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!

@boatyardblues... Dear oh dear! That star wars is the worst one! 😭😭😭

Being KDrama unfaithful with the second season of Starstruck.

@bettys

Musique I am thoroughly enjoying Lost in Translation but hate hate hate that bastard CEO!!!! I’m on ep 72 and just hoping the other boys find out what’s going on. And what’s with Jun’s skin? Are those tattoos or burns or a skin allergy?

bettys the CEO is horrible isn't he! Jun's skin - I'm not sure. At one point they hinted it was bruises I think, because he said he got injured a lot? I'm glad you are enjoying it, I am having to wait for one a week now.

Pol congratulations on your work based good news!

I too enjoy RM's instagram feed, he just loves a stroll around a museum. Following him is a very easy way to see lots of contemporary Korean art and feel soothed at the same time. I did laugh a lot when he tagged one of his random cats as Agust D though

Briiick Soundtrack #1 isn't out until next month, sorry for the confusion!

I've got way too many boring admin type tasks to do, and my child's birthday party to get ready for this weekend. All I want to do is watch Kdramas, booooooo.

Pol RM has quite a few pictures of the artwork he has at home. He was showing a little Anthony Gormley statuette last week for instance. I suspect he spends an awful lot of money on art, his insurance premium must be very high

Thanks Musique Never sure when I'm scrolling past whether it's something he owns or is visiting. Wouldn't mind a little Anthony Gormley statuette myself.

OMG OMG OMG 😱
I have discovered a new streaming platform in my mother tongue. THEY HAVE A DUBBED KOREAN SECTION. Selection is very limited at the moment - only two dramas & one of them is Mr Queen , hopefully it will encourage my MIL & DM to explore kland.

That sounds very encouraging Jin. 👍

I fell asleep on the sofa stupidly early last night. My kdrama viewing has been hopeless. I wish there was something cracking on air.

Sigh! Mr Binn! 😍

Does anyone know if the UK is going to get Grid on Disney+ on 16 Feb when it launches in Korea? I flippin’ hope so.

Pol, imagine having all that money to buy art with...I'd get heavily into ceramic art I think, I like a nice pot.

Jin that is exciting! I hope you manage to bring your MIL and DM over into the wonderful world of Kdrama.

I've started watching Coffee Prince for the first time and am thoroughly enjoying it. Apart from the usual joy of 'Oh, there's thingummy from watchacallit.' there's the added thrill of 'Oooh, don't they all look young!' Gong Yoo looks positively chubby cheeked. And it delivered on the abs front within the first seven minutes.

The change in production values over the last fifteen years is interesting too. The writing and plotting is just as good as it is now but with the general look of things the korean TV industry has come so far in a short space of time.

Ooh Musique you'll get to see lovely long haired Kim Jae Wook 😍

Jin that's exciting! Hopefully you'll get your dm & mil on board!

Boaty no idea about Disney+, does anyone know when we can expect Snowdrop? I wonder why they don't do worldwide release dates.

I've not been watching much drama lately, I've watched a few episodes of the Chinese one, but nothing is appealing to me. I need a good binge watch

Snowdrop has... dropped! Out today on the Star channel on Disney+

I've finished Demon Hunter Season 1 and hungry (fnarr) for more.

I'm not feeling very watchy at the mo either Rowdy!

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

Snowdrop has... dropped! Out today on the Star channel on Disney+

Thanks for letting us know Briiiiick! I might start it at the weekend. I've got an unheard of weekend to myself coming up!

Just started Snowdrop. It’s a bit shiny and twinkly in that Disney way. I hope it’ll settle down.

It’s the orchestral score - too Hogwarts/Disney animation and the sets are a bit too technicolour. Mr Sunshine was lush and beautiful but in a more restrained way.

Just finished Hometown Cha cha cha, aww so sweet, it was great that it got a full decent ending rather than a rush job. Where did Bora's mum's baby disappear to though, never saw him/her again.

Watched All of us are dead last week, brilliant stuff, love a bit of zombies.

Might take a bit of a break now for a bit, rewatching The Wire with DH.

Where are you watching The Wire Hawthorn? It is one of our faves but I haven’t watched it in over 10 years.

We have it on DVD, sorry, since years ago. It's great not to have to be relying in our dodgy broadband and battling the kids for it in the evenings!

I might ask for it for my birthday. It’s such a great show.

Snowdrop is shaking down OK. I really like Jung Hae In so I’m prepared to give it time to grow on me. He’s great, as is the young FL.

Just finished Hometown Cha cha cha, aww so sweet, it was great that it got a full decent ending rather than a rush job

Dh and I LOVED Hometown Cha Cha Cha. I hope Kim Seon Ho feels able to start acting again soon.

I'm glad I'm not the only one in a slump at the moment..
I'm just rewatching SGBS and CLOY! 👍

Snowdrop grabbed me last night and I will be binging until I’ve finished it. I also spotted all the good stuff that’s starting on Netflix this weekend and early next week. I feel like my dry spell is coming to an end and a glut is imminent.

@boatyardblues

Snowdrop grabbed me last night and I will be binging until I’ve finished it. I also spotted all the good stuff that’s starting on Netflix this weekend and early next week. I feel like my dry spell is coming to an end and a glut is imminent.

That's good Boaty! I'm starting it tonight, so hopefully my drought will end too.

I am still in drought and watching really bad Chinese shows. Current watch Oh! my emperor is quite bad (story, editing, direction, editing) yet I can’t stop watching (with fast forward button). The show has the most ridiculously obvious PPL ie face masks and she has time travelled to ancient time lecturing them about retinol, hyaluranic acid etc

I agree @boatyardblues, upcoming shows on Netflix looks promising.

@hawthornknitter we all wondered about the baby.

RM’s today’s post. Is that his home? Office? Someone else’s home or office? Some of the pieces are gorgeous & that colourful one is funky.