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!

Top Day Out Bettys!
@AesopsMables The Package, My Unfamiliar Family and Once Again all worth considering for a slice of life soothing hit if you haven't already done. Navillera or Move to Heaven too.

Thank you Polkettle, I have watched unfamiliar and once again but will dip into the rest

@JinBhoot

I am watching Japan with Sue Perkins (BBC2). It is fascinating, in part 2 Sue met a lady who runs a ‘rent a family’ business. She signed up to play a role of someone’s wife. I am thinking so many new story lines for Jdrama. If you get a chance, do watch this 2 part program.

I watched that a while ago Jin, it was very interesting, Sue is hilarious too!

I've started watching My Strange Hero with Yoo Seung Ho 😍 I'm trying to work through my 'to watch' list. It's never ending!

@bettys, your day out sounds fab! I really want to get down to London this summer, time is just flying by though!

Finished the 2 Kingdom seasons, great stuff. Am halfway through Ashin, the young girl was v well cast I thought, need more zombies though!!

I did feel a bit cheated out of Zombies in Ashin @hawthornknitter 😂 the young Ashin was very well cast and a really good actress!

@boatyardblues That scene in Never Have I Ever was hilarious!

@bettys the day trip sounds fab. I'm hoping to take a friend for Korean BBQ for her birthday so recommendations welcome.

I'm currently abroad visiting family and sad that Hospital Playlist S2 is not on Netflix here! Thankfully there are lots of others in our list to be getting on with. Currently watching Run On which has great dialogue and chemistry between the actors so far. Parts of the story require some suspension of disbelief but there we go...

Tonight’s Nevertheless was, well, a bit meh - all that staring and glaring. My favourite bits were Sol and Ji Wan at the guest house and the two office sunbaes’ developing situation. Nice Noodles is going to go home empty handed, you can just tell. He’s lovely, but too nice. I can feel a “how not to love” self help book forming off the back of my extensive kdrama viewing. One of my key learnings is that a faint heart never won the maiden, mainly because someone else bolder steps in while you are dithering.

Right. 🥾🍑 I just watched 4 episodes of Monthly Magazine with Olga & the girls, damn my impatience, so I’m caught up to ep 14. 🙌 It is lovely.

I’m half way through The Heirs and I think I’m a bit old for it probably.
This may have been discussed in this thread before but I find actors in their late 20s playing 18 year olds in school uniform a bit weird to say the least. Also Kim Woo Bin’s make up and hair are odd - he looks like porcelain manikin.
The bullying scenes are very unpleasant and are students in fee paying schools really that snobbish and vile to students on scholarships?
I really hope it’s not the case in rl.
I hope Kim Woo Bin’s character gets his come uppance!

I couldn’t get on with The Heirs at all and ditched after about 4 or 4 episodes.

I couldn't get through the first episode of Heirs/Inheritors.

I'm totally enjoying MMH. I keep saying STAHP to DH, and he's like 😒

I agree, it’s pretty repetitive.
I guess it’s popularity was down to Lee Min Ho’s huge number of fans across Asia.

Just caught up with You Are My Spring. Am I alone in being so, so confused? Is Ian Chase a goody or a baddy? Was the rose left on the table or had he made it? Is he fixating on FL or not? Was there switcheroo action before the assumed killer took a tumble? Argh! I’m rolling with it but I’m a bit lost.

I can’t remember who has started Run On, but I’m glad you are enjoying. I really liked it but it divided the thread.

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

I couldn't get through the first episode of Heirs/Inheritors.

I'm totally enjoying MMH. I keep saying STAHP to DH, and he's like 😒

I'd love to whip out a "Stahp" at work on many occasions this week, probably wouldn't go down well!

@boatyardblues I reckon there's another baddie behind Ian Chase/brother and definitely some twin switcheroo- that's my theory so far! I'd agree it's confusing but I'm happy to roll with it for now as I like it a lot overall and it's beautifully shot as well
Watching still 17 this weekend and really enjoying it

Boaty We. Just. Don't. Know. I'm currently leaning more goody/neutral. There is definitely another baddy about who is ?Child Snatcher pastor.

I am v confused too but am v happy to go along for the ride 😎

But. But. But. One of the twins stood on grown-up ML’s foot to haze him, just like when he was a kid. So there’s definitely one bad one. 🤪

I was feeling brave earlier so watched the last 2 episodes of Kingdom S2. It was terrific. The visual impact of everyone in the palace wearing mourning robes as events unfolded was genius. Bae Doona is just fantastic. So know I get the tie-in with Ashin. 👏

Oh yes. Um... I dunno. I think it's all going to turn out to be about healing childhood pain though and the murdery murder stuff is a bit of a red herring. But I have v good track record of being wrong 😃

@boatyardblues

I was feeling brave earlier so watched the last 2 episodes of Kingdom S2. It was terrific. The visual impact of everyone in the palace wearing mourning robes as events unfolded was genius. Bae Doona is just fantastic. So know I get the tie-in with Ashin. 👏

It's wonderful. My favourite kdrama of all time. Well done for finding your courage!

@boatyardblues

But. But. But. One of the twins stood on grown-up ML’s foot to haze him, just like when he was a kid. So there’s definitely one bad one. 🤪

Perhaps there's a secret triplet? Twins are so last year?!

I just finished the first episode of Ms Hammurabi. It’s rather good, though Sung Dong Il is playing Sung Dong Il in characteristic shouty mode yet again. Sigh. Still, it is good to see Lovely Hair Kim Myung-Soo playing a straighter, more buttoned-up role. It suits him.

@boatyardblues- I have enjoyed watching Ms Hammurabi.

You Are My Spring: watched first 2 episodes, when will it pickup?

We are on holiday, thank goodness not a camping trip.
Hotel Wi-fi is hit & miss. I am watching Miss Crow with Mr Lizard, so far enjoying it despite being some bonker storyline i-e charging pod & electrocution. Music is enjoyable. 2nd pair is cute.

I'm 4 episodes in The Package it's OK-ish. What I think it lacks is pace and also the fact that it isn't set in Korea. As beautiful as Paris is it's not the same somehow without the K food/scenery etc.

Is there any way I can watch all of MMH? I even upgraded my VIKI to annual payment thinking it would release all episodes, it did not 😢