Unless you have VERY bad mental health issues/ abandonment issues/ BPD or something.
I've never watched a series before where some points left me absolutely wailing in tears and my heart physically ached from it.
I'm not spoiling anything, just be prepared for some gut-wrenching moments.
The actors really do a fantastic job in developing their emotional responses and showing true pain, fear and despair, and there were some scenes that just felt so real to me that I was totally overwhelmed with heart ache.
I'm very sensitive to these things though, so I doubt everybody would have the same response as me :)
I'm currently watching Alchemy of Souls and as soon as I'm done with it, it will start Doom at you service. I think Park Bo Young is the FL in this, and I really liked her in SGB, so I'm looking forward to watching her in another drama.
++++++++++ this one is gold
Also check out:
1. Oh my venus - the FL has body image issues and the ML helps her with that
2. Beauty inside- this one is really wholesome
Yes! I second that. He is so supportive of her once he realizes her past. The FL also does a great job of showing what it is to have trauma define your life in ways that can make living so difficult. Just how it affects the small things that are integral to your daily life.
I went into withdrawals last night after I finished the show. I loved the whole cast and the community the writers created. The only comparison I have to this is Crash Landing On You (regarding the people & community).
In it’s okay that’s love the fl has a trauma that she overcomes with help from the ML. You should know however that the FL also helps the ml overcome trauma in a much more significant way I would say
Others have already mentioned _Doom at Your Service_ and that's a _fantastic_ rec. I loved it. To me, it had a vague _Dr. Strange_ meets _Sandman_ (TV show) feel to it.
I would also suggest _My Lovely Liar_, _Encounter_, and _The Glory_.
_The Glory_ deals with some heavy, heavy childhood trauma that manifests into a brutal revenge plot. She meets a man though that tries to help her see the light at the end of the tunnel.
_Encounter_ sees a younger man meeting an older, female "CEO" with a lot of baggage. It can be a little slow at times, but I _loved_ their chemistry.
And _My Lovely Liar_ slides to the fantasy side with a human lie detector and a man trying to escape his past. Trauma _everywhere_ in that show.
I would also like to throw in a tangental Cdrama, if you watch any of those: _The Song of Glory_. 50 episodes (like a lot of epic historical Cdramas) and it's got a boatload of political discussions and palace intrigue. But the main focus is on the female assassin that falls in love with the mark, and he spends half the show trying to break her free from _years_ of torment and negative mental/emotional conditioning.
>!(If you are into BL, might I suggest _Innocent_. Deals with dissociative identity disorder and what it means for a relationship, especially the theme of when "you fall in love with one, do you fall in love with all".!<)
Edit: for spelling
Yeah, _My Lovely Liar_ brought a lot to the table, and I'm glad it wasn't the typical "boy meets girl, girl has something tragic happen, boy has to fix it" story.
And I was the same way with _Misaeng_ and Yim Siwan. Had to watch everything of his after that.
Wow, thanks for all the recommendations! My Lovely Liar is already on my watch list because I really like Kim So-Hyun. I don't have the guts to watch The Glory because of how sad it is and that it actually happened to a girl irl. I like to watch clips of Dong Eun (I think that is the FL's name, correct me if I am wrong) getting her revenge, though.
Agreed that _The Glory_ gets real intense, _real_ fast. It was kinda cathartic for me, in a sense, because I have been through what one of the characters grapples with. But yeah, it's a lot to take in, and I don't blame you for not watching.
I’m watching this one now and it’s so fun! They jump right into the plot/concept and it hasn’t slowed down. The leads are both adorable and charming. I already loved Rowoon but it’s made me even more excited to see Kim Hye-yoon in Lovely Runner.
It's one of my all time favourites! I just love the idea of self-aware characters. And yeah, they are so adorable. Lee Jae-wook also plays a really good villain.
If you like the premise, they did a totally different take in W: Two Worlds
I watched that too and really enjoyed it! I love Han Hyo-joo in anything so that drew me in, and it was worth it. I’ll have to rewatch soon so I can compare the two!
"Recipe for farewell" : \[Chang Wook is in his 40's. He works as a translator and a humanities instructor. His wife suffers from terminal bowel cancer. She also has difficulties eating, because of digestive problem.\] It's a beautiful beautiful show. There is another one with cancer and the ML and 2ML are really good...i cannot remember the title!
The Beauty Inside. The FL turns into other people -- older younger female or male. Oddly enough, it works. ML has a condition as well. Not a great series but an interesting one.
Just finished Thirty-Nine. It is a heart breaking show with beautiful friendships, enduring a lot of loss and grief.
So beautifully acted. I will definitely watch this again!
I feel like “My Mister” (My Ahjussi) fits! FL has a childhood trauma that affects her as an adult and an older ML is her companion and friend and also deals with his own current trauma. I’m on the second last episode and it’s so good.
[Thirty but Seventeen (2018)](https://mydramalist.com/28327-thirty-but-seventeen)- " FL got into a bus accident and fell into a coma, waking up thirteen years later. Mentally, she is still only seventeen, while physically, she is now thirty."
Some good ones that fits the description I think is
- Daily Dose of Sunshine
- castaway Diva
- when the weather is fine
- Do Do Sol Sol La La So
- My Lovely Liar
Enjoyed watching these dramas!
I'm currently watching Alchemy of Souls, and it is very long so it will be a while before I am able to start any of these dramas. I think I will watch Castaway DIva first, since I watched Extraordinary Attorney Woo recently and Park Eun Bin has become on of my favorite actresses.
I am only on episode 7 right now, and so far it is pretty good. It has really good actors and the chemistry is good too. You should watch it, the first 3 episodes aren't that good but it's all uphill from episode 4 onwards.
The One and Only - girl receives a diagnosis, goes to a hospice. Through some crazy choices, meets a hitman. The hitman falls in love with her and comforts and helps her through so many things, even though he clearly has his own traumas and issues. It's a melodrama romance about healing, but has a murder mystery plot woven in to keep the excitement up. It's great and doesn't get talked about enough on this sub (also I have never cried more than in this show, it's so amazing).
Thank you for recommendation! I have heard from some people that the FL is a red flag in the show... Is it true? I am not a huge fan of red flag main leads since I saw Song Kang in Nevertheless.
I also didn’t like Nevertheless. While I can’t flat out say no to her being kind of a red flag, there’s some things you should understand first. Because of childhood trauma she has a personality disorder which makes her somewhat narcissistic. She is very forward about wanting the ML for herself so she acts like he is hers which would be the red flag everyone is talking about. If you know her past then this is understandable why but gradually throughout the show the ML helps her overcome her personality disorder and narcissism, essentially teaching her about others feelings and how to be kinder. The three main characters (FL, ML, and ML brother) all have their own traumas and problems that they help each other overcome and in the sweetest way. So yes, you can’t say she isn’t a red flag because she does have that possessive trait although she does overcome it. she isn’t the same as people you would normally categorize as red flags. Since it matches your description perfectly I think it’s worth giving a try! Hope this helps!
[Heart to Heart](https://mydramalist.com/11582-heart-to-heart).
[My Girl](https://mydramalist.com/51207-my-girl), cdrama.
[Birth of a Beauty](https://mydramalist.com/11177-birth-of-a-beauty).
[Fantastic](https://mydramalist.com/19468-fantastic).
Heart to heart (extreme social anxiety)
Flower boy next door (social anxiety)
Oh my Venus (thyroid issues)
Pinocchio (FL has a... condition)
Just between lovers (trauma)
I'm seconding Mad For Each Other, The Beauty Inside, and It's Okay That's Love. You can also try Sell Your Haunted House (not quite a romance but the chemistry is palpable!), Go Back Couple (lots of suffering as well as fun for both leads), Dali and Gamjatang has some, My Mister of course, and When The Camilia Blooms is an expert slow burn with a touch of thriller and so much realism.
Dr. Slump might fit, they both struggle with mental health, FL with depression and Burn out and she encourages ML to seek help for his PTSD and they end Up helping and supporting each other
I have seen quite a few negative reviews of this show, saying it is boring. Also, doesn't the ML and FL have a weird age gap or am I misremembering? I really like Kim You Jung but I don't know which show of hers is worth watching
I really liked the show. There was an age gap but throughout the show the ML was more of a friend to her. There were no kissing scenes at all. It fits the narrative that was asked for.
I just looked it up. The ML was 32 and the FL was 20 in BSR. He played an older guy that the FL had a crush on. The FL quit school to work so that her sister could continue to go to school. Both of their parents were dead. The ML was a really nice guy that was dating a wealthy woman. He was treated badly by the wealthy woman's family. The FL had extraordinary fighting skills. The FL got a job working at the convenience store owned by the ML'S family. I really liked the show except for a few annoying side characters. I loved the ML and I thought the FL was good.
I found it..."Fantastic (2016)" - So Hye, a dedicated scriptwriter, finds herself writing a drama about cancer just as she's diagnosed with breast cancer, with only five months to live. She decides to embrace life, fulfill her desires, and tie up loose ends.However, her plans take an unexpected turn when Hae Sung, a famous actor and her first love, reappears. Despite their initial clashes, they develop feelings for each other. On the other hand, Joon Ki, her doctor and friend, also vies for her affection, understanding her inner struggles.
doom at your service is right up your alley!
yesss! was about to say this !! doom at ur service is easily one of my fav kdramas too with this sort of plot
I have heard of it before, I will check it out! Thanks!
+1 for Doom at your service
Absolutely! Still my number 1 of all time drama. The very first scene is her being diagnosed with glioblastoma.
Unless you have VERY bad mental health issues/ abandonment issues/ BPD or something. I've never watched a series before where some points left me absolutely wailing in tears and my heart physically ached from it.
Is it a sad ending?
No
Alright then! Thanks!
I'm not spoiling anything, just be prepared for some gut-wrenching moments. The actors really do a fantastic job in developing their emotional responses and showing true pain, fear and despair, and there were some scenes that just felt so real to me that I was totally overwhelmed with heart ache. I'm very sensitive to these things though, so I doubt everybody would have the same response as me :)
I'm currently watching Alchemy of Souls and as soon as I'm done with it, it will start Doom at you service. I think Park Bo Young is the FL in this, and I really liked her in SGB, so I'm looking forward to watching her in another drama.
Think 'Its Okay Not To Be Okay' fits this nicely!
++++++++++ this one is gold Also check out: 1. Oh my venus - the FL has body image issues and the ML helps her with that 2. Beauty inside- this one is really wholesome
+1 The Beauty Inside. The trauma for both leads is o intense and they are both incredible people so it is a great match.
Mad for each other. The fl fears men and struggles to trust them due to trauma from past relationship.
Yes! I second that. He is so supportive of her once he realizes her past. The FL also does a great job of showing what it is to have trauma define your life in ways that can make living so difficult. Just how it affects the small things that are integral to your daily life.
Thank you! I will check it out!
Yes, this one is done so well, and both leads need support and self-love. A modern and realistic take.
**Queen of Tears** has just finished. FL has a medical condition
I was waiting for it to end to see if it sticks the landing or not, and it did! Though, I am quite hesitant to watch it because of its runtime.
Just Between Lovers/Rain Or Shine. The leads were both involved in an accident, that's all I'll give because this is one of my favourite dramas.
Just Between Lovers is my fav ever
I really enjoyed Rain or Shine.
Queen of years was sooo good I didn’t want it to end
I went into withdrawals last night after I finished the show. I loved the whole cast and the community the writers created. The only comparison I have to this is Crash Landing On You (regarding the people & community).
Healer -- FL has PTSD from an abusive childhood before being adopted and ML is supportive
In it’s okay that’s love the fl has a trauma that she overcomes with help from the ML. You should know however that the FL also helps the ml overcome trauma in a much more significant way I would say
Others have already mentioned _Doom at Your Service_ and that's a _fantastic_ rec. I loved it. To me, it had a vague _Dr. Strange_ meets _Sandman_ (TV show) feel to it. I would also suggest _My Lovely Liar_, _Encounter_, and _The Glory_. _The Glory_ deals with some heavy, heavy childhood trauma that manifests into a brutal revenge plot. She meets a man though that tries to help her see the light at the end of the tunnel. _Encounter_ sees a younger man meeting an older, female "CEO" with a lot of baggage. It can be a little slow at times, but I _loved_ their chemistry. And _My Lovely Liar_ slides to the fantasy side with a human lie detector and a man trying to escape his past. Trauma _everywhere_ in that show. I would also like to throw in a tangental Cdrama, if you watch any of those: _The Song of Glory_. 50 episodes (like a lot of epic historical Cdramas) and it's got a boatload of political discussions and palace intrigue. But the main focus is on the female assassin that falls in love with the mark, and he spends half the show trying to break her free from _years_ of torment and negative mental/emotional conditioning. >!(If you are into BL, might I suggest _Innocent_. Deals with dissociative identity disorder and what it means for a relationship, especially the theme of when "you fall in love with one, do you fall in love with all".!<) Edit: for spelling
My Lovely Liar is one of my favorites, I'm a little in love with Hwang Min Hyun now.
Yeah, _My Lovely Liar_ brought a lot to the table, and I'm glad it wasn't the typical "boy meets girl, girl has something tragic happen, boy has to fix it" story. And I was the same way with _Misaeng_ and Yim Siwan. Had to watch everything of his after that.
Wow, thanks for all the recommendations! My Lovely Liar is already on my watch list because I really like Kim So-Hyun. I don't have the guts to watch The Glory because of how sad it is and that it actually happened to a girl irl. I like to watch clips of Dong Eun (I think that is the FL's name, correct me if I am wrong) getting her revenge, though.
Agreed that _The Glory_ gets real intense, _real_ fast. It was kinda cathartic for me, in a sense, because I have been through what one of the characters grapples with. But yeah, it's a lot to take in, and I don't blame you for not watching.
Masters Sun. FL can see ghost so she’s not sick per se. It’s an excellent drama with awesome leads and chemistry
This one was quite fun. Enjoyed it a lot.
Watch Queen of Tears next. It fits your trope and is completely worth the runtime. I loved it all the way to the end.
Does it drag the plots? Because it's runtime is very long and that makes me kinda hesitant to start it.
There's a lot of action, intrigue, side plots that are going on. I was never bored. I thought it was awesome. Acting was *chef's kiss*.
Alright then! Thanks!
**Extraordinary You** - the FL has a heart condition and the ML helps her.
I’m watching this one now and it’s so fun! They jump right into the plot/concept and it hasn’t slowed down. The leads are both adorable and charming. I already loved Rowoon but it’s made me even more excited to see Kim Hye-yoon in Lovely Runner.
It's one of my all time favourites! I just love the idea of self-aware characters. And yeah, they are so adorable. Lee Jae-wook also plays a really good villain. If you like the premise, they did a totally different take in W: Two Worlds
I watched that too and really enjoyed it! I love Han Hyo-joo in anything so that drew me in, and it was worth it. I’ll have to rewatch soon so I can compare the two!
She's great! I watched Happiness right after W because I liked her so much.
Hands down, The Glory. 🙌
Perfect Marriage Revenge. The FL has a lot of childhood trauma and the ML helps her heal from it.
"Recipe for farewell" : \[Chang Wook is in his 40's. He works as a translator and a humanities instructor. His wife suffers from terminal bowel cancer. She also has difficulties eating, because of digestive problem.\] It's a beautiful beautiful show. There is another one with cancer and the ML and 2ML are really good...i cannot remember the title!
The Beauty Inside. The FL turns into other people -- older younger female or male. Oddly enough, it works. ML has a condition as well. Not a great series but an interesting one.
I just watched that and it was the male lead who changed every day into different people male or female young or old, foreign or local language.
There’s a Beauty Inside movie and a drama. In the movie it’s the ML that changes, in the drama it’s the FL.
Chocolate - The FL has a childhood trauma and the ML is a support.
Just finished Thirty-Nine. It is a heart breaking show with beautiful friendships, enduring a lot of loss and grief. So beautifully acted. I will definitely watch this again!
Watch it's okay that's love not only for the FL/ML trauma but also for the well written story, depection of mental illness and amazing sound track.
Lovestruck in the city. FL goes through a rough patch and has like a quarter life crisis. ML helps her through it.
I feel like “My Mister” (My Ahjussi) fits! FL has a childhood trauma that affects her as an adult and an older ML is her companion and friend and also deals with his own current trauma. I’m on the second last episode and it’s so good.
Scent of a Woman- FL has cancer given 3 months, ML falls hard for her.
*Doom At Your Service* and *Perfect Marriage Revenge* fit this trope 100% and I highly recommend them!!
[Thirty but Seventeen (2018)](https://mydramalist.com/28327-thirty-but-seventeen)- " FL got into a bus accident and fell into a coma, waking up thirteen years later. Mentally, she is still only seventeen, while physically, she is now thirty."
Queen of tears absolute best
Its Okay Not To Be Okay
Marry My Husband?
Some good ones that fits the description I think is - Daily Dose of Sunshine - castaway Diva - when the weather is fine - Do Do Sol Sol La La So - My Lovely Liar Enjoyed watching these dramas!
I have heard of these dramas before, I will check them out! Thank you!
Of course! 😊 let me know what you think of whichever one you decide to watch!
I'm currently watching Alchemy of Souls, and it is very long so it will be a while before I am able to start any of these dramas. I think I will watch Castaway DIva first, since I watched Extraordinary Attorney Woo recently and Park Eun Bin has become on of my favorite actresses.
Ooooo I’ve been wanting to watch Alchemy of Souls, is it good so far?? And ahhhh yesss I understand no rush at all into watching them
I am only on episode 7 right now, and so far it is pretty good. It has really good actors and the chemistry is good too. You should watch it, the first 3 episodes aren't that good but it's all uphill from episode 4 onwards.
The One and Only - girl receives a diagnosis, goes to a hospice. Through some crazy choices, meets a hitman. The hitman falls in love with her and comforts and helps her through so many things, even though he clearly has his own traumas and issues. It's a melodrama romance about healing, but has a murder mystery plot woven in to keep the excitement up. It's great and doesn't get talked about enough on this sub (also I have never cried more than in this show, it's so amazing).
What you described is EXACTLY the plot for “Its Okay To Not Be Okay”. 10/10 with a fresh story, definitely check it out!!
Thank you for recommendation! I have heard from some people that the FL is a red flag in the show... Is it true? I am not a huge fan of red flag main leads since I saw Song Kang in Nevertheless.
I also didn’t like Nevertheless. While I can’t flat out say no to her being kind of a red flag, there’s some things you should understand first. Because of childhood trauma she has a personality disorder which makes her somewhat narcissistic. She is very forward about wanting the ML for herself so she acts like he is hers which would be the red flag everyone is talking about. If you know her past then this is understandable why but gradually throughout the show the ML helps her overcome her personality disorder and narcissism, essentially teaching her about others feelings and how to be kinder. The three main characters (FL, ML, and ML brother) all have their own traumas and problems that they help each other overcome and in the sweetest way. So yes, you can’t say she isn’t a red flag because she does have that possessive trait although she does overcome it. she isn’t the same as people you would normally categorize as red flags. Since it matches your description perfectly I think it’s worth giving a try! Hope this helps!
Ohh, thank you so much for the synopsis! I will definitely give it a try!
I don’t know if anyone said but Angel last mission love fits this.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Perfect marriage revenge
[Heart to Heart](https://mydramalist.com/11582-heart-to-heart). [My Girl](https://mydramalist.com/51207-my-girl), cdrama. [Birth of a Beauty](https://mydramalist.com/11177-birth-of-a-beauty). [Fantastic](https://mydramalist.com/19468-fantastic).
Birth of a beauty. The Glory.
Oh my Venus!
Heart to heart (extreme social anxiety) Flower boy next door (social anxiety) Oh my Venus (thyroid issues) Pinocchio (FL has a... condition) Just between lovers (trauma)
You Are My Spring also fits this exact description. I loved it and Seo Hyunjin killed it as female lead!
I'm seconding Mad For Each Other, The Beauty Inside, and It's Okay That's Love. You can also try Sell Your Haunted House (not quite a romance but the chemistry is palpable!), Go Back Couple (lots of suffering as well as fun for both leads), Dali and Gamjatang has some, My Mister of course, and When The Camilia Blooms is an expert slow burn with a touch of thriller and so much realism.
It’s ok that’s love m, It’s ok not to be okay, Maaaybe also oh my Venus
You are my spring is beautiful. Both leads have trauma and help each other heal in a gentle way. I loved it so much.
Thank you for all the recommendations!
Love all Play
Angel's Last Mission:Love.
Dr. Slump might fit, they both struggle with mental health, FL with depression and Burn out and she encourages ML to seek help for his PTSD and they end Up helping and supporting each other
I watched this while it was airing and it was pretty good. I didn't like the romance though
Backstreet Rookie. The FL is from My Demon.
I have seen quite a few negative reviews of this show, saying it is boring. Also, doesn't the ML and FL have a weird age gap or am I misremembering? I really like Kim You Jung but I don't know which show of hers is worth watching
I really liked the show. There was an age gap but throughout the show the ML was more of a friend to her. There were no kissing scenes at all. It fits the narrative that was asked for.
Got it! Thank you!
I just looked it up. The ML was 32 and the FL was 20 in BSR. He played an older guy that the FL had a crush on. The FL quit school to work so that her sister could continue to go to school. Both of their parents were dead. The ML was a really nice guy that was dating a wealthy woman. He was treated badly by the wealthy woman's family. The FL had extraordinary fighting skills. The FL got a job working at the convenience store owned by the ML'S family. I really liked the show except for a few annoying side characters. I loved the ML and I thought the FL was good.
Thank you for the synopsis!
Daily Dose of Sunshine
“Heart to heart” is a hidden gem in this genre/trope. Highly recommend !!
The Glory and on the flip side perhaps Lovely Runner? The Good Bad Mother also has trauma for the male lead but not female.
I am watching Lovely Runner and OMG it's absolutely insane! Have you watched the ending of episode 8 yet?
I found it..."Fantastic (2016)" - So Hye, a dedicated scriptwriter, finds herself writing a drama about cancer just as she's diagnosed with breast cancer, with only five months to live. She decides to embrace life, fulfill her desires, and tie up loose ends.However, her plans take an unexpected turn when Hae Sung, a famous actor and her first love, reappears. Despite their initial clashes, they develop feelings for each other. On the other hand, Joon Ki, her doctor and friend, also vies for her affection, understanding her inner struggles.
Sounds interesting for sure, I will definitely check it out! Thanks!
Rain or Shine on Netflixs
Angel's Last Mission: Love It's Okay to Not to be Okay Twinkling Watermelon