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!

The Certified Noonas (podcast) are amusing on Love and Leashes.

I thought the bit with the Frenchman in the hotel reception was brilliant. NJH’s reaction was fantastic. agree boaty 😍

The actor who plays Ji-woong is way younger than the rest of the cast, but he's really holding his own! Future star in the making definitely FedUp

I still can't get over my feeling that something bad is coming in 25/21 😖 Should've stopped at Episode 9!

I'm hoping we get more of the ending of Ep 12 as this doesn't compare well with NJH's other work in this area. I've read lots of theories about how it's lovely that he's respectful and let her take the lead (very true) but just keep thinking, but it's NJH! What a waste!

I said to DH that if Hee-do doesn't want BYJ in the end, I'll build a time machine and claim him!

Coffee Prince is highly addictive and Gong Yoo and young Ryan Gold are both ridiculously beautiful in it. Part of me is rooting for 2ML though!

I was happy at first to find some positive representation of being gay, but it's gone all medication/psychiatrist/mental breakdown on me so feeling a bit sad about that! It's generally miles ahead of current stuff though 😳

sakura06 totally agree about Gong Yoo and Ryan Gold in Coffee Prince. Gong Yoo just gets better looking as he gets older, so unfair on the rest of us who resemble a fat Worzel Gummidge the older they get (me).

I adored episode 7 of Business Proposal, I can't wait for 8 tomorrow. 2ML is just so cute with those dimples, and his little face at "null and void" was heartbreaking. I reckon I prefer them to the main couple. A rewatch is in order later tonight.

I’ve paused ep 7 of Business Proposal to LOL at the breakfast restaurant scene. Ahn Hyo Seop is a classic 6’+ leggy racehorse, no mistaking it, but chef 2ML is even taller and leggier and makes AHS look short. 😂

The women must have constant cricks in their necks, all the blokes are so tall.

@Metheven

The women must have constant cricks in their necks, all the blokes are so tall.

I know, but I don’t think I can adequately convey how happy this makes me. I’m team racehorse, all the way. 🙌

Oh definitely boatyardblues team racehorse it is. The only shorter ML I've seen is in 100 Days My Prince.

There's a bit in Abyss where they're all in a basement with a ceiling so low Ahn Hyo-seop can't actually stand up straight in it. I'm not sure if it was deliberate (there's quite a few gags about his height in the show) or accidental but it was certainly an impressive piece of slouching on his part to fit in the space without the awkward ducking head look tall people usually adopt in such situations.

I'm very much enjoying Business Proposal anyway, however tall he actually is (google guesstimates seem to vary) but I agree with PPs that FLAW seems to be floundering a little. The romance between the leads seems to be evolving backwards. A novel, but rather unsatisfactory, approach.

Look what's coming to VIKI! Get your dance moves ready!

www.viki.com/tv/38393c-the-full-time-wife-escapist

Metheven I agree about Gong Yoo!

Glad to hear everyone still enjoying Business Proposal.

Business Proposal is old skool silly but also charming. 2ML/2FL are having way more fun. I’m rapidly coming to the conclusion that being a chaebol ain’t all that for your love/sex life.

2ML/2FL are having way more fun

Absolutely, and 2ML is winning in the proper snog stakes.

It is so much more fun than FLAW

Also looking forward to the jdrama FedUp linked to 👍🏻

@boatyardblues

Business Proposal is old skool silly but also charming. 2ML/2FL are having way more fun. I’m rapidly coming to the conclusion that being a chaebol ain’t all that for your love/sex life.

2ML/2FL are definitely the better pairing for me. Plus, dimples.

It's great Bettys. A particular favourite from Olga's house.

Business Proposal has really taken off for me. Old school rich boy/poor girl and rich girl/poor boy fun. Love the 2ML/2FL ❤️

It's great Bettys. A particular favourite from Olga's house

I saw bits round at Olga's but didn't finish it, so it's great it's coming to Viki. D'you think they read this thread ?😂

I'm still holding on to a slight hope that 2ML/2FL didn't actually sleep together when she was very drunk in Business Proposal. After a bit of fumbling and actually decent kissing on the sofa, I really hope that he put her to bed on her own and slept on the sofa.

Oooh and this is a favourite from Olga's

www.viki.com/tv/38384c-why-i-dress-up-for-love

@Metheven

I'm still holding on to a slight hope that 2ML/2FL didn't actually sleep together when she was very drunk in Business Proposal. After a bit of fumbling and actually decent kissing on the sofa, I really hope that he put her to bed on her own and slept on the sofa.

I reckon she passed out when he got her to bed and he was a perfect gent, tucked her in and crashed on the sofa.

boatyardblues oh I really hope that happened. A perfect gent with perfect dimples.

I was a bit disappointed to hear Ahn Hyo Seop’s English sounded so American but I looked him up and he lived in Canada from age 7 to late teens, so I’ve walked that concern back. Add him to the oppas in the pub invite list. Along with Gong Yoo, he can help out with translation. 👍

The ones I have heard speaking English do sound quite American, but I will forgive them that. There is a pub invite list?

Yes Metheven it's a mixture of who would be fun in the pub Vs who can give us a piggyback home. I'm not sure anyone has recorded it in writing anywhere though 😂

Ah, I see TheGirlWithTheArabStrap - all makes perfect sense now