AH

One or both sides of the main couple put the other person's safety / happiness / well-being first and are willing to do anything / risk their…

Historical dramas where the ML is not / does not become Emperor and is not a prince fighting for the throne. Also not a sect leader or equivalent…

The leads survive, are in a romantic relationship with each other, and are relatively happy at the end of the drama.

Three or more guys fall for / pursue the FL. 

At least one secondary character has feelings for one of the leads, but the lead is never torn / the leads' feelings for each other never waiver.…

The leads either fall asleep beside each other (or near each other with some kind of contact), or there's a scene after they sleep together. 

Both leads are smart, skilled and able to predict / calculate moves several steps ahead. When they work together to take on their enemies, they…

Romance dramas where the leads are highly competent and don't have any *significant* issues or flaws. The kind of people / couple that inspire…

Includes fantasy and early 21st century historical dramas. 

Dramas where both lead actors were "older" by dramaland standards (30+) at the time of filming. 

I'm a complete sucker for this dynamic. "Use me."

From very early on in the drama the ML or a secondary male love interest is unwaveringly loyal and devoted to the FL. The MC proves through…

Dramas with revenge plots or arcs.

In a romance drama, one lead uses their own body to shield the other lead from serious danger (e.g., an arrow, bullet, sword or knife slash…

ML or FL has a kid or kids from the beginning of the drama and / or is married or divorced from the start of the drama.

The ML or FL marries someone other than their true love and it's not a short ordeal that's quickly resolved. 

It occurs with surprising frequency in C dramas. 

The leads start out as rivals (or the leaders of rival groups), or simply dislike each other at first. They face-off, fight, compete, or exchange…

I've indicated "way before" where it's clear that the ML fell for the FL way before the FL falls for the ML. Where the ML falls for…

At least two guys fall for / pursue the FL.1 - The FL either has feelings for the SML first, or is torn between the ML and SML (and genuinely…

Romance dramas where at least one of the leads (but sometimes both of the leads) chooses to do something that carries a very high risk of death…

Some have a broader military theme. Some don't. There's often a lot of saluting or strategizing. 

A character dies (or disappears and is believed to have died) but comes back from the dead somehow. Includes reincarnations.

SPOILERS obviously.

The drama devotes a good amount of screen time to showing us just how much the ML loves his wife and its a joy to watch. 

The ML and FL get married before either of them is in love with the other person.

One or both of the leads hide their identity (secret cross dressing / vigilante / mission / non-human / etc.)

Amnesia or memory issues, blindness or vision issues, deafness or hearing issues, trauma / phobias or panic attacks, and paralysis or wheelchair…

Prepare to be frustrated. There might be some hand holding or hugs or a kiss on the cheek but these dramas have very limited skinship. Mostly…

Lead B does not want to stab Lead A. ZLH is involved one way or another.

Lead 1 tries to convince Lead 2 that Lead 1 never loved Lead 2 / was just using Lead 2. Usually done because Lead 1 is trying to protect Lead…

1 - Dramas primarily set in the first half of the 20th century2 - Dramas primarily set in the 1980s or 1990s (sometimes with a few scenes in…