MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #31): After a kdrama dry January, a bounteous February glut saw the carousing begin!

[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, AppleTV and Disney+. 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)

The Addicts’ Top Scoring 2021 Dramas
Courtesy of Hello’s kdrama spreadsheet, updated by thread regulars. Marks out of 10.

So, current rankings @ 21.15ish today:

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!

Ok but D.P is HARD GOING, be warned!

Have you seen One Spring Night?

Ah Jin I was a bit disappointed with Ill Find You too. Mainly because Seo Kang-joon is one of my absolute favourites and we never got to see his lovely race horse legs due to the baggy cords

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap

Ah Jin I was a bit disappointed with Ill Find You too. Mainly because Seo Kang-joon is one of my absolute favourites and we never got to see his lovely race horse legs due to the baggy cords

I feel exactly the same. Plus PMY was all cold blooded and weird in it.

True boaty and she was the least convincing flash back to school years school girl. Weird because she is usually amazing in everything

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

Ok but D.P is HARD GOING, be warned!

Have you seen One Spring Night?

Yep, I've seen One Spring Night, I might have a little rewatch of that. Thanks for the warning on D.P, I'll give it a try and see how I get on.

I think I must be the only one who enjoyed I'll go to you, I think it's because I watched it during the winter lockdown, and I had a little ritual, where I'd light the fire, make a pot of tea and watch one episode a day...I liked the slow pace of it

I liked it a lot for the cosy location and atmosphere but agree the chemistry and unnecessary elements of plot were not quite there.

Just read a really good 25/21 theory that actually makes sense and I am reassured.

Pol that's what I enjoyed, the wintery-ness and cosiness of it and the lovely book shop.

I've started to rewatch One Spring Night the theme tune brings back happy memories of when I first watched it 🤗

I'd did enjoy Ill Go To You... but was just sad SKJs talents didn't have the opportunity to be fully showcased 😉

Ooh just seen a clip for a new drama on Netflix called Tomorrow about Grim Reapers with Rowoon and the Elven King office manager from Doom at Your Service

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap

Ooh just seen a clip for a new drama on Netflix called Tomorrow about Grim Reapers with Rowoon and the Elven King office manager from Doom at Your Service

This post made me squeak with happiness.

Yes it looks good doesn't it, I do like the Elven King! I'm ekeing FLAW and Coffee Prince out at the moment, business proposal will come next and I might add Tomorrow too.

Tomorrow starts on 1 April, so not long to wait. Elven King looks austere and scary in black. 👌

Ooo! I’m liking the look of Tomorrow nice to see Elven King in black! 😎

Ooh! I'm looking forward to seeing the Elven King again! 🧝‍♂️🙌 And lovely Rowoon of course

Strangely enough Rowoon looks quite ordinary in that trailer. It’s probably because he’s in normal clothing, not sageuk dress-up. 😂

@boatyardblues

Strangely enough Rowoon looks quite ordinary in that trailer. It’s probably because he’s in normal clothing, not sageuk dress-up. 😂

I worked out what it was. It’s because I cannot see his manly forehead! 😂 Floppy fringes, eh!

Ok, all my jobs done, rice cooker on. Off for a walk then home for ep11 2521 and kimchi fried rice with Bacon for early dinner. Tonight I'm going to start Vincenzo and DH has agreed to watch with me! Let's see how long he lasts 😉
Tomorrow have DD's with partners for lunch so need to get as much viewing in today as possible.

boatyardblues
"I worked out what it was. It’s because I cannot see his manly forehead! 😂 Floppy fringes, eh!"

I thought it was all the teeth! I don't think I've ever seen him grin before.

Metheven Sounds like you're nearing the end of 100 Days My Prince. I was totally addicted when I watched it. I found it very Shakespearean.

Wow! Hungover PMY actually has very slightly smudged eyeliner. Radical

Finished Goblin yesterday, was so lovely, and it looked and sounded great too. Loved the bromance more than the actual romance I think!! Want to go to Quebec! Watched Coffee Prince recently too, so am totally into Gong Yoo right now. Have already seen Train to Busan but got it from the library during the week and will watch it again some evening.

Not sure there's anything else in Viki that I HAVE to watch though? Have also seen Jirisan and Happiness. It is handy to have, as we only have the basic Netflix so it gives me something to watch if DH on Netflix, so any suggestions?

PSA that FLAW ends on a cliffhanger so may want to save to double bill tomorrow.

Loads of good stuff on Viki hawthorn - Chinese, Taiwanese, and Japanese and short form Korean palate refreshers apart from anything else! Look on the header for ideas but I thought My Unfamiliar Family was great.

@polkettle

PSA that FLAW ends on a cliffhanger so may want to save to double bill tomorrow.

Top tip, unnie x

Not sure there's anything else in Viki that I HAVE to watch though? Have also seen Jirisan and Happiness. It is handy to have, as we only have the basic Netflix so it gives me something to watch if DH on Netflix, so any suggestions?

Melo is my Nature is a Viki must. It hasn’t moved to Netflix so I think it might be staying put. Another vote for My Unfamiliar Family. Um. There’s loads of good stuff on Viki.

OK thanks, have gone through Viki and the header and have added a fair few to my watch list. Won't cancel the subscription just yet so! Think I'll start with Mr Queen, haven't done much sageuk apart from Kingdom which probably isn't typical!!