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!

🚨 Apologies I should have added a Spoiler alert for anyone still watching or about to🚨

We are coming towards the end of this thread (under 50 to go).

@boatyardblues please can I nominate Racket Boys to be added in the Main post of next thread. 🥺 🏸

Also if we are adding ⛔️ ⚠️ 💩 drama list, it can be first post, instead of main one?

@JinBhoot @PinkiPhone 3pm normally. Although because last week's was a longer episode it didn't arrive until 3.30. Agonising! (Told you I was unhealthily obsessed 😁) And episode 11 going to be delayed a week because of football 🙄😡

In HP, they better make it a happy story line for poor Jun Wan. This is not good for the heart of our top cardiothoracic surgeon.

Just noticed, after next week’s episode there is 2 weeks break.

@JinBhoot

We are coming towards the end of this thread (under 50 to go).

@boatyardblues please can I nominate Racket Boys to be added in the Main post of next thread. 🥺 🏸

Also if we are adding ⛔️ ⚠️ 💩 drama list, it can be first post, instead of main one?

I second nom for Racket Boys in Slice of Life/lighter side.

If I there's have watched this, can I ask for The Naked Director (season 2 completion has now ended it) to be considered in the non-Korean section? Although I fully understand it's not everyone's cup of tea, and maybe I'm the only guilty watcher!

Feminist credentials went down the pan with that one 😳😁

On a side note: @polkettle beautiful new book! 👏👏👏

Apparently I'm obsessed with Korean everything.

My family say this too but they like eating the food. DH says my kimchi stew is his favourite dinner of the week.

Will definitely add Racket Boys to Slice of Life. I need you all to name your 💩 for our ‘avoid’ list.

I hadn’t noticed we were so close to the end of the thread.

Oh wow! Where do you guys get your korean food/snacks? I havent tried much to ne honest although I do have a monthly delivery from Mr Kimchi and always have a few korean spicy cup noodles in the house.

@LarryUnderwood

Oh wow! Where do you guys get your korean food/snacks? I havent tried much to ne honest although I do have a monthly delivery from Mr Kimchi and always have a few korean spicy cup noodles in the house.

I am in London and I sometimes buy online from H-mart. I have also been to the actual H-mart in New Malden but it's a bit of a trek. I usually go to Seoul Plaza in Golders Green or Oseyo if I'm in the Tottenham court/China Town area. Some Chinese supermarkets also stock from Korean goodies. (e.g. WingYip or Loon Fung) Sometimes Costco also sells the red Shin cup noodle.

감사합니다 FedUp 😁 Although in no way responsible for the beauty.

I do the odd online order from H Mart, mainly to stock up on soju. I buy the dc lots of the goodies. I've found tesco to be quite good for ramen, gochujang and I noticed they sell soybean paste too recently.

I'm vegan so a lot of recipes aren't any good for me, so I have to veganise them. My favourite is doengjang jjigae 😋

Larry what is Mr Kimchi?

Oh Naked Director is on my list I will have to take a look!

I get my snacks from Korea Foods in New Maldon - I actually prefer it to HMart though HMart stocks a lot of good stuff. Plus there’s an Oseyo right by Waterloo station which is my route in to London.

For my pile o’ poo list I nominate Melting Me Softly and Backstreet Rookie both Grrr JCW 🤦🏻‍♀️

@Rowdythree they are a Korean-owned business in Wimbledon, they make and deliver kimchi in small batches. They make it the day you order and then you ferment it at home. Its really good. You can order anything from a small jar to a family sized bag. I have a monthly subscription! www.mrkimchi.co.uk

My local sainsburys sells gochujang and shin cup ramen. I'm in London too but tend not to go into the centre much at the moment. I'll have to make a trip to New Malden one day. I can practice saying 'what is this/that?' as that's the latest thing I have learned in class!

@LarryUnderwood thanks for sharing that! It looks brilliant, lots of delicious recipes on their website, and they do a vegan version! 😋🙌

Welcome @PinkiPhone!
I'd third the nomination for racket boys- I'd like to nominate monthly magazine home under light romance- is mad for each other on the list?
Looking forward to the last 2 episodes of YAMS - no idea how it's all going to be resolved though?
In my avoid list I'd nominate birth of a beauty- it made me unreasonably enraged

I’d added Monthly Magazine to light romance & Mad For Each Other was added at the start of this thread. Nevertheless isn’t in the last yet - I’m assuming it’s a yes for adult/dark romance?

Ah- spotted it thanks @boatyardblues
I'd say nevertheless is a yes for adult/dark romance?
I'd anyone watching arching witches diner? Is it worth starting?

Definite yes for Nethertheless and Racket Boys! I'm behind on all others, but will hopefully get around to watching them soon. I haven't actually watched any dramas for the last 2 days! Today I've spent all my spare time reading Yumi's Cells. I think I'm far too invested in it, I hope the drama lives up to the Webtoon 😂

Briiiiick I hope they don't change too much, and I hope it ends how I want it to end 🤞

😭 I've used up all my Webtoon coins.... Must not buy any more.... 😬

Ré Yumi’s Cells I wonder……how far along will they take the story ? Got7’s Jinyoung is listed as playing Babi Yu which is a good call casting-wise. I still haven’t recovered from Ahn Bo Hyun in Itaewon Class either. Must learn to separate drama from RL.

Speaking of which, I have developed a crush on the ML in Midnight Poppy Land and HE’S A CARTOON!!!! Gah! Must learn to separate cartoons from RL.

I've got up to ep 260 and it's a whole new Yumi era, I don't think the drama will get as far as this. I think I can imagine how it will go, I'm guessing similar to True Beauty

@Rowdythree that’s a fair few coins right there 😂😂 I will admit to coin splurging too, these webtoons are highly addictive!

I think you might be right wrt a True Beauty style ending which worked for that drama, but it may be disappointing if they do that with Yumi’s Cells