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 & completed 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

Lex Apr 9, 2021

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1. 10 Count to the Future

Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes

9.0
- 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 it ~~which i did~~)
- minor romantic sideplot love triangle between 3 students in an early episode
2. 19th Floor

Chinese Drama - 2024, 30 episodes

9.0
- romantic sideplot, definitely has a heavier focus nearer the end of the series compared to the beginning
3. 49 Days with a Merman

Taiwanese Drama - 2022, 14 episodes

8.5
- 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
4. A League of Nobleman

Chinese Drama - 2023, 29 episodes

9.0
- bromance focused
- no romance
5. A Lonely Hero’s Journey

Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

7.0
- minor romance sideplots
6. Acma:Game

Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

8.0
- no romance if there was i totally missed it and it went over my head (could've possibly have been an unrequited love plot that i ignored but even if it was there it was very minor)
7. Advent of an Aristocrat: Prince of Legend

Japanese Movie - 2020

8.5
- very minor romance
8. After School Doctor

Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

8.0
- no romance
9. Are You Safe

Chinese Drama - 2022, 31 episodes

7.5
- romance sideplot between 2 support characters that can be ignored
- bromance focused
- mentor/mentee focused
10. Aristocratic Birth: Prince of Legend

Japanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes

9.0
- no romance
11. At Least on Sunday Night

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

7.0
- minor romance subplot
- platonic focused
12. Atom no Ko

Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes
- mostly postentially implied subtext
13. Baby Vampire Blues

Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

8.0
- no explicit romance but could be read as romantic subtext
14. Bad Prosecutor

Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

8.5
- barely any romance here and if there is you need to squint to see it
15. Bangkok Breaking

Thai Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

8.5
- minor romance but the main focus of the drama is the corruption
16. Barakamon

Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

8.5
- no romance
- platonic/familial focused
17. Be with You

Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

8.0
- i'd say there was no romance in this but it could've been implied but the mangotv subs were so bad idk wtf was going on half the time
18. Beyond Evil

Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

9.0
- 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
19. Bittersweet

Japanese Movie - 2016

9.5
- platonic focused
- mentions of romance
20. Black Postman

Japanese Drama - 2023, 7 episodes

7.0
- barely any romance
21. Blind

Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

9.5
- very little romance, which is mostly subtext
22. Blood Free

Korean Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

7.5
- romantic subtext
23. Bloodhounds

Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

8.0
- bromance & familial focus
- i don't remember there being any romance at all in this drama
24. Blue Moment

Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

8.0
- minor romance (in flashbacks as it deals with the loss of a romantic partner)
25. Born to Be on Air!

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

7.0
- minor romance subplot
26. Brass Dreams

Japanese Drama - 2016, 8 episodes

9.0
- platonic & mentor focused
- i don't remember there being any romance in this
27. Brush Up Life

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

9.0
- friendship focused
- very minor romantic sideplot near the beginning / mentions of an old crush/relationship
28. Caster

Japanese Drama - 2025, 10 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i remember
29. Cat Property: The Movie

Japanese Movie - 2022

8.5
- barely any romance you pretty much have to squint to see it if you really want to but very platonic focused
30. CEO-dol Mart

Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

7.0
- small romance sideplots
31. Cheat

Japanese Drama - 2019, 10 episodes

8.0
- anzai flirts with literally everyone but that's about it
32. Cheer Boys!!

Japanese Movie - 2019

8.5
- platonic focused
- maybe a very minor subtext towards a romance
33. Chicken Nugget

Korean Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

8.0
- romance sideplot that well is only mentioned a few times because the FL turns into a nugget
34. City Hunter

Japanese Movie - 2024

7.5
- i feel like they tried to hint towards romance but i saw it more as a sibling vibe but it was minor anyway
35. CODE Japan: The Price of Wishes

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

7.0
- romantic subplot that doesn't last long
- revenge focused
36. Coffee Ikaga Deshou

Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

7.5
- romantic subtext but kind of not really at the same time
37. Company: Gyakuten no Swan

Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

9.0
- minor romance (husband/wife going through divorce) but it's not the main focus
- hints at potential romances that don't go anywhere
38. Connection

Korean Drama - 2024, 14 episodes

8.5
- romance sideplots
39. Cool Doji Danshi

Japanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

8.5
- no romance
40. Criminologist Himura and Mystery Writer Arisugawa

Japanese Drama - 2016, 10 episodes

8.5
- possible romantic subtext
41. Crosstail: Tantei Kyoushitsu

Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes

6.0
- very little romance from what i can remember
42. D.P.

Korean Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

9.0
- bromance focused
- there might have been minor romantic subplots but i don't remember
43. D.P. Season 2

Korean Drama - 2023, 6 episodes

8.0
- bromance focused
- there might have been minor romantic subplots but i don't remember
44. Da Capo Shimasen ka?

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

5.5
- aint no time for romance in this drama tbh
45. Death Note

Japanese Drama - 2015, 11 episodes

9.5
- there is a romantic relationship but i think it was more out of convenience than love & can be ignored imo
46. Death Note NEW GENERATION

Japanese Drama - 2016, 3 episodes

7.0
- no romance i think
47. Death Note: Light up the New World

Japanese Movie - 2016

8.0
- no romance if i remember correctly
48. dele

Japanese Drama - 2018, 8 episodes

9.0
- very little romance (mostly related to side characters)
49. Desire Catcher

Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

8.5
- maybe romantic subtext
50. Destiny Switch

Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes

6.5
- i didnt really feel there was any romance in this drama other than subtext which became more obvious near the end of the series
51. Divorce Attorney Shin

Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

7.0
- drama is mostly about divorce so there's that
- romance sideplots
52. Doctor Prisoner

Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

9.5
- hints to a possible romance
53. Dog Knows Everything

Korean Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

8.0
- minor romance sideplots
54. Dokgo Rewind

Korean Drama - 2018, 20 episodes

7.0
- bromance focused
55. Dominator of Martial Gods

Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes

8.0
- very very minor romantic subplot but imo it was unrequited most of the time
56. Dr. White

Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i remember
57. Dragons of Wonderhatch

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

7.0
- barely any romance if there is any it's subtext and i'm missing it
58. Dream

Korean Movie - 2023

9.0
- no romance
59. Enjiya

Japanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

8.0
- only the first 2 eps are somewhat romance focused but it's more about revenge & heartbreak than the romance itself
60. Eternal Brotherhood

Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

8.0
- romantic sideplots but the main focus is on the 3 MLs as a unit and separately as characters
61. Eternal Brotherhood Season 2

Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes

8.0
- romance sideplots similar to s1
62. FAKE MOTION: Takkyu no Osho

Japanese Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

8.5
- no romance
- platonic focus
63. Fermat's Cuisine

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

7.5
- basically none
- there might be subtext between one of the MLs & his friend but it's very unrequited imo from her side
64. Fighting for Love

Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

8.5
- romance sideplot
65. Fixer

Japanese Drama - 2023, 5 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i remember
66. Ghost Yankee

Japanese Drama - 2024, 5 episodes

7.0
- no romance
67. Gifted

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

8.0
- no romance
68. Gifted Season 2

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

7.0
- no romance
69. Guardian of the Market

Japanese Drama - 2022, 11 episodes

6.0
- barely any romance & if there is it's guest couples
70. Guilty Flag

Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes

8.5
- the romance is very minor
- the most major relationship is established (married couple) but other than a husband trying to find his wife there's not much to it
71. Hakubo no Chronicle

Japanese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

7.0
- no romance except sideplots that were minor if there was any romantic subtext it definitely went over my head
72. Heaven and Hell: Soul Exchange

Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes

9.0
- minor romantic subtext
73. Hero Is Back

Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

7.0
- barely any romance from what i remember
- just a minor romance backstory that's mentioned in one arc but other than that if there was any romance subtext i missed it
74. High&Low the Movie 2: End of Sky

Japanese Movie - 2017

8.5
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance
75. High&Low the Movie 3: Final Mission

Japanese Movie - 2017

8.0
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance
76. High&Low: The Movie

Japanese Movie - 2016

9.0
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance
77. High&Low: The Red Rain

Japanese Movie - 2016

7.0
- familial relationship is the main focus
- no romance if i remember correctly
78. High&Low: The Story of S.W.O.R.D.

Japanese Drama - 2015, 10 episodes

8.0
- friendship focused
- some minor hints to romance here & there but it doesn't lead anywhere & can be ignored
79. High&Low: The Worst

Japanese Movie - 2019

8.0
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance(?)
80. High&Low: The Worst Episode.O

Japanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes

7.5
- platonic focused
- (not so) romantic sideplot for a side character in ep 4
81. High&Low: The Worst X

Japanese Movie - 2022

8.5
- no romance
- bromance focused
82. Hiru Season 2

Japanese Drama - 2022, 6 episodes

8.0
- barely any romance compared to the first season
83. Hot Spot

Japanese Drama - 2025, 10 episodes

7.0
- no romance
- platonic/coworker focused
84. Hot Stove League

Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

9.5
- no romance
- maybe some subtext between female lead & second male lead
85. I Am Nobody

Chinese Drama - 2023, 27 episodes

8.0
- small romance sideplot
86. I Want to Die Alone

Japanese Drama - 2025, 6 episodes

7.5
- i'd say there was no romance in this drama it was more combating heteronormativity, amatonormativity, & gender roles than an actual love line/romantic sideplot
87. Ichiban Sukina Hana

Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

8.0
- minor romantic subplots that are mostly unrequited, the main focus is platonic
88. Ima kara Anata wo Kyouhaku Shimasu

Japanese Drama - 2017, 9 episodes

6.5
- mostly romantic subtext with a minor romance in flashbacks
89. Informa

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

8.5
- minor romance sideplot
90. Informa: Yami wo Ikiru Kemonotachi

Japanese Drama - 2024, 8 episodes

8.0
- romance subplot, that was kinda unrequited or they tried to imply that it was until the last episode
- bromance focused
91. Insider

Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

7.5
- very minor romantic subtext
92. Invert: Jozuka Hisui Toujoshu

Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

7.0
- barely any romance unlike the prequel
93. Invisible

Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

8.0
- romantic subtext
94. Ishiko and Haneo: You're Suing Me?

Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

9.0
- romance sideplot but it doesn't have much of a focus because you kinda forget about it
95. Janus no Kagami

Japanese Drama - 2019, 8 episodes

7.5
- implied that shindo maybe has feelings for hiromi
- implied that tatsuya has feelings for yumi
- no romantic relationships
96. Joshi Kousei no Mudazukai

Japanese Drama - 2020, 7 episodes

6.5
- mentions of romance
- friendship focused
97. Joy of Life

Chinese Drama - 2019, 46 episodes

9.0
- romantic sideplot but so much happens in this drama it's kinda on the back burner for a lot of it, i do adore the main couple though don't get me wrong but the romance is definitely not the main focus of this drama it's more about political intrigue, family dynamics, and palace politics
98. Joy of Life Season 2

Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

9.0
- the same really as season 1, i feel like they spend more time apart in this season compared to the first one too
99. Justifiable Defense

Chinese Drama - 2025, 15 episodes

8.0
- no romance
100. Kanakana

Japanese Drama - 2022, 28 episodes

8.5
- main focus is familial and platonic
- romance sideplot that's mostly unrequited