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!

I've been thoroughly enjoying the calm and peace ah Hyoris Bed and Breakfast... Very soothing... 🙏🙏🙏🙏😇😇😇😇🍳🛌🍳🛌🍳

😍 I agree re the soundtrack Bea, that song is so dreamy.

is also one of my favourites. Its on my (very rarely used) "workout" playlist.

That sounds nice for Sunday viewing Bea! I've been watching Shopping Prince Louis this morning, currently on ep 3. Might switch it up this afternoon and try Hyoris B&B

I’ve had to tear myself away from Reply 1997 to do some proper adulting.

@Rowdythree @boatyardblues I'm so pleased to find people are in agreement! I loathe her too as she's so utterly vile to everyone (apart from Park Saeroyi). The fact that PSJ isn't saving it for me is making me a bit sad (I have determined that I must've loved Ko Dong-Man and am a little in mourning for him as Saeroyi is just a bit too perfect). Jae Mount-Hoo is a fun baddie with great fashion sense (although am struggling to really understand his motivations now too - very petty).

@Bea @TheGirlWithTheArabStrap I do love the soundtrack though!

*Yoo Jae-Myong blooming autocorrect...

Started Replay 1997, on ep2 and to be honest, not feeling it so far.
Will it pickup?

Sakura, I didn't like seeing him as the bad guy! I've only seen him be lovely characters before Itaewon Class!

JinBhoot I was the same ré Reply1997 so watched a highlights edit on YouTube and then the last episode 😳

Can anyone PM me the couple who announce the marriage plans at the end as the ‘whose the hubby?’ teasing is getting on my nerves & I don't want to spoil more than I have to by watching the last episode now (I’m on ep 4).

I think that should have been ‘who’s the hubby?’ but you know what I mean.

Nice little cameo from Lee Kyu-hyung in HP this week. Playing a normal person for once and not a lunatic 😂

Making a start on Nevertheless. Song Kang is too beautiful.

Did you get your answer Boaty? I just googled it for the other two shows. Know the answer for this one from watching 1994.

I googled it 😁. I've messaged you boaty

@Rowdythree He makes such a great villain! I've only seen him in Vincenzo and Reply 1988 where he wasn't the best dad to poor Dong-Ryong! Can you recommend anything you've particularly enjoyed with him in?

[quote sakura06]@Rowdythree He makes such a great villain! I've only seen him in Vincenzo and Reply 1988 where he wasn't the best dad to poor Dong-Ryong! Can you recommend anything you've particularly enjoyed with him in?[/quote]
He's great in Stranger, really fantastic.

Small role in Prison Playbook and he plays Bong-soon's dad in Strong Girl Bong-soon.

Thanks Betty & Girl. I feel I can enjoy the ride now, whereas Reply 1988 made me really cross because they chose the wrong husband (IMO).

@boatyardblues

Thanks Betty & Girl. I feel I can enjoy the ride now, whereas Reply 1988 made me really cross because they chose the wrong husband (IMO).

You are right.

Briiiiick and Sakura he'll always be Bong Soon's lovely dad to me 🤗

Yes, I was really disappointed with the husband in 1988! Defo the wrong choice imo too

You see I looked up early on in 1988 and definitely made me enjoy show so much more which is not about 'plot' anyway.
Confession from rejected suitor and the protective response from those that hear it pretending it's a joke is one of the best/most heartbreaking scenes in KDrama for sure.
And though successful one wouldn't have been my choice, think it was the right choice for the character for lots of reasons that we shall have to argue out in a pub one day!

I have just watched Night In Paradise (film, Netflix). Very very very violent with no humour or happy ending. However, it's very well acted, Jeju Island looks lovely (when not pissing down or covered with dead bodies) and has the fab FL from Vincenzo & Be Melo

Also agree with finding out the husband is key to enjoying or skipping the Reply series. The husband in 1988 wouldn't have been my personal choice but can see that it worked for FL.

Now dithering between starting Imitation, From a Distance Spring Is Green, Beyond Evil, Mysterious Love or Devil Judge

@boatyardblues

Is fickle not this thread’s watchword? I’m all about Song Kang at the mo and he is definitely outside of our half your age + 7 sort-of-rule. He was great to watch in Navillera but he has Kim Jae Wook’s ability to sell the sexy scenes in Nevertheless. 🔥🔥🔥

What is the half age plus7 rule?

@polkettle "Btw I don't think we are fickle so much as welcoming and inclusive in our Oppa interests."

A good way to look at it. I am definitely inclusive of all the Oppas (though they are all much younger than me!!