Romances with darker elements, whether that be something criminal, supernatural, or the fragility of human life. Watch these with a shielded heart, because there will be tears, anger, and sometimes a mix of both. Any suggestions are welcome!

Dark Romance

Ruan Nian Chu (Yu Yue), a rising theater actress, is on top of the world – until a near-fatal on-set accident threatens her career and happiness. Li Teng (Tsao Yu Ning), who saves her just in the nick of time, becomes her unlikely hero. Though his cold exterior hides a heart that Nian Chu begins to melt, their paths diverge, leaving their budding feelings unfulfilled. Five years later, their lives intersect once again, reigniting their romance, but they now face new obstacles that threaten their chance at love. Can they manage to overcome these issues and find happiness together? This 2021 romance drama was adapted from the novel Ban Yin by Ni Shui Qian Liu and was directed by Ming Yan.

Mysterious Love

💖  Mysteriously in Love 💖

Misfortune has struck webtoon editor Tak Dong Kyeong (Park Bo Young) for years, leaving her orphaned, diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, and broken-hearted. When she drunkenly calls upon the heavens to put her out of her misery, a Doom entity named Myeol Mang (Seo In Guk) appears. He agrees to grants her wish in 100 days if she is willing to pay the ultimate price.Things get complicated, however, when this leads them to start developing feelings for one another. Could love free Myeol Mang from his undead duties – and save Dong Kyeong from death? This 2021 South Korean drama series was directed by Kwon Young Il.

Doom at Your Service

My heart goes Doom 💕

JTBC

Born from a long line of women gifted with monumental strength, Do Bong Soon (Park Bo Young) is far from ordinary. Only able to use her power for good, Bong Soon agrees to work as a bodyguard for Ahn Min Hyeok (Park Hyung Sik), the recently endangered chaebol heir and CEO of gaming company Ainsoft. With dreams of developing a video game of her own, Bong Soon hopes that by working with Min Hyeok, she’ll find a way to turn her dreams into reality. Meanwhile, her childhood friend, Detective Gook Doo (Ji Soo), is on the hunt for a kidnapper whose path soon crosses with Bong Soon. Using her gifts for the greatest good, will Bong Soon find her life full of everything she’s dreamed of and more? This is a 2017 South Korean romantic comedy series directed by Lee Hyung Min.

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon

Small but Mighty Team

Alien Do Min Joon (Kim Soo Hyun) landed on Earth 400 years ago during the Joseon Dynasty. With superhuman abilities like teleportation, enhanced vision, and slowed aging, he has lived a solitary life, meticulously observing humanity while waiting for his chance to return to his home planet. With only three months left until his departure, his carefully structured existence is disrupted by Cheon Song Yi (Jun Ji Hyun), a wildly popular – albeit ditzy and often problematic – actress who moves in next door. Their initial clashes evolve into an undeniable attraction, forcing Min Joon to confront his long-held detachment from human emotions. As their unconventional romance blossoms, they face not only the impending deadline of his return but also a dangerous conspiracy surrounding Song Yi's career, forcing Min Joon to choose between his long-awaited journey home and the woman he has come to love.

My Love From the Star

Go Go Alien and Hallyu Star

Former teenage sweethearts separated by uncontrollable circumstances, Sin Joon Young (Kim Woo Bin) and No Eul (Suzy) are reunited as adults – when the latter is commissioned to make a documentary about Joon Young. He is now a superstar actor and singer who's dead-set against filming his documentary and gives No Eul a miserable time. Gradually, he relents to the documentary and uses the time to try and win her heart back. Can they rekindle their once-passionate love? This 2016 South Korean drama series was directed by Park Hyun Suk and Cha Young Hoon.

Uncontrollably Fond

The Uncontrollable Lovebirds

Struggling jobseeker Go Mi Ran (Won Jin Ah) and TV producer Ma Dong Chan (Ji Chang Wook) agreed to an experiment that promised a cash payout in return for spending 24 hours in cryogenically-frozen sleep. However, upon waking up, they’re shocked to find they’ve been frozen for 20 years! With their bodies unaged but the world around them drastically different, they must navigate their new lives in the future while keeping their body temperature low, as any rise could be fatal. As they grapple with their new reality and unravel the mystery behind their extended slumber, unexpected romance blooms between them, threatening their very survival. Will they overcome the heat of their budding relationship and uncover the truth behind their 20-year freeze? This 2019 South Korean drama series was produced by Shin Woo Cheol.

Melting Me Softly

Youku

Su Zhi Nian (Deng Chao Yuan), a mysterious transfer student with special powers, encounters Song Qing Chun (Zhang Xi Ye) during a confrontation with school bullies. When his powers mysteriously fail around her, he is forced to erase her memory. Four years later, Qing Chun is a successful TV news presenter who unexpectedly shares a stage with Zhi Nian, now a powerful business leader. Despite their frosty past, they are drawn together when family and professional challenges force them to cooperate. A twist of fate compels them to live together for 100 days, creating unexpected complications in their relationship.

Meeting You Loving You

Second Chance Love

MGTV

Ma Dong Shan (Wang Qing Xiang), Han De Chang (Chunyu Shan Shan), and Song Tian Ming (Wang Zhi Fei) founded a successful hotel business decades ago. After De Chang's passing and Tian Ming losing his son, Dong Shan becomes the sole owner of Haosen Hotel. He hopes his daughter Ma Ke Ai (Zheng He Hui Zi) will return from abroad to inherit the business. Following a near-fatal accident overseas, Ke Ai rushes home upon hearing her father's failing health. She discovers a series of suspicious accidents that suggest a sinister plot against her. Partnering with Xia Yu Xing (Vin Zhang), Ke Ai investigates these mysterious events while stepping into her new company role. Together, they seek to uncover the truth behind the dangerous incidents threatening her family's legacy. This is a 2019 Chinese romance thriller drama directed by Wang Wei.

Love is Fate

Born blind, Hong Cheon Gi (Kim Yoo Jung) is a gifted painter who miraculously regains her sight and earns an unprecedented position at the prestigious royal art school during the Dan dynasty. In contrast, astrologer Ha Ram (Ahn Hyo Seop), despite his ability to see the future, lost his sight in a childhood accident. Fate brings Cheon Gi and Ha Ram together, and they quickly fall in love. However, their budding romance is threatened by political machinations of the royal court. Is their love fated to last or was it doomed from the start? Adapted from the novel of the same name by Jung Eun Gwol, this 2021 South Korean fantasy romance series was directed by Jang Tae Yoo.

Lovers of the Red Sky

For Your Eyes Only 👁‿👁  

TV producer Nam Ji Ah (Jo Bo Ah) believes that Korean stories of the nine-tailed fox, a creature that seduces the innocent to satisfy its craving for human flesh, are not mere folk tales. And she has made it her personal mission to prove it! But this puts her on a collision course with Lee Yeon (Lee Dong Wook), a handsome and intelligent man – and a secret nine-tailed fox! When his bloodthirsty step-brother Lee Rang (Kim Bum) appears on the scene, hungry for mayhem – Yeon is forced into action. Can he save Ji Ah from doom? And could this cunning fox find love in the process? This 2020 South Korean drama series was directed by Kang Shin Hyo.

Tale of the Nine-Tailed

❤️ The Storytailers ❤️ Team

Eight years ago, Su Yi (Yuan Yu Xuan) survived a devastating fire that left her disfigured and erased her memories, while her father was killed in a mysterious traffic incident. Driven by a quest for truth, she encounters Li Jia Cheng (Liu Yi Chang), the aloof heir to a wealthy family. Neither recognizes the other due to Su Yi's changed appearance and memory loss. As they spend time together, they sense a deep connection from their shared past. Despite initial mistrust, they begin to investigate the secrets surrounding the tragic events that changed their lives. Will they uncover the truth behind the fire and her father's death? This is a 2021 Chinese drama directed by Tan You Ye.

The Secret of Love

🔍The Seducers' Truth Team 💘

In 1926, Mu Wan Qing (Zhang Jing Yi) returns to Shanghai, seeking answers about her parents’ separation and her brother’s death under the guise of simply burying her deceased mother’s ashes. With the help of powerful allies Tan Xuan Lin (Chen Xing Xu) and Xu Guang Yao (Lin Yan Jun), she delves into a web of secrets, uncovering a past more tangled than she ever imagined. Wan Qing must decide if the answers she seeks are worth the price of her heart, as family, loyalty, friendship, and love collide in a city on the brink of chaos. This 2021 Chinese historical romance drama was directed by Lin Jian Long and Chen Guo Hua.

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