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…

I've been following the story (Seo Ye Ji and Kim Jung Hyun). It's very dark and it's so odd that it's all come out now, almost 3 years later. It makes you wonder who stands to gain from it really. I don't know whether it's to do with his acting agency and the conflict over his contract or if someone's trying to smear SYJ as she's receiving so much praise and award nominations for IOTNBO. It seems a horrible story to rake up for all involved.

On the CLOY ending @Andante57 you're right that it couldn't really have ended differently without causing a massive real-life diplomatic incident (or Ri Jeong-Hyeok's parents dying!!).

Rowdy that’s good if tv producers are getting the message across about bullying and also it’s good if fear from future consequences stops bullies.
Leslie Grantham who played ‘Dirty Den’ in Eastenders murdered someone and went to jail for some years and was later involved in a sex scandal - both of which got publicity.
However his acting career continued nonetheless. I wonder if an actor today would survive publicity of that sort - probably not.

It seems a horrible story to rake up for all involved

I agree. Also if it’s a crime to have ever said - or texted - unreasonable things in a lovers quarrel then an awful lot of people are guilty.
I’m surprised it’s legal to print private texts.

if someone's trying to smear SYJ as she's receiving so much praise and award nominations for IOTNBO

Yes. I think it’s terrifying if an accusation is enough to get someone cancelled and livelihood lost without an investigation to get to the bottom of it.

The texts are pretty grim though! It would amount to coercive control, I'd think. I wonder if they are genuine?! It does seem odd to be able to release them 3 years later. Surely texts get wiped after that long?

I suppose you don't get the context or the full story either though. I was thinking about it whilst watching My Love from the Star thinking about how Song-i and Yu-ra's relationship is portrayed and the video footage edited.

Has anyone watched Heirs on Viki?

Looking for a new drama to watch.

I have, it's also called Inheritors in Netflix, I really enjoyed it!

It's very bingeable 👍

I hated it, but I’m not a fan of Lee Min Ho.

The texts are pretty grim though! It would amount to coercive control

Sakura yes I had another look, they are grim.
Nonetheless I’m surprised it’s allowed to make such things public unless it’s part of a court case which maybe these are.

I absolutely agree @Andante57. It's a huge invasion of privacy and with no benefit to any of the parties involved!

My DH loved Heirs/Inheritors but he loves everything with Park Shin Hye! I would quite like to watch it and he's up for watching again.

Heirs?... I like Lee min ho! And even I found it a little 🤔😝... I skipped my way through it! 😂

I'm recovering from watching 3 Bangtan concerts in a row from 7am this morn! It was epic and 😍💜😍💜😍💜...obvs! 🤗😚
After getting to bed at 1.30am and waking up at 6am (sainsbos delivery! Then BangBangCon!) I'm a little worse for wear! 😩😳😳😳... But it was soooo worth it! 💜😍🔥💪💪💪💪😎

Heirs/inheritors was the first Korean show I watched and I loved it, but in hindsight I do think Kim Tan was cavalier about the effect he'd have by having a relationship with someone who was so socially unequal to him.

I don't think teenage behaviour should mean people are blacklisted as adults - especially if it's unsubstantiated, as you could effectively ruin anyone's career by claiming they bullied you earlier.

I've started Cheese in the trap 🧀 this morning, my dog woke me up ridiculously early so I was able to binge quite a few episodes. I'm not sure which way the story is going to go, there feels like there's a dark undercurrent to the story. I'm very much enjoying it!

Bea how is your recovery going? Is there more BangBangcon to go?

@Rowdythree Cheese in the Trap is one of my favourites as I like that the ML is basically a bit of a psycho 🤷🏻‍♀️ plus of course SKJ in fine race horse legs skinny jeans form ( none of those pesky baggy country cords from IGTYWTWIN). However the end is 🤬 so forewarned is forearmed.

I started Sell Yer Haunted House last night and just had time to note that I like Jang Nara’s kick arse doc Martin black swishy coat style 👍 but then I fell asleep

Bea Bangbangcon was luvverly but missed the beginning due to aforementioned

Thanks for the warning @bettys! I've started reading the Webtoon so I've got a better understanding of the characters. SKJ is looking bloody fantastic in it, I have to say!

I really enjoyed BangBangCon!!! 💜💜💜
They looked so young in the first concert!

@Rowdythree SKJ is one of my favourites. He is so gorgeous 😍. I love him in Cheese in the Trap but be prepared for an annoying ending!!

@Rowdythree BangBangCon finished around 3! It was super... I love early Bangtan (Born Singer 😭😭) and then watching the later concerts you can marvel at the confidence and polished polished skills they've gained 4 years later!

Quite pleased it wasn't a weekend marathon ... First BangBangCon was over two days... As was MOTS:ONE live concerts!... I don't think I slept for 48 hours! And family were 🙄😩😭 at my lack of engagement! 😂😂😂 It's a good job I can cope with a few hours sleep!! 👍💜👍💜👍💜

I woke up stupidly early after tossing and turning until 2am. I may have had a little nap during my second viewing of Chicago Typewriter this afternoon. 😴😴😴 I hope I didn’t miss any of the good bits, but I can’t be bothered to retrace my steps. I’m so near the end the 1930s bit has all gone to hell in a handbasket and rewatching would make me sad.

I need something binge-worthy to chomp through tonight and tomorrow. Did anyone watch Sweet Home with Song Kang (Navillera’s Chae-Rok)?

If you don't mind blood, it's good boaty the ending is left open for a second series, so not complete closure

Thanks Rowdy. 👍

boaty I thoroughly enjoyed Sweet Home ; although there is lots of gore there are characters that you engage with. I LOVED the sword-wielding guy, the snarky brother and also the gangster dude. Song Kang is ace in it 👌 although a conflicted character

@boatyardblues it's bonkers and all over the place in a fun sort of way!
.. Very bloody! 👍😁

@bettys

boaty I thoroughly enjoyed Sweet Home ; although there is lots of gore there are characters that you engage with. I LOVED the sword-wielding guy, the snarky brother and also the gangster dude. Song Kang is ace in it 👌 although a conflicted character

I'd forgotten about some of the characters! Yes sword wielding guy, bass girl and gangster dude were all my favourites! As well as Song Kang... Although I much prefer him as Choe Rok

Subs are here

Chemistry between them is amazing.
Seok-hyeong (OBGNY) entry (0:05) is my favourite 😂 ... I think it was my virtual entry on my first ever post here.