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

203 Titles 34 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 Mai Cong Jun

Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

8.5
- romance sideplot
5. An Ye Ming Tan

Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2016, 8 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

8.0
- no explicit romance but could be read as romantic subtext
8. 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
9. Aristocratic Birth: PRINCE OF LEGEND

Japanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes

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

Japanese Movie - 2020

8.5
- very minor romance
11. Atom no Warabe

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

Korean Drama - 2023, 14 episodes

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

Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

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

Thai Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

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

Japanese Movie - 2016

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

Japanese Drama - 2023, 7 episodes

7.0
- barely any romance
18. Black Sun

Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes

9.0
- minor romance
19. Blade Master

Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes

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

Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

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

Korean Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

7.5
- romantic subtext
22. 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
23. Bu Liang Zhi Nian Qing Chu Shi

Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

9.5
- romantic subtext
24. 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
25. Cheat

Japanese Drama - 2019, 10 episodes

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

Japanese Movie - 2019

8.5
- platonic focused
- maybe a very minor subtext towards a romance
27. 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
28. 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
29. Code: Negai no Daisho

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

7.5
- romantic subtext but kind of not really at the same time
31. 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
32. Cool Doji Danshi

Japanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

8.5
- no romance
33. Crosstail: Tantei Kyoshitsu

Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

5.5
- aint no time for romance in this drama tbh
35. 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
36. Death Note NEW GENERATION

Japanese Drama - 2016, 3 episodes

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

Japanese Movie - 2016

8.0
- no romance if i remember correctly
38. dele

Japanese Drama - 2018, 8 episodes

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

Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

8.5
- maybe romantic subtext
40. Doctor Prisoner

Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i remember
42. Dream

Korean Movie - 2023

9.0
- no romance
43. 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
44. Entre nouilles et démons

Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes

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

Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

8.5
- no romance
- platonic focus
47. 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
48. Fixer

Japanese Drama - 2023, 5 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2024, 5 episodes

7.0
- no romance
50. Gifted Season 1

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

8.0
- no romance
51. Gifted Season 2

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2021, 9 episodes

8.5
- little romance (characters go on mixers/dates but never really lead anywhere)
53. 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
54. Heaven and Hell

Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes

9.0
- minor romantic subtext
55. High School Ghost Story

Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

7.0
- no romance
56. 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
57. HiGH&LOW The Movie

Japanese Movie - 2016

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

Japanese Movie - 2017

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

Japanese Movie - 2017

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

Japanese Movie - 2019

8.0
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance(?)
61. 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
62. HiGH&LOW THE WORST Sequel

Japanese Movie - 2022

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

Japanese Movie - 2016

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

Japanese Drama - 2022, 6 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2017, 9 episodes

6.5
- mostly romantic subtext with a minor romance in flashbacks
68. 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
69. Informa

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

8.5
- minor romance sideplot
70. Insider

Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

7.0
- barely any romance unlike the prequel
72. Invisible

Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

8.0
- romantic subtext
73. 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
74. Itsu Made

Japanese Movie - 2023

6.5
- bromance focused
75. 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
76. Joshi Kosei no Mudazukai

Japanese Drama - 2020, 7 episodes

6.5
- mentions of romance
- friendship focused
77. 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
78. 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
79. 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
80. 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
81. Kana Kana

Japanese Drama - 2022, 28 episodes

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

Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes

8.5
- bromance focused
86. 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
87. Kiwadoi Futari -K2-

Japanese Drama - 2020, 6 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes

7.5
- no romance
89. 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
90. Kyojo

Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2022, 11 episodes

6.0
- barely any romance & if there is it's guest couples
92. 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
93. Law School

Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

9.5
- no romance
95. Lie Zui Tu Jian

Chinese Drama - 2022, 20 episodes

9.0
- bromance & mentions of romance
96. Maestra

Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

8.0
- barely any romance it's revenge focused so there aint no time for that
- 2ML(? not the FL's husband her childhood ex) definitely has feelings for the FL tho
97. Malice

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

7.5
- no romance
98. Mars: Zero no Kakumei

Japanese Drama - 2024, 9 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i remember if there was some i didn't catch on
99. Megami no Kyoshitsu: Legal Seishun Hakusho

Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
- student/mentor focused
- minor romantic subplots
100. Mirai e no 10 Kaunto

Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes

9.0
- student/mentor focused
- grieving widower
- definitely implies romance from the FL but feels one sided imo
  (it's literally so minor that you can ignore it ~~which i did~~)
- minor romantic sideplot love triangle between 3 students in an early episode