MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #34): July brings internal conflict. Make the most of sunshine and the long days, or keep on top of your kdrama? 🤔

[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)🌟
My Liberation Notes🌟
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)
Our Blues (Netflix)🌟
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.

The Red Sleeve - 10
Happiness - 9
Devil Judge - 8.75
Squid Game - 8.63
Navillera - 8.57

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

2019’s top scoring dramas:
Her Private Life - 9.40
Melo is My Nature - 9.00
Tied 3rd: Crash Landing On You, The Crowned Clown, The Lies Within, and The Tale of Nokdu - 8.75
Hotel del Luna - 8.50
Tied 5th: Romance is a Bonus Book, and Search: WWW

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!

Yes, he's not quite the ascetic mage in this one! Mind you, I think things might be changing in that direction for him in AoS anyway. He's ever so attached to that pink scarf.

Pol that's an astute summary of it. As usual I think I enjoyed the side characters and sub plots more than the main plot. I loved the big sister and her mad hair, and convenience store girl. My favourite was the lawyer friend though.

Ha Musique! This is so similar! We have a very over enthusiastic local cat Facebook page. They are always "rescuing" people's cats that are just wanting a fuss. Next doors cat has been lucky not to be saved by them 😂

In AOS I'm laughing at Uk and the Crown prince being drawn together by the stones. It's so much fun!

Did anyone else watch In The Soop Friendcation ?
They must have to cut so much amazing celeb gossip out of it 😂 loved seeing PHS all rosy faced and tipsy 😚

Done Todays Webtoon with much enjoyment. So who's our male lead then? Have you read the manga FedUp?

I'm hoping for Choi Daniel Pol, I'll be very disappointed if it's the other guy, unless he undergoes a dramatic transformation! (even then I'll be disappointed... I think I'm over invested in this already 😅)

In the J version, his character has already made a vast improvement from inadequate employee to go-getter... I'm not sure where his character can go after this!

I'm hoping for that too Rowdy but from second half of episode 2 I think it is the other guy.

Just finished the latest episode of EAW - there were some really cute moments in it between Woo Young Woo and Lee Jun Ho, he is so sweet.

My goodness, Attorney Choi Soo Yeon looked absolutely stunning in a white trouser suit, just gorgeous.

Attorney Jung is lovely as always.

Nooo! (although, that was the feeling I got too ☹️)

I think it’s a double bluff in Today’s Webtoon. I think she will end up with Deputy Editor (Kang Daniel) but there will be pursuit by both of them. Kim Se Jeong gives great FL. 👏

I feel so sorry for 2ML in Today's Webtoon. He's so put upon! Shame on FL not rescuing him from her dad!

I think FL will end up with Choi Daniel. 2ML is destined for Artist Pomme.

In the J version, it's the other way around so far. Only it's a bar manger instead of an artist.

2 episodes into both, I prefer the J version.

Just me?

I hope your prediction is correct Briiiiick and Boaty 🙏 I'm finding the 2ML quite unpleasant so I don't feel sorry for him at all, sorry 🤣

I really like them both, they're different but the same iykwim. I like both FL's and I particularly like the JFL's wardrobe. She looks like she's going hiking in the Swiss Alps

Sorry, I meant Choi Daniel. What am I missing with him? He’s not floating my boat at all. Does he have a standout role in something else which has created the CD love?

Also agree that 2ML is destined for Pomme. I find his unlikeability interesting. I was explaining the social dynamic to DH earlier because this show has weirdly sparked his interest and he wanted to know how FL’s judo background might be used in the plot. I explained that although FL is admirable due to her athletic achievements, she does not have the typical qualifications and work experience required to get a foothold in a competitive Korean corporation. She is a fish out of water. However, 2ML is a socially lauded golden boy type - wealthy, educational & business credentials etc. By rights, he’d normally be smashing it in Korean society and business. However, in webtoon-land talent and success is measured differently and his credentials are not seen as important. Pomme is an affront to him: success at 20 without all that graft in hagwon, school and college etc. FL is establishing herself through being gregarious and effective at team work, despite her lack of formal credentials. 2ML is destabilised by it all, jealous of FL and Pomme’s success which he thinks he is owed. So he is equally a fish out of water. It’s cleverly done. I am excited to see what happens when they all bring their strengths together to turn the service around. It has huge potential to entertain and delight.

EAW keeps getting better and better. Delightfully heartwarming ML/FL relationship but…duh…duh the menacing shark in the water Jaws moment episode ending!!

Omo! I realise I'm the only one going to get excited about this but also know that you will indulge me when I say I'm EXCITED.
Jo Jung Suk is doing a stadium show with online tickets! Maybe he'll have the HosPlay cast as guests to play as a band!!
www.instagram.com/p/Cg0zq4gJ363/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

I think the kids would call this post "based".

👍👍👍

I'm so behind on EAW, I have to keep watching all the cute content on YouTube... This is what happens when I watch a show with DH, we never get time to sit and watch it together 😒

I do get annoyed by the very blokey content of Korean Englishman (there are GIRLS at school in the UK too 🙄...) but this trip looks like an excellent template for Ahjummas to follow 😁

I am thoroughly enjoying Sixth Sense Kiss now and probably would have liked it from the start if I hadn’t read the webtoon.
There is good chemistry between FL & ML

I'm only in the first 20 minutes of EAW episode 11, and IANAL but there is no way, NO WAY a major law firm would take on such a stupid fucking case. 🤪

You still watching Chez Olga? I keep checking Disney+ but all I get is that Bruce Willis ghost film with the wholly unsurprising twist. 😡

I concur!

Gone into You Are My Glory FedUp and appreciating my first Chinese nonsense outfit for a while, of her jumper with dead teddy bear attached to back.

It's a classic cheeky DD romance. Great until the last few episodes. Big time jumps annoyingly, which as you know is my pet peeve.