MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #32): Spring is in the air, it’s blossom season and the BinJin wedding was lovely. Happiness abounds!

[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 actively 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)*
Snowdrop (Disney+)
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)
Pachinko (AppleTV)
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)
Business Proposal (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)
Twenty-five Twenty-one (Netflix)*
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)*

On The Verge of Insanity (Viki)
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, writers, film and music when the mood takes us. We have some ARMY (BTS fans) among our regulars. Some 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've decided to drop Black Dog even though I'm 8 eps in. It's just not got enough variety, there is only so many eps I can stomach talking about CSAT's 😐

Well Intended Love 2 is the version they made when they realised they'd f*cked up big time and has the same ML & FL but different side characters, and is set in a parallel universe - they even reference the storyline of the first one with a throwaway comment about a hospital scenario when trying to get close to the FL. I rather enjoyed the second version.

How peculiar bettys I saw that there was a second series, but didn't realise it was in a parallel universe. I might well watch it, then, if I manage to finish the first without throwing something at the tv.

Metheven The second version is rather more tongue in cheek

That sounds good bettys, I shall definitely watch it then.

It's school holidays in my part of the world so we've been in the UK visiting family. Back in my lurker days someone (Rowdy?) mentioned Tokyo Toys in Brum. So I stored that up for future reference and we checked it out. Excellent shop, came back with manga and a stuffed toy Pokemon and a LOOOONG list of new authors to check out, so thanks!

Musique thanks for the talk recommendation! Signed up and ready to go. It relates to my real-life work too, so doubly interesting.

Andante trip to Korea 🥺 amazing! Hope you have a wonderful time! And that you can beat the jetleg.

TheGirl and others. That That 😏 Well what can I say. The Master of Understatement strikes again 😁 'I've been working on a few projects during the break'. Shuffles in seat, scratches head and looks away. MASSIVE global hit ensues 😃 I love the humour in the video too. And the excellent outfits.

I'm extremely late to the filthy noonas discussion 🤔 Zero actors do it for me (so far). Though would definitely like to join for the pub meet-up and a chat 😁 Min Yoongi all the way here in terms of looks, personality and talent. During lockdown my brain came up with the most amazing dreams, in which I was hanging out chingu-style with BTS. Yoongi was my particular mate. We've had picnics together, advised Namjoon on marketing ideas, were having a G and T (what no soju?) during the interval at the theatre, and chatting at a conference. It's been a blast 🤩

Ahh the BTS noona dream. It's a good one @Saram13 😁

My favourite version of that is when I've been flown in to be their manager, and they all run round after me like wee puppies calling "Noooona! Where are my socks?" "Noooona! Help me with my English!"

☺️

That is so cute! Much nicer than my BTS noona dream where I lost Tae in a dark cellar during a photoshoot 😱(sorry Tae 😩)

Bettys, FedUp amazing! There HAS to be a link with menopausal hormones, right? 🤔 😂

Yeah, I've also been their manager/assistant 😁Usually trying to herd them at photoshoots (didn't lose anyone yet....) On one occasion I was I believe Yoongi's Mum (I was looking at a desk covered in open laptops and screens and backpacks and thinking, How on earth am I going to keep this tidy?). And then there was the one where I WAS J-Hope ✌🤩

Menopausal hormones?! Speak for yourself! I'm only 39...

I have no excuse for my behaviour 😂

If your dreams are this vivid pre-peri/menopause you are well set for a wild ride. 👏

Whoop whoop 😎🥵

It's school holidays in my part of the world so we've been in the UK visiting family. Back in my lurker days someone (Rowdy?) mentioned Tokyo Toys in Brum. So I stored that up for future reference and we checked it out. Excellent shop, came back with manga and a stuffed toy Pokemon and a LOOOONG list of new authors to check out, so thanks!

I'm glad you found it and liked the shop Saram! I think they could do with a bigger premises though. There is another store called Forbidden Planet that sells a lot of Manga and comic book items in Birmingham, if you're still visiting.

I'm missing out on these dreams! I bet rarely dream, and hardly ever about anything fun! 🙄 Maybe I have it all to look forward to 😬

I'm currently watching Shitting Stars, I'm not loving it yet, but it's easy to watch so I'll carry on with it. It does have the Great Dane from MLN in it, which was a nice bonus

the Great Dane from MLN

Feels like the spreadsheet needs a nickname tab. 😁

Is the Great Dane Lee Ki-woo? I love it but why?

I feel very deprived, I haven't had any menopausal dreams - it's not fair. And I am very menopausal. Actually, I did have the beginnings of one with Ji Chang Wook, then my husband got up for the loo and woke me up. Divorce did flit through my mind for a few moments.

Right, back to Well Intended Love. If anyone hears the sound of a shoe being thrown in the direction of a tv, that'll be me when the ML does something controlling or bullying again, which he probably will. Got to finish it, though. Grrrr.

Yes, I think it was Boaty that described him as a Great Dane compared to the other chap in the Liberation Club who was a chihuahua 😁

Metheven I'm chuckling at you contemplating divorce after your JCW dream was disturbed 😆

Rowdythree it could have been the best night of my night, foiled because of his bladder.😥

anyone in brum looking for kpop kbeauty fix... Sokollab worth a visit!

Top tip Bea, thanks. DD is very excited to go there now 👍

I commented upthread on him standing next to the bespectacled chatterbox in the Liberation Club last week, saying that they looked like a Great Dane standing next to a chihuahua. Looks like it stuck. 😂

Damn. Betty got there first. If anyone’s watching Shitting Stars, they really have fun with his stature. When he faints and his manager gives him the trademarked kdrama medevac piggyback, the assistant is running along behind picking his feet up because they’re trailing on the ground. It then cuts to him in A&E with his feet propped up on the hospital bedstead because he’s too tall for the bed. 😁

Right, back to Well Intended Love. If anyone hears the sound of a shoe being thrown in the direction of a tv, that'll be me when the ML does something controlling or bullying again, which he probably will. Got to finish it, though. Grrrr.

You can just stop watching. I did.

boatyardblues I am determined to see it through to the end. God knows why.

We’ve all been there Metheven. If you can’t look away, we’ll be here with tea and sympathy once you are done.