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!

I wasn't particularly invested in it mostly because I found Na Bi harder to care about as it went on- she just spent a lot of time looking a bit mardy and sad when she was around Jae Eon Spot on @Hydrogensonata. This is exactly why I stopped at episode 2.5. She was annoying me so much.

HP ❤️ ❤️❤️

@FedUpWithBriiiiick 👍🏼 for Move to Heaven. Tissues are needed. Tang Joon Sang did a justice to the role. However I must say it was a typical media portrayal of ASD (Aspergers).

I like your top oppa list rowdy! Especially as Park Byeong Eun (who I loved in BTIMFL) and Cha Seung Won actually are oppas to me! Phew, I thought I was destined to be noona or ahjumma forever!

Another day, another strong look on Instagram.

@polkettle

Another day, another strong look on Instagram.

His mummy could have ironed his shorts for him...

‘Aw, mum, do I have to?’
‘You look very nice, dear’
🤣🤣

Just before the ketchup incident 🙄😂

Oh jeebus, the cabinet full of shoes on Move to Heaven.

Hi guys! Still slogging on in RL covering a vvvv short staffed service and caring for COVID in-laws while trying not to strangle DH and diffuse DSD1 drama 🙄 Not long until the child returns to school, so might actually get some peace to watch stuff without her head popping round every 2 mins.

Been on a C-drama binge with "Love in Time", "Meeting You", "Mysterious Love" and "Please Feel at Ease Mr.Ling". Currently enjoying "Love with Flaws" with DD (what teen can resist toilet humour😂 Everytime she goes to the loo she feels the need to share a dove count 🤔🙄😂), who has developed the habit of shouting at the characters. The ajjumma is strong in that one 💪 😳

@polkettle

Another day, another strong look on Instagram.

That's certainly a look! Agree the unironed shorts let's it down though...

Aw Monkeywench ! Fighting!!

Also enjoyed Mysterious Love PBAEMr Ling & Love in Time & thought I would enjoy Broker but have stalled on that one! I couldn’t get past the toilet humour of Love With Flaws 💩

Currently obsessed with earning coins in Webtoons to feed the news for Fast Pass….

Feed the need not news 🙄 too much rosé down at the allotment tonight ….

I started Mysterious Love during my early morning insomnia today. Loved the belly flop dive in first episode and also ML's line in Blue Steel looks.

I keep giggling at the hotel name in Racket Boys.

Come as 2 Two, Leave as Three 😂

Ahh Monkeywrench sounds so tough! Sending solidarity 💪

We’ve just finished One Spring Night and we thought it was adorable.
The younger generation’s attitudes clashing with their parents more conservative attitudes is an often used subject for dramas but I thought this one was done more subtly than usual.
I thought Lee Moo-saeng as Nam Si-hoon, the awful dentist husband, put in a fine piece of acting as a villain. Again it was more subtle than the central casting villains such as in My Love from the Star and Cheol Gang in CLOY.
My only complaint - and this applies to lots of K dramas -is there was an excessive amount of drunken scenes. I know sometimes they are necessary to move the plot forward but they do drag them out a bit!

Now we’ve got to decide on what to watch next……

Into the Ring would be a cheery palate cleanser that nips along, Andante.

Gentle hugs and some ginseng pouches for Monkeywrench. Fighting!

Fighting, MonkeyWrench!

Gomawo～ Got me in the feels while I complete a pile of paperwork.

Sending positive vibes monkeywench 💪

Thank you Boaty - we’ll look into that.

Last episode of Move to Heaven.

Despite the usual tropey media portrayal of someone with ASD...

I. Haven't. Stopped. Crying.

I really hope no-one calls my work phone, cause they are liable to get silence, followed by muffled sobs and heaves.

@bettys

Aw Monkeywench ! Fighting!!

Also enjoyed Mysterious Love PBAEMr Ling & Love in Time & thought I would enjoy Broker but have stalled on that one! I couldn’t get past the toilet humour of Love With Flaws 💩

Currently obsessed with earning coins in Webtoons to feed the news for Fast Pass….

@bettys... I think you may have a problem!......😖

It was a looooong day & it’s Tuesday only. I am desperately trying to stop a sectioning of a young child (similar age to my DC).

Days like this, I quite fancy working in a publishing office like Romance Is a Bonus Book or even trading company (Miseang) feels like a bliss. Tonight either I will re-watch my favourite shows or will find something bonkers.

Offering comforting shoulder pats and now small strawberry lollipops all round. That sounds very tough Jin.
Just finished YAMS and while I still have only the barest grip on the murdery murders and the twinny twins I don't care a bit. Lovely comforting duvet of a show - just beaming right back at the beamy central couple. And loved their version of separation in final episode trope - particularly after annoyance of MMH.