Main Couple =/= Perfect Happy Ending (Major Spoilers)
Dramas with endings where:
- The ML dies in the end and the FL lives, the FL dies and the ML lives, or one of the leads' deaths is strongly hinted at / implied.
- Both leads die in the end.
- The leads are apart for a very long time (at least a decade, if not several hundred years) even though their feelings do not change. They either reunite at the end of their lives (i.e., when one lead is about to die) or in the last moments of the drama it hints (but does not fully show) that they will reunite.
- The ML / FL ends up with someone else.
- Endings that seem happy because the leads are dating, but as of the end of the drama they can't live together or publicly get married, and it's not clear whether they will ever be able to do so.
- Cliff hanger ending / open ending / other.
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1. Legend of Lu Zhen
Chinese Drama - 2013, 59 episodes
6 (implied 4)
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2. Agentes da Princesa
Chinese Drama - 2017, 67 episodes
1 / 6
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3. Romance Sangrento
Chinese Drama - 2018, 36 episodes
Seems like 1 at first, but actually 6
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4. O Amor Eterno
Chinese Drama - 2017, 24 episodes
6 (but there is a season 2 and 3)
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5. Quem Governa o Mundo
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
Very soft 1 due to a strict time limit on remaining life span.
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6. Um Pequeno Buquê Vermelho
Chinese Movie - 2020
1
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7. A vingança da criada
Chinese Drama - 2022, 30 episodes
1
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8. Tempo
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
1
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9. Amantes da Lua
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
1 / 4
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10. O Livro da Família Gu
Korean Drama - 2013, 24 episodes
1 --> 3
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11. Mr. Sunshine: Um Raio de Sol
Korean Drama - 2018, 24 episodes
1
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12. No Ar
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
1
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13. Paixão Incontrolável
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
1
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14. Vestido Com Mangas Vermelhas
Korean Drama - 2021, 17 episodes
1
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15. Contrato de Casamento
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
1
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16. O Avanço da Fênix
Chinese Drama - 2018, 70 episodes
1
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17. Uma Odisseia Coreana
Korean Drama - 2017, 20 episodes
1
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18. Prince of Lan Ling
Chinese Drama - 2013, 46 episodes
1
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19. Princesa Wei Young
Chinese Drama - 2016, 54 episodes
1
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20. Imperatriz Ki
Korean Drama - 2013, 51 episodes
1
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21. Rainha por Sete Dias
Korean Drama - 2017, 20 episodes
1 / 3 / 4
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22. Até o Fim da Lua
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
1 / 3 / 6
The ML dies, but in the last moments of the drama there is a scene that seems to show part of his immortal essence that has survived and that is being kept in a dragon scale, suggesting that he might be able to eventually cultivate a new body and return.
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23. A Mulher do Rei
Chinese Drama - 2017, 48 episodes
1 (possibly 2)
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24. Para todo Sempre 2
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
2
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25. Louvor à Morte
Korean Drama - 2018, 6 episodes
2
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26. O Sorriso Deixou Seus Olhos
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
2
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27. Ru Hua Ru Tu Season 2
Chinese Drama - 2022, 21 episodes
2
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28. O Indomável
Chinese Drama - 2019, 50 episodes
3
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29. Queijo na Ratoeira
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
3
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30. A Médica Imperial
Chinese Drama - 2016, 50 episodes
4 --> 3
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31. Vinte e Cinco, Vinte e Um
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
4
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32. Rainha Cheorin
Korean Drama - 2020, 20 episodes
4 (this is open to interpretation)
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33. Amor ao Luar
Korean Drama - 2016, 18 episodes
5
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34. Pousando no Amor
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
5
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35. Por Que, Oh Soo Jae?
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
A soft version of 5
It's heavily implied (but not stated outright) that the leads are dating at the end of the drama, but the ML is still a law student and the FL is still his professor. If they went public with their relationship or got married the FL would (rightly, tbh) be heavily criticized due to their history as professor / student, their history as public defender / client, and their age difference. The drama doesn't give viewers the sense that the ML and FL have a way to avoid that outcome.
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36. Ready for Love?
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
6ish
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37. O Homem da Princesa
Korean Drama - 2011, 24 episodes
6 - Other
The ML ends up blind and doesn't get revenge. But he gets to live out an otherwise happy ending / peaceful life with the FL. So it's relatively happy.
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38. Peões do Amor
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
6 - open ending
Seems like the ML could not have survived but there are hints that maybe he did.
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39. O Isqueiro e o vestido da Princesa
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
6 - Other.
A happy ending in almost every respect. The main component that's missing is the FL's approval of her relationship with the ML. Her parents did not participate in their civil wedding or wedding celebration. It's suggested that her father will probably come around, but her mother seemed determine to never accept the ML.