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…

I wish they’d post. Pol hasn’t been delurked here for all that long and look at her go!

I know. Sorry. I am a thread space chatterer. I'll be distracted by work soon 🤞😁

Hello, I'm still here 👋, I went down a Turkish drama rabbit hole interspersed with C-dramas, She's the One, Your My Hero, and Sunshine of My Life.

Trying to find a K-drama now- help. What's the feedback on Oh My Master? Read comments on Naveriall, which I had planned to watch but it sounds too .

Anyone watching Word of Honour? I've seen lots of good reviews.

In the hairdressers and Dynamite has come on the radio. I'm hopping in my chair with colour on my hair like a loon!!! 💜💜💜

@fifilacklustre

Hello, I'm still here 👋, I went down a Turkish drama rabbit hole interspersed with C-dramas, She's the One, Your My Hero, and Sunshine of My Life.

Trying to find a K-drama now- help. What's the feedback on Oh My Master? Read comments on Naveriall, which I had planned to watch but it sounds too .

Anyone watching Word of Honour? I've seen lots of good reviews.

Hi Fifi!!! 🙌

fedup your hair looks fab - love the colour

Hi @fifilacklustre wondered where you’d gone! I’m also watching She Is the One and have also heard good buzz about Word of Honour. Don’t be out off Navillera by the the ballet & warmth do counteract it, it is overall very positive

So I just put the Apple BTS essential playlist on in the background whilst working (never knowingly listened to BTS before). 4 songs in and I'm googling the band members and looking up lyrics. I'm in trouble aren't I?

@bettys

Hi *@fifilacklustre* wondered where you’d gone! I’m also watching She Is the One and have also heard good buzz about Word of Honour. Don’t be out off Navillera by the the ballet & warmth do counteract it, it is overall very positive

I will probably give it a go. I'll look at the spreadsheet to see what everyone has been watching recently.

@LarryUnderwood Oh Larry, Larry, Larry.....this is how it starts

@LarryUnderwood

So I just put the Apple BTS essential playlist on in the background whilst working (never knowingly listened to BTS before). 4 songs in and I'm googling the band members and looking up lyrics. I'm in trouble aren't I?

Oh dear oh dear! ... and there you go and soon you will be sobbing at the lyrics to Magic Shop and Spring Day... whilst sorting out your photocards and then checking all the YouTube clips... soundclouds... bangtan bombs... v lives whilst dressed in your bts themed merch and staying up to all hours watching live streams... oh dear oh dear... I obvs have never ever down any of these activties....!!!!!

doolsetbangtan.wordpress.com/ to help with the translations... all put into context too!!!

I am always here to hold your hand !..... 💜

@LarryUnderwood i've posted this before... but will post again as i think it's brilliant!
a little dated now but still good!!!

ahhh! That's blurry... here's the original link and may have been slightly updated!!
www.reddit.com/r/bangtan/comments/hq85l2/update_i_made_a_complete_beginners_guide_to_bts/

there's spotify links too! Which are brilliant!!!! 💪💜😎❤

Feeling I've missed something but can someone help me understand why a. Neither teacher nor classmates recognised her as a completely different sister in She's The One and b. Nobody in Wen family seems to know second sister exists (that can just be because plot requires I suppose) ? Are they supposed to be twins despite all the "older sister" stuff?? Even by CDrama relaxed attitude to linear sense standard I'm finding this one hard to hold on to.

I'm loving cardboard Bin 😁
Excited for another episode of sell your haunted house- I want to know Kang Na Ras secret for looking so stunning and nowhere near 40!
@boatyardblues yes I've watched up to episode 11 (I have no off switch!) And she's definitely becoming less irritating.

Feeling I've missed something but can someone help me understand why a. Neither teacher nor classmates recognised her as a completely different sister in She's The One and b. Nobody in Wen family seems to know second sister exists (that can just be because plot requires I suppose) ? Are they supposed to be twins despite all the "older sister" stuff?? Even by CDrama relaxed attitude to linear sense standard I'm finding this one hard to hold on to.

Yes, quite! The plot is thinner than a Mr Creosote waffair-thin mint and I didn't get the progression of MLs lerv for FL at all. Surely not just because she can run very fast....Maybe it's a Chinese variant of The Parent Trap and the lookey-likey daughters got split up when the parents separated which is why the Wen family don't know.

And what is the fascination for tan shoes with every kind of suit?

@polkettle

I know. Sorry. I am a thread space chatterer. I'll be distracted by work soon 🤞😁

My comment was intended as a compliment. You’ve taken the kdrama baton and run with it. It looks like your Bin IG account might be about to go global!

Omo! You’re on 60 followers Pol. I wish I’s followed everyone on day 1, as I’ve no chance of weeding out the MNers now.

🤷‍♀️ Bettys
In the meantime I've also done a couple of Mr Crow and Miss Lizard which has teeny tiny My Little Happiness FL. ML sleeps in a bionic egg to recharge his electric heart but I can go with that plot point no problem.

I've been watching Kill It with Park Morgan and Nana, it's a contract killer, detective drama. It's a bit slow in parts, but only 12 episodes. I'm quite enjoying it.

DH is going away for 2 nights tomorrow, so I have free reign on the TV! I don't know weather to do a mega binge session on a couple of dramas, or to check out some movies 🤔

Pol I hope you put Bin to work whilst he had his vacuum ghost sucker out!

I think most of them are fans from the Philippines Boaty. Hashtag Hyun Bin and they arrive...

😂 Ghostbuster Bin is truly something to behold!

I've just finished Are you human? Which was a good watch, although it perplexed me by being 18 episodes and it felt it didn't really need to be. I now really want my own ai robot to be super helpful and do all the cleaning! 😔

@Rowdythree I am intending to go back & binge Vincenzo as it will finish this weekend & Bea rates it. Then start Taxi Driver. There are lots of dramas that are on the go/have just started but I want a really unputdownable one.

I didn't think about Vincenzo @bettys. I haven't really fancied it, but it has got good reviews from what I've read here... That's one to consider 👍