Rom where their happy ending isn't a happy ending for all

Aug 20, 2021 07:46 pm

Like I dunno how many Asian romance dramas I've watched where the leads gets the cake and gets to eat it too.

Like typically their parents or grandparents are against their relationship and in the end they only get together once their parents or grandparents accept them or similar. Or where one of the leads has to give up their dream for them to be together, which usually ends up with them being apart for 2-5 years before the happy ending.

What I want is a happy ending(romance-wise) with real losses where they choose true love and accepts the consequences.

Aug 20, 2021 10:21 pm

Crash Landing on You - From what I remember of the finale, it's strongly implied that (presumably at least while his parents are still alive) the ML cannot leave North Korea permanently or visit the FL whenever / wherever he pleases, and she cannot visit him in North Korea. They can only see each other for limited amounts of time in Switzerland when the ML is permitted to travel there for piano concerts.
Sound of the Desert - The ML fakes his death to escape the perils of the Emperor's court (the Emperor also opposed the ML marrying the FL at one point but I can't remember if that was a factor in them leaving in the end). The ML gives up his position as a powerful general and he, the FL and their child leave the capital city and the people they care about behind.
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes - Debatable. I'm including it here because the leads are "together" in the end, but they die together. The FL was shot along with the ML because she chose to follow him. For context: he had just killed someone and was on the run / planning to kill himself. Although it's a tragic ending, I found it satisfying that they were together in the end, especially since, given what the ML did, there wasn't much hope of a truly happy ending for them.
The Princess Wei Young - The loss isn't exactly due to them being together, but does stem from a choice one of them makes out of love. The leads generally get a happy ending in the sense that they defeat the villain and get to be together in the end, the ML becomes Emperor and establishes a strong reign, and they have a son together, BUT the ML and FL were both poisoned by the villain. The ML chose to give the only antidote to the FL. His doctors are able to slow the effects of the poison so it weakens him rather than killing him immediately, but ultimately he dies as a result of the poison four years later. The FL becomes Empress regent (a role she was born to fulfill) and carries on his legacy until their son is old enough to rule. IMO one of the most satisfying drama endings of all time.
Love in the Moonlight - The ML and FL choose to stay in a relationship with one another in the end, but their underlying status differences are not resolved. The FL no longer pretends to be eunuch and doesn't live in the palace. She lives as a girl outside the palace and works as an author (iirc). The ML is trying to find a way for the FL to marry him and become his Queen, but in the meantime they have to date semi-secretly and cannot marry or live together.