MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #40): The Filthy Noonas’ rapidly expanding flock gambol into spring with a giddiness only matched by Junkook’s drunken vlives

[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)
Little Women (Netflix)
My Name (Netflix)
My Secret Terrius (Netflix)🌟
Signal (Netflix)🌟
Somebody (Netflix, content warning: sexual & violence)
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)
Our Blooming Youth (Viki)
Pachinko (AppleTV)
Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung (Netflix)
Tale of Nokdu (Viki/Netflix)🌟
The Forbidden Marriage (Viki)
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/Netflix)
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 Course in Romance (Netflix)
Crash Landing on You (Netflix)🌟Descendants of the Sun (Viki/Netflix)
Doctors (Netflix)
Doom At Your Service (Viki)
Extraordinary Attorney Woo (Netflix)
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)🌟
Delivery Man (Viki)
Happiness (Viki/Netflix)🌟
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)
Sell Your Haunted House (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’
We 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)
Meet Yourself (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 Makanai (Netflix, 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)

Top Scoring 2022 Dramas
Coutrtesy of much-missed Hello’s kdrama spreadsheet, updated by thread regulars. Marks out of 10.
#1 My Liberation Notes 9.45
#2 Alchemy of Souls 9.10
#3 First Love 8.88 (Jdrama)
#4 Our Blues 8.83
#5 Gaus Electronics 8.75

Top Scoring 2021 Dramas
#1 The Red Sleeve - 10
#2 Happiness - 9
#3 Devil Judge - 8.75
#4 Squid Game - 8.6
#5 Navillera - 8.57

Top Scoring 2020 dramas
#1 Mr Queen - 9.4
#2 Parasite (film) - 9.05
#3 It's Okay To Not Be Okay - 8.88
#4 The Uncanny Counter - 8.50
#5 Once Again - 8.42

Top Scoring 2019 dramas
#1 Her Private Life - 9.42
#2 Melo is My Nature - 9.00
#3 tied: Crash Landing On You, The Crowned Clown, The Lies Within, and The Tale of Nokdu - 8.75
#4 Hotel del Luna - 8.50
#5 tied: Romance is a Bonus Book, and Search: WWW - 8.17

We are fans of all things Korean, so equally happy to talk about Korean cookery, language, current affairs, film and music when the mood takes us. A few of us are learning Korean, Japanese and/or Mandarin (some more diligently than others), so we swap tips and links to language resources. Basically, anything topical goes.

We often resort to acronyms and/or abbreviations of show titles or 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!

Heads up for the supernatural/magical realism fans on the thread, I just spotted the second season of Invisible City (Brazilian, Netflix) has landed. I know I wasn’t the only one of us who watched the first season.

I need a really gripping kdrama to pull me back in. I’m still in the manhwa rabbit hole.

Ohhhh episode 3 of Bora Deborah - I really felt that breakup. When chicken store chaebol was gaslighting her at the car! Infuriating!!

Perfect and Casual a good standard C-drama for those inclined i.e. @polkettle

Lots of sweet kisses and even a bed scene. Cute FL although she does that weird monotone no breathing acting all young C actresses seem to do.

Thanks chingu 😘

Can also recommend, it came out a while back and I enjoyed it enough to watch it on Olga, probably a better translation on Viki 😂

You can do it Yoongi! Fighting!

I am enjoying Doctor Cha quite a lot, can’t wait for next episodes.
Department dinner in ep2/3 was funny, expressions of liver surgeon had me LOL.

It will be one of those endings where FL wouldn’t end up with ML despite all of us routing for it.

I'm enjoying it too Jin. And even though he always plays wrong 'uns - I (cough) appreciated husband in the bath today...
Somewhat confused about the daughter's friend - is she a secret child of 2fl and will end up being half sister or something? Or did I misidentify her mother?

@polkettle I also suspect friend as a half sister. And I think friend knows hence strange behaviour.

I am also speculating - female prisoner patient might be Dr’s mother.

I want wife, husband & son relationship to come out soon so story can move forward.

Omg Suga's girlfriend is all over that documentary. Hope she's ok!

Just started True to Love / bora Deborah. Think she has the exact same teal/ rattan sofa that was in the orchid room in Little Women - I remember because I was lusting over it while watching LW. Same production company?? 😅

Still watching Smile Has Left Your Eyes - on the one hand, when I watch it I am totally absorbed by it, story and leads are all so amazing. On the other hand, things are starting to get sad (sadder) and I needed a little lightness today.

Finally... At the risk of opening the flood gates, for someone who is at the beginning of their Bangtan journey - favourite albums of people here?? My google music algorithm has been serving me a bunch of their singles and I am obsessed enough with them that I'm ready to take the plunge into full album listening.

Oh AmVa, do you know what you've begun? 😁
Who is Suga's girlfriend then and is that the first ever confirmed relationship for one of the boys?
I think the revelation about the affair is enough for nowJin and rather enjoying the secrecy - especially the comedy of son's secret girlfriend being rude and jealous of her .

Nothings been confirmed or anything but there is clearly a young beautiful woman accompanying him in the show who is not a translator or a staff.

I can't do a screen shot but in one bit, he goes to Halsey's house and the husband greets Suga and the mystery woman together.

God I need a life.

Time stamp is 18:20 for fellow Detective Ahjummas, but she's pops up plenty.

You have a life. This is important work FedUp.

Moonbin’s suicide is covered in today’s Times:

Demands of fame crush K-pop stars.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/34d88bee-e215-11ed-b3ca-360476523ce5?shareToken=6d0650f3ee2da9cc59cf50e5ded7d7ef

Sad article, thanks for sharing Boaty

That article was a sad read - although I knew about SK in general having high suicide rates its always shocking to read about it. The pressure of the 'idol' lifestyle must be so intense. I did read somewhere this week that SK is passing new laws to protect underage idols/trainees - restrictions around working hours, minimum education standards and protecting against financial abuse - so you have to hope that is baby steps in the right direction....

I haven't watched Suga's documentary yet (java exam on Tuesday consuming all thoughts 😭) but I'm glad he felt comfortable/able to have his girlfriend there with him- did they show her face?! It must be serious 🤔 ... bangtan chapter 2 is the gift that keeps on giving!

boaty Very sad article indeed. Why, when someone is clearly struggling, is there not more help? I know it's not always clear-cut, and there's usually not a simple solution. But still.

FedUp I love how we're sitting here like ahjummas speculating on Yoongi's possible gf. I need to get my curly wig out 😁As real life is getting in the way I've only seen half an hour of D-Day so far 😭 but I agree that the woman he goes to Halsey's with gives off gf rather than staff vibes (there is another young woman who seems to be doing translation, but she has a different hair colour). TheLoup her face is blurred. Well, freedom is a major theme of D-Day (both the album and the documentary) and if Yoongi does have a partner people need to accept it. Frankly I think BTS have gotten to the point that they are starting to kind of transcend 'idol'-dom (for want of a better phrase) as they mature into solo artists. Hopefully that means that the restrictions that go with that will start to be lifted too 💜

Re Suga's gf:
I'm comparing Harry Styles's life and a K-pop idol's and think how idols must long for that level of personal freedom. I always thought it disturbing when BTS members trot out the line that they are "married" to ARMY, as a reason why they don't have gfs, as I feel it makes overinvested fans entitled to not want them to have a private life. I hope that BTS will pave the way for this changing as they have more mature/stable careers that will be capable of withstanding any initial fan backlash. They will also have to fight management too, over the fall in Bangtax revenue!

Other impressions so far from the documentary: OMG AMYGDALA was written in May 2020?! And he was just sitting on it all the way through the Dynamite/Butter/Permission to Dance era?! 😱 Dude has got patience 😵😁

He still seems to genuinely not understand the high esteem they are held in by other artists (Steve Aoki bit). I guess if they were living in a kind of fishbowl of intense fame/work/idol-dom for years (cf reference to never travelling abroad apart from for work and the fish in the Haegum video), that's possible.

Self-knowledge, wisdom and (emotional) intelligence here in bucketloads 🙌

Nice to recognise settings of iconic moments (tiny squat 😁). I am also enjoying the footage of Yoongi enjoying food (my own personal Bangtan fantasy😁).

I'm sicker than I was before that I can't go to any of the concerts 😭 Livestream/box set please please please HYBE. Take my won 😁

Self-knowledge, wisdom and (emotional) intelligence here in bucketloads 🙌

Yup, that's my boy! 💜

Migs the whole 'married to ARMY' thing is indeed deeply problematic. Of course there is that clip from 2014 where Yoongi actually says, keep your fourth finger free so I can put a ring on it 🤔 Of course it's Suga the 21-year-old idol saying that, probably because his management told him to, not Yoongi the individual. But, yeah. For some people they are indivisible. And in 2019 part of the official merch for the Speak Yourself concert in Seoul, merchandise included a set of two rings with 'BTS' and 'ARMY' on them. Worn by Suga/Yoongi during the concert. So, while I can see where it came from.... time to let it go people.

Frankly I think BTS have gotten to the point that they are starting to kind of transcend 'idol'-dom (for want of a better phrase) as they mature into solo artists.

that's exactly it - I think all the members are signalling that this needs to happen, it will be an adjustment for some fans for sure....

Lol at all us nosy Ahjummas, I need a purple rinse like the halmeoni in The Real Has Come 🤣

AmVa I will be back with playlist recommendations, you will probably wish you hadn't asked 🤣🤣

So much to catch-up on. Boaty, v sad article indeed (also apologies I got Moonbins name wrong in a previous post, but could not work out how to delete). Saram - yes saw the clip where he was working on AMYGDALA during In the Soop Ed 2. Not listened to the rest of it yet. So much to catch-up on. Just finished Mr Queen at the weekend...got to work out where to go next.