MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #24): where we ‘lean in’ to our obsession. Non-judgmental support served up with a side-order of kpop.

[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)
Doom At Your Service (Viki) - still airing
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)*
Move to Heaven (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…

Should I watch DOTS before it’s taken off next week? Have seen it mentioned as a top 10 show several times but not convinced it’s that good from the trailer!

@bettys a racket Boys is so lovely. I wish I was in their friendship group.
I am watching it with my tween DC, we are limiting half episode a day but will catch up with live episodes soon. Is there any similar drama to watch with children?
Yolo yolo yolo yo 🙂

DOTS on the spreadsheet didn’t score very high yet it’s one of the favourite here. I wonder why 🤔

kseason DOTS has its good points (the morning training runs) but personally I think it’s pretty average. You can use 1.5 speed on Netflix to get through it quicker & it won’t make that much difference (but go back to normal speed for the training runs)

Thanks for the info on MFEO, I might wait until I've finished some others before starting it. I'm way behind on Doom too!

@bettys thanks for the heads up about QF7D being on Viki! I don't need to rush now 👍

kseason I enjoyed DOtS, I found the FL quite annoying but overall it was pretty good imo. Lots of action anyway and handsome soldiers 🤷‍♀️

Okay, handsome soldiers and training runs got me ☺️

@Rowdythree 🤞it comes back!

@KSeason Personally, I didn't enjoy DOTS, but did end up a bit mad for Song Joong Ki as a result so I'm glad I watched it 😂 The plot is a bit incoherent lurching from disaster to disaster and both couples bicker so much. They act like they've been married for years rather than newly in love.

After a terrible night's sleep, I managed to catch up on last week's Doom! Doom was back to his sexy best with his cigarettes drooping from his lip 😍 hopefully will get back on track with this week's episodes today

Doom was back to his sexy best with his cigarettes drooping from his lip 😍

You’re almost tempting me back with this. Almost

I'd say it's worth it, just for that couple of scenes! 👌🔥

Omo! I was out last night and forgotten a new DAYS dropped last night. Double dose tonight! 🎉

Interested to see that Special Medium Jung Yong Hwa has just released an album in Mandarin. That must be where the dosh is for Kstars in a crowded market.

Now I’m torn over what to watch tonight. Really enjoying DAYS for the cigarette drooping Doom, but watched 4 episodes of MFEO last night and want to carry on bingeing!

But what a nice dilemma to have madamecake

I’m catching up on DAYS and loving FL2 swigging soju from a beer tankard on her ‘date’.

I really enjoyed DOTS (I'm so happy I know what one of the acronyms is!) and also adore Song Joong Ki because of it...(those training runs... 😍). So much so I just finished watching Vincenzo, which i didn't think I'd like because of the mafia-y-ness, but loved and am now watching Nice Guy, which I'm finding a bit melodramatic, but very binge-able.

Is there something physiologically different about Korean women that they literally stagger or collapse when dramatic things happen? I'm guessing not and it's dramatic license but was curious. See also a tendency to hiccup when they're shocked or embarrassed... 🙄

Oh and I enjoyed the first few episodes of MFEO, but then realised the series wasn't finished, hence watching other stuff in the meantime. I was also pretty gutted by ml making fl beg for help with her dog them being horrible to her. I'm hoping he gets his comeuppance and that life looks up for her when I go back to it!

I loved DOTS - sorry it’s leaving Netflix.

I’ve just rewatched for the nth time the dancing in the rain scene in Mr Queen episode 5.
It must rate as one of the funniest scenes in all drama.
It’s a shame it’s not on Netflix as I’d love to recommended it to my friends who haven’t yet caught the K drama bug. I can’t imagine anyone not loving it.

In desperate need of K drama advice! DH and I adored CLOY, and enjoyed (not quite as much, but still a lot) Descendants of the Sun.

Any recommendations for our next one? We like romance with some action (but no horror)! Willing to try some historical fiction, but not interested in slice of life every day stuff. I perused the OP, and think Goblin might work?

Also, DH wants to watch Vincenzo but I’m worried it will be a bit tense (am v bad at tense). What do you reckon?

Hi Fiddlefig I haven't watched Vincenzo yet but it's very popular in here. What about Sisyphus? A sci fi action romance. My DH quite enjoyed watching that one.

Goblin is very good, but not sure it would be classed as action. Mr Queen could also be a good one for you, historical, romance, a bit of action and comedy

Which platforms do you have Fiddlefig? Netflix? Viki? What kind of genres do you like? Is your tolerance for quirkiness high or low? (Also, are you new to the thread or a returnee with a new name? If the former, welcome aboard!)

Thanks! New to the board, just Netflix at the moment (although being an absolute sheep I am sending the love for Mr Queen on here, so might need to get viki).

*sensing

@boatyardblues what did you think of this week's episodes? I'm interested to see how they finish it off - I preferred the earlier episodes I think but i really want to see how they wrap it up

@Andante57 yes Mr Queen is fab- genuinely funny and some very sweet bits too - the FLs acting is particularly good and I love court lady Choi 😁

@fiddlefigontheroof Vincenzo is good once you get through the first few episodes- it sort of ticks along and then suddenly kicks in I think around episode 4/5?

Is anyone watching monthly magazine home on IQYI? I've been watching that and my roommate is a gumiho- both fairly predictable so far but easy watching

Hydrogen I have like DAYS all the way through so have a firmly positive bias, but it turned a corner this week. Personally I am confident it will have a Bea-friendly, satisfying conclusion on all fronts.

Hi Fiddle !

I second Mr Queen but if you've only got Netflix at the moment try Mr Sunshine, Chicago Typewriter, Healer or Tale of Nokdu

Hydrogen I'm watching Gumiho on iQuIYI as they get the subs faster. Monthly Magazine Home is on my watchlist but I haven't started it yet, I am currently trudging through My Dear Guardian which started off ok (though a bit too gung-ho the-military-is-marvellous) but is now mired in the drug subplot instead of focusing on the main romance .