MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #26): With the dog days of summer behind us, it’s time to dust off your persimmon racks and dig out your down jackets for a cosy k-autumn

[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)
Monthly Magazine Home (Viki)
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)
Racket Boys (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/Netflix)


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)*

AVOID, AVOID, AVOID aka “the shit list” 💩

Well-Intentioned Love season 1 (S2 is fine)
The Birth of a Beauty

Thread Regulars’ Top Scoring Dramas of 2020
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). 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!

[quote polkettle]I enjoyed this Fangirl exploration of the pressures of KDrama production. Good summary of all the different squeezes and pitfalls.
thefangirlverdict.com/2021/09/05/dear-kfangurl-why-do-so-many-kdramas-start-strong-but-go-downhill/#more-59284[/quote]
This is good Pol! You know it's a particular bug bear of mine ^

^I enjoyed this Fangirl exploration of the pressures of KDrama production. Good summary of all the different squeezes and pitfalls. thefangirlverdict.com/2021/09/05/dear-kfangurl-why-do-so-many-kdramas-start-strong-but-go-downhill/#more-59284^

Excellent read pol

Joins FedUp and

Interesting that pre-produced dramas can't escape either, I'm still about the short-sightedness of someone in the Joseon Exorcist team who didn't spot the problems (and still at the end of Moon Lovers Scarlet Heart Ryeo )

Thank you for that, Pol.
I believe China censors anything to do with the supernatural - aliens, ghosts, reincarnation etc. Well these loom large in K drama yet apparently My Love from the Star (and I’m sure loads of other ones) were huge in China.
How do they get past the censor - or are they watched illegally as in North Korea?

[quote polkettle]I enjoyed this Fangirl exploration of the pressures of KDrama production. Good summary of all the different squeezes and pitfalls.
thefangirlverdict.com/2021/09/05/dear-kfangurl-why-do-so-many-kdramas-start-strong-but-go-downhill/#more-59284[/quote]
Very interesting Pol! It seems very risky, the Live - Shoot system, it must be very stressful being involved in the drama production.

Life has been so hectic! Hardly any time for drama, I need a big K drama cuddle to refresh and revitalise me.

DD has started yr11, which means the start of GCSE prep... I have already had to diffuse a physics tantrum because the teacher gave them the sheet of formulae and she had got it in her head that it might as well be Russian. Pass me the soju and let me gently rock in a drama haze😭

Child gets incredibly anxious at new information (which she realised this wasn't once she calmed down) and is still waiting for assessment (which is going at a snails pace because she's not considered to be underachieving enough, even though her hypermobility means that there is a physical element to why she struggles and OT have said that it constitutes a physical disability that affects her education 🤔), so this ajjuma is ready for solutions bombs and escape from reality

Lol soju bombs=solution bombs 😂

Fighting Monkeywench 💪

That sounds tough monkeywench Much sympathy.
Confirmation on his official (I think?) FB page via a photo of random groceries that PSJ is indeed in UK.

Solution bombs should be their name Monkey 😁. I hope your daughter is OK

@polkettle I just went to check out PSJs shopping. Seems to be mostly chocolate and booze 😂. The comments on the Facebook Post are amusing. There's someone pretending?! to be PSJ.

Ah lots of (soju not gin) and fluffy dramas for you monkeywench
Fighting!💪

I liked the addition of a bunch of bananas TheGirl - "SEE Mum? FRUIT." I think if anyone wants to find him best policy to pace a triangle between Fortnums, Olle and Spurs stadium.

I continue to really enjoy Be Yourself - touching and fun and very well made/paced.

Where are you seeing these PSJ posts pol & TheGirl? It’s not on his official IG

I thought this was an interesting read, not that I agree particularly but I've not considered the political elements of the Korean wave at all and this was certainly a new perspective (sidenote, I'm not at all sure of the background to this site, it's quite possibly one of those pseudo-intellectual mad American Conservative places so proceed with caution!)
lawliberty.org/the-korean-wave-and-the-decline-of-american-order/

On Facebook Bettys on something that may or may not be an official Park Seo-Joon page. As TheGirl says the replies to comments below it are definitely NOT him but page quite possibly still genuine from number of followers.
The photo is on Instagram from an account that may or may not belong to one of his staff.
Mad silly speculation about the view from the window to place him more precisely. My friend's DH thinks it's Bloomsbury on absolutely no evidence. Is that a swimming pool?? And surely an Aparthotel from appliances...
More news as I work hard as I have it.

Here's the photo for analysis

Thanks for the virtual fighting messages, they were so needed yesterday ❤ She has gone off in a great mood after reviewing the materials for today and realising that she actually knows what they are covering 🤞 I wonder if soju is available as a drip 🤔 interchange with coffee depending on levels of responsibility required 😂

Having Lee Dong Wook session with Touch Your Heart . Night shift tonight so will download a couple of episodes of a short Web drama from Viki on the off chance I get a peaceful break🤞🤞🤞

for those in need of PSJ Watching!
www.facebook.com/SeoJoon.net

I've started Hometown and it's lovely lovely! ... I love ensemble dramas where they all have seperate storylines but all come together here and there...and I love to see "growth" in a character which we will undoubtedly see in Dr Yoon and the Policeman and Mi-Seon are going to be lovely to watch!... and lots of recognisables there too!!!... seeing CLOY Cha Cheong-hwa everyjwere at the moment! (CLOY / Mr Queen)...all very good watched all 4 eps over the last couple of days and now have to wait to saturday!! argggh!!!!

Ah! I took the blue for an awning but it could be a pool - is he filming at Pinewood? In which case it’d make more sense to be in SW London NEAR ME!!!!!
Ha ha ha ha hiccup! 🤭🤭

"The film is the 31st in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). ... (HCP) to build London's largest film and TV production centre in Dagenham."...

I'm off to find out where exactly... should i be doing more sensible useful non stalkery things??? of course i should.....

"Where's PSJ?"..... 🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎🔎

Oh poo Dagenham nowhere near me 😡

Lolling at Nongshim noodles & bananas amidst the F&M goodies 😂

Glad today got off to a good start monkeywench!

Can you download off Viki? Am I missing a trick?

@Bea I am waiting for Saturday too, just checked what day is today 😆

Is Korean government making some decision about enlistment which will impact BTS? It’s on my insta feed.

@Dontwanttobeyourmonkeywench lots of best wished for you & your DD.

I am sure you have looked in to exam access arrangements. If school is not on board then perhaps contact your local IASS service (England only) for some advice & support.

@JinBhoot... Yes! i think the govt / or committee are meeting tomorrow to discuss enlistment.... if anyone is deserving of exemption it's BTS! as exemption is reserved for those who invite commerce / public image etc...to show SK in all it's bestest light!!!

However...recognse that military duty very important within the culture and seen asto be carried out with pride... and they have said they will perform their duty when called...
If they got exemption and took it i think they would be inviting a load of hate... even though most agree they deserve the exemption

They should have a reduced time.... 9 months!... and all go at the same time... goodness knows there's sooo much content they've got stored in the vaults to keep ARMY amused and content for years and years!!!!... even the 18 months isn't sooo long... it goes quick!...i just don't want them to go in bits and bobs... then it's be forever until they're all together again!!!! (purely selfish reasons... I'll be needing a zimmer frame for the concerts if they take turns to go! )....