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

246 Titles 52 Loves

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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. 17-sai no Teikoku

Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

7.0
- definitely an implied romance but it can be ignored
3. 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
4. 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
5. A League of Nobleman

Chinese Drama - 2023, 29 episodes

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

Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

7.0
- minor romance sideplots
7. 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)
8. Advent of an Aristocrat: Prince of Legend

Japanese Movie - 2020

8.5
- very minor romance
9. After School Doctor

Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

8.0
- no romance
10. Aogeba Toutoshi

Japanese Drama - 2016, 8 episodes

9.0
- platonic & mentor focused
- i don't remember there being any romance in this
11. 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
12. Aristocratic Birth: Prince of Legend

Japanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes

9.0
- no romance
13. Atom no Ko

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

Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

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

Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

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

Thai Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

8.5
- no romance
- platonic/familial focused
18. 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
19. 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
20. Bittersweet

Japanese Movie - 2016

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

Japanese Drama - 2023, 7 episodes

7.0
- barely any romance
22. Blind

Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

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

Korean Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

7.5
- romantic subtext
24. Bloodhounds

Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes

8.0
- minor romance (in flashbacks as it deals with the loss of a romantic partner)
26. Boss-dol Mart

Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

7.0
- small romance sideplots
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. Cheat

Japanese Drama - 2019, 10 episodes

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

Japanese Movie - 2019

8.5
- platonic focused
- maybe a very minor subtext towards a romance
32. 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
33. 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
34. CODE Japan: The Price of Wishes

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

7.5
- romantic subtext but kind of not really at the same time
36. 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
37. Connection

Korean Drama - 2024, 14 episodes

8.5
- romance sideplots
38. Cool Doji Danshi

Japanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2016, 10 episodes

8.5
- possible romantic subtext
40. Crosstail: Tantei Kyoushitsu

Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes

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

Korean Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

9.0
- bromance focused
- there might have been minor romantic subplots but i don't remember
42. 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
43. Da Capo Shimasen ka?

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

5.5
- aint no time for romance in this drama tbh
44. 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
45. Death Note NEW GENERATION

Japanese Drama - 2016, 3 episodes

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

Japanese Movie - 2016

8.0
- no romance if i remember correctly
47. dele

Japanese Drama - 2018, 8 episodes

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

Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

8.5
- maybe romantic subtext
49. 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
50. Divorce Attorney Shin

Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

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

Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

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

Korean Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

8.0
- minor romance sideplots
53. Dokgo Rewind

Korean Drama - 2018, 20 episodes

7.0
- bromance focused
54. 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
55. Dr. White

Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i remember
56. Dream

Korean Movie - 2023

9.0
- no romance
57. 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
58. 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
59. Eternal Brotherhood Season 2

Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

8.5
- no romance
- platonic focus
61. 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
62. Fighting for Love

Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

8.5
- romance sideplot
63. Fixer

Japanese Drama - 2023, 5 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2024, 5 episodes

7.0
- no romance
65. Gifted

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

8.0
- no romance
66. Gifted Season 2

Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

7.0
- no romance
67. Guardian of the Market

Japanese Drama - 2022, 11 episodes

6.0
- barely any romance & if there is it's guest couples
68. 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
69. 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
70. Heaven and Hell: Soul Exchange

Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes

9.0
- minor romantic subtext
71. 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
72. High&Low the Movie 2: End of Sky

Japanese Movie - 2017

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

Japanese Movie - 2017

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

Japanese Movie - 2016

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

Japanese Movie - 2016

7.0
- familial relationship is the main focus
- no romance if i remember correctly
76. 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
77. High&Low: The Worst

Japanese Movie - 2019

8.0
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance(?)
78. 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
79. High&Low: The Worst X

Japanese Movie - 2022

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

Japanese Drama - 2022, 6 episodes

8.0
- barely any romance compared to the first season
81. Hitotsubashi Kiriko no Hanzai Nikki

Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

7.0
- no romance from what i can remember
82. Hot Spot

Japanese Drama - 2025, 10 episodes

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

Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

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

Chinese Drama - 2023, 27 episodes

8.0
- small romance sideplot
85. 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
86. Ichiban Sukina Hana

Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2017, 9 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

8.5
- minor romance sideplot
89. 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
90. Insider

Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

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

Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes

7.0
- barely any romance unlike the prequel
92. Invisible

Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

8.0
- romantic subtext
93. 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
94. 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
95. Joshi Kousei no Mudazukai

Japanese Drama - 2020, 7 episodes

6.5
- mentions of romance
- friendship focused
96. 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
97. 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
98. Justifiable Defense

Chinese Drama - 2025, 15 episodes

8.0
- no romance
99. Kanakana

Japanese Drama - 2022, 28 episodes

8.5
- main focus is familial and platonic
- romance sideplot that's mostly unrequited
100. Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman

Japanese Drama - 2017, 12 episodes

7.0
- food focused
- i don't think i noticed any romance at all tbh