Second Lead Syndrome
Warning: list contains character trait spoilers but never plot spoilers
There are occasionally dramas I watch where I thought the main lead was better off with a second lead. List is in order of severity of second lead syndrome.
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1. See You Again
Chinese Drama - 2019, 45 episodes
As soon as I finished this drama I immediately went in the comments section and said "severe second male lead syndrome guys...[spoiler]". I thought Yi Pei was a better character overall in terms of personality and his love towards our female lead character (Shi Jian).
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2. I Will Never Let You Go
Chinese Drama - 2019, 51 episodes
As much as I love Zhang Binbin, his character (Chen Yu) in this drama did not have as much charisma as the second male lead's character (Dong Fangshi) did. Dong Fangshi appeared in later episodes, but I found his interactions with our female lead character (Hua Buqi) much more amusing and natural. Even if he wasn't the most "righteous" character, I thought he was a much deeper and interesting character. At one point I even shipped Hua Buqi with our third male lead character (Yun Lang).
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3. Joy of Life
Chinese Drama - 2019, 46 episodes
I am definitely not alone on this. I thought our male lead character (Fan Xian) had much better chemistry with Haitang Duoduo (I don't even know where her character ranks in terms of leadness). Maybe it's because this is only Season 1 and our female lead character (Lin Wan'er) has more importance later on, but for this Season alone, Haitang Duoduo + Fan Xian is the better duo for sure.
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4. Pretty Li Hui Zhen
Chinese Drama - 2017, 46 episodes
This drama was already a bit dull for me, and the interactions between female lead character (Li Huizhen) and male lead character (Bai Haoyu) were boring as well. Bai Haoyu is supposed tobe quite a cold-faced character, but the way he was portrayed did not go well for me. On the contrary, Li Huizhen is a bright, sunny character whose personality fit well with the second male lead character (Lin Yimu). Dilireba and Zhang Binbin are from the same company so they have the advantage of having more chemistry already.
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5. River Flows To You
Chinese Drama - 2019, 52 episodes
Slight bit of female lead character (Yi Yao) + second male lead character (Gu Senxi) ship.
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6. The Queen of SOP
Chinese Drama - 2012, 33 episodes
It has been a long time since I've finished this drama but I do remember that I shipped our female lead character (Lin Xiaojie) with our second male lead character (Gao Ziqi). I don't remember why though.