(Modern) Dramas featuring Female Fighter(s)
With so many amazing male fighters in dramas, I was craving to watch a female character show some skills in a fight. The dramas here feature one or more badass female characters who can hold their own in hand-to-hand combat. She can either be a warrior, a martial artist or even a brawler, so long as she remains consistent. Meaning she's not weakened for plot-convenient (usually so the ML can save her). I'll still add the ones with inconsistent female fighters, but I'll be sure to tag them as such.
I'll add relevant tags as I go through the list of the ones that were recommended to me, but which I haven't yet watched.
If you're looking for period dramas (fantasy or otherwise) that feature female warriors, check my other list: https://mydramalist.com/list/P4Y6vvX1
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1. Mulher Forte, Do Bong Soon
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
Do Bong Soon, main female lead comes from a family where all the women are born with superhuman strength.
Main Character | Several fighting Scenes | Urban Fantasy | Comedy + Romance + Action + Crime | Brawler | Goes toe-to-toe with the antagonist | Consistently Strong
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2. Advogado Sem Lei
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Ha Jae Yi is a capable lawyer who gets in trouble after punching a man and ends up joining a crusade against corruption alongside the ML. She's equal amounts capable and emotional; someone who's confident in her knowledge and ability, but who's also humble enough to accept she doesn't have all the answers. When Bong Sang Pil puts her knowledge to the test, she's open-minded enough to tackle every uncomfortable issue head-on, unwilling to compromise the truth for the sake of convenience.
Main Character | Few fighting Scenes | Crime + Comedy + Romance + Action + Drama + Hurt & Comfort | Martial Arts | Consistently Strong
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3. Parceira Suspeita
Korean Drama - 2017, 40 episodes
Eun Bong Hee is a Karate expert who, at one point, taught her craft to children. Though she focuses more on using the law to stop criminals, she has a couple of fights where her skills are in full display.
Main Character | Several fighting Scenes | Crime + Comedy + Romance + Action + Psychological | Karate | Goes toe-to-toe with the antagonist | Consistently Strong
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4. Olá, Monstro
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
Cha Ji An is a detective who will stop at nothing to stop a criminal. She goes toe to toe with several antagonists, displaying good fighting skills despite having to be saved.
Main Character | Several fighting Scenes | Crime + Romance + Comedy + Action + Psychological | Martial Artists | Goes toe-to-toe with several antagonists (though not the main one) | Consistent
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5. Terius Atrás de Mim
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
Yoo Ji Yeon is a NIS agent who can hold her own in a fight. Though the show is mostly focused on comedy, she does get a chance to show her fighting skills.
Support Character | One fighting Scene | Crime + Comedy + Action + Romance | Parody | Martial Artist | Consistent
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6. Você é Humano Também?
Korean Drama - 2018, 36 episodes
Kang So Bong used to be an MMA fighter in the rise before her career was cut short by an injury. Though she's hired as the ML's (android's) bodyguard, he does most of the saving.
Main Character | One fighting Scene | Slight Sci-Fi | Romance + Comedy + Action | MMA | Relegated to cheerleading
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7. O Detetive Fantasma
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
Jung Yeo Wool is not only a very resourceful "detective in the making" but she's also proficient at judo.
Main Character | Several Short Fighting Scenes | Urban Fantasy | Comedy + Drama + Crime + Ghosts + Slight Romance | Judo | Somewhat Consistent
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8. Onde as Estrelas Pousam
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
Na Young Joo is part of the airport's security team and can beat even her team leader in a spar.
Support Character | Several Short Fighting Scenes | Modern with Slight Sci-Fi | Judo | Comedy + Drama | Consistent
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9. Ei Fantasma, Vamos Lutar
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
Kim Hyun Ji is a ghost with some serious fighting skills. She ends up helping the ML to hunt down and eliminate evil spirits.
Main Character | Several fighting Scenes | Urban Fantasy | Comedy + Action + Crime + Romance | Brawler | Consistently Strong
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10. Me Deixe Apresentá-la
Korean Drama - 2018, 40 episodes
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11. Part-Time Spy
Korean Movie - 2017
Na Jeong An is a reckless detective who goes undercover to expose a company involved in telephone scams. Once there she meets Jang Yeong Shil, a part-timer who is being used by the director of the NSA to recover his money.
Main Characters | Several fighting Scenes | Parody | Comedy + Action + Crime | Martial Artists | Goes toe-to-toe with the antagonist | Consistently Strong
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12. Jovem Sangue Quente
Korean Movie - 2014
Young Sook is the leader of a school girl gang who has a secret crush on Joong Gil, her childhood friend turn playboy.
Main Character | Couple of fighting Scenes | Romance + Action + Comedy + Drama | Brawler | School Drama | Consistently Strong | More tell than show
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13. Proteja o Chefe
Korean Drama - 2011, 18 episodes
No Eun Seol used to be a delinquent when she was younger but she's now focused on getting a job and leaving those days behind. She does display some skills during the early episodes, but the plot turns her into the ML's nanny. Full disclosure: I got bored and dropped this one.
Main Character | One Fighting Scene | Comedy + Romance | Brawler | Consistent
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14. Jardim Secreto
Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes
Gil Ra Im is supposed to be skilled in several different martial arts since she's a stunt woman. However, apart for the first few episodes, she not only never puts those skills to use, but she's easily manhandled by the male lead.
Main Character | One sort of "fighting" Scene | Urban Fantasy | Martial Artist | Inconsistent
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15. Caçador da Cidade
Korean Drama - 2011, 20 episodes
Kim Na Na does have some fighting skills at the start of the show, but she's relegated to a cheerleading role past the halfway mark.
Main Character | Several fighting Scenes | Revenge Drama | Martial Artist | Inconsistent | Relegated to cheerleading
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16. Terrivelmente Adorável
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
Oh Eul Soon is a former judo champion by the start of the drama. She does show some fighting skills but her "bad luck" (which is a big part of the plot) gets in the way and she almost always ends up hurt.
Main Character | Several short fighting Scenes | Urban Fantasy | Judo Master
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17. Os Dois Corações do Rei
Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes
Secondary Character | Several fighting Scenes | Drama + Romance + Action + Crime | She's Physically Strong but Emotionally Weak (I wouldn't say she's a strong female lead as a character).
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18. O Entregador Mais Forte
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
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19. Médicos
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
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20. Atenção, Amor!
Taiwanese Drama - 2017, 15 episodes
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21. A amante mascarada
Taiwanese Drama - 2017, 19 episodes
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22. Romance Selvagem
Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes
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23. Eu Sou Você
Thai Drama - 2018, 31 episodes
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24. Amor à Primeira Briga
Chinese Drama - 2007, 33 episodes
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25. To Love, to Heal
Chinese Drama - 2018, 40 episodes
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26. A Espiã Myung Wol
Korean Drama - 2011, 18 episodes
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27. A Princesa Coroada
Thai Drama - 2018, 12 episodes
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28. Príncipe do Café
Korean Drama - 2007, 17 episodes
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29. Professora Gangster
Japanese Drama - 2002, 12 episodes
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30. Pequena Garota K
Korean Drama - 2011, 3 episodes
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31. Atena: Deusa da Guerra
Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes
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32. Geração Inspiradora
Korean Drama - 2014, 24 episodes
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33. Era das Lendas
Chinese Drama - 2018, 47 episodes
Main Character | Some fighting Scenes | Comedy + Romance + Action + Crime + Drama | Cop | Consistently Strong
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34. A Garota Tornado
Chinese Drama - 2015, 32 episodes
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35. A Garota Tornado 2
Chinese Drama - 2016, 36 episodes
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36. O Convidado
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Secondary Character (who loses importance towards the end) | Some fighting Scenes | Horror + Action + Crime | Detective
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37. Escola Murim
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
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38. Os Guardiões
Korean Drama - 2017, 32 episodes
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39. Amor Através do Milênio
Chinese Drama - 2015, 24 episodes
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40. Die Now
Chinese Drama - 2017, 20 episodes
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41. 7th Grade Civil Servant
Korean Drama - 2013, 20 episodes
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42. God's Quiz
Korean Drama - 2010, 10 episodes
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43. Mamãe Irritada
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
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44. Escola 2017
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
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45. Cachorro Louco
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
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46. O Jogador
Korean Drama - 2018, 14 episodes
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47. Minha Namorada é Uma Gumiho
Korean Drama - 2010, 16 episodes
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48. Médico Legista: Dr. Qin
Chinese Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
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49. Caught In The Heartbeat
Chinese Drama - 2018, 40 episodes
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50. Quando Um Caracol Se Apaixona
Chinese Drama - 2016, 21 episodes
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51. Minha Namorada é uma Agente
Korean Movie - 2009
Main Character | Several fighting Scenes | Comedy + Romance + Action | Agent | Consistently Strong
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52. My Wife Is A Gangster
Korean Movie - 2001
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53. Minha esposa é uma gangster 3
Korean Movie - 2006
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54. Menina Do Guarda-Volume
Korean Movie - 2015
Main Character | Several fighting Scenes | Minor Romance + Action + Crime | Brawler | Goes toe-to-toe with the Antagonist | Consistently Strong
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55. Monstro
Korean Movie - 2014
Main Character | Several fighting Scenes | Horror + Action + Crime | Brawler | Goes toe-to-toe with the antagonist
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56. Possessed
Korean Drama - 2009, 10 episodes
Secondary Character | Several fighting Scenes | Psycholoical + Drama + Fantasy + Crime | Brawler | Goes toe-to-toe with the Antagonist | Strong but Unhinged and Easily Manipulated.
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57. Mate-o
Korean Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
Main Character | Some fighting Scenes/Shootouts | Urban Fantasy | Minor Romance + Action + Crime | Cop | Strong but her character loses importance towards the end.
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58. Meus Concidadãos!
Korean Drama - 2019, 36 episodes
Secondary Character | Some fighting Scenes | Comedy + Romance + Action + Crime | Cop | Consistently Strong but Emotional.
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59. Busque: WWW
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Second Female Lead | A couple fighting Scenes | Modern | Comedy + Romance + Action
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60. Para Sempre Camélia
Korean Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
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61. Diga-me O Que Viu
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
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62. O Rei: Monarca Eterno
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
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63. Ele é Psicométrico
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
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64. Stranger
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
Main Character | Several fighting Scenes | Modern | Drama + Friendship + Crime | Cop | Goes toe-to-toe with the Antagonist | Consistently Strong
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65. A Busca
Korean Drama - 2020, 10 episodes
Secondary Character | Some fighting Scenes | Horror + Minor Romance + Fantasy + Action | Soldier | Consistently Strong
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66. Doce Lar
Korean Drama - 2020, 10 episodes
Secondary Character | Several fighting Scenes | Fantasy + Horror + Action + Crime | Firefighter | Consistently Strong
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67. Caçadores de Demônios
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Main Character | Several fighting Scenes | Fantasy + Comedy + Friendship + Action | Grim Reaper | Goes toe-to-toe with several antagonist | Consistently Strong & Badass
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68. Buraco Negro
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
Main Character | Several fighting Scenes/Shootouts | Dark Fantasy + Horror + Action | Cop | Goes toe-to-toe with the Antagonist | Consistently Strong
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69. Venda Sua Casa Mal-Assombrada
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Main Character | Several fighting Scenes | Urban Fantasy | Comedy + Romance + Action + Crime | Exorcist | Goes toe-to-toe with all the Antagonist | Consistently Strong & Badass
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70. Meu Nome
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
Main Character | Several fighting Scenes | Drama + Romance + Action + Crime + Tragedy | Brawler | Goes toe-to-toe with the Antagonist | Consistently Strong.
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71. Batalha De Amor
Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes