Female Leads Who Fight!- List
Dramas where the FL is not always a damsel in distress and can kick ass by herself. I will comment if dramas have not been fully subbed as this can be sooo frustrating when you start to love a series, but will still include for all y'all fluent people. Also I have not watched all of these... if you don't think they should be here... let me know!!
*Stars for my fav. kickass heroines.
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1. The Long Ballad
Chinese Drama - 2021, 49 episodes
FL is a princess, disguises as a man and sets out on her own path & revenge after something happens to her family. Seriously kick-ass throughout. In the romance genre, but please, I'm fan-girling here.
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2. Meu Nome
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
OMG. If you want grey morals, 100% all in fight scenes and a relentless gritty FL character, look here.
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3. Agentes da Princesa
Chinese Drama - 2017, 67 episodes
* FL is slave who wakes up with no memory and gets thrown into royal politics, while trying to find out her identity. Training sequences & Fighting Scenes throughout, has upper hand 99% time
(Except with ML, but thats bc he's a beast)lots of shocked faces lol -
4. A Lenda de Fuyao
Chinese Drama - 2018, 66 episodes
* FL is slave, and wants to leave her sect. Begins martial arts training and starts to travel the world, finding out her background and getting involved in royal politics.
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5. Mulher Forte, Do Bong Soon
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
FL has super strength, and becomes ML Bodyguard. Watch if you want something super fluffy and romantic, I adore this drama. FL is cute, but believe me she could beat up anyone, including you. Watch out.
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6. Quem Governa o Mundo
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
FL & ML legendary heads of martial art sects. Absolutely kickass throughout, an amazing power couple, so cute. Kill me now.
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7. Mr. Sunshine: Um Raio de Sol
Korean Drama - 2018, 24 episodes
*It's 1871, and the FL is a vigilante, fighting the Japanese after they have invaded Korea. Mostly shooting/sniper scenes.
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8. Imperatriz Ki
Korean Drama - 2013, 51 episodes
*MUST WATCH! If you can deal with historical dramas. FL is a 'street-rat', trying to escape the life of a female slave, by disguising as male. She gets involved in two royal families, and embroiled in national military struggles. Most of kickass scenes at the beginning of the drama, but well worth it even for that. The rest is great too though.
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9. Nirvana in Fire
Chinese Drama - 2015, 54 episodes
* MLs fiance, absolute classic drama. Should be on any C-Drama watchers one-day-must watch list. But beware of politics/character list xD
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10. O Livro da Família Gu
Korean Drama - 2013, 24 episodes
* Kickass throughout. FL is daughter of a Martial Sect Leader, rescues ML, and fights to protect him. Romantic, but FL does not become less kick-ass as a result.
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11. Viajante Secreta
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
Similar to My Name. Undercover Agent, gritty plot scenario with drugs & gangs.
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12. Mamãe Irritada
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
* Mother who was a troublemaker when she was younger, disguises herself as teenager to bring daughter's bullies to justice. Fight scenes sprinkled throughout.
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13. Advogado Sem Lei
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
FL is a lawyer, and is enticed into a legal partnership with ML. More like is able to throw a few punches than go on fighting sprees ... but is a rlly strong FL- one of my first dramas though so sorry for being bias haha.
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14. A Espiã Myung Wol
Korean Drama - 2011, 18 episodes
FL is North-Korean spy sent to abduct ML as cultural idol. Kick ass scenes throughout.
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15. Princesa Prateada
Chinese Drama - 2019, 58 episodes
* Princess with amnesia tries to discover her past while forging a political marriage alliance with another country. Fight scenes throughout. Has romance themes.
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16. A Flor na Prisão
Korean Drama - 2016, 51 episodes
FL is briefly a spy.
Anyone Add?
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17. De Sobrevivente a Curandeiro
Chinese Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
FL is psychiatrist. Pretty sure it's like one scene. I never finished this lol, but I should.
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18. Atenção, Amor!
Taiwanese Drama - 2017, 15 episodes
Might be one scene, this was a great, cute, drama in its own right. Please watch :)
Anyone Add?
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19. Caught In The Heartbeat
Chinese Drama - 2018, 40 episodes
Quite a few fight scenes. FL is a cop with amnesia and sets out to find out past. Not fully subbed, most likely not going to be :(
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20. Life on Mars
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Anyone Add?
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21. Jovem Sangue Quente
Korean Movie - 2014
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22. Beijo da Morte
Japanese Drama - 2018, 10 episodes
Anyone Add?
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23. Era das Lendas
Chinese Drama - 2018, 47 episodes
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24. Doutora X
Japanese Drama - 2012, 8 episodes
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25. Médicos
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
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26. Romance Sangrento
Chinese Drama - 2018, 36 episodes
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27. The Vigilantes in Masks
Chinese Drama - 2011, 30 episodes
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28. Swordsman
Chinese Drama - 2013, 42 episodes
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29. A Princesa Real Ja Myung Go
Korean Drama - 2009, 39 episodes
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30. A Viagem da Flor
Chinese Drama - 2015, 58 episodes
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31. Damo, A Detetive de Joseon
Korean Drama - 2003, 14 episodes
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32. Ashi Girl
Japanese Drama - 2017, 12 episodes
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33. Khun Chai Rachanon
Thai Drama - 2013, 11 episodes
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34. Legend of Hua Mulan
Chinese Drama - 2013, 48 episodes
*One of the first I watched so I am biased, and it also takes a while to get into the actual kickassery, but still has a strong lead at start :). Mulan, a seamstress/embroiderer who gets caught in political plots and eventually becomes disguises as man to join the army and fight a rival kingdom and ex-lover.
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35. A Princesa Coroada
Thai Drama - 2018, 12 episodes
* Kick-ass crown princess, mostly dealing with assassination attempts. More of a political/Romance focused drama.
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36. Os Dois Corações do Rei
Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes
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37. Professora Gangster
Japanese Drama - 2002, 12 episodes
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38. Little Girl K
Korean Drama - 2011, 3 episodes
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39. O Convidado
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
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40. Os Guardiões
Korean Drama - 2017, 32 episodes
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41. A Mulher do Rei
Chinese Drama - 2017, 48 episodes
*
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42. O Avanço da Fênix
Chinese Drama - 2018, 70 episodes
*
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43. Amor Perdido em Tempos
Chinese Drama - 2017, 56 episodes
Mostly magic, but the FL is a renowned priestess who saves ML life multiple times. After her world falls apart, she resets the past, and is unknown in a new world unfamiliar to her and with those she knows changed in ways she doesn't. She starts trying to save her sect from persecution, while trying to hide her past.
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44. Princesa Wei Young
Chinese Drama - 2016, 54 episodes
*
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45. Retaliação
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Undercover NIS agent becomes involved in a massive conspiracy to cover up a plane crash. Together with a stunt man whose nephew died on the plane, they struggle for justice. This series is waiting for a Season 2, and I can wait to see how her character has progressed from S1.
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46. Sound of the Desert
Chinese Drama - 2014, 35 episodes
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47. Bromance
Taiwanese Drama - 2015, 18 episodes
Romance is the main genre here. But her fighting skills are a big plot-line and she does not give in! A girl is disguised as a man to avoid a fortune telling at her birth that foretold bad luck if she were to be female. She protects a member of the triad from an assassination attempt and becomes his forsworn brother. Martial arts isn't the focus of this drama, but it does crop up.
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48. Oh, Minha General
Chinese Drama - 2017, 60 episodes
*
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49. Eu também, Flor!
Korean Drama - 2011, 15 episodes
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50. Casal de Fantasia
Korean Drama - 2006, 16 episodes
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51. Rei das Compras, Louie
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
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52. Casa Comigo, ou Não?
Taiwanese Drama - 2015, 15 episodes
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53. As Lendas
Chinese Drama - 2019, 56 episodes
Woman is leader of an 'evil' martial sect and is presumed dead after an attempt to kill her. Upon returning, hidden within another body, she finds her loyal apprentice (who lay or may not love her) has taken over her position and seeks revenge.
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54. Jardim Secreto
Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes
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55. Proteja o Chefe
Korean Drama - 2011, 18 episodes
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56. Caçador da Cidade
Korean Drama - 2011, 20 episodes
*
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57. Legend of the Condor Heroes
Chinese Drama - 2008, 50 episodes
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58. Médico Legista: Dr. Qin
Chinese Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
I don't think she actually has any fight scenes, so I'm not entirely sure why I added this 3 years ago but oh well. A woman becomes an assistant to a medical examiner, and with the help of ther fellow police-man, Lin-Tao , they solve multiple cases. Nothing phases this character, nothing, I would trust her and her strong stomach with my murder.
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59. Mikaiketsu no Onna
Japanese Drama - 2018, 8 episodes
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60. Haechi
Korean Drama - 2019, 48 episodes
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61. Doce Combate
Chinese Drama - 2018, 38 episodes
Guy is taught to box by a female pro-boxer. Together they navigate real world fights, and the boxing world.
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62. A Garota Tornado
Chinese Drama - 2015, 32 episodes
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63. A Garota Tornado 2
Chinese Drama - 2016, 36 episodes
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64. Garota Quente
Chinese Drama - 2016, 42 episodes
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65. rio lua
Taiwanese Drama - 2015, 30 episodes
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66. Menina Do Guarda-Volume
Korean Movie - 2015
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67. A Lenda do Mar Azul
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
A mermaid falls in love, and centuries later comes ashore to find her man. She meets a con-man who bears a resemblance to her old lover and with his help starts to navigate the human world, and has a second chance at love. This mermaid may be following men around in this drama, but she will not be taken advantage of, she can fight to protect more than herself.
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68. Uma Odisseia Oriental
Chinese Drama - 2018, 50 episodes
*
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69. Singing All Along
Chinese Drama - 2016, 56 episodes
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70. Amor Eterno
Chinese Drama - 2017, 58 episodes
* Two immortals undergoing multiple trials and falling in love multiple times. A multi-arced drama with two kick ass leads, both famous within the world of this drama.
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71. A Lenda da Cobra Branca
Chinese Drama - 2019, 36 episodes
If being able to do magic and kick ass that way counts, then sureee
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72. Universo Marcial
Chinese Drama - 2018, 40 episodes
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73. Ice Fantasy
Chinese Drama - 2016, 62 episodes
*
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74. A Filha do Fogo
Chinese Drama - 2018, 52 episodes
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75. Agente X
Chinese Drama - 2013, 42 episodes
Not fully subbed
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76. Torre de Neve
Chinese Drama - 2019, 56 episodes
*
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77. A Grande Chefe
Chinese Drama - 2017, 18 episodes
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78. Escola Murim
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
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79. Identidade Oculta
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
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80. Promotor Vampiro
Korean Drama - 2011, 12 episodes
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81. IRIS
Korean Drama - 2009, 20 episodes
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82. The Snow Queen
Chinese Drama - 2018, 50 episodes
Not subbed, also you'll only find the episodes on YouTube as well under A Tale of Snow and Fire, link in comments of drama...
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83. The Three Heroes and Five Gallants
Chinese Drama - 2016, 42 episodes
*
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84. A Última Missão do Anjo: Amor
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
A ballerina is blinded in a freak accident and loses her life as she knows it. Becoming guarded, she meets an angel who wants to save her love life and gets her back on her feet... but it's not so easy. Kick-assery is one scene, but worth it, a strong female lead.
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85. O Destino do Amor
Thai Drama - 2018, 15 episodes
Like 1 episode...
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86. Your Highness
Chinese Drama - 2017, 20 episodes
Last ep raw.
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87. The Plough Department of Song Dynasty
Chinese Drama - 2019, 36 episodes
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88. Whisper
Korean Drama - 2017, 17 episodes
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89. Mu Lan
Chinese Drama - 2013, 40 episodes
See link in the comments of the drama for in sync subs...
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90. Phoenix Nirvana
Chinese Drama - 2013, 62 episodes
Unsubbed. And never will be. Ever.
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91. Mu Guiying Takes Command
Chinese Drama - 2012, 39 episodes
Fully subbed youtube
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92. BOSS
Japanese Drama - 2009, 11 episodes
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93. Nirvana in Fire 2: The Wind Blows in Chang Lin
Chinese Drama - 2017, 50 episodes
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94. Hotel Del Luna
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
*
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95. Mate-o
Korean Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
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96. O Segredo dos Três Reinos
Chinese Drama - 2018, 54 episodes
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97. Stranger
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
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98. Sala de Interrogatório de Emergência
Japanese Drama - 2014, 9 episodes
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99. Arrows on the Bowstring
Chinese Drama - 2013, 42 episodes
*Fully subbed youtube
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100. Rainha Dugu
Chinese Drama - 2019, 50 episodes