▸ Trope: fake it till you make it
dramas I have watched/tried (or planning to) with marriage/dating of convenience tropes:
- contract/pretend dating/marriages: usually an agreement entered by both leads for anything but love
- arranged/forced/accidental marriages: usually happening against the intention or without knowledge of both or either one of the leads
- substitute bride: a very special subtrope of arranged marriage - in which the marriage is intended but a wrong bride is introduced instead
- marriage romance: in particular ones we're shown the leads are already married to each other for anything but love - the romance develops only in their marriage life
by extension, it also includes:
- forced living arrangement or cohabitation when leads are forced to live together with romance as end point
off-MDL:
- Siyah Beyaz Aşk (Turkish drama): forced marriage
- 过江新娘 My Star Bride (SG drama): pretend marriage / A+
I will also attempt to grade how good each drama is for their tropes.
P/S: PLEASE BE REMINDED THAT THIS IS A PERSONAL LIST.
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1. Inborn Pair
Taiwanese Drama - 2011, 84 episodes
arranged marriage
(Grade: A+)
-
2. Destinado a Te Amar
Taiwanese Drama - 2008, 24 episodes
accidental pregnancy + forced marriage
(Grade: A+)
-
3. Casamento, Não Namoro
Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
fake dating
(Grade: A+)
-
4. Casal Perfeito
Chinese Drama - 2014, 45 episodes
substitute bride
(Grade: A+)
-
5. Minta Pra Mim
Korean Drama - 2011, 16 episodes
fake dating
(Grade: A+)
-
6. Beijo Atrevido: Amor em TÓQUIO
Japanese Drama - 2013, 16 episodes
forced living arrangement
(Grade: A+)
-
7. Embriagado de Amor por Você
Taiwanese Drama - 2011, 30 episodes
accidental marriage
(Grade: A+)
-
8. Casa Cheia
Thai Drama - 2014, 20 episodes
forced living arrangement + contract marriage
(Grade: A+)
-
9. Nas Asas do Amor
Filipino Drama - 2015, 145 episodes
contract marriage + cohabitation
(Grade: A+)
-
10. Hua Jian Ti Hu Fang Da Chu
Chinese Drama - 2017, 36 episodes
substitute bride
(Grade: A+)
-
11. Wars of In-Laws
Hong Kong Drama - 2005, 20 episodes
substitute bride
bonus: identity porn!!(Grade: A+)
-
12. Go Princess Go
Chinese Drama - 2015, 35 episodes
post-marriage romance
(Grade: A-)
-
13. 1% de Alguma Coisa
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
arranged marriage/contract dating
(Grade: A-)
-
14. Good Morning Call
Japanese Drama - 2016, 17 episodes
forced living arrangement
(Grade: A)
-
15. Me Beije
Thai Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
forced living arrangement
(Grade: B)
-
16. Mestre Demônio Não Me Beije
Chinese Drama - 2017, 23 episodes
forced living arrangement
(Grade: B)
-
17. Horas de Princesa
Korean Drama - 2006, 24 episodes
arranged marriage
(Grade: B)
-
18. Destinado a Te Amar
Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes
accidental pregnancy + forced marriage
(Grade: A)
-
19. Orgulho
Japanese Drama - 2004, 11 episodes
fake dating
(Grade: B)
-
20. O Verão da Raposa
Chinese Drama - 2017, 21 episodes
cohabitation
(Grade: A)
-
21. Por Favor, Me Ame
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
pretend marriage
(Grade: A+)
-
22. Carruagem Errada, Noivo Certo
Chinese Drama - 2001, 20 episodes
substitute bride
(Grade: A+)
-
23. Paen Rai Long Tai Wa Rak
Thai Drama - 2017, 30 episodes
accidental marriage
(Grade: A+)
-
24. Por favor, Me Ame!
Japanese Drama - 2016, 10 episodes
cohabitation
(Grade: A+)
-
25. O Amor Eterno
Chinese Drama - 2017, 24 episodes
post-marriage romance
(Grade: A)
-
26. Oum Ruk
Thai Drama - 2006, 14 episodes
accidental pregnancy + fake marriage
(Grade: A)
-
27. Isso Começou Com Um Beijo
Taiwanese Drama - 2005, 20 episodes
forced living arrangement
(Grade: A+)
-
28. Surgeons
Chinese Drama - 2017, 44 episodes
cohabitation
(Grade: B)
-
29. Gochisousan
Japanese Drama - 2013, 150 episodes
cohabitation
(Grade: A)
-
30. Nagareboshi
Japanese Drama - 2010, 10 episodes
contract marriage
(Grade: C)
-
31. Meu Namorado Incrível
Chinese Drama - 2016, 28 episodes
cohabitation
(Grade: B+)
-
32. Namorado Absoluto
Japanese Drama - 2008, 11 episodes
cohabitation
(Grade: A-)
-
33. Tawipob
Thai Drama - 2011, 17 episodes
forced living arrangement
(Grade: A+)
-
34. Porque Esta é a Minha Primeira Vida
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
cohabitation + contract marriage
(Grade: A+)
-
35. Só Um Homem Não Um Mágico
Thai Drama - 2016, 15 episodes
contract marriage
(Grade: A+)
-
36. Amada Esposa Leal
Thai Drama - 2016, 14 episodes
substitute bride
(Grade: A+)
-
37. Koo Gum
Thai Drama - 2004, 16 episodes
political marriage
(Grade: A+)
-
38. Koo Gum
Thai Drama - 2013, 24 episodes
political marriage
(Grade: A+)
-
39. Paragit Ruk Series: Yeut Fah Ha Pigat Ruk
Thai Drama - 2017, 10 episodes
pretend marriage
(Grade: F)
-
40. O Destino do Amor
Thai Drama - 2018, 15 episodes
cohabitation + arranged marriage
(Grade: A-)
-
41. Você é Meu Destino
Thai Drama - 2017, 17 episodes
accidental pregnancy + forced marriage
(Grade: A)
-
42. Khun Chai Rachanon
Thai Drama - 2013, 11 episodes
arranged marriage
(Grade: A+)
-
43. Khun Chai Puttipat
Thai Drama - 2013, 10 episodes
pretend marriage
(Grade: B)
-
44. Como Nos Filmes
Filipino Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
fake dating + forced living arrangement
(Grade: A+)
-
45. Coabitação
Chinese Movie - 2018
forced living arrangement
(Grade: B)
-
46. Não Posso Evitar Me Apaixonar
Filipino Movie - 2017
accidental marriage
(Grade: A+)
-
47. Vai, Cara de Lula!
Chinese Drama - 2019, 41 episodes
fake dating
(Grade: A-)
-
48. My Neighbour Can't Sleep
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
forced living arrangement
(Grade: A-)
-
49. Pope Rak
Thai Drama - 2014, 12 episodes
forced living arrangement (well technically they're physically bound to each other)
(Grade: A+)
-
50. The Story of Souls from Endless Books
Chinese Drama - 2018, 20 episodes
post-marriage romance (kinda)
(Grade: A-)
-
51. 2gether A Série
Thai Drama - 2020, 13 episodes
fake dating
(Grade: A)
-
52. Você é o Meu Destino
Chinese Drama - 2020, 36 episodes
accidental pregnancy + forced marriage
(Grade: A-)
-
53. Amor e Decepção
Thai Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
forced marriage
(Grade: A+)
-
54. O Código da Inveja
Thai Drama - 2020, 17 episodes
forced marriage + forced living arrangement
(Grade: B+)
The pairing's appeal was more in its hurt/comfort! -
55. Coração Brilhante Como Jade
Chinese Drama - 2021, 45 episodes
arranged marriage
(Grade: A+)
-
56. O Truque da Vida e do Amor
Chinese Drama - 2021, 32 episodes
fake dating + cohabitation (+ amnesia)
(Grade: A)
-
57. Amor entre Fada e Demônio
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
forced living arrangement
(Grade: A-)
-
58. O Começo de Uma Nova Vida
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
arranged marriage
(Grade: A-)
-
59. Osama ni Sasagu Kusuriyubi
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
contract marriage
(Grade: A-)
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60. Métodos de Exploração do Amor
Chinese Drama - 2023, 22 episodes
fake dating (pretty much substitute bride but make it modern fake dating)
(Grade: A-)
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61. Uma Queda por Você
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
marriage romance
(Grade: A++)
-
62. Oi Vênus
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
fake dating (the story is not built on it though still good!)
(Grade: A)
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63. Viciado
Chinese Drama - 2016, 15 episodes
cohabitation
(Grade: A+)
-
64. Para Minha Estrela
Korean Drama - 2021, 9 episodes
cohabitation
(Grade: A-)
-
65. Pretendente Surpresa
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
fake dating
(Grade: D)
-
66. O Amor Estrelado
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
substitute bride
(Grade: C)
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67. Encantadora Garota de Espadas
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
marriage romance
(Grade: C)
-
68. Stupid Cupid
Thai Drama - 2015, 12 episodes
arranged marriage
(Grade: F)
-
69. Cerco na Névoa
Chinese Drama - 2018, 50 episodes
marriage romance
-
70. Manee Yard Fah
Thai Drama - 2000, 13 episodes
pretend marriage
(PTW)
-
71. Wanida
Thai Drama - 2010, 16 episodes
arranged marriage
(PTW)
-
72. Sapai Glai Peun Tiang
Thai Drama - 2009, 13 episodes
fake marriage
(PTW)
-
73. Lom Sorn Ruk
Thai Drama - 2015, 14 episodes
fake marriage
(PTW)
-
74. Fugir é Vergonhoso, Mas Útil
Japanese Drama - 2016, 11 episodes
contract marriage
(PTW)
-
75. Minha Noiva Secreta
Thai Drama - 2019, 18 episodes
pretend marriage
(PTW)
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76. Peace Hotel
Chinese Drama - 2018, 38 episodes
pretend marriage
(Status: dropped at 15/38)
-
77. Brilho de Vaga-lumes
Japanese Drama - 2007, 10 episodes
forced living arrangement
(Status: perennial on-hold)
-
78. Casamento Feliz!?
Japanese Drama - 2016, 12 episodes
arranged marriage
(Status: Dropped at 3/12)
would recommend to read the manga instead! A+ for arranged marriage feels -
79. Oh, Minha General
Chinese Drama - 2017, 60 episodes
arranged marriage
(Status: Dropped at 17/60)
-
80. Amor Bem Intencionado
Chinese Drama - 2019, 20 episodes
contract marriage
(Status: Dropped at 12/20)
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81. Começar de Novo
Chinese Drama - 2020, 35 episodes
contract marriage
(Status: Dropped at 2/35)
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82. Perfeito e Casual
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
contract marriage
(Status: Dropped at 2/24)
-
83. A Garota Certa
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
substitute bride
(Status: Dropped at 2/24)
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84. Amor Inesquecível
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
fake marriage
(Status: Dropped at 4/24)
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85. Meu Marido de Acordo Com a Lei
Thai Drama - 2020, 15 episodes
contract marriage
(Status: Dropped)
-
86. Uma Nora Importada
Thai Drama - 2020, 17 episodes
contract marriage
(Status: Dropped)
-
87. Gengibre é Picante, Galanga é Quente
Thai Drama - 2019, 34 episodes
arranged marriage
(Status: Dropped)
-
88. Eu Sou Você
Thai Drama - 2018, 31 episodes
forced marriage
(Status: Dropped)
-
89. Suparburoot Jorm Jon: Maturot Lohgan
Thai Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
forced marriage
(Status: Dropped)
-
90. Wiwa Fah Laep
Thai Drama - 2022, 17 episodes
contract marriage
(Status: Dropped)
-
91. Até o Fim da Lua
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
arranged marriage
(Status: Dropped)