Love Triangles or Reverse Harem
I spent some time gathering up the dramas with love triangles. Some are not just triangles but pentagons or squares, or a reverse-harem (working on making the list more LGBTQ inclusive as of 12/2023). Be aware that not all love triangles are equal or as satisfying. Not all of these shows listed will be your cup of tea, but if love triangles are your thing, or if they aren't, this list may help you find what you are looking for -- or looking to avoid. :) I will continue to add to this list as I find more.
UPDATED 3/2/2024
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1. Cheese in the Trap
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
Serious SML syndrome for this one for me.
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2. Fang
Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
Short, cheap fun. Enjoy yourself without being too concerned about who she'll end up with.
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3. Maid's Revenge
Chinese Drama - 2022, 30 episodes
Super spicy, ML is dominant whereas SML is gentle and soft-spoken.
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4. Arsenal Military Academy
Chinese Drama - 2019, 48 episodes
Genuinely enjoyed this entire series. Both MLs are fabulous.
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5. Meow, the Secret Boy
Korean Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
Adorable storyline. People are literally cats or dog personalities.
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6. Ware Schoonheid
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Everyone seems to love this one -- I kinda hated it honestly. And again, SML syndrome.
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7. Sleep Memo
Korean Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
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8. Buitengewoon Jij
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
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9. Convenience Store Saet Byul
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Very short-lived love triangle -- but adorable and MOSTLY dealt with like adults. lol
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10. Chicago Typewriter
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
This love triangle spanned ages and time and magic! Was entirely adorable and sad and I loved it.
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11. Fight For My Way
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
This whole setup for the love triangle was hilarious. Best friends to lovers done REALLY well, I've actually never seen it done well before (always rushed, never paced well enough or just outright ridiculous, whereas this was -chef's kiss- fabulous)!
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12. Hyde, Jekyll, Me
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
Dissociative Identity Disorder. Both personalities fight over one girl.
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13. Healer
Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes
Quasi-superhero versus a 'normal' guy. lol If you know, you know.
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14. Hwarang
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
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15. Wat is er aan de hand met secretaresse Kim?
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
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16. Cheer Up
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
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17. Golden Spirit: Joseon Marriage Prohibition
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
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18. Empress Ki
Korean Drama - 2013, 51 episodes
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19. Grand Prince
Korean Drama - 2018, 20 episodes
Very clear who the female lead loves.
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20. The Heirs
Korean Drama - 2013, 20 episodes
Everyone loves this one, but I just couldn't vibe with it.
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21. The Wolf
Chinese Drama - 2020, 49 episodes
This is AMAZING story. I loved it so much but it has a depressing ending so it got a 9 from me.
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22. Meteor Garden
Chinese Drama - 2018, 50 episodes
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23. Find Me if You Can
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
Very short, everyone likes the female lead, but one is a stalker. Can you guess which one?
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24. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
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25. Cinderella and the Four Knights
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
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26. Coffee Prince
Korean Drama - 2007, 17 episodes
I genuinely hated this so much that I didn't even rate it. I didn't like the filming style, the story, or the fact that dude practically sexually assaults her and just walks away from it, leaving her crying alone.
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27. Sungkyunkwan Scandal
Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes
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28. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
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29. Romantiek is een bonusboek
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
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30. The Legend of the Blue Sea
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
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31. Kakafukaka
Japanese Drama - 2019, 10 episodes
Such a strange love triangle. lol
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32. I Hear Your Voice
Korean Drama - 2013, 18 episodes
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33. Pinocchio
Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes
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34. The Black Devil and the White Prince
Japanese Movie - 2016
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35. Fishbowl Wives
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
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36. Bad and Crazy
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
If you know, you know. Enjoy, it's hilarious. :)
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37. Itaewon Class
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
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38. Do You Like Brahms?
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
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39. Born Again
Korean Drama - 2020, 32 episodes
The first half of the story was FABULOUS. The second half gets a little long and convoluted at points, but this show does NOT get enough credit. Powerful love triangle.
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40. Moon Embracing the Sun
Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes
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41. The King's Affection
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
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42. Reply 1988
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
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43. Reply 1994
Korean Drama - 2013, 21 episodes
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44. Oh My Ghostess
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
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45. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
Hilarious at so many points. So worth a watch. The graphics are cheesy at the beginning (very comic book-like), but it's worth it. Loved it.
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46. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
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47. Jealousy Incarnate
Korean Drama - 2016, 24 episodes
Surprisingly mature and odd way to deal with a love triangle.
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48. You're Beautiful
Korean Drama - 2009, 16 episodes
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49. Record of Youth
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
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50. Secret Garden
Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes
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51. It's Okay to Not Be Okay
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
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52. Jun Jiu Ling
Chinese Drama - 2021, 40 episodes
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53. Kill Me, Heal Me
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
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54. Nevertheless,
Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
I've tried to watch this one multiple times and just can't get through it.
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55. Mr. Sunshine
Korean Drama - 2018, 24 episodes
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56. The King's Woman
Chinese Drama - 2017, 48 episodes
No happy ending.
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57. Missing You
Korean Drama - 2012, 21 episodes
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58. Oh My Baby
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
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59. Fall In Love
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
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60. Suo Ai San Seng
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Man falls for woman who already has a fiancé, takes advantage of her abrupt amnesia (obvious trope, but the whole thing is actually pretty well-woven together considering the side stories). Takes a while to get into the love story/love triangle angle.
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61. Love in Flames of War
Chinese Drama - 2022, 43 episodes
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62. Lady & Liar
Chinese Drama - 2015, 46 episodes
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63. Princess Agents
Chinese Drama - 2017, 67 episodes
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64. Here Comes a Female Student at Guo Zijian
Chinese Drama - 2021, 30 episodes
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65. Qian Jin Nan Tao
Chinese Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
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66. Blossom in Heart
Chinese Drama - 2019, 52 episodes
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67. Hundred Days Bride
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
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68. The Captive
Chinese Drama - 2023, 25 episodes
Love triangle that isn't a love triangle? Hard to explain unless you actually watch it.
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69. Cruel Romance
Chinese Drama - 2015, 40 episodes
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70. Summer's Desire
Taiwanese Drama - 2010, 14 episodes
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71. Sealed With A Kiss
Chinese Drama - 2011, 28 episodes
The story is a little all over the place and there is A LOT of physical abuse, viewer beware.
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72. Boys Over Flowers
Korean Drama - 2009, 25 episodes
I haven't settled into this series or any of the BoFs series, as I feel they'll be a little outdated for me, but I intend to eventually watch them.
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73. F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers
Thai Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
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74. Love Better Than Immortality
Chinese Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
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75. Perfect Crime
Japanese Drama - 2019, 10 episodes
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76. Xing Han Can Lan
Chinese Drama - 2022, 27 episodes
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77. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 2
Chinese Drama - 2022, 29 episodes
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78. Chong Zi
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Reverse-harem. No question who the lead male/female is though. Everyone loves the female lead (except for those who hate her), not a lot of complexity to the relationships and it does get repetitive at points.
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79. Dance of the Phoenix
Chinese Drama - 2020, 30 episodes
Very easy to tell right away who the 1stML is.
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80. Ni Chang
Chinese Drama - 2021, 40 episodes
Reverse-harem, but more love triangle than anything. Easy to tell who the 1ML and the 2ML are.
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81. Mei Ren Mou Lu
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
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82. Rule the World
Chinese Drama - 2017, 45 episodes
Very much a reverse-harem concept. All men love her and want her except for the women who hate her. Easy to find on Youtube under the China Huace TV Official Channel.
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83. Useless Lies
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
Love triangle. 2ML kicks in by the 3rd episode. Makes his appearance into the triangle by the 4th episode. Full on stare-downs and 2ML insists he won't give up.
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84. Hu Xin
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
If you can get past the terrible graphics in some major scenes (particularly at the beginning) it can grow to be something you love. You can't speed watch or you'll miss important plot points. 2ML comes and stays strongly in love with FL -- is completely unrequited though. It's VERY clear who the 1st ML is.
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85. Lang Jun Bu Ru Yi
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
If you know, you know. ;)
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86. Wu Lin You Jiao Qi
Chinese Drama - 2023, 22 episodes
Reverse harem, no question. Several different love interests and all at once while she's more interested in saving people and helping others.
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87. 5-ji Kara 9-ji Made
Japanese Drama - 2015, 10 episodes
Everyone is in love with her for most of the show, then she settles down with a tsundere monk. lol
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88. Ning An Ru Meng
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
Love square, but it's obvious who the FL likes and who likes her.
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89. La Pluie
Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
BL - some spicy scenes, but feels a little awkward to me at times. Soulmates are a thing in this universe, only for a third to enter the way soulmates are supposed to be solely duos. It makes things interesting and confusing at the same time. Still watching, will update when I finish it. Head's up, lots of recaps even thought you've JUST seen the scene. I don't have amnesia, I don't need a repeat that close to the scene I just watched.
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90. The Director Who Buys me Dinner
Korean Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
BL. Short and sweet, straight to the point even if the beginning feels like WTH IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, it was great to binge watch and I enjoyed it immensely. You know who the ML is interested in but there is a tsundere male that makes for the third and creates the love triangle.
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91. Fu Tu Tower
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
Love triangle - MMF -- but one is a complete tsundere person who gets more and more insane over the period of the show, and the male lead who the female lead truly loves and wants to be with, while the other is a power-mad emperor.
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92. Fox Demon Emperor
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Weak love triangle, but it's there. The Fox is handsome. :)
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93. Difficult To Win His Heart
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Love triangle that goes back and forth, some repetition.
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94. Xi Jing Nu Zhu Tao Hua Duo
Chinese Drama - 2022, 26 episodes
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95. Frightening Cohabitation
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
It's weak, but it's there. Completely unrequited to the 2nd ML.
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96. Fantasy Sonata
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
If you know, you know. :) Don't want to spoil it.
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97. My Boyfriend x My Friend
Korean Drama - 2024, 10 episodes
Stupid obvious layout but if you're into short episodes and wanting to watch something cheap and simple, this may be it for you.
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98. Park's Contract Marriage Story
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
It's extremely obvious who she likes, but more than two men like her at one point albeit it's mostly just a 1st and 2nd ML.