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!

I have watched all 24 episodes of Nothing But You on iQiYi on double speed and I don't feel I missed anything. 🤣🤣

Yep Cdrama. It had just about every cdrama trope you can imagine except horse art on the walls.

How disappointing! Any framed Westlife album covers?

I’m in a sleepy phase and nodding off half way through shows. My hit rate isn’t fantastic right now.

I'm just drying my eyes following ep 15 of The Red Sleeve 🥲 so much emotion in one little sleeve grab!!!!
Also been dealing with DS having covid, he's had a really high temperature and was hallucinating Pokémon yesterday 🤒🥺. He seems to be improving today 🤞.
Loads of kids at his school have got it, and our staffing issues at work are dreadful because of it.

Nope no Westlife framed albums, and the choice of car was a Range Rover not a mahoosive jeep. Stalkerish ML, twin sister FLs (one in a coma), 3 scheming wannabe gfs and 2 uninteresting side couples. I’m not really sure why I stuck with it 🤷🏻‍♀️even at double speed.

Oh your poor DS Girl that sounds rotten, hope he feels better soon 😞

I finished The Red Sleeve today as well and was emotionally wrung out (maybe that’s why I whizzed through brain mush). It’s so good, it’s a 10 from me. The acting from Lovely Eyes Junho & FL is just amazing, as is everyone else’s, especially Court lady Seo and the friends

Poor ds thegirl, that sounds horrid. I hope he's on the mend soon.

I'm still watching The Red Sleeve, I'm not sure I'm emotionally ready to get through the end 😬

I'm also struggling to finish Dali and the Cocky Prince I've got 1.5 episodes to go, and I just don't care what happens 🤷‍♀️

So sorry to hear about your DS Girl. Hope he feels better soon.

I think I need a list of all the great things people are recommending!

I'm loving Mr Queen after some initial scepticism. My watching is tinged with some sadness that Kim Jung-Hyun seems to face fallen off the face of the planet... Hope he makes a comeback soon as I really like him in this and CLOY.

Feel better soon DS of @TheGirlWithTheArabStrap! Fighting, wee man! 💪

So sorry for him and his fevered Pokémon TheGirl
Going to say again to everyone to watch The Future Diary if you want a shot of pure sweet happiness. Instagram today has made me beam

Instagram today has made me beam

What did you see pol?

@Andante57

As dh and I are non drinkers, is there such a thing as non alcoholic soju, I wonder? Unfortunately my Korean doesn’t stretch to asking for that when we go in May (if we go - I’m hoping and praying they lift the quarantine regulations by then, otherwise we’ll have to postpone the trip).

@Andante57 I just spotted this recipe on Instagram

www.koreanbapsang.com/sikhye-rice-punch/

Thegirl I hope your poor ds feels better soon.
Rowdy, thank you for that, I’ll look into it.

Sakura we loved Mr Queen, so original, clever and well acted. I agree about Kim Jung Hyun - he’s such a fantastic actor. I think he may be having some time off after the saga with Seo Yea ji.
It must be a nightmare getting on the wrong side of netizens in Korea - apparently Kim Seon Ho is also taking a break after the break up with his girlfriend was exposed in every detail.

Thanks for the good wishes for DS, he's definitely on the mend as he's bored now 😂

FINALLY Million Yen Women is becoming popular among cool kids … twist is awesome & @boatyardblues I also watched it in one go. I am engrossed & fully invested.

@FedUpWithBriiiiick I am eating Cupid’s Kitchen just because of ML (bath scenes in Legend of Fuyao is on par with Red Sleeve).
FL is annoying, I am on ep15 & she is getting unbearable. I don’t know why I am watching it 🤷🏻‍♀️.

@JinBhoot

FINALLY Million Yen Women is becoming popular among cool kids … twist is awesome & *@boatyardblues* I also watched it in one go. I am engrossed & fully invested.

@FedUpWithBriiiiick I am eating Cupid’s Kitchen just because of ML (bath scenes in Legend of Fuyao is on par with Red Sleeve).
FL is annoying, I am on ep15 & she is getting unbearable. I don’t know why I am watching it 🤷🏻‍♀️.

So many typos in this message but I hope you get the gist.

I WAS engrossed & fully invested

I am watching not eating Cupid’s Kitchen

Can't say unless you've watched the show FedUp. Watch the show! I need people to beam with.

Which show pol

The Future Diary Netflix

Thanking you! I have a zoom later then I am ONIT!

@polkettle

Can't say unless you've watched the show FedUp. Watch the show! I need people to beam with.

Who me? What? 😰

It's only 4 hours - so barely an evening's commitment. I'll say it one more time The Future Diary. It's a strange and occasionally mean idea but it will dust your January with icing sugar...
Here's a thing FedUp - recommended the Gen Hoshino show to my Japanese friend here who just finished watching it and LOVED it and has now recommended it to her mum actually in Japan who is now also loving it (on Amazon Prime there) How's that for a roundabout global telly circle?! 😂

@polkettle

It's only 4 hours - so barely an evening's commitment. I'll say it one more time The Future Diary. It's a strange and occasionally mean idea but it will dust your January with icing sugar... Here's a thing FedUp - recommended the Gen Hoshino show to my Japanese friend here who just finished watching it and LOVED it and has now recommended it to her mum actually in Japan who is now also loving it (on Amazon Prime there) How's that for a roundabout global telly circle?! 😂

Yes! I'm a total fan girl for Gen Hoshino now.

She and me are going to learn the dance together now.

It's the first song I hear in my head every morning 🙃