Dramas With Little Or No Romance

sometimes we just wanna watch something that's not so romance focused, each drama in the list has a comment explaining why i put the drama in this list

INCLUDES:

dramas i think personally have no romance
dramas that only have romantic subtext but no obvious canon romantic main couple
dramas that have no main couple but might have romantic side couples

obviously this only includes dramas i've seen so it'll continue to be updated the more i watch

note: there may be an imbalance of what country the drama is from as a lot of the korean, thai, taiwanese, & chinese dramas i've watched have a romantic plot with heavy focus within them, so that's why there's a lot of jdramas above anything else

Lex avril 9, 2021

215 Titles 39 Loves

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1. 17 Sai no Teikoku

Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

7.0
- definitely an implied romance but it can be ignored
2. 19th Floor

Chinese Drama - 2024, 30 episodes

9.0
- romantic sideplot, definitely has a heavier focus nearer the end of the series compared to the beginning
3. 3 Nen A Gumi: Ima kara Mina-san wa, Hitojichi Desu

Japanese Drama - 2019, 10 episodes

10
- very minor background romances that can be ignored
- more student/mentor & platonic focused dynamics
4. A Lonely Hero's Journey

Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

7.0
- minor romance sideplots
5. A Mai Cong Jun

Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

8.5
- romance sideplot
6. Acma:Game

Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

8.0
- no romance if there was i totally missed it and it went over my head (could've possibly have been an unrequited love plot that i ignored but even if it was there it was very minor)
7. An Ye Ming Tan

Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

7.5
- minor romance (married couple)
8. Aogeba Toutoshi

Japanese Drama - 2016, 8 episodes

9.0
- platonic & mentor focused
- i don't remember there being any romance in this
9. Aoki Vuanpaia no Nayami

Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

8.0
- no explicit romance but could be read as romantic subtext
10. Are You Safe

Chinese Drama - 2022, 31 episodes

7.5
- romance sideplot between 2 support characters that can be ignored
- bromance focused
- mentor/mentee focused
11. Aristocratic Birth: PRINCE OF LEGEND

Japanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes

9.0
- no romance
12. Aristocratic Birth: PRINCE OF LEGEND - THE MOVIE

Japanese Movie - 2020

8.5
- very minor romance
13. Atom no Warabe

Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes
- mostly postentially implied subtext
14. Bad Mother

Korean Drama - 2023, 14 episodes

8.0
- romantic sideplot but the main focus is the mother/son bond & revenge
15. Bad Prosecutor

Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

8.5
- barely any romance here and if there is you need to squint to see it
16. Bangkok Breaking

Thai Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

8.5
- minor romance but the main focus of the drama is the corruption
17. Barakamon

Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

8.5
- no romance
- platonic/familial focused
18. Bittersweet

Japanese Movie - 2016

9.5
- platonic focused
- mentions of romance
19. Black Postman

Japanese Drama - 2023, 7 episodes

7.0
- barely any romance
20. Black Sun

Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes

9.0
- minor romance
21. Blade Master

Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes

9.0
- no romance
- barely any romantic subtext imo
22. Blind

Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

9.5
- very little romance, which is mostly subtext
23. Blood Free

Korean Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

7.5
- romantic subtext
24. Blue Moment

Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

8.0
- minor romance (in flashbacks as it deals with the loss of a romantic partner)
25. Brush Up Life

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

9.0
- friendship focused
- very minor romantic sideplot near the beginning / mentions of an old crush/relationship
26. Bu Liang Zhi Nian Qing Chu Shi

Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

9.5
- romantic subtext
27. Cat Property

Japanese Movie - 2022

8.5
- barely any romance you pretty much have to squint to see it if you really want to but very platonic focused
28. Cheat

Japanese Drama - 2019, 10 episodes

8.0
- anzai flirts with literally everyone but that's about it
29. Cheer Boys!!

Japanese Movie - 2019

8.5
- platonic focused
- maybe a very minor subtext towards a romance
30. Chicken Nugget

Korean Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

8.0
- romance sideplot that well is only mentioned a few times because the FL turns into a nugget
31. City Hunter

Japanese Movie - 2024

7.5
- i feel like they tried to hint towards romance but i saw it more as a sibling vibe but it was minor anyway
32. Code: Negai no Daisho

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

7.0
- romantic subplot that doesn't last long
- revenge focused
33. Coffee Ikaga Deshou

Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

7.5
- romantic subtext but kind of not really at the same time
34. Company

Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

9.0
- minor romance (husband/wife going through divorce) but it's not the main focus
- hints at potential romances that don't go anywhere
35. Cool Doji Danshi

Japanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

8.5
- no romance
36. Crosstail: Tantei Kyoshitsu

Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes

6.0
- very little romance from what i can remember
37. Da Capo Shimasen ka?

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

5.5
- aint no time for romance in this drama tbh
38. Death Note

Japanese Drama - 2015, 11 episodes

9.5
- there is a romantic relationship but i think it was more out of convenience than love & can be ignored imo
39. Death Note NEW GENERATION

Japanese Drama - 2016, 3 episodes

7.0
- no romance i think
40. Death Note: Light Up The New World

Japanese Movie - 2016

8.0
- no romance if i remember correctly
41. dele

Japanese Drama - 2018, 8 episodes

9.0
- very little romance (mostly related to side characters)
42. Desire Catcher

Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

8.5
- maybe romantic subtext
43. Doctor Prisoner

Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

9.5
- hints to a possible romance
44. Dr. White

Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i remember
45. Dream

Korean Movie - 2023

9.0
- no romance
46. Enjiya

Japanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

8.0
- only the first 2 eps are somewhat romance focused but it's more about revenge & heartbreak than the romance itself
47. Entre nouilles et démons

Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes

10
- hints to maybe future romance(s) but no couples as of the first season
48. Entre nouilles et démons 2

Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

8.5
- minor romantic subplots that can be ignored
49. FAKE MOTION: Takkyu no Osho

Japanese Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

8.5
- no romance
- platonic focus
50. Fermat no Ryori

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

7.5
- basically none
- there might be subtext between one of the MLs & his friend but it's very unrequited imo from her side
51. Fixer

Japanese Drama - 2023, 5 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i remember
52. Ghost Yankee

Japanese Drama - 2024, 5 episodes

7.0
- no romance
53. Gifted Season 1

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

8.0
- no romance
54. Gifted Season 2

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

7.0
- no romance
55. Hakozume: Koban Joshi no Gyakushu

Japanese Drama - 2021, 9 episodes

8.5
- little romance (characters go on mixers/dates but never really lead anywhere)
56. Hakubo no Chronicle

Japanese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

7.0
- no romance except sideplots that were minor if there was any romantic subtext it definitely went over my head
57. Heaven and Hell

Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes

9.0
- minor romantic subtext
58. Hero Is Back

Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

7.0
59. High School Ghost Story

Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

7.0
- no romance
60. HiGH&LOW

Japanese Drama - 2015, 10 episodes

8.0
- friendship focused
- some minor hints to romance here & there but it doesn't lead anywhere & can be ignored
61. HiGH&LOW The Movie

Japanese Movie - 2016

9.0
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance
62. HiGH&LOW The Movie 2: END OF SKY

Japanese Movie - 2017

8.5
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance
63. HiGH&LOW The Movie 3: FINAL MISSION

Japanese Movie - 2017

8.0
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance
64. HiGH&LOW THE WORST

Japanese Movie - 2019

8.0
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance(?)
65. HiGH&LOW THE WORST EPISODE.0

Japanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes

7.5
- platonic focused
- (not so) romantic sideplot for a side character in ep 4
66. HiGH&LOW THE WORST Sequel

Japanese Movie - 2022

8.5
- no romance
- bromance focused
67. HiGH&LOW: The Red Rain

Japanese Movie - 2016

7.0
- familial relationship is the main focus
- no romance if i remember correctly
68. Hill Season 2

Japanese Drama - 2022, 6 episodes

8.0
- barely any romance compared to the first season
69. Hitotsubashi Kiriko no Hanzai Nikki

Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i can remember
70. Ichiban Sukina Hana

Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

8.0
- minor romantic subplots that are mostly unrequited, the main focus is platonic
71. Ima kara Anata wo Kyouhaku Shimasu

Japanese Drama - 2017, 9 episodes

6.5
- mostly romantic subtext with a minor romance in flashbacks
72. In The World Which Is Neither White Nor Black, Panda Laughs

Japanese Drama - 2020, 10 episodes

9.0
- little/minor romance
- to me the romance(s) felt very one sided
- honestly the romance in this drama can be easily ignored
- the little romance there is doesn't really add to the plot
73. Informa

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

8.5
- minor romance sideplot
74. Insider

Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

7.5
- very minor romantic subtext
75. Invert: Jozuka Hisui Toujoshu

Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

7.0
- barely any romance unlike the prequel
76. Invisible

Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

8.0
- romantic subtext
77. Ishiko to Haneo: Sonna Koto de Uttaemasu?

Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

9.0
- romance sideplot but it doesn't have much of a focus because you kinda forget about it
78. Itsu Made

Japanese Movie - 2023

6.5
- bromance focused
79. Janus no Kagami

Japanese Drama - 2019, 8 episodes

7.5
- implied that shindo maybe has feelings for hiromi
- implied that tatsuya has feelings for yumi
- no romantic relationships
80. Joshi Kosei no Mudazukai

Japanese Drama - 2020, 7 episodes

6.5
- mentions of romance
- friendship focused
81. Joy of Life

Chinese Drama - 2019, 46 episodes

9.0
- romantic sideplot but so much happens in this drama it's kinda on the back burner for a lot of it, i do adore the main couple though don't get me wrong but the romance is definitely not the main focus of this drama it's more about political intrigue, family dynamics, and palace politics
82. Joy of Life: Season 2

Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

9.0
- the same really as season 1, i feel like they spend more time apart in this season compared to the first one too
83. K

Japanese Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

8.0
- platonic focus
- mentions of romance of side characters
- main character gets hit on by another character's wife
84. Kaidanshita no Gogh

Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes

7.0
- could be romantic subtext in this but you can read it platonically and/or as admiration
85. Kana Kana

Japanese Drama - 2022, 28 episodes

8.5
- main focus is familial and platonic
- romance sideplot that's mostly unrequited
86. Karma: Seven Joseon Notices

Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

8.5
- i think they tried for romantic subtext but i wasn't feeling it
87. Kashimashi Meshi

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

8.0
- romantic sideplots but the main focus is the friendship
88. Keiji to Kenji, Tokidoki Hanji

Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes

8.0
- minor romantic sideplots that either are unrequited or are from guest characters
89. Keishicho Outsider

Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes

8.5
- bromance focused
90. Kichijoji Losers

Japanese Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

8.5
- minor romantic subplots that last really one ep or half an ep but overall there's not much
91. Kiwadoi Futari -K2-

Japanese Drama - 2020, 6 episodes

9.5
- no romance
- family focus
92. Knockin' on Locked Door

Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes

7.5
- no romance
93. Koi Senu Futari

Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes

10
- no romance as it focuses on two aromantic characters who don't want romantic relationships
- though it does touch upon past romantic relationships & romantic relationships in general in regards to combating amatonormativity
94. Kyojo

Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i remember
95. Kyoso no Bannin

Japanese Drama - 2022, 11 episodes

6.0
- barely any romance & if there is it's guest couples
96. L’épée Dans la Neige

Chinese Drama - 2021, 38 episodes

9.0
- definitely romantic subtext & minor romantic subplot but to me it comes off as a sibling bond more than anything romantic
97. Law School

Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

9.0
- minor romance
98. Liaison: Kodomo no Kokoro Shinryosho

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

9.5
- no romance
99. Lie Zui Tu Jian

Chinese Drama - 2022, 20 episodes

9.0
- bromance & mentions of romance
100. Link Click

Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

7.0
- no romance
- bromance focused