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!

instagram.com/sonsukku?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Thanks chingu 🍻

I laughed my head off at Eun-Hui trying to get her top on when her friend turns her facetime camera towards her friends partying in the noraebang. 🤣 Moral of the story: make sure you are covered up before accepting a FT call.

Seon-A is a deeply frustrating character. I am not interested in this strand.

Been out so I’ve switched to MLN. Mr Lottery is interested in Lee El’s character, isn’t he? I’m not reading this wrong, am I?

(I’m up to the beginning of the octopus meal.)

As I said up thread: a total head fuck.

Been out so I’ve switched to MLN. Mr Lottery is interested in Lee El’s character, isn’t he? I’m not reading this wrong, am I?
I got that vibe also.

Anyone else confused with the last few mins of MLN? Straight after the Rolls Royce scene it skipped to Gu running in the fields then at a NYE party?? Still a very enjoyable episode.

Yes - I thought flash forward Aesops showing at least a temporary return by Mr Gu (but worship has until the Spring to heal anyway...)? Bird sequence was like a dream/fantasy - must relate thematically to the dead bird discussed earlier.
LOVED Lee Minki hugging Mr Gu for all of us. It's such a funny show as well as rich in other ways.
And will dream of Mr Gu and his last dumpling look.
I feel more kindly to Seon-A in Our Blues - in a country with such a big suicide rate it's interesting to see the characters' judgemental attitudes towards mental health breakdown. Not sure "pull yourself together" is that helpful to someone with clinical depression...
I also want an Egg drop sandwich (again 🙄 - Can you bring me one back Andante along with a pizza Alvolo?) And a horse cushion please.

The running in the fields was oddly dreamlike but I think a potential flashforward to the winter/spring. The NYE party was a flashback. I think that was the night he walked out of his old life and got off the night train in the sticks, as he was wearing the same coat and it was snowing in an earlier flashback to that night. I thought it was interesting when he went to see the backstabber in Seoul how everyone started bowing and scraping. I got the impression he outranks the backstabber and will take over if he returns. I did like that he seems to have made a decision to give in to the rural life and Mi-yeong and to see where it takes him. The octopus dinner and the simmering unni was also so, so well done. I love this show so much!

Even though it was NYE 2022? I thought slightly ominous with the every man being an arsehole line over the top of it. But you're right about the outfit.

Oh fook. You’re right. I was thinking it was a countdown type of event and then “yay, 2022!” I’m harking back to millenium NYE when suddenly it was “yay! It’s 2000!”

Eating Mandhu with Mr Gu. Life goals 👍🏽

100%

Anyone else care to have a stab at the closing scenes of ep 10? 😂

I've just revisited the beginning where it shows Gu in the phone box when he ran away. His coat was definitely different to the NYE scene (first was brown the second black)

I'm finding the Seon-a storyline depressing but interesting. But then I'm behind with Our Blues so I might get a bit more cheesed off later. I'm saving MLN for later this week.

I did manage to watch one of the new Sh**ting Stars. I am enjoying the anticipation of all of the different strands coming together - I can forsee the heart of the fangirl actor being broken sometime soon and I hope reporter friend doesn't get her head turned by all the cute "You're so great noona!" messages from the rookie actor.

My main question though - what is going on with the fringe of Byun Jeong-yeol, the ML's manager? Is it supposed to look that terrible for comedy effect?

OK, crap observational skills on my part. Flash forward then?

I'm saving MLN for later this week.

How??? What’s the secret to your willpower? Are you one of those people that still has some of their Easter chocolate left in July?

No drama watching for me today. After my big walk up a mountain, I'm banjaxed and have no brain think left for TV.

Sure, that's what the work day is for.

I have wizzed through Business Proposal, the weekend away reminded me of a Bollywood movie.
min the first half ML chased the FL Galway way across the world, abounded all the work commitments etc. first half of the movie was how they fell in love & how ML ditched work to spend time with FL.
2nd half of the move showed them as a married couple & ML can’t be arsed to show up at dinner party thrown by the couple.
ML & FL had a huge row & FL reminded him that how he ditched his work to be with her etc why is he not doing same. ML’s response I still remember yeah but we are married now

So I kept wondering, in Business Proposal how things will be once they are married as ML don’t like to waste time. <<<< and dear chingus that’s how you suck out the enjoyment from fluff dramas 😆

So many typos in my previous post - I hope you all got the jist.

JinBhoot
I think that's why I ultimately rather rated Forecasting Love and Weather despite the rather drawn out misery in the middle because it deliberately chose to skip over the "getting together" bit of relationships to focus on "what happened next", which I found rather refreshing. As for Business Proposal I've actually seen elsewhere comments about it being quite trite and clichéd but I think it was done with enough charm and humour to transcend that.

Just seen a tweet saying the newspaper article about recession that Mr Gu picked up in the club was from August 2019 placing all the action so far in that year. Last two scenes could therefore be fantasy/two alternative timeline futures or actual flash forwards.
I should have learned my lesson about the pitfalls of fevered internet plot speculation from 25/21 but apparently...

Shit, chingus. We didn't talk Baeksang awards!!!

www.soompi.com/article/1525136wpp/winners-of-the-58th-baeksang-arts-awards

Morning 😁 I've got a day off after a weekend on night shifts. I'm going to be watching MLN this afternoon. I was quite slow to start so I'm only up to ep 5 but I'm really loving it. I loved how Mr Gu's amazing hat rescue was so dramatic when the rest of it is very grimy realism.