▸ Trope: fake it till you make it

dramas I have watched/tried (or planning to) with marriage/dating of convenience tropes:

contract/pretend dating/marriages: usually an arrangement entered by both leads for anything but romance
arranged/forced/accidental marriages: usually happening against the intention - or without knowledge - of both or either one of the leads
substitute bride: a very special subtrope of arranged marriage - in which the marriage was intended but a wrong person was introduced/mistaken for the bride
marriage romance: in particular ones we're shown the leads already married to each other for any reason but romantic love - the romance develops only in their marriage life

by extension, it also includes:

forced living arrangement or cohabitation when leads are forced or decides to live together out of necessity, with romance as an end point of their relationship

off-MDL:

Siyah Beyaz Aşk (Turkish drama): forced marriage
过江新娘 My Star Bride (SG drama): pretend marriage / A+

I will also attempt to grade how good each drama is for their tropes (not necessarily the show on the whole).

P/S: PLEASE BE REMINDED THAT THIS IS ONLY A PERSONAL LIST.

Rin Dec 13, 2016

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1. Inborn Pair

Taiwanese Drama - 2011, 84 episodes

8.5

arranged marriage
(Grade: A+)
2. You're My Destiny

Taiwanese Drama - 2008, 24 episodes

7.5

forced marriage
(Grade: A+)
3. Marriage, Not Dating

Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes

8.0

fake dating
(Grade: A+)
4. Perfect Couple

Chinese Drama - 2014, 45 episodes

7.0

substitute bride
(Grade: A+)
5. Lie to Me

Korean Drama - 2011, 16 episodes

8.0

fake dating
(Grade: A+)
6. Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo

Japanese Drama - 2013, 16 episodes

9.0

forced living arrangement
(Grade: A+)
7. Drunken to Love You

Taiwanese Drama - 2011, 30 episodes

7.5

accidental marriage
(Grade: A+)
8. Full House

Thai Drama - 2014, 20 episodes

7.5

forced living arrangement + contract marriage
(Grade: A+)
9. On the Wings of Love

Filipino Drama - 2015, 145 episodes

7.0

contract marriage + cohabitation
(Grade: A+)
10. Chef Fang

Chinese Drama - 2017, 36 episodes

8.0

substitute bride
(Grade: A+)
11. Wars of In-Laws

Hong Kong Drama - 2005, 20 episodes

7.5

substitute bride
bonus: identity porn!!
(Grade: A+)
12. Go Princess, Go!

Chinese Drama - 2015, 35 episodes

7.5

marriage romance
(Grade: A-)
13. Something about 1 Percent

Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

5.0

arranged marriage/contract dating
(Grade: A-)
14. Good Morning Call

Japanese Drama - 2016, 17 episodes

5.0

forced living arrangement
(Grade: A)
15. Kiss Me

Thai Drama - 2015, 20 episodes

6.0

forced living arrangement
(Grade: B)
16. Master Devil Do Not Kiss Me

Chinese Drama - 2017, 23 episodes

5.0

forced living arrangement
(Grade: B)
17. Princess Hours

Korean Drama - 2006, 24 episodes

1.5

arranged marriage
(Grade: C)
18. You Are My Destiny

Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes

6.0

accidental pregnancy + forced marriage
(Grade: A)
19. Pride

Japanese Drama - 2004, 11 episodes

6.0

fake dating
(Grade: B)
20. The Fox's Summer

Chinese Drama - 2017, 21 episodes

7.5

cohabitation
(Grade: A)
21. Please Love Me

Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes

8.0

pretend marriage
(Grade: A+)
22. Wrong Carriage, Right Groom

Chinese Drama - 2001, 20 episodes

8.5

substitute bride
(Grade: A+)
23. Paen Rai Long Tai Wa Rak

Thai Drama - 2017, 30 episodes

7.5

accidental marriage
(Grade: A+)
24. Please Love Me!

Japanese Drama - 2016, 10 episodes

10

cohabitation
(Grade: A+)
25. The Eternal Love

Chinese Drama - 2017, 24 episodes

7.5

marriage romance
(Grade: A)
26. Oum Ruk

Thai Drama - 2006, 14 episodes

7.0

fake marriage
(Grade: A)
27. It Started with a Kiss

Taiwanese Drama - 2005, 20 episodes

forced living arrangement
(Grade: A+)
28. Surgeons

Chinese Drama - 2017, 44 episodes

6.5

cohabitation
(Grade: B)
29. Gochisosan

Japanese Drama - 2013, 150 episodes

9.5

cohabitation
(Grade: A)
30. Shooting Star

Japanese Drama - 2010, 10 episodes

6.0

contract marriage
(Grade: C)
31. My Amazing Boyfriend

Chinese Drama - 2016, 28 episodes

7.5

cohabitation
(Grade: B+)
32. Zettai Kareshi

Japanese Drama - 2008, 11 episodes

8.5

cohabitation
(Grade: A-)
33. Tawipob

Thai Drama - 2011, 17 episodes

10

forced living arrangement
(Grade: A+)
34. Because This Is My First Life

Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

8.5

cohabitation + contract marriage
(Grade: A+)
35. Piang Chai Khon Nee Mai Chai Poo Wised

Thai Drama - 2016, 15 episodes

8.5

contract marriage
(Grade: A+)
36. Padiwaradda

Thai Drama - 2016, 14 episodes

7.5

substitute bride
(Grade: A+)
37. Koo Gum

Thai Drama - 2004, 16 episodes

8.5

arranged marriage
(Grade: A+)
38. Koo Gum

Thai Drama - 2013, 24 episodes

8.0

arranged marriage
(Grade: A+)
39. Warden of the Sky

Thai Drama - 2017, 10 episodes

2.5

pretend marriage
(Grade: F)
40. Love Destiny

Thai Drama - 2018, 15 episodes

9.0

cohabitation + arranged marriage
(Grade: A-)
41. You're My Destiny

Thai Drama - 2017, 17 episodes

6.0

forced marriage
(Grade: A)
42. Khun Chai Ratchanon

Thai Drama - 2013, 11 episodes

8.0

arranged marriage
(Grade: A+)
43. Khun Chai Pudhiphat

Thai Drama - 2013, 10 episodes

6.5

pretend marriage
(Grade: B)
44. Like in the Movies

Filipino Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

8.5

fake dating + forced living arrangement
(Grade: A+)
45. How Long Will I Love U

Chinese Movie - 2018

7.5

forced living arrangement
(Grade: B)
46. Can't Help Falling in Love

Filipino Movie - 2017

8.5

accidental marriage
(Grade: A+)
47. Go Go Squid!

Chinese Drama - 2019, 41 episodes

7.0

fake dating
(Grade: A-)
48. My Neighbour Can't Sleep

Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes

7.0

forced living arrangement
(Grade: A-)
49. Pope Rak

Thai Drama - 2014, 12 episodes

7.5

forced living arrangement (well technically they're physically bound to each other)
(Grade: A+)
50. The Story of Souls from Endless Books

Chinese Drama - 2018, 20 episodes

8.0

marriage romance (kinda)
(Grade: A-)
51. 2gether

Thai Drama - 2020, 13 episodes

6.5

fake dating
(Grade: A)
52. You Are My Destiny

Chinese Drama - 2020, 36 episodes

7.0

forced marriage
(Grade: A-)
53. Love and Deception

Thai Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

8.0

forced marriage
(Grade: A+)
54. Rahut Rissaya

Thai Drama - 2020, 17 episodes

7.5

forced marriage + forced living arrangement
(Grade: B+)
the pairing's appeal was more in its hurt/comfort!
55. The Sword and the Brocade

Chinese Drama - 2021, 45 episodes

7.5

arranged marriage
(Grade: A+)
56. The Trick of Life and Love

Chinese Drama - 2021, 32 episodes

7.0

fake dating + cohabitation
(Grade: A)
57. Love between Fairy and Devil

Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes

7.0

forced living arrangement
(Grade: A-)
58. New Life Begins

Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes

7.5

arranged marriage
(Grade: B+)
59. Kissing the Ring Finger

Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

7.0

contract marriage
(Grade: A-)
60. Exploration Method of Love

Chinese Drama - 2023, 22 episodes

6.5

fake dating
(pretty much substitute bride but make it modern fake dating)
(Grade: A-)
61. Have a Crush on You

Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes

8.5

marriage romance
(Grade: A++)
62. Hi Venus

Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

8.0

fake dating (the story is not built on it though still good!)
(Grade: A)
63. Endless Love

Chinese Drama - 2004, 35 episodes

9.0

forced living arrangement (well you can't say it isn't......)
(Grade: A+)
64. Addicted

Chinese Drama - 2016, 15 episodes

7.5

cohabitation
(Grade: A+)
65. The Glory

Chinese Drama - 2025, 30 episodes

8.0

contract marriage
Grade: A+
66. Game of Succession

Thai Drama - 2025, 20 episodes

6.5

pretend marriage
(Grade: B+)
67. Husband in Disguise

Thai Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

6.5

contract marriage (Piang Chai Kon Nee is a way better adaptation!)
(Grade: B)
68. To My Star

Korean Drama - 2021, 9 episodes

7.0

cohabitation
(Grade: A-)
69. Are You the One

Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes

6.0

marriage romance
(Grade: A. only for the first 10 episodes.)
70. The Love Proposal

Thai Drama - 2022, 15 episodes

6.5

forced living arrangement (there's contract marriage but not between the leads :))
(Grade: B+)
71. The Starry Love

Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes

6.5

substitute bride
(Grade: C)
72. Business Proposal

Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

5.5

fake dating
(Grade: D)
73. Stupid Cupid

Thai Drama - 2015, 12 episodes

4.0

arranged marriage
(Grade: F)
74. Lovely Swords Girl

Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes

3.0

marriage romance
(Grade: C)
75. Siege in Fog

Chinese Drama - 2018, 50 episodes

marriage romance
76. Manee Yard Fah

Thai Drama - 2000, 13 episodes

pretend marriage
(PTW)
77. Wanida

Thai Drama - 2010, 16 episodes

arranged marriage
(PTW)
78. Sapai Glai Peun Tiang

Thai Drama - 2009, 13 episodes

fake marriage
(PTW)
79. Lom Son Rak

Thai Drama - 2015, 14 episodes

fake marriage
(PTW)
80. The Full-Time Wife Escapist

Japanese Drama - 2016, 11 episodes

contract marriage
(PTW)
81. My Secret Bride

Thai Drama - 2019, 18 episodes

pretend marriage
(PTW)
82. Peace Hotel

Chinese Drama - 2018, 38 episodes

7.0

pretend marriage
(Status: dropped at 15/38)
83. Hotaru no Hikari

Japanese Drama - 2007, 10 episodes

forced living arrangement
(Status: Dropped)
84. Hapimari: Happy Marriage!?

Japanese Drama - 2016, 12 episodes

arranged marriage
(Status: Dropped at 3/12)
would recommend to read the manga instead! A+ for arranged marriage feels
85. Oh My General

Chinese Drama - 2017, 60 episodes

arranged marriage
(Status: Dropped at 17/60)
86. Well-Intended Love

Chinese Drama - 2019, 20 episodes

5.0

contract marriage
(Status: Dropped at 12/20)
87. Begin Again

Chinese Drama - 2020, 35 episodes

4.0

contract marriage
(Status: Dropped at 2/35)
88. Perfect and Casual

Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes

contract marriage
(Status: Dropped at 2/24)
89. She Is the One

Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes

substitute bride
(Status: Dropped at 2/24)
90. Unforgettable Love

Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes

fake marriage
(Status: Dropped at 4/24)
91. My Husband in Law

Thai Drama - 2020, 15 episodes

contract marriage
(Status: Dropped)
92. Sapai Import

Thai Drama - 2020, 17 episodes

contract marriage
(Status: Dropped)
93. Khing Kor Rar Khar Kor Rang

Thai Drama - 2019, 34 episodes

arranged marriage
(Status: Dropped)
94. Khun Mae Suam Roy

Thai Drama - 2018, 31 episodes

forced marriage
(Status: Dropped)
95. Suparburoot Jorm Jon: Maturot Lohgan

Thai Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

forced marriage
(Status: Dropped)
96. Flash Marriage

Thai Drama - 2022, 17 episodes

contract marriage
(Status: Dropped)
97. Till the End of the Moon

Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes

arranged marriage
(Status: Dropped)
98. The Prisoner of Beauty

Chinese Drama - 2025, 36 episodes

arranged marriage
(Status: Dropped)
99. Feud

Chinese Drama - 2025, 32 episodes

6.5

marriage romance (only in the first arc. extremely similar vibes as Have a Crush on You which I love...)