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!

HCCC: I am so glad Ms Dentist asked why Chief Hong is not using a washing machine. It gets me every time! It’s like everyone in Eastenders going to the launderette.

HCCC: Today’s episode, I watched with ear to ear smile. 2ML is just what this drama needed “I see none of you are normal” 😂

I have a long list of chores this weekend, to reduce my guilt I parked my self infront of tv with a tray of roasted chickpeas to peel. I have ironing but it is difficult to give your complete & undivided attention to subtitles.

I have ironing but it is difficult to give your complete & undivided attention to subtitles.

This is why I need to up my game with learning Korean. 🙂

I also watched HCCC with a big grin. ML has a lovely manner. I would be so sad if I heard he was a kitten crusher/school bully/worse IRL. Whoever cast FL, ML & 2ML needs a .

Everyone!!!! I am in Victoria in London right now for an appointment amd im 99% sure I just walked past Brie Larson looking casually fab. And of course all I could think was 'ahhhh what if PSJ is with her?!'. But she was alone.

When I say just, it was about 45 mins ago cos then I went to my appointment. Maybe she's gone to see Hamilton? Will be watching her insta eagerly- hope I wasn't mistaken!

How exciting Larry! I wonder what PSJ had been up to, no updates on his insta for a while 🤔

Spurs are playing at home tomorrow at 4.30... #jussayin

Sand lance sauce is basically fish sauce, but a similar flavour to anchovies (but nicer according to the site I found).

Oh my word, the third game in Squid Games was nail biting.

Permission to dance on Strictly … it’s trending on Twitter

Who has permission Jin? Did you post in the wrong thread?

BTS Permission to Dance was used on Strictly 💃🕺

@JinBhoot

Permission to dance on Strictly … it’s trending on Twitter

Referring to this twitter.com/btsukunite/status/1439333421495504899?s=21 BTS song Permission to dance was opening/all couple songs on UK’s dance show Strictly come dancing Ooops, I should have been more clear 😆

Watching You Raise Me Up on Viki and, in proof that KDrama can take you anywhere, it's about erectile dysfunction. Anyway ALSO features a Urology clinic and a Psychiatrist sharing a building so surely it must be where Chief Hong is visiting too. The MCU has a rival 😉

‘S ok. I’m just showing up my ignorance of BTS lore. 😄

Sidebar: I think Yoon Hyn-Min is getting cast in progressively warmer and lovelier roles. He’s faintly cuddly in Witch at Court, whereas he was such a cold stuffed shirt in Tunnel and some of his earlier dramas. Being cast as an AI in Holo didn’t help. I wonder if he’ll get to be charming and effusive from the get-go in future dramas.

🚨PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT🚨

Episode 1 of Yumi's Cells has dropped on Viki!!

Holding back on watching until we are all ready...

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

🚨PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT🚨

Episode 1 of Yumi's Cells has dropped on Viki!!

Holding back on watching until we are all ready...

Omg! I'm not sure I can contain myself! 🎉🎉 Why didn't it drop yesterday when I had time to watch it?!

I never thought a few years ago when my DD became obsessed with an unknown Korean boyband, that we'd be hearing their songs on Strictly! 🕺🏻

I'm sooo excited to watch 4 episodes of HCCC today😃
Just started ep 5 and DH commented that I sit with a constant look of delight and huge grin whilst it's playing. I can't help it, it's just so lovely 🥰

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT🚨Episode 1 of Yumi's Cells has dropped on Viki!! Holding back on watching until we are all ready

Omo!!!! Can I wait until tonight??? Both eps up now plus HTCCC 💃🕺 hope no one’s expecting actual RL stuff to get done today…..

Episode 5 is so lovely AesopsMables ☺️

How exciting that you saw Brie Larson, Larry!

Today is Chuseok, Korean thanksgiving celebrated in both North & South.

All the traditional food is making me hungry
www.foodrepublic.com/2013/09/19/today-is-korean-thanksgiving-heres-what-you-should-eat/

@AesopsMables constant look of delight and huge grin Yup that’s how I watch it too.

I have a crush on ML & 2ML is also interesting character. I want more scenes of these two hanging together.

Just little over an hour to go for the next dose of HCCC.

Hwa-Jeong’s hideous outfits in ep 8 of HCCC are a joy. The red jerkin/fuschia trouser combo is joyously jarring, to the point that I’m admiring the outfit. The jazzy geometric blouse with lime accents was also rocking. 😂

Wound anointing, blowing AND a sudden onset cold 🥰! Be still my beating heart.