MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #37): The one where FedUp’s big birthday could tip her into ajumma territory. Thankfully filthy noona status is forever.

[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)
Little Women (Netflix)
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
Gaus Electronics (Viki)
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
Alchemy of Souls (Netflix) 🌟
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 Recommendations
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)
First Love (Netflix - Japanese)🌟
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)
Sweat and Soap (Viki, Japanese)
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.

So, current rankings @ 21.15ish today:

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

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!

You need a good handful of Kopiko Thegirl! Good luck tonight.

Thegirl oh no, hangovers are the worst! Good luck with work tonight! Like Migs says, have some kopiko and some hangover soup!

Migs your journey sounds awful, best of luck for the return tomorrow! Stay safe

Good Luck Miggs. Hope a cardboard man is standing ready to spoon-feed you porridge.

Thanks so much, I haven’t looked into Viki for a while, but will search for it. 👍

That made me chortle, I imagine there is nothing our cardboard oppa couldn’t do if given the right training or opportunities! I have happy memories of the photo of him eyeing up the pedaloes. 🤣

He’s gorgeous! What a cutie. 🥰

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap - I’m thinking that’s a moment for a bit of ppl - where we see you yawning and looking tired, then opening your box of ginseng sachets and downing one. Allowing your youthful glow and vigour to be fully restored and you can skip off to work with enthusiasm!

@MigsandTiggs - sorry you’re feeling poorly. Drive carefully.

Look after yourself Migs!!

Lasting til 3.30am on a night out is impressive. I ditched early on mine as I wasn’t feeling great (that endless URTI bug that’s doing the rounds) and was curled up on my sofa under a blanket by 10pm.

AOS is trotting along nicely. Yul looks like he’s destined for a sad ending, though I think he could yet be saved. The crown prince continues to be excellent value.

Oh yes, safe journey home Migs!

Drive safe Migs and hope you feel better soon!

@larryunderwood @MigsandTiggs @Saram13 I have managed to get your columns into the main spreadsheet but I think the order of your scores is still wrong, so it would be great if you could have a look and correct if they are wrong......
I mean Migs has given Gaus Electronics a 5 which can't be right......

I loved SJK in Vincenzo so was very excited to start Reborn Rich. Then when we started my husband said he looked like a 12 year old / baby bird.... So he's obviously not seeing what I am!

Thank you all and I will decide in the morning if I am capable of such a long drive tomorrow.

Rowdy, you could train your puppy to deliver ginseng sachets, kopiko and hangover cures. When he is fully grown he could expand the business model with soju and beer, like a St Bernard. I'd be a customer but would I trust him with a fried chicken delivery?🍗🤔

I found a Korean convenience store on my travels and bought two large packets of spicy ramen, so cardboard oppa will be busy when I get home. Honestly, the two packets alone filled a shopping bag so I thought of boaty buying them for ds's advent calendar and him needing two large trunks, like for boarding school, to transport them to uni. 😂

bettys, Gaus is definitely better than a 5. For starters, it gets 5 points alone just for casting Kwak Dong-Yeon (inappropriate oppa or not).

Sounds amazing! I've just ate a whole pack of fruit pastilles. That's basically ginseng 😅

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap - absolutely, I suspect fruit pastilles are just ginseng rebranded for the British market. I hope it has the same effects. 👍

Oppa advent day 19

Is it going on, or is it coming off Jung Hae In?

Hilarious pose Jung Hae In, "I'm just getting dressed, be down for breakfast in a min!"
rowdy you keep outdoing yourself!

Jung Hae In - you are going to be itchy unless you put another layer under that jumper!

Great pic Rowdy!

I want to slide down that spine...

Nice pick Rowdy!

Oh these oppas who struggle getting in and out of their knitwear. How CAN a girl help?

@bettys cheers, I'll check the spreadsheet 🙂

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap hope you survived! Pre-Xmas tiredness here too. Too much fun social stuff + end of busiest term at school + work + tending to Covid-ed ill people (I didn't get it in the end, and they were over it quickly, but both in the house under my feet for 5 days 🤔) + FOMO K-dramas + KOREAN EXAM COMING UP 😱+ impending family visit (hosting 😬) = 😑 I kind of wish it was 1 Jan already. Then I feel guilty wishing the festivities away. Luckily Rowdy is there with visual Kopiko every day ❤ thank you again Rowdy!

@MigsandTiggs Hwaiting for your decision/journey today.

@AmVa YES YES YES I agree with your DH about SJK!!! I KNEW he reminded me of something/someone. 100% baby bird. It's the thoughtful beady eyes, the jawline and the slightly bouffant quality to the hair. I'm so sorry if I'm offending anyone's top oppa, but I get it totally!

Great choice today Rowdy.

Saram I’d love to know some of the questions in your Korean exam. I wouldn’t dare take an exam as I find the spelling next to impossible - all those letters which sound similar (to my ear anyway).
I’ve started on sentences using ‘because’ and the sentence order is confusing.
Anyway, best of luck with your exam.

Gosh the exam Andante 😬 Thanks for the good wishes! Yes I still struggle with spelling. Unfortunately it's just a case of learning by rote really. In the end it sticks and gets more and more logical. We're getting a mock exam to go through in a few days' time.

Essentially it will cover various forms of reading comprehension (e.g. read a longish text, then choose the right answers, all in Korean). Writing will be stuff like complete the missing word in sentences (often particles or things like who, whom, with whom etc.). Complete random verb tables (e.g. present, future, past, conditional, honorific, because, but, must). Probably have to write a short text ourselves covering certain grammar points.

Then a multiple-choice listening test (they go FAST, I will practice by listening to the material from the classes again). And my nemesis, speaking 😱I'm so SLOW. We will get a list of sentences to learn by heart. It was 60 for the beginners' course 🙈 So goodness know what it will be now. I need my own oppa on tap to practice with really😁. Preferably clad in comfy knitwear and bearing Kopiko 🤔

And all this, guys, is for 'elementary' level Korean. Idiot here has signed up for the next level already, 'intermediate'. They do refund you if you fail the exam, so there's always that. #GluttonForPunishment