MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #33): So much good content airing just now our Filthy Noonas’ hearts are fit to burst like squashed frogs on a country road

[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 a star 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. Happiness - 9
3. Devil Judge - 8.75
4. Squid Game - 8.63
5. Navillera - 8.57

2020’s top scoring dramas
1 - Mr Queen - 9.4
2 - Parasite - 9.05
3 - It's Okay To Not Be Okay - 8.88
4 - The Uncanny Counter - 8.50
5 - Once Again - 8.42

2019’s top scoring dramas:

1. Her Private Life - 9.40
2. Melo is My Nature - 9.00

3.= Crash Landing On You, The Crowned Clown, The Lies Within, and The Tale of Nokdu - 8.75

1. Hotel del Luna - 8.50

5.= Romance is a Bonus Book, and Search: WWW - 8.17

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!

WTF! Why are my posts being cut off? Does MN hate my desire for the Gu?

Gu is 18+ content tbf FedUp. Plus a high combustion risk. MB protecting their servers from meltdown.
So my Japanese friend says that Future Diary is an old format that always used to be a triangle so this is a return to standard by Netflix. I can't believe second season can possibly have same magic fairy dust of first (remain addicted to that pair of glitter puppy face filter addict poppets on Ig) but I will definitely give it a go.

I can't get over the AIBU posts from Leeloo and Boaty 😂We need a whole sub thread on kdrama characters asking AIBU. It'll keep me going while I wait for new episodes to drop.

Yes love the AIBUs.

YANBU. Mr Gu could have killed kittens with his bare hands, but I'd still lick the sweat from his shoulder blades...

Awwww! I love Uncanny Counters... it was beautifully done!... sort of like a less brutal Tomorrow (and without the crazy controversy)... sigh!

Welcome all new posters... this kdrama community is growing and growing! 😊

Hello to our two newbies (does this make me an ex-newbie now?)

Bea I was really hoping Tomorrow would be the new Uncanny Counter but it does seem to be going for a much darker feel, unfortunately. Rowoon has had a few comic moments (and an excellent pratfall in ep 1) but not enough to balance the serious themes. Uncanny Counter was just more joyous, somehow. The way their hair would instantly frizz when being possessed is kdama perfection.

KISSU KISSU GU KISSU!

I liked the Great Dane lolloping round the streets when he parked his car.

Fun fact: he parked 2 hours away, but covered the ground back to the restaurant in 27 minutes.

Revolutionary to actually have a character with car parking issues rather than just pulling up absolutely anywhere as they normally seem to.

Hospital Playlist has been added to my list, I think it’s going to take all year to get through them all!

Actually "lolled" at Lee El shouting "let's sleep together next time!". She's a cracker comic actress.

Thanks for the new thread boatyardblues I like that we have stars now.

Welcome to GaladrielHiggins I like light and fluffy too, don't like too much drama, ironically.

Also welcome NRRK28 you have been watching since 2005, blimey, a dedicated long time fan.

I have started Tomorrow which is great, but the bullying in the first story was hard to watch.

Thanks for the new thread Boaty, love the frog content in the title!

Welcome to Galadriel and NRRK28, nice to have you here :)

I'm being a total wimp. I started watching the first of last weekend's MLN but I have a horrible sense of doom about that bloody car and it's putting me off watching the rest of the episode. I'm going to go back in now though and watch speeded up to get that bit over and done with.

Don't speed up MLN Musique you'll miss something that needs savouring! I can see myself starting that show from the beginning again as soon as I've finished it. Also (famous last words) while obviously Things Are Happening (don't want to spoil) I don't think it's one where there's going to be a big doomy external drama because it's so much about personal growth.
I have watched all available episodes of Future Diary 2 FedUp. Of course I have. It's even more manipulative than season 1 and not as charmed in chemistry so far but nevertheless I am fully signed up for the rest of the ride. As it's a love triangle this year I really want the two blokes to get together as a twist but...

Thanks for the new thread boatyardblues I like that we have stars now.

Thank the MN upgrade for that. It’s jeffed up all my formatting. I still can’t work out how to fix the top picks numbering below. 🤦‍♀️

I second FedUp about not rushing MLN. The pacing and slow build of sentiment is exquisite. It deserves to be savoured.

I did watch selected bits speeded up (sorry Pol and Boaty) but it did have the happy side effect of making Hyun-ah's mad dash from the furious mother look like something from the Benny Hill Show.

I remain intrigued by the chairman and what Mr Gu's line of work actually is. I can't figure it out.

I can't believe the nerve of her boss critiquing her dress sense whilst he was wearing a denim shirt with a tie and, if I remember correctly, braces. What a tool.

I concur with not liking the new version of the site still. It puts me off coming here on my phone. I don't know if the app is any better.

Another AIBU, this time for Woori the Virgin, or maybe Relationships:

MILD SPOILERS FOR EPS 3-4

”I am pregnant with another man’s child (long, complicated story for another thread). I am not involved with him. My BF of 2 years and I have been abstinent. Now I’m pregnant I’m randy as hell. I want to DTD with long term BF. I’ve tried flirting and even been really direct. It’s not happening and he seems to be actively avoiding it. He gets really excited if I touch him at all and has to pray loads right away, even if we only hold hands. I’m starting to wonder if he’s a premature ejaculator and putting sex off til after marriage because of it. AIBU in thinking he might have a sexual problem? (For relationships: would you be rethinking the relationship?)”

Oh god, episode 6 of Tomorrow is a bit of a tearjerker.

... that a tearjerker???? Just wait until ep13!!!!! 😭

Woori the Virgin is so much fun!

Oh no, I had better buy some more tissues.

Tonight's dinner! Yum! Recipe from BTSARMYKitchen on twitter! 💜😊💜

Ooops... Forgot to say its Jangchi-guksu! 😍💜👍🏼

That looks lovely Bea, do you deliver?

Mmm Bea that looks amazing!