MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #28): The Lord gives and He takes away. Lee Jong Suk & Park Hyung Sik return from the army; Seo Kang Joon departs.

[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. 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 Name (Netflix)
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)*
The King’s Affection (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, Netflix)*

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)*
Hospital Playlist 2 (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)
Ashin of the North (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!

Oppa advent day six

Couple goals - its Bong Bong and Min Min

Cute!!!!!

Adorable!! - and yet I feel slightly cheated that there is a FL in the Oppa advent calendar

If she's carrying him over to giftwrap and place under the tree I'm all for it. What's the drama?

@bettys

Adorable!! - and yet I feel slightly cheated that there is a FL in the Oppa advent calendar

Same!

I have hand cream today. Would rather have an oppa.

Strong Girl Bong Soon, Pol.

Aww cuteness behind door number 6.

Has a calming effect after Pol's giant invasive snowflake (not an euphemism)

It’s the one on our “defies categorisation” list. It has to be seen to be believed.

Ooh, controversy over door six! There are always some unexpected pictures in an advent calendar 😁

Off to watch Pols door opening

Aha! Should have worked that out. On my To Do list for some time 🥰

Yes I was wondering if the giant snowflake on Pol’s advent calendar was a portent of doom

Definitely a portent of doom 😁

Finished IGTYWTWIN. Loved the cosy hygge vibe, knitwear and setting but nobody's emotional journey made the slightest bit of sense and (ironically given domestic violence theme) wanted to do quite a bit of knocking heads together 🙄. PMY miscast as FL - poorly written role I think but also didn't play to her strengths.
Your favourite boy scouts have hit the Insta hard today...

Your favourite boy scouts have hit the Insta hard today...
I've just spotted them 😍 I'm slow though, there were already lots of likes from you lot on their posts 😂

Well that is my favourite advent picture yet Rowdy, from one of my favourite ever shows. It was genuinely insane. I read that the scriptwriter is working on a season two which is a bit of a shock. Also yes, ep 9 of Happiness ramped things up rather. Episode 10 tonight then I can finally watch all the behind the scenes videos as well as the sneaky deleted scenes.

Boaty it is good your coolness has been rehabilitated by the Cure. My children are primary age and sometimes the music they take a fancy to is a bit unexpected (Sisters of Mercy?! Mini goth in the making there).

Pol I'm very jealous of you and karaoke. Hope it goes even better next time.

DH was mocking me for following all of BTS earlier which I thought a bit rich seeing as he is the only person in the house who has actually bought a fancy BTS cd with lots of postcards and things.

We've started another old one, Fight For My Way and I'm enjoying it immensely so far. I'm also tempted by the new one with Choi Woo-shik but I can't remember the name.

@MusiqueAutomatique

Well that is my favourite advent picture yet Rowdy, from one of my favourite ever shows. It was genuinely insane. I read that the scriptwriter is working on a season two which is a bit of a shock. Also yes, ep 9 of Happiness ramped things up rather. Episode 10 tonight then I can finally watch all the behind the scenes videos as well as the sneaky deleted scenes.

Boaty it is good your coolness has been rehabilitated by the Cure. My children are primary age and sometimes the music they take a fancy to is a bit unexpected (Sisters of Mercy?! Mini goth in the making there).

Pol I'm very jealous of you and karaoke. Hope it goes even better next time.

DH was mocking me for following all of BTS earlier which I thought a bit rich seeing as he is the only person in the house who has actually bought a fancy BTS cd with lots of postcards and things.

We've started another old one, Fight For My Way and I'm enjoying it immensely so far. I'm also tempted by the new one with Choi Woo-shik but I can't remember the name.

My Beloved Summer is the new Choi Woo-shik, and jolly good it looks too.

Fight For My Way is one of my faves - good choice!

Boaty it is good your coolness has been rehabilitated by the Cure. My children are primary age and sometimes the music they take a fancy to is a bit unexpected (Sisters of Mercy?! Mini goth in the making there).

It was my ‘sixth form’ playlist. DS boggled at the mix of indie, punk, folk, soul and EDM/rave, but I noticed he was adding things to his playlist as the journey progressed.

I am up to date with The King’s Affection. I’m not sure how it will wrap up. It seems to be coming to a boil nicely though.

Saving The King's Affection to double bill as it looked to be getting sad/stressful.
Thumbs up to first episode of Our Beloved Summer. Promising.

Where did you read there might be a second series of Strong Girl Musique? it's my absolute favourite too.

These twenty episode series keep on sneaking up on me! I thought I was nearly finished with When the Camelia Bloom but there's still five episodes left!

Aah. Choosing Spouse by Lottery was very satisfactorily concluded. I really hoped for a clinch between the minister and her secretary as there was definitely some chemistry, but otherwise a perfectly formed gem.

Choosing Spouse by Lottery is one of my favourite jdramas

I have just watched the first episode of Red Sleeve it is DELIGHTFUL!!

The red sleeve is flippin marvellous!! I'm on ep 4 and trying to not watch all in one go! It's excellent with all the qualities of a fab drama in good amounts! And obvs Junho is 😍👌👍... And FL is lovely fab FL from Crowned Clown and Memorist! Plus crazy mum from true beauty is there....! It's very good! 👌👍😍

@FedUpWithBriiiiick I am really enjoying Fight For My Way, it definitely doesn't take itself too seriously and it has some great characters. I started watching My Beloved Summer last night and I really like that too. Choi Woo-shik's character has an agreeably dreamy outlook on life and is a bit removed from your usual male romantic lead.

Even Kim Da-mi whose character in Itaewon Class I totally loathed is pretty good in this, I think her character will go through a rehabilitation plot like the FL in Hometown Cha Cha Cha.

Bea and Bettys I think I might have to get DH onto watching The Red Sleeve, he has had a liking for the FL ever since she played Ritchie the zombie in Korean Odyssey.

Boaty it sounds like you are doing a great job teaching the merits of musical diversity.

Rowdy I read about Strong Girl series 2 on Reddit, then a quick Internet search threw up some news stories that the writer was indeed writing a second season. That doesn't mean it'll get made though I suppose, at least Kdramas seem to avoid the endless sequels of most Hollywood blockbusters for example. I'm torn, obviously seeing PHS and PBY back together on screen would be just wonderful but I can't really see where the story would go.

Oppa Advent day seven

Wearer of destroyed knitwear, Seo In Guk!

Great work on the advent calendar Rowdy. 👏