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
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101. Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman
Japanese Drama - 2017, 12 episodes
- food focused
- i don't think i noticed any romance at all tbh
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102. Kashimashi Meshi
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
- romantic sideplots but the main focus is the friendship
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103. Kazama Kimichika: Kyojo Zero
Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
- no romance from what i remember
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104. Keiji to Kenji, Tokidoki Hanji
Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes
- minor romantic sideplots that either are unrequited or are from guest characters
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105. Keishicho Outsider
Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes
- bromance focused
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106. Kichijoji Losers
Japanese Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
- minor romantic subplots that last really one ep or half an ep but overall there's not much
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107. Kingdom
Korean Drama - 2019, 6 episodes
- barely any romance
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108. Kiriko's Crime Diary
Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes
- no romance from what i can remember
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109. Kiwadoi Futari: K2 - Ikebukurosho Keijika Kanzaki Kuroki
Japanese Drama - 2020, 6 episodes
- no romance
- family focus
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110. Knockin' on Locked Door
Japanese Drama - 2023, 9 episodes
- no romance
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111. Law School
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
- minor romance
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112. Legend of Zang Hai
Chinese Drama - 2025, 40 episodes
- no romance from what i remember
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113. Liaison: Kodomo no Kokoro Shinryosho
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
- no romance
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114. Light of My Lion
Japanese Drama - 2024, 11 episodes
- familial focused
- no romance
- maybe implied unrequited romance between one of the female characters & the ML but it can be ignored
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115. Link Click
Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes
- no romance
- bromance focused
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116. Live Surgery Room
Chinese Drama - 2024, 28 episodes
- no romance, a minor romantic subplot which is mostly unrequited and very minor i mostly was able to ignore it
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117. Maestra: Strings of Truth
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
- barely any romance it's revenge focused so there aint no time for that
- 2ML(? not the FL's husband her childhood ex) definitely has feelings for the FL tho
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118. Malice
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
- no romance
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119. Mars: Zero no Kakumei
Japanese Drama - 2024, 9 episodes
- no romance from what i remember if there was some i didn't catch on
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120. Miraculous Brothers
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
- no romance
- bromance focused
- ehhh could be a very very minor subplot of romance if you squint between side characters
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121. MIU 404
Japanese Drama - 2020, 11 episodes
- barely any romance just mentions here and there
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122. Mob Psycho 100
Japanese Drama - 2018, 12 episodes
- i'm pretty sure there's no romance in this but it's been so long since i watched it ngl or if there is it's only hints to romance
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123. Mobius
Chinese Drama - 2025, 16 episodes
- little romance, mostly more obvious nearer the end of the series and a side couple plot
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124. Move to Heaven
Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
- minor romance between support characters
- minor mentions of potential future romance between some main characters
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125. Mr. Hiiragi's Homeroom
Japanese Drama - 2019, 10 episodes
- very minor background romances that can be ignored
- more student/mentor & platonic focused dynamics
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126. Muscle Grandpa
Korean Movie - 2021
- no romance
- familial focus (grandpa & grandson)
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127. My Name
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
- romantic sideplot that really only surfaces in episode 8 it can be viewed as platonic before this episode
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128. Mysterious Lotus Casebook
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
- romantic sideplot which is minor that you can ignore
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129. Nanba MG5
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- there is a romantic sideplot that does have a somewhat major role to the drama but i think the platonic bonds & familal bonds are stronger in this and you can view the romantic sideplot as platonic
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130. Nao-chan wa Shogakusannensei
Japanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
- friendship focused
- it's a show about kids so that's why
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131. Navillera
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
- minor romance
- student/mentor & familial focus
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132. Neko Bukken
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- no romance up until ep 7 where ep 7 focuses on a romantic subplot
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133. New Nobunaga Chronicle: High School Is a Battlefield
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- i'd say there's no romance or if there is it's more subtext than anything else
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134. Night Doctor
Japanese Drama - 2021, 11 episodes
- hints to romance & minor romantic side plots
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135. No Activity: Honjitsu mo Ijou Nashi
Japanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
- no romance
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136. No Direction Home
Japanese Movie - 2023
- bromance focused
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137. Nursing Aide at Your Side
Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes
- minor romance sideplot
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138. Nusumareta Kao: Miatari Sosahan
Japanese Drama - 2019, 5 episodes
- no romance i think or if there is it's really minor
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139. Oh My Ghost Clients
Korean Drama - 2025, 10 episodes
- romance sideplots
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140. Oh No! Here Comes Trouble
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
- romantic subtext
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141. One Dollar Lawyer
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
- there's barely any romance except in episodes 7-8 which are flashbacks
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142. Only You
Korean Drama - 2022, 2 episodes
- no romance
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143. Oretachi wa Abunakunai ~ Cool ni Saboru Keijitachi
Japanese Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
- platonic focus
- mentions of romance of side characters
- main character gets hit on by another character's wife
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144. Our Kogen Hotel
Japanese Movie - 2013
- i'm pretty sure there's no romance in this it's more about the hotel & the dynamic is platonic
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145. Over Drive
Japanese Movie - 2018
- no romance i think
- possibly there could've been romantic subtext but if there was i didn't see it
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146. Panda Judges the World
Japanese Drama - 2020, 10 episodes
- little/minor romance
- to me the romance(s) felt very one sided
- honestly the romance in this drama can be easily ignored
- the little romance there is doesn't really add to the plot
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147. Pandora's Fruit
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- other than prev relationship between husband & wife that's mentioned/referenced there's barely any romance
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148. Peaceful Property
Thai Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
- minor romance only as the sideplots related to the ghosts
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149. Phantom School
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
- mostly just implied/subtext but barely any other than unrequited
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150. PICU: Shoni Shuchu Chiryo Shitsu
Japanese Drama - 2022, 11 episodes
- no romance from what i remember
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151. Pledge of Allegiance
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
- bromance focus
- romantic sideplots that you can ignore (i felt nothing for them)
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152. Police in a Pod
Japanese Drama - 2021, 9 episodes
- little romance (characters go on mixers/dates but never really lead anywhere)
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153. Project S: SPIKE
Thai Drama - 2017, 8 episodes
- friendship/team focused
- minor unrequited love storyline
- mentions of a past relationship of side characters
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154. Rebooting
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- friendship focused
- very minor romantic sideplot near the beginning / mentions of an old crush/relationship
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155. Remember You
Thai Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
- slow burn romance as a side plot
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156. Reversal Orchestra
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- romance sideplots but the main focus is the orchestra
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157. Rinsho Hanzai Gakusha Himura Hideo no Suiri Special
Japanese Special - 2019, 1 episode
- romance mention between side characters
- romantic subtext
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158. Rinsho Hanzai Gakusha Himura Hideo no Suiri: Another Story
Japanese Special - 2016, 3 episodes
- possible romantic subtext
- romance mention between side characters
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159. Road to High&Low
Japanese Movie - 2016
- platonic relationships are the main focus
- minor mentions of a romance
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160. Rokuhodo Colorful Days
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- very minor romantic sideplot
- platonic & familial focused
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161. Romance on the Farm
Chinese Drama - 2023, 26 episodes
- don't let the title fool you the romance in this drama is a sideplot and it doesn't get that much screen time compared to literally everything else
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162. Running Like a Shooting Star
Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes
- no romance
- bromance focused
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163. Sagideka
Japanese Drama - 2019, 5 episodes
- no romance
- maybe lowkey hints towards romance but not really
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164. Saitama Host Club
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
- minor romantic sideplot that doesn't really go anywhere
- more platonic & boss/employee focused
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165. Sayonara Maestro: Chichi to Watashi no Appassionato
Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes
- minor romantic subplots but the main focus is familial & music
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166. Sekai Wa 3 de Dekite iru
Japanese Drama - 2020, 1 episode
- mentions of a romance but that's it
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167. Sennyuu Sousa Idol Deka Dance
Japanese Drama - 2016, 12 episodes
- friendship focused
- minor references to romance / relationships
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168. Sensei no Otoriyose
Japanese Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
- definitely romantic subtext and mentions of romance/crushes but there is none
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169. Sensei wo Kesu Houteishiki
Japanese Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
let me explain why I put this in here because there IS a main romance in this:
- the life lessons taught by the teacher to his students is the main focus for majority of the drama
- the kids try and kill him so many times you forget that he's there for a purpose (revenge)
- it's so batshit crazy you kinda forget that there's a romance plot among it
- the lover is unconscious 95% of the series so you really only see the romance in flashbacks, in brief mentions, and really the last episode
- what i'm saying is you could replace the lover with a family member or a friend and still get the exact same drama out of it
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170. Seoul Busters
Korean Drama - 2024, 20 episodes
- minor romantic sideplots
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171. Sherlock: The Untold Stories
Japanese Drama - 2019, 11 episodes
- very little romance side storylines that have very little relevance on the overall plot
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172. Shimobee
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
- minor romance
- main focus is on a familial relationship
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173. Shinhannin Flag 2
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
- romance side plots
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174. Shotengai no Pianist
Japanese Drama - 2022, 13 episodes
- this drama is tagged with romance but i literally barely saw any
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175. Sign
Japanese Drama - 2019, 9 episodes
- there's barely any romance in this
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176. Solo Camping for Two
Japanese Drama - 2025, 8 episodes
- no romance
- platonic focused
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177. Squid Game
Korean Drama - 2021, 9 episodes
- it's a death game there's no time for romance
- i guess you could say there's a very minor romance subplot but it's easily ignorable because of the death game
- idk if you could really class it as a romance more of a "we're gonna die so let's fuck" side plot
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178. Squid Game Season 2
Korean Drama - 2024, 7 episodes
- we aint got time for that
- minor hints/mentions of a past relationship between two of the main characters (myeonggi & junhui) & minor flirting from thanos
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179. Squid Game Season 3
Korean Drama - 2025, 6 episodes
- no romance
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180. Stand by Me
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
- no romance from what i remember
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181. Stand Up Start
Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
- really no romance other than i think side plots related to guest characters
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182. Stealer: The Treasure Keeper
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
- i think they tried for romantic subtext but i wasn't feeling it
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183. Strange Tales of Jiang Cheng
Chinese Drama - 2024, 52 episodes
- no romance from what i remember or if there was i didn't notice it, it's more bromance & platonic focused
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184. Sugarless
Japanese Drama - 2012, 12 episodes
- the romance was really minor if i remember correctly
- more platonic focused
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185. Sweet Home
Korean Drama - 2020, 10 episodes
- romantic subtext / hints to romance
- they removed the main romance from the webtoon between hyun/jisu and tried to imply hyun/eunyu for some reason (i'm still mad about it)
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186. Sword and Fairy 4
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
- romance sideplots that do get a bit of focus from time to time but the main relationship that has the focus are the platonic, familial, student/master relationships
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187. Sword Snow Stride
Chinese Drama - 2021, 38 episodes
- definitely romantic subtext & minor romantic subplot but to me it comes off as a sibling bond more than anything romantic
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188. Tang Dynasty Unusual News Record
Chinese Drama - 2024, 20 episodes
- minor romance mentions in cases the leads explore
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189. Tax Solver
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- no romance
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190. Taxi Driver
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
- very minor romantic subtext
- unrequited love of minor side character in one episode
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191. Taxi Driver Season 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
- i feel like they were hinting at a romance sideplot but it felt brother/sisterly to me
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192. Teen Regime
Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes
- definitely an implied romance but it can be ignored
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193. Tengu's Kitchen
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
- no romance
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194. Tenshoku no Mao-sama
Japanese Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
- kinda implied romance but it's so minor that you could see it platonically
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195. The Aromantics
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
- no romance as it focuses on two aromantic characters who don't want romantic relationships
- though it does touch upon past romantic relationships & romantic relationships in general in regards to combating amatonormativity
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196. The Bionic Life
Chinese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
- subtle romantic sideplot that you can honestly just view platonically if you wanted
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197. The Blood of Youth
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
- romantic sideplots that can be ignored
- platonic focus
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198. The Embers
Chinese Drama - 2025, 28 episodes
- romance sideplot (2ML mostly)
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199. The Forensic Examiner Song Ci
Chinese Drama - 2023, 25 episodes
- no romance
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200. The Good Bad Mother
Korean Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
- romantic sideplot but the main focus is the mother/son bond & revenge



































































































