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!

😭😭 I just watched the final of The Red Sleeve I knew it was going to be said, but I didn't expect to be a weeping mess 😢

I need new Saeguk now, has anyone started Moonshine?

Rowdy I took a look at Moonshine when I was doing a boaty shuffle, it looked promising

@Rowdythree

😭😭 I just watched the final of The Red Sleeve I knew it was going to be said, but I didn't expect to be a weeping mess 😢

I need new Saeguk now, has anyone started Moonshine?

I started it... Half way ep 2... But I've left it for a while as I wasn't in mood... I felt like I was suffering from over load of historical... Looks like it would be good though when I get back into it! 👍

Thanks both, I think I'll start it next. I really like Yoo Seung Ho.

Real life is intruding here today. Tantalisingly I have 1 1/4 episodes of Snowdrop left. I am counting down until our day guests leave.

[quote polkettle]Now I've had to start my day with more drunk Kyungho and woke DH up making the bed shake with my laughter. (still he's made a cup of tea now so result!)

[/quote] OMG this is Gold … no matter how many times I watch this, I can’t stop laughing.

BTS song one, when I watched it first time, I didn’t know much about BTS but now I know & this has enhanced the joy factor. I am sure I will be clueless like them.

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap I didn’t get your t-shirt, please excuse my ignorance.

@JinBhoot
Moonchild is one of RM's solo songs
Here's the chorus
^Moonchild, don’t cry
When moon rise, it’s your time^

It's got RMs real name, Namjoon, as the phone number.
RM famously likes plants, and was born in 1994, so he's been "rooting for you since 1994"
So it's like an advert for a fictional RM plant shop 😍

In the middle of on the verge of insanity now, I'm hoping someone else starts it as can't wait to discuss. It's different for sure, never seen anything like it. For a modern show it's quite retro re music and set at an imploding electronics firm. Inept management and department politics with a huge slice of life out of office. It's really good 👍🏽

That sounds interesting Aesops. Passed me by at the time. Will definitely put on the watchlist. Always room for another Misaeng-alike.

@fedupwithbriiiiick I've been enjoying FLW and as soon as Brian appeared I was sold love Brian. Kim Mi Kyung must be giving Kim Won Hae a run for his money for hardest working kdrama actor

I have just watched The Effect of a Finger Flick on a Breakup (2021) perfect viewing for grey & wet Sunday afternoon. Really enjoyed something after a while.
It’s a one off long play 1hr+. PE teacher is adorable.

Thanks @TheGirlWithTheArabStrap 🙂

Ok, this is it, I am going to watch the last episode of Goblin - wish me luck and send tissues.

Tissues and a shoulder pat for you Metheven
Ooh I am very happy about how enjoyable first two episodes of Twenty-five Twenty-one were I do love a bit of retro healing and Kim Tae-Ri 🥰 And with FLW and 39 still to unwrap February is shaping up beautifully.

I have a house full of teens. I have no chance of using the big TV or our Disney+ account until they’ve gone home. Listening to them taking the piss out of Kingsman in the next room is quite entertaining. 😄

[quote TheGirlWithTheArabStrap]@JinBhoot
Moonchild is one of RM's solo songs
Here's the chorus
^Moonchild, don’t cry
When moon rise, it’s your time^

It's got RMs real name, Namjoon, as the phone number.
RM famously likes plants, and was born in 1994, so he's been "rooting for you since 1994"
So it's like an advert for a fictional RM plant shop 😍[/quote]
I'm not a BTS fan, but I absolutely love mono by Namjoon. It's such a good record, I love all the songs, particularly Seoul. Which then led me to Honne who produced that song, who's music I also really like.

How was it Metheven? Did you need many tissues? I cried at Train to Busan and The Red Sleeve this weekend. No more tear jerkers for a while please!

Rowdythree Even Korean comedies often manage to squeeze in a few emotional moments, though. The tear jerking scenes can be hard to avoid, they'll sneak them in anywhere, usually when you're least expecting it. Had a bit of that today with The Bros. It's really, really funny, but even that had me welling up a bit at the end.

Ah how nice it is on a rainy Sunday to settle down with a glass of wine & the new PMY drama! And so far FLAW is shaping up to be more fun than IGTYWTWIN which I struggled with as PMY was so maungy. Even Seo Kang Joon and his rugged corduroys couldn’t quite rescue it for me (maybe because the cords were too baggy #shallow)
Mind you it’s not all light the scenes with her ex are quite sour

polkettle thank you for the tissues and shoulder pat, I needed them. Rowdythree it was lovely and sad and tearmaking (I don't think that is actually a word) and gorgeous. I managed with just one tissue, so I was quite restrained. I think I love Goblin more than any other drama I have seen. Sigh.

I said before how lovely the knitwear was, but the coats. Oh, the coats are just fabulous. I feel the need for a large red scarf and then I can waft around believing that I am the Goblin's Bride.

I am now watching a bit of All of Us Are Dead to lighten my mood a bit

The non-resident teens have left. I’m about to go & stake my claim on the AppleTV/big telly/Disney+. I’m itching to watch the Snowdrop finale. All the other new stuff will have to wait until later in the week.

MONO is indeed lovely! I listen to it in times of much needed calm and serenity! Best listened to in the evening... In the kitchen..
Quietly tidying up... Everyone else in their rooms!... Ahhhh! peace!
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

Oooh! FLAW has gone up a notch!! I was cheering for PMY in ep 2 when she had her showdown and wasn't quite expecting what happened in the last 10 minutes. Song Kang's character isn't quite as gormless as he first appeared either. Wish I could binge it all.

@boatyardblues

January was dry January on the kdrama front. Let the February carousing begin!

This will be a very cool title for our next thread.

Good catch Jin! I will file it away. 🙂

@bettys

Oooh! FLAW has gone up a notch!! I was cheering for PMY in ep 2 when she had her showdown and wasn't quite expecting what happened in the last 10 minutes. Song Kang's character isn't quite as gormless as he first appeared either. Wish I could binge it all.

I might wait a while before starting it and watch then mini binge! 👍😎

@bettys

Oooh! FLAW has gone up a notch!! I was cheering for PMY in ep 2 when she had her showdown and wasn't quite expecting what happened in the last 10 minutes. Song Kang's character isn't quite as gormless as he first appeared either. Wish I could binge it all.

Loved loved LOVED episode 2! I hope it keeps up 👍