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!

@polkettle

If you established one was a rhesus negative match you'd just have to keep him for emergency use on the back seat of the car throughout your trip.

Folded up in the boot next to the spare tyre.

I had Mr Binn in that position in the car just last week 😂

It gave me a shock when I opened the boot to put the shopping in!

Such a flexible oppa 😁 Hope he didn't open the crisps and choccie biccies on the way home.

Look who's making a visit to the Emerald Isle!

Speak of the devil...

Look who's making a visit to the Emerald Isle!

Fantastic! Looking forward to The Further Adventures of a Cardboard Oppa!

DH shits himself every time he walks into the room and spots him at the patio doors 🤣

Wait until he meets him on the stairs going for a pee in the middle of the night...
Hooray!

Just finished Because of Love. For a particular mood I have to say it's a corker. The swoopy melodrama never stops thematically (I did a lot of gasping at my phone as observed by the menfolk of the house) but because it's played very very naturalistically (to the point where I think many scenes with the brilliant child actor probably improvised) it manages to retain some real psychological heft and emotional depth. Actually in awe of the quality that the whole production manages to (more or less) sustain over 30 episodes and some truly outstanding performances. Obviously there's nonsense too and some overly languorous scenes but overall 👍👍

@Metheven

Thanks boatyardblues it's great to be here.

Ooh, more zombies, thanks, I shall put that on my ever growing list of things to watch.

I was wondering about geting a Viki subscription, but wasn't sure I could watch it in the UK.

Hello @Metheven.... these are verydangerous words.... A VIKI subscription means you've been caught hook line and sinker.... Have fun catching up on all the goodies!!!

i think i might have to go to xombie high school soon....

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

Look who's making a visit to the Emerald Isle!

👏👏 Annyeong Mr Binn! I'm glad your trip was a safe one 😀

Hello Metheven ☺️

Sorry about your car Rowdy. 😞

Enjoy Mr Bonn's visit FedUp.

Love the idea of an emergency Oppa pol 😂**

Ahh Mr Binn! Enjoy your trip!!!

Thanks for the lovely welcome, everyone.

I hope you will bear with a newbie, cos I have lots of questions.

The first is, how the hell do you get anything done in life with all these programmes? I sit down for a quick tea break, two hours later I am still there!

Secondly, what is the significance of calling someone Mister? It has been used in a couple of programmes I have watched and I am slightly confused.

Is the Giant’s Causeway within striking distance of the FedUp residence? I feel Mr Binn’s chiselled jawline and cheekbones would be right at home with the columns. 😄 It would need proper risk assessing though, or he could end up blown to a watery grave.

@boatyardblues

Is the Giant’s Causeway within striking distance of the FedUp residence? I feel Mr Binn’s chiselled jawline and cheekbones would be right at home with the columns. 😄 It would need proper risk assessing though, or he could end up blown to a watery grave.

It's possible, and on the "FedUp Household's List of Possible Things to do with Mr Binn over Half Term", but the wind may very well kill him.

We will undertake a risk assessment.

He's definitely coming with me to work next Thursday. It's fairly safe there.

Tie a piece of string to him, just in case he tries to become a kite 🪁

@Metheven

Thanks for the lovely welcome, everyone.

I hope you will bear with a newbie, cos I have lots of questions.

The first is, how the hell do you get anything done in life with all these programmes? I sit down for a quick tea break, two hours later I am still there!

Secondly, what is the significance of calling someone Mister? It has been used in a couple of programmes I have watched and I am slightly confused.

1. You don't get anything done. My house is a fucking tip and my child runs feral.
2. Honorifics are everything in Korea (and Japan) and societal hierarchy's are based on age. skdesu.com/en/honorific-korean-titles/

1. You don't get anything done. My house is a fucking tip and my child runs feral.

This is so true 😂 my housework standards have slipped a lot, as has my exercise routine. I'm surprised my kids can't speak korean the amount they listen to the language 😁

Thanks @FedUpWithBriiiiick - I didn't know when I innocently clicked on a kdrama that I would have to do further reading!!!

Actually, come to think of it, my house has always been a tip, so no change there. I am well known as a bit of a slattern.

@Metheven

Thanks *@FedUpWithBriiiiick* - I didn't know when I innocently clicked on a kdrama that I would have to do further reading!!!

Actually, come to think of it, my house has always been a tip, so no change there. I am well known as a bit of a slattern.

To be fair, Netflix isn't fantastic at translating these nuances. When you start using Viki (and you will!) their crowd sourced subtitles are much more informative.

Yep. My kdrama viewing has happily coincided with my kids’ teens so they are happy gaming while I kdrama. Kdrama is also seeing me through peri/menopause very adequately and contributing to a harmonious home. The cleaning was never really the same after the toddler years anyway. Some habits are good to break.

There's much to learn Metheven but the more you watch the easier it is to spot the cultural references. And as Boaty mentioned, if you get Viki, the subtitles often contain interesting bits of information about the culture.

My main problem is the interference it has with my actual job... 😳

In other news. Violin with Mr Binn!