MsLattés Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #21): With our ranks swelling due to pandemic ennui, the Ajummas of Darkness are building an ARMY 😉 of Addicts.

[boatyardblues]

A quiet corner of MN for serious addicts of Kdrama, or the K-curious. 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 Queen (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)*
Run On (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)
True Beauty (Viki)
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)/Hot Stove League (Netflix)

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)
Peninsula - film, Train to Busan sequel (Amazon Prime, iMovies)

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)
My Little Happiness (Viki, Chinese)
Put Your Head on My Shoulder (Netflix, Chinese)
Some Day or One Day (Viki, Taiwanese)
The Romance of Tiger & Rose (Viki, Chinese)
Tientsin Mystic (Netflix, Chinese)

Thread Regulars’ Top Scoring Dramas of 2020 (updated for thread #21)
Courtesy of Hello’s kdrama spreadsheet, updated by/for thread regulars. Marks out of 10.

1 - Mr Queen - 9.4 (5 votes)
2 - Parasite - 9.05 (10 Votes)
3 - It's Okay To Not Be Okay - 8.88 (9 Votes)
4 - The Uncanny Counter - 8.50 (4 Votes)
5 - Once Again - 8.42 (6 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 explained or 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…

@Rowdythree maybe I'll have to watch her on tempted as well?
I've just realised Kim Seul-Gi is the best friend in love with flaws and was my favourite character in that as well.
Still watching find me in your memory- there's some absolutely terrible doctor- patient confidentiality issues going on

Omg! That is brilliant pol! Well done to your ds 👏👏👏

I really liked her character in Love with Flaws too @Hydrogensonata. I don't think I've seen her in anything else

That is awesome @polkettle 😁

Kim Seul-Gi is the virgin ghost in Oh My Ghost and also v good in Splash Splash Love

Fabulous card polkettle !!!

@polkettle that card is brilliant! Excellent work pol's DS!!
My mother's day present was the RM doll 😁. Its got dimples on it 😁😁😁.
I was teasing DH saying he's going to have to learn their names so he can work out which one to buy next 😂

@polkettle @Rowdythree have now caught up with HTB30. I still think he's a wrong 'un and the director is the best bet. Love the young keen chap, and think there's a mystery behind the cheater exbf.

I just love how they can pack so much into 20 mins without it seeming rushed.

Yes, really involving given short time and sparse cast.
I don't think he's a wrong un because Mystery Bird was in the car with him when he was being flirty on speaker phone. Also Mystery Bird has same surname (although obviously can't read too much into that) Plus keyfob had his initials first so gift from him rather than for him that could have been returned? I think maybe she's going to be sister with additional needs.Am I overanalyzing? 🕵️‍♀️ But agree that ice bucket ex must have more to story, so unlikely both of them playing fair.

Love Alarm 2 is DREARY.

Tell us more FedUp! 😳

@bettys

Tell us more FedUp! 😳

Ach too much slo-mo gazing, endless crying, soul searching, sad music, rain, cryptic nonsense etc.

I'm half way through the last episode now.

Thanks for taking one for the team FedUp. 👏

I finally watched Unorthodox on Netflix last night (I know, non-kdrama viewing shocker). I saw it was a limited series and clicked through to see how many episodes. Only four! DH quipped “an evening’s viewing for you, eh?” He was right. OK, I didn’t finish until 1am but it’s all done. It’s good and the story cracks along, though a few bits are silly/implausible.

Now back to normal...

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

Love Alarm 2 is DREARY.

Nothing is as Dreary as Brahms!!... Nothing! 😫😭

Ach too much slo-mo gazing, endless crying, soul searching, sad music, rain, cryptic nonsense etc.

Thanks FedUp, looks like my tactic of watching the last 10 minutes may have paid off....I appreciate your report 👍😆

@bettys

Ach too much slo-mo gazing, endless crying, soul searching, sad music, rain, cryptic nonsense etc.

Thanks FedUp, looks like my tactic of watching the last 10 minutes may have paid off....I appreciate your report 👍😆

Last 10 minutes is all that's needed. I'm happy to do spoilers by DM!

Spoilers by DM would be much appreciated FedUp! 👌

@bettys

Spoilers by DM would be much appreciated FedUp! 👌

Short version winging its way to you!

@bea Brahms is on my NO WATCH list. Thanks for taking one for the team!

We’ve just finished Goblin.
So sad but wonderful.
I hadn’t realised that the film that the Goblin gets so terrified in is Train to Busan which he starred in!
Korean scriptwriters are extremely witty and clever.
I didn’t totally understand about Sunny. Did she jump off the bridge? But then reappeared as an actress?

I needed something gentle to watch today so I started watching Meow, the secret boy about a cat that turns into a beautiful man wearing chunky knitware... It fit the bill perfectly for today🐈

What is it about kdrama, they positively excel in beautiful men in knitwear

I don't know what it is bettys we don't seem to have the same quality of knitwear over here!

[quote FedUpWithBriiiiick]@bea Brahms is on my NO WATCH list. Thanks for taking one for the team![/quote]
I would like to say... "it was nothing!!..." but it was!!!... Dear god it was something! Maybe I liked it because I can't stop posting about it but I'm flabbergasted at how bleak and miserable it was!! Even at the end when it was "hapoily" resolved... Everyone still looked like they were slapped with a wet fish! 🐟💦🐟💦😩😩😩😩

However... Now settled on the sofa for an all nighter! As watching Pre Grammy awards (BTS!! 🤞🤞🤞🤞)... And they're performing on the main show... Which starts at 12am!! 😭😭😭😭😭💜💜💜💜🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞