MsLattés Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #22): As pandemic restrictions ease the Ajummas of Darkness and ARMY recruits are on spring manoeuvres, camping under the cherry blossom

[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)*
Lovestruck in the City (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)
To My Star [BL] (Viki)
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)
You Make Me Dance [BL] (Viki)


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…

Loving the hospital nonsense in YAMH. 2! Operations at the same time! No issues with patients confidentiality! Blood spatter! Chest drain while stuck in a lift!! All in episode 5 😂😂😂😂
Also loving the Viki subs, lots of explanation of idioms and medical phrases.

I must add Love in Time to my list @bettys Also identikit story to SOML. So soothing in their sameness. Actually find the ML of LD quite appealing - more so than the Chinese Peter André of SOML anyway. The outfits of Chinese drama are constantly... surprising. "What even IS that garment?" New horizons 🥰

For a short Unni loves Unni romance then check out 'Do you Like Camping?' here. Really enjoyed watching that and 'My Eggs' yesterday. kccuk.org.uk/en/programmes/korean-film-nights/korean-film-nights-short-film-innovators/

OK, I'm doing strong girl next, then one spring night. I think maybe what slightly put me off strong girl in ep 1 is they look so young, it makes me feel a little old (I'm 42) and I want to fancy the male lead.but I just can't when they look like they're about 25!

I have emails to write but far more important is checking out Chinese Peter André.....

....and so he is!! ML of LD preferable by far

Now what else can I do instead of actual work?///

it makes me feel a little old (I'm 42) and I want to fancy the male lead.but I just can't when they look like they're about 25!

I wouldn’t worry Larry. I’m older than 42 and I fancy plenty of the actors.

I think it's often the character I fancy rather the actor. I love the character of Ahn Min Hyuk in Strong Girl but I don't think I fancy Park Hyung Sik that plays him. I've not been fussed about him in anything else.

Saying that, I do tend to avoid the high school dramas (except True Beauty ) so I don't feel like a complete perv 😬😬

@LarryUnderwood

Annyeonghaseyo!!! I havent been on these threads in a while because I've been busy with Kdrama binging! I just discovered this before Christmas and it is my new, all-consuming passion . Coming here for recs on what to watch next, as last time I got some brilliant tips. So far I've watched: CLOY - loved loved loved ION2BO - loved loved loved Something in the Rain - loved until the mum turned mental then I got bored WWWSK- loved loved loved She was pretty. Loved loved loved Because this is my first life. Liked a lot, but it didn't pull me in as much. Her private life- I loved it but its not top of my list. I couldn't get over Ryan's flares and stripy suits! I've watched first episodes of strong girl, hotel del luna and one spring night and they haven't sucked me in so far. Worth persevering? Or what else to try? I like comedy and full on swooning, and the more chemistry and tension the better.

Looking at the ones that you’ve loved, I would recommend What’s up with secretary Kim.

@LarryUnderwood that's why we also have the "age appropriate oppa" list 🥰

Birdy I think WWWSK is Whats Wrong with Secretary Kim which is another translation.
Wonderful series, really enjoyable. Loved the office scenes and Ms Bong.

I've just finished ep 2 of Oh! Master. Not going to lie, it's failing to land so far.

ML/FL chemistry not connecting yet, music a bit jarring, it's not sure if it's rom-com or a fantasy...

I'm finding the most recent "high profile" Korean rom-coms to just not hitting the standard we are used to (maybe understandably with covid?) e.g DDSSLLS, Run On. Anyone else feeling the same?

Maybe I've just been spoiled by the joy of c-dramas recently 😂

[quote Cassini]@LarryUnderwood that's why we also have the "age appropriate oppa" list 🥰[/quote]
I had a dream about an age appropriate oppa last night in which he visited my city for filming and I showed him the sights... well I certainly showed him some sights 😂

It was Kim Joo-hun (with beard).

I'm finding the most recent "high profile" Korean rom-coms to just not hitting the standard we are used to (maybe understandably with covid?) e.g DDSSLLS, Run On. Anyone else feeling the same?Maybe I've just been spoiled by the joy of c-dramas recently 😂

Absolutely agree 👍

The only kdrama that ticked all my boxes recently & was a sans-sub-can’t-wait-to-watch was Mr Queen

@bettys

I'm finding the most recent "high profile" Korean rom-coms to just not hitting the standard we are used to (maybe understandably with covid?) e.g DDSSLLS, Run On. Anyone else feeling the same?Maybe I've just been spoiled by the joy of c-dramas recently 😂

Absolutely agree 👍

The only kdrama that ticked all my boxes recently & was a sans-sub-can’t-wait-to-watch was Mr Queen

I still haven't watched it!!! Must get on that. FOMO 😁

Where can I find this age appropriate oppa list? I must see it, urgently!!!

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

It was Kim Joo-hun (with beard).

That sounds like a dream worth having! He's definitely an age appropriate Oppa! 😍

Anyone else surprised at the age of Chief Shao in YAMH? I thought he was older than 43

Who else is on this list? I'm trying to think... Lee Dong Wook? Bah, I can't think of any others I fancy off the top of my head

Slightly more age appropriate oppas

....although still too young for me.

Lee Byung Hun is more in my age range

We all had our own favourite AAOs. A selection:

Lee Byung-hun
Cha Seung-won (unreal)
Gong Yoo
So Ji-sub
Nam Goongmin
Lee Sun-gyun

Park Hae-soo
Jo Jung-suk
Kim Min-joon

Jo Jung Suk reminds me of the hot priest from fleabag in that list @bettys. Thank you for sharing! A lot of these AAO had passed me by ( probably whilst I was ogling the younger fellas) 😬

I think anyone who is born the year before you and older can be an oppa? So I'm 1983, anyone born in 1982 and older is oppa. But if they are more than 10 years, they are ajusshi? That's rule of thumb though.

It's a fine line between Oppa and Ahjussi 😂 just like between being a Noona and Ahjumma. I don't mind being a Noona to some of those (I'm 1980) I draw the line at being an Ahjumma!

More age appropriate Oppas open to both of you than me 😂 But I can take Yoo Jan-Sung and happy with that after watching him work out in The Uncanny Counter 👀

@Rowdythree

It's a fine line between Oppa and Ahjussi 😂 just like between being a Noona and Ahjumma. I don't mind being a Noona to some of those (I'm 1980) I draw the line at being an Ahjumma!

Complete agreement Rowdy I refuse to be anything but a sexy noona to the young pups (despite having grey hairs, an extra stone, and unshaven legs)

Oh how could I forget Cho Sung-woo?

@polkettle

More age appropriate Oppas open to both of you than me 😂 But I can take Yoo Jan-Sung and happy with that after watching him work out in The Uncanny Counter 👀

Ohhh mama