MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #29): The one where we celebrate our growing community, score the year’s dramas, thank Korean creatives and performers for another year’s happy distraction

[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, but we can point you in the right direction. We also dip into Japanese, Taiwanese & Chinese drama as & when.

The previous thread is here but our lists below are cumulative so include 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. Writer/actor Simon Pegg referred to it fondly as “tonal chaos” - it’s part of kdrama’s charm. View the categories below as best approximate & ask if you need guidance about suitability for younger viewers.

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)
Dali & the Cocky Prince (Viki)
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)
Yumi’s Cells (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)/Rain or Shine (Netflix)*
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)
Would You Like a Cup of Coffee (Viki)

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)*
Happiness* (Viki)
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)
To Fly with Me (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 & can be viewed without S1)

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

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!

@bettys

I want to be in their gang

(Silent Sea)

Bae Doona is my spirit animal.

Bae Doona is the only kstar I follow on my work IG account

More suggestions for alternative oppas.... Park Hee Soon & Lee Hak Joo
(My Name) and Tora (Midnight Poppyland ha ha ha)

Although we could have 12 days of Character Oppas (lots of CEOs, Vice-chairmen & Captains)....or 12 days of Unnis....or 12 days of SLS.....

12 days of PPL?

So it's Day 12 of Alternative Oppas, and because it's my birthday this is all for ME.

No introduction needed. Park Byung-eun.

Happy Birthday Fed Up! I hope you have a lovely day!

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

12 days of PPL?

You could have 365 days a year of PPL and have plenty to choose from. You need a niche product range like bathroom fittings or golfing attire.

That's true Boaty

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap

Happy Birthday Fed Up! I hope you have a lovely day!

Fanks TheGirl. It's absolutely pissing it down and blowing a gale here, so decided to spend it in bed à la Brian Wilson (with my work laptop of course).

Dyson are indeed shit! I've noticed that recent dramas have been using a different vacuum, not sure what brand though. Clearly PPL doesn't work on me 🤣 actually, I do really want the Samsung folding phone!

Fab final alternative Oppa too! Thanks Briiiiick. I stand by Sung Dong Il being one too though 😆

@Rowdythree

Dyson are indeed shit! I've noticed that recent dramas have been using a different vacuum, not sure what brand though. Clearly PPL doesn't work on me 🤣 actually, I do really want the Samsung folding phone!

Fab final alternative Oppa too! Thanks Briiiiick. I stand by Sung Dong Il being one too though 😆

Oh yeah the foldy flip phone is goals. Stupid Apple with their inflexible mobile 😠

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRICK!!
Excellent choice for your seaweed soup chef.
Now I have to rewatch this.

Happy Birthday FedUp !!🥂🎂

[quote polkettle]HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRICK!!
Excellent choice for your seaweed soup chef.
Now I have to rewatch this. [/quote]
I love the scene where Esom says she's no knicks on and they jump into bed. Fucking class 🥰🥰🥰

As it's your birthday you can have that too.

[quote polkettle]As it's your birthday you can have that too.

[/quote] ❤️🥵

Fucking Dyson though...

Happy birthday @FedUpWithBriiiiick, have a wonderful day with lots of cake & Kdrama 😊

Happy birthday FedUp!

I do really want the Samsung folding phone!

I pointed that phone out to DH in a kdrama a couple of months ago. A day or two later he came back to me & said they have major problems with durability and screen failures as he’d been reading up on it. I don’t hanker after one any more. It probably explains why they are pushing the PPL so hard.

That makes me feel better about not having one Boaty. I thought they would be good for watching dramas on.

Ohhhh!!! I Love my Dyson... but it's died and I can't make up my mind... do i get another dyson... It's light... it's great to use... but has questionable longevity!...what do i go for next....???? shark?

on the kdrama front...
rewatching True Beauty!!! (it is a lovely gem!)
watched the last ep of Jirisan... should have been great... lost patience with it! (though love Lovely Kim Seokjin "Yours"....)
Going to start Beloved Summer
Going to start School 2021 (a good bet for fun non taxing drama! with ALL the tropes!)

I LOVE a samsung phone too!!! the flippy ones look amazing! But I've still got my gorgeous BTS Samsung S21 so I cannot justify another phone esp when my s21 still works amazingly well!!! camera / battery / storage!!! (for the record!!!! I've always had a samsung phone!!! way before Kdrama addiction! PPL does NOT work on me!!!! [hmm} )

Happy birthday Briiiick and thank you for all the lovely alternative oppas! I hope you are having a brilliant day.

It was very nice to be reminded of my favourite scenes with Esom, I loved her sooooo much in that show.

Last night was the scary The Silent Sea, episode 4 I think. All that bungee jumping in space was really testing my nerves. Then it was a bit of Bulgasal where it emerged I must have been quite inebriated and tired when I watched the last episode because I didn't have a clue what was going on, luckily DH was more lucid than me. No villagers in sight at the moment, I will keep going with it but I'm hoping it picks up a bit soon.

I really really want to watch this Weather Forecast People: Cruel Story of Office Romance (funnily enough, it's a literal translation, who would've guessed?) with Park Min Young and Song Kang which is coming next month. The Soompi description is unintentionally hilarious...

"Song Kang plays special reporter Lee Si Woo, a free spirit who is always thinking outside the box. Despite his impressive IQ of 150, all he cares about is the weather."

I can't wait to hear his meteorological chat up lines.

That sounds amazing Musique I will definitely watch that!
We have got my grown up stepDS round tonight as he missed Christmas with us as he got COVID. He got me a wooden spoon with BTSs faces engraved into it 😆.
Then we played BTS Uno, and DS was hysterical with laughter that I was last in every round 😅

Bang into Mr Sunshine so thanks for the push Boaty. One episode a day enough though. Sits nicely in a double bill with Singles Inferno.

@polkettle

Bang into Mr Sunshine so thanks for the push Boaty. One episode a day enough though. Sits nicely in a double bill with Singles Inferno.

That’s quite the juxtaposition you have going in there Pol. 😄