MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #25): We may not always agree (on shows, oppa preference, wonky fashion) but we are never disagreeable…

[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)
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)*
Mad For Each Other (Netflix)
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. 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!

Oh Rowdy, you’re only on episode 1? You will be wearing out your 🔥 emoji before the night is out. 😉

Very glad dh is out to not witness this fangirling 😂

Oh no! I'm halfway through nevertheless episode 6 and now I like Mr potatoes as well! Spoilt for choice!

[quote LarryUnderwood]@boatyardblues I am very much looking forward to watching Nevertheless once the kids are in bed. I know he's a walking red flag but I am rooting for Jae Eun, chemistry and multiple orgasms over reliability and making good noodles for me I'm afraid![/quote]
Possibly the only place on the entire internet where the words "multiple orgasm" and "making good noodles" can be used in the same sentence without it being a euphemism 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I am soooo behind on everything! 😱😱😳😳😖😖😫😫😭😭

Unhooking (expertly) and unbuttoning! 🙌

I am team Jae Eun Too, I agree with @LarryUnderwood about gossip etc.
In real life I am too cautious, dull & non-adventurous. I will never risk falling in love with someone like him. I will actually avoid talking to that person just to avoid falling in love. Basically I am chicken 😩
That’s probably why I am team Jae Eun.

I have watched till ep2 and now its on hold as FL is starting to annoy me.

Watching My little Happiness with forward button.

Racket Boys & HP2 are the only dramas I am currently enjoying.

Hmm, I've just watched ep 2. I don't think I'm on his team yet, even though he's hot as hell, but doesn't he know it! Definitely not someone I'd fall for either Jin... I'd see right through his charms 😂

As much as I want to continue watching, I want to get up for the Taekwondo, so I'm off to bed

I know I’m about six months behind you all but Star Sweeper was such a blast! Although I only recognised her from Mr Sunshine (much be the addition of eyeliner) and Richard blimmin Armitage (North and South! the Hobbit!) after the film ended. Was so lovely to see DOTS ML’s furrowed brow again in his lovely grandad top and hoodies, this time with a better script to work with.

A little bit of contrast as a palate cleanser before we hunker back down to Mr Sunshine and the ‘snog/marry/kill’ dilemma of the 3 MLs.

As much as I want to continue watching, I want to get up for the Taekwondo, so I'm off to bed.

It took me a moment to realise that you meant the Olympics, not a burst of activity yourself. 😄 Where can we find the exact timings? DS wants to watch the Olympic skateboarding today.

A little bit of contrast as a palate cleanser before we hunker back down to Mr Sunshine and the ‘snog/marry/kill’ dilemma of the 3 MLs.

When you are done with Mr Sunshine, check out The Handmaiden to get a sense of Kim Tae Ri’s range. Only to be watched once the kids are in bed & not with your visiting in-laws….

I can't figure out the times Boaty! I couldn't find the Taekwondo to watch despite getting up early skateboarding is on iplayer though.

I'm now on ep5 of Nethertheless so I'll be all caught up today! A series hasn't gripped me like this for ages! I wish it was all available to watch! I still don't know what I think of Jae Eun, but I don't think he's a bad one... Who is his friend that he keeps meeting up with I wonder? What's their relationship? I can't wait to find out!

Up to date on Nevertheless. Nabi love - you can get a spirit level app on your phone that would save you no end of bother.
🔥 for that camper van set up.
My fears for the breaking of Nice Noodles' heart grow.

Enjoying the Taekwondo whilst also being completely mystified by the scoring which seems to make about as much sense as quidditch with an 'ippon' being the golden snitch equivalent.

We have found the men’s street skateboarding prelims. It’s gripping. I’m still in my pjs. 😆

We caught the end of a taekwondo bout which the British woman won by getting an ippon in golden time. I agree about the scoring, we were eh? too.

I am very embarrassed to admit that I finally got why Olympics are mentioned very frequently in Kdramas.
Realised it while watching the opening ceremony that they were hosts in 88. I’ll blame it on my very young age (under 5) in 88.

I loved the pictograms segment.

Okay, I'm up to date with Nevertheless! I think Mr nice noodles is definitely going to get his heart broken! I find him quite irritating, his character was similar in Sysiphus too! Will he forever be in one sided love affairs!

I like Mr beanie man! He gets my vote as a decent all rounder!

@Rowdythree

Okay, I'm up to date with Nevertheless! I think Mr nice noodles is definitely going to get his heart broken! I find him quite irritating, his character was similar in Sysiphus too! Will he forever be in one sided love affairs!

I like Mr beanie man! He gets my vote as a decent all rounder!

Just finished episode 6- I agree Mr nice noodles is going to get his heart broken - he needs to step up a bit - I did like his romantic camper van set up I don't think Park Jae Eun is bad just bad for her and seems to have a load of issues going on which coupled with her issues are not going to end well I did like the two TAs with their matching glasses and yes Mr Beanie man seems to be a combo of - to quote @LarryUnderwood chemistry, multiple orgasms reliability good noodles- which is the good standard I'll be using if I ever decide to date again 😁 Looking forward to more racket boys, you are my spring MMH as well- there's a lot on live I'm enjoying at the moment

gold standard that should be!

I started watching Secret Love Affair off the back of the recommendation upthread and have got to the cat fight at the mahjong evening. Omo! 😱😱😱 I’ll never grumble about my job again. I really feel for Director Oh. I bet she’d just love to strap them all into a car and push it off a cliff. They’re horrible.

Also feeling the love for Mr Beanie All-rounder and agree that Nice Noodles is headed for heartbreak.

Yep I agree Mr Beanie is the one to best right now, I do like noodles and Jae Eun though. I don't want any of them to get their hearts broken

Maybe there will be a full curveball in the form of Korea's first polyandry romance 🤣

Crikey! Can you imagine! This one is already controversial with the amount of sex the ML and FL are having... And they weren't even dating!

Ep6 of Racket Boys endeared me to them a bit more 🤗

Going to watch Kingdom: Ashin of the North tonight, as I couldn't stay awake in Friday to watch it. 🧟‍♂️

How gory/adult is Ashin of the North? DS watched the first 20 mins with me this morning. He’s not scared of zombies and not too bothered by gore. What tips it into being an 18? Does it get really grim?

started watching Secret Love Affair off the back of the recommendation upthread and have got to the cat fight at the mahjong evening
Omg when she starts throwing mahjong tiles! She is such a cow, poor Director Oh (though she has got nights of passion with Lee Sun Jae to look forward to).
It’s become a joke threat with dh and me - eg “if you don’t bring me a cup of tea I’ll throw mahjong tiles at you”.
Are you enjoying the show boaty? I think it’s one of the best I’ve seen.