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 Loves
0% Watched
Signaler
Sort By: Author's Order
Lex's Rating
Your Rating
  • 17 Sai no Teikoku

    1. 17 Sai no Teikoku

    Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

    7.0
    • definitely an implied romance but it can be ignored
  • 19th Floor

    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 Nen A Gumi: Ima kara Mina-san wa, Hitojichi Desu

    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
  • A Mai Cong Jun

    4. A Mai Cong Jun

    Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

    8.5
    • romance sideplot
  • An Ye Ming Tan

    5. An Ye Ming Tan

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

    7.5
    • minor romance (married couple)
  • Aogeba Toutoshi

    6. Aogeba Toutoshi

    Japanese Drama - 2016, 8 episodes

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

    7. Aoki Vuanpaia no Nayami

    Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

    8.0
    • no explicit romance but could be read as romantic subtext 
  • Are You Safe

    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
  • Aristocratic Birth: PRINCE OF LEGEND

    9. Aristocratic Birth: PRINCE OF LEGEND

    Japanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes

    9.0
    • no romance 
  • Aristocratic Birth: PRINCE OF LEGEND - THE MOVIE
    8.5
    • very minor romance 
  • Atom no Warabe

    11. Atom no Warabe

    Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes

    • mostly postentially implied subtext
  • Bad Mother

    12. Bad Mother

    Korean Drama - 2023, 14 episodes

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

    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
  • Bangkok Breaking

    14. Bangkok Breaking

    Thai Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

    8.5
    • minor romance but the main focus of the drama is the corruption 
  • Barakamon

    15. Barakamon

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

    8.5
    • no romance
    • platonic/familial focused
  • Bittersweet

    16. Bittersweet

    Japanese Movie - 2016

    9.5
    • platonic focused 
    • mentions of romance 
  • Black Postman

    17. Black Postman

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 7 episodes

    7.0
    • barely any romance
  • Black Sun

    18. Black Sun

    Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes

    9.0
    • minor romance 
  • Blade Master

    19. Blade Master

    Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes

    9.0
    • no romance
    • barely any romantic subtext imo
  • Blind

    20. Blind

    Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

    9.5
    • very little romance, which is mostly subtext 
  • Blood Free

    21. Blood Free

    Korean Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

    7.5
    • romantic subtext
  • Brush Up Life

    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
  • Bu Liang Zhi Nian Qing Chu Shi

    23. Bu Liang Zhi Nian Qing Chu Shi

    Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

    9.5
    •  romantic subtext
  • Cat Property

    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
  • Cheat

    25. Cheat

    Japanese Drama - 2019, 10 episodes

    8.0
    • anzai flirts with literally everyone but that's about it
  • Cheer Boys!!

    26. Cheer Boys!!

    Japanese Movie - 2019

    8.5
    • platonic focused
    • maybe a very minor subtext towards a romance 
  • Chicken Nugget

    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
  • City ​​Hunter

    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
  • Code: Negai no Daisho

    29. Code: Negai no Daisho

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

    7.0
    • romantic subplot that doesn't last long
    • revenge focused
  • Coffee Ikaga Deshou

    30. Coffee Ikaga Deshou

    Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

    7.5
    • romantic subtext but kind of not really at the same time 
  • Company

    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
  • Cool Doji Danshi

    32. Cool Doji Danshi

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

    8.5
    • no romance
  • Crosstail: Tantei Kyoshitsu

    33. Crosstail: Tantei Kyoshitsu

    Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes

    6.0
    • very little romance from what i can remember
  • Da Capo Shimasen ka?

    34. Da Capo Shimasen ka?

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

    5.5
    • aint no time for romance in this drama tbh
  • Death Note

    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
  • Death Note NEW GENERATION

    36. Death Note NEW GENERATION

    Japanese Drama - 2016, 3 episodes

    7.0
    • no romance i think
  • Death Note: Light Up The New World

    37. Death Note: Light Up The New World

    Japanese Movie - 2016

    8.0
    • no romance if i remember correctly
  • dele

    38. dele

    Japanese Drama - 2018, 8 episodes

    9.0
    • very little romance (mostly related to side characters)
  • Desire Catcher

    39. Desire Catcher

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

    8.5
    • maybe romantic subtext
  • Doctor Prisoner

    40. Doctor Prisoner

    Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

    9.5
    • hints to a possible romance
  • Dr. White

    41. Dr. White

    Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

    7.0
    • no romance from what i remember
  • Dream

    42. Dream

    Korean Movie - 2023

    9.0
    • no romance
  • Enjiya

    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
  • Entre nouilles et démons

    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
  • Entre nouilles et démons 2

    45. Entre nouilles et démons 2

    Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

    8.5
    • minor romantic subplots that can be ignored
  • FAKE MOTION: Takkyu no Osho

    46. FAKE MOTION: Takkyu no Osho

    Japanese Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

    8.5
    • no romance
    • platonic focus
  • Fermat no Ryori

    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
  • Fixer

    48. Fixer

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 5 episodes

    7.0
    • no romance from what i remember
  • Ghost Yankee

    49. Ghost Yankee

    Japanese Drama - 2024, 5 episodes

    7.0
    • no romance
  • Gifted Season 1

    50. Gifted Season 1

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

    8.0
    • no romance
  • Gifted Season 2

    51. Gifted Season 2

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

    7.0
    • no romance
  • Hakozume: Koban Joshi no Gyakushu

    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)
  • Hakubo no Chronicle

    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
  • Heaven and Hell

    54. Heaven and Hell

    Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes

    9.0
    • minor romantic subtext
  • High School Ghost Story

    55. High School Ghost Story

    Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

    7.0
    • no romance
  • HiGH&LOW

    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
  • HiGH&LOW The Movie

    57. HiGH&LOW The Movie

    Japanese Movie - 2016

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

    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
  • HiGH&LOW The Movie 3: FINAL MISSION

    59. HiGH&LOW The Movie 3: FINAL MISSION

    Japanese Movie - 2017

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

    60. HiGH&LOW THE WORST

    Japanese Movie - 2019

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

    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
  • HiGH&LOW THE WORST Sequel

    62. HiGH&LOW THE WORST Sequel

    Japanese Movie - 2022

    8.5
    • no romance
    • bromance focused
  • HiGH&LOW: The Red Rain

    63. HiGH&LOW: The Red Rain

    Japanese Movie - 2016

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

    64. Hill Season 2

    Japanese Drama - 2022, 6 episodes

    8.0
    • barely any romance compared to the first season
  • Hitotsubashi Kiriko no Hanzai Nikki

    65. Hitotsubashi Kiriko no Hanzai Nikki

    Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

    7.0
    • no romance from what i can remember
  • Ichiban Sukina Hana

    66. Ichiban Sukina Hana

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

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

    67. Ima kara Anata wo Kyouhaku Shimasu

    Japanese Drama - 2017, 9 episodes

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

    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
  • Informa

    69. Informa

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

    8.5
    • minor romance sideplot
  • Insider

    70. Insider

    Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

    7.5
    • very minor romantic subtext
  • Invert: Jozuka Hisui Toujoshu

    71. Invert: Jozuka Hisui Toujoshu

    Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

    7.0
    • barely any romance unlike the prequel
  • Invisible

    72. Invisible

    Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

    8.0
    • romantic subtext
  • Ishiko to Haneo: Sonna Koto de Uttaemasu?

    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
  • Itsu Made

    74. Itsu Made

    Japanese Movie - 2023

    6.5
    • bromance focused
  • Janus no Kagami

    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
  • Joshi Kosei no Mudazukai

    76. Joshi Kosei no Mudazukai

    Japanese Drama - 2020, 7 episodes

    6.5
    • mentions of romance
    • friendship focused
  • Joy of Life

    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
  • Joy of Life: Season 2

    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
  • K

    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 
  • Kaidanshita no Gogh

    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
  • Kana Kana

    81. Kana Kana

    Japanese Drama - 2022, 28 episodes

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

    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
  • Kashimashi Meshi

    83. Kashimashi Meshi

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

    8.0
    • romantic sideplots but the main focus is the friendship
  • Keiji to Kenji, Tokidoki Hanji

    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
  • Keishicho Outsider

    85. Keishicho Outsider

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes

    8.5
    • bromance focused
  • Kichijoji Losers

    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
  • Kiwadoi Futari -K2-

    87. Kiwadoi Futari -K2-

    Japanese Drama - 2020, 6 episodes

    9.5
    • no romance
    • family focus 
  • Knockin' on Locked Door

    88. Knockin' on Locked Door

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes

    7.5
    • no romance
  • Koi Senu Futari

    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
  • Kyojo

    90. Kyojo

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

    7.0
    • no romance from what i remember
  • Kyoso no Bannin

    91. Kyoso no Bannin

    Japanese Drama - 2022, 11 episodes

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

    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
  • Law School

    93. Law School

    Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

    9.0
    • minor romance
  • Liaison: Kodomo no Kokoro Shinryosho

    94. Liaison: Kodomo no Kokoro Shinryosho

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

    9.5
    • no romance
  • Lie Zui Tu Jian

    95. Lie Zui Tu Jian

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 20 episodes

    9.0
    • bromance & mentions of romance
  • Maestra

    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
  • Malice

    97. Malice

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

    7.5
    • no romance
  • Mars: Zero no Kakumei

    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
  • Megami no Kyoshitsu: Legal Seishun Hakusho

    99. Megami no Kyoshitsu: Legal Seishun Hakusho

    Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

    • student/mentor focused
    • minor romantic subplots
  • Mirai e no 10 Kaunto

    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

En vogue