My Favourite Second Leads From a Triangle (Plot-wise)
Second leads with some of the best character development and plot lines, not just as a potential love interest to the main leads.
For clarification: ML = Male Lead, FL =. Female Lead, SML = Second Male Led, SFL = Second Female lead.
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1. Ware Schoonheid
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Han Seo Jun is a second lead that had some of the most character development I've seen for a second lead in any Kdrama. Despite "not getting the girl", he got everything he wanted by the end of the drama, he achieved his dreams and had his mother and best friends by his side.
Kang Soo Jin also had really good character development as well as a happy ending, but not as good and Seo Jun's ending.
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2. Vincenzo
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
Jang Jun Woo was my favourite character in this drama, liked him more than Vincenzo. He definitely had a thing for the FL, but that did NOT stop him from doing whatever the hell he wanted, ut it definitely made him more loveable. His end was definitely not a happy one, but that iwas well deserved.
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3. I Am Sorry, I Love You
Taiwanese Drama - 2015, 13 episodes
Spent the entire drama trying to figure out who the male lead was. Both of them had really good storylines as well as romance.
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4. The Game: Towards Zero
Korean Drama - 2020, 32 episodes
Watched this for Ok TaeYeon but I preferred Im Too Hwans character so much more. Goo DoKyung downfall to how he became the "villain" seemed like a really understandable turn in his character. We got to see his ENTIRE story about how and why he became the person he was.
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5. The Wolf
Chinese Drama - 2020, 49 episodes
The second leads, love interests of the male and female leads ended up falling for each other and had a better ending than the leads.
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6. Contract Love From Today
Korean Drama - 2021, 15 episodes
The SML was unexpectedly one of the sweetest and most wholesome character despite how he was presented at first. Couldn't figure out why the FL broke up with him at some point.
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7. MARS
Taiwanese Drama - 2004, 13 episodes
Both the SML and SFL were in love with the FL and ML but were unexpectedly the BIGGEST shippers of the main leads. Need more dramas like this were the second leads support the relationship of the person they are supposedly in love with. Dramas were the second leads move on and have their own stories.
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8. Meteor Garden
Taiwanese Drama - 2001, 19 episodes
My favourite second lead out of all the versions of this drama I've watched. He genuinely doesn't like the FL, but doesn't use her (as he did in all the other versions) to get over his ex. He is very respectful of the FL and his friends love for the FL and actually helps set them up.
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9. The Flame's Daughter
Chinese Drama - 2018, 52 episodes
This drama will make you HATE the SML, in a good way. I LOVED HATING him. I loved just about everyone but him. However, he has a LOT of character development and by the end of the drama I actually started to like him and even ship him with the FL.
At first I couldn't figure out why the FL loved the SML so much at the start (for several years) and then I saw it, really late into the drama.
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10. Last Friends
Japanese Drama - 2008, 11 episodes
I'm not sure who the second lead in this drama is, the villain, the lesbian best friend or the guy who was in love with the lesbian, but I LOVED all their roles. Perfect cast, script and overall story where all the leads were equally important.
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11. Skip Beat!
Taiwanese Drama - 2011, 15 episodes
I genuinely watched this show just for the SML, probably wouldn't have watched it otherwise. He was the most hateful character in this drama that I LOVED him. He gave rise to the entire plot and I LOVED all his interactions with the FL. Just wish that Donghae had a lot more screen time. Also have to read the manga to see what happens to the rest of the story.
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12. Dali and Gamjatang
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
The SML was a horrible person, and as the story develops you get to see exactly how bad he isand how far he will go. His development was so perfectly done, I didn't think it was possible to hate him more but I did by the end.
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13. My Deskmate is on Hot Search Again
Chinese Drama - 2021, 30 episodes
I loved the supporting characters of this drama, even if you don't like them at the start, they will grow on you. The SML was the best, he was hilariously dumb alongside the FL, they made a great duo. I like to call them "dumb" (FL) and "dumber" (SML). Whilst the two smart characters were the ML and SFL, their love interests.
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14. The Legends
Chinese Drama - 2019, 56 episodes
I loved the supporting characters in this drama. The SML is probably Jiang Wu, he was like he male version of the FL, only funnier, stupider and carefree. I also loved Qin Qian Xian, he was the only 'good' guy I liked, other than the SFL (Qin Zhi Yan) who I also really liked but I preferred Shi Qi, who was my favourite female character and the MOST LOVEABLE person in this entire drama. She was the only person that was consistent.
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15. Love is Sweet
Chinese Drama - 2020, 36 episodes
The SML was perfect throughout the show, until the last few episodes that RUINED him.
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16. The Backlight of Love
Chinese Drama - 2015, 11 episodes
Not sure who the second lead was, but both male leads were dodgy and I spent the entire drama trying to figure out who was the better of the two evils.
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17. Jun Jiu Ling
Chinese Drama - 2021, 40 episodes
So many second male leads in this drama. All of them were unique: a psychopath, a genius poet/scholar and a lovesick puppy (excluding the male lead).
They all had something going for them.
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18. Xiao Sa Jia Ren Dan Dan Zhuang
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
I preferred the FL's butler (the SML) over the actual ML and I think a lot of people did. He was a lot more interesting and had way better chemistry. He was also the only other character that really had a plot going for them.
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19. The King's Affection
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
LOVE the SML and the FL's bodyguard (3rd lead). Both had there own plot that didn't revolve around the FL.
I have never loved a SFL more than I did the girl who was in love with the Crown Prince/Emperor (the FL). She is the nicest, sweetest and one of the most reasonable SFL's I've seen in a historical drama. And despite everything, she genuinely loved the FL.
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20. Love In Han Yuan
Chinese Drama - 2018, 46 episodes
The SML was my favourite character in this drama until the writers decided to completely RUIN one of the best characters. I loved him for about 30 of the 46 episodes and then the plot itself also goes downhill. Not a drama I'd recommend, but I won't deny the fact that he was one of my favourite second leads, if only he wasn't a love interest.
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21. Hana Nochi Hare: HanaDan Next Season
Japanese Drama - 2018, 11 episodes
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22. Cai Bu Yao He Lao Ban Tan Lian Ai
Chinese Drama - 2022, 33 episodes
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23. Boku no Satsui ga Koi wo Shita
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
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24. Shooting Star
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
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25. Five Missions
Taiwanese Drama - 2018, 15 episodes
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26. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 2
Chinese Drama - 2022, 29 episodes
I'd say the SML changed from Lou Yao to Yuan Shen in this Part 2 and I was so excited for this love triangle. Despite Yuan Shen having no chance EVER with the FL, I loved watching this guy slowly falling in love with Shao Shang (who was the complete opposite of the type of woman he ever wanted to be with) without even realising it.
He fell for someone who represented the complete opposite of what he believed in. I'd say he resented her at first, but then he was head over heals for her and that development was the best thing EVER. I think he might have had a (very small) chance to be with the FL had he realised he fell for her, had he realised before Lou Yao (the SML from Part 1) did.
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27. F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers
Thai Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
I think this is the only version of the drama where I shipped the SML and FL more than the ML and FL.
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28. Ashes of Love
Chinese Drama - 2018, 63 episodes
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29. The Long Ballad
Chinese Drama - 2021, 49 episodes
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30. Love of Aurora
Chinese Drama - 2017, 59 episodes
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31. Alien Girl, Chai Xiao Qi 2
Chinese Drama - 2022, 30 episodes
The SML from this season has my heart. He was PERFECT.
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32. My Secret Roommate
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
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33. One Two Three, Mu Tou Ren
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
I like what they did to the SML's storyline in this drama because they could have easily made him go downhill. I was expecting his arch to go downhill but surprisingly it went uphill and stayed uphill. One of the most nicest and considerate character in this drama.
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34. Cheer Up
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
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35. Wu Lin You Jiao Qi
Chinese Drama - 2023, 22 episodes
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36. Ning An Ru Meng
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
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37. Derailment
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes