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…

JCW’s entire home life was like that first night in a new house with bare essentials before the removal company arrives with all your stuff.

Whole second series is going to be centred around argument over scatter cushions...
I have been SO played. Turns out there's only 7 episodes ofLove is Sweet on YouTube so guess who has just downloaded iQIYI 🙄 Obviously just doing the month for free and then cancelling. Obviously.

Of course you are just doing the free month pol!!

Love is Sweet is also on Amazon Prime if you don't manage to watch it in a month (ha!! ha!!)

JCW's last drama Backstreet Rookie is on iQIYI. I must admit I find the double speed function useful for ffwrding the boring bits (sageuk politics, 2nd comedy couple) and the download function useful for watching on phone in bits of the house where wifi is dodgy. There's more content on it than I thought at first

I'm sure all the BTS fans already know, but they're playing MTV unplugged next week! I really want to see them sitting and singing with instruments instead of a backing track... As much as I think their dancing is amazing! It will be good to see them paired back.

I've finished 100 days My Prince I do love a man with a top knot. Hopefully going to persuade DH to watch Mr Queen tonight now we're up to date with Snowpiercer.

I've been reading lots of good reviews about a new Korean film Minari that's tipped for awards this season. I don't know how we'll be able to watch it though

I’m watching Peninsula through my fingers. It’s not great for my blood pressure. 😱

So far, so good. The Hong Kong bit is pleasingly zombie-free (at this stage).

@polkettle

Whole second series is going to be centred around argument over scatter cushions... I have been SO played. Turns out there's only 7 episodes ofLove is Sweet on YouTube so guess who has just downloaded iQIYI 🙄 Obviously just doing the month for free and then cancelling. Obviously.

I'm doing the same. Amazon Prime have done a dirty and removed it from their free content. I ain't giving them another penny!

@JinBhoot have you watched What's Wrong With Secretary Kim? yet?^ Give it a whirl after Her Private Life. ^

Oops italics fail!

Validity of this MDL "25 dramas to watch before you die" list notwithstanding, how many have you watched? I've seen 11 out of the 25 😳

@Rowdythree I'm beyond excited! I was giggling to myself this morning when ... Dh just sighed in resignation! 😁😁😁
I'm sure you've seen the Tiny Desk Concert... That was just gorgeous! 🥰🥰The unplugged is going to be only 30 mins! I was hoping for a whole hour! But whatever it will be fab!

They all did a Vlive this morning!... 😱😁 On the pretense they were celebrating the release of BE Essential Album... But in truth they said it was just a good excuse to do a Vlive Together... It was wonderfully chaotic and funny! It's never quiet and boring in Bangtan land! 😂😂😂

I love the teen stunt driver in Peninsula and the jaunty classical Spanish guitar soundtrack accompanying the scene. 👌 (Still Peninsula, pausing to post.)

I am watching Her Private Life non-stop.
Installed Viki on phone and I can’t put my phone away.
I am operating on 3hrs sleep today.

@boatyardblues I want that just moved in feeling. I am guessing he has enough storage and everything is neatly folded or put away at their designated space. I agree, style of story telling is different & fun.

Story is not extraordinary but it is done very nicely with a different format.
I enjoyed other characters commenting on the situation. I wish they had disclosed the FL's identity in the chat followed by some shocked/hilarious comments would have been fun to watch.
Gym teacher is the mood.
Last episode was alright but seemed like a filler or is it a build up for season 2.

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

Validity of this MDL "25 dramas to watch before you die" list notwithstanding, how many have you watched? I've seen 11 out of the 25 😳

I've watched 17... 😁😂👍

I think @boatyardblues and @bettys deffo in the 20s!... The only one I've not heard of there was Princess Hours!

Coffee Prince and Secret Garden been meaning to watch those but I find it hard to watch older dramas... I can't get over the hair! 😳😳😳😱

Boaty enjoy! have you seen #Alive the Netflix zombie movie... That's very good, more of a slow burn than the action packed Peninsula

Baffled by apparent Chinese male fashion trend of having one sleeve of jacket made in different material from rest of jacket.
It's SO EDUCATIONAL drama watching.

@polkettle

Baffled by apparent Chinese male fashion trend of having one sleeve of jacket made in different material from rest of jacket. It's SO EDUCATIONAL drama watching.

Are they wearing it with turtleneck, ankle length trousers & shoes without socks?

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

Validity of this MDL "25 dramas to watch before you die" list notwithstanding, how many have you watched? I've seen 11 out of the 25 😳

I've seen 11 too, I feel that's a poor showing from me... 😂 There's a few I fancy that I haven't seen off the list... They're now added to my ever growing list

Bea Coffee Prince is worth a watch, despite the bad hair. If only for the gorgeous Kim Jae Wook looking wonderful with long hair in his youth

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

Validity of this MDL "25 dramas to watch before you die" list notwithstanding, how many have you watched? I've seen 11 out of the 25 😳

I'm a lightweight, I've only seen 6. Though I did watch a fair amount of boys over flowers until I couldn't stand Lee min's character any more. And I've part watched dream high while dd was watching.

Loads of good dramas totally missed off that. I can't understand anyone choosing boys over flowers.

@Bea Princess Hours popped up recently on Viki. It's worth a watch although, hair and fashion is rare, and there's some emotional torture of the FL.

I can't watch Boys over Flowers after reading about Jang Ja Yeon's suffering 😔

@Rowdythree... I'm afraid KJW doesn't really float my kdrama boat! 😱😱😱😳... When Boaty... Bettys and I were all watching HPL... I most gallently stepped back and left those two fighting over him... He's nice and all but not really for me! 😂😂... And then with Long Hair 🤔🤔🤔...
😱😱😂😂😂

I’ve watched 17.5 of that list of 25, so not a great score.

I need to watch the last few episodes of It’s OK not to be OK to bring it up to 18.

Not watched:
Secret Garden
Kill Me Heal Me
Dream High
Fight for my Way
Boys Over Flowers
Princess Hours
Love in the Moonlight
Welcome to Waikiki

I’ve tried Secret Garden twice but couldn’t get into it, same for Fight for my Way. Park Yer Bum doesn’t float my boat so Moonlight doesn’t appeal. Same for Lee Min Ho, so BOF isn’t appealing - plus several posters hated the cruelty in it & warned against it. Kill Me Heal Me is the only one I’ve added to my list off the back of that YT list.

Bea 😱 Omo, he's just dreamy in Coffee Prince 😂

Validity of this MDL "25 dramas to watch before you die" list notwithstanding, how many have you watched? I've seen 11 out of the 25

I've watched 23 out of 25 - hahahahahahahah!!!!!! That's a lot why am I not fluent yet??

Haven't watched:
Princess Hours
Dream High

Only ones that are in my personal Top 10:
CLOY
Fight for My Way

I think they went for a broad spread of titles/genres rather than the absolute best.

boaty Park Yer bum doesn't float my boat either but I LOVED Love In the Moonlight
I much prefer HH KJW, but them I am a sucker for a man with long hair and cheekbones