MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #30): In which we return to Korea from our January Japanese adventures

[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 list 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. 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)
The Red Sleeve (Viki)*

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)
Black (Netflix)*
Happiness* (Viki)
Hotel del Luna (Viki/Netflix)*
King: The Eternal Monarch (Netflix)
Kingdom (Netflix)*
Kingdom: Ashin of the North (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)
In House Marriage Honey (Viki, Japanese)
In Time With You (Viki - Japanese)
Instead of Tipsy Why Not Get Drunk (Viki, Chinese)
Lost Romance (Viki, Taiwanese)
Love O2O (Viki, Chinese)
Million Yen Women (Netflix, Japanese)
Morning Call (Netflix, Japanese)
My Little Happiness (Viki, Chinese)
Put Your Head on My Shoulder (Netflix, Chinese)
Rinko Wants To Try (Viki)
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 aka “the shit list” 💩

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

Posters’ Top Scoring 2021 Dramas
Courtesy of Hello’s kdrama spreadsheet, updated by thread regulars. Marks out of 10.

1. The Red Sleeve - 10 (2 votes, more pending)
2. Happiness - 9 (6 votes)
3. Devil Judge - 8.75 (3 votes)
4. Squid Game - 8.63 (12 votes)
5. Navillera - 8.57 (7 votes)

2020’s top scoring dramas
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 sometimes resort to acronyms and/or abbreviations of show titles or favourite actors’ names. 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!

In first YEEOOOO

Hello everyone - can we add our beloved summer next time? I really liked it. Also nominated young lady and gentleman for the shit list . Need something new as resorting to cdrama at the moment.

Ooh Manor, are you a frequent flyer incognito or a new face?

I asked the question about how to categorise Our Beloved Summer last night & then promptly forgot all about it. 🤦‍♀️ Fluffy or grown up for the romance? Will add when we are agreed.

Will add to the shitlist, though I thought that one had fans too. 🤔

Thanks for the new thread Boaty 🥂

Hi Boaty - re above, alas not new but name change fail....I am an occasional visitor to the board but mainly reading recently due to being busy.

I got the Korea Lonely Planet book for Christmas and keep thinking about planning my fantasy trip to SK which will probably never happen - I wonder who else does this (or maybe plans actual real trips).

And I think OBS is grown-up, not fluffy

Place-marking. Thanks Boaty.

I got the Korea Lonely Planet book for Christmas and keep thinking about planning my fantasy trip to SK which will probably never happen - I wonder who else does this (or maybe plans actual real trips).

I do this too. I have a Rough Guide to SK which I’ve been dipping in & out of. I imagineer most of our holidays and plan our itineraries, especially the road trips.

My schedule and hotels/air bnbs all decided for SK trip. Cannot wait, hopefully in Sept this year🙏
DD's joining also so I've had to plan for all tastes (restaurants and sites) which has been a bloody PITA.

My Future Diary = just what I need after a busy week. Very sweet 💕

I’ve finally started watching Birthcare Centre on Viki. Some of the delivery and immediate postpartum stuff made me laugh - very close to the bone. 😂 She’s just transferred to the fancy postpartum place. I can’t tell if it’s going to turn weird. It hints at darkness but it could just be women with the baby blues sobbing and someone screaming with their first post-delivery bowel movement. I was so loaded up with tramadol and iron supplements after having DS2, my first BM felt like birthing his twin. 🤷‍♀️

Thank you for the new thread Boaty.

Thanks for the thread boaty

Two episodes down on We Are All Dead and it’s fairly gruesome - I’m enjoying it though (apart from the bullying). I’m jolly glad the sports team is back though!

I enjoyed Birthcare Centre Boaty (although boggled at some aspects of the birth care presented). It's pretty astute and funny.
Have a lovely time with those wholesome and heart bursting Future Diary cuties Aesops (beams ☃️🌻🥰)
Soju + makgeolli + wine + cheese last night is going to make for an "interesting" day today.

Morning! Thanks for the new thread boaty , the header post is massive now! It's a thing of beauty!

I've scored The Red Sleeve now too

Banishing hangover by reading entire Webtoon of She Would Never Know which is a lot less nuanced than the drama and none the worse for that.

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap

Morning! Thanks for the new thread boaty , the header post is massive now! It's a thing of beauty!

We’ve been going a while. There are 3 years’ “best of” lists and I think it only occurred to do that perhaps 12-18 months in. We’ll get to the point where we top out the character limit at some point, but I’m nipping & tucking as we go. We could save a bunch of characters by switching N, V and O (Netflix Viki & Olga) in the list. It does my heart glad to be honest. There are enough of is posting regularly now that new shows get a thorough critique and scoring. 🙂

I went in TK Maxx after my early morning swim today for a bathroom tidy and came out with a giant pear and chocolate panettone. 🤦‍♀️ There go all the calories I burned off in the pool!

It was by the till, naturally.

I really liked Million Yen Women. It was definitely heavily influenced by Murakami, and I enjoyed the twists and turns. I was particularly happy for Midori's character arc.

Was Midori the schoolgirl? If so, yes I loved her arc.

I just thought it ended up as a total male fantasy: Look at all these beautiful women who want to sleep with the nerd AND sacrifice themselves to his career success! I thought it was all going to go very meta but...
Hangover is now at the allow in angsty "serious" CDrama stage. 3 episodes in to Because of Love

Gah! Birthcare Centre is making me cross. It’s supposed to be a specialist centre but the breastfeeding set-up is awful - babies kept away from the mothers, no attempt to counsel the woman about technique and help the baby to latch on, just whip him away back to the nursery straight away. I can only conclude they are bottle feeding the baby and the mother is destined for imminent exploding boobs/mastitis before her supply gives up the ghost completely. The whole set-up seems negligent towards mother and child dyad and unnecessarily stressful. Don’t even get me started on the bitchy mums. It had better get funny again quickly because this is annoying.

I did some research about Birthcare Centres after watching it Boaty and they are a big thing in Korea to go to for postpartum period. The breastfeeding advice is awful (note PPL from formula company) but probably, depressingly, authentically awful. Stick with it, the bitchy mums have good arcs.

OK. I’m loving the young new arrival with her devil may care attitude and sachets of MSG. I also liked the hyungnim in the tree. The Dad bromance was rather sweet.