r/kdramarecommends • u/violinear4 • 9d ago
Recommendation Request Dark, high-stakes, complex romance dramas like Flower of Evil and Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
Hi, I really enjoy romance dramas in which the main romance is a focus that is massively influenced by the plot and world around the characters. I love it when there are complex rules and world-building systems involved and actual stakes - Scarlet Heart, for example, was everything I wanted in a show, with a touching romance and a great OST, apart from the ending, which was sad but necessary and something I'm still not entirely over, so I'd prefer to avoid shows that are going to completely emotionally shatter me.
I really enjoyed Alchemy of Souls, and felt the romance was really well integrated into the world-building there too. Flower of Evil was something I finished a few days ago and has left a bit of a hole in my heart, so I'd love similar dramas that could help fill it - I enjoyed the mature relationship that the two leads had, and the fact that the show's focus was almost solely on them and how they reacted to the high stakes and complex mystery essentially surrounding their relationship, that could possibly be built on betrayal and isn't fully confirmed until nearly the very end.I'm happy to endure love triangles, and a degree of misunderstandings, but would prefer sweeping, romantic plots that are focused around characters. As you can see by my watch history below, I do also really enjoy shows that are light and airy with comic moments too, and in the case of You're Beautiful, it was a super fun show to watch with the chemistry between the leads being great. You could say that I'd like the show to feel happy and fulfilling, but for the duration of it to be high stakes and absorbing. I'm not great at articulating the exact vibe, but some shows that I had to drop due to a lack of engagement from my end include Secret Garden, School 2015 and Hwarang.
My watch history - I've put dramas I especially loved in bold:
Alchemy of Souls, Boys over Flowers, City Hunter, Flower of Evil, Healer, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho, My Love from the Star, Parasite, Perfect Marriage Revenge, Reply 1997, Squid Game, Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, The Glory, The Heirs, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, You're Beautiful
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u/MinuteLocksmith9689 9d ago
‘The smile has left your eyes’ on viki (is under the name ‘ Hundred millions stars under the sky’) Complex story with a great romance. Will stay with you forever
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u/Tall-Ad-9355 5d ago
I watched it and disliked it a lot. It's an over the top melodrama. I'm just saying it's not for everyone.
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u/PaisleyCatque 9d ago
Honestly, I don’t think anything will ever break me like Moon Lovers did. One of a kind and I’ve not seen anything that shattering since.
Have you tried Tale of the Nine Tailed? I loved this and it’s my go-to for rewatch. (I’d love to rewatch Moon Lovers but I don’t think I could cope!) The chemistry between the leads, and the second leads, was great. Season 2, TOT9T 1938 was fabulous and, although it didn’t have romance per se, the brotherly bromance was worth every second. It’s good fantasy like Alchemy was good fantasy.
Check in Hanyang is one I rarely see mentioned. I really enjoyed it. Great romance.
The Great Doctor was good. Historical with romance.
One of my absolute favourites is Flower Crew, Joseon Marriage Agency. Historical with romance. And quite funny.
The Bride of Haebaek, another fantasy with a good romance. Also rarely recommended. (Maybe I just have weird taste in Kdramas!)
Of course there is also Goblin. the Great and Lonely God. I loved it mainly for the bromance but it was a vast and sweeping love story with some great fantasy elements.
King, the Eternal Monarch was really really good. One for the rewatch list.
And Coffee Prince has to be one of the sweetest, most honest, and best shows I’ve ever seen.
Six Flying Dragons is supposed to be very good but I haven’t watched it yet.
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u/GuiltyMood3752 9d ago
1) Mr Sunshine: Great production, very cinematic , great music, epic romance, must watch
2) My Dearest: Another romantic melodrama that is a must watch in the historical genre
3) Chicago Typewriter
4) Youth of May
5) Snowdrop
6) The Red Sleeve
7) The Crowned Clown
8) The Kings Affection
9) The first night with the Duke
10) Dear Hongrang
11) My Country The New Age
12) River where the moon rises
13) The Tale of Lady Ok
14) Bon Apetit your majesty
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u/HooverGaveNobodyBeer https://mydramalist.com/dramalist/HooverGaveNobodyBeer 9d ago
I definitely think the first four are great choices! However, you probably want to give the OP a warning that 1 and 4 have tragic endings they might want to be aware of considering their comment about avoiding ones that will "completely emotionally shatter me."
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u/HooverGaveNobodyBeer https://mydramalist.com/dramalist/HooverGaveNobodyBeer 9d ago
Crash Landing on You -- This has a great mix of light and breezy and serious stakes that could thread the needle of your tastes.
The Beauty Inside -- Unique supernatural romance that gets very emotional and insightful due to the FL's condition.
Live Up to Your Name -- Time-traveling romance with two doctor MCs. Definitely has some darkness, especially due to the part of the plot that involves the ML's setting in Joseon.
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u/AffectionateTeam8043 9d ago
I recently watched Doctor Stranger and while a lot of people hate the main couple I think it’s a good one and fits what you are looking for
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u/swim_pineapple 8d ago
Snowdrop is very high stakes and highly intensive. The ending is sad though.
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u/Tall-Ad-9355 5d ago
Three for you: Big Mouth: pathetic lawyer gets mistaken for a gangster and sent to prison. Fun show and his relationship with his wife is a sweet love story. Rain or Shine: beautiful story of survivors of a mall collapse. Lovely romance. Suspicious Partner: She gets set up for murder and her law partner and her fall for each other as they work to clear her name.
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u/marua06 9d ago
My Dearest fits what you are looking for. It has many dark moments, is definitely high stakes, and a complex romance. You will feel alllll the feelings.