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!

Great news pol.

We’re got to episode 6 of Red Sleeve at the moment. Dh is loving it but I’m finding it a bit boring and repetitive (though I love the sets and the clothes).
Does it perk up a bit?

Thanks chingus! It's a sorta Korean dinner here tonight too as I'm cracking open the jjajang paste.
It's more red bean pancakes that I need in my freezer.

Artwork & buildings on Namjoon’s Insta are very interesting. How many museums are there in Korea? Or how many fabulous private collections people have on their mansions with big windows.

Congratulations @polkettle although no idea what that will include? New house guest/exchange student or some Korean language app? Regardless congratulations what a lovely start of the week 🙂

@JinBhoot

Artwork & buildings on Namjoon’s Insta are very interesting. How many museums are there in Korea? Or how many fabulous private collections people have on their mansions with big windows.

What’s his Insta handle? I got caught out by an official-looking account that turned out to be a nutty fan site a while ago.

It’s rkive

instagram.com/rkive?utm_medium=copy_link

Oh my God. I love RM’s Insta feed. It never occurred to me to look it up. If his feed is a true flavour of his interests and aesthetic sensibilities I like him even more.

His stories are equally interesting, he shares quite a lot of art work.
Initially I thought, photos were from USA but now it seems Korea.

I like this kind of contemporary stuff.
I wish translate options were available on the comments. In stories you can now translate stuff.

My DC made me follow all.
Hoby’s feed is more for fashionistas. V & JK: is for genZ or who ever is latest. Not for geriatric millennials 😆
Jimin’s rarely posts. Suga & Jin are pretty much like following friends/family of my age (usual stuff).

I've been watching the Chinese shooting drama, it seems to be following a similar pattern to the ice skating one, I think it might even be filmed at the same place! (unless all universities look the same 🤷‍♀️) it's easy to watch though, and has so far included a random cat and catnip to explain attraction between people 🙀🐱

I agree RMs insta is gorgeous!!!

I have finished Future Diary 💕😍❤️✨ 🥺🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
Oh my god it's cute. I will watch the next series when it's out just to see if they can find another couple as lovely as these!

I'm now starting Stranger S1 as my occasional kdrama watching friend was berating me for missing out on a classic

RM is a well known fiend for museums etc... When he was in London he posted pics of himself at national portrait gallery... And it justice blows my mind to think there you are looking at the monets and manets and BAM.. There's Kim Namjoon! I'd loose my mind and then runaway to hide! 😂😂😂... He's always out and about cycling... Hiking... Art gallery ing etc... It's called "Namjooning!"... It's sooo lovely to see him doing what he loves. .. He is sooo civilised... I always think his parents must be soooo proud! I love a bit of "Namjooning" 😂😂🥰🥰

Ahh did you see his picture on the train? I was so pleased that he can do something so normal 💜

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap

Ahh did you see his picture on the train? I was so pleased that he can do something so normal 💜

Yes! It was sooo funny a month or two back on twitter as he had visited one local gallery in texas (or somewhere) and then all the other local galleries were tweeting inviting him to come and visit... The power of Namjooning! 😂😂😂😂

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap

I'm now starting Stranger S1 as my occasional kdrama watching friend was berating me for missing out on a classic

It's amazeballs

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap

I have finished Future Diary 💕😍❤️✨ 🥺🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 Oh my god it's cute. I will watch the next series when it's out just to see if they can find another couple as lovely as these!

POL BEAM ACTIVATED

😊😊😊

I like that RM stops to take photos and video of random cats. I likey a lot.

😻

☺️🌻☺️🌻☺️🌻☺️🌻☺️🌻TheGirl Let me know if you need their Insta handles.
I also thoroughly approve of RM's content and have been wondering how much art he actually buys as he must have the wonga to be a serious collector. He was always my favourite nothing to do with the fact that he was the only one I could recognise for a long time

I found them on Insta Pol 😍

Tonight history was made in women’s figure skating. Kamila Valieva threw three quad jumps in her free skate (with raised arms). No woman has ever successfully thrown a quad in Olympic competition. She is 15 years old.

Weren’t They trying to do triple jump in To Fly With You ?

I started to read Pachinko last night and it's superb. It's been a long time since I was so engrossed in a book. Thanks for recommending.

Help! DS has commandeered the TV and is watching the worst Star Wars film (the Jar Jar Binks one). It’s more wooden than Forest. This is the one I walked out of at the cinema when I realised it was late night shopping.

I’ve found my headphones so I can watch kdrama on my phone instead.