MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #27): The one where global smash Squid Game launches kdrama into the stratosphere. C’mon in!

[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/Netflix)*
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)
Hometown Cha Cha Cha (Viki)
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)/Couple on the Backtrack (Netflix)
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” 💩

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

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!

@polkettle

Finally watching Prison Playbook (which I'd been saving like a last cube of chocolate for ages) and got to say the range of extra curricular activities and entertainment available in a Korean prison is excellent! Much rather spend time there than in a Korean high school

I lurve PP

Ach absolutely class sure FedUp

@polkettle

Ach absolutely class sure FedUp

Stickin up.

I am in that mood these days where nothing seems appealing. I start a show but then lose interest & move on.
Camellia Blooms ep15
It’s ok not to on ep10
One spring night ep6
Revolutionary love ep10
Record of youth ep7
I am not a robot ep4
Another Miss Oh ep 10

Oh my Venus & Put your head on my shoulder - will start this week.

It seems that I have watched all the good ones :(

I get like that often Jin, and I end up with lots on the go. I usually make myself finish then though, even if its a while after I've started them. It feels quite satisfying to clear my 'continue watching' list.😁

Is there a particular style of show you feel like watching? Maybe there are some older ones that we can recommend.

That's when it's time for a palate clearing trip to Japan, Taiwan or China Jin.

"London Bagel Museum"... 🤔

@polkettle

That's when it's time for a palate clearing trip to Japan, Taiwan or China Jin.

Absolutely.

After almost queuing for 2 hours, I HAVE TICKETS FOR COLDPLAY CONCERT

Only if BTS will make a guest appearance

Me too Jin! 🎉🙌 I really did not think I was going to get them. What date are you going on?

@JinBhoot @Rowdythree who's going to hold your organic wheatgrass juice when you are pedalling the bikes? 😂😂😂

Only mucking, well done and enjoy!!

@Bea I need your help please. Signed up to Weverse, but I can't find how to get the English version of site. Can you help?

Ahhh! I remember this! 😂😂😂... I'll dm you! Xx

Actually don't think I can send screenshot via pm... So forgive me fellow addicts for the following screenshot!!

From Home Page click bottom right

Then go to Settings icon....

Then....click on 7th Option (on mine it's the 7th anyway!) - it's the first under the second heading (which in English is General)....

Then the last bit is the middle option which should be English ...

Fingers crossed that should work for you... x

Joining Weverse!!!!... Remember to come up for air now and again!!!

I'll give it a try!! Thank you for comprehensive instructions @bea 🙏

I am now officially ARMY 💜

😅

Welcome to Weverse... Don't look at all the merch! (although you maybe saved as they are not shipping to uk at the moment!!!)...Don't Look at all the extra Media Packages you can get!.... Do watch ALL the Runs!....In The Soop - you have to buy into... but it's soooooo goood!!!! [grin!}

who's going to hold your organic wheatgrass juice when you are pedalling the bikes? AHAHAHAHA this really cracked me up Fedup

I have booked seated ticket so hopefully, my bottom will warm the seat to light up the venue 😂 < it didn’t come out very well, trust me it sounded very cool in my mind.

Rowdy I have PMed you.

Oh I am thinking about Weverse just for Soop2. But I feel that Soop1 was more organic. Where I can see pricing information?

When they release concert tickets, is it priority to Weverse? Or some other platform?

[quote FedUpWithBriiiiick]**@JinBhoot* @Rowdythree* who's going to hold your organic wheatgrass juice when you are pedalling the bikes? 😂😂😂

Only mucking, well done and enjoy!![/quote]
I'm more than happy to pedal but my legs will be powered by 🍺 rather than wheatgrass juice 😂

I'm getting into Doctor Stranger, I think I may have gotten over my aversion to Lee Jong Suk, he'll never be my favourite, but I don't think I'll be put off watching a drama with him in in future.

I’ve started You Raise Me Up. I don’t think I’ve ever seen masturbation in a kdrama before. Shonky medical confidentiality in evidence again. 🙄 It feels a bit cheap/dated. The thought of the cocky psychiatrist realising he’s been binned for the loser is keeping me watching at the mo.

I saw this on active threads: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/4382226-How-to-Koreanise-Christmas-Dinner?msgid=111861648

Had a dream during the night that I met PSJ in Belfast.

Woke up and immediately googled "where to by Soju near me" so I can be prepared.

I’m laughing at Yumi’s housework cell, which would get on like a house on fire with mine. DH’s is just like Wung’s. 🤣