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…

Aww shame Larry, I think my DH has realised join in, or miss out 😬

HTB30 weekly rant time... Why is she taking all the blame? I liked the FL at first but as the series has gone on, she seems to be more and more pathetic! Also why is the awful exgf not being given more of a hard time for ruining the FL's career? All this is the ML's fault, yet nothing has happened to him, but he is walking around like an injured dog 🙄

HTB30 so dreary this week - maybe that’s what they’re saying 30 is like but honestly the FL needs to slap the bitch, kick ML in the shins and skip off to 2MLs loft apartment to watch films 😡

I’ve noticed there’s a cross over between singing and acting in k drama (apologies if this has been covered before ).
IU in Hotel del Luna, Onew in DOTS, Park Yin Young to name 3.

Does this happen in British or American dramas? My mind’s gone blank and the only person I can think of is Tommy Steele!

@Andante57 The only ones I can think of are Justin Timberlake and Harry Connick Jnr.
There isn't the same culture here of Idol training, and it seeming expected to cross over from music to acting & vice versa. Here it's seen as a bit naff for pop stars to act, but in Korea it's like a natural progression.

That’s very interesting bettys, thank you for the explanation.
Eddie Redmayne sings in the film of Les Miserables but as far as I know he is an actor who sings as opposed to a singer who can act.

Re husbands and K drama, it was my dh who suggested Crash Landing, the first one we watched, and he’s as hooked as me (and in love with IU).

Harry styles is a singer turned actor I believe, and there was Billie Piper back in the day who successfully threw off her pop star persona to become a credible actress. I think Bettys is right though, it's not seen as a great career move here (generally) to make the crossover. People tend to be one or the other.

I'm just envious that they are so many multi talented people, that they have an option! I'd just like to possess just one talent 😂

I'm just envious that they are so many multi talented people, that they have an option! I'd just like to possess just one talent

Absolutely Rowdy. I’ve been thinking of other talent combinations and the only one I could think of is Dick Francis - top jockey turned top thriller writer, albeit from some time ago.

I think there is an understanding that once you go into the "Entertaiment" Business... you become an entertainer... thus singing, dancing, acting is all incuded... loads of Idols have gone into acting... it's just an extension of their career... Jinyoung (GOT7), Park Hyung Sik (Zea), Cha Eun Woo (Astro) and there's loads loads more (look on Soompi! The font of all knowledge! - there's bound to be an article on tehre!!) 😂

Aargh! I just started watching Chicago Typewriter again as a bit of idle filler and it’s really good. I’d forgotten how good. I’m going to have to watch it again, even though I know the sad bits will make me bawl.

Bea - thanks for that, yes Soompi is indeed a font of all knowledge.

We have just watched the 4th episode of My Love from the Star - it’s adorable!
Park Ji-eun Is such a brilliant, original and inventive writer - I can’t wait for her next project.
Judging by MLFTS and Crash Landing she likes MLs who are so cool but so have a habit of staring moodily and keeping silent when asked questions.

Speeding through rest of SOML FedUp, skipping all the schemey plot, and pleased to have gone back to it because excellent high snog content! Fully reconciled to overbearing Chinese Peter André now and once again enjoying his jacket-age.
DH and I also did EP 15 of Sisyphus this evening and got v giggly at circular Uploader firing squad. Never the best way to arrange your firing squad...

Finished SOML today. A decent wee show, although heavy on the textile and design information.

Also managed to squeeze in You're My Pet (Kimi Wa Petto) which was a strange but pleasant series. 16 episodes, quite long for a J-drama.

@polkettle Yes, SOML had good levels of snogging. The ML was quare sexy and tactile, although sometimes he pinched and nipped FL which I found annoying.

@FedUpWithBriiiiick I really really liked Kimi Wa Petto / You’re My Pet though I’m not quite sure why...it had all sorts of strange overtones/undertones but was quite sweet. Took a while to get used to 2ML though as saw him first in Mood Indigo which was 😱😯🥵

I have been watching YAMH today. I'm only up to the earth quake aftermath bit. Its a very impressive field hospital they have got there 😂. A CT scanner and micro surgery set up!

@Bea I'm excited about BangBangCon too! Just rearranged my Saturday plans to ensure I can be glued to YouTube all day 😁

@bettys Oh my!! 🥵

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap

I have been watching YAMH today. I'm only up to the earth quake aftermath bit. Its a very impressive field hospital they have got there 😂. A CT scanner and micro surgery set up!

Yeah, it put the DOTS field hospital to shame. You have to question the wisdom of doing brain surgery in an earthquake zone with ongoing aftershocks. I’d be flying people out of there on an air ambulance. Also, CT and microsurgery but not enough beds for the theatre staff to catch a proper nap?

Yeah brain surgery and aftershocks seems like a recipe for (another) disaster 😅

Catching up on this thread from p25

I have just finished The Crowned Clown, ML acting as a king is awesome, negative role suits him.
Ending was slightly meh and I didn’t get it. Couple of months can be explained but 2 years ??? And Officer Jang 😢

@leeloo1 I have watched it till SITR till episode 8, while it’s all good & charming. And then as recommended here I skipped to last 10 mins. I might be over analysing but I do feel ML is over possessive, there is a fine line between caring & controlling as MNers say 🚩 🚩🚩

@boatyardblues I have also re-watched the (good parts) Chicago Typewriter, such a brilliant show. I almost abandoned it. I love the friendship of 3 main characters.

I have recently discovered BTS - apologies to ARMY.
By chance watched carpool karaoke with James Corden ... one video lead to another. They are fun to watch, I haven’t listened to their music yet (apart from dynamite & Boy in luv). Clips from various shows are hilarious & light watch.

I have googled them to learn more about them. So they were put together in a group by entertainment agency? What about their schooling or education etc? They are just living together away from parents?

What will happen when they will have to enlist for army duty? Surely they will be exempt?

Yes, the pinchy infantilising stuff (and endless chats about weight) are not great. Found embroidery chat quite soothing!
Never mind brain surgery in a field hospital, in Surgeons you get TWO heart operations being undertaken at once by one surgeon in the mudslide marquee.

@JinBhoot yes BTS was put together by an entertainment group (Big Hit). I think they had all finished school apart from Jungkook, and he went to a High School in Seoul when he became a trainee. Jin was at University when he was scouted for the group and he continued doing that. Jimin and V have just graduated from a degree.
I think being a trainee/new idol is a bit like being at school/boot camp. They have to learn how to sing/dance but also speak other languages.
Yes they did all live together in a dormitory, along with other trainees who didn't make it into the final version of the group.
It is so easy to get sucked in to all the videos online 😂
BTS have honestly cheered my lockdown life up so much. Even when life goes back to normal I don't think I could stop my obsession now

What will happen when they will have to enlist for army duty? Surely they will be exempt?

Jinbhoot I think I read somewhere that a new law in Korea allows pop idols to defer their military service until they are 30. They have to do it at some point, though.
Not sure about actors.

I believe the only exemptions from military service are reserved for sportsmen who win in national tournaments (Spurs' Son Min-heung is exempt for being part of squad in gold winning Asian Games), and classical music artists.