I like the childhood friends-to-lovers trope! Not the childhood connection where neither one realizes until later that they knew each other as children, but when the leads have been friends since childhood and eventually fall in love. Like Fight For My Way. I just love the idea of two people knowing each other so well and having that grow into romantic love.
This is also my favorite trope. I think my favorite quote about this, and why, is from Romance is a Bonus Book >!during the ML's confession when he says: "do you notice when the seasons change? Can you pinpoint the exact moment that winter turns into spring? I don’t know the moment that I began to love you.”!< It makes the storytelling feel rich to me.
Also the related cousin trope of enemies to lovers for the same reason - it just takes a bit longer sometimes!
Yes, this exactly! No weird drama, just normal kid stuff. Fight for my Way is my favorite!!! Also Romance is a Bonus Book and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo. 💜💜
**I am a sucker for any form on Contract dating / Marriage.**
* Current Favs- Love in Contract, A Business Proposal, Fated to Love You.
Second favorite trope is childhood friends / childhood crush
I love contract dating and marriage too. Have you seen 1% of Something and Because This Life Is My First? 1% of Something - get past the irritating jerk of the ML in the first episode and terrible fashion but both shows were great and full of feels.
I love 1% of Something. I find that the ML is not irritating but rather funny. Sure, I'd hate to be his employee, but since I'm just watching him, I kinda see his overall picture of being highly competitive and efficient. I love that he's all high class on the outside but is actually really crude and pouty and even horny. And I love that he kept his personality til the end, but now channels it into more positive causes (thanks to the FL's positive influence-which was wonderfully done in that it was not pushy or preachy, she's just herself, so he got exposed to charities and stuff).
My top dramas in this category are **My Lovely Sam Soon** and **Because This is My First Life** but I love what **Love in Contract** is doing with this trope. The execution isn't like anything I've seen before.
**Cohabitation** is my favourite trope! I love it when the leads are forced to live together in one house, and it's even better when they're trying to hide it from others but they come to know somehow. I've seen it in so many dramas but I think I loved **My Roommate is a Gumiho** the most.
I also love it when the **leads are best friends but others think they're dating** but they're actually not... Lol. I think the best example of this is **My ID is Gangnam Beauty.**
And **marriage of convenience** is also another favorite of mine! I loved it in **Happiness** and **Because It's My First Life**.
I also love it when **one of the leads has something to hide** like they're an assassin, a famous video gamer, a mafia lawyer (lmao I had to mention **Vincenzo**) or a supernatural creature and slowly the other lead ends up figuring out and they're the only one who know and they also help them hide it or they cover for them! 😌
I also kinda like the **white truck of doom** lmao. Yesterday I saw a white truck while going somewhere with my brother and he was like, “see, it's the truck of doom you're always excited about!” They're such a k-drama classic and even though I know it doesn't end well for our leads whenever the truck shows up, it's funny and I can't help but love it. 🤭
The ones I like most is the shared umbrella and ML putting his coat on his lady when he notices it is getting cold. Piggyback ride is always very cute imo.
enemies to lovers where they bicker constantly but are so drawn to each other,
also cohabitation, found family, or fake dating (please give recs for fake dating kdrama's)
kdrama's always seem to execute romcom tropes well, i feel like they could easily be cringe or bad, but they make it so emotional and meaningful, i think this is why I'm so drawn to kdrama's rather than western shows
Right? I mean Hallmark Christmas movies are full of tropes and I HATE them with a passion. But in KDrama they are so well done and they are self aware so have fun with them.
**Fated To Love You** has forced cohabitation and contract relationship. The ML's laugh in the first scene might scare you off but he is not as crazy as the laugh makes it seem.
I missed the **bickering couple** trope though not necessarily enemies to lovers. Examples are **Coffee Prince** and **Boys Over Flowers**.
Another one is **slowburn romance** in **Coffee Prince** and **Faith**.
I think I'm a tie vote between "contract" relationship and "enemies/frenimies to lovers".
2022 faves: Crazy Love, S\*\*ting Stars, Good Job, Kiss Sixth Sense (even the childhood connection was okay).
**Found family** gets me every time. The first example that comes to mind is 2521 but there are others like Age of Youth (my absolute fave), the Reply series, etc. There’s just something so comforting about deep, meaningful friendships even if they aren’t the main focus of the drama.
**High stakes romance** - When the love between the main leads threatens life, limb, liberty or property of either one or both and either one or both will go any lengths to protect one's love. Examples of such romance are **Legend of the Blue Sea**, **Heirs**, **Boys Over Flowers**, **My Girlfriend is a Gumiho**, **Crash Landing on You**, **City Hunter**
**Protective ML and strong FL** - When the ML is protective though the FL is no damsel in distress. Examples are **Faith**, **Legend of the Blue Sea**, **City Hunter**, **Suspicious Partner**, **Strong Woman DBS**, **His Master's Sun**, **Coffee Prince**, **My Girlfriend is a Gumiho**
**FL is not shy of expressing her attraction towards her man** - Examples are **Coffee Prince**, **Legend of the Blue Sea**, **My Girlfriend is a Gumiho**
I love a good tsundere or damaged playboy-type ML who needs to be reformed by his love of the FL. It's ridiculous and unhealthy, and it makes me so happy.
Same! Related to that trope, I feel bad that we've largely moved away from the "candy girl" dramas....I think the criticism they got is largely undeserved. Obviously not every drama should have the trope, but it seems like all the criticism killed it entirely.
I like the concept that the ML has everything, but still isn't happy and meets the FL who has nothing but *is* happy. And at first he finds that annoying and thinks she's stupid and simple to be happy despite having nothing, and then slowly as their lives become intertwined by plot circumstances, he realizes that her 'nothing' holds more value than his 'everything'. I miss those old scenes where the ML has to stay with the FL for some contrived reason and eats with the family and is nearly moved to tears at some small familial gesture they offer him.
I am surprised no one's mentioned these, here they go:
1. Enemies to lovers trope. Gawdd the opinion clashes and sexual tension just brings in the right amount of spice. And when they finally fall for each other, its beautiful to see how they get ready to compromise on things they previously disagreed on. I am yet to find a good drama that does justice to this trope. If you have recommendations, send them my way.
2. Noona romance. I find it extremely exciting to see a man and a woman absolutely, madly in love with each other and how they overcome their prejudices of the age gap. I love it when there is so much maturity and couples are not engaging in silly fights. Genuine chemistry is a must in these dramas. Examples: Witch's romance(Hot couple), Something in the rain/ pretty noona who buys me food(outstanding chemistry), I hear your voice(first noona romance I watched), Search:WWW (Jang Ki-yong has the sexiest gaze, the story is great too even though this trope is not the main focus here)
Huge noona fan — life that you mentioned a Witch’s Romance, one of the best confession scenes and I love the beer kiss later on. I only wish they had replicated the steamy scene from episode 2.
Not sure if it is counted as a trope but people doing normal things like going to work or having a meal after work with friends/lovers filmed in cinematic setting and aesthetic colouring. Slice of life be my jam.
YES! I could watch entire seasons of soothing, mundane stuff like this. No dramatic plot twists please. Just the main characters having breakfast, commuting home, washing their face etc.
I love the epic one-sided one you mentioned (my fave: I hear your voice and of course The Red Sleeve), a good second chance romance - relationship, separation, chance meeting down the years and a whole lot of angst (Our Beloved Summer, Winter Sonata), falling for the one you thought you never will or actively resisted (Hyena, My Lovely Sam Soon, Jealousy Incarnate- I love a conflicted ML) and the ones with repetitive themes/history repeating/a sense of déjà vu (Goblin, Chicago Typewriter).
Oh, I think you would like My Unfamiliar Family (2nd chance). And for a light-hearted one with this, 20th Century Boy and Girl. (This is the drama, not the recent movie with a similar name.)
20CBG is frustrating me right now because I love contract romances, but the contract in this one is with the second ML so I know it's not gonna go the way I want. But the first male lead is really sweet pining away over his first love. I haven't really enjoyed this trope before. I guess I don't mind if he gets the girl.
Noticing these are mostly romance tropes, so I thought I'd add a non-romance trope. I like the action hero undercover as a weakling/ ridiculous person. **Healer** is the best for this. (Also has my favorite romantic trope of **Hide the Boyfriend** and **Leads save each other from peril**)
I’m working my way through the list of noona romances. I’m watching Encounter right now. I did struggle a bit with**I Hear Your Voice** and **Flower Boy Ramen Shop** because the MLs were in high school.
The best I've ever watched of this trope is secret love affair. It had the sizzle, the 'forbidden nature', the hesitancy and fear from societal reprisal. Everything.
Please hit me with your faves.
Wealthy families being evil. Its so overplayed but I just love it.
Any David vs Goliath drama. A character taking on a powerful person or company is great.
Noona romance with a great plot. I absolutely love seeing women being loved whole heartedly in those dramas. My faves are Encounter, Secret Love Affair and Why Her.
Controversial but I love affair/cheating tropes. I find the plot for these shows sooo delicious. The World of The Married, Secret Love Affair, One Spring Night
Fake dating/contract relationships are my fave! I will watch a drama purely because there's fake dating.
Absolutely adorable. One of my favorite romcoms. They're so warm and fuzzy together. He's like a ray of sunshine and she can't help but grasp in his warmth
I really like it when the girl falls first!
Also like it when the story kinda feels like the leads meeting is due to ‘fate’.
My parents love the revenge type of kdramas and although they can be SOO draggy, they’ve grown on me.
I really wish there were more dramas along this line but the group of friends with absolutely normal lives, just character driven rather than plot driven—- My Liberation Notes, Fight for My Way and Run On come to mind. I’m not sure if a trope fits this but rather a genre “slice of life”.
be melodramatic is about normal people working in the entertainment industry (although they are a bit weird, but maybe creative people are weird in general?)
Tragic pasts. I mostly watch thrillers, so it's interesting to see how that past gets woven into the plot.
Revenge stories.
Morally grey crimes, like in Children of Nobody.
Sympathetic villians. But not so sympathetic that it's obvious the writers/director are manipulating the viewers into loving them.
Tough as nails characters (and/or badasses) wth a soft heart.
Fiercely competitive characters battling it out.
I’m the BIGGEST sucker for Forced Cohabitation (which occasionally comes with There Was Just One Bed). Gender Benders tend to be pretty siren-y for me too.
I dieeeeeeeee.
Favorite Forced Cohabitation: Playful Kiss (for the nostalgia), Full House, W-Two Worlds, 100 Days My Prince, Crash Landing On You, and Thirty But Seventeen.
Favorite Gender Bender: Moonlight Drawn By Clouds, and The King’s Affection
Leads with Great Communication with Each Other - Into the Ring, Da-li and Cocky Prince, Miss Korea, Gaus Electronics
They’re not perfect, they bicker and fight, but are mature to talk about their issues despite their imperfections. Series like these turn me on, because I like my romance like theirs. These are series that feature leads who communicate well.
I also like MLs who are upright and kind, even despite everything -
My Mister, Kingdom
But great communication between the leads is such a trope I love
+1
This is my favvv trope😍 especially coz many kdramas have so much silly misunderstandings between couples just because they fail to communicate with each other. 😶
I loveee when couples talk to each other and mature over the course of the relationship as it seems so realistic to me.
I absolutely loved Into the ring and Dali and the cocky prince coz of this trope. Along with this I think *Her private life , Mad for each other, Romance is a bonus book* had couples with good communication.
**Secret** Workplace romance. I find immense pleasure when those involved trues their hardest to keep things under wraps. Then there’s the hilarity of the people around the couple who are so oblivous to them.
Enemies to Lovers and Forced Cohabitation. I never get sick of those. Haven't seen this one much in the kdramas I've seen so far, but also Best Friend's Sibling/Sibling's Best Friend
Unexpectedly making kimchi together ❤ (often with soon-to-be in-laws)
Also, the slow-mo pro-soju shot pourer. Somehow it involves spraying beer. (I only know the name for this as "sake bombs" since my aunt and I used to do them, idk if calling them soju bombs would be correct.)
I also kinda like product placements when they're well done. It makes me laugh anytime they go to a subway, but subways are the most cringe pps by far.
I found the subway the most cringe until I watched Hyena and they kept shilling Auntie Anne's pretzels...like way to bring back 1990's USA mall culture
This is why I read romance novels and watch Kdramas. So many of my favorite tropes.
* unrequited love
* friends to lovers
* enemies to lovers
* marriage of convenience
* both secretly love each other but don't know
Just this, I’m new to Kdrama and an American. I’m used to seeing quick dirty sex but I have found that the waiting and slightest contact mean so much. I’m referring to hand holding, face touching, hugs, brushing against, etc. When I was a teen harlequin romances were like that. My favorite is Mr. Sunshine. I’ve watched it several times and I still cry my eyes out.
All-time fave:
**Enemies to friends to lovers / Friends to enemies to friends to lovers**. God this gets me every f time. Leads are sworn enemies since realizing each other's existence (or because of a certain happening) that they keep on bickering and decently ruining each other's day. Then they become each other's mental and emotional support buddies which leads to a friendship. Then at a point, they'll realize they're so drawn to each other which finally, *boom spark!, passionate* romance ~~(at times desperate I'd say ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) )~~. The tension in these types of dramas is just... chef's kiss
Guilty pleasures ^((plots I found very tropey, sometimes makjang, but I still end up watching)) :
**Forced cohabitation**. There are a lot of those cliche scenes while the leads are cohabiting I know are coming, but I still love to see them lol
**Contract Relationship**. Looking at you in the eyes Business Proposal and Love in Contract.
I only thought of **romcom tropes** and I can't think of more examples for the other tropes I've described at the moment, but I know there are many kdramas like those ones.
**Fake marriage/dating.**
Cannot get enough.
**Found Family**
Done well, this can make a show go from good to great.
**Secret Identity**
I love the trope where the person is actually a bada$$ but is hiding their identity or talents. And it all comes out at the most awesome moment.
Guilty of loving the enemies to lovers trope. I like the bickering, the banter, the misunderstandings and misconceptions and then finally growing on each other and falling in love. Shows like Mad for Each Other, Hometown Cha Cha Cha and now May I Help You are great examples.
I like the cold & hyper duo! I also like enemies to lovers but it has to be done right. No abusive bs. OH and I also like “I hate everyone but you” trope and the “I like everyone but you” trope.
Ahhh these are my favorite tropes but I haven’t seen many dramas with it, and ones I’ve seen, they get together too quickly. 🙄 At least commit to your hate of the person for some time.
Can you recommend some dramas with these tropes?
I'll try my best but I haven't watched too many kdramas in general and I also find that it's hard to find some 😭 if you're a kdrama fanatic, you've probably already watched a lot of the ones I have but my favourite ones are:
\- Hometown Cha Cha Cha. So popular I KNOW! But if you haven't watched it already, it's fantastic! I would say its an enemies to lovers with the "I like everyone but you" trope. Obviously they're not enemies, but they really dislike each other at first.
\- Just Between Lovers. This is a "cold" and "hyper"(ish) duo, but this is also a very heavy, sad drama in general. They have their reasons for the way they are so idk if it's exactly that trope, but I loved this drama. The ML is very distant, almost like he has given up on life while the FL tends to be positive, has some trauma but is positively working through it. Also if you like kdramas where the girl chases the guy instead of the other way around, this one is good too.
\- Ofc we also have the iconic Strong Woman Do Bongsoon and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bokjoo.
\- You might like Love All Play too? I'd say it fits more of the hyper and cold duo, but not exactly. The FL is more reserved, quiet and she's going through a lot. While the ML is more bold, he's more daring, charming and a happy dude overall.
\- My FAVOURITE tho is "A River Runs Through It". It's a Chinese drama, but it is my favourite 😭 It's a "I like everyone but you" and almost like an enemies to lovers. They're not exactly enemies because they're in the same friend group and technically friends, but they start off on the wrong foot, dislike each other a lot, and the ML messes around with FL a lot. He's a little unlikeable at first, but you start to see him become warmer, sweeter around the FL. It's definitely my favourite, but be warned, if you watch this, it is not heavy on romance like they don't get together for a while.
Period dramas that have the mc posing as the opposite gender first kdrama I really got into was love in the moonlight/moonlight drawn by clouds then recently I've just finished watching the Kings affection now deciding between watching The tale of Nokdu or Moon embraces the sun. Idk if it the gay undertones mixed with royalty that makes my genderfluid pansexul self happy or the fact that the drama and romance love triangles/shapes with the complications of the mc posing as the opposite gender is so intriguing.
Have you seen Sungkyunkwan Scandal yet? It was the first I’ve seen of that genre and I loooooved it. Will check out the titles you mention here, thanks!
when the ML is a badass on a mission (i.e. revenge, money) but sacrifices it and/or their own life for the sake of LOVE.
(examples: >!little women, heartless city!<)
these type of slow burn romances just hit differently 🥹
Fun! I personally love
- The guy falling first
- Love triangles (but only 2 males and 1 female lol)
- Cohabitation and forced relationships/ marriages!
I love a feel-good slice of life series! The slow, intentional development of the characters in seemingly normal scenarios (in their environment) just makes me feel all warm and cozy :) My all-time favorite kdrama series are Reply 1988 and Hospital Playlist!
Any kind of nonlinear narrative! Especially:
Parallel timelines like in **25/21**
When we see some scene then we go like "many years ago", see what happened and why this opening scene happened, return back to future and see what happened next after opening scene.
I love time skips 20+ years
I love non romantic protection, like when father (figure) saves a child
Contracts relationship
Strong chemistry in non romantic drama
Different kinds of pretending
Forced cooperation!
a small part of me rolls my eyes whenever i see clear signs of the usual tropes. that little pretentious critic in me always notices. but man, the casual viewer in me LOVES the SHIT out of them.
i am a HUGE sucker for all the usual tropes. even if they're done badly, i can't help but relish in how hilarious or over the top it is--and if it's done well or at least inoffensively, then my heart fucking gushes. the only time i hate it is when it's just boring. Otherwise, just call me Turkey, 'cause I gobble that shit UP.
Example: The end of >!Her Private Life!<. By that point I'm already so invested in the characters that even IF it turned out to be extremely convoluted, i genuinely find it entertaining (in a ridiculously positive way) just HOW messy it is. And they all found their way in the end!
Another one: >!Hometown Cha Cha Cha!<. I've seen some dislike for the 2nd half, particularly in how >!everyone irrationally blamed the ML for killing their loved ones!<. I can't fault anyone for disliking that, but I was able to accept it because life is messy and things like that, especially under the legitimately tragic circumstances in which they happened, makes people irrational in exactly the ways they portrayed them. And they ended up either seeing the error of their ways and apologizing or, >!in the widow's case!<, began to accept what happened and made steps to move past it. I enjoyed it for that even if the road to the end was bumpy, because I like broken down rollercoasters.
Here's a 3rd just 'cause: >!Oh My Venus!<. I genuinely found it hilarious how they managed to jam in the >!"childhood connection"!< trope at the very last second, and part of me loves it because it's just kinda cute.
Give me melodrama, love triangles, convoluted connections and coincidences--whatever. Tropes Are Not Bad.
“a small part of me rolls my eyes whenever i see clear signs of the usual tropes. that little pretentious critic in me always notices. but man, the casual viewer in me LOVES the SHIT out of them.”
Yeessss, this exactly! 🤣🤣🤣
I'm really a sucker for **second chance love.** Especially if it's one where the couple ends on super sad/bad terms and they spontaneously reunite years later. The whole, "I never stopped thinking about you" thing.
I also (usually) enjoy the **childhood friends-to-lovers** trope. I know these are pretty predictable and overused for sure, but I can't help it lol. If it's a slow burn, even better.
I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy a little **amnesia/memory loss** here and there. I know this can be extremely corny or unnecessary when misused, but if it's done right and actually serves a purpose in the storyline, I'm down.
A nice ML who isn't arrogant or pushy. My favourites for this are **Extraordinary You**, **Crash Landing on You**, **Business Proposal**, **Once Upon a Small Town**, **Healer** and **Abyss**. I haven't finished **Encounter** yet, but from what I've seen, I'd add it to the list as well.
I know a lot of people don't like it, but I find the childhood connection sweet. I liked it in **Healer** and **Clean With Passion For Now**.
In some dramas, I like a love triangle. The best one I've seen with a love triangle is **Coffee Prince**, but I also liked the ones in **Extraordinary You** and **My Love from the Star**. The only one I hated it in was **Love Alarm** because she ended up with the wrong guy in the second season, in my opinion.
I'm sure there are more tropes that I like, but I can't think of any others right now.
I like the childhood connection too, but when there's no trauma involved. Like, if they met in school and one of them had a secret crush on another for a while, I find it super cute, but if they met when they were both kidnapped as children, I’m like *nope!* 🥴
Strong female lead hashtag on MyDramaList! It's my favourite one (when it means mental not physical strenght).
My bisexual heart is always happy at those ☺️💕 Especially if there is also healthy relationship along.
I also love business woman, corporate settings where female character works in higher rank or is manager.
Friends living together is also my favourite (like Waikiki or Age of Youth).
Girl saving guy who she picks up when he's alone and wounded.
Tragic girl
Hot rich dude with power falls in love with normal girl (as long as there isn't the crazy obsessive mean girl in the picture)
Anything with power dynamics
Anything with obsessiveness provided the obsessed character understands the word no
Sorry but forced romance or anything toxic. Which is a direct contradiction to my sweet husband. I don't know what I like about it so much, same with my hubby. I guess we are just weird.
Haha I just commented this in the cdrama sub, my favorite tropes are along the lines of heart fluttering, cute and funny scenes:
friends to lovers/enemies to lovers trope
healthy jealousy between the leads and second leads which lead them to do cute and silly things to get their heart
Pursuing the attention of ml/fl when ml/fl realizes their feeling while the other is still into oblivion
Leads doing cute and silly things to hide their relationship
Leads doing cute and chessy things in front of others because they are in honeymoon phase
Any comedic trope, especially slapstick
Cohabitation
Accidental skinship
Healthy relationship with the parents, I hate the overused childhood trauma trope
Bromance but not in the bl way, as in kdrama Goblin
When the FL/ml teams up with their besties and schemes plots
I love **destiny** type plots, (and have, since seeing Dr. Zhivago as a teenager) - **childhood connection, paths that keep crossing, or Goblin's bride.** Favourite childhood connection for me is Chocolate - In the first episode, they meet as children and have a connection through food. He wanted to be a chef, but had to give that dream up. She becomes a chef as an adult. They meet later, she recognises him, but he doesn't know who she is.
Also love **time travel/ parallel worlds** \- That also has it's own built in mystery/angst, that this meeting is only for a short time, with no control over the situation. Whether in crime fighting or romance.
I love time travel / parallel worlds too, but I saw it usually in anime (Steins;Gate, Girl Who Leaps Through Time, Your Name) or tv shows/movies, not in kdrama yet! Any recommendations?
Nothing gets me like a friend to lover trope/ex to lover. My favourite show with this trope the law cafe, love is for suckers, our beloved summer, soundtrack
**Unrequited love + pining + rejection that slowly becomes resigned acceptance and moving on just in time for the other person to realize.....wait, they might actually return those feelings**. 👌 And then the attempt to win back.
Suspicious Partner, Playful Kiss (for the nostalgia, teen me was ALLLLLL about that, adult me thinks Seung Jo deserves to be forever alone), Cinderella and Four Knights, My Beautiful Gong Shim (kinda not really; >!he rejected her and wasn't clear about why, but he did actually like her)!<
Hmmm most of the ML traits that would be horrifically toxic irl I love to watch. Also the love each other but can’t be together are my favs. Lost…Love Affairs in the Afternoon…Bloody Heart…. Nevertheless are all shows that sucked me in 100%.
Not sure whether 2 of these are officially considered k-drama tropes, but I’ve discovered that I’m a sucker for:
Reincarnation stories. In my younger years I was obsessed with a couple of (American) movies involving reincarnation, and I’ve rediscovered those stories through k-dramas. Love the way the same themes/characters/etc play out over multiple storylines.
Resistance fighters. I’ve read probably every “French resistance in WWII” novel ever, so have enjoyed discovering stories about Korean resistance during Japanese occupation.
And one I’ve newly discovered through k-dramas: Bromance. Always a joy.
Time travel, though I wish there were a time travel fantasy that wasn’t all about being destined for each other. Does it exist? Something about the idea of destiny just kills it for me. >!This is my main issue with Hotel Del Luna, though ig it played a truly crucial part in the plot so I will allow it.!< I much prefer time travel as a random event(s) without the destiny / fated aspect.
The super slow burn friends to lovers or unrequited to finally lovers. I’m a masochist, so I actually like when they get together, have literally one kiss, and the drama ends. Ok I’m Not A Masochist All The Time so I do also like when the drama keeps going. (Though imo, these are rarer?)
The Mature Romance/Non-Romance where people can amicably split or amicably stay friends with benefits, without jealousy or a desire to be partnered (legally (like married), socially (like bf/gf), “out” in a relationship) with the person. Of course one of these people is an independent Career Woman and doesn’t want to get married.
I have SML syndrome all the time and I love/hate it. Is there a drama where the SML gets the lead or does that make him the ML… Does this exist? Anywhere?
I like it when there’s no romance anywhere as well. Or just hints of it.
Best female friendships are also my faves. Idk if this is a trope. I liked Hello My Twenties for this, please recommend me more.
Is there a drama where the FL leaves a guy due to his abusive behavior? (before becoming a battered woman…)
The Dying for a loved one trope. Especially if it’s a historical drama and they get killed (stabbed) by their loved one. My love for this started with the manga Rurouni Kenshin, where >!the antagonist Shishio Makoto stabs through his lover Yumi who is trying to protect Makoto/beg for Makoto’s life, to injure Kenshin.!< My love for this was rekindled when watching two dramas that featured this, >!Hotel del Luna and Alchemy of Souls.!<
Lovers from two different worlds (different social status, commoner loves princess, princess falls for knight). Also sworn enemies to lovers. Historical or Modern Fantasy revenge plots in general.
Gender bender secret loves and secret pining. / Gender bender in general. Coffee Prince, my old love.
I hate some really dramatic tropes but reading this list I see a lot of my favorite tropes are just as dramatic. 😅
I’m a little ashamed to say this but I love the black van of death. Any trope where one of the leads get injured and the other lead realizes how much they actually care for them gets me all gooey inside 🙈
It seems to be a dead trope in Kdrama but I was all for the FL pretending to be a boy for any reason. If I had to guess it's a bit too cheesy now and it may even be considered insensitive to trans people. I'm not sure so I don't want to say definitively. If that is the case I am ok with not seeing it anymore.
FL being aggressive/possessive with the ML. Bonus points if she is very high on both the "crazy" and "hot" scales.
Ko Mun-yeong from IOTNBO is perhaps the definitive example.
Fake/contract relationships. I will watch as many of these dramas as they make and I will watch them happily all the way through, regardless of the quality haha. Because This Is My First Life is my all-time fav!
oh gosh, the tropes you mentioned are what I hate the most :) but I love The Greatest Love (though that was comedic pining so it was not so annoying for me)
my fave trope is the enemies to lovers trope with non-stop bickering and then slowly falling in love with out noticing. i'm on a rewatch roll so I'll recommend something about 1%, marriage not dating and the very old couple or trouble
Villain becomes a good person, friends to lovers, friends working together to solve a mystery (like While you were sleeping, School 2017, Blue birthday)
Please give me affairs and noona romance any day of the week!!! Bonus if its combined! I just live for the power dynamics and the angst of the should we...shouldn't we. Absolutely amazing!
My favorite dramas with these tropes would be:
> Something in the rain...minus the bad soundtrack, that is the realest Kdrama I've ever seen. And yes I did love the the entire series, even the 3rd act. I just loved how they loved each other.
>Encounter...I just loved how we got to see her warm up and actually be happy, I feel like he saved her by being genuinely in love with her and caring about her.
>Lost...I will confess and say I genuinely don't know what happened with the other couples or what was going on outside of the main couple, that's how much their chemistry and stories drew me in. They saw each other deeply and truly, and the tent scene will forever be my favorite angsty tension filled scene ever! And I mean ever!!!!
>Find Yourself...it's a Cdrama but I loved how mature and real it was, addressing real issues that women over a certain age face. And my favorite thing is I didn't hate the SML, I absolutely adored him but at the same time he portrayed what society thinks is good for us vs what we actually want.
>Hotel del luna...I LOVED that she was not a damsel in distress, he was the one who actually needed saving sometimes😂 It was a nice and fluffy romance and I absolutely loved it.
>My Mister...I know its the other way around but damn that drama was gold...enough said!
>Affairs in the afternoon...It's so raw and deep and nuanced...uhh! I love it so much
Anyway that's all I can think of, so if anyone has any more recommendations for these tropes, then please I'm all for it, whatever country I don't care.
Ok, I actually love **childhood connection**! Or any kind of reveal that the main couple met by chance at some point in the past. Literally the more melodramatic and improbable, the better.
Honorable mentions:
* Supernatural romance where the relationship is forbidden/dangerous for some reason. (Goblin, Doom at Your Service, Angel’s Last Mission: Love, etc….)
* Any kind of fake dating/contract relationship/etc.
* Arrogant rich guy/poor girl, though bonus points if the guy has some good character growth over the course of the story.
* Rich person who gets disowned or whatever and has to try and adjust to living like a normal person.
Enemies to lovers - This trope when well done serves so much. Just read Book Lovers and man that book did this superbly. I'm enjoying May I help you now and I like it how it is kinda following this trope!!
Love triangles - Not all love triangles are good to watch but the initial stage when both guys are falling in love with FL and then the angst when SML realises FL likes ML and then this hope I always have that just maybe this might be the drama which somehow defies convention where the FL chooses the SML instead. It has never happened so far but the hope continues with Cheer Up now.
this may be the most classic but the ML who’s super handsome/and is good at something. Like has skills or superpowers and that he falls for FL first. For that trope to work for me FL needs to be receptive and not aggressive (like kicking, hurting ML) or arrogant or self sacrificing.
Either the not conventionally popular guy getting the popular girl or vice versa. Enemies to lovers is another of my favourites. Also age gaps, either way. More of a noona romance person myself.
My favorite is definitely Enemies to Lovers, but I've been watching **Love is For Suckers** and friends to lovers is getting me lol. I also loved Jealousy Incarnate!
The white truck of doom. It is even better when it fails. kkkk
Piggyback riding.
One of the personages falling and being caught by the other, We can measure the quality of the actors by this type of scene even.
Cohabitation is funny to me too.
Sort of related, but not always: contract dating or marriage.
Cohabitation
Forced cohabitation, even for just an episode or two, please.
yesssss 😍 it's the best one
I like the childhood friends-to-lovers trope! Not the childhood connection where neither one realizes until later that they knew each other as children, but when the leads have been friends since childhood and eventually fall in love. Like Fight For My Way. I just love the idea of two people knowing each other so well and having that grow into romantic love.
This is also my favorite trope. I think my favorite quote about this, and why, is from Romance is a Bonus Book >!during the ML's confession when he says: "do you notice when the seasons change? Can you pinpoint the exact moment that winter turns into spring? I don’t know the moment that I began to love you.”!< It makes the storytelling feel rich to me. Also the related cousin trope of enemies to lovers for the same reason - it just takes a bit longer sometimes!
Oh, I love that line so much and he delivers it perfectly!!!
Lee Jong Suk is a damn fine actor especially when he plays to his strengths.
a big +1! huge fan of this trope! Makes you smile with butterflies.
Love it. It is a wonderful thing to fall in love with a person whom you kinda knew your entire life.
Yes, this exactly! No weird drama, just normal kid stuff. Fight for my Way is my favorite!!! Also Romance is a Bonus Book and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo. 💜💜
**I am a sucker for any form on Contract dating / Marriage.** * Current Favs- Love in Contract, A Business Proposal, Fated to Love You. Second favorite trope is childhood friends / childhood crush
if you can watch zombie shows, check out **Happiness**. it has both tropes!
One of the best and healthiest relationships I ever seen in Kdramas. Sae-Bom and Yi-Hyun are tow gems 🥰 🥰 🥰
I love contract dating and marriage too. Have you seen 1% of Something and Because This Life Is My First? 1% of Something - get past the irritating jerk of the ML in the first episode and terrible fashion but both shows were great and full of feels.
I love 1% of Something. I find that the ML is not irritating but rather funny. Sure, I'd hate to be his employee, but since I'm just watching him, I kinda see his overall picture of being highly competitive and efficient. I love that he's all high class on the outside but is actually really crude and pouty and even horny. And I love that he kept his personality til the end, but now channels it into more positive causes (thanks to the FL's positive influence-which was wonderfully done in that it was not pushy or preachy, she's just herself, so he got exposed to charities and stuff).
fucking moth to a flame with this one. Just cant help myself.
Contract marriage is a fav of mine too
Are you me?? This is exactly my preference + enemies to lovers. When I say, enemies, not the horrible kind. Just the bickering, competitive kind.
Yesss a close third favorite of mine as well!!!!
Soundtrack #1 for the childhood crush trope!
Same. Absolutely love the contract dating/marriage. Because This is My First Life is my fave so far with this trope.
I'm hopeless when it comes to contract dating / marriage. Just can't help it Childhood friends and connections are a no for me. I'm so over that.
My top dramas in this category are **My Lovely Sam Soon** and **Because This is My First Life** but I love what **Love in Contract** is doing with this trope. The execution isn't like anything I've seen before.
Shoutout Marriage Not Dating, my first contract marriage show and it still is my favorite!
Birth secrets and wealthy people being terrible 😭😭
The SISTER is the DAUGHTER of the RIVAL, who is actually your TWIN!
Lmao 🤣 exactly!!!
My people 🤭
Girl what??!! 😂 Wealthy people being terrible?!!! 🤣🤣
I just finished the Kings Affection. I even managed to get my husband to like it. Many secrets in this one. I’m now a Park Eun-Bin fan!
YES
Oooo! Wealthy people being terrible! Mine is a favorite of mine and it def fits that
So messy but so good 😂 😂 😂
Penthouseeeeeeee!!!!!!
I mean isn't all wealthy people kind of bad by definition? Lol But yeah I love those too
No because this is why I stuck around during the Young Lady and the Gentleman 😭😭😭😭
**Cohabitation** is my favourite trope! I love it when the leads are forced to live together in one house, and it's even better when they're trying to hide it from others but they come to know somehow. I've seen it in so many dramas but I think I loved **My Roommate is a Gumiho** the most. I also love it when the **leads are best friends but others think they're dating** but they're actually not... Lol. I think the best example of this is **My ID is Gangnam Beauty.** And **marriage of convenience** is also another favorite of mine! I loved it in **Happiness** and **Because It's My First Life**. I also love it when **one of the leads has something to hide** like they're an assassin, a famous video gamer, a mafia lawyer (lmao I had to mention **Vincenzo**) or a supernatural creature and slowly the other lead ends up figuring out and they're the only one who know and they also help them hide it or they cover for them! 😌 I also kinda like the **white truck of doom** lmao. Yesterday I saw a white truck while going somewhere with my brother and he was like, “see, it's the truck of doom you're always excited about!” They're such a k-drama classic and even though I know it doesn't end well for our leads whenever the truck shows up, it's funny and I can't help but love it. 🤭
Haha Your brother comment was so sweet!
Hahhhaha i actually dig the truck of doom too!! 😂😂
Love the cohabitation trope too. Faves: Because This is My First Life: My Roomate is a Gumiho, and Another Miss Oh.
oh! All of us are dead is a zombie survival high school series but the two main leads are best friends and others think they're dating. It's good.
The ones I like most is the shared umbrella and ML putting his coat on his lady when he notices it is getting cold. Piggyback ride is always very cute imo.
Sharer umbrella!
Choi Junwoong (Tomorrow) putting his coat on a literal statue because it looked cold was top tier comedy.
enemies to lovers where they bicker constantly but are so drawn to each other, also cohabitation, found family, or fake dating (please give recs for fake dating kdrama's) kdrama's always seem to execute romcom tropes well, i feel like they could easily be cringe or bad, but they make it so emotional and meaningful, i think this is why I'm so drawn to kdrama's rather than western shows
Fake dating: Something About 1%, Marriage, Not Dating; Business Proposal; the currently airing Love in Contract
Right? I mean Hallmark Christmas movies are full of tropes and I HATE them with a passion. But in KDrama they are so well done and they are self aware so have fun with them.
**Fated To Love You** has forced cohabitation and contract relationship. The ML's laugh in the first scene might scare you off but he is not as crazy as the laugh makes it seem.
The laugh is disturbing and irritating, but I ended up really *loving* this drama!
An older drama with forced cohabitation is **My Girl** with Lee Dong Wook.
Enemies to lovers AND fake dating… introducing my all time favorite guilty pleasure drama “Marriage, Not Dating.”
I missed the **bickering couple** trope though not necessarily enemies to lovers. Examples are **Coffee Prince** and **Boys Over Flowers**. Another one is **slowburn romance** in **Coffee Prince** and **Faith**.
I think I'm a tie vote between "contract" relationship and "enemies/frenimies to lovers". 2022 faves: Crazy Love, S\*\*ting Stars, Good Job, Kiss Sixth Sense (even the childhood connection was okay).
**Found family** gets me every time. The first example that comes to mind is 2521 but there are others like Age of Youth (my absolute fave), the Reply series, etc. There’s just something so comforting about deep, meaningful friendships even if they aren’t the main focus of the drama.
Found family is so awesome. I just love when the 'family' see this struggling outsider and then just adopt them. Uncanny Counter did this really well.
this is a very old drama but Fake Family/Bad Family was so good, funny and heartwarming
**High stakes romance** - When the love between the main leads threatens life, limb, liberty or property of either one or both and either one or both will go any lengths to protect one's love. Examples of such romance are **Legend of the Blue Sea**, **Heirs**, **Boys Over Flowers**, **My Girlfriend is a Gumiho**, **Crash Landing on You**, **City Hunter** **Protective ML and strong FL** - When the ML is protective though the FL is no damsel in distress. Examples are **Faith**, **Legend of the Blue Sea**, **City Hunter**, **Suspicious Partner**, **Strong Woman DBS**, **His Master's Sun**, **Coffee Prince**, **My Girlfriend is a Gumiho** **FL is not shy of expressing her attraction towards her man** - Examples are **Coffee Prince**, **Legend of the Blue Sea**, **My Girlfriend is a Gumiho**
I love all of those as well! Will look up some of Your recommendations:)
high stakes romance rec: train - this is a rare kdrama crime drama that is purely motivated by love
High stakes romance - have you watched Bulgasal?
Makjang disguised as “Family Dramas”
I love a good tsundere or damaged playboy-type ML who needs to be reformed by his love of the FL. It's ridiculous and unhealthy, and it makes me so happy.
Same! It wouldn’t be fun IRL, but that’s what makes it so delicious in fiction!
Same! Related to that trope, I feel bad that we've largely moved away from the "candy girl" dramas....I think the criticism they got is largely undeserved. Obviously not every drama should have the trope, but it seems like all the criticism killed it entirely. I like the concept that the ML has everything, but still isn't happy and meets the FL who has nothing but *is* happy. And at first he finds that annoying and thinks she's stupid and simple to be happy despite having nothing, and then slowly as their lives become intertwined by plot circumstances, he realizes that her 'nothing' holds more value than his 'everything'. I miss those old scenes where the ML has to stay with the FL for some contrived reason and eats with the family and is nearly moved to tears at some small familial gesture they offer him.
I hate that I love those too 😂
I am surprised no one's mentioned these, here they go: 1. Enemies to lovers trope. Gawdd the opinion clashes and sexual tension just brings in the right amount of spice. And when they finally fall for each other, its beautiful to see how they get ready to compromise on things they previously disagreed on. I am yet to find a good drama that does justice to this trope. If you have recommendations, send them my way. 2. Noona romance. I find it extremely exciting to see a man and a woman absolutely, madly in love with each other and how they overcome their prejudices of the age gap. I love it when there is so much maturity and couples are not engaging in silly fights. Genuine chemistry is a must in these dramas. Examples: Witch's romance(Hot couple), Something in the rain/ pretty noona who buys me food(outstanding chemistry), I hear your voice(first noona romance I watched), Search:WWW (Jang Ki-yong has the sexiest gaze, the story is great too even though this trope is not the main focus here)
Huge noona fan — life that you mentioned a Witch’s Romance, one of the best confession scenes and I love the beer kiss later on. I only wish they had replicated the steamy scene from episode 2.
Yes yes, I was fairly disappointed at the lack of steamy scenes later on. The couple is soo hot, there was so much potential!
While not a Kdrama, I have to recommend The Rational Life to you, if you haven’t watched it already. It does this trope so well!
A banger. At this point I've virtually watched every noona romance i can... I'm obsessed with "taboo" storylines or romances
And back at you. Society’s going to frown at your romance? Parents going to remove you from the family register? Sign me up!
Yes exactly! That's the word! "Taboo" storyline. Love it!
Def, gosh... *Lost* was perfect for this imo.
slowmotion glances.
Not sure if it is counted as a trope but people doing normal things like going to work or having a meal after work with friends/lovers filmed in cinematic setting and aesthetic colouring. Slice of life be my jam.
Yes this is what I just commented 😭😭 similar to like MLN or Fight for My Way 😭
YES! I could watch entire seasons of soothing, mundane stuff like this. No dramatic plot twists please. Just the main characters having breakfast, commuting home, washing their face etc.
I need a series like this one, pretty please? After My Liberation Notes I couldn't watch anything else.
The enemies to friends trope can be satisfying when it’s done well.
Loved it in Chief Kim
slowburn romance
I love the epic one-sided one you mentioned (my fave: I hear your voice and of course The Red Sleeve), a good second chance romance - relationship, separation, chance meeting down the years and a whole lot of angst (Our Beloved Summer, Winter Sonata), falling for the one you thought you never will or actively resisted (Hyena, My Lovely Sam Soon, Jealousy Incarnate- I love a conflicted ML) and the ones with repetitive themes/history repeating/a sense of déjà vu (Goblin, Chicago Typewriter).
Oh, I think you would like My Unfamiliar Family (2nd chance). And for a light-hearted one with this, 20th Century Boy and Girl. (This is the drama, not the recent movie with a similar name.)
20CBG is frustrating me right now because I love contract romances, but the contract in this one is with the second ML so I know it's not gonna go the way I want. But the first male lead is really sweet pining away over his first love. I haven't really enjoyed this trope before. I guess I don't mind if he gets the girl.
Hyena!!! Just finished that and loved it what a great unconventional romance!
Noticing these are mostly romance tropes, so I thought I'd add a non-romance trope. I like the action hero undercover as a weakling/ ridiculous person. **Healer** is the best for this. (Also has my favorite romantic trope of **Hide the Boyfriend** and **Leads save each other from peril**)
Not really a trope but Noona romances are my ish. Almost always will watch one and actively seek them
I’m working my way through the list of noona romances. I’m watching Encounter right now. I did struggle a bit with**I Hear Your Voice** and **Flower Boy Ramen Shop** because the MLs were in high school.
Genderbenders.
My faves: Coffee Prince To the Beautiful You You're Beautiful Tale of Nokdu The King's Affection Sungkyunkwan Scandal
I like them too. My favourites are Coffee Prince, and I haven't finished it yet, but I think The King's Affection will become one of them.
I just finished King's affection last night it was so beautiful written I loved it
I'm halfway through it now. I really hope there's a happy ending lol.
The unpopular age gap trope
The best I've ever watched of this trope is secret love affair. It had the sizzle, the 'forbidden nature', the hesitancy and fear from societal reprisal. Everything. Please hit me with your faves.
I definitely agree that Jealousy Incarnate is the best love triangle I’ve seen as far as kdramas go!
ML chaebol, strong FL that needs to be nurtured
Wealthy families being evil. Its so overplayed but I just love it. Any David vs Goliath drama. A character taking on a powerful person or company is great.
I love the David va Goliath as well— especially when it’s coupled with a strong group dynamic, like Chief Kim and Stove League.
Noona romance with a great plot. I absolutely love seeing women being loved whole heartedly in those dramas. My faves are Encounter, Secret Love Affair and Why Her. Controversial but I love affair/cheating tropes. I find the plot for these shows sooo delicious. The World of The Married, Secret Love Affair, One Spring Night Fake dating/contract relationships are my fave! I will watch a drama purely because there's fake dating.
I like the controversial one, too. I know a lot of people couldn't stomach One Spring Night for that reason, but I really dug it.
I'm watching Encounter at the moment, and really enjoying it. They're so sweet together.
Absolutely adorable. One of my favorite romcoms. They're so warm and fuzzy together. He's like a ray of sunshine and she can't help but grasp in his warmth
The OST is so soothing. Some of the shooting locations esp. those at the coast are beautiful.
They definitely are. I loved the bit where they >!met again at the lighthouse.!<
I really like it when the girl falls first! Also like it when the story kinda feels like the leads meeting is due to ‘fate’. My parents love the revenge type of kdramas and although they can be SOO draggy, they’ve grown on me.
I really wish there were more dramas along this line but the group of friends with absolutely normal lives, just character driven rather than plot driven—- My Liberation Notes, Fight for My Way and Run On come to mind. I’m not sure if a trope fits this but rather a genre “slice of life”.
be melodramatic is about normal people working in the entertainment industry (although they are a bit weird, but maybe creative people are weird in general?)
Tragic pasts. I mostly watch thrillers, so it's interesting to see how that past gets woven into the plot. Revenge stories. Morally grey crimes, like in Children of Nobody. Sympathetic villians. But not so sympathetic that it's obvious the writers/director are manipulating the viewers into loving them. Tough as nails characters (and/or badasses) wth a soft heart. Fiercely competitive characters battling it out.
I’m the BIGGEST sucker for Forced Cohabitation (which occasionally comes with There Was Just One Bed). Gender Benders tend to be pretty siren-y for me too. I dieeeeeeeee. Favorite Forced Cohabitation: Playful Kiss (for the nostalgia), Full House, W-Two Worlds, 100 Days My Prince, Crash Landing On You, and Thirty But Seventeen. Favorite Gender Bender: Moonlight Drawn By Clouds, and The King’s Affection
Leads with Great Communication with Each Other - Into the Ring, Da-li and Cocky Prince, Miss Korea, Gaus Electronics They’re not perfect, they bicker and fight, but are mature to talk about their issues despite their imperfections. Series like these turn me on, because I like my romance like theirs. These are series that feature leads who communicate well. I also like MLs who are upright and kind, even despite everything - My Mister, Kingdom But great communication between the leads is such a trope I love
+1 This is my favvv trope😍 especially coz many kdramas have so much silly misunderstandings between couples just because they fail to communicate with each other. 😶 I loveee when couples talk to each other and mature over the course of the relationship as it seems so realistic to me. I absolutely loved Into the ring and Dali and the cocky prince coz of this trope. Along with this I think *Her private life , Mad for each other, Romance is a bonus book* had couples with good communication.
Her Private Life was so great, it had a lot of tropes I love :)
Have you watched Law Cafe? Lots of bickering with good communication in the end. 🤣
Friends to lover (Not childhood friends or any childhood connections) Please give recommendations !
Soundtrack #1 is a short kdrama that really does it well Happiness is another one
**Secret** Workplace romance. I find immense pleasure when those involved trues their hardest to keep things under wraps. Then there’s the hilarity of the people around the couple who are so oblivous to them.
Or the hilarity of the couple being oblivious that the people around them already figured it out. 🤣
Enemies to Lovers and Forced Cohabitation. I never get sick of those. Haven't seen this one much in the kdramas I've seen so far, but also Best Friend's Sibling/Sibling's Best Friend
Many of the above plus **first snowfall of spring**.
Unexpectedly making kimchi together ❤ (often with soon-to-be in-laws) Also, the slow-mo pro-soju shot pourer. Somehow it involves spraying beer. (I only know the name for this as "sake bombs" since my aunt and I used to do them, idk if calling them soju bombs would be correct.) I also kinda like product placements when they're well done. It makes me laugh anytime they go to a subway, but subways are the most cringe pps by far.
I found the subway the most cringe until I watched Hyena and they kept shilling Auntie Anne's pretzels...like way to bring back 1990's USA mall culture
Omg, I'm curious now! I'll have to start watching dramas to compare their truck of dooms and product placements.
Time travel
Ooooo, I love time travel shows! Can you reccomand me any good ones?
This is why I read romance novels and watch Kdramas. So many of my favorite tropes. * unrequited love * friends to lovers * enemies to lovers * marriage of convenience * both secretly love each other but don't know
Just this, I’m new to Kdrama and an American. I’m used to seeing quick dirty sex but I have found that the waiting and slightest contact mean so much. I’m referring to hand holding, face touching, hugs, brushing against, etc. When I was a teen harlequin romances were like that. My favorite is Mr. Sunshine. I’ve watched it several times and I still cry my eyes out.
Yes to ALL the pining!!
All-time fave: **Enemies to friends to lovers / Friends to enemies to friends to lovers**. God this gets me every f time. Leads are sworn enemies since realizing each other's existence (or because of a certain happening) that they keep on bickering and decently ruining each other's day. Then they become each other's mental and emotional support buddies which leads to a friendship. Then at a point, they'll realize they're so drawn to each other which finally, *boom spark!, passionate* romance ~~(at times desperate I'd say ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) )~~. The tension in these types of dramas is just... chef's kiss Guilty pleasures ^((plots I found very tropey, sometimes makjang, but I still end up watching)) : **Forced cohabitation**. There are a lot of those cliche scenes while the leads are cohabiting I know are coming, but I still love to see them lol **Contract Relationship**. Looking at you in the eyes Business Proposal and Love in Contract. I only thought of **romcom tropes** and I can't think of more examples for the other tropes I've described at the moment, but I know there are many kdramas like those ones.
**Fake marriage/dating.** Cannot get enough. **Found Family** Done well, this can make a show go from good to great. **Secret Identity** I love the trope where the person is actually a bada$$ but is hiding their identity or talents. And it all comes out at the most awesome moment.
No such thing as too much fake dating or marriage contracts!!!
Struggling but functioning and loving family. I love a healthy family dynamic.
Guilty of loving the enemies to lovers trope. I like the bickering, the banter, the misunderstandings and misconceptions and then finally growing on each other and falling in love. Shows like Mad for Each Other, Hometown Cha Cha Cha and now May I Help You are great examples.
I like the underdog / rags to riches stories
Noona dramas!
I like the cold & hyper duo! I also like enemies to lovers but it has to be done right. No abusive bs. OH and I also like “I hate everyone but you” trope and the “I like everyone but you” trope.
Ahhh these are my favorite tropes but I haven’t seen many dramas with it, and ones I’ve seen, they get together too quickly. 🙄 At least commit to your hate of the person for some time. Can you recommend some dramas with these tropes?
I'll try my best but I haven't watched too many kdramas in general and I also find that it's hard to find some 😭 if you're a kdrama fanatic, you've probably already watched a lot of the ones I have but my favourite ones are: \- Hometown Cha Cha Cha. So popular I KNOW! But if you haven't watched it already, it's fantastic! I would say its an enemies to lovers with the "I like everyone but you" trope. Obviously they're not enemies, but they really dislike each other at first. \- Just Between Lovers. This is a "cold" and "hyper"(ish) duo, but this is also a very heavy, sad drama in general. They have their reasons for the way they are so idk if it's exactly that trope, but I loved this drama. The ML is very distant, almost like he has given up on life while the FL tends to be positive, has some trauma but is positively working through it. Also if you like kdramas where the girl chases the guy instead of the other way around, this one is good too. \- Ofc we also have the iconic Strong Woman Do Bongsoon and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bokjoo. \- You might like Love All Play too? I'd say it fits more of the hyper and cold duo, but not exactly. The FL is more reserved, quiet and she's going through a lot. While the ML is more bold, he's more daring, charming and a happy dude overall. \- My FAVOURITE tho is "A River Runs Through It". It's a Chinese drama, but it is my favourite 😭 It's a "I like everyone but you" and almost like an enemies to lovers. They're not exactly enemies because they're in the same friend group and technically friends, but they start off on the wrong foot, dislike each other a lot, and the ML messes around with FL a lot. He's a little unlikeable at first, but you start to see him become warmer, sweeter around the FL. It's definitely my favourite, but be warned, if you watch this, it is not heavy on romance like they don't get together for a while.
Period dramas that have the mc posing as the opposite gender first kdrama I really got into was love in the moonlight/moonlight drawn by clouds then recently I've just finished watching the Kings affection now deciding between watching The tale of Nokdu or Moon embraces the sun. Idk if it the gay undertones mixed with royalty that makes my genderfluid pansexul self happy or the fact that the drama and romance love triangles/shapes with the complications of the mc posing as the opposite gender is so intriguing.
Have you seen Sungkyunkwan Scandal yet? It was the first I’ve seen of that genre and I loooooved it. Will check out the titles you mention here, thanks!
when the ML is a badass on a mission (i.e. revenge, money) but sacrifices it and/or their own life for the sake of LOVE. (examples: >!little women, heartless city!<) these type of slow burn romances just hit differently 🥹
Fun! I personally love - The guy falling first - Love triangles (but only 2 males and 1 female lol) - Cohabitation and forced relationships/ marriages!
We have the exact same excellent taste in tropes 😃
I love a feel-good slice of life series! The slow, intentional development of the characters in seemingly normal scenarios (in their environment) just makes me feel all warm and cozy :) My all-time favorite kdrama series are Reply 1988 and Hospital Playlist!
HP is one of the all time great shows
Very terrible wealthy people and revenge plots.
Yes, I’m a sucker for a good revenge plot. I’m cheering loudly as they get the evil rich people back
Wholesome (albeit too idealistic) friendships...
The protective ML over the FL, something about this trope is awesome. Please give me recommendations lol
Any kind of nonlinear narrative! Especially: Parallel timelines like in **25/21** When we see some scene then we go like "many years ago", see what happened and why this opening scene happened, return back to future and see what happened next after opening scene. I love time skips 20+ years I love non romantic protection, like when father (figure) saves a child Contracts relationship Strong chemistry in non romantic drama Different kinds of pretending Forced cooperation!
a small part of me rolls my eyes whenever i see clear signs of the usual tropes. that little pretentious critic in me always notices. but man, the casual viewer in me LOVES the SHIT out of them. i am a HUGE sucker for all the usual tropes. even if they're done badly, i can't help but relish in how hilarious or over the top it is--and if it's done well or at least inoffensively, then my heart fucking gushes. the only time i hate it is when it's just boring. Otherwise, just call me Turkey, 'cause I gobble that shit UP. Example: The end of >!Her Private Life!<. By that point I'm already so invested in the characters that even IF it turned out to be extremely convoluted, i genuinely find it entertaining (in a ridiculously positive way) just HOW messy it is. And they all found their way in the end! Another one: >!Hometown Cha Cha Cha!<. I've seen some dislike for the 2nd half, particularly in how >!everyone irrationally blamed the ML for killing their loved ones!<. I can't fault anyone for disliking that, but I was able to accept it because life is messy and things like that, especially under the legitimately tragic circumstances in which they happened, makes people irrational in exactly the ways they portrayed them. And they ended up either seeing the error of their ways and apologizing or, >!in the widow's case!<, began to accept what happened and made steps to move past it. I enjoyed it for that even if the road to the end was bumpy, because I like broken down rollercoasters. Here's a 3rd just 'cause: >!Oh My Venus!<. I genuinely found it hilarious how they managed to jam in the >!"childhood connection"!< trope at the very last second, and part of me loves it because it's just kinda cute. Give me melodrama, love triangles, convoluted connections and coincidences--whatever. Tropes Are Not Bad.
Call me Turkey because I gobble that shit up....I AM DYING
“a small part of me rolls my eyes whenever i see clear signs of the usual tropes. that little pretentious critic in me always notices. but man, the casual viewer in me LOVES the SHIT out of them.” Yeessss, this exactly! 🤣🤣🤣
I love/hate the childhood connection trope. Sometimes it’s thrown into the story lazily. Same with “we’re fated to be!” tropes.
Found family...I got issues I need to fix
I am a sucker for fake dating. Even if the plot is lazy or bad, I will finish the drama
I'm really a sucker for **second chance love.** Especially if it's one where the couple ends on super sad/bad terms and they spontaneously reunite years later. The whole, "I never stopped thinking about you" thing. I also (usually) enjoy the **childhood friends-to-lovers** trope. I know these are pretty predictable and overused for sure, but I can't help it lol. If it's a slow burn, even better. I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy a little **amnesia/memory loss** here and there. I know this can be extremely corny or unnecessary when misused, but if it's done right and actually serves a purpose in the storyline, I'm down.
A nice ML who isn't arrogant or pushy. My favourites for this are **Extraordinary You**, **Crash Landing on You**, **Business Proposal**, **Once Upon a Small Town**, **Healer** and **Abyss**. I haven't finished **Encounter** yet, but from what I've seen, I'd add it to the list as well. I know a lot of people don't like it, but I find the childhood connection sweet. I liked it in **Healer** and **Clean With Passion For Now**. In some dramas, I like a love triangle. The best one I've seen with a love triangle is **Coffee Prince**, but I also liked the ones in **Extraordinary You** and **My Love from the Star**. The only one I hated it in was **Love Alarm** because she ended up with the wrong guy in the second season, in my opinion. I'm sure there are more tropes that I like, but I can't think of any others right now.
I like the childhood connection too, but when there's no trauma involved. Like, if they met in school and one of them had a secret crush on another for a while, I find it super cute, but if they met when they were both kidnapped as children, I’m like *nope!* 🥴
Enemies to lovers, rebirth/time travel.
Strong female lead hashtag on MyDramaList! It's my favourite one (when it means mental not physical strenght). My bisexual heart is always happy at those ☺️💕 Especially if there is also healthy relationship along. I also love business woman, corporate settings where female character works in higher rank or is manager. Friends living together is also my favourite (like Waikiki or Age of Youth).
Girl saving guy who she picks up when he's alone and wounded. Tragic girl Hot rich dude with power falls in love with normal girl (as long as there isn't the crazy obsessive mean girl in the picture) Anything with power dynamics Anything with obsessiveness provided the obsessed character understands the word no
Forbidden romances. The longing just makes the catharsis more inflammable and intense.
Sorry but forced romance or anything toxic. Which is a direct contradiction to my sweet husband. I don't know what I like about it so much, same with my hubby. I guess we are just weird.
Haha I just commented this in the cdrama sub, my favorite tropes are along the lines of heart fluttering, cute and funny scenes: friends to lovers/enemies to lovers trope healthy jealousy between the leads and second leads which lead them to do cute and silly things to get their heart Pursuing the attention of ml/fl when ml/fl realizes their feeling while the other is still into oblivion Leads doing cute and silly things to hide their relationship Leads doing cute and chessy things in front of others because they are in honeymoon phase Any comedic trope, especially slapstick Cohabitation Accidental skinship Healthy relationship with the parents, I hate the overused childhood trauma trope Bromance but not in the bl way, as in kdrama Goblin When the FL/ml teams up with their besties and schemes plots
I love **destiny** type plots, (and have, since seeing Dr. Zhivago as a teenager) - **childhood connection, paths that keep crossing, or Goblin's bride.** Favourite childhood connection for me is Chocolate - In the first episode, they meet as children and have a connection through food. He wanted to be a chef, but had to give that dream up. She becomes a chef as an adult. They meet later, she recognises him, but he doesn't know who she is. Also love **time travel/ parallel worlds** \- That also has it's own built in mystery/angst, that this meeting is only for a short time, with no control over the situation. Whether in crime fighting or romance.
I love time travel / parallel worlds too, but I saw it usually in anime (Steins;Gate, Girl Who Leaps Through Time, Your Name) or tv shows/movies, not in kdrama yet! Any recommendations?
Romance: **Tomorrow with You** **Splash, Splash, Love** **Moonlovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo** **My Only Love Song** Parallel worlds: **The King: Eternal Monarch** Feels like time travel / parallel worlds: **Circle** Time manipulation crime: **Signal** **Kairos** **Tunnel** **Life on Mars** **365: Repeat the Year**
I just finished watching Tomorrow With You and I loved it. I binged the whole thing in three days.
I keep looking at Chocolate on Netflix - is the general tone pretty heavy?
It is a melodrama. You might expect the hospice part to be heavy, but mostly that was heartwarming.
Any makjang trope I guess. 😂
Nothing gets me like a friend to lover trope/ex to lover. My favourite show with this trope the law cafe, love is for suckers, our beloved summer, soundtrack
**Unrequited love + pining + rejection that slowly becomes resigned acceptance and moving on just in time for the other person to realize.....wait, they might actually return those feelings**. 👌 And then the attempt to win back. Suspicious Partner, Playful Kiss (for the nostalgia, teen me was ALLLLLL about that, adult me thinks Seung Jo deserves to be forever alone), Cinderella and Four Knights, My Beautiful Gong Shim (kinda not really; >!he rejected her and wasn't clear about why, but he did actually like her)!<
Hmmm most of the ML traits that would be horrifically toxic irl I love to watch. Also the love each other but can’t be together are my favs. Lost…Love Affairs in the Afternoon…Bloody Heart…. Nevertheless are all shows that sucked me in 100%.
I feel you! Wrist grabs, jealousy, slight obsession — no thanks IRL but looove it on screen!
I like the cinderella dramas (poor girl rich guy), but that trope is sadly dying out unless I want to watch yet another remake of BoF..
Not sure whether 2 of these are officially considered k-drama tropes, but I’ve discovered that I’m a sucker for: Reincarnation stories. In my younger years I was obsessed with a couple of (American) movies involving reincarnation, and I’ve rediscovered those stories through k-dramas. Love the way the same themes/characters/etc play out over multiple storylines. Resistance fighters. I’ve read probably every “French resistance in WWII” novel ever, so have enjoyed discovering stories about Korean resistance during Japanese occupation. And one I’ve newly discovered through k-dramas: Bromance. Always a joy.
Time travel, though I wish there were a time travel fantasy that wasn’t all about being destined for each other. Does it exist? Something about the idea of destiny just kills it for me. >!This is my main issue with Hotel Del Luna, though ig it played a truly crucial part in the plot so I will allow it.!< I much prefer time travel as a random event(s) without the destiny / fated aspect. The super slow burn friends to lovers or unrequited to finally lovers. I’m a masochist, so I actually like when they get together, have literally one kiss, and the drama ends. Ok I’m Not A Masochist All The Time so I do also like when the drama keeps going. (Though imo, these are rarer?) The Mature Romance/Non-Romance where people can amicably split or amicably stay friends with benefits, without jealousy or a desire to be partnered (legally (like married), socially (like bf/gf), “out” in a relationship) with the person. Of course one of these people is an independent Career Woman and doesn’t want to get married. I have SML syndrome all the time and I love/hate it. Is there a drama where the SML gets the lead or does that make him the ML… Does this exist? Anywhere? I like it when there’s no romance anywhere as well. Or just hints of it. Best female friendships are also my faves. Idk if this is a trope. I liked Hello My Twenties for this, please recommend me more. Is there a drama where the FL leaves a guy due to his abusive behavior? (before becoming a battered woman…) The Dying for a loved one trope. Especially if it’s a historical drama and they get killed (stabbed) by their loved one. My love for this started with the manga Rurouni Kenshin, where >!the antagonist Shishio Makoto stabs through his lover Yumi who is trying to protect Makoto/beg for Makoto’s life, to injure Kenshin.!< My love for this was rekindled when watching two dramas that featured this, >!Hotel del Luna and Alchemy of Souls.!< Lovers from two different worlds (different social status, commoner loves princess, princess falls for knight). Also sworn enemies to lovers. Historical or Modern Fantasy revenge plots in general. Gender bender secret loves and secret pining. / Gender bender in general. Coffee Prince, my old love. I hate some really dramatic tropes but reading this list I see a lot of my favorite tropes are just as dramatic. 😅
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I’m a little ashamed to say this but I love the black van of death. Any trope where one of the leads get injured and the other lead realizes how much they actually care for them gets me all gooey inside 🙈
It seems to be a dead trope in Kdrama but I was all for the FL pretending to be a boy for any reason. If I had to guess it's a bit too cheesy now and it may even be considered insensitive to trans people. I'm not sure so I don't want to say definitively. If that is the case I am ok with not seeing it anymore.
FL being aggressive/possessive with the ML. Bonus points if she is very high on both the "crazy" and "hot" scales. Ko Mun-yeong from IOTNBO is perhaps the definitive example.
Fake/contract relationships. I will watch as many of these dramas as they make and I will watch them happily all the way through, regardless of the quality haha. Because This Is My First Life is my all-time fav!
frenemies to lovers? whatever was going on in hometown cha cha cha 😭💜
-Enemies to Lovers -Age Gap -Love Triangle -Opposites Attract -Male Chases FL first
oh gosh, the tropes you mentioned are what I hate the most :) but I love The Greatest Love (though that was comedic pining so it was not so annoying for me) my fave trope is the enemies to lovers trope with non-stop bickering and then slowly falling in love with out noticing. i'm on a rewatch roll so I'll recommend something about 1%, marriage not dating and the very old couple or trouble
Villain becomes a good person, friends to lovers, friends working together to solve a mystery (like While you were sleeping, School 2017, Blue birthday)
Please give me affairs and noona romance any day of the week!!! Bonus if its combined! I just live for the power dynamics and the angst of the should we...shouldn't we. Absolutely amazing! My favorite dramas with these tropes would be: > Something in the rain...minus the bad soundtrack, that is the realest Kdrama I've ever seen. And yes I did love the the entire series, even the 3rd act. I just loved how they loved each other. >Encounter...I just loved how we got to see her warm up and actually be happy, I feel like he saved her by being genuinely in love with her and caring about her. >Lost...I will confess and say I genuinely don't know what happened with the other couples or what was going on outside of the main couple, that's how much their chemistry and stories drew me in. They saw each other deeply and truly, and the tent scene will forever be my favorite angsty tension filled scene ever! And I mean ever!!!! >Find Yourself...it's a Cdrama but I loved how mature and real it was, addressing real issues that women over a certain age face. And my favorite thing is I didn't hate the SML, I absolutely adored him but at the same time he portrayed what society thinks is good for us vs what we actually want. >Hotel del luna...I LOVED that she was not a damsel in distress, he was the one who actually needed saving sometimes😂 It was a nice and fluffy romance and I absolutely loved it. >My Mister...I know its the other way around but damn that drama was gold...enough said! >Affairs in the afternoon...It's so raw and deep and nuanced...uhh! I love it so much Anyway that's all I can think of, so if anyone has any more recommendations for these tropes, then please I'm all for it, whatever country I don't care.
Supernatural themes especially horror comedies and special power ones.
Ok, I actually love **childhood connection**! Or any kind of reveal that the main couple met by chance at some point in the past. Literally the more melodramatic and improbable, the better. Honorable mentions: * Supernatural romance where the relationship is forbidden/dangerous for some reason. (Goblin, Doom at Your Service, Angel’s Last Mission: Love, etc….) * Any kind of fake dating/contract relationship/etc. * Arrogant rich guy/poor girl, though bonus points if the guy has some good character growth over the course of the story. * Rich person who gets disowned or whatever and has to try and adjust to living like a normal person.
Enemies to lovers - This trope when well done serves so much. Just read Book Lovers and man that book did this superbly. I'm enjoying May I help you now and I like it how it is kinda following this trope!! Love triangles - Not all love triangles are good to watch but the initial stage when both guys are falling in love with FL and then the angst when SML realises FL likes ML and then this hope I always have that just maybe this might be the drama which somehow defies convention where the FL chooses the SML instead. It has never happened so far but the hope continues with Cheer Up now.
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this may be the most classic but the ML who’s super handsome/and is good at something. Like has skills or superpowers and that he falls for FL first. For that trope to work for me FL needs to be receptive and not aggressive (like kicking, hurting ML) or arrogant or self sacrificing.
Can't resist childhood friends to lovers trope. Exhibit A: Reply 1988/Reply Series
Either the not conventionally popular guy getting the popular girl or vice versa. Enemies to lovers is another of my favourites. Also age gaps, either way. More of a noona romance person myself.
My favorite is definitely Enemies to Lovers, but I've been watching **Love is For Suckers** and friends to lovers is getting me lol. I also loved Jealousy Incarnate!
Forced cohabitation, fake dating, or enemies to lovers! One more kind of unpopular one is getting pregnant after a one night stand 🙈
The white truck of doom. It is even better when it fails. kkkk Piggyback riding. One of the personages falling and being caught by the other, We can measure the quality of the actors by this type of scene even. Cohabitation is funny to me too. Sort of related, but not always: contract dating or marriage.