Offbeat Watch Challenge

Hello and welcome to the Offbeat Watch Challenge or the Not Like the Other Dramas Challenge. 

This challenge is for folks who like atypical plots that stray from the mainstream, the anti-cliche lovers, and also for folks that might want to step out of their comfort zone and try something out of the ordinary. 

I compiled these prompts based on my own experiences of what I tend to see less of in dramaland. If y'all have more suggestions, I can always add another section or make a follow-up with more offbeat prompts! 

The challenge has levels ranging from 'easy' to 'extreme'. Each level, the prompts get progressively harder and more specific. 

Now without further ado... Please carefully read through the info since this challenge differs from others!

General INFO:  
•  There is no time limit. Start whenever and take as long as you want/need!
•  Anyone can join.
•  You don’t need to do every level. Feel free to only do a few.
•  You don’t need to complete the prompts in order.  
•  No TV-Shows. Specials only if they're 1 hr+
•  You can edit the format for the challenge however you see fit.
•  The challenge was meant mostly for dramas (unless otherwise specified), but you can mix movies in as well or do both.
•  Use the notes section to specify how the title applies to the prompt.

Prompt INFO:
•  The challenge is aimed at exploring atypical themes as a prominent plot of the drama, so most prompts are aimed in that direction. "Main main character" refers to the POV MC.
•  If a prompt does NOT specify "main lead/main dynamic/etc" then it means it can be applied to any lead character or a supporting dynamic.
•  If you can't find a title that you like that fits a certain prompt, you can use one of the 7 bonuses at the bottom of the list to replace a prompt with one of your own (NOTE: must still follow the offbeat theme of the challenge tho!!)
       •   There's a limit to how many prompts you can switch per level: Easy = 1, Normal = 3, Hard = 5, Extreme = 7.
• Lists and links tagged can serve as a jumping-off point, but since these prompts are mostly main MC-focused, some might still not apply. Ultimately, I won't condemn anyone who wants to apply the prompts to any main character, but the challenge was intended to explore atypical themes and characters.
• You don't need to use a title from the linked list/tags; you can find your own as well.
•  When specifying a character's age, it's mostly just to give a general idea of what to look out for. You don't need to know the exact age of the character to use them for the prompt ^^

RULES:
1. You can only use a title once per challenge, regardless of rewatches.
2. Generally shouldn't use titles you already watched, but you can use a few (5 max), especially for very hard prompts.
3. Only post once in this thread and edit that initial post with progress.
4. Have fun! 

BADGES: 

by me 

More coming soon... 
If you'd like to contribute badges or want to request a specific badge, please dm me or let me know here! 

Offbeat Watch Challenge
Summary
Start date: 01/01/26 End date: xx/xx/2x Levels: 0/5 Progress: 03/110	- Dramas and movies If no movies available minidramas or SLS count.

Currently Watching...

1/16

↺ = Rewatched | ☄ = Started before 2025 | ☆ = Watched before challenge

Easy		0/24
Prompt	Title	Notes
Morally grey/Antihero (FL/ML)/villain main lead (FL/ML)		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Main lead has an unconventional job (list) (e.g., not CEO, detective, minister, etc... the more specific the better)  (Bonus: all leads have unconventional jobs)		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Main dynamic is between a boss and an employee (platonic)		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
A dynamic between siblings where the protective one is not the older brother		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Main romance where the gender roles are reversed (tag) (list)		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Main leads are an established couple (list)	I've Walked Through the Love's Wilderness	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Destiny: Kamakura Monogatari	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Romance with a 10 or more years' age gap between the leads (immortals don't count)		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Historical drama where none of the leads are royalty or nobility (list) (Pre 1900s. Recent history doesn't count)  (Bonus: all the leads are middle class or below)	Riverside Code at Qingming Festival	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Mystery/crime/thriller drama where none of the leads are a detective, cop, or profiler (list)	The Price of Confession	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
A historical cdrama set during a dynasty that isn't Tang, Qing, or Ming (can't be fictional).	Swords into Plowshares	Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (902-979) PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Set in a world different from ours (matriarchy, fantasy world, dystopia, utopia, omegaverse, etc (xianxias only count if you rarely/never watch them). Slight differences don't count)).	A Happy Life	Matriarchy PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Better Man	Matriarchy PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
A romance drama from the ML's POV (forum)	Encounter	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10

Normal		0/24
Prompt	Title	Notes
Main lead is disabled, and the story is at least partially focused on that. (ML/FL)	Silent	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Mumu / Eye for an Eye	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Main lead (under 35) is a parent	Where Does the Sea Begin	ML, 28 PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Homeless	Both leads are young adults PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
A lead is a fraternal twin (ML/FL) (their twin must be another MC or prominent supporting character)	Family Matters Season 2	SFL & TML PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	X-Treme Riders	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Main dynamic is between parent and child (Bonus: titles outside of the slice-of-life/drama genres)	Moving / The Blessed Girl	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Similars attract romance between the leads (list)	A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Interracial relationship between the leads	Massan	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Psudo incest or an otherwise taboo romance between the leads (list)	Moonlit Order / Return of the Queen	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Thundercloud Rainstorm	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Historical to contemporary transmigration/time-travel		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Romance drama with no misunderstanding, amnesia, break-up, or childhood connection (partial list)	Filter	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Princess Jellyfish	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
A rebirth story that happens to the ML	Reborn Rich	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Reborn and Snuggled to the Arms of a Sickly	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Accidental child acquisition (The lead unintentionally finds themselves as the caretaker of a child) (list)	Seirei no Moribito	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Baby and I	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Surrealism or Art House Film (partial list)	Fallen Angels	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10

Hard		1/24
Prompt	Title	Notes
FL is masculine (more than just crossdressing) (tag) (list)		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Justice High	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
ML is feminine (tag) (list)	Colorful Love: Genderless Danshi ni Aisareteimasu / Yawao to Katako	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Lead (35 or under) is divorced or widowed	My Cherie Amour	ML is a widower PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Mothers	FL is a widow PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Main dynamic is between siblings	Pinocchio	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	A Better Tomorrow 2018	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Enemies of convenience (the leads are in love but have to pretend to be hostile towards each other)	The Princess Royal	Leads divorce and pretend to be hostile to avoid suspicion ✓ | ☆ xx/xx 8.5/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
SML/SFL end up with the lead (list) (forum) (forum)	Cinderella Closet	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
F/M/F love triangle (list)	Boy's Abyss	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Horror without any supernatural occurrences (tags)	Search	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Project Wolf Hunting	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Wuxia or xuanhua with a FL (must be the main lead)	Legend of Fu Yao	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	The Swordsman 3: The East Is Red	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
A historical drama that is neither Chinese nor Korean (tag)	Reach beyond the Blue Sky / Maria Clara and Ibarra	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Heneral Luna	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
A non-life/drama Kdrama that doesn't take place in Seoul	Hunted	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	The Wailing	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Ethnic Minority (list)	Seqalu: Formosa 1867 / To the Wonder	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	In Search of Lost Time / Red Flowers and Green Leaves	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10

Extreme		2/24
Prompt	Title	Notes
ML pretends to be a woman (Once is not enough. At least one arc)	The Tale of Nokdu	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	The Cross-Dressed Union	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Main lead is an elder (60+) (ML/FL) (Bonus: no life/drama genres)	My Friend’s Graduation Ceremony	ML, 75 PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	The Old Woman with the Knife	FL, 60s PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Main dynamic is between enemies/rivals that do not end up as lovers or friends		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Intimate friendship between the ML and FL that does not end in romance		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Enemies to Lovers to Enemies OR Lovers to Enemies to Lovers	Bloody Heart	Lovers to enemies to lovers ✓ | ☆ xx/xx/25 - xx/xx/25 9.0/10
	The Princess Decree	Lovers to enemies to lovers ✓ 09/01/26 - 10/01/26 8.5/10
Lovers to friends romance between the leads (tag)		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Alternative romantic relationship(s) between the leads (tag) (tag) (list)	Two Husbands One Wife	Triad PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Between Complete and Incomplete	Triad PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
A non-drama/life/romance story about sisterhood	Glitch	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	2037	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
An action title with no male leads (tag) OR an action title where the men are weak/can't fight	Inspector Koo	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Kill Bok Soon ?	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Historical sci-fi (genre or tags)	2099	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Gintama	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
A xianxia (or wuxia) where FL is more powerful than ML	The Blossoming Love	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Invincible Swordsman	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Superhero fiction (list) (ML/FL)	The Uncanny Counter	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Hi-Five	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10

Bonus 3-7 tropes not covered in this list that fit the atypical/offbeat theme! You can also use these to switch any of the above prompts that might be either too hard, you were unable to find anything to your liking, or you simply don't watch that genre.		0/14
Prompt	Title	Notes
A contemporary fantasy (must have more than 1 fantasy element)	I Am Nobody	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Kiki's Delivery Service	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
A female serial killer and/or a serial killer that targets only/mostly men	Queen Mantis	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	A Conviction of Marriage	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
A drama that's just weird		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Fantasy world, Dystopia, or Utopia	The Devil Judge	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Time to Hunt	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
A detective drama with only FLs / A buddy-cop with FLs	Honour	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
	Miss & Mrs. Cops	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
Bodyswap between people of the same sex	Room No. 9	PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10
		PTW xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx x.x/10

Start date:  01/01/2026 End date: Levels:  0/4 Progress:  00/48

Plan to Watch  ---  Currently Watching  ---  Completed 

Easy:  0/12

- Morally grey/Antihero (FL/ML)/villain main lead (FL/ML)
- Main lead has an unconventional job (e.g., not CEO, detective, minister, etc... the more specific the better.) (Bonus: all leads have unconventional jobs.) (list)
- Main dynamic is between a boss and an employee (platonic)
- A dynamic between siblings where the protective one is not the older brother.
- Main romance where the gender roles are reversed. (tag) (list)
- Main leads are an established couple. (list)
- Romance with a 10 or more years' age gap between the leads (immortals don't count) 
- Historical drama where none of the leads are royalty or nobility. (Pre 1900s. Recent history doesn't count.) (Bonus: all the leads are middle class or below.) (list)
- Mystery/crime/thriller drama where none of the leads are a detective, cop, or profiler. (list)
- A historical cdrama set during a dynasty that isn't Tang, Qing, or, Ming (can't be fictional).
- Set in a world different from ours (matriarchy, fantasy world, dystopia, utopia, omegaverse, etc (xianxias only count if you rarely/never watch them). Slight differences don't count).
- A romance drama from the ML's POV. (forum)

Normal:  0/12

- Main lead is disabled, and the story is at least partially focused on that. (ML/FL)
- Main lead (under 35) is a parent.
- A lead is a fraternal twin (their twin must be another MC or prominent supporting character). (ML/FL)
- Main dynamic is between parent and child. (Bonus: titles outside of the slice-of-life/drama genres.)
- Similars attract romance between the leads. (list)
- Interracial relationship between the leads.
- Psudo incest or an otherwise taboo romance between the leads (incest also counts if you're bold). (list)
- Historical to contemporary transmigration/time-travel.
- Romance drama with no misunderstanding, amnesia, break-up, or childhood connection. (partial list)
- A rebirth story that happens to the ML.
- Accidental child acquisition. (The lead unintentionally finds themselves as the caretaker of a child.) - Our Universe (2026)
- Surrealism or Art House Film. (partial list)

Hard:  0/12

- FL is masculine (more than just crossdressing). (tag) (list)
- ML is feminine. (tag) (list)
- Lead (35 or under) is divorced or widowed.
- Main dynamic is between siblings.
- Enemies of convenience (the leads are in love but have to pretend to be hostile towards each other).
- SML/SFL end up with the lead. (list) (forum) (forum)
- F/M/F love triangle. (list)
- Horror without any supernatural occurrences. (tags)
- Wuxia with a FL (must be the main lead).
- A historical drama that is neither Chinese nor Korean. (tag)
- A non-life/drama Kdrama that doesn't take place in Seoul.
- Ethnic Minority. (list)

Extreme:  0/12

- ML pretends to be a woman. (Once is not enough. At least one arc.)
- Main lead is an elder (60+) (ML/FL). (Bonus: no life/drama genres.)
- Main dynamic is between enemies/rivals that do not end up as lovers or friends.
- Intimate friendship between the ML and FL that does not end in romance.
- Enemies to Lovers to Enemies OR Lovers to Enemies to Lovers.
- Lovers to friends romance between the leads. (tag)
- Alternative romantic relationship(s). (tag) (tag) (list)
- A non-drama/life/romance story about sisterhood.
- An action title with no male leads (tag) OR an action title where the men are weak/can't fight.
- Historical sci-fi (genre or tags).
- A xianxia (or wuxia) where FL is more powerful than ML.
- Superhero fiction. (list) (ML/FL)

Bonus:  0/7

3-7 tropes not covered in this list that fit the atypical/offbeat theme! You can also use these to switch any of the above prompts that might be either too hard, you were unable to find anything to your liking, or you simply don't watch that genre.
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