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…

@boatyardblues Behind the scenes... When I watch viki on the telly they're all there along with trailers but can't seem to find them on my phone app... Weird! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Argh. Awful Dr Frenemy. Just evil. 😕

The chaps on the 3 minute assault course reminded me of a dog agility class. 😆

I’ve just watched the first two episodes of YAMH and I can foresee more late nights!
I found the behind the scenes related videos while watching on my iPad. It you go to the description of YAMH, at the bottom of the page it will show cast members and discussions/reviews. The behind the scene clips are to the far right of the screen, there are 5 in total.

I also started watching Youn’s kitchen 2 tonight.
It is a reality programme staring Korean actors opening up a restaurant in Tenerife for a couple of weeks.
Primarily I watched it for PSJ who is one of the four actors.

He has come across really well, very sincere. It has made me like him even more!
Really think I’m going to enjoy this and would definitely recommend for PSJ fans.

I watched some of Youn’s Kitchen and thought the same about PSJ, Birdy. Jung Yu Mi also comes across well.

I have watched a little bit of Youn's Kitchen too and PSJ is v lovely and hardworking 😍

@polkettle

Ep 23 YAMH Minx 🚨😠!

Grr, that bitch! 😡

They haven't subbed ep 24 overnight 😭😭😭😭 #subsweating

@polkettle

They haven't subbed ep 24 overnight 😭😭😭😭 #subsweating

And a cliffhanger too 😰

Watched another 2 episodes of youn’s kitchen 2. You’re right, Jung yu mi comes across very well too. Just realised that she had a small role in WWWSK alongside PSJ.
PSJ is so polite, hardworking and respectful, love how he carries the ladies bags! I’m sure the Spanish ladies are going to love him.
Really want to eat bibimbap now!

I’m going to watch YAMH later, though Viki only allows you to watch two episodes a day, is this the same for everyone?

@Birdy65

Watched another 2 episodes of youn’s kitchen 2. You’re right, Jung yu mi comes across very well too. Just realised that she had a small role in WWWSK alongside PSJ. PSJ is so polite, hardworking and respectful, love how he carries the ladies bags! I’m sure the Spanish ladies are going to love him. Really want to eat bibimbap now!

I’m going to watch YAMH later, though Viki only allows you to watch two episodes a day, is this the same for everyone?

If you upgrade your Viki you can stay up for 24 hours and watch the whole damned thing in one splurge. Just sayin’.

Don’t give me ideas! It is definitely one that you can watch back to back.

took me a couple of episodes but I'm beginning to really enjoy Vincenzo... the twists and turns are very funny and creative... It does nicely as a filler whilst waiting for YAMH...

still at the cancellation of Joseon Excorcist... completely understand the issues but at why they weren't spotted at the point of production...

was reading up on Snowdrop today as well and this sounds like a drama which will be problematic too! Font of All Knowledge Soompi!

and an interesting twitter thread about the controversy twitter.com/AskAKorean/status/1375488555250761739?s=20 😯😲

@Birdy65 I watched it all in 2 days 😂 now I'm well and truly hooked! #subsweats

Is it usual to have so many problematic dramas, I've never read up on them or waited for them to be released before. With the school violence and historical inaccuracy it seems a few have had big problems. The companies must lose a lot of money on these.

Maybe there will be more thorough vetting of actors and production going forward

Reading down that Twitter thread led me to put a Hangul tweet through google translate:

아... 미친 씹새끼들 또 시작이네...

Which came out as:

Ah ... crazy motherfuckers again start chewing stuffing ...

🤔 I’m not convinced google nailed that but I can squirrel away some new swears.

Mr Queen fans - get in there quickly:

www.allkpop.com/article/2021/03/cj-enm-begins-removing-all-vod-services-of-tvns-mr-queen-also-written-by-scriptwriter-park-gye-ok-of-joseon-exorcist

That seems a bit harsh!

😱😱😱 it seems like a huge knee-jerk reaction. Viki have already removed Joseon Exorcist I hope they don’t take off Mr Queen 😩

Thank you for sharing links about controversy. I am reading about the history & why it’s insensitive.

I was feeling bad about binge watching Mr. Queen. I would have been very sad if Viki has removed it half way through.
I am still ashamed at my lack of self control.
I have set a new record, started at lunch time Thursday & finished early hours of Saturday.

It all seems a bit hysterical at the moment... I think they all need to calm down and take a deep breath! If there are problems... Acknowledge... recognise the problems and amend...

YAMH.. Ep23... Dr Sulky! GIVE IT UP! Ugh!

Somebody SLAP HER!!

😱😱😱😱😱😱.....

Dr Sulky needs a slap in the bake.

Ep24 only 50%subs! 😱😭... I'm looking up medical conditions on Google!! 😱😂😷