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
-
1. 10 Pontos Para o Futuro
Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes
- 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 itwhich i did) - minor romantic sideplot love triangle between 3 students in an early episode
-
2. 17 Sai no Teikoku
Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes
- definitely an implied romance but it can be ignored
-
3. 19th Floor
Chinese Drama - 2024, 30 episodes
- romantic sideplot, definitely has a heavier focus nearer the end of the series compared to the beginning
-
4. 3 Nen A Gumi: Ima kara Mina-san wa, Hitojichi Desu
Japanese Drama - 2019, 10 episodes
- very minor background romances that can be ignored
- more student/mentor & platonic focused dynamics
-
5. A Mai Cong Jun
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
- romance sideplot
-
6. Advento de um Aristocrata: Príncipe da Lenda
Japanese Movie - 2020
- very minor romance
-
7. Advogado de Um Dólar
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
- there's barely any romance except in episodes 7-8 which are flashbacks
-
8. Agridoce
Japanese Movie - 2016
- platonic focused
- mentions of romance
-
9. Além do Mal
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
- there's pretty much no romance in this (the only thing really is a very incredibly minor subplot of a romance of a dead character in like one flashback)
- romantic subtext
-
10. An Ye Ming Tan
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
- minor romance (married couple)
-
11. Aogeba Toutoshi
Japanese Drama - 2016, 8 episodes
- platonic & mentor focused
- i don't remember there being any romance in this
-
12. Aoki Vuanpaia no Nayami
Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
- no explicit romance but could be read as romantic subtext
-
13. Artista
Japanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
- only the first 2 eps are somewhat romance focused but it's more about revenge & heartbreak than the romance itself
-
14. Às Cegas
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
- very little romance, which is mostly subtext
-
15. Atom no Warabe
Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes
- mostly postentially implied subtext
-
16. Bad Mother
Korean Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
- romantic sideplot but the main focus is the mother/son bond & revenge
-
17. Bad Prosecutor
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
- barely any romance here and if there is you need to squint to see it
-
18. Bangkok no Limite
Thai Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
- minor romance but the main focus of the drama is the corruption
-
19. Bar Três Estrelas em Nishi Ogikubo
Japanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
- more platonic focused
- mentions of romance & ex relationships of side characters
-
20. Barakamon
Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
- no romance
- platonic/familial focused
-
21. Bionic
Chinese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
- subtle romantic sideplot that you can honestly just view platonically if you wanted
-
22. Black Postman
Japanese Drama - 2023, 7 episodes
- barely any romance
-
23. Brush Up Life
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- friendship focused
- very minor romantic sideplot near the beginning / mentions of an old crush/relationship
-
24. Bu Liang Zhi Nian Qing Chu Shi
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
- romantic subtext
-
25. Caçadores de Demônios
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
- hints to maybe future romance(s) but no couples as of the first season
-
26. Caçadores de Demônios 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
- minor romantic subplots that can be ignored
-
27. Cat Property
Japanese Movie - 2022
- barely any romance you pretty much have to squint to see it if you really want to but very platonic focused
-
28. Céu e Inferno: Troca de Almas
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
- minor romantic subtext
-
29. Chinese Paladin 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
-
30. Code: Negai no Daisho
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- romantic subplot that doesn't last long
- revenge focused
-
31. Company
Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
- 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
- no romance
-
33. Criminologista Himura e o Escritor de Mistério Arisugawa
Japanese Drama - 2016, 10 episodes
- possible romantic subtext
-
34. Criminologista Himura e o Escritor de Mistério Arisugawa: Outra História
Japanese Special - 2016, 3 episodes
- possible romantic subtext
- romance mention between side characters
-
35. Crosstail: Detetive da Sala
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
- very little romance from what i can remember
-
36. Da Capo Shimasen ka?
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- aint no time for romance in this drama tbh
-
37. Death Note
Japanese Drama - 2015, 11 episodes
- there is a romantic relationship but i think it was more out of convenience than love & can be ignored imo
-
38. Death Note NEW GENERATION
Japanese Drama - 2016, 3 episodes
- no romance i think
-
39. Death Note: Iluminando um Novo Mundo
Japanese Movie - 2016
- no romance if i remember correctly
-
40. Dekadance: Detetives Dançarinos
Japanese Drama - 2016, 12 episodes
- friendship focused
- minor references to romance / relationships
-
41. dele
Japanese Drama - 2018, 8 episodes
- very little romance (mostly related to side characters)
-
42. Desire Catcher
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
- maybe romantic subtext
-
43. Dias Coloridos em Rokuhodo
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- very minor romantic sideplot
- platonic & familial focused
-
44. Dias de Desperdício das Garotas do Ensino Médio
Japanese Drama - 2020, 7 episodes
- mentions of romance
- friendship focused
-
45. Doce Lar
Korean Drama - 2020, 10 episodes
- romantic subtext / hints to romance
-
46. Doutor Prisoneiro
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
- hints to a possible romance
-
47. Dra. White
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- no romance from what i remember
-
48. Dream
Korean Movie - 2023
- no romance
-
49. Duas ou três coisas sobre minha banheira
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
-
50. Duas Pessoas Que Não Podem se Apaixonar
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
- 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
-
51. Embalado: O Contra-ataque de Mulher da Caixa Policial
Japanese Drama - 2021, 9 episodes
- little romance (characters go on mixers/dates but never really lead anywhere)
-
52. Escola Jurídica
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
- minor romance
-
53. FAKE MOTION: Takkyu no Osho
Japanese Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
- no romance
- platonic focus
-
54. Fermat no Ryori
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- basically none
- there might be subtext between one of the MLs & his friend but it's very unrequited imo from her side
-
55. Fixer
Japanese Drama - 2023, 5 episodes
- no romance from what i remember
-
56. Frango Agridoce
Korean Drama - 2024, 10 episodes
- romance sideplot that well is only mentioned a few times because the FL turns into a nugget
-
57. Gifted Season 1
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
- no romance
-
58. Gifted Season 2
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
- no romance
-
59. Guang Ming Zhi Lu
Chinese Drama - 2024, 38 episodes
- minor romance sideplots
-
60. High School Ghost Story
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
- no romance
-
61. HiGH&LOW
Japanese Drama - 2015, 10 episodes
- friendship focused
- some minor hints to romance here & there but it doesn't lead anywhere & can be ignored
-
62. HiGH&LOW The Movie
Japanese Movie - 2016
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance
-
63. HiGH&LOW The Movie 2: END OF SKY
Japanese Movie - 2017
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance
-
64. HiGH&LOW The Movie 3: FINAL MISSION
Japanese Movie - 2017
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance
-
65. HiGH&LOW THE WORST
Japanese Movie - 2019
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance(?)
-
66. HiGH&LOW THE WORST EPISODE.0
Japanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes
- platonic focused
- (not so) romantic sideplot for a side character in ep 4
-
67. HiGH&LOW THE WORST Sequel
Japanese Movie - 2022
- no romance
- bromance focused
-
68. HiGH&LOW: The Red Rain
Japanese Movie - 2016
- familial relationship is the main focus
- no romance if i remember correctly
-
69. Hiru 2
Japanese Drama - 2022, 6 episodes
- barely any romance compared to the first season
-
70. Hitotsubashi Kiriko no Hanzai Nikki
Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes
- no romance from what i can remember
-
71. Ima kara Anata wo Kyouhaku Shimasu
Japanese Drama - 2017, 9 episodes
- mostly romantic subtext with a minor romance in flashbacks
-
72. Informa
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- minor romance sideplot
-
73. Informante
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
- very minor romantic subtext
-
74. Invert: Jozuka Hisui Toujoshu
Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes
- barely any romance unlike the prequel
-
75. Invisible
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- romantic subtext
-
76. Ishiko to Haneo: Sonna Koto de Uttaemasu?
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- romance sideplot but it doesn't have much of a focus because you kinda forget about it
-
77. Itsu Made
Japanese Movie - 2023
- bromance focused
-
78. Janus no Kagami
Japanese Drama - 2019, 8 episodes
- implied that shindo maybe has feelings for hiromi
- implied that tatsuya has feelings for yumi
- no romantic relationships
-
79. Juramento de Fidelidade
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
- bromance focus
- romantic sideplots that you can ignore (i felt nothing for them)
-
80. Kaidanshita no Gogh
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
- could be romantic subtext in this but you can read it platonically and/or as admiration
-
81. Kana Kana
Japanese Drama - 2022, 28 episodes
- main focus is familial and platonic
- romance sideplot that's mostly unrequited
-
82. Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman
Japanese Drama - 2017, 12 episodes
- food focused
- i don't think i noticed any romance at all tbh
-
83. Karma: Seven Joseon Notices
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
- i think they tried for romantic subtext but i wasn't feeling it
-
84. Kashimashi Meshi
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
- romantic sideplots but the main focus is the friendship
-
85. Keiji to Kenji, Tokidoki Hanji
Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes
- minor romantic sideplots that either are unrequited or are from guest characters
-
86. Keishicho Outsider
Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes
- bromance focused
-
87. Kiwadoi Futari -K2-
Japanese Drama - 2020, 6 episodes
- no romance
- family focus
-
88. Knockin' on Locked Door
Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes
- no romance
-
89. Kyojo
Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
- no romance from what i remember
-
90. Kyoso no Bannin
Japanese Drama - 2022, 11 episodes
- barely any romance & if there is it's guest couples
-
91. Liaison: Kodomo no Kokoro Shinryosho
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
- no romance
-
92. Liga do Fogão
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
- no romance
- maybe some subtext between female lead & second male lead
-
93. Maestra
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
- 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
-
94. Malice
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
- no romance
-
95. Mars: Zero no Kakumei
Japanese Drama - 2024, 9 episodes
- no romance from what i remember if there was some i didn't catch on
-
96. Megami no Kyoshitsu: Legal Seishun Hakusho
Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
- student/mentor focused
- minor romantic subplots
-
97. Meninos da Torcida!!
Japanese Movie - 2019
- platonic focused
- maybe a very minor subtext towards a romance
-
98. Mestre das Lâminas
Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes
- no romance
- barely any romantic subtext imo
-
99. Meu Nome
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
- romantic sideplot that really only surfaces in episode 8 it can be viewed as platonic before this episode
-
100. MIU404
Japanese Drama - 2020, 11 episodes
- barely any romance just mentions here and there