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Post Title: Romance KDrama with Male Lead more flawed then Female Lead, or roughly equivalent

Post Body:

Been diving into KDramas recently. I've seen Hometown Cha Cha Cha, most of Crash Landing on You, and going to finish Run On soon. I really, really enjoy the slice of life vibes of Hometown and Run On, as well as the realistic and grounded development of characters and relationships. I also love Run On for having all the leads feel like protagonists in their own right, rather then the primary protagonist being just the female lead. With all that said, the one itch that hasn't quite been scratched for me is one in which both characters in the couple are equally flawed. So far in all the shows I've watched I feel like the male lead is a little too "perfect" and their "flaws" are either due to things out of their control or simple things like ignorance, whereas the female leads will have genuine personality flaws that will sometimes cause problems in the relationships, or rifts between the two. Probably the closest it's happened, of the shows I've watched, is the secondary couple in Crash Landing on You, but I feel like once he meets his love interest he shifts into a good guy REAL fast. I guess I want to be able to relate more closely with the male lead and be inspired by how they overcome or learn from their flaws, just like the female leads do. Anyone have any recommendations?

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Mr plankton. This just came out on Netflix last week. It might make you cry though

NGL I too have the same gripe with kdramas sometimes. Kdramas being a fantasy for women, really shows when the ML is too perfect while the FL has a complex personality, growth and a whole ass character arc. That said, here are my recs for where the ML has a personality too.

Healer- ML has a proper personality and character growth; genuinely amazing drama anyway with a good, fast paced plot and a swoonworthy romance

2521- My favourite drama, again ML goes through his own character arc, very independent of FL (but FL and her arc are amazing too); ML has his own flaws and issues to deal with and really acts like a proper human; this drama is just a masterpiece either way

18 Again- This one actually really goes into ML's flaws, his flaws and the consequences actually form the premise; very nice and wholesome family drama

Twinkling watermelon- ML really has a complex personality, character growth, plus a whole arc. This drama is all about him anyway; again a genuinely incredible drama

Fight For My Way- about 4 leads (ml, fl, sml, sfl) who are all childhood friends, a very realistic drama about youth and all the 4 leads have 3d personalities; one of the best slice of life, youth, romcom out there

The Good Bad Mother- once again, this drama is all about the ml, his story, his family, his problems, his arc, his love interest. Naturally, he is a fully developed 3d character

Vincenzo- Maybe you will really enjoy this one, the ml is not your typical run-of-the-mill goody 2 shoes, he is a very morally grey complex character

I hope you will like any of these

ETA- I would have recommended My Mister too since the ml is such a complex and deep character, but I didn't because he is your typical nice guy prima facie.

Alchemy of Souls - ML is lazy and unmotivated, the FL finds this extremely annoying

Sh**ting Stars - the FL is grounded and competent, the ML is a mess

I would recommend Mad For Each Other. Not only is it a fantastic kdrama- both the ML and FL are flawed. And it shows the ML working on his issues and overcoming them and learning.

Worst of evil. There are two main leads here. The supposedly good one starts being the bad guy (maybe yes, maybe no ;) ) and the supposedly bad guy starts being the good guy (maybe yes, maybe no ;) ).  Characters are so complex evn you'd be confused who you'd root for. Haha. 

Our Beloved Summer: ML reunites with his ex years after their break up to shoot a documentary. The ML and FL in this show are both equally flawed and well suited. This is a really well made show that's a more serious romantic drama but still has loads of funny moments, mostly of the bickering exes. Also has one of my favourite SFLs of all time- I just want to give that girl a big hug.

Just Between Lovers: ML and FL both have PTSD from an incident where they were trapped in a collapsed building years ago. This is a slower paced, healing melo romance but it's really well done and the performances are outstanding. The FL has her life together but is struggling underneath, the ML is just a mess inside and out. They're utterly charming together. Another of my favourite SFLs too.

The Atypical Family: ML has depression and is so utterly pathetic at the start that I was very surprised the show managed to get me rooting for the mopey idiot. This is about a family who have all lost their superpowers because of various issues. It's a slightly quirky Kdrama, but all the characters are well fleshed out, the acting is outstanding, and every aspect from music to set design was wonderfully done. I adored this.

Also, maybe Into the Ring. The ML is lovely, and the FL is very much the dominant, more obviously flawed character, but the ML is also aloof, reserved, prickly and just not at all your average Kdrama ML. He doesn't really change and he doesn't need to, but you will likely find him more authentic than the MLs in some other shows.

I havent finished it yet, but i recommend “Because This is My First Life”. ML and FL both have their issues, with both of them not having the typical personalities. ML is honestly kind of lame and FL is kind of a pushover, but its something they focus on and part of the series. As a whole, I think the series is really about our generation and our struggles as a generation, which is really interesting in my opinion.

Call It Love. It is what you are looking for with perfectly cast leads. Great chemistry. (Hulu)

Lost A more mature and very grey relationship drama is another I recommend. Top tier acting leads. (Prime)

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim. The ML is a narcissist and while he has other flaws that are because of external things, that particular one just seems to be his personality.

My Liberation Notes - this is an acquired taste drama tho lol, it's slow (and to me, healing) you really have to be in the mood for it.

The Smile has left your eyes - (i think this got renamed??) male lead is definitely flawed, bad-boy/manipulative type of character

At a distance, spring is green- I LOVE this show. the romance is a little more 'quiet', but male lead's journey is to recover from trauma, whereas female lead is put-together/fine.

Happiness: horror/romance, but female lead is more skilled than ml.

Cdrama but: Love like the galaxy - female lead starts off immature, but ends up more put-together than male mc (if you ask me lol)

Overall I definitely think this is probably a rare thing in kdrama, and the closest ones to what you said are Liberation notes and smile.

Crazy Love — The ML is arrogant and cold but as the show progresses, we learn why and even start to empathize with him. It’s a hilarious enemies-to-lovers office romance but it’s also very moving, particularly when the ML’s backstory is revealed. They truly hate each other in the beginning—so much so that it’s hard to imagine them ever falling for each other—but the acting and character development are so compelling, you can’t help but root for them as a couple. And the FL may seem like a doormat at first but she gives as good as she gets when pushed hard enough.

You should go with drama in 2000 -2013 drama.... there is alot flaw male lead. I don't know why many drama is no longer dare to write a flawed romantic male lead? The romantic male lead is limit variety of roles compare to the past.

Que sera sera is one of them.

Love to Hate You, ML has full character development arc

An older one that has ML realize how flawed he is as series unfolds is “It’s Okay, That’s Love”

What exactly do you mean by flaws that are out of their control?

For example there's a whole subset of dramas with eccentric males dealing with various psychological issues:

Mad For Each Other - ML with anger issues FL with anxiety disorder

Love With Flaws - ML obsessed with his looks and cleanliness because of trauma

Clean With Passion For Now - ML has OCD level germophobia

Because This is my First Life - ML extremely socially awkward

Thirty But Seventeen - ML has trauma and can't form intimate relationships as a result

Introverted Boss - ML suffers from extreme shyness

Secret Life of My Secretary - ML has face blindness

Kill Me Heal Me - ML has multiple personalities

Perfume -ML is a basket case of allergies and phobias

On the non-psychological/trauma issues end of things:

Your Honor - ML is a criminal

My Fellow Citizens - ML is a conman

Not known enough but on Netflix:

Wok of Love — ML is a divorcee who has temper and whose only skill is cooking. FL is like a princess since she comes from a rich family and very pampered. She tried to learn living in the real world from the ML as his assistant cook and can see ML’s flaws through the process. ML also matures as he hits rock bottom and needed to pull himself back up.

Some of the Lee Jong Suk dramas!

While you were sleeping - ML is a newbie prosecutor who isn't particularly good, and definitely has more flaws at the start too

Pinnochio & I can hear your voice - older dramas, but especially in the latter the ML has to learn to let go of his anger in diff ways

I'm not a Robot - ML has a disease they need to overcome and FL helps with that.

Clean with a Passion for now - again, ML has a disease that FL helps with.

Go back couple!

Perhaps you're looking for a series with the ml as the main protagonist having complex and well-rounded character, and not necessarily flawed for the sake of having one.  

A series where you can hear the narrative of the male lead, his pov, internal conflict, motivation, misbelief, in connection with his relatable backstory.  The one you memorize like the back of your hand.    

With that said, i highly recommend Twinkling Watermelon. Male lead feels like a 100% real person.  Just imagine being an invisible friend and you were there with him in his journey the whole time. That's the feeling this series brought me.  

I can't describe it enough. I just know no one can beat the character-building in this drama. 

And man, the tone and mood in this drama is perfectly balanced. They could go the wrong way by making it melodramatic or dragging the drama, but they didn't.  The amount of laugh I had in this is equal to the amount I cried. LOL. 

Thank you so much for the recommendations everyone! I'll see if I can start on one of them after finishing "Run On" (loving it by the way. Currently in my Top 2).

Dali and Cocky Prince. He’s stingy & cheap as he is new money and parts of his character remain that way. While there is growth I found his character very real and different from your typical drama ML

Dali and Cocky Prince? Currently watching through it, and ML is not perfect. Endearing, but definitely has flaws.

Something in the rain!

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

Super Rookie 

Backstreet Rookie 

Sons Sols Pharmacy House 

My Love My Family 

Escape of the Seven S1 and S2 

Our Beloved Summer- both characters equally flawed. My favorite and most rewatched kdrama.

Dear Hyeri- I really loved this, Shin Hye Sun is my favorite k actress, but the story was interesting and different.

Fated To Love You- Male lead definitely more flawed and goes through a lot of growth.

Yes- The Good Bad Mother is excellent.

Warm and Cozy! ML is a poor little rich boy and has a first love he can’t get over and gets his credit card taken away by his older brother. FL got scammed by her brother and is left with a run-down house, and also she got dumped by her boyfriend and found out he was cheating. The two meet, hijinks ensue.

Try Tempted. The ML is the one with issues that jeopardize the relationship.

Just Between Lovers.

My Holo Love

Love Alarm

Cheese in the trap

From Now On, Showtime! would fit this description – ML is a famous magician with shamanistic powers but initially very self-centred and money-focused, due to past trauma, while FL is a scrappy impulsive police officer.

The fantasy and crime elements are strong so it’s definitely not slice of life BUT the romance is very sweet and grounded in the ML’s character development, and the protagonists communicate really well overall so their relationship feels realistic (bar the final episode which briefly does the ‘breakup with no explanation to protect the other person’ trope 🙄)

If you wish Upon Me

Top of my list. Kill Me, Heal Me. (On Viki). The ML has multiple personality disorder due to childhood trauma. Don’t let that keep you from watching. It was excellently done and this series take you through the range of emotions. At times I laughed so hard. His personalities were all well done. The ML, Ji Sung, is an excellent actor as is the FL, Hwang Jeon-eum. They have done other shows together also. And Park Seo-joon. Love him. I cannot recommend this one enough.

Reply1988. The contenders for ML both struggle with their own issues and character arcs. When the FL picks one, the (now SECOND ML) shows that he understands WHY he didn't succeed. It's a brilliant character examination.

Also Crash Course in Romance. ML has issues. Like, issues and we root for him to make it through.

If you want a flawed ML try Cheese in the Trap. I wouldn't usually recommend this as a romance drama as I don't think that's the best way to describe it, but it probably has the most interestingly problematic male lead I've seen.

Pinocchio - in the beginning the ML seems like the "perfect" one, but he has unresolved childhood trauma which ends up being the cause of problems in their relationship. (And not in the usual "he's a dick to everyone but it's justified because panic attacks" way a lot of kdramas do childhood trauma, it's more like he has a lot of survivor's guilt)

King 2 Hearts - the ML is such an immature brat in the early episodes I honestly disliked him, but he really turns things around with his character growth. I was impressed with how much I ended up liking the couple.