Endgame Pairing is Not Obvious
endgame pairing isn't the usual "met as children and loved forever" - the leads have romantic relationships and even marriage with someone else first, the love triangle looks like it could go either way, SML has traits of a ML, or the endgame ML has traits of a SML. Also includes those rare instances where the SML actually gets the girl.
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![21 Days Sunshine]()
1. 21 Days Sunshine
Thai Drama - 2025, 12 episodes
ML has an ex girlfriend
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![24 Hour Love]()
2. 24 Hour Love
Thai Drama - 2024, 4 episodes
FL has an ex girlfriend
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![A Deadly Loop]()
3. A Deadly Loop
Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes
FL has an ex fiancée
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![A Lonely Hero’s Journey]()
4. A Lonely Hero’s Journey
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
ML is originally in love with the SFL before ending up with the FL
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![A Love So Romantic]()
5. A Love So Romantic
Chinese Drama - 2020, 32 episodes
heavy love triangle that leans more toward the SML who the FL likes first
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![A Piece of Memory]()
6. A Piece of Memory
Thai Drama - 2024, 5 episodes
FL had a girlfriend who died
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![A Poem in Love]()
7. A Poem in Love
Chinese Movie - 2024
love triangle, ML ends up with the SFL
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![A River Runs through It]()
8. A River Runs through It
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
ML has the traits of a SML, and FL loves someone else for a long time first
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![A Splendid Match]()
9. A Splendid Match
Chinese Drama - 2026, 40 episodes
ML is a widower
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![Ai Zai Xuan Ya Shang]()
10. Ai Zai Xuan Ya Shang
Chinese Drama - 2024, 149 episodes
FL is divorced
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![Although I Love You, and You?]()
11. Although I Love You, and You?
Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes
ML's ex-boyfriend returns and for a while it's uncertain which of the two men he'll choose
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![Ascent of an Empress]()
12. Ascent of an Empress
Chinese Drama - 2026, 24 episodes
FL is married and in love with the SML
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![Ashes to Crown]()
13. Ashes to Crown
Chinese Drama - 2026, 24 episodes
FL was married in her first life.
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![At a Distance, Spring Is Green]()
14. At a Distance, Spring Is Green
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
FL is in love with her childhood friend at the beginning, then meets and falls in love with the ML, and then the childhood friend falls in love with her. She ends up with the ML.
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![Attacking Lady]()
15. Attacking Lady
Chinese Drama - 2024, 21 episodes
FL has a different boyfriend at the beginning
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![Auspicious Nobles]()
16. Auspicious Nobles
Chinese Drama - 2026, 26 episodes
FL is married
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![Be Not Meant to Be]()
17. Be Not Meant to Be
Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes
FL is married
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![Beloved Frangipani]()
18. Beloved Frangipani
Thai Drama - 2026, 5 episodes
FL has an ex
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![Beside You]()
19. Beside You
Thai Drama - 2024, 3 episodes
ML has a boyfriend when it begins, and it's unclear at first who he'll end up with
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![Blend Feelings]()
20. Blend Feelings
Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes
FL has an ex boyfriend
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![Blossom]()
21. Blossom
Chinese Drama - 2024, 34 episodes
FL was married in her first life
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![Blossoming]()
22. Blossoming
Chinese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
SML is FL's first love before she falls in love with the ML
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![Bon Appetit]()
23. Bon Appetit
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
ML has an ex boyfriend
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![Bon Appetit, Your Majesty]()
24. Bon Appetit, Your Majesty
Korean Drama - 2025, 12 episodes
ML is married
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![Bone Ritual]()
25. Bone Ritual
Chinese Drama - 2026, 24 episodes
FL is married
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![Born Again]()
26. Born Again
Korean Drama - 2020, 32 episodes
love triangle, FL & SML are in love in first life
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![Boys over Flowers Season 2]()
27. Boys over Flowers Season 2
Japanese Drama - 2018, 11 episodes
FL is engaged, heavy love triangle
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![Bride's Revenge]()
28. Bride's Revenge
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
SML gets the girl
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![Bright Eyes]()
29. Bright Eyes
Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes
FL is married
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![Burnout Syndrome]()
30. Burnout Syndrome
Thai Drama - 2025, 10 episodes
love triangle, ML has a boyfriend
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![Call for Dr. Jiang]()
31. Call for Dr. Jiang
Chinese Drama - 2026, 19 episodes
ML has an ex girlfriend
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![Chasing Love]()
32. Chasing Love
Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes
SML has the childhood connection and an engagement with the FL
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![Choice Husband]()
33. Choice Husband
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
At different points in the drama, FL marries the ML and the SML. When she learns she's pregnant, she's unsure who is the father. She eventually ends up with the ML who is the father of her child.
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![Cinderella Closet]()
34. Cinderella Closet
Japanese Drama - 2025, 12 episodes
love triangle, FL is initially in love with the SML
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![Click Your Heart]()
35. Click Your Heart
Korean Drama - 2016, 7 episodes
all the SMLs get the girl ;)
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![Colourful Bone]()
36. Colourful Bone
Chinese Drama - 2017, 54 episodes
heavy love triangle, FL has the childhood connection trope with the SML
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![Cupid of Zhou Dynasty]()
37. Cupid of Zhou Dynasty
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
ML is atypical, has traits of a SML or supporting character
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![Dear Mayang Street]()
38. Dear Mayang Street
Chinese Drama - 2020, 37 episodes
SML gets the girl
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![Decreed by Fate]()
39. Decreed by Fate
Chinese Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
FL has a stronger connection with the SML at first, love triangle
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![Deep Love Love Again]()
40. Deep Love Love Again
Chinese Drama - 2024, 22 episodes
FL has an ex husband
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![Degenerate]()
41. Degenerate
Chinese Drama - 2025, 90 episodes
FL had a prior relationship and was pregnant
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![Destiny]()
42. Destiny
Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes
FL has an ex boyfriend
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![Destiny of Love]()
43. Destiny of Love
Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes
FL has the childhood connection trope with the SML
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![Don’t Mess with Ex-Girlfriend]()
44. Don’t Mess with Ex-Girlfriend
Chinese Drama - 2022, 20 episodes
FL is engaged to someone else at the beginning
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![Dr. Cutie]()
45. Dr. Cutie
Chinese Drama - 2020, 28 episodes
heavy love triangle, FL is much closer to SML at first
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![Eternal Joy with You]()
46. Eternal Joy with You
Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes
FL is married
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![Every You, Every Me]()
47. Every You, Every Me
Thai Drama - 2024, 8 episodes
ML has an ex boyfriend
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![Fall in Love Again]()
48. Fall in Love Again
Chinese Drama - 2026, 21 episodes
FL has an ex fiancée
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![Fate of Beauty]()
49. Fate of Beauty
Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes
FL has an engagement with the SML, ML has traits of a SML
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![Fate's Whispers]()
50. Fate's Whispers
Thai Drama - 2024, 4 episodes
FL has an ex girlfriend
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![Fated Hearts]()
51. Fated Hearts
Chinese Drama - 2025, 38 episodes
FL was romantically involved with the SML
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![Fighting for Love]()
52. Fighting for Love
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
FL does not end up with ML despite it indicating that way for most of the drama. The ending is open, but appears to be interpreted as the FL choosing the SML.
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![First Choice]()
53. First Choice
Chinese Drama - 2024, 20 episodes
ML has a fiancée
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![Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency]()
54. Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
FL has the childhood connection trope and expectations of marriage with the SML
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![Forget You Remember Love]()
55. Forget You Remember Love
Chinese Drama - 2020, 38 episodes
ML has a fiancée
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![Frozen Love]()
56. Frozen Love
Korean Special - 2017, 2 episodes
ML has a first love
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![Goddess Bless You from Death]()
57. Goddess Bless You from Death
Thai Drama - 2025, 13 episodes
ML has an ex who wants to get back together
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![Gyoza You Can Kiss]()
58. Gyoza You Can Kiss
Japanese Movie - 2018
FL is divorced
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![Handsome Siblings]()
59. Handsome Siblings
Chinese Drama - 2020, 44 episodes
love triangle in which the FL initially meets, loves and has a stronger connection with one of the MLs, but ultimately ends up with the other
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![Happy Merry Ending]()
60. Happy Merry Ending
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
ML is still broken hearted over his ex boyfriend
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![He He You Ming]()
61. He He You Ming
Chinese Drama - 2024, 87 episodes
FL has an ex fiancée
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![Heartbeat Deviation]()
62. Heartbeat Deviation
Chinese Drama - 2024, 99 episodes
FL is engaged to someone else at the beginning
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![Hello My Shining Love]()
63. Hello My Shining Love
Chinese Drama - 2022, 43 episodes
ML has an ex girlfriend
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![Her Trajecting]()
64. Her Trajecting
Chinese Drama - 2025, 31 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning.
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![Hidden Marriage Love]()
65. Hidden Marriage Love
Chinese Drama - 2021, 30 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning, love triangle
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![His and Her Secrets]()
66. His and Her Secrets
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
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![How to Train Your Killer]()
67. How to Train Your Killer
Chinese Drama - 2026, 30 episodes
FL is married
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![I'm Not a Casual Person]()
68. I'm Not a Casual Person
Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes
FL has an ex boyfriend
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![Idol I]()
69. Idol I
Korean Drama - 2025, 12 episodes
ML has an ex girlfriend
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![In Love with Loving You]()
70. In Love with Loving You
Chinese Drama - 2026, 24 episodes
both ML and FL are engaged to other people
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![In the Grip of Love]()
71. In the Grip of Love
Chinese Drama - 2024, 30 episodes
FL had a fiancée
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![In the Name of Dawn]()
72. In the Name of Dawn
Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes
FL was married
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![Inheritance Storm]()
73. Inheritance Storm
Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes
FL is a widow
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![Just to Meet You]()
74. Just to Meet You
Chinese Drama - 2026, 24 episodes
FL has been married twice before.
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![Keshigomu wo Kureta Joshi wo Suki ni Natta]()
75. Keshigomu wo Kureta Joshi wo Suki ni Natta
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
ML dates another girl
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![Key to the Phoenix Heart]()
76. Key to the Phoenix Heart
Chinese Drama - 2026, 28 episodes
FL is in love with the SML, ML is married
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![Life Is a Choice]()
77. Life Is a Choice
Chinese Drama - 2025, 23 episodes
FL was married in her original life, remarries him in her second, but ultimately ends up with the ML, ML has traits of a SML and doesn't show up until toward the end of the drama
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![Lock Her]()
78. Lock Her
Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes
ML had a fiancée who died
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![Lose My Heart to You]()
79. Lose My Heart to You
Chinese Drama - 2026, 24 episodes
FL had a boyfriend who died
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![Lost Track of Time]()
80. Lost Track of Time
Chinese Drama - 2022, 30 episodes
ML has traits of a SML, and FL marries someone else first
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![Lost You Forever Season 2]()
81. Lost You Forever Season 2
Chinese Drama - 2024, 23 episodes
heavy reverse harem, 3rdML gets the girl
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![Love Better Than Immortality]()
82. Love Better Than Immortality
Chinese Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
ML has traits of a SML, SML has the ML traits and the FL is much more drawn to him at first
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![Love Blossoms with the Wind]()
83. Love Blossoms with the Wind
Chinese Drama - 2025, 18 episodes
FL has an ex boyfriend
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![Love Like the Galaxy: Part 1]()
84. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 1
Chinese Drama - 2022, 27 episodes
reverse harem, FL is supposed to marry SML at first
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![Love Lurking]()
85. Love Lurking
Chinese Drama - 2025, 21 episodes
ML has a fiancée
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![Love Returns]()
86. Love Returns
Thai Drama - 2025, 4 episodes
love triangle, FL has an ex girlfriend
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![Love Under the Stars]()
87. Love Under the Stars
Chinese Drama - 2022, 26 episodes
FL is engaged to someone else at the beginning
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![Love Untangled]()
88. Love Untangled
Korean Movie - 2025
FL initially has a crush on the SML
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![Love You?, Ms. Cold]()
89. Love You?, Ms. Cold
Thai Drama - 2025, 4 episodes
FL has an ex boyfriend
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![Lovely Swords Girl]()
90. Lovely Swords Girl
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
heavy love triangle, SLS
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![Madam]()
91. Madam
Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes
FL had a first love who died
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![Maids]()
92. Maids
Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes
love triangle, FL is initially engaged and nearly married to the SML
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![Marry Him in Her Place]()
93. Marry Him in Her Place
Chinese Drama - 2025, 24 episodes
ML had a first love who died
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![Marry My Husband]()
94. Marry My Husband
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
FL was married in her first life
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![Marry My Husband: Japan]()
95. Marry My Husband: Japan
Japanese Drama - 2025, 10 episodes
FL was married in her first life
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![Master Devil Do Not Kiss Me]()
96. Master Devil Do Not Kiss Me
Chinese Drama - 2017, 23 episodes
ML has an ex girlfriend who is his first love
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![Master Devil Do Not Kiss Me Season 2]()
97. Master Devil Do Not Kiss Me Season 2
Chinese Drama - 2017, 23 episodes
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![MBTI Love]()
98. MBTI Love
Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes
FL has an ex boyfriend
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![Meet Love in Chong Qing]()
99. Meet Love in Chong Qing
Chinese Drama - 2024, 21 episodes
FL has an ex boyfriend
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![Meet with Two Souls]()
100. Meet with Two Souls
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
FL is married to someone else at the beginning
