of January.
Whoop whoop 🙌🏼

That is great news!!

I’ve hit my stride with Mr Queen and I am enjoying it.

@bettys been watching don't dare to dream from your suggestion- i think I can see the ending a mile off but it's good fun- the two mums all living together-Brian from www:search popping up, the three teens and the "uncle" are all fab. The 2 ML are both very decorative and I like the way their friendship is depicted - although I'd go for the nice guy every time - the newsreader would do my head in! I like the FL as well - for some reason I really like the way she uses her hands - no idea why!

Anyone else finding the cousin’s romantic interest in FL in Mr Queen a tad squicky?

She even calls him orabeoni (older brother) FFS!

@Hydrogensonata oh I was team newsreader! I will watch FL Gong Hyo Jin in anything she does she is fab & I would so invite her on a girls' night out

@boatyardblues yes the 'cousin' (adopted) is and although the actor is v good in one scene later when you can see how heart broken he is that FL is married to king, he is just a little too obsessive to be truly empathetic.

Mr Queen is my current sans subs watch so I end up watching it twice.

I only just realised that the marvellous Court Lady Choi was one of the NK village ahjummas in CLOY so she has already worked with KJH (King) and seen him shirtless

@boatyardblues yep. I don't know for sure but I reckon he's a bad 'un.
Now enjoying shonky at the edges Once Again so much that I can see 100 episodes actually isnt going to be enough. What was I thinking?
DTTD one of my faves @Hydrogensonata Think the chemistry is so good and one of the few KDrama couples I can whole heartedly believe in long term as they know how to sort stuff out. The "Sing for me. Sing me Wrongful Encounter" cup noodle stuck behind a cupboard scene scene is about my favourite ever.

@bettys Of course! It was driving me nuts trying to work out what I'd seen her in. Particularly dense of me as I was rewatching CLOY at the same time. I'm hopeless.