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
-
101. My Name
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
- romantic sideplot that really only surfaces in episode 8 it can be viewed as platonic before this episode
-
102. Mysterious Lotus Casebook
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
- romantic sideplot which is minor that you can ignore
-
103. Nakuna Kenshui
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
- little romance
- friendship / colleagues focused
-
104. Nami yo Kiite Kure
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
- minor romance subplot
-
105. Nanba MG5
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- there is a romantic sideplot that does have a somewhat major role to the drama but i think the platonic bonds & familal bonds are stronger in this and you can view the romantic sideplot as platonic
-
106. Nao-chan wa Shogakusannensei
Japanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
- friendship focused
- it's a show about kids so that's why
-
107. Navillera
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
- minor romance
- student/mentor & familial focus
-
108. Neko Bukken
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- no romance up until ep 7 where ep 7 focuses on a romantic subplot
-
109. Nichiyo no Yoru Gurai wa…
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- minor romance subplot
- platonic focused
-
110. Night Doctor
Japanese Drama - 2021, 11 episodes
- hints to romance & minor romantic side plots
-
111. Nihonchinbotsu
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
- small hints to romance that can be ignored if needs be
-
112. Nishi Ogikubo Mitsuboshi Yoshudou
Japanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
- more platonic focused
- mentions of romance & ex relationships of side characters
-
113. Nusumareta Kao: Miatari Sosahan
Japanese Drama - 2019, 5 episodes
- no romance i think or if there is it's really minor
-
114. One Thousand Dollar Lawyer
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
- there's barely any romance except in episodes 7-8 which are flashbacks
-
115. Only You
Korean Drama - 2022, 2 episodes
- no romance
-
116. Our Kogen Hotel
Japanese Movie - 2013
- i'm pretty sure there's no romance in this it's more about the hotel & the dynamic is platonic
-
117. Over Drive
Japanese Movie - 2018
- no romance i think
- possibly there could've been romantic subtext but if there was i didn't see it
-
118. Pandora no Kajitsu
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- other than prev relationship between husband & wife that's mentioned/referenced there's barely any romance
-
119. Paripi Komei
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- no romance
-
120. Phantom School
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
- mostly just implied/subtext but barely any other than unrequited
-
121. Picu: Shoni Shuchu Chiryo Shitsu
Japanese Drama - 2022, 11 episodes
- no romance from what i remember
-
122. Project S The Series: SPIKE
Thai Drama - 2017, 8 episodes
- friendship/team focused
- minor unrequited love storyline
- mentions of a past relationship of side characters
-
123. Remember You
Thai Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
- slow burn romance as a side plot
-
124. Reversal Orchestra
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- romance sideplots but the main focus is the orchestra
-
125. Rinsho Hanzai Gakusha Himura Hideo no Suiri
Japanese Drama - 2016, 10 episodes
- possible romantic subtext
-
126. Rinsho Hanzai Gakusha Himura Hideo no Suiri Special
Japanese Special - 2019, 1 episode
- romance mention between side characters
- romantic subtext
-
127. Rinsho Hanzai Gakusha Himura Hideo no Suiri: Another Story
Japanese Special - 2016, 3 episodes
- possible romantic subtext
- romance mention between side characters
-
128. Road To HiGH&LOW
Japanese Movie - 2016
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance
-
129. Rokuhodo Yotsuiro Biyori
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- very minor romantic sideplot
- platonic & familial focused
-
130. Romance on the Farm
Chinese Drama - 2023, 26 episodes
- don't let the title fool you the romance in this drama is a sideplot and it doesn't get that much screen time compared to literally everything else
-
131. Running Like a Shooting Star
Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes
-
132. Saboriman Kantarou
Japanese Drama - 2017, 12 episodes
- food focused
- i don't think i noticed any romance at all tbh
-
133. Sacred Divorce
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
- drama is mostly about divorce so there's that
- romance sideplots
-
134. Sagideka
Japanese Drama - 2019, 5 episodes
- no romance
- maybe lowkey hints towards romance but not really
-
135. Saiko no Kyoshi 1 Nen Go, Watashi wa Seito ni Sareta
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- student/mentor focused
- revenge focused
- minor romantic subplots
-
136. Saitama no Host
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
- minor romantic sideplot that doesn't really go anywhere
- more platonic & boss/employee focused
-
137. Sajangdol Mart
Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- small romance sideplots
-
138. Sayonara Maestro: Chichi to Watashi no Appassionato
Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes
- minor romantic subplots but the main focus is familial & music
-
139. Sekai Wa 3 de Dekite iru
Japanese Drama - 2020, 1 episode
- mentions of a romance but that's it
-
140. Sennyuu Sousa Idol Deka Dance
Japanese Drama - 2016, 12 episodes
- friendship focused
- minor references to romance / relationships
-
141. Sensei no Otoriyose
Japanese Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
- definitely romantic subtext and mentions of romance/crushes but there is none
-
142. Sensei wo kesu hōteishiki.
Japanese Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
let me explain why I put this in here because there IS a main romance in this:
- the life lessons taught by the teacher to his students is the main focus for majority of the drama
- the kids try and kill him so many times you forget that he's there for a purpose (revenge)
- it's so batshit crazy you kinda forget that there's a romance plot among it
- the lover is unconscious 95% of the series so you really only see the romance in flashbacks, in brief mentions, and really the last episode
- what i'm saying is you could replace the lover with a family member or a friend and still get the exact same drama out of it
-
143. Serment d'allégeance
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
- bromance focus
- romantic sideplots that you can ignore (i felt nothing for them)
-
144. Shall I Have a Cup of Coffee?
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
- no romance
- maybe a hint of romance between the owner of the coffee shop & his friend
-
145. Sherlock
Japanese Drama - 2019, 11 episodes
- very little romance side storylines that have very little relevance on the overall plot
-
146. Shimobee
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
- minor romance
- main focus is on a familial relationship
-
147. Shin Shinchou Kouki
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- i'd say there's no romance or if there is it's more subtext than anything else
-
148. Shinhannin Flag
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
- the romance is very minor
- the most major relationship is established (married couple) but other than a husband trying to find his wife there's not much to it
-
149. Shinhannin Flag 2
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- romance side plots
-
150. Shojiki Fudosan
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- no romance other than a side character with a crush that can be ignored
-
151. Shori no Hoteishiki
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- no romance from what i remember
-
152. Shotengai no Pianist
Japanese Drama - 2022, 13 episodes
- this drama is tagged with romance but i literally barely saw any
-
153. Si bien chez soi
Korean Drama - 2020, 10 episodes
- romantic subtext / hints to romance
-
154. Sign
Japanese Drama - 2019, 9 episodes
- there's barely any romance in this
-
155. Song Ci Shao Hua Lu
Chinese Drama - 2023, 25 episodes
- no romance as of the episodes i've seen so far
-
156. Squid Game
Korean Drama - 2021, 9 episodes
- it's a death game there's no time for romance
- i guess you could say there's a very minor romance subplot but it's easily ignorable because of the death game
- idk if you could really class it as a romance more of a "we're gonna die so let's fuck" side plot
-
157. Stand By Me
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
- i'd say there was no romance in this but it could've been implied but the mangotv subs were so bad idk wtf was going on half the time
-
158. Stand By Me
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
- no romance from what i remember
-
159. Stand Up Start
Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
- really no romance other than i think side plots related to guest characters
-
160. Stove League
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
- no romance
- maybe some subtext between female lead & second male lead
-
161. Sugarless
Japanese Drama - 2012, 12 episodes
- the romance was really minor if i remember correctly
- more platonic focused
-
162. Surgery Live Room
Chinese Drama - 2024, 28 episodes
-
163. Sword and Fairy 4
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
- romance sideplots that do get a bit of focus from time to time but the main relationship that has the focus are the platonic, familial, student/master relationships
-
164. Tengu no Daidokoro
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- no romance
-
165. Tenshoku no Mao-sama
Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
- kinda implied romance but it's so minor that you could see it platonically
-
166. The Bionic Life
Chinese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
- subtle romantic sideplot that you can honestly just view platonically if you wanted
-
167. The Blood of Youth
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
- romantic sideplots that can be ignored
- platonic focus
-
168. The Ingenuity of the House Husband
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
- no romance (mostly because there's only 1 character)
-
169. The Killing Vote
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
- romance subplot between secondary characters
-
170. The Miracle Brothers
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
- no romance
- bromance focused
- ehhh could be a very very minor subplot of romance if you squint between side characters
-
171. The Outcast
Chinese Drama - 2023, 27 episodes
- small romance sideplot
-
172. The Society of Four Leaves
Chinese Drama - 2023, 29 episodes
- bromance focused
- no romance
-
173. The Sound of Magic
Korean Drama - 2022, 6 episodes
- minor romantic sideplot that doesn't go anywhere
- focuses more on platonic relationships & mentor/student relationships
-
174. The Travel Nurse
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
- hmm can't really remember but if there was a romance sideplot it was minor
-
175. Three-Body
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
- very very minor romance (married couple)
-
176. Tiger and Crane
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
- romance sideplot that's minor & can be ignored/viewed platonically
-
177. Today's Webtoon
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
- very minor romance
(which is unrequited)
- very minor romance
-
178. Tokumei! Keishicho Tokubetsu Kaikeigakari
Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
- no romance
-
179. TOKYO MER
Japanese Drama - 2021, 11 episodes
- hints to romance that don't go anywhere
- mentions of a prev relationship
-
180. Trillion Game
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- platonic focused
- mostly just sexual tension and chemistry between ren & mio's characters
-
181. Two or Three Things About My Bathtub
Taiwanese Drama - 2022, 14 episodes
- romantic side plot that i think can be easily ignored
(tbh you could view it as platonic if you ignore like a few lines) - focuses more on the bromance
- romantic side plot that i think can be easily ignored
-
182. Unlock the Boss
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
- romantic sideplot but you can ignore it for the most part
-
183. Unmei Keisatsu
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
- no romance
-
184. Vincenzo
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
- minor romance but it can easily be ignored imo
-
185. War of Faith
Chinese Drama - 2024, 38 episodes
- minor romance sideplots
-
186. Weak Hero Class 1
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
- no romance from what i remember
-
187. White Cat Legend
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
- minor romantic sideplot between supporting characters
-
188. Wonderhatch: Soratobu Ryu no Shima
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
- barely any romance if there is any it's subtext and i'm missing it
-
189. Wu Shen Zhu Zai
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
- very very minor romantic subplot but imo it was unrequited most of the time
-
190. You Never Eat Alone
Thai Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
- very heavy friendship focused
- definitely heavy romantic subtext but it stays platonic
-
191. Yowamushi Pedal
Japanese Movie - 2020
- no romance
-
192. Yume de Mita Ano Ko no Tame ni
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- if there was an implied romance i didn't notice it
-
193. Zeicho: "Haraenai" ni wa Wake ga Aru
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- no romance
-
194. Zenryoku! Cleaners
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- no romance
-
195. Zi Chuan
Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes
- romantic sideplots but the main focus is on the 3 MLs as a unit and separately as characters
-
196. Zombie 100
Japanese Movie - 2023
- 1 minor romantic subplot that ends quite early in the movie
- the rest is just your typical end of the world type "let's have sex" nonsense