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!

Omo!
A real life friend has just posted about It's OK Not To Be Ok on social media. K-drama is spreading!

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

Screengrab from Insta reels but the Song Kang forehead reveal on FLAW was 🔥🔥🔥

I'd forgotten it was FLAW day! Looking forward to that reveal Briiiiick 🔥

Musique that sounds like heaven! what was the chocolate ice-cream? No K drama for me today, but I don't have much planned for the weekend so hopefully I'll get plenty of viewing in.

Last weeks ep Rowdy! The day after the night before...

Aah, in that case I saw it then 😂 Maybe more will be revealed this week 🤞

The ice cream is the M&S west country plus extra hyperbole chocolate ice cream. It's bloody lovely.

Briiick think I need to rewatch that episode.

My real life friend is referring to Kim Soo-hyun as his future husband...I think I've persuaded him into giving Strong Girl a go next (I've explained how lovely PHS is).

Uh huh huh

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZYHBZEgnC-/?utmmedium=copyy_link

A Business Proposal starts on Monday! Hooray! Hope more jolly!

Musique - PHS is lively but aren’t you afraid the poo wine and gangster silliness in Strong Girl… will send him running screaming from the kbuilding?

For lively, please read lovely and a fervent wish for an edit button.

I bought M&S cheese and Marmite special edition hot cross buns yesterday. I will report back. The squid update is no, on balance, I will not be buying it again.

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

Uh huh huh

[[https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZYHBZEgnC-/?utm]]medium=copyy_link

What’s next for Mr Binn over the water?

Well with a wedding coming up, there's only one thing...

STAG DO!

Love it!

A Business Proposal starts on Monday! Hooray! Hope more jolly!

Yay!! Looking forward to this this one!

Really should have sent my friends' cardboard Stanley Tucci and cardboard Dan Levy over to join the stag.

@polkettle

Really should have sent my friends' cardboard Stanley Tucci and cardboard Dan Levy over to join the stag.

Love a bit of Tucci.

Me too although cardboard Tucci is a bit annoying because he's always looking over your shoulder for someone more interesting. Not like Mr Binn who listens beautifully.

Also love a bit of Tucci. Occasionally see him round my way as he lives somewhere nearby (I don’t watch his insta trying to work out exactly where oh no)

Ok so which one of you lot was it on the District Line last night with your handy pre going out bottle of red cap soju hmmmmm?? 🤔🤔

I am very much enjoying 25/21

I have finished Ghost Doctor, after a very long time binged watched it like good old times. I have enjoyed it. Story line was bit patchy in between but nothing to impact the viewing experience.

Spoiler alert 🚨
Not even a peck on the cheek.

@boatyardblues

Musique - PHS is lively but aren’t you afraid the poo wine and gangster silliness in Strong Girl… will send him running screaming from the kbuilding?

Boaty I reckon if hour after hour of a mardy grumpy woman being dramatic hasn't put him off then a little faeces wine will be nothing to worry about. I was more worried when I remembered how the gay character was portrayed in Strong Girl Bong Soon but he is apparently able to cope with outdated attitudes.

Briiick very much looking forward to stag do pictures. We used to have a machine gun totin' Elvis Costello cardboard cutout but DH rehomed him. Not sure he's appropriate at a stag do anyway. Business Proposal looks jolly, I'd bookmarked that one already.

Bettys I would also observe Stanley Tucci's instagram closely in your situation

Pol after careful watching of Ghost Doctor ep 4 I fear you are right about Song Dong-il. He still looks good but after a few years on the fillers people just don't look right. Sigh.

Jin it's taken me a month to watch four episodes so I salute your bingeing ability. The romance isn't really a big deal in this show so I'm not that suprised.

Few weeks ago I saw trailers of upcoming drama … couple on date, at the end ML takes taxi himself & leaves FL on the road.
Any ideas which drama it is?

@JinBhoot

Few weeks ago I saw trailers of upcoming drama … couple on date, at the end ML takes taxi himself & leaves FL on the road. Any ideas which drama it is?

Hmmm no idea! There's a few YouTube channels that might help.

My Drama List has a video of upcoming dramas for March
The Swoon shows Netflix trailers https://youtube.com/c/TheSwoon
If it's a Viki show: https://youtube.com/c/VikiGlobalTV

I have missed so much on this thread and it's nearly full! Half term got me out of habit.

Boaty Interested to know what you think of the marmite hot cross buns. Afraid I was not a fan last year.

For all those starting Pachinko, I was worried about finishing it but it was a fast read. So compelling. Loved it! I can't wait to see the TV show.

Is 39 depressing? Oh no! I was waiting for a few more to come out before starting (same with 25/21) but was especially excited as I turned 39 yesterday 😂

DH and I are currently watching Mr Sunshine which is phenomenal. Such good TV. I don't know why we waited so long. I can't handle tragedy too well though, so bit worried!

We also watched Her Private Life which was fun but went a bit mad in its final 2 episodes. I really liked Park Min-Young in it though and all her amazing outfits. The relationship seemed much healthier and equitable than WWWSK (sorry might get flamed as know there is a lot of love for that!).

I'm struggling to find a new drama
Going to hold off on 39 as not sure I want depressing. Cannot find a keeper yet but will keep looking.
Sakura - happy but for yesterday 🎂

Happy Birthday not 'but' 🤣