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!

@LarryUnderwood

Oh Bea, those pics are 🥰. I've been away for ages as life has got in the way of drama watching, and I haven't started HTCCC yet and didn't want to find out too much about it. But BTS chat with Min Yoongi pics is a great way to kick off the day. Ahhhh they are so lovely...all of them without exception. But Yoongi and Hobi are my faves. I think. But then RM. And JK. And Jin. And Jimin. And Taehyung. How can anyone choose?

... You're welcome... it's good to share the love!...Plenty more where that came from (though I shall refrain!)...My phone Gallery is hilarious!... Prob 80% Bangtan! 😣😲

@bettys I’ve also enjoyed watching Kikazaru Koi niha Riyuu ga Atte

I want to start Dali and The Cocky Prince as it looks fun and light hearted but only two eps up and i don't want to wait as I seem to be watching a lot of on air at the moment!!!! Ohhhh the trials and tribulations of On Air Kdrama-ing!!!

People who know I have a mild obsession interest in Korean culture keep telling me of the existence of Squid Game, like I wouldn't know 😂 still haven't watched it though. Going to start it tonight.

Just received my delivery of lovely K skin care so will pamper myself and try to give myself a lovely Korean glow 😌

People who know I have a mild obsession interest in Korean culture keep telling me of the existence of Squid Game, like I wouldn't know

I bet they are the same people who say 'Have you seen Parasite ?'

@Rowdythree

People who know I have a mild obsession interest in Korean culture keep telling me of the existence of Squid Game, like I wouldn't know 😂 still haven't watched it though. Going to start it tonight.

Just received my delivery of lovely K skin care so will pamper myself and try to give myself a lovely Korean glow 😌

What have you gone for @Rowdythree? I keep looking at k skin care things and then chickening out as I have no idea what I'm doing!

@bettys, yes! Have you seen Parasite? And now Squid Game! 😂

@Hydrogensonata, I've been using K skincare for about 3 years now and honestly my skin had never been better! I used to suffer from quite spotty skin but hardly get any blemishes now. I get my stuff from Beautyandseoul.co.uk and the website is quite easy to navigate by what sort of issue you have with your skin. I use anti aging and use oil cleanser, foaming cleanser, toner, vitamin C serum, eye cream, moisturiser and SPF cream. I've just bought an exfoliator for the first time so will try that out. Plus I've bought some sheet masks and you always get lots of free samples to try too! I should be positively glowing 😂

Parasite? What's that?

😂😂😂

Side track! Dh and I have loved memories of the Alhambra, and are indulging our general k love with a Korean restaurant. Does anyone hve recommendations in soho/central/Covent garden?

I loved Memories of the Alhambra too @FiddlefigOnTheRoof Such an original concept. We looked at going to Granada soon but it seems a bit difficult with fewer flights at the moment. DH downloaded the soundtrack and sometimes the guitar music freaks me out a little that Dr Cha is coming 😂

I have been to Yori (Piccadilly) which I loved but had never had Korean food before (despite a month in Seoul a decade ago 😳), so might not be the best judge.

@FiddlefigOnTheRoof Olle on Shaftesbury Avenue is good and where Son & PSJ & BTS go 👍💜

@bettys

People who know I have a mild obsession interest in Korean culture keep telling me of the existence of Squid Game, like I wouldn't know

I bet they are the same people who say 'Have you seen Parasite ?'

Yes.

I think it’s a shame in a way that Parasite and Squid Game are the two Korean dramas which have hit the front pages internationally.
Now, I know they are excellent and highly regarded, but they are pretty dark and disturbing and I’m concerned that everyone will think that all K dramas are like that.

I've just watched the first episode of Squid Game! It's very good, a bit terrifying though! Lovely Gong Yoo, is that the only time he's in the show?

[quote bettys]@FiddlefigOnTheRoof Olle on Shaftesbury Avenue is good and where Son & PSJ & BTS go 👍💜[/quote]
Arang, in Golden Square is the one staffed by random teenagers where PSJ ate recently..

@FiddlefigOnTheRoof

Side track! Dh and I have loved memories of the Alhambra, and are indulging our general k love with a Korean restaurant. Does anyone hve recommendations in soho/central/Covent garden?

I second what @bettys recs... Olle is very good... Deffo go to Bunsik for a quick snack... I am obsessed with these Hot dogs at the moment and dd has requested i make some for her upcoming birthday!!!!... they are incredibley yummy!!!!!

@Rowdythree thank you for sharing skincare website. There are so many brands, which one do you recommend? Specially for eye cream.

I've just placed an order 8 bags of Mandhu to stock up for Autumn.
I want to make Kimchi based soup/stew if anyone has a good recipe?
Need to use up a brand that I bought which is a little too sour for me to eat raw.

I'm just eating mandhu and Kimchi fried rice for my lunch 😋 no stew recipe I'm afraid, but do share if you find one!

Jin I've just bought this eye cream, it seems very nice. Tbh I don't tend to stick to one brand. I read the reviews and go from there.

Anyone else wondering if PSJ is watching Bake Off whilst he's in the country 😂 I wonder what he's been up to

SquidGame is currently Netflix’s most-watched show in 90 countries (including the UK), and the streaming service announced today that it is on track to become its most popular series of all time, meaning it would dethrone current champion Bridgerton.
bit.ly/GQSquidGame

Reposting link
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/squid-game-netflix

Gosh! Squid Game is good but so dark. I wonder what has made it so popular. I think it's really good, but not that original (admittedly it has been a long time since I saw Battle Royale).

Haha! I like your thinking Rowdy!

I might give this Korean drama thing a go...

I might give this Korean drama thing a go...

snort!! 😂🤭😬

I’ve tapped one of the posters on this thread on the shoulder. 😄