Endgame Pairing is Not Obvious
Stories where the endgame pairing isn't the usual "met as children and loved forever" - the leads have romantic relationships and even marriage with someone else first, the love triangle looks like it could go either way, SML has traits of a ML, or the endgame ML has traits of a SML. Also includes those rare instances where the SML actually gets the girl.
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1. À Distância, a Primavera é Verde
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
FL is in love with her childhood friend at the beginning, then meets and falls in love with the ML, and then the childhood friend falls in love with her. She ends up with the ML.
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2. A Esposa do Meu Marido
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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3. A Grande Doutora
Korean Drama - 2012, 24 episodes
ML had a former first love who he planned to marry until she died
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4. A Mai Cong Jun
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
FL does not end up with ML despite it indicating that way for most of the drama. The ending is open, but appears to be interpreted as the FL choosing the SML.
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5. A Noiva Fantasma
Taiwanese Drama - 2020, 6 episodes
FL has the childhood connection trope and engagement with the SML, heavy love triangle
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6. A River Runs Through It
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
ML has the traits of a SML, and FL loves someone else for a long time first
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7. A River Runs Through It Special
Chinese Special - 2021, 10 episodes
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8. A Senhorita Chun É uma Litigante
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
love triangle, ML has a much smaller role than SML
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9. A Vingança da Noiva
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
SML gets the girl
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10. Agentes da Princesa
Chinese Drama - 2017, 67 episodes
love triangle, SML is given scenes/tropes with the FL commonly given to the ML
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11. Amantes da Lua
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
heavy reverse harem, FL eventually ends up the SML for the remainder of her life in the past, despite still being in love with the ML and having his child
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12. Amor melhor que Imortalidade
Chinese Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
ML has traits of a SML, SML has the ML traits and the FL is much more drawn to him at first
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13. Amor sob Estrelas
Chinese Drama - 2022, 26 episodes
FL is engaged to someone else at the beginning
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14. Beside You
Thai Drama - 2024, 3 episodes
ML has a boyfriend when it begins, and it's unclear at first who he'll end up with
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15. Bon Appetit
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
ML has an ex boyfriend
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16. Choice Husband
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
At different points in the drama, FL marries the ML and the SML. When she learns she's pregnant, she's unsure who is the father. She eventually ends up with the ML who is the father of her child.
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17. Colourful Bone
Chinese Drama - 2017, 54 episodes
heavy love triangle, FL has the childhood connection trope with the SML
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18. Cupid of Chou Dynasty
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
ML is atypical, has traits of a SML or supporting character
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19. Deep Love Love Again
Chinese Drama - 2024, 22 episodes
FL is married, betrayed, and then gets involved with the ML
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20. Dona de Casa Mortal
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
FL is married for most of the drama but ends up with the SML
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21. Dra. Atraente
Chinese Drama - 2020, 28 episodes
heavy love triangle, FL is much closer to SML at first
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22. Encantadora Garota de Espadas
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
heavy love triangle, SLS
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23. Equipe de Flores: Agência de Casamentos de Joseon
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
FL has the childhood connection trope and expectations of marriage with the SML
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24. Eu Não Vou Fazer O Que Kurosaki-kun Diz
Japanese Special - 2015, 2 episodes
heavy love triangle, ML is atypical protagonist
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25. Ex Deadly Mirror
Chinese Drama - 2024, 20 episodes
FL has a long term boyfriend at the beginning. By the end, it appears that she's starting a relationship with her friend, the SML.
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26. Fu Liu Nian
Chinese Drama - 2022, 30 episodes
ML has traits of a SML, and FL marries someone else first
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27. Golden Spirit: Joseon Marriage Prohibition
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
heavy love triangle, FL is initially engaged to the SML
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28. Guerreiro Baek Dong Soo
Korean Drama - 2011, 29 episodes
ML ends up with SFL, despite having the childhood connection trope with the FL
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29. Gui Zhong Mi You
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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30. Handsome Siblings
Chinese Drama - 2020, 44 episodes
love triangle in which the FL initially meets, loves and has a stronger connection with one of the MLs, but ultimately ends up with the other
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31. Happy Merry Ending
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
ML is still broken hearted over his ex boyfriend
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32. Hidden Marriage Love
Chinese Drama - 2021, 30 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning, love triangle
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33. His and Her Secrets
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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34. Huang Fei Wei He Na Yang
Chinese Drama - 2023, 32 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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35. Jin Ji De Fu Ren
Chinese Drama - 2024, 21 episodes
FL has a different boyfriend at the beginning
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36. Lost You Forever
Chinese Drama - 2023, 39 episodes
SML gets the girl
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37. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 1
Chinese Drama - 2022, 27 episodes
reverse harem, FL is supposed to marry SML at first
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38. Lovers
Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
FL is in love with someone else at the beginning
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39. Meu Belo Marido
Chinese Drama - 2021, 30 episodes
FL is married and divorced from someone else at the beginning
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40. Miss Fox
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
FL is dating someone else at the beginning
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41. Montanhas e Oceanos
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
FL loves SML for most of the drama, ML has traits of a SML
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42. Mr. Cool
Chinese Drama - 2021, 32 episodes
FL is dating someone else at the beginning
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43. My Dearest Part 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
FL marries another man but ultimately ends up with the ML.
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44. Não Se Meta com Minha Ex-namorada
Chinese Drama - 2022, 20 episodes
FL is engaged to someone else at the beginning
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45. Ning An Ru Meng
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
heavy reverse harem, FL is in love with someone else for a long time, ML is an atypical protagonist
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46. Noite com Você
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
ML has traits of a SML/secondary villain
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47. O Rei Apaixonado
Korean Drama - 2017, 40 episodes
SML gets the girl
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48. O Retorno de Iljimae
Korean Drama - 2009, 24 episodes
ML had a first love who died, and at first it seems he's just settling for the FL due to her resemblance to his lost love
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49. Ocean Like Me
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
ML has an ex boyfriend
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50. Only Friends
Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
everyone is involved with or in love with everyone, endgame is not clear until the very end
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51. Orange Soda
Chinese Drama - 2024, 20 episodes
FL is childhood friends/love interests with the ML, but falls in love with the SML
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52. Pachinko
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
SML gets the girl, FL is in love with and pregnant by the ML at the beginning
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53. Perfect Marriage Revenge
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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54. Qian Jin Nan Tao
Chinese Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
FL has a stronger connection with the SML at first, love triangle
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55. Quem é Você?
Korean Drama - 2013, 16 episodes
heavy SLS, FL has a first love who is a ghost/in a coma and for a while it's unclear whether she'll have a second chance with him or choose the ML
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56. Querida Rua Mayang
Chinese Drama - 2020, 37 episodes
SML gets the girl
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57. Rebelde: Ladrão que Roubou o Povo
Korean Drama - 2017, 30 episodes
ML is in love with someone else for a long time first, FL has traits of a SFL at first
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58. Renascença
Chinese Drama - 2020, 36 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning, ML has traits of a SML
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59. Rinko-san Quer Experimentar
Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
heavy love triangle that could go either way
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60. Say You Love Me
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
ML has a first love who returns
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61. Sea You Soon
Thai Drama - 2024, 4 episodes
FL has a girlfriend in the beginning
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62. Seleciono o Seu Coração
Korean Drama - 2016, 7 episodes
all the SMLs get the girl ;)
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63. Shan Shan Lai Chi De Ni
Chinese Drama - 2023, 15 episodes
FL has a boyfriend and is pregnant by him, ML has a fiancée, but they end up together
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64. Skip a Beat
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
FL has the past connection and first love with the SML (and actually only approaches the ML because she wrongfully believes he has the SML's heart transplanted into him)
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65. Star and Sky: Sky in Your Heart
Thai Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
ML had an ex-girlfriend he's still heartbroken over
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66. Strobe Edge
Japanese Movie - 2015
ML is in love with another woman at first
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67. Sukiyanen Kedo Do Yaro ka
Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes
ML's ex-boyfriend returns and for a while it's uncertain which of the two men he'll choose
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68. The Forbidden Woman
Chinese Drama - 2022, 22 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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69. The Police Station Next to Fire Station
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
love triangle that could go either way, FL has the childhood connection trope with the SML
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70. The Police Station Next to Fire Station Season 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
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71. The Trap of The Goddess
Chinese Drama - 2021, 53 episodes
FL is initially the SML's mistress and the ML is her employee who is secretly in love with her.
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72. Um Amor Tão Romântico
Chinese Drama - 2020, 32 episodes
heavy love triangle that leans more toward the SML who the FL likes first
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73. Untouchable Star
Chinese Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
FL is dating someone else at the beginning
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74. Você é o Meu Destino
Chinese Drama - 2020, 36 episodes
ML has a fiancée at the beginning and wavers back and forth for a while before choosing the FL
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75. Waiting For Spring
Japanese Movie - 2018
Reverse harem, love triangle with childhood friend
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76. Wanton Indulgence
Chinese Drama - 2023, 103 episodes
FL has a boyfriend at the beginning
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77. Yi Bu Xiao Xin Liao Cuo Ren
Chinese Drama - 2023, 75 episodes
FL has a different boyfriend at the beginning
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78. Ying Hou De Fu Chou
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
FL is engaged to someone else at the beginning
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79. You Are My Cosset
Chinese Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
FL has a long crush on someone and accidentally confesses to the ML while she's drunk. Her crush re-enters her life later on but she ends up with the ML.
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80. You Are My Exclusive Surprise
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
FL is dating someone else at the beginning
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81. Zai Yu, Liang Ge Ta
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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82. Zong Cai De Tou Hao Jia Qi
Chinese Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
FL is dating someone else at the beginning