Red Flag Male Leads
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1. Meteor Garden
Chinese Drama - 2018, 50 episodes
Daoming Si from Meteor garden. I know he had a redemption arc. But his behaviour at the start wasn’t cute. A kick in the face was the least he deserved. Realistically you’d be looking at restraining order especially after the rooftop scene.
In fairness I don’t think any of the f4 guys were green flags. Sure Huaze Lei was the ‘nice guy’ but he still toyed with Shancai’s feelings. Ximen had raging commitment/abandoment issues (Xiou You’s character was too soft for him he needed putting in his place lol). Meizuo I skipped his storyline somewhat so not sure about him?
Still it was my first cdrama so it is my guilty pleasure! - u/hollyT88 -
2. The King's Woman
Chinese Drama - 2017, 48 episodes
The kings woman - Zhang Bin Bin as Emperor Yin Zheng
This dude will literally win all the awards for the biggest red flag male lead. The things he did? He was toxic as hell, but he really loved the female lead in his own way. Unfortunately, he let his ambition and insecurities overpower him. But I'm not going to lie, I really enjoyed how obsessed he was with the fl. This dude was an irredeemable love sick puppy. - u/LanternsandPhoenixes -
3. Ning An Ru Meng
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
I believe if someone is looking for a Red Flag Male Lead, then definitely Xie Wei (XW) fits this from STORY OF KUNNING PALACE (SoKP). He is volatile, running hot and cold. Despite being a champion of feminism, and forward thinking for that time, he is controlling, manipulative, and quite abrasive to the female lead where he basically won't take no for an answer. I know this goes against the guidelines, but I actually feel I am in the minority and did not like this drama. I feel though that many enjoyed SoKP because they felt XW was romantic in his own way. - u/autuymrain
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4. Goodbye My Princess: Director's Cut
Chinese Drama - 2019, 55 episodes
Goodbye My Princess - One of the best tragedies out there. He secretly loves her. She secretly loves him. But some things are just beyond forgiveness. P.S. If possible, go for the Director's Cut version. - u/gnixfilm
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5. Hei Yue Guang Wen Na BE Ju Ben
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Till the End of the Moon - I think the first sign that this just might be a problematic relationship is when the guy in question murders your entire clan. So, there’s that haha. But even with that, ahem, minor issue between them, they somehow find a way to fall in love, even if it takes a few different incarnations. - u/TVAddict4
Till the End of the Moon - Seconding this. ML is Cinderella, if Cinderella had a murderous bone in her body. - u/RhaqaZhwan
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6. Tian Ya Ke
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
Word of Honor - It’s a BL, however both MLs are toxic in their own ways. Wen Kexing has no qualms about killing people until his crush calls him out on his bad behavior. - u/RhaqaZhwan
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7. Love Better Than Immortality
Chinese Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
Love Better Than Immortality - Admittedly the plot is lukewarm, but the ML is very spicy toxic and I enjoyed every moment he was onscreen. He was very, very, very handsy. - u/RhaqaZhwan
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8. Ode to Daughter of Great Tang
Chinese Drama - 2021, 55 episodes
Court Lady: basically all the other ML's other than ML1, every other ML is non stop controlling/harassing/can't take no for an answer. - u/ChoppedChef33