Noona Romance
Contains titles that I have watched or plan to watch that contain noona romance plotlines. Reviews will be added as and when I complete them. Includes '22 - '23 titles.
My ratings of the shows/movies isn't on the basis of the romance but overall enjoyment of the show. However, I have ranked them on the basis of the relationships and the amount of it depicted versus the rest of the plot. Essentially, do we see the couple being together enough or are they apart for most of the drama and how good is the romance?
I won't be adding titles of the fantasy genre where the female lead character is over 100 years old but looks young (eg. Hotel Del Luna) or cases of body/soul swap where the actress is older (eg. Alchemy Of Souls) or where the male lead has miraculously become young again (eg. 18 Again), etc. I prefer stories related to reality. So do keep that in mind. Also, I will focus on titles where the age gap of the characters is 5 years or more.
Recommendations welcome!
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1. The Rational Life
Chinese Drama - 2021, 35 episodes
Very sweet. The female lead is seemingly perfect in every way. Nice male lead. Workplace romance. One of the best dramas.
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2. She and Her Perfect Husband
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
The male lead starts off as rigid and even rude. He eventually softens up quite a bit. The female lead is strong and passionate. The two form an alliance because of their personal and professional circumstances and their chemistry starts to develop. They decide to enter a contract marriage and eventually start liking each other.
The downside to this show is that a big chunk to the plot is a side story surrounding the law firm that the FL works at which might disappoint viewers. I still managed to enjoy the relationship and how both couples deal with each other except near the end.
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3. Tomorrow with You
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
Naive female lead. Strong and passionate but secretive male lead. Marriage under strange circumtances. More of a relationship between married couples which was highly enjoyable. Part of the plotline involves time travel and how lack of communication affects the relationship. Good series overall.
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4. Kyou wa Kaisha Yasumimasu
Japanese Drama - 2014, 10 episodes
Naive but hardworking female lead. Nice, mature and patient male lead. Workplace romance. Multiple misunderstandings. Covers importance of communication. Lot of focus on the romance. Enjoyable.
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5. Long Vacation
Japanese Drama - 1996, 11 episodes
Co-habitation. The female lead is cheerful and the male lead is more serious and quiet but caring. Opposites attract. Long drawn out romance with lots of sweet moments.
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6. Lesson in Love
Taiwanese Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
Male lead is 17 (turns 18) and a student. Female lead is a teacher. Male chases female. There is an build-up of romance. There are also major plot twists in the story which makes the show quite thrilling. Story is relatively fast paced and the plot is exciting and not what one might expect. It deals more with the situation and external factors than the couple's chemistry. Nonetheless, a good watch. Not what one might expect from such plotlines.
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7. Romance Is a Bonus Book
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Sweet. Loved the playfulness between them but just wanted a little more in terms of the relationship after they get together. Best thing about this couple was that both were mature rather than an immature or naive female or a very young male. Both were adults and acted like one. It was also not the usual rich female junior male colleague. They reversed it. She was divorced with a kid but both ML and SML don't care about that nor the age gap. Very open-minded which I loved.
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8. W Series: The Way You Shine
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
On-going
Caring and open-minded male lead. Protective too. Strong-willed female lead with a tragic past in more ways than one. Although their ages aren't revealed, the actors are 5 years apart. Enjoying their chemistry. Good moments together.
Both ML and SML are shown as open-minded and don't care about the FL's divorce and are protective of her while it's the women in the drama that keep putting her down.
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9. Special Encounter
Chinese Movie - 2017
Not a proper romance movie. Sweet nonetheless. Second male lead syndrome is strong in this one.
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10. Find Yourself
Chinese Drama - 2020, 41 episodes
Passionate but extremely naive and at times irrational female lead. Mature and caring male lead. Workplace romance. Not great in terms of story-telling. Very long and drawn out story.
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11. Crash Course in Romance
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
A very slow burn romance because of a very complicated plot. Romance isn't much but there is a sweet and caring and understanding relationship depicted.
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12. Why Her?
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
Workplace romance. Hardworking female lead. Helpful male lead. Not the main storyline. Some good moments but the bulk is a law crime drama.
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13. The Glory Part 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
Since part 1 doesn't have much interaction between the leads compared to part 2, I haven't included it. They bond more in part 2. The main plot of the story is revenge.
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14. High School King of Savvy
Korean Drama - 2014, 17 episodes
I can't say the romance was memorable as it's been a few weeks and I'm struggling to remember moments between the couple. I also am not keen on immature male leads but overall I, I did like the story. Just maybe not for the leads' personalities.
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15. His and Her Secrets
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Main plot is a revenge but there are several romantic scenes. ML is protective even when FL wants to act independently. Both FL and ML are shown as mature characters without infantalizing either character which is a plus.
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16. Melancholia
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Romance is a minor plot point. Develops as a connection between a passionate maths teacher and a math genius/prodigy.
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17. The Crush
Chinese Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
Office romance. However the male lead is too annoying to like at times. Since the drama is short, we can't expect much beyond a 'live in the moment' romance. It's not bad if that's what you're looking for.
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18. Find Yourself
Thai Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
Cute couple but not much romance shown at the moment.
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19. Together with Me
Thai Drama - 2017, 13 episodes
Minor plot. Serious female who is a professor. Laidback male who is a student. University setting. Not enough content for it to be worth watching this show. Main plot is BL.
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20. Search: WWW
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Recommended to me.
Yet to watch.
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21. One Spring Night
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
Yet to watch
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22. Something in the Rain
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Yet to watch
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23. Another Miss Oh
Korean Drama - 2016, 18 episodes
Yet to watch
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24. Boyfriend Kourin!
Japanese Drama - 2022, 9 episodes
Yet to watch
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25. Secret Love Affair
Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
Yet to watch
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26. Last Cinderella
Japanese Drama - 2013, 11 episodes
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27. Hyena
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
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28. The Midnight Romance in Hagwon
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
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29. Cinderella at 2 AM
Korean Drama - 2024, 10 episodes
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30. Aoshima-kun wa Ijiwaru
Japanese Drama - 2024, 9 episodes
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31. No Gain, No Love
Korean Drama - 2024, 12 episodes