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!

Some of these are funny BTS Puna ads.

youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAw_Pp0vdPw1_TzREMD0J5pcXmtlwOTWK

Or try this link

[quote JinBhoot]Some of these are funny BTS Puna ads.

youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAw_Pp0vdPw1_TzREMD0J5pcXmtlwOTWK

Or try this link [/quote]
The one with Jin and the jumper 😍😁

my favourite one is Jimin dancing to Butterfly and RM and his lemons..they're sooo funny!!!! The Puma ads were great.... when they switched over to fila lots of disgruntled armys as the fila ads are no way as fun! 😂

@Rowdythree

That looks brilliant Sakura, sadly I'm not anywhere near London.

DH and I just started Beyond Evil, I got a bit confused, but I think I've got with the plot now, very creepy though 😬 I've also started when the Camelia Blooms, not sure if I like it yet, but I'll stick with it for now.

I've been waiting Aaaaages to start Beyond Evil properly... istarted on a Boobage Dodgy SIte but when it was announced to come to netflix i thought i'd watch it there but i haven't re started yet... it's a good one to keep in reserve... just hoping it doens't turn out like Mouse which was a brilliant beginning and then just went to nonsense... I gave up!!!!..what a waste!!!!!

I think my favourite is Kim Taeyoung on his bicycle, and that last bit of Jimin dancing when Suga is playing the music from his tinny phone 😂 It’s just that sense that they all love spending time with each other 💜🥰

I've been watching Beyond Evil at an episode rate of about one a fortnight because of DH being hopeless. Does mean I keep forgetting what happened but also quite intrigued what's in the remaining 5 episodes because it does feel like we're at the end of the mystery.
Off to opening concert of Korean music festival tonight - very much not BTS though 😁

I saw the new James Bond last night and found it weird watching without subs. There was a sense of familiarity & ease when subs did come up 😂 (although didn’t actually need them as French is the only language I do know🤷🏻‍♀️)

Finished An Incurable Case of Love : So. Much. (low budget) Smouldering.
Deeply enjoyable for when in a mood for nonsense. RTA in episode 9 a particular delight.

@polkettle

Finished An Incurable Case of Love : So. Much. (low budget) Smouldering. Deeply enjoyable for when in a mood for nonsense. RTA in episode 9 a particular delight.

Excellent Pol. I love nonsense.

Although I cringed myself inside out at the first episode 😂

Parallels with Mischievous Kiss too with the FL becoming nurse to follow Doctor ML.

It does my feminist credentials no favours, watching these shows 😂

Hush now, no telling or judgement here 😉

@polkettle

Finished An Incurable Case of Love : So. Much. (low budget) Smouldering. Deeply enjoyable for when in a mood for nonsense. RTA in episode 9 a particular delight.

Is it the Japanese version of a channel 5 film? 😁

Re Beyond Evil, from episode one, it seems obvious what the plot is going to be, but as it has won lots of awards, I'm guessing there will be many twists and turns. I'm looking forward to watching more.

Can anyone give me a heads up about When the Camelia Bloom? Is it worth sticking with?

@Rowdythree I enjoyed When The Camellia Blooms as it was airing but felt a little let down at the end can’t explain why. There’s a lot to enjoy in it, both ML & FL are good and the market ahjummas are good fun

Yep Rowdy 😁 It makes the Hallmark channel look subversive...
As far as Camellia goes - I really liked the small town life, heart of gold ahjummas and KHN being a sweetheart. The serial killer stuff less so but didn't get in the way. If you don't warm to FL - I really like that actress but she does cry a LOT in this and I know annoys others- then it may not be for you.

It was the serial killer stuff that was bothering me really, I wanted romance, not murder 😂

I do love a good Hallmark Christmas movie though 🎅

It's more romance/slice of life than murder really I'd say. It's got some lovely lines in it.

Thanks Pol, I'll stick with it 👍

I hadn't seen those BTS puma adverts before! So cute!! 😍

I love Hallmark Christmas movies - all are same cookie cutter stories but I still enjoy it.

I need to pick a show, can’t spend all week on YouTube watching Run BTS.

I’ll start When Camellia Blooms.
I am also eyeing Chinese movie Upcoming Summer but not in a mood to commit 1hr54min.

Movie always seems like a big commitment compared to 2-3 episodes of Kdrama in one go.

I had surgery a few years ago and exhausted Netflix’s Hallmark movies back catalogue. It was perfect post-op, painkiller addled viewing. You could see the plot developments from space and I enjoyed the slightly hammy/wooden acting. Casting was photofit lantern-jawed, ripped-abs hotty MLs and 80s bra catalogue calibre lovelies as FL. They had a certain charm.

DH accidentally watched the glass bathroom episode of Yumi’s Cells on Sunday night. He usually plugs in his airpods and listens to music, but he said he rather liked that not much happened for the half hour he watched apart from angsting and butt-clenching embarrassment over the glass bathroom. He said most TV doesn’t allow such minutiae to be explored in depth and it was fun. 😯 Maybe there’s still time to win him round.

@Rowdythree I liked where the Camelia blooms but it did take a little while to get going - the romance aspect takes a while but I found it sweet and there are some lovely relationships/found family aspects especially as the story goes on. I do really like the main actress though

I'm stuck on what to watch Inbetween everything that's currently airing - I keep trying between good casting which I want to like because I like the lead actress/actor and the idea of the story but I keep falling asleep and king eternal monarch which again I feel like I should like but haven't got into yet, I just can't warm to Lee Min Ho's character yet.
Maybe I'll give up and try w:two worlds as it's on the recommended list. Or rewatch some old favourites - I need something to watch snuggled under my electric blanket whilst it buckets it down outside!

I had to keep pausing that bit of Yumi's Cells due to second hand embarrassment, it took me twice as long as it should to watch that episode 🤣🤣

One particular Hallmark movie that sticks in my mind, is about rival Christmas tree sellers , named the Pine family and the Spruce family. As you can probably expect a Romeo and Juliet romance ensued between the Pine and Spruce offspring. I loved it! 😁🎅

Hydrogensonata W:Two Worlds is really good 👍 very bingeable. Stay cosy under your blanket 🤗