True slow burn (WIP)

Romances where at least one party takes a long time to fall in love, and/or the leads do not end up together until shortly before the end of the series. 

BEWARE OF SPOILERS - if you don't want to know even broad notes on when the leads get together then don't read descriptions :) 

RSB Aug 2, 2025
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  • Love Like the Galaxy: Part 1

    1. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 1

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 27 episodes

    9.0

    FL is still not in love with ML by the end of the first season

  • The Princess and the Werewolf

    2. The Princess and the Werewolf

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes

    9.0

    FL takes a long long time to truly fall for the ML

  • The Secret Life of My Secretary

    3. The Secret Life of My Secretary

    Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

    9.0

    ML is slow to fall, and they don't get together until the very end

  • Confess Your Love

    4. Confess Your Love

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

    7.5

    Even though one (or both, if you squint) of the leads is in love from the start, they don't confess or get together until the final few episodes.

  • Lucky Romance

    5. Lucky Romance

    Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

    7.5

    FL really draws out the time between the ML confessing and her accepting his feelings

  • Reply 1988

    6. Reply 1988

    Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes

    9.5

    It takes until pretty much the last episode for the FL to make her feelings clear

  • Reply 1997

    7. Reply 1997

    Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes

    9.0

    Similar to Reply 1988, the FL doesn't reveal her feelings until the end, mostly because that's how this series builds suspense

  • My ID Is Gangnam Beauty

    8. My ID Is Gangnam Beauty

    Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes

    7.5

    both leads take their time

  • Promise Cinderella

    9. Promise Cinderella

    Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes

    8.0

    ML is quicker to fall than FL, he realizes a little past halfway, but the FL doesn't realize her feelings until very late

  • Story of Kunning Palace

    10. Story of Kunning Palace

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes

    10

    there's a lot going on besides romance and a lot of ML options so the FL doesn't choose or get together with any man for a while

  • Soundtrack #1

    11. Soundtrack #1

    Korean Drama - 2022, 4 episodes

    9.0

    It's a short series but within that range, the couple does not get together until the very end

  • Clean with Passion for Now

    12. Clean with Passion for Now

    Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes

    9.5

    There's a lot of ups and downs in this one, even after both leads have acknowledged to themselves that they're in love, they still don't admit it to each other for a while

  • Arsenal Military Academy

    13. Arsenal Military Academy

    Chinese Drama - 2019, 48 episodes

    Because the FL isn't aware that the ML knows her identity/gender, she doesn't consider romantic relationships an option until the last few episodes

  • My Unicorn Girl

    14. My Unicorn Girl

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes

    Kind of a similar situation to Arsenal Military Academy, FL and ML like each other but can't admit it due to stupid gender conventions

  • Cinderella and the Four Knights

    15. Cinderella and the Four Knights

    Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

    6.0

    don't get me started on these clowns

  • Moonlight

    16. Moonlight

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes

    7.0

    pretty classic slowburn

  • Who Rules the World

    17. Who Rules the World

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes

    9.5

    another case where there's a lot of other non-romance plot so the leads don't get aorund to sharing their feelings for some time

  • I'm Not a Robot

    18. I'm Not a Robot

    Korean Drama - 2017, 32 episodes

    4.5
  • Jealousy Incarnate

    19. Jealousy Incarnate

    Korean Drama - 2016, 24 episodes

    5.5

    basically just bc the ML is an ass

  • Crazy Love

    20. Crazy Love

    Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

    9.0

    it's mostly enemies until at the end its lovers

  • Love Better Than Immortality

    21. Love Better Than Immortality

    Chinese Drama - 2019, 40 episodes

    9.0

    ML falls quickly, FL falls very slowly

  • Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

    22. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

    Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

    10

    ML falls around halfway, FL falls slowly

  • The Bride of Habaek

    23. The Bride of Habaek

    Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    9.0
  • Meow, the Secret Boy

    24. Meow, the Secret Boy

    Korean Drama - 2020, 24 episodes

    7.0

    it's complicated

  • Legally Romance

    25. Legally Romance

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 33 episodes

    8.5

    it feels like slowburn though I can't remember whether they actually take a long time to get together

  • Go Ahead

    26. Go Ahead

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 46 episodes

    10

    slowburn for the FL, though the ML has been in love since childhood she does not see him that way until much much later

  • Assistant of Superstar

    27. Assistant of Superstar

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

    7.0

    ML falls fast ish, FL falls slow

  • Best Mistake

    28. Best Mistake

    Korean Drama - 2019, 15 episodes

    7.5

    no confessions until near the last episode iirc

  • Cunning Single Lady

    29. Cunning Single Lady

    Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes

    10
  • Falling into Your Smile

    30. Falling into Your Smile

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 31 episodes

    7.0
  • Lost Romance

    31. Lost Romance

    Taiwanese Drama - 2020, 20 episodes

    9.5

    especially for the ML

  • Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

    32. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

    Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes

    9.0
  • My First First Love

    33. My First First Love

    Korean Drama - 2019, 8 episodes

    8.0
  • Romance Is a Bonus Book

    34. Romance Is a Bonus Book

    Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

    8.5
  • The King's Affection

    35. The King's Affection

    Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes

    9.5

    ML falls first but takes his time and FL takes even longer

  • The Untamed

    36. The Untamed

    Chinese Drama - 2019, 50 episodes

    10
  • The Legends

    37. The Legends

    Chinese Drama - 2019, 56 episodes

    9.0
  • The Heirs

    38. The Heirs

    Korean Drama - 2013, 20 episodes

  • Lost You Forever

    39. Lost You Forever

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 39 episodes