MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #23): Need help sorting your low stakes Cdrama nerd poppets from your kdrama oppas and flower boys? C’mon in!

[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)*
Navillera (Netflix)*
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
#Alive (Netflix)
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)
Sisyphus (Netflix)
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 ‘You May Also Like’
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)
You Are My Hero (Viki, 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 bum 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…

@polkettle

I think my current problem with SIMTAF is that because all the who-did-wrong-by-who stuff from the past is being made deliberately muddy for Reasons of Plot the end result is I really don't care much about anybody in that triangle.

Absolutely. This one needs to get going quickly or I will be jumping ship. It just isn’t hitting the mark.

Another one who would like to see the FL get with the manager in Anti-Fan. The other three in the triangle, I couldn't care less about either. The first two episodes made me laugh but, not since then. The ML needs to have a personality transplant for me to warm to him. Okinawa looks beautiful though! That's the second time this week that I've seen it in a drama... Maybe it's a sign ✈️

I'm going to start Doom at your service today

I've got serious FOMO with Doom at your Service now! Getting stuck in today 👍

@Rowdythree

Another one who would like to see the FL get with the manager in Anti-Fan. The other three in the triangle, I couldn't care less about either. The first two episodes made me laugh but, not since then. The ML needs to have a personality transplant for me to warm to him. Okinawa looks beautiful though! That's the second time this week that I've seen it in a drama... Maybe it's a sign ✈️

I'm going to start Doom at your service today

Okinawa does look gorgeous doesn't it? I'm now 👀 it up for potential extension to Big Japan Trip 2023™️ 😂

@bettys

I have no idea where Doom At Your Service is going but I am so there for the ride!

Plus - #randomthought - I haven't seen anyone look so cool with a drooping unlit cig for aaaaaages

I'm very much enjoying the 'sexy unlit cigarette in the mouth' look that Doom is providing!

Loved the show! Can't wait for more episode, I love Park Bo Young. A couple of times she really reminded me of Jenna Coleman. I think it's her eyes 👁️

My wild stab (complete speculation, not a spoiler) at where Doom At Your Service is going came to me on my second viewing. The wording of her contract with Doom is quite specific. It was about the person you love the most at that point being sacrificed/dying in your place if you are spared. My wild guess is that she ends up loving Doom more than her brother, he decides to spare her because he loves her too and, in so doing, dies himself. Did anyone else spot that potential loophole?

Ooh, good theory Boaty! Yes it did specify the person she loves most at that time... There's definitely potential for that person to change, surely neither of them will die though!

Adding doom to my list, possibly replacing SIMAAF (haven't started either yet).

Can I ask, semi-seriously, how do you all manage your Kdrama/BTS/Korean culture obsession? Perhaps it's the combo of lockdow plus this new discovery but I am starting to worry that I have a genuine problem as its really all I'm interested in right now

Half an hour into DAYS and surely, SURELY, Park Bo-young should be nominated for Best Knitwear at the inaugural Daebek Awards. Those chunky jumpers are 🔥

Can I ask, semi-seriously, how do you all manage your Kdrama/BTS/Korean culture obsession? Perhaps it's the combo of lockdow plus this new discovery but I am starting to worry that I have a genuine problem as its really all I'm interested in right now

Seriously? I hardly watch anything else now and I’ve gone from being an avid reader to struggling to finish a novel each month. It has taken over most of my free time. I’ve been trying to get back into reading daily, but it is uphill work.

Half an hour into DAYS and surely, SURELY, Park Bo-young should be nominated for Best Knitwear at the inaugural Daebek Awards. Those chunky jumpers are 🔥

Completely agree about the knitwear. It is fab. All the tweed skirts completely swamp her though.

The pairing of Seo In Guk & Park Bo Young is genius! She is just so good in everything -although I’m ignoring Abyss which even she couldn’t rescue from the hellish bad script 🙈

@LarryUnderwood How do I manage my obsession ? By giving in! 😂🤷🏻‍♀️

Like boaty says, I too barely read anymore (subs count though, right?) and I don’t watch anything else. DH & DS watch sport sport feckin’ sport so I have free rein on my laptop to stick earplugs in & ignore the tv. Even when we are nominally watching something together (latest being that Kate Winslet ripoff of Happy Valley) I am dual watching with my laptop.
It helps that I work from home & DS is at university, so I am more flexible with time

Good theory @boatyardblues I think the wording of the contract is very specific so that could definitely work.

@Rowdythree yes he's got a very good smirk as well I really like Park Bo-Young I think her and Gong Hyo-Jin are my two favourite leading K-drama actresses so far & of course Kim Mi-Kyung for the supporting/Ajumma roles

I'd agree SIMAF needs to turn it around quickly, all the back and forth & hinting over who hurt who just makes me think sod them all and that she should either sit back with the manager and watch it implode or run away. I keep wondering if the young ex colleague is going to move the plot on or actually do anything at any point?

Finished secret romance - it was ok but not particularly memorable lots of examples of people just needing to talk to each other.

I'm the same, I see this as my hobby. So I spend my spare time watching K dramas, or studying korean. I now read webtoons in bed rather than books 😬 I suppose some might see it as an obsession but I don't think it's that bad! My friends know I was planning a trip to Korea and that I take Korean lessons but I don't think they realise the extent of my hobby 😂 if they say what are you watching on Netflix, I just say, oh one of my Korean shows and the conversation moves on as they're not interested 😂

DH and the kids are somewhat bemused, but DH bless him, let's me just get on with it and is quite accommodating ❤️

Someone said to me a while ago “isn’t it a bit weird to watch Korean drama all the time? It’s not even your culture.” I said I’d spent a lot of my first 40-something years watching a lot of American drama and films and that’s not my culture either. I don’t see it any differently. I like that I get the jokes and spot the cultural references and cameos now I’ve been watching for a while.

I find that a strange comment from your aquaintence Boaty. What's wrong with embracing another culture? Are we supposed to just stay in our own box and not peep at what's outside

Hmmm thanks, I feel a bit better about it now! I think I might start learning Korean to give it a veneer of sensibleness! I work in the field of language and intercultural communication so in that sense its actually very relevant to my working life.

@Rowdythree

I find that a strange comment from your aquaintence Boaty. What's wrong with embracing another culture? Are we supposed to just stay in our own box and not peep at what's outside

I thought it was strange too. 🤷‍♀️

Finished Move to Heaven - in frustrating Netflix style it ends with set up for another season but it's not an unsatisfying cliffhanger.
Really enjoyed it despite a slightly predictable trope autism-by-numbers. Plentiful tissues required throughout but also lots of warmth and plenty of fine fine six pack to admire even if it comes with a mullet.
Vomiting confined to episode 2 @Andante57 although there's a moment where a character retches and runs to the bathroom in episode 8 but momentary. Let me know if you need precise time stamps and I will find. Bodily fluids generally are a theme...

I'm hoping this is not inappropriate but as you might be the one group of people who can identify, here's a link to something I wrote last year (for no purpose other than to try and pin it down for myself) about my tumble down the Korean rabbit hole. Warning that it's long. docs.google.com/document/d/1JsyXmyyWikJ0kUg2cbwA6AmE_CJrlpYc0xVfNdLG4Bw/edit?usp=drivesdk

Polkettle thank you!
Was it really necessary for the plot or did the director think it would add gritty realism?
There’s a website called ‘phobias at the movies’ on which you can check for snakes, needles, vomiting and various other phobias but it’s not comprehensive and doesn’t include kdrama, so I’m grateful for your input!

I think it was necessary to the plot in this case. I can't recall whether you actually see vomit so if the details make a big difference as to whether you can watch it let me know and I will recheck tomorrow.

Soju bombs in ep 3 of Vincenzo c. 34 mins warrant a nomination for the Daebak awards. 👌

Oh oh pol!!!! Excellent piece! I was smiling fatuously as I read it, it describes the journey so well! I started kdrama by chance in a non Covid year but still it filled an inexplicably empty hole that I didn’t even know was there 😍

Oh @polkettle... That made me tear up! It was lovely! You summed it all up perfectly! Please try and get it published somewhere! 👍😍💕😍💕