Endgame Pairing is Not Obvious
Stories where the endgame pairing isn't the usual "met as children and loved forever" - the leads have romantic relationships and even marriage with someone else first, the love triangle looks like it could go either way, SML has traits of a ML, or the endgame ML has traits of a SML. Also includes those rare instances where the SML actually gets the girl.
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1. A Love So Romantic
Chinese Drama - 2020, 32 episodes
heavy love triangle that leans more toward the SML who the FL likes first
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2. A River Runs Through It
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
ML has the traits of a SML, and FL loves someone else for a long time first
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3. A River Runs Through It Special
Chinese Special - 2021, 10 episodes
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4. At a Distance, Spring Is Green
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
FL is in love with her childhood friend at the beginning, then meets and falls in love with the ML, and then the childhood friend falls in love with her. She ends up with the ML.
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5. Attacking Lady
Chinese Drama - 2024, 21 episodes
FL has a different boyfriend at the beginning
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6. Beside You
Thai Drama - 2024, 3 episodes
ML has a boyfriend when it begins, and it's unclear at first who he'll end up with
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7. Bon Appetit
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
ML has an ex boyfriend
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8. Bride's Revenge
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
SML gets the girl
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9. Choice Husband
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
At different points in the drama, FL marries the ML and the SML. When she learns she's pregnant, she's unsure who is the father. She eventually ends up with the ML who is the father of her child.
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10. Click Your Heart
Korean Drama - 2016, 7 episodes
all the SMLs get the girl ;)
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11. Colourful Bone
Chinese Drama - 2017, 54 episodes
heavy love triangle, FL has the childhood connection trope with the SML
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12. Cupid of Zhou Dynasty
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
ML is atypical, has traits of a SML or supporting character
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13. Dear Mayang Street
Chinese Drama - 2020, 37 episodes
SML gets the girl
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14. Decreed by Fate
Chinese Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
FL has a stronger connection with the SML at first, love triangle
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15. Deep Love Love Again
Chinese Drama - 2024, 22 episodes
FL is married, betrayed, and then gets involved with the ML
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16. Don't Mess With Ex-Girlfriend
Chinese Drama - 2022, 20 episodes
FL is engaged to someone else at the beginning
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17. Dr. Cutie
Chinese Drama - 2020, 28 episodes
heavy love triangle, FL is much closer to SML at first
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18. Faith
Korean Drama - 2012, 24 episodes
ML had a former first love who he planned to marry until she died
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19. Fighting for Love
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
FL does not end up with ML despite it indicating that way for most of the drama. The ending is open, but appears to be interpreted as the FL choosing the SML.
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20. Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
FL has the childhood connection trope and expectations of marriage with the SML
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21. Handsome Siblings
Chinese Drama - 2020, 44 episodes
love triangle in which the FL initially meets, loves and has a stronger connection with one of the MLs, but ultimately ends up with the other
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22. Happy Merry Ending
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
ML is still broken hearted over his ex boyfriend
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23. Hidden Marriage Love
Chinese Drama - 2021, 30 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning, love triangle
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24. His and Her Secrets
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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25. Kurosaki-kun no Iinari ni Nante Naranai
Japanese Special - 2015, 2 episodes
heavy love triangle, ML is atypical protagonist
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26. Lost Track of Time
Chinese Drama - 2022, 30 episodes
ML has traits of a SML, and FL marries someone else first
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27. Lost You Forever
Chinese Drama - 2023, 39 episodes
SML gets the girl
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28. Love Better Than Immortality
Chinese Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
ML has traits of a SML, SML has the ML traits and the FL is much more drawn to him at first
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29. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 1
Chinese Drama - 2022, 27 episodes
reverse harem, FL is supposed to marry SML at first
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30. Love Under the Stars
Chinese Drama - 2022, 26 episodes
FL is engaged to someone else at the beginning
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31. Lovely Swords Girl
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
heavy love triangle, SLS
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32. Marry My Husband
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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33. Meet With Two Souls
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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34. Mirror of Revenge
Chinese Drama - 2024, 20 episodes
FL has a long term boyfriend at the beginning. By the end, it appears that she's starting a relationship with her friend, the SML.
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35. Miss Chun Is a Litigator
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
love triangle, ML has a much smaller role than SML
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36. Miss Fox
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
FL is dating someone else at the beginning
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37. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
heavy reverse harem, FL eventually ends up the SML for the remainder of her life in the past, despite still being in love with the ML and having his child
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38. Mortal Housewife
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
FL is married for most of the drama but ends up with the SML
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39. Mountains and Ocean
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
FL loves SML for most of the drama, ML has traits of a SML
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40. Mr. Cool
Chinese Drama - 2021, 32 episodes
FL is dating someone else at the beginning
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41. My Dearest
Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
FL is in love with someone else at the beginning
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42. My Dearest Part 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
FL marries another man but ultimately ends up with the ML.
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43. My Handsome Husband
Chinese Drama - 2021, 30 episodes
FL is married and divorced from someone else at the beginning
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44. Night of Love With You
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
ML has traits of a SML/secondary villain
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45. Ocean Likes Me
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
ML has an ex boyfriend
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46. Only Friends
Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
everyone is involved with or in love with everyone, endgame is not clear until the very end
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47. Pachinko
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
SML gets the girl, FL is in love with and pregnant by the ML at the beginning
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48. Perfect Marriage Revenge
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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49. Princess Agents
Chinese Drama - 2017, 67 episodes
love triangle, SML is given scenes/tropes with the FL commonly given to the ML
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50. Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People
Korean Drama - 2017, 30 episodes
ML is in love with someone else for a long time first, FL has traits of a SFL at first
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51. Renascence
Chinese Drama - 2020, 36 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning, ML has traits of a SML
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52. Revenge
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
FL is engaged to someone else at the beginning
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53. Rinko-san wa Shite Mitai
Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
heavy love triangle that could go either way
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54. Sea You Soon
Thai Drama - 2024, 4 episodes
FL has a girlfriend in the beginning
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55. Shan Shan Lai Chi De Ni
Chinese Drama - 2023, 15 episodes
FL has a boyfriend and is pregnant by him, ML has a fiancée, but they end up together
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56. She Is Untouchable
Chinese Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
FL is dating someone else at the beginning
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57. Since I Met U
Chinese Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
FL has a long crush on someone and accidentally confesses to the ML while she's drunk. Her crush re-enters her life later on but she ends up with the ML.
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58. Skip a Beat
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
FL has the past connection and first love with the SML (and actually only approaches the ML because she wrongfully believes he has the SML's heart transplanted into him)
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59. Star and Sky: Sky in Your Heart
Thai Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
ML had an ex-girlfriend he's still heartbroken over
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60. Story of Kunning Palace
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
heavy reverse harem, FL is in love with someone else for a long time, ML is an atypical protagonist
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61. Strobe Edge
Japanese Movie - 2015
ML is in love with another woman at first
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62. Sukiyanen Kedo Do Yaro ka
Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes
ML's ex-boyfriend returns and for a while it's uncertain which of the two men he'll choose
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63. Tell Me That You Love Me
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
ML has a first love who returns
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64. The Best Friend
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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65. The First Responders
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
love triangle that could go either way, FL has the childhood connection trope with the SML
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66. The First Responders Season 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
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67. The Forbidden Marriage
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
heavy love triangle, FL is initially engaged to the SML
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68. The Forbidden Woman
Chinese Drama - 2022, 22 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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69. The Ghost Bride
Taiwanese Drama - 2020, 6 episodes
FL has the childhood connection trope and engagement with the SML, heavy love triangle
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70. The King in Love
Korean Drama - 2017, 40 episodes
SML gets the girl
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71. The Return of Iljimae
Korean Drama - 2009, 24 episodes
ML had a first love who died, and at first it seems he's just settling for the FL due to her resemblance to his lost love
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72. The Trap of The Goddess
Chinese Drama - 2021, 53 episodes
FL is initially the SML's mistress and the ML is her employee who is secretly in love with her.
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73. Waiting for Spring
Japanese Movie - 2018
Reverse harem, love triangle with childhood friend
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74. Wanton Indulgence
Chinese Drama - 2023, 103 episodes
FL has a boyfriend at the beginning
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75. Warrior Baek Dong Soo
Korean Drama - 2011, 29 episodes
ML ends up with SFL, despite having the childhood connection trope with the FL
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76. Wedding Party
Chinese Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
FL is dating someone else at the beginning
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77. What's Wrong with My Princess
Chinese Drama - 2023, 32 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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78. Who Are You
Korean Drama - 2013, 16 episodes
heavy SLS, FL has a first love who is a ghost/in a coma and for a while it's unclear whether she'll have a second chance with him or choose the ML
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79. Yi Bu Xiao Xin Liao Cuo Ren
Chinese Drama - 2023, 75 episodes
FL has a different boyfriend at the beginning
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80. You Are My Destiny
Chinese Drama - 2020, 36 episodes
ML has a fiancée at the beginning and wavers back and forth for a while before choosing the FL
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81. You Are My Exclusive Surprise
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
FL is dating someone else at the beginning