Recommendations

- King ML that's spoiled and aloof and very devoted to FL
- Tough as nails FL that are as scheming as ML (if not more)
- Angsty love story
- Palace and political intrigue (BH is more palace-intrigue while TPoB is more war-focused)
- Similar situations where one of the leads was screwed over by the family of the other.

Honestly... If you went into The Prisoner of Beauty and were disappointed by the bait-and-switch where it turned into a slapstick romcom, then definitely give Bloody Heart a try. BH really commits to the angsty romance and darker themes all throughout. It's also less draggy.

It tells the ten years of romance between Lu Qin Yang and Ling Yi Yao. They were desperate to be together, they struggled against the harsh reality, and after all was said and done, is the love that they have still the same? Have you ever loved someone so much that you'd do everything to be with them? Ten years ago, when he was just a poor student, Lu Qin Yang publicly confessed his feelings for Ling Yi Yao. From the school campus to society, Qin Yang would lay down his life to make Yi Yao happy. However, issues over money, housing, and their marriage become the true tests of their love for each other that have pushed them further and further apart. In their ten-year long-distance race, can they remember the promise they once engraved in their hearts when they said: "I want us to be together."

both stories are about the fl wanting ahouse of her own..
and houses are what brought our leads together~~

If you are a fan of couples who match each others freak, master manipulators, political warfare and elements of fantasy featuring killer face cards, you will love both dramas.

#obsession to the highest degree. You think Hua Yong is crazy? Meet Duan Zi Ang!

both are directed by the same director and produced by linmon productions. in both stories, the main couples gradually begin to understand each other better, finding comfort and warmth in one another as their relationship develops. their chemistry grows naturally, making the connection feel genuine and heartfelt.

Both couples meet during their university years, with one person being popular and the other being more reserved/introverted. Both relationships feature time jumps, obsessed MLs, misunderstanding tropes and workplace drama. Both have a 10/10 rewatch value.

The feelings the couple's story evoke is quite similar. They are both that good and I haven't found another drama that could be in league with these two.

Both Joy of Life and The Guardians of the Dafeng masterfully blend political intrigue, sharp wit, and unforgettable characters, making them standouts in the historical drama genre. Both feature intelligent, charismatic male leads — Fan Xian and Xu Qi’an — who navigate corrupt courts and dangerous hierarchies armed with brains, humor, and a knack for outsmarting those in power. Each story thrives on clever dialogue, layered worldbuilding, and that rare mix of intense political maneuvering and laugh-out-loud absurdity. You’ll find plenty of mystery-solving, moral dilemmas, and that satisfying “chess game” dynamic where every smile hides a strategy.

Where they differ lies in tone and emotional weight. Joy of Life leans darker and more cynical — it’s a biting reflection on how little human life matters in the pursuit of power, laced with tragedy beneath its humor. The Guardians of the Dafeng, on the other hand, keeps things lighter and more adventurous. It balances high-stakes politics with a playful energy, tight-knit teamwork, and bursts of comedy that make the heavy moments easier to bear. If Joy of Life makes you flinch and think, The Guardians of the Dafeng makes you grin and cheer — two sides of the same brilliant, politically charged coin.

- Both have smart, capable female leads who get caught up in mysteries.

- There’s romance mixed with danger — love and secrets at the same time.

- Each show has a crime/investigation angle (murders, hidden truths, etc.).

- Pretty period visuals — costumes, sets, all that ancient drama eye candy.

- Both leads end up working together to solve cases, even when they don’t fully trust each other.

- You’ll find emotional angst, slow-burn chemistry, and lots of twists.

- Similar vibe: justice, betrayal, and love in a historical setting.

Same setup. Fake marriage, house involved, feelings get messy. Very Because This Is My First Life coded.

both have force proximity tropes and marriages of convenience (both couples get married in order to live in an apartment)

ML has trauma in both

Follwing are the main similarities b/w these 2:

1. Same main actress – Both dramas have Jung So-min as the lead actress.

2. Romantic comedy style – Both are light, funny love stories with emotional and heartwarming moments.

3. Past heartbreak – In both, the main girl has faced a breakup or tough relationship before.

4. New beginnings – The main characters start over and try to rebuild their lives and love.

5. Family and friends matter – Both stories show how family ties, neighbors, and close friends affect their relationships.

Both are same in a sense:

1. Na Ah-Jeong is a struggling actress who only gets small background roles and dreams of making it big one day.

2. Lee Do-Han, her old friend, is a rich heir from a big company family called LJ Group.

3. Do-Han’s secret: he doesn’t want to get married and is hiding something personal about himself from his family.

4. To keep his secret and please his family, Do-Han asks Ah-Jeong to pretend to marry him — a fake marriage just for show.

5. Problem: Do-Han’s younger brother, Lee Ji-Han, finds out and tries to stop it because he doesn’t trust Ah-Jeong.

6. As Ah-Jeong continues the fake marriage, real feelings start to grow, hidden truths come out, and things get more complicated between everyone.

1. Both use the fake marriage / fake newlywed trope.

2. Both shows are rom-coms (romantic comedies).

3. In both, the main couple pretends to be married for a reason — not because they love each other at first.

4. Their fake marriage slowly turns real as they start to catch feelings.

5. Both stories show how this pretend relationship changes their jobs, lives, and emotions.

6. In Would You Marry Me?, they do it to win a prize (a luxury home).

7. In No Gain No Love, they do it for work reasons or social pressure.

Both are alike because both these dramas have:

1. Show marriage starting as a deal or practical choice, not a love story at first.

2. Talk about real-life relationship problems and how love grows slowly over time.

3. Question what marriage really means and how society expects people to live.

4. Have quiet, thoughtful male leads and strong, independent female leads.

5. Give off a soft, realistic vibe instead of using dramatic or cheesy romance moments.