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…

Rowdy I fear they just met up briefly. He couldn’t defect as the consequences for his parents would be too awful.
The border scene was so sad but the worst I thought was the interview with the MI6 equivalent when Capt Ri was so harsh to Seri. I know he was doing it for her sake but it was torture to watch.
I also found it upsetting when he got so cross with her when he first saw her after his operation in hospital. Hmmm......maybe as a full time husband he might be moody and have the odd off day.....

I mean, met up briefly every year.

I think you're right Andante, that makes it even more sad

Posted too soon, there were so many sad parts to episode 15 and 16! It wasn't just Seri and Captain Ri, it was all of the troop, especially Eun Dong, he was so cute! I also wanted Dan and Seung Jun to have their happy ending, I was sad about that. Dan's mother grew on me a lot by the end too!

Great series, even if the ending wasn't as perfect as I would like

I was rooting for Dan and Seung Jun too.

I am starting 3rd episode of Suspicious Partner - OMG captivating story.

Do you need a 🥾 jin? I do too, clearly!

I do 😂
In my defence, I am on AL.
But I am off to bed as DC have virtual classes tomorrow.

Last (bar a bonus ep about a side character) episode of Lovestruck drops today at 10! Halfway through my Zoom yoga... So the question is do I fake an internet outage or attempt to secretly second screen in downward dog? I CAN'T WAIT 🥰

@polkettle depending on your final review I may or may not decide to give JCW a chance to reinstate his Grrrr....

A belated welcome @Birdy65 I am sure kdrama will prove to be an engrossing distraction in your recovery. Viki sometimes has free trial offers, dunno if there’s one on at the moment but it’s worth it as you can then binge Her PRivate Life and others listed at the head of the thread.
I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again, my Viki subscription has been a real boon I wouldn’t be without it now.

While I drum my fingers I am boggling at friend's revelation that grey haired older brother in My Mister is same actor as handsome dad in True Beauty.

It’s also been pointed out to me that evil wispy bearded Kim Gwa Eun Korean Rickman in Mr Queen is lovely CEO in RIABB 😲 similaRly mind boggling 🤯

@bettys

It’s also been pointed out to me that evil wispy bearded Kim Gwa Eun Korean Rickman in Mr Queen is lovely CEO in RIABB 😲 similaRly mind boggling 🤯

I spotted that one. I even worked it out without looking him up. Hadn’t twigged the True Beauty one though.

Thank you. I have watched the first episode of Because this is my first life. I foresee lots of binge watching late into the night again!

Perfect & Casual is basically a budget calorie-free 'Lite' Cdrama version of BTIMFL, maybe that's why I'm quite enjoying it! Not a patch on the original obvs but filling the finger tapping gap until the final eps of Mr Queen

@Birdy65

Thank you. I have watched the first episode of Because this is my first life. I foresee lots of binge watching late into the night again!

Wishing you a speedy recovery @Birdy65 enjoy BTIMFL

Have any of you watched Marriage Contract on Netflix? I would recommend this. I forgot about this drama which I had watched a couple of months ago. Leading on from this CLOY popped up on my Netflix and now I’m hooked.

Welcome Birdy65 lots of wonderful dramas to help you on the road to recovery. There's a spreadsheet we use that you may find helpful, it lists and rates the shows wathced and goes back a few years. Hopefully someone can send link.
Andante Goblin is in my top 5 and I love it - I can't remember any vomiting scenes, but it's not something I look out for.

bettys I remember I really liked her wedding dress. - no spoilers it's at the very beginning of the first episode.
I'm going to start watching Mr Queen so I can catch up. What is everyone else watching?

Ah ...just "finished" Lovestruck in the City . ("" because there's one more episode to come but think that's a bonus about a different character -police man- and also I think there's in theory going to be subsequent series where possible remaining threads from this may be picked up or may be entirely new characters?)
Anyway ending is (mostly) 🐝 and I really loved it. Lots of emotional truth to it, smoking chemistry imo, and funny/arch/playful in construction (shades of Melo...) Definitely made with an international audience in mind.
I have no JCW history to compare - he was definitely Grrr to me but I also really liked Kim Ji Won in this - who frankly has a much more complex emotional journey to portray.
My criticisms would be that because of short format some things are less well developed with side characters than I'd have liked- could have watched loads more. And mockumentary framing device is fun but occasionally clunky/logically flawed. There's some fake band stuff which is fun but slightly baffling.
I will now binge again from start 🥰

@boatyardblues

A question for Bea and maybe other posters: is My Little Happiness in standard Chinese (Mandarin) or Cantonese? I looked at a map and Shenzen is very close to Hong Kong. I am curious to know if it is Cantonese because it’s so close to HK. I can’t put my finger on why, but I’m finding it easier to get my ear into. I can’t work out if that’s because I’ve grown more accustomed to Mandarin or whether it is a related Chinese-family language.

@boatyardblues... it's mandarin... you can tell with all the "errrrrs" and "shrerrrrs" they use .... ... is it worth a watch?

@Birdy65 there's load and loads of goodies out there (Welcome by the way!)... however I'm afraid to say CLOY is one of the very best out tehre and it's quite hard to beat though lots come close to it!!!

@Bettys wispy beardman & ceo RIABB... I figured that out quite early on!!! Very pleased with myself.. though it's prob because I'm rewatching RIABB at the moment... will watch the last eps of Mr Queen over half term!!!! Rubs hands in glee.....!!!!

Hope everine is doing well in Kdrama Addicts land!

Birdy welcome 🙂

I've watched Marriage Contact and bits were really nice but as it progressed the illness storyline, attitudes to the illness and endless crying scenes really ruined it for me. I can't quite remember if I watched the final episode or not as I suspected it was going to be really traumatic.

I'm wanting to watch more JCW after all the talk of healer and suspicious partner. Might give lovestruck in the city a try. Never got to melting since it got such bad reviews here.

boatyardblues... it's mandarin... you can tell with all the "errrrrs" and "shrerrrrs" they use ....grin ... is it worth a watch?

Thanks Bea. I must be getting more used to Mandarin as its not as jarring to my untuned ears now. Is there something I could watch to hear some solid Cantonese? I have Internal Affairs (2002 HK crime film) on my watchlist. I’m assuming that will be Cantonese - is that right?

Oh yes, My Little Happiness is quite playful and very enjoyable froth. Waaaaaay more snogging than is usual for a cdrama - the respectful, consensual kind too, not the dreadful wall-pinning kind.

On the last leg with Perfect and Casual and mixing it up with rewatching bits of Dating in the Kitchen cos the chemistry is definitely there 😁 I'm dabbling in Mandarin with duolingo and have a better grasp of what is being said now, so lockdown has been useful for something 😆 I suspect my pronunciation is atrocious but I can read quite a bit now to be able to guess what I'm reading (at primary 1 level 🤣) Korean is coming along, though if I never have to say 2310 again it will be too soon 😆 Duolingo wouldn't let me get past it and after 10 attempts right at the end of a practice I gave up and clicked on can't speak now... I can say it in Mandarin tho!

Been using instagram.com/koreandreamwithj_koreanteacher?igshid=1vd8hwtp37s4o this as well. She's very good at explaining things. There is also an app called Teuida which is good because it's more normal type interactive conversations. I only do the free bits cos I'm too tight to pay for a subscription but the free buts have been very good.