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!

@boatyardblues

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

Secret handshake?

It might be one of you posting under another nickname for all I know, but they sounded like they knew their stuff. 😂

@Rowdythree thanks for the link- I usually use the ordinary but I fancy a new moisturiser and cleanser and maybe one of the essences? @Rowdythree thanks for the link- I usually use the ordinary but I fancy a new moisturiser and cleanser and maybe one of the essences- just so many to choose from and try!
@boatyardblues sidle over and ask them how they feel about chunky knitwear and romantic scenes involving wearing said knitwear in bed? (Not so great if they're into crime/horror maybe?)

Feel free to go on a recruitment drive, all.

In other news, a new sageuk lands on Netflix on 11 October starring thread darling Rowoon: The King’s Affection. Crown Prince’s twin sister assumes his identity when her brother is killed. First love shenanigans. Did I mention ROWOON?!?!

Are any of you feeling a bit "hah!... So nooow you are interested in kdrama! Haven't listened to Me for the past 3 years!... So now you can read subtitles!... Oh yes! It is different isn't it!? "... 🤔🤔😑😑😖😡... 🤷🏻‍♀️

@boatyardblues

In other news, a new sageuk lands on Netflix on 11 October starring thread darling Rowoon: The King’s Affection. Crown Prince’s twin sister assumes his identity when her brother is killed. First love shenanigans. Did I mention ROWOON?!?!

Oooooo! Rowoon!! Yes please!! 🥰

Me?? Feeling like a gatekeeper?!... 😖😳... Juuust a leeeetle bit! 😫😫😫😫😅🤣😅🤣😅

We need to create a new category for the header: "Other Dramas You Might Like if you're Only Here Because Of Squid Game 🙄"
We also need a set of 'I watched KDrama before Squid Game'/'Stop me for your next KDrama recommendation' badges, mugs and t-shirts.

@boatyardblues

In other news, a new sageuk lands on Netflix on 11 October starring thread darling Rowoon: The King’s Affection. Crown Prince’s twin sister assumes his identity when her brother is killed. First love shenanigans. Did I mention ROWOON?!?!

I'll have Saeguk coming out of my ears! I've started LOTRS, and Bossam and now a new one! Autumn feels like the right season for watching Saeguk 🍂

Pol nice idea, I want a 'I watched K drama first' T shirt 😁

I watched KDrama before Squid Game

Maybe we should have numbers on them like in Squid Game according to when we joined the thread……just sayin’…..

Or a neat little badge with a dalgona honeycomb symbol……oooh the graphic designer in me is spending too much time thinking about this

ooops

😂 👌to the numbered t shirts. I will do pretty well from that in a scenario where we have to cross a high bridge of treacherous glass to reach our bar full of oppas. Sorry 001 Boaty

@bettys

I watched KDrama before Squid Game

Maybe we should have numbers on them like in Squid Game according to when we joined the thread……just sayin’…..

Or a neat little badge with a dalgona honeycomb symbol……oooh the graphic designer in me is spending too much time thinking about this

Numbers? 😅😅🤣😅😅😅

Just got text from friend asking have I watched SG yet. And would I recommend? 🤔😂😂😳..

Haven't started it yet! I'm in the middle of..
LOTRS / HTCCC / Shamen Ga Doo Shim / Pop Out Boy / Backstreet Rookie (its awful! But I can't stop watching! I like the ML - Skippitydoodahing over the offensive stupid bits) /and almost starting Dali and Cocky Prince!....

Coldplay x BTS official video! It's very good, cleverly done

@boatyardblues

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

T'was I! Thank you for the invitation @boatyardblues.

I adore watching non English language films and drama series (subtitled - not dubbed) but so far they have been, in the main, Scandinavian/Finnish, French and Spanish.
My entire experience of kDrama consists of The Handmaiden, Parasite and Squid Game, so I have much catching up to do.

So, if my absolute all time favorite series were The Bridge,The Killing and Spiral, where should I start?

NB - have access to Netflix, Prime and Walter Presents.

Welcome Rosegold!

I would start with Stranger on Netflix if you like scandi noir/lawyer dramas.

But be warned! Before long you will be subscribed to every platform going including 2 webtoon services, wearing finger kisses T-shirts, saying "aigoo" in public when you are surprised by something, and fangirling over chunky knitwear wearing oppas.

(This may or may not be my personal experience) 😳😁

@FedUpWithBriiiiick - thank you!

Stranger looks to be right up my alley. (Have Chestnut Man to finish first but will be on it then...)

Hi rosegold !!!

I second what FedUp says 100%! I also watched a lot of Scandi/French dramas before succumbing to kdrama, and the first one I watched was Stranger which hooked me in. And rare for kdrama, there is also a second season.

For other dramas you can't go wrong with the recommendations list at the head of the thread but in particular I would say Signal, Tunnel & Come and Hug Me , although that seems to have disappeared off Netflix. Don't be deceived by the name, Come and Hug Me is about a serial killer, although you will find that dramas do mash up a lot of genres.

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

Welcome Rosegold!

I would start with Stranger on Netflix if you like scandi noir/lawyer dramas.

But be warned! Before long you will be subscribed to every platform going including 2 webtoon services, wearing finger kisses T-shirts, saying "aigoo" in public when you are surprised by something, and fangirling over chunky knitwear wearing oppas.

(This may or may not be my personal experience) 😳😁

Very similar to my experience too Briiiiick also add on pricing up a family holiday to Korea and enrolling in a local language school 😂🤣

Welcome to the thread @rosegoldwatcher

Hello Rosegold 👋 Add Beyond Evil to your list.

@rosegoldwatcher Welcome! Yes! Come & Hug Me very sinister!

Also - even though it's not in the serial killer crime category - I think everyone on the thread would agree that My Mister is just a really, really good drama which does have a crime plot to it and real emotional heft.

Welcome @rosegoldwatcher 🙂
I would like to add my all time favourite Hospital Playlist to the must watch list. It is available on Netflix.
Other random recommendations of various genres: My Mister, Misaeng, W- Two worlds apart - Crowned Clown - Hometown Cha Cha

My universe video is lovely 🥰
Yesterday DH asked if I want to go Ed Sheehan’s concert? I was like find me BTS or/and Coldplay tickets. I am convinced that Coldplay will do an appearance at BTS’s LA concerts.

@polkettle yes to all the mugs, shirts & badges 😆