Dramas With Break Up/ Misunderstanding/Long Separation

Tragic and sad ending , but someone recommended it.  This drama still has a good story and some people still found it worth watching.

Main couple broke up in episode 19 and they got back together in episode 22 after 3 years of being apart.

ML disappeared for 3 years in the last episode, although not on purpose, he just literally disappeared into thin air and because it’s a fantasy, there is only some vague explanation on why he was able to return again to the FL’s side.

They separated several times. Rushed ending.

The ML have always liked the FL since their school days but he had to study overseas in Germany for  number of years. When he came back and saw her, he still liked her but she already had a boyfriend. The BF broke up with the FL, so the ML’s hopes went up again, even asking his assistant how long does it take for someone to recover from a break up. In episode 22, they went from 0 to 100. FL lost a bet and ML did not even have to say what he wanted, the smoldering, intense look he gave her spelled it out more clearly than words. They slept together that night. They became an official couple in episode 24. Break up happened around episode 32 due to ML hiding the fact that he has a large stake in the FL’s competitor company which left her feeling betrayed, causing her to leave him, but they got back together officially in episode 36 after a time skip. This drama is still worth watching despite the break up. The main couple and side couples all have happy endings.

So many misunderstandings and long break up as well as separation…

Sad, tragic ending…

Not a happy ending..

Don’t be discouraged by the break up/separation…. This has a very good story and it just got better and better after the main leads reunited after a few years… very good, with happy ending and still definitely worth watching especially after they met again. 

Awesome chemistry but meh ending…

They divorced and parted ways but reunited again after a few years. The ML was unaware he had a child with the FL.

ML had a grudge against the FL’s mother for causing his family’s ruin, and wants to make her suffer. He was mean to the innocent, naive FL for the first 7 episodes but then he started to develop feelings for her. They got together in episode 11 although the ML was still conflicted and was thinking he could still walk away from the FL later on. In episode 15, they had a conflict and the FL was very upset with the ML. The ML was very remorseful and wanted the FL back. She gave in eventually around episode 18 and the show ended on a happy note with a proposal from the ML.

SPOILER ALERT!

They could have made a better ending instead of the ML accompanying the FL as she grew as old as a granny then died in his company while he continued to remain young and immortal.☹️

They had a break up and misunderstanding but when they got back together, they were very solid as a couple and closer than ever. This is another good show and on my rewatch list.

There is a break up, with amnesia trope thrown in for good measure.  But it still has a happy ending.

Open ending…not really a happy ending 

ML died….

Main couple’s chemistry was great, too bad the ending is not good.

FL left, it’s a sort of open ending…

Even though they broke up, I still liked this drama. When they got back together, you can see their married life together for several more episodes, until their child was born. This is one of the good dramas even with the break up moment. I even rewatched this one.

There is a one-year separation, around the last episode.

I didn’t like the ending, please check the other reviews out there before watching this show.

The main couple had a long separation (3 years), but it was not because they fought or broke up mutually. The ML thought the FL died. But their reunion was lovely afterwards. Happy ending.

Sad and open ending where the leads are not together.

FL in human form “died” and went back to her goddess state, their separation was long and the misunderstanding deep. ML “died” and resurrected after 3 years. But despite the angst, this is still one of my top 10 favorite shows of all time. Happy ending…

Slow burn, couple got together in episode 19. FL broke up with ML in episode 23 but they got back together in the same episode. Ending is happy for the main couple, although it was rushed and was just meh.

l don’t think their separation lasted too long. Happy ending.

Long separation after divorce, but happy ending.

It’s still a good watch, I love the story and the main leads’ chemistry.

FL killed herself…

This drama had a good premise and started out promising but the ending was totally ruined. You might want to check out the reviews out there before watching this one.

It’s still a nice drama because of the main lead’s chemistry. 

I would still recommend this as a worthy watch even if this doesn’t meet the criteria on my No Break Up list. The story is good.

FL died

This is still a good drama even with the break up.  It has a happy ending.

Even when there was an instance where they got separated for a while, the main couple’s chemistry here was still really good. 

Not a good ending for the main leads….

6 years of separation…..

Angsty but has a happy ending…

Long separation…

They almost divorced….

Main leads  broke up and separated for a few years…

Thanks as always for sharing this, Jacque Paul. You really are one of the most eloquent writers out there. I love this!

“Love's Ambition: Fake It Till You Break It - Rating: 8.5/10
This drama is basically watching two people realize that pretending to be perfect is way more work than just being honest. It's messy, uncomfortable, and painfully real.
The Good Stuff:
First half keeps you hooked watching their fake-perfect life crumble. It's like watching a slow-motion car crash you can't look away from.
Middle episodes deliver the truth bombs. Masks off, feelings out. Finally!
Second half surprises you with humor and heart. They actually grow up and figure things out.
The drama asks real questions: Can love survive when it's built on lies? Turns out, nope. But can it be rebuilt? Maybe.

The Meh Stuff: Side characters are forgettable. They're like the opening act nobody asked for.
Pacing jumps around—sometimes too fast, sometimes too slow. Pick a speed, people!

Bottom Line: This is 32 episodes of messy people making mistakes, breaking apart, and doing the hard work to fix things. No fairy tales here. Just real, complicated, exhausting love.
Watch if you like: Breakups, makeups, people who aren't perfect, second chances that cost something
Skip if you want: Perfect love stories, no drama, easy answers, no breakups, no mess

Final word: It's therapy disguised as romance. Like running a marathon in heels, painful but somehow you feel accomplished after. If love means learning the hard way what your heart can and can’t handle, then it’s worth the emotional workout. Otherwise, skip it and save yourself the bruises.”

They keep separating because of the different timelines, but it’s still a happy ending after everything that happened.

ML died…

It still has one of the best endings out there and still worth watching.

Main couple got together in episode 25, ML asked for divorce ep 36 (Noble Idiocy Trope). He groveled to get her back in the last episode (40). Happy Ending.

ML pulled a noble idiot act and broke off with the FL….it still had a happy ending though.

It’s still one of the good dramas out there with a very happy ending even with the angsty parts.

Sad ending…

Someone mentioned the second lead syndrome here can be felt.

This is still one of my favorite rewatched dramas. ML’s character development was great to see. He was an asshat at first, dumping the FL because he thought his chaebol family will not accept the FL because of her background  (there was a great reveal on her true parentage later on), But he was driven mad to the point of desperation at the thought of losing the FL to another man that he threw all caution to the winds, storming into the bridal chamber after the FL’s wedding ceremony with another man.  He caused a scandal and a huge scene by forcefully pushing his way in,  knocking out the groom in front of shocked guests hovering on the doorway, and  he literally groveled on his knees, crying his eyes out, without any regard for his pride,  clinging to the FL‘s legs and begging her to go back to him (she became a gisaeng, and although it was not the conventional kind of marriage, it was still binding,  complete with legal contracts, bestowing of a large amount of financial assets and holding a well-attended, lavish formal ceremony, which is why only rich and powerful men can afford to exclusively keep a gisaeng).  It resulted in the main couple getting married after breaking the contract with the other man and marrying despite the ML’s father’s objections. That scene was one of the most unforgettable parts of this show, and the ending is wonderful, simply one of the really good dramas worth watching.

They were both married to other people and needed time to sort out their situation before they can meet again…

ML died, FL killed herself… they reincarnated in another drama “Forever and Ever”

The main couple were together around episode 20,  but they had a somewhat unhealthy relationship at first. The FL approached the ML initially with a personal motive of her own. She lied to him and they were both not great in communicating with each other, which caused a lot of misunderstandings between them. Their conflict deepened somewhere from around episode 26, and although there was no official and long break up, it was still angsty to watch. ML even blocked the FL’s number on his phone, although she did kind of deserve his cold treatment at that time. She wasn’t really honest with him, she wanted to use him as her revenge tool against her cheating ex boyfriend and his new girlfriend, and she faked her feelings for him at first before she started falling for him for real. They started resolving their issues in episode 31. I honestly just skipped the parts that I don’t really care for. Things got better for them from episode 31 all the way to episode 36.5 once they resolved their conflict and their relationship became more intimate and close. Happy ending for the mains and the other couples.

Few months of separation 

Misunderstandings abound, FL also married someone else, although the main couple still ended up together in the end

Toxic relationship between the main leads… open ending.

You might want to check out the reviews out there before watching. The ending was not all that good if you’re looking for a really happy ending.

SPOILER ALERT…..
This is a show with 30 short-length episodes. This is not a fluffy drama but the chemistry of the main couple is on fire.  In the beginning, it looked like the ML stabbed the FL and left her dying and the FL came back years after as the concubine of the ML’s father-in-law, making her the ML’s mother-in-law (ML had a wife in name only, which he divorced later on). The FL tormented the ML and there was definite love and hate in her feelings towards him. Later, there was some explanation on what happened years ago and why the ML did what he did and it was to protect her. If I have to sum up the main couple’s interactions here, it’s like they’re dancing the tango, there’s the push and pull, the fiery attraction , betrayal and vengeance, passionate love and craziness. In short, it’s rather entertaining to watch these two here. It’s a happy ending and they ended up having a daughter. But for the fluffy drama goers, this might not be your cup of tea.

Sad ending…

They did not end up together.

Too many obstacles and too much push and pull in the main couple’s relationship plus the amnesia trope… but it still had a happy ending for the main couple.

This is a drama with bickering main leads, their betrothal arranged by their families. In episode 11 the ML starts becoming more interested in the FL, becoming more possessive and jealous. There are misunderstandings, persistent love rivals and a love triangle when the ML’s former love returned. In episode 23, the main couple finally started resolving their conflicts after the FL lead ran away to Australia and the ML followed her all the way there to get her back. That’s when they became a real couple. More conflicts arose when the parents and grandparents got embroiled in disputes and suddenly wanted to end the couple’s engagement. But the main couple held on and never broke up since episode 23, and everything got resolved eventually and the happy couple was  finally able to get married and eventually the FL became pregnant with their first child. Happy ending.

This below was shared by Jacque Paul which I copied/paste here… thank you for your wonderful comments and please keep ‘em coming :D

Not sure where this belongs, so I’m sneakily adding it to both lists—because why trust one when you can confuse two? Just covering all bases in case someone decides to miss it on one and pretend they never saw it on the other. You're welcome.
Serendipity: When Brooding Meets Noble Nonsense .. Our brooding male lead strikes again! This man has the emotional range of a houseplant—except for that one rare moment when he almost smiled… we were shook.  Still, he nailed the role like a true drama veteran.
The FL? Absolutely stunning and acted her heart out. But the writers? Hmm... they gave her the “overly self-sacrificing martyr” script and dragged it over THREE WHOLE episodes. Like girl, no need to throw yourself under the angst bus for love!Episodes 34–40 were the slow-mo version of a breakup that didn’t need to happen. No major misunderstanding, just a lot of noble nonsense. ML never gave up though—bless his poker face. ♠️❤️Despite the dragging, it’s a fun mix of laughs and serious feels. Bit dramatic, a tad long, and romance is sweet but soft—think longing stares, not steamy scenes. If you can survive a senseless breakup arc and a FL who needs to stop overthinking, it’s totally worth the watch 

~~Jacque Paul ~~

This was recommended for this list, but I was told this is not a bad show to watch if you can get past the break up.

ML died…