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!

I know it's am old show, but unexpected cgi tiger in Hotel del Luna! 🐯😆

" Plus if I can see bangtan nipples in 4k big screen "
@BlueMooMoo 😍🤞

I've just watched the first ep of Military Prosecutor Doberman and it seems fairly wacky. Lots of fighting and unrealistic things happening. I think the overarching story will be will the kickass FL kick the MLs ass enough that he decides not to be a dick 🤣 although he has a sad backstory and some/hidden morals.
The baddies are v hateable and there is an actual doberman in it 😂.
I'll definitely try another episode

On the Verge of Insanity who ever came up with the name, deserves an award. At the end of every episode I think that’s almost insane 🤯

I don’t remember who suggested the drama, I want to apologise for not picking up on it immediately. What a rollercoaster ride truly on the verge of insanity.
R&D Teamleader is full of himself & unfortunately I have met men like him in real life. Who are average but think they are extremely talented and God’s gift to the earth.

It was me Jin!
So glad you are enjoying it, it's so different from any drama I have watched. R+D leader is a plonker, and it gets worse!! Look forward to the last 2 episodes as they are edge of seat viewing :)

Jae-Yeong Jeong (Choi Ban Seok) who to me is the ML, is probably the best Antihero I have seen in years. I have just looked up his previous work and he is unrecognisable, now compared to his other roles, he has lost so much weight.

I’m glad I started it. The first episode was, um, a bit close to home at the mo. Let’s hope I don’t end up metaphorically in the field office with R&D plonker. Thankfully I don’t think there’s any chance of me weeping in the car park or going to Taiwan. I will continue watching in between all the currently airing stuff as I agree Choi Ban Seok is a great anti-hero.

www.theguardian.com/film/2022/mar/03/park-seo-joon-marvel-bts-netflix-itaewon-class

There's a nice interview with Park Seo-joon in today's Guardian. The journalist seems to be their korean specialist and has done a pretty decent job of summarising his career to date.

Welcome BlueMooMoo! I'm not jealous at all, oh no no. I'm hoping for UK concert dates this year, but I can't watch the Seoul streaming or in the cinema this time. I hope you have a fantastic time in Vegas, it's so close too.

I'm pleased momentum is building for the inclusion of my proposed Best CGI Tiger category, once you start spotting them you see them everywhere!

No time for webtoons at the moment but thanks for the Tapas recommendations, once I am able to I will engage in a bit more endless scrolling/swiping.

That was my fourth attempt at posting that post. I found it very difficult as I have given up swearing for Lent. Does it count if you say it in your head?

@MusiqueAutomatique

www.theguardian.com/film/2022/mar/03/park-seo-joon-marvel-bts-netflix-itaewon-class

There's a nice interview with Park Seo-joon in today's Guardian. The journalist seems to be their korean specialist and has done a pretty decent job of summarising his career to date.

Welcome BlueMooMoo! I'm not jealous at all, oh no no. I'm hoping for UK concert dates this year, but I can't watch the Seoul streaming or in the cinema this time. I hope you have a fantastic time in Vegas, it's so close too.

I'm pleased momentum is building for the inclusion of my proposed Best CGI Tiger category, once you start spotting them you see them everywhere!

No time for webtoons at the moment but thanks for the Tapas recommendations, once I am able to I will engage in a bit more endless scrolling/swiping.

He's just so LOVELY 🥰

He is Briiick. One of the actors who really isn't just a pretty face, his brain is quite attractive too.

Ahhh! Vice Chairman PSJ! Bless! It's sooo lovely to see him being recognised! Sad they didn't mention WWWSK!...it was one of the dramas that got me hooked! Before I had a proper viki sub I watched it in 10 min sections with ads! 😂😂😂🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Just finished first ep of FLAW!!!!! 😱😱😱
WHAT a bd!! 😡😡😖😖😖😱😱😱🤯

Just came on to link to the Park Seo-Joon article! I do love him. I'm happy Fight For My Way got a mention as it's one of my favourites!

Started Twenty Five/Twenty One and thoroughly enjoying (but wish I could binge it all!). I've never seen something with Nam Joo-Hyuk that I haven't enjoyed, so that's lovely and Kim Tae-ri is an amazing actress. I almost wish she'd played her older self as well.

@Rowdythree hope you enjoy Hotel del Luna. I loved the historical parts and it has stayed with me. I'm sure the tunnel in 25/21 is the same tunnel as the one to go to the afterlife.

Also, the CGI tiger in Hotel del Luna is terrible 😂

He starts to get his comeuppance quite quickly Bea...
I realise I'm the only one still watching Thirty-Nine but becoming quite obsessed with its strangeness. It's got all these nice jolly and swoony bits and then this absolute turd of a terminal illness storyline planted in the middle. But not only that - the terminal illness storyline seems to entirely revolve around Son Ye-Jin who is NOT the terminally ill one. Basically worked out that the sell in that this was an ensemble piece was a total lie and its a Son Ye-Jin vehicle constructed around her ability to cry on demand and flog a LOT of you-too-can-look-like-SYJ PPL.
Still, I love the sister (both sisters in fact) and Mr Perfect Peony so 🤷 Sell me that face serum, face roller and golfing gloves.

I’m still watching 39 Pol but I agree SYJ is getting far too much airtime. Still, I expect she needed to cram in a PPL-heavy merch vehicle before Mr Binn gets his new missus knocked up and she does the actress equivalent of national service. The criminally under-utilised Hoo-Jee has the most interesting story arc so far. I enjoyed her career kamikazi scene in the cosmetics dept. Did I i-spy a white truck of doom on the horizon? If so, it’s really going to annoy me. Sunshine, people! Sunshine!

Ahh nice PSJ interview! I love him in Fight My Way 💗
I did once ages ago read (maybe from a link on here?) that he once said that he thought his future wife should stay at home with the kids 😱 but hopefully it was just something that didn't translate well???

I still really want to see 39, but not sure I can cope with a terminal illness storyline... Definite no-no for DH too.

Yes, hats off to SYJ in some ways Boaty Fill those coffers before you have to start playing the evil chaebol mother roles.

@polkettle

He starts to get his comeuppance quite quickly Bea... I realise I'm the only one still watching Thirty-Nine but becoming quite obsessed with its strangeness. It's got all these nice jolly and swoony bits and then this absolute turd of a terminal illness storyline planted in the middle. But not only that - the terminal illness storyline seems to entirely revolve around Son Ye-Jin who is NOT the terminally ill one. Basically worked out that the sell in that this was an ensemble piece was a total lie and its a Son Ye-Jin vehicle constructed around her ability to cry on demand and flog a LOT of you-too-can-look-like-SYJ PPL. Still, I love the sister (both sisters in fact) and Mr Perfect Peony so 🤷 Sell me that face serum, face roller and golfing gloves.

Thirty-Nine is deeply odd. K-drama often has abrupt changes of mood, but they are extreme in Thirty-Nine and I find it difficult to cope with as a viewer. I find the other relationships such as that between Mr Peony and his sister more interesting that the relationship between SYJ and Dr Chae. SYJ's character is very controlling and not all that likeable in the way she's reacted to her friend's diagnosis.

I still plan to keep watching but I don't exactly look forward to the episodes!

I'm not carrying on with Thirty-nine. I was so looking forward to it but it's not for me.

@polkettle

Yes, hats off to SYJ in some ways Boaty Fill those coffers before you have to start playing the evil chaebol mother roles.

I think SYJ will be excellent in these roles in the future! I think I might be the only one, but I'm not very keen on her 😬

Thanks for linking to the PSJ article Musique, it was such a lovely read, he comes across really well 🥰 I wonder if he gave crochet a try 😆

Been discussing with a mate whether she's contractually obliged to either cry or swoon once per episode Rowdy (on particularly fine form at the end of episode 6 which made me hoot out loud). I do find her charismatic but mainly I'm just glad she's making Mr Binn happy.