Anti-hero Leads
The male/female leads in these dramas have the characteristics of what you'd expect out of a villain or an antagonistic character. This list only includes the main leads of the dramas, preferably not the second leads unless they come off as the main lead.
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1. Summer's Desire
Chinese Drama - 2018, 36 episodes
There is something mentally wrong with all three leads. Both ML's are obsessed with the FL, one is more of a stalker whilst the other is like an unreasonable child with a crush (throwing a tantrum). The FL has a cold personality and seems almost emotionless through out the drama.
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2. Love Better Than Immortality
Chinese Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
Both ML's are anti-hero's, however the main lead is originally presented to be an outright villain often referred to as the "devil".
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3. The Romance of Tiger and Rose
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
The ML is originally an outright villain both in the script and after the FL enters the script.
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4. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
There are three male leads: the ML the SML and the villain. After some point in the story you can say that they all became the bad guy.
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5. Born Again
Korean Drama - 2020, 32 episodes
Both ML's are anti-hero's, but they are both villainous in different ways. One is an actual psychopath and the other is somehow worse even with a conscious.
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6. Lawless Attorney
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
The ML is a gang leader and an outlaw who follows the law. The FL likes to use her fists to resolve issues as well as the law.
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7. Cheese in the Trap
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
The ML is obsessed with the FL and is an outright psychopath and stalker.
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8. Are You Human Too?
Korean Drama - 2018, 36 episodes
Only included this one because the ML actor plays 2 characters and one of them starts off as the antagonist.
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9. It's Okay to Not Be Okay
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
All I'm going to say is that if the FL wasn't the FL she'd be the villain.
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10. Kleun Cheewit
Thai Drama - 2017, 15 episodes
None of the characters in this drama were particularily good people. It's only later that you'd see that they're not bad people.
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11. A Korean Odyssey
Korean Drama - 2017, 20 episodes
The ML is a literal demon who intends to kill the FL at first.
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12. Xiang Long
Chinese Drama - 2018, 20 episodes
There are 2 ML's but the character whose name is the title of the drama is a VERY abusive person in every aspect and an outright murderer. He is described to be a child that can kill. The second ML is more strategic when it comes to killing and his entire plot is revenge.
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13. Hana Yori Dango
Japanese Drama - 2005, 9 episodes
Originally, the ML is not a good person, you can say a bad-boy, but his actions are more over the top and sometimes plain outrageous, especially in the first few episodes,
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14. The Journey
Chinese Drama - 2017, 12 episodes
The villain in this season is said to be the ML Ya Long (vampire). He doesn't really seem like a bad guy and was actually really good to the FL.
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15. The Journey 2
Chinese Drama - 2017, 12 episodes
The ML who. is said to be 'good' is actually worse than the ML who is said to be 'bad'.
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16. Kill Me, Heal Me
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
ML has multiple personalities and one of them, the most dominant alternate personality is obsessed with the FL and is crazy for her. The kind of crazy I love.
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17. Secret
Korean Drama - 2013, 16 episodes
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18. Behind Your Smile
Taiwanese Drama - 2016, 19 episodes
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19. Vincenzo
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
SML is a psychopath and killer. I was more interested in him. But, Vincenzo, the ML is definitely the most anti-hero lead here. As in, he is actually really good but doesn't do the most moral things do get what he wants.
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20. Novoland: The Castle in the Sky - Time Reversal
Chinese Movie - 2020
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21. Destruction
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
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22. About Is Love
Chinese Drama - 2018, 30 episodes
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23. Enormous Legendary Fish
Chinese Movie - 2020
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24. I Love My President Though He's A Psycho
Chinese Drama - 2017, 10 episodes
ML is CRAZY
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25. Meteor Garden
Taiwanese Drama - 2001, 19 episodes
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26. The Flame's Daughter
Chinese Drama - 2018, 52 episodes
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27. Last Friends
Japanese Drama - 2008, 11 episodes
More like an outright villain ML.
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28. The Sleepless Princess
Chinese Drama - 2020, 35 episodes
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29. Fall In Love
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
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30. Shadow Beauty
Korean Drama - 2021, 13 episodes
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31. The King's Woman
Chinese Drama - 2017, 48 episodes
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32. Summer's Desire
Taiwanese Drama - 2010, 14 episodes
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33. Cubic
Thai Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
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34. The Legends
Chinese Drama - 2019, 56 episodes
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35. The Backlight of Love
Chinese Drama - 2015, 11 episodes
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36. Lady & Liar
Chinese Drama - 2015, 46 episodes
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37. KinnPorsche
Thai Drama - 2022, 14 episodes
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38. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 2
Chinese Drama - 2022, 29 episodes
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39. Fall in Love in the Book
Chinese Drama - 2022, 22 episodes
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40. F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers
Thai Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
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41. Cang Lan Jue
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
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42. The Long Ballad
Chinese Drama - 2021, 49 episodes
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43. Wo De Fan Pai Nan You
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
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44. Kakegurui
Japanese Drama - 2018, 10 episodes
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45. Kakegurui Season 2
Japanese Drama - 2019, 5 episodes
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46. Ning An Ru Meng
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
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47. Different Princess
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
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48. Fantasy Sonata
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes